I Am The Swarm-Chapter 704: Shift in Strategy

Compared to the winged fighters of other races, the Ji’s spherical fighters not only held a significant advantage in agility but also in their weapon systems.

Equipped with two anti-matter cannons, the spherical fighters were the only ones in the Confederation to miniaturize anti-matter weaponry to such an extent. In terms of firepower alone, they were in a league of their own compared to other races’ fighters.

While other races’ unmanned fighter drones could only strap bombs to themselves and kamikaze into Space Octopuses, serving as makeshift homing missiles, the Ji’s unmanned fighter drones carried weapons that posed a lethal threat not only to the Swarm’s larval and mature bodies but also to the Primordial bodies.

Moreover, the spherical fighters’ omnidirectional propulsion system allowed for 360-degree firing coverage, making them incredibly formidable.

However, these unmanned fighter drones weren’t without flaws. Despite their firepower and agility, their defensive capabilities were relatively weak due to their compact size.

Although they could maneuver flexibly and change direction freely, once surrounded by Space Octopuses and forced into tight spaces, their defenses couldn’t withstand the tentacle strikes of the Octopuses.

But the Ji’s humanoid robots compensated for this weakness. If the spherical fighters were long-range units, the humanoid robots were versatile melee combatants with a focus on close-quarters combat.

The Swarm wasn’t encountering humanoid mechs for the first time. Unlike the Botians’ primitive mechs, which stood dozens or even hundreds of meters tall, or the Daibo’s anime-inspired mechs that resembled oversized action figures, the Ji’s mechs were just over ten meters tall, with a balanced build.

Each mech was armed with a Gauss pistol and six drone cannons, providing seven long-range firepower points, making their ranged capabilities impressive.

Additionally, they wielded two slender high-molecular blades. Combined with their exceptional agility, these mechs, despite sacrificing defense, could hold their own in close combat against Space Octopuses.

Most importantly, while using their melee weapons, the mechs couldn’t fire their Gauss pistols, but the six drone cannons operated independently. Each had its own propulsion, weapon systems, and energy supply, allowing them to function autonomously.

This was akin to a master dual-wielding swordsman with six floating pistols automatically attacking nearby targets—a devastating combination.

When paired with the spherical fighters, this setup arguably surpassed the Swarm’s configuration. Furthermore, the Ji also deployed spider-like, multi-legged small robots.

These robots had electromagnetic adsorption devices on their legs, allowing them to move swiftly and flexibly across the surface of the warships. They also possessed decent close and long-range combat capabilities, filling the defensive gaps left by the other two types of robots. They were a versatile special forces unit.

This well-defined hierarchy of roles allowed the units to complement each other seamlessly, explaining how they managed to clear the Space Octopuses from the warships. But they didn’t stop there. More and more of the three types of robots emerged from the hangars, forming tactical squads to assist the warships in attacking and clearing the Swarm units clinging to them.

Despite the Ji’s powerful firepower and seamless coordination, the Swarm wasn’t without its strengths. More and more Primordial bodies closed in on the Ji warships.

The close-range anti-matter cannons left the Ji warships, already lacking maneuvering space, riddled with holes. Many robots were also caught in the crossfire.

The three types of robots weren’t heavily armored, and even the peripheral damage from the Swarm’s main cannons inflicted heavy losses. Moreover, the Swarm also adopted a no-holds-barred approach, using larval and mature bodies to tie down the Ji robots while the Primordial bodies unleashed devastating fire.

With only two hundred Ji warships, their numbers were too few. Even after deploying all their robots, the warships were quickly overwhelmed. Smaller larval bodies took advantage of the chaos, wreaking havoc.

With the combat robots deployed externally, the interior of the Ji warships was left vulnerable. Eventually, even repair robots were sent to the front lines. Surprisingly, these repair robots, controlled by the Ji’s AI, also had decent combat capabilities. But against the Swarm’s main combat units, they were still outmatched, and the defenses were soon breached.

Perhaps fearing the leakage of their technology—given the Swarm’s previous behavior, which often hinted at certain capabilities—the Ji warships, realizing escape was impossible, initiated self-destruct sequences, taking the Swarm units inside with them.

The explosions from the Ji warships were massive, releasing blinding flashes of light that were visible even in broad daylight. While the ground battle raged on, the self-destruction of the warships drew significant attention.

Ambros and the others naturally noticed this, as the frequent flashes in the sky were impossible to ignore. The sight darkened their expressions, as those warships were their means of escape. With them destroyed, being stranded on this planet would leave them utterly helpless.

Moreover, in Ambros’ memory, the Ji were known for valuing their lives highly. While one or two might resort to self-destructing their ships, such a large-scale self-destruction was highly abnormal.

But by now, too many abnormal things had happened. Facing life and death, Ambros had no time to dwell on these anomalies. All he wanted was to escape this perilous situation. Fortunately, he had just received word that twenty thousand Ji warships were en route to near-planetary orbit.

However, given the earlier indiscriminate attacks, he knew his status as a Ji elder might not mean much in this battle. Those twenty thousand warships might not be coming to rescue them.

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Ambros was a smart man. He glanced back in the direction Tella had fled, secretly relieved that the Swarm Empress was still a factor. Perhaps, in some people’s eyes, the Swarm Empress’s value far exceeded that of a Ji elder. The safest course of action now might be to stay close to the Swarm Empress.

If the Swarm Empress were captured, he could quickly move in and hitch a ride. Realizing this, he decisively ordered, “Change course. Retreat in that direction.”

“That direction? Isn’t that where the Swarm Empress is fleeing?”

“Exactly. Those who agree, follow me. Those who don’t, stick to the original retreat route. You few, protect me!”