I Am The Swarm-Chapter 707: Airdrop

Although the explosive impact couldn’t harm Sarah and Tella, the shockwaves still sent them flying over ten meters. Unlike in movies where characters struggle to get up after being blown away, the two adjusted their posture mid-air. Despite the heavy landing, they quickly rolled to their feet.

However, at that moment, the second round of grenades arrived. As if testing their defenses, the second round’s impact point was a meter closer than the first.

Though grenades are relatively primitive weapons, with Ji technology enhancing their precision, their accuracy was impeccable. Just as Sarah and Tella stood up, they were sent flying again by the explosive shockwaves.

By the time they landed, the third round of grenades had already arrived, this time another meter closer. Simultaneously, the Ji special forces squad was rapidly closing in.

The Ji soldiers’ combat suits were equipped with small propulsion systems, allowing them to fly at various altitudes, even reaching the upper atmosphere. Powered by dark energy batteries, these suits could sustain continuous flight for millions of hours. While the batteries also powered other systems in the suits, each one could support a soldier in high-intensity combat for decades, ensuring the Ji troops never had to worry about energy consumption.

Sarah and Tella were hindered by the grenades, while the Ji soldiers flew low and fast, closing the gap. At this rate, within just a dozen seconds, the two sides would be in close contact, putting Sarah and Tella in a dire situation.

However, this planet was Swarm territory. Although the Ji had seized the initiative, the Swarm’s reinforcements were swift.

In fact, only a few minutes had passed since the battle began. The moment the fighting started, Swarm units in near-orbit had already airdropped reinforcements near the conference site.

The Ji special forces had arrived first due to their more advanced aircraft, but the distance from near-orbit to the surface wasn’t insurmountable. The Ji’s technological edge wasn’t enough to create a decisive advantage.

Thus, as the special forces fired their fourth round of grenades, airdrop pods trailing long tails descended from the sky. The Ji’s stealth gunboats unleashed a barrage of anti-air fire, but their numbers were too few.

On the Swarm’s side, the airdrop pods were numerous. By the time they were twenty kilometers above the ground, they had already begun ejecting their payloads of combat units.

The units released were a special variant of Spider Combat Bugs, with webbed membranes between their limbs, allowing them to glide to some extent.

Through the Ji gunboats’ firing, the Swarm had pinpointed their locations. The emptied airdrop pods adjusted their trajectories, heading straight for the seemingly empty spots where the gunboats were.

The Ji gunboats’ powerful firepower tore through the airdrop pods’ flesh and blood, but the sheer number of pods overwhelmed them. Many pods were destroyed mid-air, but their sacrifice allowed others to breach the crossfire and reach the gunboats.

Before colliding with the gunboats, the airdrop pods’ cells rapidly mutated, swelling like inflated balloons. Whether from the impact or self-detonation, the pods exploded, splattering the gunboats with corrosive flesh.

The explosions or impacts themselves didn’t damage the gunboats’ robust alloy armor, but that wasn’t the pods’ primary attack method. The splattered flesh quickly dissolved, acting as a potent corrosive agent that ate away at the gunboats’ defenses.

The Ji’s craftsmanship was impeccable. The gunboats were seamless, like perfect works of art, with no gaps for the corrosive substance to penetrate. But while there was no shortcut, the Swarm didn’t really need one. The corrosive substance was highly persistent, and soon the once-smooth hulls were pitted and scarred, emitting a pungent odor.

Nearby vegetation touched by the fumes withered and rotted instantly. Fortunately, there were no interstellar environmental protection agents present, or the fines would have been astronomical.

Meanwhile, the Spider Combat Bugs ejected earlier weren’t idle. While still in the air, they shot out strands of webbing. These strands had strong adhesive properties, allowing the bugs to quickly pull themselves toward their targets.

This ability had appeared in previous battles, but back then, it was used against unmanned fighter drones. The Ji special forces hadn’t expected to experience it firsthand.

However, they were no ordinary soldiers. With their combat suits’ assistance, they dodged and weaved, holding their ground for the time being. Still, the Spider Bugs’ interference gave Sarah and Tella a moment to catch their breath. They quickly got up and ran toward the distance.

“Team One, continue the pursuit! Team Two, cover and hold off these giant spiders!” Facing the target’s increasing distance, the special forces commander calmly issued orders while calling for reinforcements. They were now bogged down by Swarm units, and their gunboats were under attack. The chances of completing the mission alone were rapidly diminishing.

Following the orders, several team members quickly retrieved new firearm components from their suits and switched firing modes. Pulling the trigger released no visible projectiles, but an invisible wave of high-frequency ultrasound spread outward.

The ultrasonic waves, like an impenetrable barrier, not only blocked the incoming webbing but also blew the airborne Spider Bugs away. While the distance reduced their lethality, the repelling effect was still significant. Most importantly, this area-of-effect attack was highly effective against the Swarm’s numbers.

Meanwhile, under their teammates’ cover, other special force members activated their suits’ thrusters and turned to pursue Sarah and Tella.

At the same time, in the unseen void, Ji reinforcements had arrived. Given the importance of this mission, the Ji wouldn’t have sent just two squads to capture their primary target.

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Fierce gunfire suddenly rained down from above, as if the air itself was firing, striking the airdrop pods and Spider Bugs from the side. With both sides adept at stealth technology, the battle’s outcome was hard to predict. After all, who knew what other hidden units might be lurking in the unseen void?