Chapter 86
Chapter 86
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 86
Chapter Title: Chapter 29 - Sky Island #2
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Though the Grand General had led his guards in a counterattack, that was still only on the ground.
The skies remained the domain of the sky dragons, meaning enemies surrounded them on all sides—and above.
“We’ll force our way through.”
Queen Reina spoke in a resolute voice and began deploying multiple spells in succession.
Just as she’d said, she planned to erect defensive magic and charge straight to the Sky Island.
“Your Majesty! They’re coming!”
It was right then.
Not only the sky dragons but also the giant bats swarmed in, attacking Queen Reina.
“Out of the question!”
Sandalphon swung his massive spear widely, shoving back the approaching sky dragons and bats, but their attacks weren’t limited to close range.
The sky dragons, evading his spear and pulling back, unleashed flames, while the bats emitted ultrasonic waves that disrupted Queen Reina’s flight.
[Master! There are too many enemies!]
[Breaking through by force is impossible!]
Even Integra’s drone, far smaller than Queen Reina, couldn’t find a path to the Sky Island amid the relentless onslaught.
—Boom! Boom! Boom!
Queen Reina’s body shook as she blocked the flames and ultrasonic waves with her shield magic.
Sky dragons from below, out of reach of Sandalphon’s spear, were ramming her with their bodies.
“Your Majesty!”
Sandalphon roared and thrust his spear downward, but it wasn’t enough.
Moreover, even transformed into a dragon, Queen Reina wasn’t suited for close combat.
She was holding off ranged attacks with magic, but getting pummeled like this meant they’d never reach the Sky Island.
But right at that moment.
“Shock Wave!”
Queen Reina, barely steadying herself in midair, unleashed another spell.
The powerful vibration magic shook off the surrounding sky dragons and bats for a brief moment, and she gasped for breath.
Unable to properly use her most powerful spell, the Charm Magic, in her dragon form was proving to be a greater limitation than imagined.
But Queen Reina had no other choice.
To rescue Aru from the Sky Island, she absolutely needed Sandalphon and Luther’s assistance.
She had to reach the Sky Island somehow.
She’d carve out a path, no matter what it took.
“Here we go!”
Queen Reina spun sharply and charged toward the Sky Island again.
Sandalphon swung his spear in all directions to shake off the sky dragons, and dozens of shield spells shattered against the flames and ultrasonic waves.
And Luther steadied his breathing.
With evasion maneuvers impossible to open a path, only one option remained.
“Integra!”
Shouting loudly and thrusting his right arm forward, Integra responded immediately.
She recalled the drone and, peering ahead through Luther’s eyes, cried out.
[Combine sequence!]
[Access code! Buster Cannon Mk. II!]
The drone, fused with the backpack, merged with Luther’s right arm. Then Night Wing was added.
What formed was a jet-black cannon!
Sandalphon, startled by the change on his back, whipped around to look at Luther in surprise, while Queen Reina, unable to see behind her, continued her desperate flight.
“Sandalphon! Hold me steady!”
As Luther braced the jet-black cannon with his left hand and shouted, Sandalphon instantly understood and lowered his stance to support Luther’s back.
Luther’s gaze fixed on the Sky Island and the sky dragons in between, and Integra’s voice followed.
[Limiter release! Level Ten!]
[Twin Drive system all clear!]
The two Dragon Hearts blazed with fierce light.
Blue lines starting from Luther’s chest spread across his body, and the two targeting reticles displayed on the HUD converged on a single point.
And in an instant.
The moment the two reticles merged into one!
[Energy charge 210% complete!]
[Buster Cannon Mk. II! Firing!]
With Integra’s roar, a pillar of pure white light filled their vision.
A massive beam of light cleaved the sky, devouring everything in its path.
—Kwarung! Kwarung! Kwarururung!
The sky dragons caught in the beam were practically vaporized.
The bats’ wings melted away, and dozens of sky dragons and bats peeled off, tearing a massive hole in the sky.
—Kwaa-!
The beam, splitting even the atmosphere, whipped up a frenzy in the heavens.
Those fighting on the ground below gaped up at the sky in awe, as did Sandalphon and Queen Reina.
“Queen Reina!”
But not Luther.
Snapping to attention at his near-command shout, Queen Reina hurled herself toward the path opened in the sky.
Admiring the chilling might of heavenly power could wait until they reached the Sky Island.
[90% of remaining energy expended.]
[Switching to emergency generation mode.]
[Recharging energy pack.]
[Resupplying ammo from cartridge.]
Integra spoke as she detached Night Wing and the backpack from Luther’s right arm.
These were pre-installed in the backpack for such contingencies.
“Hoo, hoo, haa.”
Luther let his right arm hang, breathing heavily, and Sandalphon, who had been smiling at him, grew serious again.
The sky dragons and bat swarms, frightened off by the Buster Cannon, were swarming back.
[Master! The Sky Island is close!]
[19 seconds to arrival!]
[18!]
[17!]
The Sky Island’s silhouette came clearly into Luther’s view.
It was a circular island topped by a massive temple. Once they landed and entered the temple, they could block attacks from sky dragons and bats.
Of course, Hecatoncheires ground forces were likely inside the temple.
“Sandalphon! Luther! We’re forcing through!”
Queen Reina chose to charge.
Sandalphon hunkered down low on her back, while Luther lifted his head and shouted.
“Integra! Bullet hell!”
[Missile container open!]
[Multi-targeting OK!]
[Full salvo! Launching!]
—Kwarururung!
Twenty small missiles mounted not just on the backpack but across Luther’s nanosuit fired in a 360-degree barrage centered on Queen Reina, exploding in midair to form a shield of firepower.
—Boom! Boom! Boom!
The explosions and smoke screened Queen Reina from the sky dragons and bats.
Quite a few plummeted, caught in the missile blasts.
“Wh-what?!”
As Sandalphon’s eyes widened, Queen Reina poured on her final burst of speed.
[8 seconds to Sky Island!]
[7!]
[6!]
[Master! It’s the High Priest!]
“High Priest?!”
This time, even Luther couldn’t stay calm.
And Integra was right.
Near their landing point, High Priest Matriel and his subordinates stood with a protective barrier deployed.
“Sandalphon!”
Luther shouted urgently, but Sandalphon knew nothing of the spy. He even waved happily toward the High Priest.
And at that moment, the High Priest extended his hand toward Queen Reina.
If the High Priest’s attack magic struck now, Queen Reina’s only fate would be endless freefall.
“Integra! Night Shield!”
[Night Wing! Deploying!]
The jet-black wings merged into one and spread wide. The Sky Island was near, and sky dragons and bats spewed flames and ultrasonic waves from afar.
And right then.
“Wall of the Sea!”
Holy power radiated from the High Priest’s hand, enveloping Queen Reina.
Waves formed in midair, becoming a true barrier that shielded her from the flames and ultrasonic waves.
[M-Master?!]
Integra cried out in confusion. Luther, too, stared at the High Priest in shock.
But the surprises weren’t over.
“Your Majesty! This way!”
The High Priest guided Queen Reina.
It wasn’t a shallow trick to lure her in and strike from behind. Queen Reina could detect lies, after all.
The High Priest, who had spent ages with the royals, surely knew that.
“Push back the sky dragons! Protect Her Majesty!”
At the High Priest’s command, the surrounding priests unleashed holy magic toward the sky.
Thanks to them, Queen Reina landed on the Sky Island and immediately reverted to human form, while Luther and Sandalphon each touched down on the ground.
“Haa... haa... Mat... riel... High Priest...”
Queen Reina, drenched in sweat, collapsed to her knees, gasping. The High Priest hurried to support her and cast recovery magic.
“Your Majesty, we were thrown into chaos by this upheaval. Do you know anything about the current situation?”
The High Priest’s face, wrapped around Queen Reina’s slender waist, was thick with lust but also genuine puzzlement.
What was this?
Could the High Priest not be the spy after all?
[Th-then what’s going on? Don’t tell me the Grand General is the spy?!]
[N-no! More like the High Priest is pretending not to be—]
Integra’s voice trailed off in panic.
Luther glanced at her, then back at the High Priest and Queen Reina. And in that moment, he realized one key fact.
“That’s not it.”
[Huh? Then don’t tell me Queen Reina?!]
Integra was already half in panic mode.
So Luther looked her straight in the eye—or would have—and said.
“The premise has changed. The situation has changed. Most of all, the timing has advanced.”
The black-masked man who appeared before High Priest Matriel.
The black-masked man who appeared before Queen Reina.
And likely the black-masked man who appeared before the Grand General as well.
If they were truly Hecatoncheires members...
‘In the original story, the ritual was much later than now.’
Integra blinked. Then her eyes widened as she nodded, understanding what Luther meant.
[You mean there’s no spy!]
[Hecatoncheires didn’t have enough time to turn one of the High Priest, Grand General, or Queen into a spy!]
Exactly.
Moreover, the situation had diverged wildly from the original.
The Peliaru death that had broken Queen Reina’s spirit never happened.
The Grand General had cured his daughter.
‘There is a spy, though. Probably among the close aides or subordinates of the Queen, Grand General, or High Priest.’
Otherwise, the current situation made no sense.
Spies definitely existed.
But they hadn’t had time to convince their superiors or masters.
And as a result, not only those who turned to Hecatoncheires in the original but even those eliminated early could now all fight for the Malkuth Kingdom.
‘Break the board.’
Just like in the west.
The south’s board was broken too. And the results weren’t all negative.
Positive effects existed as well.
“Sir Luther?”
Queen Reina turned to him with a weary face.
The High Priest looked displeased but was watching Luther.
And beside them, Sandalphon grinned broadly.
“Let’s hurry.”
Luther unwittingly smiled and turned toward the temple.
But before he could take a single step, the moment the temple entrance came clearly into view.
[Boy’s Log #87 playback initiated.]
A new video unfolded before Luther’s eyes.