Summoning Earth [Hiatus]

Chapter 4: Flames of Herodotus [1.1]

Continental Sky to the West

With the Rafales having been brought down to 13,000 feet after the previous evasive maneuvers, the wyverns seemingly getting the upper hand as they force the jets to bleed speed and altitude. The wyvern knights on their backs turn their beasts around as they unleash another salvo of fireballs.

Omega-1's WSO shouts at his pilot as he watches the fireballs getting closer and closer, "Enemy fireballs, 4 o'clock!"

The pilot follows up with a hard turn to the right with the engines on full throttle, managing to avoid the incoming fireballs as they gradually use their speed to their advantage.

Suddenly, Omega-2 and 4 descend onto the firefight. "Omega-2, let's send these wyverns back into a museum!" Despite the wyverns' better agility at slower speed with even having the ability to flap in place like a helicopter, they still pale in comparison to boom-and-zoom tactics from the faster fighter jets. The pair of Rafale Cs switch the rate of fire of their cannons to save ammunition against a group of laughable opponents before unleashing their formidable firepower, the thunderous roar of their GIAT-30mm cannons shattering the air as cannon rounds whizz towards the wyverns.

The air resonated with the intermittent rhythm of gunfire as the Rafales continuously fired without resorting to missiles, aiming to take down the wyverns. The wyvern knights pull on their reins as they start to disperse to avoid the oncoming cannonfire, however, two knights were too late and they and their mount were shredded by 30mm rounds.

"Omega-1, Splash two bandits, we'll regain altitude and speed before joining you guys again!" With that, Omega-1 and 3 ignite their afterburners and pull up to 14,000 feet, ready to dive bomb onto another unsuspecting wyvern rider.

The sky turned into a chaotic whirlwind as the wyverns retaliated with their fireballs. Streaks of fire lit up the dimming sky, illuminating the heavens. Omega-2 and 4 skillfully pilot their machines, executing precise maneuvers to evade the incoming fire, large gusts of wind hitting some wyverns as their riders desperately hold onto their reigns to prevent falling off their mounts.

Omega-4 turns his jet around to approach a wyvern rider in a head-on duel, a large ball of flame between the winged reptile's jaws as it's mere moments from firing it at the Rafale. Just before the wyvern can fire its fireball at Omega-4, he releases his own burst of fire into the wyvern's direction. The nose of the Rafale shines bright orange from the muzzle flash as 30mm rounds pass through the fireball and penetrate the flesh and bone of the wyvern and its rider, the flaming orb disintegrating harmlessly into thin air.

Amidst the fiery exchange, the pair continues to down several more wyverns. Scales and armour scatter across the sky as the wyvern knights try desperately to regain control of their already-dead partner.

"W-We need reinforcements, these metal beasts are overpowering us in every aspect. Did these things come from Mirishial?!"

"Spread out! Spread out! Switch to flamethrowe-", his sentence cutting off after Omega-3 dives right on top of him, 30mm rounds piercing his armour and wyvern.

Despite the chaos, Omega Nima manages to regain contact with the squadron, "Omega Squadron, there's 38 bandits approaching you from all directions, cease and withdraw immediately!"

The crew were shocked to learn about the large wyvern group approaching them. At this point, they wouldn't even have enough rounds to shoot all of them down.

"Omega-1, Roger that, regaining altitude."

The four Rafales pull up to meet back up with the AEW&C aircraft, each pilot moving his jet back into formation, leaving the reinforcing wyverns behind to deal with flames from missed fireballs and recover the bodies of their dead comrades.