Chapter 138: Thirty-Seventh Floor, Abduction (1)

[Use any means necessary to stop the conflict between the elves and humans before the thirty-ninth floor ends. There is no time limit.]

Ruins of once-thriving cities became a common sight the more we traveled west. No, describing them as ruins wasn’t quite apt. What lay before us were vast, circular wastelands, barren and desolate.

The surrounding landscapes remained untouched, which only made the scene feel more unnatural and surreal.

What left them in such a strange state?

Then again, the devastation was a godly matter, something beyond my comprehension. I shouldn’t waste my time dwelling on it.

Beyond the wasteland, elves stood visible in the distance, moving in small groups. Judging by their routes, they appeared to be heading toward the Loren Plains.

They appeared more frequently now, which made sense since we had departed Delrayle three days ago.

Of course, I hadn’t idled away the time aboard the airship. I spent it refining the upcoming plan, training with Doppy, and even letting Doppy spar with curious climbers who wanted to learn from his sessions.

While their growth didn’t particularly benefit me, it improved my reputation.

As I wrapped up a session, the pilot approached.

“Sir... if we continue for about thirty more minutes, we’ll reach the Reveron Mountains."

“Got it. Then let’s land somewhere nearby.”

“Okay. I’ll look for a safe spot.”

Instead of heading straight for the Loren Plains, we had redirected to the Reveron Mountains—for a good reason. The mountains, located south of the plains, were home to the elven council’s original meeting grounds. Naturally, many sky whales also lived there.

Using the Orb of the Sky Whale wouldn’t just conjure sky whales out of thin air, so I had to include retrieving one as a necessary step.

It should only be about thirty minutes away by airship. Unfortunately, traveling by foot will take a bit longer, though.

Although most elves had relocated to the Loren Plains due to the war, some were likely still guarding the mountains. Even with Shadow Veil cloaking our airship, we couldn’t risk flying too close.

Besides, the next phase of my plan required me to proceed alone.

A short while later, the pilot skillfully landed the airship in a secluded area.

“All right, everyone. Disembark.”

The climbers, already briefed on the plan, stepped off without hesitation.

The pilot and crew, however, remained aboard, glancing at us warily. Though they tried to hide it, there was a glimmer of hope in their eyes as they likely thought I would set them free after this.

Of course, that wasn’t going to happen.

“What are you waiting for? Get off.”

Their eyes widened in disbelief. “Excuse me?"

I didn’t have the patience for this, so I stared unyieldingly at them. “You heard me. Everyone off the airship.”

The pilot and crew hesitated, exchanging uneasy glances.

“Why are we being asked to leave all of a sudden?"

Frustrated by their hesitation, Cecilia shouted from behind, “What are you doing? Hurry up and get off! We don’t have time for this!"

Startled by her commanding tone, the pilot and crew scrambled to disembark. They seemed to have decided it was better to comply first and ask questions later.

Once the last crew member stepped off, I tapped the mimic lightly.

“Mung-chi, you can swallow this too, right?"

Soundlessly, the mimic responded. A shadowy mass surged from it, enveloping the airship and swallowing it whole. The massive vessel, larger than most houses, disappeared into the mimic and vanished into the void of my pocket.

It was a spectacle that never failed to amaze me, even after all this time.

“W-what the...!"

“A monster! It’s a monster!"

The pilot and crew cried out in horror, their faces pale.

I ignored their outbursts. Cecilia would explain the situation and calm them down soon enough. I planned to return this airship eventually unless I failed to acquire a combat airship, in which case this one would remain with me.

Leaving the stunned crew behind, I opened a portal leading toward the outskirts of Delrayle.

As the swirling rift stabilized, the climbers approached and offered their goodbyes. Since I had thoroughly explained the plan’s necessity—and its risk—they hadn’t objected or complained.

“Su-Hyeok, we can’t thank you enough. You’ve done so much for us when it would have been easier to go alone..."

While I wholeheartedly agreed with the climber’s statement, outright agreeing with it wouldn’t leave the best impression. Besides, having them along had its advantages, even if minor.

I shook my head slowly. “Not at all. Your help has been invaluable, from taking over the airship to supporting the plan’s future stages."

“

Haha

, you’re too kind. Best of luck. We’ll see you again soon."

“Everyone, go in this way!”

As the climbers began entering the portal, Cecilia ushered the pilot and crew in as well, ensuring none lingered behind.

While the crew was no longer necessary, I didn’t want word to spread that I had used spatial magic or was orchestrating something larger. That would only make targeting the king harder in the future.

This was also why I hadn’t teleported out of the keep during my infiltration.

As Cecilia led the last crew member through the portal, she turned to me with a warm smile. “Good luck. We’ll be rooting for you."

Over the past few days, I had grown increasingly grateful for Cecilia’s help. She had taken charge without needing my input, effectively managing both the climbers and the crew.

Though I hadn’t known her long, her leadership and decisiveness—likely honed as a party leader—had been impressive.

“Thank you. You’ve done a lot for us, especially managing the others. Get some rest now."

“You’ve worked harder than any of us, Su-Hyeok. Don’t worry. I’ll keep things under control here. Take care."

“Su-Yeok! Good luck!" Doppy shouted, waving as he stepped through the portal.

“Take care, Doppy. Stick with Cecilia.”

As the portal behind me closed, my focus shifted to the Reveron Mountains. It was time to find a sky whale.

***

Wasting no time, I ran without pause until I reached the base of the mountain range. Unsure of what to do next, I pulled the Orb of the Sky Whale out of the mimic.

Should I just use it here?

It didn’t come with instructions, so I had no clue how many sky whales the orb could control or whether they would appear merely by being summoned. The only aspect I was sure of was that it required mana to function.

It seems wiser to locate them first, then use the orb.

This was their habitat after all, so it shouldn’t take long to find one.

With my gaze fixed on the skies, I began scaling the mountains.

About thirty minutes passed.

Huh?

Beyond the ridgeline, I spotted one sky whale—my first since entering the thirty-fifth floor. The Reveron Mountains truly lived up to their reputation as the sanctuary of these majestic creatures.

Pushing aside my awe, I immediately activated the Orb of the Sky Whale.

“Uooooong!"

The sky whale let out a low resonant cry, its massive head swiveling in my direction. It seemed to respond directly to the orb, as though compelled by its power.

The artifact was said to grant control over the creature’s movements. Perhaps a simple mental command would be enough to suit my needs.

Come here and carry me.

Focusing on the thought, I channeled mana into the orb. The sky whale began gliding toward me, its overwhelming size becoming overly apparent as it closed the distance. Even though I had encountered one on the thirty-second floor, seeing it this close was nothing short of mesmerizing.

The enormous creature lowered its head, seemingly obeying my unspoken command. Activating Flash Strike, I leaped into the air and landed atop its broad head.

This should be safe... right?

Standing there, I realized just how precarious my position was. There was nothing to hold onto—no ridge, no handgrip—and stabbing a weapon into it to steady myself wasn’t an option.

Still, I figured I could manage with my enhanced physical abilities, although it would take some getting used to.

“Take me to where your companions are.”

I didn’t know if the orb could control just one sky whale or multiple, but it was worth testing. While one was sufficient, having more would only increase my leverage.

“Uoooooong!"

The sky whale answered with another deep cry before suddenly ascending. In the process of rising, it tilted, catching me off guard and causing me to lose my footing.

“Ack!"

I slid halfway down its back before managing to regain my position with another use of Flash Strike.

“Hey! Be careful! Don’t let me fall!"

“Uooooong!"

The sky whale’s cry carried what felt like a note of apology. For a creature revered as a sacred beast, its actions were far from dignified. Even a well-trained horse wouldn’t let its rider slip off so easily.

Grumbling under my breath, I steadied myself as the sky whale leveled out.

At least I am starting to adapt.

With nothing shielding me, the wind battered me relentlessly. I felt extremely uncomfortable, but it was manageable for now.

Once I adjusted my perch, I decided to test the orb further. This time, I focused on summoning additional sky whales from the surrounding area.

Any nearby sky whales, come to me.

“Uooooong!"

“Uooooooong!"

The air filled with a chorus of cries, their echoes bouncing off the mountains.

You have got to be kidding me. I went through all that trouble searching for nothing!

Within twenty minutes, a swarm of sky whales had gathered around me. By the time they all arrived, I counted eleven in total.

It seemed possible to summon even more, but this amount felt sufficient. With my fleet assembled, I directed them toward the Loren Plains.

This time, I avoided riding on a sky whale’s head. Instead, I settled inside the mouth of the central sky whale.

Its mouth was disgusting, which was predictable for a creature that didn’t practice oral hygiene. Fortunately, my oxygen bubble spared me the worst of it.

At least this way, they can move at full speed.

After I gave another mental command, the sky whales accelerated and flew faster than the most recent airship I had used. At this pace, reaching the Loren Plains wouldn’t take long.

***

Before I knew it, we had arrived.

Peering through the slightly open mouth of the sky whale, I admired the vast expanse of the Loren Plains stretching out below. The area teemed with elves, but they weren’t alone as airships and combat vehicles dotted the landscape, evidence of their readiness for war. Even the elves couldn’t afford to hold back in these desperate times.

Obviously, the assembled elves spotted the arrival of my fleet. Eleven sky whales gliding majestically through the air created a breathtaking spectacle.

Considering that sky whales are solitary creatures, seeing this many together has to be nearly unheard of.

The elves below stared upward in awe. Fearing one would accidentally spot me, I activated Shadow Veil and suppressed my presence to its utmost. Focusing on my hearing, I tuned into their voices.

“Wow, I’ve never seen so many sky whales in one place!"

“Are they headed this way?"

“This is a sign! The Drifting Sky Sea is blessing our fight!"

Their reactions were exactly as I had hoped. This was why I had summoned so many sky whales instead of relying on just one.

Near the center of the plains, I noticed a group of distinguished-looking elves. Among them was a golden-haired elf who I instantly recognized as the leader of the elven council; Ha Hee-Jeong’s description of them had been very detailed.

With my target identified, I commanded the sky whale to close its mouth slightly and prepared myself.

“Let’s begin."

The sky whales descended gracefully, gliding toward the leader. The elves below erupted in cheers, interpreting the scene as divine approval from their god. When I reached the leader’s vicinity, I projected my will into the orb, commanding the sky whale’s mouth to open.

“Look! They’re approaching Lady Delina!"

“The Drifting Sky Sea supports Lady Delina!"

Their joyous exclamations confirmed I had the right target.

“Here we go," I whispered.

𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

Activating Flash Strike, I burst from my hiding spot. Even elves capable of summoning Spirit Kings couldn’t react quickly enough to defend their leader.

In a heartbeat, I spun the leader around and pressed a dagger against her neck. Weapons were drawn a moment too late. By then, the leader was securely in my grasp.

Deactivating Flash Strike, I shouted.

“Drop your weapons! Unless you want to watch your leader die right here and now!"