"Big Mouth Monster" VS "Big Mouth Monster," when performance doesn't offer an overwhelming advantage, having the initiative and discipline becomes even more important.
Other than aircraft number 215, which acted as an early warning aircraft, the other five "Big Mouth Monsters" of the Genuine Fragrance Combat Flight Squadron still prioritized formation tactics, with not even a thought of individual heroism and going solo.
It was sheer ignorance to show off and pick a solo fight when clearly at a numerical disadvantage—it was simply not knowing how to spell "death."
What's worse, there was one who was dragging the team down, truly frustrating!
"Rookie, maintain formation; don't fall behind!"
Even during maneuvers, "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios kept her eyes on this true Rookie.
Fortunately, the kid was performing adequately, not causing her too much concern.
But she couldn't help wondering whether bringing this young man with no real combat experience to the battlefield was a good thing or a bad thing.
To the short-haired girl, Chen Fei's accomplishment in killing a Metallic Dragon was just an accident, and it was actually the result of the whole team's cooperation; it couldn't be entirely attributed to one person.
Don't believe it? Let him try going one-on-one by himself, and if he can survive in the sky for 5 seconds, she'd consider it her loss.
Chen Fei could only confirm the positions of friend and foe fighters through the constantly blinking beacon lights on wingtips and the battlefield data link marks; otherwise, he'd lose sight of his allies in the blink of an eye with just the faint moonlight outside.
He had to be extra cautious at this point, concentrating, and intently following aircraft number 212, the lead aircraft, for fear of getting lost.
It might have been a bit easier during the day, but it just had to be night, and not just any night, but the middle of the night.
Uh, wait, let's check the Skill Shop first.
File Management Plugin: 120 Energy Points
Evolution Quick Preload Slots - 5 Types (Upgradeable): 200 Energy Points
Evolution Accelerator Level 0 (0-9 levels): 500 Energy Points
Basic Laser Emitter (Upgradeable): 1000 Energy Points
Basic Particle Beam (Upgradeable): 1000 Energy Points
Basic Microwave Emitter (Upgradeable): 1000 Energy Points
Basic Optical Observer (Upgradeable): 200 Energy Points
Energy Storage Upgrade (+5000): 5000 Points
Magical Array Evolution Database: 500 Energy Points
Elemental Decomposition: 300 Energy Points
Elemental Synthesis: 300 Energy Points
Metal Shaping: 100 Energy Points
The list inside the "Skill Shop" spanned about a dozen pages and was constantly being updated. Because there were far too many, he usually didn't have time to examine them closely.
Among the mass of skills he couldn't afford, a few superfluous ones were mixed in. It's not about the most expensive being the best, but the most suitable.
Chen Fei had barely managed to save up just over three hundred Energy Points, which he couldn't afford to squander.
Select "Basic Optical Observer (Upgradeable): 200 Energy Points"
Energy Points: 111/5000
2. Eyes of Tyranny (Consumes 1 Energy Point, lasts for 15 seconds, cooldown 15 seconds)
3. Physical Evolution Database (2), Category: None/Management... (Longsword, Dagger)
4. Secret Technique: Fight to the Death
5. Basic Optical Observer Level 1 (Level 2 requires 100 Energy Points)
Old Master Barut really treated him well, having given him a Secret Technique skill for free, not requiring Energy Points, while the "Basic Optical Observer" for which Chen Fei had spent 200 Energy Points was a trap, starting at Level 1 and demanding more money (Energy Points) to upgrade.
Load "Basic Optical Observer."
With just a blink, the world in front of Chen Fei looked noticeably different. The colors became more vibrant, even the night sky outside the cockpit cleared up a lot, revealing many things he hadn't seen before.
Chen Fei couldn't help but sigh in amazement, the visual effect was truly instantaneous.
"Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios casually asked, "What did you find?"
Chen Fei squinted his eyes slightly and casually reported what he had just seen, "Two missiles, headed for Aircraft 215!"
He found that when he squinted, the visible distance would greatly increase, and things in the far distance became as clear as if he was using a high-power telescope.
It seemed that the "Basic Optical Observer" was not only able to provide him with richer details and a clearer field of view but also possessed some additional functionalities.
Aircraft 215, equipped with an electronic reconnaissance pod, served as the temporary early warning aircraft for the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron. Facing two missiles was a piece of cake for her, so "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios didn't take it to heart.
"It's anti-radiation missiles, I have to shut down for a moment."
Fire Control Operator "Basil" Marcus Yiman's voice suddenly sounded in the communication channel; he was in control of all the functionalities of the electronic pod.
Anti-radiation missiles were always the nemesis of radars, able to follow the direction of electromagnetic wave emissions upstream to their source. Aircraft 215 with its electronic pod was like a lighthouse in the night, directing the incoming anti-radiation missiles to it with seasoned familiarity.
The best way to deal with anti-radiation missiles was to shut off the electromagnetic wave source as soon as possible and then change one's position, causing the missiles tracking the emissions to lose their target and ultimately miss.
The Genuine Fragrance Combat Flight Squadron's Aircraft 215 did just that, but shortly after it changed course, another missile followed as if it had eyes, exploding into a strange purple-blue fireball just over ten meters away.
A piercing screech erupted across the communication channels of friends and foes alike.
Chen Fei frowned; what situation was this?
But the communication channel was still full of static noise, and it took several seconds to quiet down again.
The battlefield data link was inexplicably disconnected and could not be re-linked.
"It's EMP! Anti-radiation missiles coupled with an EMP attack!"
Devil Pepper Irinei Rusios' voice sounded again in the communication channel, she immediately guessed what the sudden screech was all about.
Due to the considerable distance, the communication equipment of the other five "Big Mouth Monsters" managed to survive.
Chen Fei looked in the direction of Aircraft 215 and squinted slightly, extending his vision, and immediately saw the powerless rotating propeller of the "Big Mouth Monster" drawing a curve as it plummeted to the ground.
The cockpit canopy violently blew off, and two pilots ejected in quick succession, one after the other.
Chen Fei reported immediately, "Aircraft 215 is out of control and crashing, both pilots have ejected."
"Thank goodness. Huh? Rookie, can you see that?"
The short-haired girl in the front seat of Aircraft 212 looked around the cockpit to the outside but failed to see the falling silhouette of Aircraft 215, nor did she see the ejected pilots.
Because the night lacked sufficient light to illuminate the sky, the visible distance at night was much shorter than during the day.
In the clear skies of the day, one could easily see over twenty kilometers, but at night, being able to spot a target seven or eight kilometers away was already cause for gratitude.
Whether it's night flying or night fighting, pilots trust their control panels more than their own eyesight.
Eyes can sometimes deceive, but instruments and gauges never do.
Chen Fei honestly replied, "I can see it, quite clearly."
He could clearly see whether the propellers of Aircraft 215 were rotating or not, even the speed of rotation, without any effort at all.
"Now, we can only rely on ourselves."
"Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios sighed, the advantage they had finally gained was lost with the two missiles.
"'Devil Pepper,' count the kills. I've got three, uh, four down on my end."
"Peanut Butter" Chekhov, who had been maintaining radio silence, finally made a sound in the communication channel, and the sound of explosions could be heard.
The MiG-28s, which could accelerate to 1.5 Mach for a surprise attack, were decimating the enemy "Big Mouth Monster" fleet like tigers among sheep, leaving the enemy with no power to retaliate.
As turboprop aircraft, the "Big Mouth Monsters" could only reach a maximum flight speed of 0.4 Mach. The MiG-28 had at least a threefold speed advantage over them.
"We've taken down six here, lost Aircraft 215!"
"Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios estimated, up to this point, the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron had taken out more than half of the enemy fighters, and they had only lost one Aircraft 215 serving as an early-warning craft.
If it weren't for the loss of Aircraft 215, it would have been a perfect victory.
The remaining eight enemy turboprop aircraft, whose morale had been crushed, would inevitably be destroyed if they didn't hurry to retreat.
"'Genuine Fragrance' squadron, heading 270, altitude 12600 meters, speed 0.9 Mach, eight MiG-28s are approaching your airspace at high speed."
The familiar voice from the Aircrew Base tower reached the ears of all the pilots in the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron.