“We’ll be able to see our target location soon,” the instructor announced. As the command was given, the battleship launched, heading towards the gate to the heavenly realm, controlled by Sun God Isaliza and secured by the Tree King and Dragon King.
It had only been a few hours in terms of time.
Everyone was on edge, making it far from an elegant journey. Yet, it wasn’t a stifling one either. Instead of gathering in the conference room or waiting in their respective rooms, they all gravitated towards the bridge.
“Hey, Tree King. You did this, didn’t you? The area around the gate is overgrown,” one of them said.
“It’s a measure to prevent divine beasts from emerging. If left alone, it’s just a docile plant,” the Tree King replied.
“Kekeke, even for a Dragon Species, to call a carnivorous plant that devours everything docile,” the Dragon King scoffed.
“…”
Everyone had gathered on the bridge, looking at the gate. The traces of the Dragon King’s rampage clearly indicated a fierce battle had taken place here. However, the surrounding forest was so dense it seemed to have swallowed the scars of the conflict. Looking down at the scene from the bridge, it was as if the battlefield had been left to wither and overgrown by plants over a long period.
Then he spotted it.
Entangled by vines, a horse-like creature, appearing dried and mummified, was desperately struggling to break free. Judging by its massive size and the mystical light it still emitted, it was undoubtedly a divine beast.
“It doesn’t burn, does it?” someone remarked.
“Someone said fire was a plant’s weakness, but we’re not foolish enough to leave it like that indefinitely,” the Tree King responded calmly.
He really wished the Tree King wouldn’t casually reveal that he controlled plants capable of capturing and consuming divine beasts, and that they had overcome their biological weaknesses. He couldn’t help but glance at the Tree King twice, sighing at the thought that his own common sense hadn’t been fully submerged in fantasy yet.
This was it. This was why the generals were so fearsome. Even when you thought you’d reached rock bottom, it turned out to be a lid, and when you grabbed the hidden handle and pulled it off, an abyss impenetrable by light was revealed. To challenge a god, having a few such hidden trump cards was, conversely, quite reassuring.
“Human King, what do you think we’ve been training for? To slay Sun God Isaliza! How do you expect to achieve that without overcoming something as simple as fire?”
“You have a point.”
The battleship flew over the dense forest they absolutely did not want to enter, and the gate loomed before them. At that precise timing, the Dragon King moved towards the exit.
“I’m going in as my true form. I’d rather not make this cramped space my coffin.”
While he was in human form, the Dragon King’s original form was that of a colossal dragon. It made perfect sense. Perhaps he should also head to the deck? Frankly, staying onboard, he could only imagine himself firing slashes from within and destroying the battleship.
“Suella, stay here and provide support from the battleship.”
“Understood.”
With Suella remaining on standby, he followed the Dragon King outside. That is, pure combatants like the generals would be following the Dragon King as well.
“Hey, why are you following?”
“Well, I can’t fight effectively if I’m just here.”
“Me neither.”
“…”
“I can fight, but if I want to fight freely, it’s better outside.”
The Dragon King, clearly displeased, glared back, only his head turning. He replied normally, but the instructor inexplicably gave a thumbs-up. The Uuor remained silent. The Tree King, the one who usually adhered to common sense, placed a hand on his cheek with a troubled expression, but what he said was the most extreme.
“Tch.”
Since what he said wasn’t wrong, the Dragon King gritted his teeth, clearly displeased, and then strode forward.
“This is Captain speaking to all crew. We will be breaching the gate shortly. All personnel, finalize your preparations and be ready to handle any situation.”
Even while walking, the ship continued to advance without the need for running. Kaido’s voice, slightly strained but trying to remain his usual self, echoed through the speakers.
“You’re acting unlike yourself.”
“That’s true. It’s my first time going to the heavenly realm, so I’m a bit nervous?”
“What, nervous now? Hey, hey, was your nerve that small?”
“I’ve been trained by some scary people to tame nervousness and fear, so it won’t affect my combat. Besides, aren’t you shaking with excitement and unable to fight properly yourself?”
“Don’t you lie to me.”
They exchanged jokes as they walked, using the situation as material. A pat on the back was met with a swift counter, and a sharp *pachin* sound indicated a fist being caught by a large hand.
“It’s easy for you. We can’t even guarantee we’ll return alive.”
“…That’s true.”
“Hey, hey, the newcomer is trying his best to lighten the mood, you know?”
“Is that so?”
“No, I didn’t intend to. I just said what I was thinking.”
He hadn’t expected some lighthearted banter to be taken so seriously at his age, feeling a bit embarrassed when asked earnestly.
“Hey, you guys are too loud.”
The Dragon King’s irritated voice, cutting into their conversation to distract him from his embarrassment, was surprisingly welcome. The Dragon King himself had already reached for the hatch to the outside and was prying it open slightly. Was he trying to tell him to focus more before entering enemy territory by speaking at this precise moment? He tried to interpret it positively.
“Tch.”
Perhaps his thoughts had leaked out, because as soon as their eyes met, he became even more displeased and roughly flung the hatch open before exiting.
“Did I do something wrong?”
“He’s just a clumsy guy.”
“I’ve been feeling a bit unfulfilled lately, so my irritation has been building up.”
“…”
He experienced a rare moment of other generals covering for the clumsy Dragon King, one of the generals he’d never managed to get along with until the very end.
“Perhaps we could have a drink together at the victory celebration.”
“That’s a great idea. Shall we have a drinking contest with him?”
“…If so, I’ll join you.”
“Then, I suppose I’ll have to go all out too.”
“…”
“Huh?”
He spoke again, spurred by a sudden thought. They were casual words, but the serious tone of the instructor and the Uuor when the Tree King declared he’d drink seriously was quite striking.
“Is there a problem?”
“No, there’s no problem…”
“Hmm.”
Then, yet another unusual scene unfolded, with ambiguous replies until the very end.
“Gyaaaaaaa-AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!”
The roar of a dragon echoed from beyond the hatch.
“They’re urging us to hurry, aren’t they?”
“Indeed. This conversation can wait until after we win.”
“Hmm.”
“To do that, we must at least return with all our limbs intact.”
With the dragon’s roar as a signal, they plunged through the hatch. On the deck, a white dragon spread its wings, on the verge of taking flight. Simultaneously, the battleship’s bow was almost touching the gate. They were about to enter the heavenly realm. At that moment, an alarm blared.
“Well, they wouldn’t let us reach the gods so easily,” the instructor said, cracking his knuckles with a triumphant smile.
“That’s true,” he replied, sighing, wishing it could have been a bit easier.
“The presence alone indicates a considerable number of divine beasts gathered around the gate.”
“It doesn’t matter. We’ll kill only the necessary ones and forge a path forward.”
Amidst the blaring alarms, their fighting spirit intensified.
“The Uuor is right. The Dragon King will take the vanguard. We’ll widen that path and head straight for that Sun God.”
As the battleship’s bow touched the gate, divine beasts charged. A white flash pierced through them. It was the Dragon King’s breath.
“Alright, alright! The fight begins!!”
“You mean a battle to the death?”
Starting with piercing the head of a rhinoceros-like divine beast engulfed in flames, turning it into a corpse, the divine beasts’ killing intent turned towards them. Ah, they were so bloodthirsty. He followed the instructor, who kicked off the deck and leaped into the air. The battleship’s defense was more than sufficient with just the Tree King and the Uuor. He would also play his part as a vanguard. It was a simple job: beheading divine beasts that the instructor had knocked off balance. With the Dragon King rampaging and the divine beasts’ killing intent focused on him, the instructor would punch their flanks, and as they lost their footing, he would deliver the killing blow. If that happened, the divine beasts in front of them could be cut down with almost robotic efficiency.
“Hah! What’s wrong?! Is that all you’ve got!!!”
“Gahahahahaha!!”
As they began to find their rhythm, even while being attacked by divine beasts, he could observe the scenery of the heavenly realm. The domain ruled by Sun God Isaliza had a colorscheme that was exceptionally skewed. White and red. Those were the only dominant colors. The plants, the ground, the sky—everything was bathed in flames, a world where one might wonder if anything they touched would be incinerated. It made sense that the divine beasts dwelling there were covered in flames.
“…This is troublesome.”
Miraculously, there was enough oxygen to breathe. However, the magic power lingering in the air was peculiar. He concealed his presence, blending into the background behind the two figures raging wildly, making himself less noticeable. He told himself, in his heart, that he was an assassin, and kicked off the air again. Accelerating rapidly, he sliced off another divine beast’s head, sent it crashing down, and then dropped it onto the head of a divine beast running on the ground. Hidden by the two figures in their frenzy, he focused solely on assassination. However, against divine beasts, not all his movements could go unnoticed. Naturally, some would sense his presence through scent, sound, or magic power.
“Hah!!”
If they looked away because they noticed him, they’d be met with the instructor’s iron fist.
“Don’t look away!!”
The Dragon King’s breath blasted forward. Furthermore, they were keeping pace with the battleship even while fighting. While the Dragon King could fly with his wings, both he and the instructor were relying solely on their leg strength to keep up. Divine beasts approaching the battleship were being intercepted by the Tree King, the Uuor, and the powered suit squad stationed inside the battleship, preventing them from getting any closer. Seeing this scene and his own movements, it appeared he was fighting properly.
“My body isn’t cooperating.”
However, the magic particles in the air didn’t feel right. He could exert his full power, but maintaining peak condition was difficult.
“This is the domain of the gods.”
If he could adapt, it wouldn’t be a problem, but it was uncertain how long it would take to adapt.
“…I’ve heard that smoke and certain things like high places, but perhaps this is their ultimate realm.”
The path ahead was long. The destination of the battleship, the abode of the gods. Since entering this heavenly realm, a colossal mountain stood prominently in the center. A mountain so massive it didn’t hide behind the horizon, and at its summit, a sun that shone, black and murky. That was where the god resided. It was a sight that instilled certainty. It was at least a relief to know he didn’t have to hesitate and could just head there. He sliced off another divine beast’s head and dropped it to the ground. Yet, their numbers showed no sign of decreasing. The sounds of impact and the dragon’s roars echoed throughout the area; was it to lure enemies?
“There’s no need to annihilate them all.”
As a means of eroding the enemy’s strength, this fighting style was appropriate, but overdoing it would deplete his stamina, so it was better not to. However, he didn’t know how to stop the two who were clearly enjoying themselves.
“Well, it’ll probably work out.”
He used the act of slashing divine beasts as practice for slicing through gods, and as a bonus, considered how to open a path, continuously swinging the Ore Tree. However, the sheer number was overwhelming. It would be a tough task to clear them out. It would calm down eventually, right?
“I hope it calms down.”
He knew it was a faint hope against the desperate Sun God, but the wish slipped out nonetheless.
Today’s Word: Once it starts, there’s no room for nervousness.
Thank you for your continued feedback and reports of typos. If you find this interesting, please leave reviews, ratings, bookmarks, etc. I am also currently serializing another work: Pandora Pandemic Panic. They are fighting back with various strategies from secret bases and more! Please check that out as well!
