Chapter 369: Flight

[ ... ]

Chamber remained silent for several seconds as it processed Kai’s question.

[ Infiltration is possible. However, the probability of reaching the Citadel without being detected is currently low. ]

Kai looked up at the enormous fortress hovering above Cameron City and nodded.

[ The probability is based on the Citadel’s current defensive formation, the number of hostile aerial units surrounding it, and the detection systems currently operating around the fortress. ]

Kai couldn’t help but smile.

"Well... I expected that much."

Kai wasn’t particularly concerned by the number. Still, it just meant that a direct approach would be difficult, and Kai had no intention of flying straight toward the Citadel while hundreds of machines were already filling the sky.

Instead, he needed an opening.

Fortunately, Cameron City was already providing him with one.

The battle around the city continued to intensify as more machines poured from the Citadel. The Impulses were moving between the defensive positions while the modified Swarmer Bombers descended in large groups, forcing the city’s ranged fighters to constantly adjust their attacks.

At the same time, the Fangs continued transporting Sentinels toward the ground, and the arrival of the twelve Ascendant Units had caused even more powerful Survivors to begin moving toward the outer districts.

Then, hundreds of figures suddenly shot into the sky from different parts of Cameron City.

"This is crazy..." Kai muttered as he could see that chaos happening.

Soon, his attention shifted to a group of Survivors...

They were Survivors riding hoverboards!

The hoverboards were clearly designed for combat, allowing their users to move through the air while carrying weapons or activating their Gene Skills.

Hundreds of them quickly spread across the battlefield, heading toward the Impulses and modified Swarmer Bombers that had entered the city’s airspace!

The appearance of so many airborne Survivors immediately changed the situation.

The sky was soon filled with flying machines!

Just like that, the A.I. machines could no longer focus entirely on attacking Cameron City’s defenses because they now had hundreds of moving targets to deal with.

Some hoverboard users attacked from a distance, while others moved directly toward the machines and struck them with their Gene Skills before quickly changing direction.

The sky became even more chaotic as explosions continued appearing in every direction.

Kai watched the battle for a few seconds before a faint smile appeared on his face.

"This should work."

He reached into his inventory.

A moment later, a familiar metallic vessel appeared in front of him.

The Dragoon looked almost like a futuristic jet ski... It had no conventional wings, yet the machine was capable of flying through the air using its own propulsion and anti-gravity systems.

Kai hadn’t used the Dragoon very often since obtaining it, but he had never forgotten how useful it could be.

He stepped onto the vessel and placed his hands on the controls. Then, a thought came to him...

"Chamber, connect to the Dragoon."

[ Connection established. ]

"That’s fast? Anyway, help me control it..."

Just like that, the Dragoon immediately came to life.

Several components along its body began glowing as its internal systems activated...

Kai glanced at the controls as information began appearing across the display.

Speed... Altitude... Energy consumption... Navigation... and Environmental conditions.

The Dragoon was clearly capable of handling most of the basic functions automatically, which meant Kai wouldn’t have to worry about controlling every single movement manually.

However, reaching the Citadel was another matter.

"How difficult will it be to reach the fortress?"

[ The Dragoon possesses sufficient speed and maneuverability to reach the Citadel. However, the primary obstacle will be the defensive formation surrounding the fortress. ]

Kai looked toward the enormous structure.

It was still roughly eight hundred meters above the city, but the distance itself wasn’t the problem.

The real problem was everything occupying the space between him and the Citadel.

[ The Citadel’s detection systems are currently monitoring flying objects approaching from the direction of Cameron City. A direct approach would result in interception. ]

"So I can’t simply fly straight up."

[ Correct. ]

Kai nodded.

"Then I’ll use the battlefield."

The hundreds of hoverboard users were exactly what he needed.

Their sudden appearance had created countless small gaps in the machine civilization’s formation, and the machines were already being forced to divide their attention between the city defenses and the airborne Survivors.

If Kai waited for the right moment, he could use the chaos to move toward the Citadel without drawing too much attention.

He turned to the controls, and soon, the Dragoon rose from the ground.

Several nearby Survivors turned toward him when they noticed the strange flying vessel...

After all, it should be an enemy’s machine, a Dragoon!

Still, the surprise didn’t end there...

"What is that?"

"Is someone heading toward the Citadel?"

Kai ignored the voices and continued ascending.

The moment he left the protection of the city’s defensive systems, several machines immediately detected him.

Two Impulse Gunships broke away from their formation and turned in his direction.

Their weapons began charging.

Kai glanced at them before looking at the Dragoon’s display.

"Chamber, can it outrun them?"

[ At the current altitude and acceleration, the Dragoon can maintain a higher speed than the Impulses. ]

"Good."

Kai pushed the controls forward...

Just like that, the Dragoon shot into the sky and the acceleration was strong enough that Kai’s body was pushed backward for a moment before he adjusted his stance.

The city rapidly became smaller beneath him as the vessel climbed higher, but the two Impulses were already following.

Their weapons fired.

Several energy projectiles streaked through the air and exploded behind Kai.

Boom!

Another attack passed dangerously close to him.

Kai immediately changed direction, causing the Dragoon to tilt sharply before accelerating through the gap between two explosions.

The Impulses continued pursuing him.

Then Chamber’s notification appeared.

[ Seven additional Impulse units have changed their trajectory and are approaching your current position. ]

Kai’s expression became slightly more serious.

The hoverboard users were still fighting the aerial machines, and their chaotic movements had caused the enemy formation to become increasingly scattered.

Kai suddenly understood what he needed to do.

"Let’s borrow their battlefield."

He turned the Dragoon toward the largest concentration of hoverboard users.

The vessel rapidly descended into the chaotic formation, causing several Survivors to notice him!

"Watch out!"

"What is that guy doing?"