Weaponry

She slowly scanned the room, lingering on each cadet. Some clenched their fists tightly, others averted their gaze, trying to conceal their unease.

— Well, now it's time to talk about how we can kill these creatures, — she said, a slight smirk curling the corners of her lips.

She snapped her fingers, and the hologram shifted. The screen displayed a schematic image of three massive weapon constructs floating in the air. They appeared to be ancient artifacts, woven from metal, shimmering lines of energy, and mysterious symbols.

— As you've already realized, conventional weapons aren't particularly effective against Nephilim. Their bodies regenerate, they can adapt, and some even exist beyond the usual laws of physics. That's why Nexuses were created, along with weapons capable of tearing these creatures to pieces.

She ran her hand across the control panel, zooming in on one of the images.

— The entire weapon system utilizing the power of the Nexus is divided into three classes. Each is designed to destroy specific classes of Nephilim. Using weapons above the first class requires command approval, and the higher the class, the harder it is to obtain. First of all, it's worth noting that weapon classification is very conditional. It can take on all sorts of forms, appearances, and principles of use. All of this depends directly on the materials used for its creation. Ah… I forgot to mention — the weapons, like the Nexuses, are made from Nephilim corpses. — At the bombshell revelation, there were gasps of shock. Faces froze in pure astonishment; someone, unable to restrain themselves, exclaimed loudly:

— What?! Is she serious? — Margaret responded to the rather blunt question with complete calmness.

— I understand this information may be shocking, — a dramatic pause, a light sigh. — But if you think about it, it makes perfect sense, — she subtly chided. — I understand this isn't taught in training, but have you truly never wondered why pilots usually use melee weapons? Why not take a plasma rifle instead of a sword or spear and blast a Nephilim to bits? The answer is simple — the materials would be lost.

The previously shocked cadets finally collected themselves, and seeing this, Margaret returned to the main topic of the lecture:

— Let's conclude our little digression and get back to the main subject, — the hologram changed, and the first weapon took center stage. It resembled a massive spear with a branching tip, covered in numerous engraved symbols. — The first class is divided into two subgroups: ranged weapons and melee weapons. The image here shows the "Gungnir." Named after the spear Odin used to pierce his enemies. This weapon is used against Guardians and Goliaths. It generates a directed energy pulse that disrupts the molecular structure of Nephilim. It destroys them quite effectively but is practically useless against Colossi and Requiems.

Margaret swiped her hand again, and the screen displayed a giant rifle, glowing with strange energy beams and covered in a network of luminous wires. At the center of the weapon was an enormous lens emitting warped light. It was designed like an ancient artifact, but despite its futuristic appearance, the weapon looked rather intimidating. Some cadets exchanged glances.

— This is the "Eye of Typhon," a second-class weapon designed to destroy Requiems. These creatures can distort the very fabric of reality, tearing space and time around themselves, creating anomalies that cannot be destroyed by conventional means, — she paused to let the information sink in, then continued:

— Each shot from the "Eye of Typhon" launches a projectile made from the core of a Requiem. Consequently, the ammunition retains all the properties of the creature it was taken from. Upon impact, the projectile creates a singularity at the point of collision. This distortion of the space-time continuum exists for only a few microseconds, but that's enough to destroy even the strongest forms of matter, including a Requiem's body, — Margaret looked at the silent cadets, giving them time to comprehend all she had said.

— And yes, there are consequences. The projectile can destroy not only the Requiem's body but also the area of space where it impacts. For several seconds, reality around it distorts, which can affect everything within the area. This weapon requires incredible precision and very strict control; otherwise, it can destroy not just the target but also the surrounding space.

Improper use can easily lead to disaster. Therefore, like all second-class weapons, its use requires command authorization.

— The "Eye of Typhon" is just an example. Second-class weaponry can take any form. We'll examine them in more detail in subsequent lectures.

She paused briefly to let them absorb her words. Then she waved her hand again.

The final hologram shifted. Now the screen displayed something lacking a definite form. It resembled a vortex of energy, interwoven with dazzling flashes and dark spatial fissures.

— This is the "Quark Catalyst," a third-class weapon designed to destroy Requiems, Terramorphs, and theoretically Titans. Its principle of operation involves focusing energy at the level of quantum interactions, initiating the process of quark decay — the fundamental building blocks of matter.

She slowed her speech slightly, giving everyone time to grasp the importance of her words.

— When fired, high-energy impulses are tuned to a specific frequency, triggering quark decay in the target's material. These decays lead to instability at the level of nuclear interactions, breaking down the integrity of the substance to the level of elementary particles. The result is the disintegration of the object to the most fundamental levels of existence, where physical structure can no longer be restored.

Margaret stepped closer to the screen, pointing at the focusing elements of the device.

— However, unlike ordinary matter disintegration, the "Catalyst" initiates a process where quark decay itself causes a brief alteration in the fundamental forces acting within matter. This process leads to the spontaneous collapse not only of the target's structure but also its energy potential. On a microscopic level, this can cause the formation of a singularity, the disappearance of normal temporal and spatial coordinates at the point of impact.

She glanced at the cadets, giving them time to reflect.

— You understand that miscalculation with this weapon can result in destruction beyond the target, affecting the surrounding space, don't you? The problem is that matter decay at such a level can provoke an unpredictable chain reaction, spreading destruction to everything within the range of effect. Time and space may distort, creating anomalies that could be worse than simple annihilation.

Margaret paused briefly.

— Therefore, the "Quark Catalyst" requires strict control and can only be authorized with approval from high command. One mistake, one miscalculation — and the consequences could impact not just your target but the very reality around it. And, accordingly, this could lead to the death of the pilot as well as the destruction of a citadel or a stationary city, — another pause followed.

— Therefore, the "Quark Catalyst" requires strict control and can only be authorized with approval from high command.

Immediately after these words, the image disappeared from the screen.

— Well, that concludes our lecture.

— But you said you'd also tell us about Nexuses? — a voice rang out from the depths of the room. Sitting at the front of the room, Cassian, though he didn't know who exactly had spoken, also wondered about this. — Oops… Ahem... Regarding Nexuses, they don't have any specific classification, division, types, or anything else. Each one is unique, and their characteristics, like those of weapons, depend on the Nephilim from which the Nexus was created. The only thing they have in common is their principle of operation. Every Nexus requires a pilot. They are placed inside the Nexus and linked to the machine's consciousness. A person resonates with the core of the Nexus, allowing it to be piloted. The stronger the connection between the person and the Nexus, the better the final result. The more power of the Nephilim awakened in the Nexus, the more effectively it can be used, — pausing for a moment and seemingly remembering something else, she continued: — Without the Nexus, all the weaponry I've told you about is practically useless because the second- and third-class weapons operate precisely due to the Nephilim energy contained within the Nexus. This is where pilots are needed, as they control the Nexus and, consequently, can fully utilize the weapons. — Margaret let out a tired sigh and, after once again announcing the end of the lecture, left the room.

The students still seated could only wonder: "Why weren't we told about this before the practical test?"