Dokutah_WS

[Translated novel version for English readers. For original version, checked "Bầu Trời Hai Mặt".]

In the 22nd century, the world was no longer divided into separate nations. For mutual benefit, humanity had united, yet never truly became one. Despite technology and magic reaching their zenith, wars had never ceased.

At the fierce borders, warriors battled day and night. General Stratos of the Nation and Commander Lunamaria Whieblod of the Organization stood as symbols of this endless war. They fought not only for duty and belief but also for the dreams deep within their souls.

But behind the fiery battlefields and meticulously calculated military strategies lay a bloody political chessboard. Conspiracies were woven like a spider’s web, and secrets were buried deep in the darkness. And perhaps, the most terrifying thing was not the enemy before them, but the invisible hands strangling the fragile peace that humanity had always longed for.

The Two-Faced Sky

Mobile Weapons: Unlike in the 20xx years, mobile weapons are not as favored at this time. Under the development of high technology and supernatural magic in all blocs, mobile weapons are nearly inactive as soon as they step onto the battlefield. For that reason, the human factor is highly valued in the tactical strategies of nations.

-"Who wouldn't want to bring tanks and armor onto the battlefield? It would be much easier, but that was in the past. Now, bringing them is like climbing into a mobile coffin." - Hawl, a soldier, said.-

Light Long-Range Weapons: Similar to the 20xx years, long-range weapons like guns are still used. However, due to the development of protective armors for soldiers, long-range weapons lose their current lethality, so they are usually only used to support advances.

Medium Long-Range Weapons: Similar to light long-range weapons, medium long-range weapons like artillery are still used. However, their main purpose is still to weaken the defensive shields at strongholds. Or to intercept enemy forces unexpectedly, to cause significant losses. And like light long-range weapons, under the development of military armors, the firepower of medium long-range weapons is not sufficient to completely take down soldiers.

-"They tried very hard to create a concentrated energy beam on the tip of the bullet, but the recoil was too great, leading to the 'shield' becoming stronger too. And if they reduce the recoil? Well, you don't want to see a gun jamming right at the barrel." - Howard, a weapons dealer for an unnamed bloc, said.-

Heavy Long-Range Weapons: Similar to mobile weapons, long-range weapons are completely useless on the battlefield, even if fired from over a thousand miles away.

-"They tried very hard, but it's impossible. Like the Challenger spacecraft, no one wants to invest in a weapon that will explode as soon as it enters the airspace, or worse, as soon as it's fired" - Evan, a military historian on armed forces, said.-

Combat Armor: The basic equipment for all soldiers. After many decades of development, combat armor today is fully capable, or even more than capable, of protecting soldiers' lives from long-range firepower. When exposed to the shockwaves from those types of weapons, energy fields are activated, creating a large resistance along with a counterforce, completely neutralizing the shockwaves from those weapons. Additionally, thanks to advances in material development, combat armors are very light but sufficient to protect the soldiers' lives.

-"In principle, they are very durable, and reality has proven that" - Gira, a researcher in military weapon development, said after firing an entire magazine at a dummy wearing armor.-

Melee Weapons: Contrary to the 20xx years, close-range weapons are highly favored. Due to their ease of upgrading and enhancement, as well as their ability to be easily combined with high technology or magic, close-range weapons have become the trump card in battles, as their destructive power is sufficient to break through the sturdy armors of enemies on the other side of the front line with shockwaves only a tenth of those from long-range weapons.

-"I'll explain it this way for you to understand easily: when the sword blade touches the energy field, it will be blocked, but the energy field on the sword itself helps them cancel each other out, thereby penetrating through. Indeed, we have to thank the limited power of ourselves. And besides, under the pressure of the energy field, they easily pierce through that light armor" - Edward, department head and high-tech researcher and developer, said.-

[The World] Everything about the 22nd Century - Weapon - Part 1