MIGHT AS WELL BE OP

Chapter 492: Intent Barrier
Anthony sat in composed silence, eyes closed, as his aircraft pierced through the fabric of space at blistering speed, en route to Military Base Alpha-9.

Hours had passed since he concluded his intense discussion about the Starborn Tournament with the Grand Marshals.

Now, he sought only a brief reprieve, an attempt to rest amidst the silence of the voyage.

But the onboard AI had other plans.

A sharp chime echoed through the control room, disrupting the stillness.

“Approaching Military Base Alpha-9. Estimated arrival: ten minutes”

Anthony’s eyes snapped open at the announcement.

Around him, the Grand Marshals and Warlords stirred as well, their eyes narrowing with focus as they emerged from their meditative stillness.

After hours of anticipation, their destination was finally within reach. A journey that would have taken days aboard a conventional aircraft had been reduced to mere hours, thanks to Anthony’s colossal Last Stand aircraft.

Anthony’s gaze remained fixed on the screen before him, expression unreadable.

He wasn’t sure what to expect, truthfully, he had no expectations at all. To him, this was just another military base among many.

“Is there a way to establish contact with the soldiers stationed at the base?”

Grand Marshal Alaric inquired, his voice steady as he turned toward the Warlords seated in the corner, their presence cloaked in silence and discipline.

“We do have an established point of contact. However, all communication equipment is located within the destroyed base”

Warlord Therionis replied calmly, his tone composed.

‘Seriously… what are space rings even for?’

The silent thought echoed in everyone’s minds with varying shades of resignation. But, they understood.

Certain protocols and security measures prevented vital systems from being stored within space rings, no matter how convenient that might seem.

Grand Marshal Alaric’s question, though seemingly obvious, was far from unnecessary. Everyone present was acutely aware of the dangers.

An unidentified aircraft breaching military airspace would almost certainly be met with lethal force.

“Additionally, the Supreme Monarchs maintain barrier systems around all military bases, advanced shields that nullify any form of external teleportation into the premises”

Warlord Kaelrix added with measured calm.

As the aircraft hurtled forward, the implications of those words settled over the group like a quiet weight.

“Then we halt just outside the perimeter. From there, we attempt to establish contact and await clearance”

Grand Marshal Dragon proposed, his tone suggestive.

It was the most logical course of action, measured, cautious, and infinitely preferable to being mistaken for a threat and incinerated midair.

The others gave subtle nods of agreement. In these skies, even a moment’s miscalculation could mean annihilation.

While the Grand Marshals and Warlords exchanged final thoughts among themselves, Anthony remained silent, his gaze sharp, locked onto the view ahead.

The military base now loomed in the distance, a shadow of war and resilience etched into the horizon.

“We’ve arrived”

Warlord Zauren announced, his voice steady, eyes fixed on the approaching structure.

But then, a ripple of confusion spread through the cabin. The aircraft hadn’t decelerated.

Brows furrowed. The silent rhythm of their voice broke as all eyes slowly turned toward Anthony, the one at the helm.

Though he hadn’t contributed to the discussion, they knew he had heard every word. Every word, every caution. Yet the aircraft continued forward at speed, closing in on the barrier that encased the base.

Their gazes were heavy, each one a question unspoken, a warning unvoiced.

And still, Anthony said nothing.

As the aircraft closed in on the barrier, tension thickened, until Anthony finally moved.

Without a word, he extended his hand and snapped his fingers, and the space around the aircraft fractured like shattered glass. A prism of reality splintered outward as he activated his Mirror Dimension.

The fragmented shards swiftly enveloped the entire aircraft, cocooning it within a warped reflection of reality.

In the next instant, the Mirror Dimension folded itself seamlessly over the military base, its distorted plane merging perfectly with the real world.

With effortless grace, the aircraft glided forward, bypassing the barrier entirely and entering restricted airspace without so much as a flicker of resistance.

‘It bypassed a Supreme Monarch’s barrier. Even this level of security couldn’t stop it’

Zhyravel’s eyes narrowed, flashing with a mix of awe and calculation.

The moment the aircraft fully entered the military base’s airspace, Anthony dispelled the Mirror Dimension with another simple motion.

Reality reasserted itself in an instant, glass-like shards dissolving into nothingness as the vessel reappeared in open sky.

But the silence didn’t last.

A deafening alarm split the air.

“WARNING! WARNING! UNIDENTIFIED AIRCRAFT DETECTED. ENGAGING DEFENSIVE PROTOCOLS”

The voice of the automated defense system thundered across the skies, emotionless and mechanical.

In the very next breath, a crimson beam lanced through the airspace, a focused stream of destructive energy, searing with precision.

It tore across the sky, locked directly onto Anthony’s aircraft like a spear of judgment.

It was not a warning shot.

It was a kill shot.

The moment the red beam ignited the skies, the atmosphere within the aircraft shifted. Tension gripped the control room like a vice.

The Grand Marshals and Warlords, seasoned warriors all, instinctively tensed, their eyes narrowing as pressure surged in the air.

“Lieutenant Anthony”

Grand Marshal Alaric said, his voice sharp and commanding, leaving no room for misinterpretation,

“Land the aircraft”

His gaze locked onto Anthony, cold and absolute. This wasn’t a request, it was a direct order, issued with the full weight of military authority.

Beep.

“Deploying Intent Barrier”

The AI announced, its voice swift and mechanical.

A radiant white barrier, forged entirely from pure Intent, surged across the aircraft’s metallic hull. In an instant, it expanded outward, forming a seamless dome of defense.

Then came the apocalyptic blast.

A crimson beam of overwhelming energy struck the barrier with cataclysmic force. The resulting detonation ruptured the airspace, clouds were torn asunder, and the very fabric of space trembled under the sheer magnitude of the impact.

“Warlords, you should step outside and make your presence known, with that, the attacks will be held back”

Anthony said at last, his voice steady as he turned to face the trio with a calm smile.

Warlord Kaelrix narrowed his eyes, folding his arms as he studied Anthony.

“Tell me, why didn’t you wait beyond the barrier as we agreed?”

He asked.

“We have no means of communication”

Anthony replied calmly.

“We can’t just linger outside for hours, hoping for a response. This is the most effective approach, quick, direct, and impossible to ignore”

As his final word settled in the air, another blast struck the barrier, this time with far greater force.

The entire structure reverberated, the light of the impact flaring ominously against the shield’s surface.

Beep.

“Amplifying output of the Intent Barrier”

The AI intoned once more.

A heavy silence settled between the Warlords and Anthony as they fixed their gazes on him, tension simmering beneath their composed exteriors.

From the sidelines, the Grand Marshals observed quietly. They, too, understood what had occurred, Anthony had acted outside the bounds of their agreement. But no explicit order had been issued by the Warlords.

And more importantly, this was his aircraft.

They held no authority here. This was not the military base, it was Anthony’s aircraft.

As another attack collapsed upon the Intent barrier, the Warlords finally moved.