Chapter 37
“Keep firing! Don’t let them get near the airship!”
Twang! Twang! Twang!
The sky deck was in total chaos. Flying monsters that looks like birds of prey keep on attacking the airship from all direction. Arrows, harpoons, and even magic rained on the monsters that try to approach the airship.
Unfortunately, there’s just too many of them, and from time to time, monsters would get through the bombardment and attack the defenders directly. But before the monster could cause any damage, they would be killed by the other defenders, including Rennel.
Speaking of Rennel, her presence in the sky deck definitely surprised the defenders. But since they're busy dealing with the monsters, no one has the time to question her presence there. Moreover, she was not there to annoy the defenders; on the contrary, she was also killing the monsters that manage to get through the net.
It was thanks to her presence that the defenders could focus on keeping the flying monsters at bay. Still, none of them could relax. On the contrary, the nearer the airship was to the sky titan, the more monsters there were.
And really it can’t be help. Just one look at the sky titan and one will understand why there are so many flying monsters attacking. The sky titan was not just a titanic flying creature. It was also the home of countless aerial beasts.
Yes, the sky titan had an entire ecosystem of flying monster living on its titanic body. Moreover, the relationship between the monsters and the titan was not parasitic, but rather, a symbiotic one.
The titan’s body served as the flying monsters home – place where they could breed and rest. Meanwhile, the flying monsters served as a first line of defense against any threats to the sky titan. Moreover, these monsters also feed on the parasites on the sky titan’s body.
It’s a relationship that was beneficial to both party but not to a third party. Anything that gets into a certain distance of the Titan Galestorm would be unequivocally attacked by the aerial beast. The sky titan itself didn’t care about the airships or the other monster that tries to get near it.
Meaning, the sky titan won’t attack anyone that doesn’t attack it first, living up to the reputation of all titans as benevolent beings. That said, the sky titan won’t actively stop the flying monsters that attacks everything they perceived as threats. But this also applies to the monsters living on its body which means that it won’t actively defend the aerial beast if they were attacked by other creatures.
Basically, the sky titan doesn’t care whether the aerial beast and other creatures fight each other as long as they don’t involve it. For the sky titan, aside from fulfilling its duty, other things were inconsequential. In many ways, the sky titan’s apathy was actually for the best. Considering the destructive power of the titans, if these godlike creatures involved themselves in the struggles of mortal beings, the world might have been destroyed a long time ago.
Speaking of the sky titan, it was quite the magnificent creature. If Titan Andes have the appearance of a golem as large as a very tall mountain; the Titan Galestorm looks like an eagle except that it’s titanic in size.
The wings of the titans alone should be hundreds of kilometers long at each side. The body was a lot less than that but it should at least be a hundred kilometers long, possibly more. Although the titans have wings, it doesn’t seem to be flying because of it. It’s highly possible something else was making the sky titan fly.
Not that anyone would know as no one was able to even get near the sky titan because of the monsters and the powerful wind that surrounded its titanic body. Although the aerial beasts can maneuver inside the wind, airships and magicians that could use flight magic cannot.
Speaking of the wind. There was actually a theory that it was these wind that keeps the sky titan afloat. Of course no one could prove this theory as going near the sky titan was tantamount to suicide. What with the aerial beast and all…
****
Only ten minutes had passed since the battle started. But despite the fact that only ten minutes had passed, the amount of flying monsters killed was substantial. The amount of monster corpses on the sky deck alone already took a lot of space. What’s more of the monsters that falls to the sea below.
Still, despite the amount of flying monsters killed, more monsters keeps on coming as if there’s no end to it.
“Don’t give up! As long as we distant ourselves enough from the sky titan, the attack would eventually stop.” The leader of the defender shouted in an attempt to raise everyone’s morale.
Fortunately, the leader’s shout was very effective. Even those that were already exhausted forced their tired bodies to keep going. Seeing this, Rennel could not help but praise the professionalism of airship’s crews.
“They’re not bad. If nothing unexpected happened, then the attacks would stop without any casualties from the defenders. Unfortunately… things will not always go as one would expect…” Chaos commented.
The words of her teacher made the girl’s heart skipped a beat. Chaos was not one to spout empty words. If he says that something unexpected will happen then something unexpected will happen.
Having received her teacher’s warning, Rennel grew more vigilant. To protect herself and the defenders from any sudden attack, she finally uses ‘Detection’ ability which was covered the entirety of the airship. And as if on cue, she detected a powerful presence entered the range of her detection from above!
“Watch out!” Rennel screamed as she careened towards were the leader was.
Bang!
Jade Thorn collided with the claws of the powerful monster coming from above them which created a powerful shockwave that sends the nearby defenders flying. The collision not only affected the people on the sky deck but it also made the airship shakes.
Ugah!!!
Aaaahhhh!!!
“What, what the hell!?!?!?
“Is everyone okay?!”
Complains, moans of pain, and shock are written on the faces of the defenders on the sky deck. The unexpected attack from above them truly caught them by surprise. Thankfully, no one was seriously injured. But…
Flap! Flap! Flap!
The monster that made the surprise was revealed to everyone present. It was huge bird-like monster with feathers that seemed to be made of silver.
“No way! It’s a silver falcon!” One of the crew blurted out in shock.
“Why is a monster king here?!” Another crew questioned in dismay.
The silver falcon is a flying-type monster king; a most troublesome foe that very few people want to encounter on land let alone on the sky. Known for its viciousness, the silver falcon would not stop until it hunts its prey.
For a silver falcon to appear in this junction of the fight with the aerial beasts was just pure bad luck for the defending crews. With its strength, intelligence, agility, and speed; a silver falcon would be a very difficult opponent for the defenders even if they were at full strength. What’s more when they’re already exhausted from fighting the other aerial beasts?
“Teacher… isn’t our luck a bit too bad? It has only been few months since I left the village but I already encountered one guardian, two titans, and three monster kings.” Rennel complained telepathically.
“Hmm… you’re definitely unlucky. Those destinies should have belonged to other people but you always ended up with them.” Chaos nodded in agreement.
Destinies?
“Teacher, what do you mean by that?” Rennel asked in confusion.
Chaos turned his eyes towards his student before answering. “The meeting with the guardian… that destiny should belong to some guy in Robac. The monstrous wolf subjugation quest should have been taken by a party of adventurer from Alchur. The honor of killing the goblin king should have fallen to the shoulders of Clyde and his party.”
“The meeting of the Titan Andes and Galestorm… well, they're just a coincidence. Lastly, this fight with the silver falcon… should have belonged to a group of poachers that’s currently hiding behind the entrance of the sky deck.”
What?!
Something clicked on the Rennel's head, and she shouted at the people hiding behind the iron door. “I know that you guys are there… so stop hiding and show yourselves!”
Rennel had long known the presence of four people hiding just behind the iron door which lead into the airship. At first she thought that these people are just passengers curious of what’s happening on the sky deck which was why she had ignored them till now. But to think they’re actually poachers!
****
The iron door opened and four burly men stepped out. There was a look of surprise on everyone’s face on the sky deck when they saw the men. What surprise the defenders though were not the men themselves but the fact that they were fully armed.
As a rule; every passengers are told to temporarily surrender their weapons to the crews of the airships for safekeeping. The weapon would be stored in storage inside the airship, and would be returned to owners after the airship reached their destination.
Seeing a girl with a spear on the sky deck was strange enough but to think that there’s actually four men with weapons on the airship!
Moreover, unlike the cloaked girl who’s only armed with a spear, the four men are armed to the teeth. Sabers, spears, bows and arrows, daggers, ropes, and even a net – the four men have them all. It was as if they’re hunters instead of passengers.
“Sirs… what’s going on here? What’s with all the weapons and tools?” The leader of the defender who was blown away earlier asked while being assisted by one of the crew.
“Do you really have the time to ask us that? Shouldn’t you be killing those monsters? Look, your friends are barely holding out!” One of the men taunted.
Groan.
The leader of the defenders groans in annoyance because of the man’s rudeness but as the man was a passenger, the leader could not lose his temper. Moreover, the man does have a point. Although he was suspicious of the men’s identity, or how they managed to smuggled so many weapons, it was not the time to ask too many question.
“Don’t listen to him, these men are poachers.” Rennel revealed. “And they’re here to hunt the monsters.”
Rennel who was carefully observing the silver falcon in case of another sudden attack finally spoke, and revealed the men’s occupation.
“What? Is that true?” The leader was taken aback by what Rennel had said and could not help but confront the four men.
The four burly men were also surprise that the cloaked girl knew who they were. Although they’re carrying a lot of weapon and tools, it shouldn’t be enough to reveal their true identities.
“How surprising… to think you’re able to tell by just looking at us.” One of the men praises. ‘I don’t believe we have meet before, right?
“We haven’t… But it won’t change the fact that I know. As for how I found out your true occupation… let’s just say I have my way.” Rennel answered mysteriously.
Rennel could obviously not tell the poachers that it was his non-human teacher who told her about them. Firstly, they might not even believe her. Secondly, even if they do believe her, Chaos, her teacher’s identity could not be revealed to just anyone. Lastly, her teacher was a rare and unknown creature, and these poachers make their living by hunting rare creatures.
If these men try to make a move on her teacher, it might not end well for them…
“…Besides. Shouldn’t you guys come clean already?” Rennel asked without looking back.
“Come clean you say? Whatever do you mean?” The same man asked, obviously playing dumb.
“There’s no point on playing dumb on me. I know that you guys are here to hunt the aerial beast.” Rennel was not annoyed that the poachers are still trying to play dumb despite being caught. “Just one look of the weapons and tools you managed to smuggle inside the airship, and one could tell that you’re up to no good.”
“Heh… you speak as if you haven’t smuggled a weapon too. I’m sure that that good-looking spear of yours isn’t a toy.” The man who argued with the leader of the defenders earlier stared at Jade Thorn, his meaning obvious.
Unfortunately, for the men, they messed with the wrong person…
“I’m different from you guys. Unlike you four, I’m legally allowed to carry a weapon inside the airship.”
Rennel took out the magician badge that her teacher gave her before departing two days ago. The badge was proof that she’s an official magician from “The Tower”. Being an official magician, Rennel was granted a lot of convenience even when outside the tower. Among the conveniences that the badge provides includes the right to carry a weapon aboard airships and regular ships!
“You’re a magician! How could that be? You’re using a spear!” The rude man blurted in shock.
“Is there a law stating that magician should only able to use magic?” Rennel questioned.
Guh!
The men groaned, and were unable to answer. It was true that magicians usually use magic in battle but that doesn’t mean they couldn’t use weapons.
“So you’re a magician. I apologized for doubting you earlier.” The leaders of the defenders apologized.
“Don’t worry about it. For now let’s take care of the aerial beasts and the monster king.” Rennel responded. “You four, isn’t it time to do what you came here to do?”
“What, what do you mean?” One of the men asked awkwardly.
A sarcastic smile appeared on Rennel face when she heard the man’s question.
“What else? Hunt the silver falcon!”
****
To be continued
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