"Finally, the show is about to begin!"
"Before the battle, there always has to be a little fun to get things started, right?"
"Hahahaha!"
Steel has always been seen as tough, and when these metal giants fly in the sky, it's an incredible sight. It reminds us how powerful modern technology can be.
These are sonic jets. Different from helicopters with weapons, these machines are built for speed. Their sleek design lets them break the sound barrier and handle the intense pressure that comes with it.
Just their weight and speed are enough to cause damage, but they also carry deadly weapons like armor-piercing bombs and cruise missiles. Most people never see this power because those who do… don't survive.
Two of these jets were now racing through the sky, flying at twice the speed of sound, tearing through the clouds.
"Report, B1. This is B2. Everything's good. We'll be at the target in 30 seconds."
"Roger, B2. I'll cover you."
Every pilot of these sonic jets is an elite soldier, toughened by countless life-threatening missions. But today, their radar showed a location they dreaded going to: Skydrift City.
A few hours ago, the satellite map showed that the entire city was covered in dark, stormy clouds. All signals went dark. It was like a giant black hole had swallowed everything.
This was the third wave of jets sent to investigate. The first two waves went silent after entering Skydrift City. No one heard from them again.
"What's going on in Skydrift City?"
Even a pilot used to holding the fighter controls year after year was nervous now. His adrenaline was pumping, and even though he tried to calm himself down, he couldn't shake the fear.
"Gathering information from Skydrift City is all we need."
It was supposed to be a simple mission. Fly in, scan, and get out. Then use the jet's unmatched speed to escape anything chasing them. Their jets could reach up to six times the speed of sound—nothing on Earth could catch up.
But the pilot's heart was pounding, and something told him, "Don't go!"
This kind of instinct had saved him many times before, but now, he had to push it down. Orders were orders.
As they neared Skydrift City, the pilot could see the buildings on the city's outskirts. He decided he'd do a quick flyby and get out. Even if his superiors were upset, he didn't care.
He touched the pocket of his military uniform where he kept a photo of his family. Whenever things got dangerous, thinking about his family gave him the strength to push through.
"It'll be okay. I can fly through this city in a few seconds. Nothing can catch me."
For the first time in his flying career, the pilot started to pray.
Soon, the city came into view. His jet's speed allowed him to break into the airspace almost instantly.
"Oh my God!"
What he saw was beyond words. Tens of thousands of white, mosquito-like creatures were swarming the city, biting into its remains. The destroyed skyscrapers looked like chewed-up bones. Under the dark sky, these white beasts ran wild, leaving marks all over the land.
"Hurry! I need to send this to headquarters!"
Fear and shock filled the pilot, but his duty to his country made him gather as much information as he could. However, when he tried to send the data, his cockpit was filled with static.
"No signal?"
Panic filled him as he desperately tried to get the controls working, but the screen just flashed, "No signal. Unable to communicate."
It was then that the pilot noticed the strange purple glow covering the city. Electric charges sparked through the air, and purple lightning struck the ground everywhere, like a nightmare brought to life.
"Get... out... quickly!"
A faint voice crackled through his radio, and the pilot grasped onto it like a lifeline.
"This is B1! B2, do you copy? Please respond!"
Nothing. Silence. No response.
"I have to leave, even if I get in trouble for it."
Determined, the pilot pulled the control stick to leave. He'd seen enough with his own eyes to report back.
But even a jet that flies faster than sound can't escape lightning.
A single bolt of lightning, appearing out of nowhere, struck the jet with deadly precision. In an instant, the steel bird fell from the sky. Neither the pilot's family nor his prayers could save him.
---
Meanwhile, at the heart of the city, atop a towering building, two figures stood.
"I just swatted down two annoying flies," one of them said with a smirk.
The speaker had eyes like purple crystals, long, jet-black hair, and a body crackling with thunder. This was the Herrscher of Thunder, a being born from unimaginable power. Her breath alone could shake the air, and a single thought could summon lightning from the skies.
She looked coldly at the figure next to her—a mysterious person wearing a clown mask.
"Let me explain the enemy you're about to face," the masked figure said.
"Enemies? They're just ants," the Herrscher of Thunder replied confidently. Her power, granted by the Honkai, made her feel unstoppable.
"Humans might not be a threat to you now, but..." the masked figure paused. "Among them are your... companions."
The Herrscher's eyes narrowed. There was still much she didn't understand about this world, and this figure seemed to know more than she did.
"Speak, Fool. Tell me everything."
With a mocking bow, the masked figure replied, "I'm more than happy to assist you, Herrscher."