Qingniao ultimately decided to take cover in the nearby meteor field, waiting for Yang Ying and the others to return before entering Kussen. Meanwhile, the three Valkyrie frigates lined up in a single file, sweeping parallel toward the second Triceratops warship.

Outside Kussen, the fleet and the Triceratops warship met at an oblique angle. The Triceratops warship pivoted, leveling its main cannons toward the Valkyries.

“Target confirmed. Standard time 17:33:08, Operation Ape Hunter officially commences! Main cannon, lock on!” Lilia announced clearly across the bridge. Operation Ape Hunter was the codename for this mission.

“Main cannon locked!” the gunner responded.

“Fire!”

The three Valkyries fired simultaneously. Two of the three energy beams, emitted by the Tier-Three Laser Cannons, struck the target solidly, while the third grazed slightly wide.

The Triceratops warship, having absorbed two direct hits, sputtered with two trails of sparks erupting on its hull, suggesting minimal structural damage. It immediately retaliated with its three forward laser cannons.

The Valkyries, in terms of firepower, were comparable to shrunken medium-sized warships. Both sides possessed three Tier-Three Laser Cannons, and their armor protection seemed roughly equal. However, the Valkyries held the advantage in smaller size, resulting in a reduced target profile. Coupled with superior fire-control systems, the Valkyries’ hit probability far surpassed that of the Triceratops.

After several rounds of cannon exchanges, the Triceratops warship realized the Valkyries’ firepower significantly exceeded that of typical small warships. It immediately abandoned the idea of resolving the battle through artillery, tearing open a hatch on its dorsal spine to launch over twenty carrier-based aircraft toward the Valkyrie fleet.

On the bridge of the Valkyrie flagship, Lilia observed this and commanded, “Deploy the Spectre fighter squadron to defend the fleet perimeter; do not engage directly. Furthermore, prepare the H.A.L. missile system for launch!”

Previously, the first Triceratops vessel had inflicted devastating damage on the approaching Kussen Legion fighters using a missile barrage. This time, Lilia intended to replicate that tactic to surprise the apes opposite them.

The Triceratops warship noticed nothing amiss, as this order aligned perfectly with the standard tactical choice for the side with inferior carrier aircraft—using the fleet's secondary batteries to support the fighters defensively. What they failed to realize was that the Spectre fighters actually possessed superior performance capabilities. This tactical secrecy was mandated by Yang Ying; due to confidentiality orders, the Spectre fighters were restricted to exhibiting performance levels equivalent to ordinary fighters in the easily observable space surrounding Kussen. Only in life-or-death situations were they permitted to unleash their full potential, followed by the necessary elimination of any witnesses.

Lilia watched the enemy fighters approach step-by-step on the main screen with a calm gaze. Only when they entered optimal firing range did she shout, “Missiles, launch!”

This signal was transmitted to the bridges of the other two Valkyries. All three warships fired their missiles concurrently, forming a linear barrage that enveloped the incoming enemy aircraft.

The twenty-plus enemy fighters immediately dispersed, but the H.A.L. missiles possessed intelligent tracking capabilities, detonating in their wake. The blast radius was extensive enough to severely damage any aircraft caught in close proximity.

During the first wave of missile attacks, five or six fighters disintegrated instantly, and another five or six were crippled, losing limbs or sections of their structure. The second wave followed quickly, ensuring that the already damaged craft could not escape destruction, obliterating them into fragments.

Wave after wave of missiles launched continuously, likened to surging tides—hence the term "missile stream." After five waves, what caught Yang Ying’s eye was a single ape-piloted fighter that not only survived the missile stream but broke through the envelope and surged toward the fleet.

This fighter displayed no flashy maneuvers, merely executing standard continuous rolls and direction changes. However, the timing of every movement was flawless; it skimmed the very edges of the H.A.L. missile detonation zones, minimizing its own damage. It seemed as if the pilot inherently understood the characteristics of the H.A.L. missile system beforehand.

Everyone on the bridge witnessed the performance of this aircraft.

“This must be an Ace fighter piloted by an Awakened High-Grade Ape. Only someone with a razor-sharp sixth sense could evade the H.A.L. missiles without prior knowledge of their characteristics, relying purely on danger perception.”

Yang Ying focused intently on the fighter; this was his first time observing an Awakened pilot commanding a combat machine, and there was a distinct element of study in his observation. According to available data, Ace pilots varied greatly in skill; the one before them was clearly exceptional even among the elite.

However, being mid-battle, Lilia had no patience for Yang Ying’s academic interest. She ordered, “Deploy the second squadron of Spectre fighters and eliminate this Ace.”

As the command was issued, twelve Spectre fighters swarmed to encircle the ape Ace, blocking every possible escape route.

The ape fighter executed an emergency vector change. Rather than fleeing, it charged directly toward the Valkyrie flagship, executing another sharp turn upon approach, slicing past the warship’s starboard side. The flagship’s starboard secondary batteries had been damaged in the previous engagement with pirates and remained unrepaired, providing the enemy pilot an opening.

Yang Ying felt a tremor underfoot; evidently, the fighter had fired missiles at the Valkyrie and scored a hit. Still, the Valkyrie’s armor was thick, and one or two missile impacts posed no significant threat.

“Starboard armor struck, penetration unsuccessful!” the observer’s report confirmed Yang Ying’s assessment.

Because the three Valkyries were arrayed in parallel, the ape fighter, after passing the flagship’s starboard side, had effectively penetrated the fleet’s formation. It now had the option to retreat or push toward the weaker engine section of the remaining warships.

If it attempted to retreat, however, it first had to contend with the Spectre fighters. Having allowed the ape fighter to escape their initial encirclement, which resulted in the flagship taking fire, the Spectre pilots felt deeply humiliated and were burning with resolve to destroy the enemy craft. The ape had tricked them once, but it wouldn't be so easy a second time.

Lilia ignored the ape fighter for the moment, ordering her ship and the other two: “Change course. We are shifting the battlefield.”

The original plan was to draw the ape warships to a specific location to fully test the fleet's capabilities. Having already eliminated the majority of the ape fighters, they had sufficiently provoked the ape command into a potentially rash pursuit.

Upon the command, the entire fleet banked left simultaneously, heading toward the designated engagement zone. This maneuver left the ships’ port broadsides facing the direction they had just vacated.

Yang Ying stepped down from the command ladder and approached the gunner’s station, stating, “Let me take a shot as well.”

“Yes, Commander!”

Everyone on the bridge was perplexed by Yang Ying’s action. Nevertheless, a command was a command; though the gunner harbored questions, he executed the order immediately, while the others kept their doubts internalized.

Yang Ying settled into the gunner’s seat. Having closely observed their operation of the warship controls over the past few days, he had thoroughly memorized the sequence. With practiced ease, he tapped several keys on the console, causing the portside secondary battery to articulate.

This secondary battery consisted of a twin-barreled Tier-Two Laser Cannon, mounted on a turret that could rotate freely. It could automatically select targets or be directed via the trackball on the control panel.

The portside was now facing their previous rear. Consequently, the ape Ace fighter, which had retreated behind the fleet, was now within the firing arc of the portside secondary battery.

At that moment, the ape fighter was fleeing at full speed, having exited the effective range of the Spectre missiles. The Spectre fighters, constrained by the secrecy order, could not reach maximum velocity, making any hope of intercepting the Ace fighter slim.

“Your performance was indeed impressive, but how could I let you simply escape?”

Yang Ying disregarded the automated targeting procedures, relying instead on instinct and manual control. The psychic texts noted that an Awakened’s intuition was often more reliable than machinery.

As the barrel aligned toward the fleeing fighter, Yang Ying’s feeling told him he had a lock. Ignoring the crosshairs searching on the screen, he slammed the firing stud. A laser beam erupted from the muzzle, slicing through space, striking the Ace fighter with perfect accuracy and reducing it to cosmic dust.