Chapter 260

Chapter 260 - A Close Engagement

Messenger ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Ransis prepared for an outing for the first time in a while.

She ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍put on a hat to avoid the sunlight and took a basket, filling it with things to drink and eat.

The ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍place for her outing was a Tower of the Sky on the boundary line within the western neutral zone.

Today, ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the finest spectacle presently existing on earth was scheduled to take place here.

“I ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍wonder if the information leaked. The Towers of the Sky are packed along the direction of their advance.”

Ransis ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍muttered as though it had nothing to do with her and placed herself quite far from the place that would become a battlefield.

Since the scale of the spectacle was so vast, she had to be at least several kilometers away. Only then could she see the entire stage, as if seated in the back of a theater.

“My disciple. I will consider myself on vacation for today’s outing, so please make sure I do not have to step in as a safety officer.”

Thinking of her disciple, who should have come very close by now, she settled into place.

She landed on a Great Tree, wove bone to bone to create an observation platform, and set up supports. Once she spread a mat over it, her outing preparations were complete.

By the time she took a well-baked bagel, cream cheese, fruit, and wine from the basket and placed them on the mat.

RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE—

The wine she had set on the mat began to tremble violently.

The smile spreading across Ransis’s lips grew even deeper.

“They are here.”

She stretched her neck and looked toward the horizon watched by the Towers of the Sky.

A Skeleton Horse the size of a mountain, whose footsteps rang out with the roar of an earthquake. The Skeleton Giant Horse charged at the very front.

The one standing on that horse’s head looked at the dozens of floating towers while standing perfectly upright, without the slightest sway.

The enemies reflected in those gray eyes would be brutally cut down by the gray blade in his hand.

As her gaze followed the blade, elegant and straight, she naturally witnessed the giant castle following behind the giant horse.

The Black Giant Castle. The floating castle that symbolized the Fourth Son’s faction was the most alien existence beneath the clear western sky.

Blacker than a shadow and larger than all the Towers of the Sky combined, that castle signified the majesty of its master.

However, when it came to majesty, those flying alongside the Black Giant Castle in the sky could absolutely not be left out.

“They are making quite the splendid entrance.”

So much so that she smiled for the first time at blood relatives other than her own disciple, the Ghost Sisters did not hide their power.

Rather, they flaunted and displayed it, refusing to let their scale fall behind the Skeleton Giant Horse and the Black Giant Castle.

SSSSSSSS—

The yin energy of spirits reached even here, several kilometers away. The bagel she had warmed nicely began to cool as soon as it was left alone.

As a fellow Spirit Sorcerer, she could feel the number and quality of the spirits held by the Ghost Sisters from that yin energy alone.

“They worked hard.”

Nodding moderately, she looked up at the sky. The blue western sky through which the Ghost Sisters had passed had changed color.

The pleasantly warm sky, where the word clear had come to mind first, had turned murky.

A blue-gray sky, as though gray paint had been dropped into the blue background. It made a person feel stranger than storm clouds did.

However, the Ghost Sisters had no intention of stopping at strangeness. What they wanted was dread and fear.

With tens of thousands of spirits behind them, the sisters sat comfortably upon a swarm of blue-gray butterflies, accompanied by a Ghost Butler who had his hands elegantly clasped behind his back.

As though nothing above this place could make her stand, the Third Daughter crossed her slender legs arrogantly.

“Where is that disciple of mine?”

The teacher’s eyes searched only for her disciple with great effort. After craning her neck this way and that and rolling her eyes, she finally saw him.

She saw the Black Ship following at a certain distance even behind the rear.

That Black Ship was heavy and, despite being the farthest back among the blood relatives, stood out even more because of it.

But what stood out even more was the blood-eyed Son standing at the bow.

Even in the fierce wind that swept all of his dark violet hair backward, his bloodshot eyes blazed with a vivid crimson gleam.

“That brat. What theatrics.”

The teacher cackled and bit into the bagel before it cooled any further.

After a month-long march, the East began its counterattack. However, not even Ransis knew at this moment.

She did not know that the East’s true dagger was flying above her head.

***

Of the one hundred floating towers protecting the West, eighty were gathered in this place.

They were watchtowers, gun turrets, and mounts for the Sky Mages who lived on the front line.

—Confirmed that Millesdusk Main Force has entered visual range. All Sky Mages are authorized to charge Mana Cannons.

The wide-area telepathy supported by Sky Island’s Communications Unit reached the Sky Mages.

With the Second Daughter of Wisdom’s own voice as the key, all eighty Mana Cannons emitted blue light from their muzzles.

It was both a warning and a signal to the outsiders who had dared set foot on this land.

—Even if you attack the Spirit Sorcerers with Mana Cannons, it will have no effect. Aim for the enormous Skeleton Horse and the floating castle that physically exist. As for the Black Ship…

The voice transmitted through telepathy drew out the end of its sentence slightly.

—Do not attack it recklessly until it makes the first move. Rather than disrupting the direction of your attacks, focus on the Skeleton Horse and the floating castle.

The eighty Mana Cannons divided their targets in half on the spot.

The Skeleton Horse and the floating castle. Unlike spirits, the targets that actually existed in this world were also extremely large.

However, if they did not block the spirits, those spirits would creep closer like mist and suck away all the warmth of the living.

Thus, all the reinforced personnel, including the Sky Mages, had equipped Wisdom’s new magic.

—If the spirits approach, use the Nullifying Decree Chains. If you protect only yourself, the one using the Mana Cannon, with the chains, the spirits will be unable to inflict any harm beyond their chill.

Spirit Sorcerers had always been a headache for Wisdom. Even other sorcerers could not deal with them unless they used Spirit Sorcery.

For Wisdom, spirits had always been a problem, but now they had at least a minimal shield.

The fact that they would not die helplessly greatly raised the morale of the frontline mages.

It was a defensive line in which the desire and hope not to die were evenly mixed with unavoidable fear.

The seasoned pilots of the floating towers counted the seconds at the same time. Once they folded their fingers only five more times, Millesdusk would enter range.

That was clearly visible to the airship where the blood relatives of Wisdom were positioned, using the defensive line of the Towers of the Sky like a shield.

The Second Daughter stood within a telepathy magic circle created by the Communications Unit inside the warship, which faintly glowed blue.

All five of Pia’s fingers curled in, forming a fist.

“Eighty Mana Cannons. Fire.”

BOOOOOOM!!!

A vibration strong enough to shake even this control room rang out together with a thunderous cannonade.

However, not a single person was startled. If their hearts trembled at something like this, they could not fight the East.

“Ngh. Ah, has it started?”

The Wind Dragon, who had woken up to the cannonade as though it were an alarm, spoke in a voice still thick with sleep.

“Lord Ventus. Let us go now.”

Cos skillfully grabbed Ventus’s leg as he floated like a balloon and dragged him along.

As she went, she looked at her younger siblings, who seemed whenever she saw them as though a line had always been drawn between them.

“I will be back.”

“Yes.”

“Please return safely.”

Her youngest brother Ryan stubbornly refused to speak casually no matter how often she asked.

Seeing as she could not feel even the faint warmth from the youngest that she felt from Pia, he was perhaps more like a stranger who was somewhat closer than family.

“Ryan.”

“…Yes.”

Had he thought she would simply pass by? Ryan looked back with a slightly surprised expression.

But Cos was just as surprised. She had called him for now, but she truly could not think of anything to say.

In the end, as though scraping and scraping the inside of herself until she could vomit something up, she managed to pull out a single sentence.

“Be careful.”

It was something that made her sigh even as she said it. This was war, and the three people here were family.

In the chaos of war, one could be critically injured by a blind curse and die just like that.

No, in the worst case, a fresh-faced boy like him could return as a cold corpse.

And yet all she could say was a single sentence telling him to be careful.

“…I will go.”

But beyond that, her mouth would not open, as if glue had been spread over it.

They were family, but they had hardly spent any time together, and she had not been able to make an effort to grow closer. Because the adults had been between them.

Whenever she tried to approach, those called teachers appeared, took her siblings by the hand, took her hand as well, and separated them so they could not remain together.

Even now, when those teachers had disappeared, that distance remained unchanged.

She gave up and began trudging away while holding the Wind Dragon’s ankle.

“Eldest Sister, you be careful too.”

“Y-Yes.”

After barely nodding at her youngest brother’s answer, she fled from the control room.

“Heh. Even I feel awkward after watching that.”

“…When are you going to walk on your own two feet?”

Even then, the Wind Dragon was only floating in the air and letting himself be dragged. Meanwhile, his mouth produced nothing but absurd excuses.

“I will soon return to my true form and fly through the sky, will I not? If I am walking, it is difficult to imagine the image of flying.”

“Haa…”

How had she become entangled with a dragon like this? Cos lamented her own fate and went up to the deck.

There, wyverns with feathered wings instead of scales were chained in place.

It would have been fine to use Polymorph, but in that state, using other magic was not easy.

Therefore, the blood relatives of Wisdom had received wyverns from the family and had to become accustomed to controlling them from early on.

“Hm? You are going to ride that?”

“I can fly, but if I do it for too long, it will only drain my strength. I need to conserve as much mana as possible.”

She had brought various recovery Potions, but no matter how much preparation one made, it was never enough.

GRRRR—

Cos climbed onto the white-feathered wyvern and removed the chain binding it.

Only then did Ventus land on the floor and cross his arms.

“I do not have anything lengthy to say either. Do not die, all right?”

“Of course.”

She lightly kicked the wyvern with her heel.

WHOOOOOSH—

As it flapped its wings broadly, the wyvern caught the wind and rose at once.

“I do not have the slightest intention of dying in a place like this.”

Mounted on the wyvern, with her field of vision widened, Cos’s amethyst eyes clearly saw the bloodshot eyes in the distance.

The Towers of the Sky poured out bombardment, and Millesdusk also continued to unleash undead without stopping.

Even if the Mana Cannons aimed at the blood relatives for now, the undead would close around their necks like a swamp.

The direction of the cannon barrels would eventually shift, their firepower would scatter, and from then on, the muddy fight would begin.

But even within the mud, what she had to do was clear.

‘Fifth Son. I want to test myself against you once.’

She did not like fighting, but this was closer to an experiment or research than a battle.

‘You said the East and the West are all the same in the end, and that each side simply has its own position. I have my own position too.’

The white wyvern flew up and left the ship. Except for Pia, who had taken command, Ryan would follow as well.

‘Wait just a little. This time, I will come to you.’

Pulling her robe’s hood down, she guided the wyvern. There was not only one wyvern. However, it was true that there was only one wyvern with flesh.

WHOOSH— WHOOSH—

WHOOSH— WHOOSH—

The wyverns that had only bones remaining flew around the Skeleton Horse, making a hollow sound in the wind.

They also served as shields for the Skeleton Horse, but most of them scattered and aimed for the Towers of the Sky.

‘…It seems we will enter the mud faster than expected.’

Perhaps because the Bone Wyverns had no flesh, they were extremely swift and drew close to the Towers of the Sky in an instant.

The best defense was offense. Millesdusk’s strategy was immediately obvious.

“I will not fall for something that obvious.”

She raised her hand to dispose of the wyverns. But she could not extend it completely.

SLASH—!!

Instead of the hand she had stopped by instinct, her long sleeve was cut away and fell.

“What a pity.”

Mounted atop a Bone Wyvern, the eastern blood relative twirled the sword in his hand and pointed the tip at Cos.

“First Daughter of Wisdom. I am the First Son of Millesdusk, Hiler Black Millesdusk.”

“Yes. I am Cos.”

SLAAASH—!!

The blade and the blade of wind collided.

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