Behind me, the helicopter struggled to maintain its altitude before beginning a steep descent toward the ocean. Its pilot tried to correct the aircraft's angle, but the damage prevented it from responding properly.
The helicopter struck the water and exploded.
The resulting fire spread across the surface, joining the burning patches left behind by the other destroyed aircraft.
I landed on the ship and immediately looked toward the remaining helicopters.
Their numbers had decreased considerably.
Several aircraft were still flying, but their movements had become increasingly erratic. Some continued firing at the ships below, while others focused entirely on keeping their distance from me and Seras. The coordinated attack they had launched earlier had practically fallen apart, leaving individual pilots to make desperate decisions while trying to survive.
A few helicopters attempted to provide covering fire for those retreating.
