Chapter 399
Chapter 399
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 399
Chapter Title: 2-22. Counterattack (9)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Figured it out? This quickly?"
"Yeah... it's not perfect."
Abel nodded.
His nose was still gushing blood from the intense focus.
He wiped his face with the back of his hand and continued.
"I remember drawing this desert when I was making maps before. This place is a sand sea ten times bigger than the Empire."
"Damn, ten times?"
"Nothing to be surprised about. This planet was hundreds of times bigger than the one we came from to begin with. Doesn't it suit a homeworld for conquerors who roam the cosmos?"
Abel chuckled.
My companions and I froze.
Not just a continent—hundreds of times the size of a whole planet? I'd never even imagined a scale like that.
He jerked his chin toward the horizon.
"To get to the Origin, just keep heading that way. But there's one minor problem."
"Minor problem, huh. What is it?"
A bad feeling washed over me.
This was definitely not minor.
"At this speed, it'll take about five years. Assuming no interruptions, of course."
"Fuck."
Spot on.
And for reference, we'd have to eat and sleep entirely on Orse's back.
Goddamn it. I'd been uneasy ever since he mentioned the planet being hundreds of times bigger.
I clenched my fist and shot back.
"Five years is out of the question. Isn't there a faster way?"
"There is."
"Good. I was about to kick your ass right here if there wasn't. Spill it."
Five years meant my kid would be five years old.
No fucking way.
I wasn't about to finish this parallel world trip, come home, and have some toddler waddling out asking, 'Who's this guy?'
Especially not when I was already going crazy missing Adeshan.
Abel paused for a beat before speaking.
"We go through their city. It won't be easy."
"City? Even those bald bastards have one?"
"Yeah. It's different from our idea of a city, but it exists. Communities form around key facilities. I've never been there myself, but I know they have portals connecting spots all over the planet."
Abel explained how they used portals to traverse vast distances.
The secret to their mobility was revealed.
I'd been wondering if wingbeats alone could cover a planet this massive.
"Alright, then let's head there now. Where to?"
"Up."
Abel pointed skyward with his index finger.
I and the others followed suit, looking up.
Pale, ominous clouds roiled overhead.
The density looked hundreds of times thicker than the clouds over our occupied planet.
Every now and then, flashes lit up patches of cloud, revealing shadows of the bald-headed tribe flickering through.
"What's the chance of a swarm of bald bandits ambushing us on the way?"
"You think a shark won't show up just because you're swimming through blood-filled waters?"
"Fair point. Ha... my luck."
A sigh escaped me.
I knew declaring a frontal assault then whining like this was shameless.
Still, good was good.
What was wrong with an easy ride?
Might as well wrap this up quick since we were already in deep.
I tapped the scales underfoot with my toes.
"Orse. You good?"
【What do you mean?】
"Just... we're diving headfirst into their lair. Could be scary, you know? Worried about you."
【Ha, unbelievable. How dare you insult me like that!】
Orse laughed.
Dark crimson flames leaked between his teeth.
His agitated roar echoed across the desert.
【We'll arrive before you can even take a nap! Keep your eyes peeled!】
His four wings unfurled explosively.
He acted like enemy territory was something to wrap in thin pastry and devour.
Whatever.
The moment I grabbed Orse's dorsal spines and Rtancier's scruff at the same time—
Shwoooaaaak!
Orse shot into the sky like a black comet.
"Eeeek!"
"Such an easygoing guy. Kinda like it."
Rtancier screamed.
If I hadn't grabbed her, she'd have turned into a flying squirrel for real.
The other two were hanging on to the spines somehow.
We pierced the cloud layer in under a minute.
"Killing it."
I whistled at the scenery around us.
Clouds made of sparkling mana blanketed everything.
Nothing like the sea mist I'd seen before.
A trail of white clouds trailed behind Orse's wings.
"Gaaah! Hiii!"
"Not bad, demon dragon."
Abel let out a hollow laugh.
This speed rivaled Naransonia, the fastest dragon.
Probably Orse's max velocity.
The wind howled; my hair was no longer mine, whipping wildly.
The coat Saranthe gave me fluttered like a national flag in a typhoon.
『Intruders...』
『Stop...』
Voices of the baldies flickered in and out around us.
They sensed us but couldn't keep up with our speed.
'This is kinda sweet.'
Unexpected.
But a very welcome surprise.
We'd have bullshit adventures in the giants' city anyway; might as well cruise easy on the way.
Yeah.
We'd just shaken off that damn ordeal; people needed a breather.
I was savoring the wind, eyes closed, when—
『Epsilon judges you.』
"What?"
A low, thick voice boomed right above my head.
By the time I opened my eyes, it was already happening.
A baldie with six wings was diving straight at us.
"That bastard."
His face was familiar, too.
Distinctly larger build than other baldies, tattoos etched all over his body with unknown meanings.
Four arms as intimidating as his six wings.
No doubt.
The leader of the ones who'd ambushed us in the desert.
Each of his four hands gripped a sword crackling like lightning.
"Ha... fuck..."
No rest for the wind.
I was reaching for my sword hilt when—
The silent Phantasion kicked off the spines repeatedly and leaped.
"Deer."
It was almost an intercepting spell.
His massive frame had already swollen over twice its size with aura.
Gripping his double-headed axe with both hands, he swung.
"Muuuugh—!!"
A blow that split a tidal wave of light.
The blade, coated in my blood, shredded the bastard's barrier in one go and dug in.
Good up to here.
Kaang—!!
Swords clashed with axe in an explosive burst.
Phantasion flew back amid thunderous roar like a lightning strike.
"Kuhk!"
Like getting rammed by a rhino herd.
The giant who'd called himself Epsilon was unscathed.
Phantasion plummeted toward the clouds.
"Ph-Phantasion!"
Rtancier reached out.
The falling giant halted midair.
He was reeled up slowly over the clouds like a tuna on a line.
"Oh my god...!
Are you okay?!"
"Grooo...!"
Close call.
Invisible hands had caught Phantasion.
A second later, and he'd have splattered into the desert.
Phantasion's chest was charred like he'd been burned.
Rtancier's brow furrowed deeply.
"How dare you!"
She focused and thrust both arms forward.
A telekinetic vortex hurtled at Epsilon.
The formless energy twisted into a double helix like a raging torrent, amplifying its power.
"Heh. Impressive."
Abel admired.
It was warranted.
This was Rtancier's finisher, enough to make even giants cough blood and collapse.
The issue was the opponent wasn't your average baldie.
The moment of impact.
Epsilon crossed two swords to block the vortex.
『Arrogant vermin.』
A boom thundered.
Rtancier kept pouring out the vortex.
But while she burned mental energy fast, Epsilon stood firm.
His fully spread six wings controlled the recoil.
"Eeek!"
『Cease your futile resistance and perish.』
As the standoff dragged—
Epsilon swung the swords in his remaining two hands.
The vortex tore into quarters, unleashing a cross-shaped sword beam.
"...Ah."
Everything lit up.
Rtancier's chant stopped.
The incoming crossed beams were massive enough to slice Phileon Academy's main hall in half.
No blocking that.
Orse spat curses and tried evasive maneuvers when—
"Perfect. That's enough."
"Lord Ronan?"
I leaped past Rtancier.
I definitely felt lighter.
The gap closed in an instant; Epsilon's sword beam filled my vision.
'Six wings are still a handful. But damn good job.'
Worth watching the fight.
Rtancier and Phantasion exceeded expectations.
Not flinching before a six-winger meant they'd shine later.
Epsilon tilted his head.
『Foolish. Choosing death yourself.』
"That's you, dumbass."
Incomprehensible.
He'd seen through his minions' eyes, yet this judgment?
"Think six wings mean six lives?"
No time for chit-chat.
I quietly drew my sword.
Hundreds of slashes carved the air.
Epsilon's sword beam shattered.
Kwangchang!
The fragments scattered like cherry blossoms in the wind, beautifully.
『What.』
Epsilon faltered.
But my turn wasn't over.
Sunset aura filled the blade, illuminating ahead.
Epsilon, far off, was yanked toward me.
Three steps at most.
Swinging range.
『Again...!』
Epsilon reflexively tried to pull back.
But my thrust had already pierced the center of his crossed blades.
The light blade crumpled like clay.
The holy sword shredded four blades and sank into Epsilon's neck.
『Guh.』
Humble last words.
I raised the sword vertically.
His face split like a watermelon, with that tactile feedback.
Spluuurt!
Blood sprayed like a fountain, soaking my face.
"This... easily."
Phantasion muttered.
His big eyes sparkled incongruously.
I knew.
Only pure admiration and longing for strength could spark eyes like that.
I flashed a V-sign with index and middle finger at the deer dangling from telekinesis.
Hoping he'd gain some insight.
"Oh my god."
Rtancier clamped her mouth, aghast.
Abel stared at me like I was some monster.
Epsilon's six wings stiffened.
The bisected baldie plummeted below the clouds.
The moment I landed back on Orse—
"Hm?"
The endless cloud layer parted, sunlight pouring through.