The Appearance of Sky Despair
The Appearance of Sky Despair.
I prepared various hunting tools to catch the Sky Despair.
The first tool was an iron shield cart bristling with spear tips. No matter how tough the Sky Despair's body was, its signature speed was fatal even to itself. Not even it could emerge unscathed from a thick iron plate covered in sharp spikes.
The second was an iron net. It probably wouldn't get caught easily if thrown, but if luck was on our side and it tangled, we could restrict its movements for a moment. A quick slash with an Aura Blade would finish it off.
The third was an iron spike shield. Blocking the Sky Despair's charge with it wouldn't leave the wielder unharmed, but the beast would take fatal damage too.
The fourth was long blades connecting the shield carts. If it flew between them and got snagged, it'd suffer major wounds at minimum.
And the fifth and final tool was the Magic Cannon. I planned to load it with iron balls or pebbles and fire at the beast. It could form a barrage to block its approach, and if luck struck true, the hunt would end instantly.
The reason I prepared these tools was to catch the Sky Despair with human hands, not Armida sister's. In the future, it would be us humans—not the Valkyries—facing these creatures. So we had to find a way for humans to take them down.
"Hurry up with the preparations."
It was one dawn. Before me, over 200 mercenaries moved in perfect unison, readying the shield carts and wagons loaded with hunting tools. A few conscripted shepherds from the ranks herded hundreds of sheep.
Everything was coming together nicely. They moved like clockwork, and the packing was meticulous.
I unrolled a map and stared at one spot. It was a wild hill deep in the Sky Despair's territory, with a sheer cliff on its eastern face.
'Lure it here and take it down.'
I'd chosen the high cliff area as our hunting ground to limit the Sky Despair's approach vectors. With the cliff blocking the rear, it wouldn't come from behind. And the risk of crashing into the cliff would make frontal assaults rare too. That left just the flanks to block, making the hunt far easier.
"Little brother."
Armida sister approached me. As I folded the map and looked up, she jabbed her thumb toward somewhere. Katrinah's group.
"They want to tag along."
"Why?"
"Guess they wanna see just how strong this magic beast is. Gotta report new monster intel to Chronos anyway."
"Can't you just handle the report, sis?"
Armida sister rolled her eyes dramatically.
"Tons of paperwork. Complicated procedures, and Nemisona has final approval."
"Oh?"
"Yeah. Total pain."
Katrinah and company. Not thrilled, but not the worst. Better to have extra powerhouses in case my plan failed. With her around, retreats would cost fewer lives.
"Tell 'em they can come if they follow my orders to the letter. But no one below Shura's level. They'd just be baggage."
"Got it."
Armida went over, relayed my conditional okay, and Katrinah, Sierra Princess, and Ignes Princess stepped forward as reps.
As they approached, I narrowed my eyes.
"Sis. Why three? I said no one below Shura."
Sierra Princess stared at me.
"You surely don't mean me, right?"
"Not 'surely.' You and Ignes Princess."
Sierra's face twisted.
"Do you see me as inferior to the Yin-Yang Great Saintess?"
"Yep."
"Why?"
"Can you manifest an Aura Blade?"
Sierra looked flustered. She had impressive martial skills, but hadn't reached Master yet.
"N-no."
"Then what makes you think you're above Shura? She can summon one, even if just briefly. She's almost at Master."
Sierra scrambled.
"But I have Vermon's magic."
"What good's that if you're dead before casting? Don't risk hurting innocents with late spells. Stay here."
"……."
Sierra fell silent. I turned to Ignes Princess.
"Ignes Princess, you can come. Shaya's healing magic is damn useful."
Ignes glanced at Sierra, then replied.
"Yes."
"But no heroics. Stay prone in the center of the defensive formation. Don't lift your head, or it'll fly off."
"Yes. Understood."
I left stunned Sierra behind and marched the unit out.
Just our group plus 250 troops, but the column stretched long. Plenty of wagons, a dozen Magic Cannons, and hundreds of sheep trailing behind.
* * *
We entered the Sky Despair's territory only the next morning. We could've made it yesterday, but that meant camping in its domain overnight. I wanted no part of that.
Monsters see fine at night. Humans don't.
Armida sister approached.
"Little brother."
"Yeah?"
She eyed the sheep herd up front slyly.
"Why drag along these useless sheep? Slows us down."
"Useless? Each one's worth a human life. Sky Despair doesn't discriminate—kills anything alive equally."
Armida nodded.
"Bait, then?"
"More like sacrificial distractions to draw its eyes. Hard to bait Sky Despair—it's too smart."
Then a lead mercenary shouted.
"Baekmyeon-nim! Deer carcass nearby."
I broke off from sis and headed over.
"How's it killed?"
"Hacked apart. Burn marks on wounds."
Sky Despair's work. I bellowed to all.
"Pick up the pace! We gotta reach the site fast."
Judging we'd entered its turf, I hurried the march. An ambush en route would cost heavy. Open plains and woods—perfect for the Sky Despair.
It happened near our cliff-hill destination. A clear chirp from nearby woods furrowed my brow.
Peep-peep-peep~ Peep-peep-peep~
Crystal bird call, but I knew it heralded death. The Sky Despair's cry.
"Damn it, it's here! Everyone, hug the shield carts and sprint to the cliff!"
A mystical being rose into the sky.
Under 70cm body, iridescent feathered wings. Five long tail strands trailed rainbow dust. A translucent glow ran along its back from head to tail.
"Whoa~ Pretty bird."
"Not a bird! It's it!"
The Sky Despair flaunted plumage flashier than any earthly bird. Like a divine spirit descended—but harboring brutal savagery that chilled the soul.
High in the sky, eight Aura Claws extended from its talons. Attack signal. It aligned on us, descended slowly, then blitzed over the sheep at lightning speed.
Shhhk. Gliding whoosh late. Shredded sheep chunks sprayed blood midair.
"Wh-what the hell was that?"
"Run!"
Dazed soldiers and mercs swapped terrified glances under sheepskin cloaks, then bolted for the cliff hugging shield carts.
"I'll get it!"
Katrinah drew to hurl her weapon, but the Sky Despair was already gone far skyward. She gritted teeth, guarded the unit, and followed.
Soon it reappeared over the sheep, beak wide in eerie cry as it streaked past.
Peep-peep-peep~.
Some sheep torsos exploded. Its ultrasonic breath.
Sheep finally realized they were prey, scattering in panic. Useless. Sky Despair pursued, pulping them one by one.
Baa, baa! Sheep screams echoed with blood fountains. Hundreds strong, but few reached the cliff with us. Most fled wildly, butchered cruelly.
Time short. At the cliff, I densely arrayed shield carts to block flank entries.
"Mount the blades quick. Plant the net-pole spears."
Mercs moved swiftly: blades on shield carts, net poles erected.
Magic Cannons positioned, crossbowmen ready. I told Armida sister beside me.
"Sis, call directions when it approaches."
"Got it."
I turned to Shura.
"Shura, watch overhead constantly. Shout if you spot it circling."
"Yes."
"Tis!"
Knight Tis responded.
"Yes."
"Load all Magic Cannons."
"Yes."
I finished positioning the rest, stood front-center, drew Yojyo. Short or long, our showdown with it would end in a flash. Seize the moment, strike true.
Ignes Princess approached.
"What should I do?"
"Told you. Stay down. Heal wounded if any."
"Ah, yes."
Silence fell. No more sheep cries—Sky Despair's feast done. Lost most in short time, regrettable, but worth bringing.
Let us build defenses bloodless. Without sheep, it'd cost human lives for time.
'This bastard, as vicious as ever.'
I recalled past chase, brow twitching. My thousands then died without resistance.
But now, prepared. Layered nets and carts hindered access; Magic Cannons ready for lethal hits.
"East!"
Armida's warning—I bellowed.
"East! Fire all!"
Magic Cannons roared, crossbow bolts blanketed east. Futile. It slipped barrage pre-formation, soared overhead.
Shhhhk~
Luckily, it veered up nearing defenses—alarmed by high net poles blocking entry.
Enveloped in formless energy, it hesitated briefly. Then freed, vanished afar.
I glanced at Katrinah—hand extended toward its path. Her telekinesis.
"Sis. Didn't tell her?"
"What?"
"Telekinesis barely works?"
"Oops, forgot."
I sighed shortly.
"Tell her to spam Sky Sword toward its approach. Might hit."
"Okay."
After, it shunned us long. Wary of cannon barrages and Katrinah's power.
Why Sky Despair terrifies: unlike mindless beasts, it thinks, judges—won't rush blindly.
Thunder rumbles meant it lingered near. Speed causes them.
'Monster instincts inevitable. Endless slaughter lust.'
I tweaked plan in lull. Faster than thought. By sis's warning to my order to fire, timing lagged. Skip my command step.
"West this time!"
Armida's urgent cry. Barrage volley turned it away pre-entry.
But no relief yet. Unlike others, it analyzes, exploits weaknesses.
"East! Low skim this time!"
Blind spot. It exploited cannon blind, squeezing in.
"Hold fire!"
Troops halted. It dove deep, Aura Claws severed net pole—flew high.
I gnashed teeth watching. It could've killed soldiers, but targeted nets only. Clear intent: dismantle defenses first.
'Damn clever shit. Gonna strip us bare? Let's see.'
I had mercs re-erect new net poles, fortifying, and waited.
The Appearance of Sky Despair. End