Chapter 232: Fight of the Sky

‘I have no useless weapons.’

The apostles Lakrak, Redin, and Keiju had mythical levels of power. The other apostles also had outstanding strategies or amazing abilities, while Obin thought themself didn't belong to either category.

Although Obin had risen quickly in the ranks of the apostles, in terms of generations, Obin belonged to the more modern time. For example, Toolbo became an apostle only after his death, once the war was in full swing.

Obin believed they had benefited from technological advancements. Monsters that ancestors had to face with spears no longer posed a significant threat. There were guns and bombs. It wasn't just monsters. When it rained, they fixed rising riverbanks and even broke solid underground rocks. With the power of civilization, such tasks weren't difficult.

Though these mighty weapons were eventually pointed at one another, and among their enemies were guardians and apostles, who were challenging to confront as mortals.

Obin Mabru looked down at the explosive in their hand.

‘It's all thanks to this.’

Being a soldier, Obin was used to the smell of gunpowder, and during the peak of wars, when retreating, Obin often had to execute operations alone. To achieve maximum efficiency by themself, they needed literal explosive power. So it was natural that Obin would handle bombs.

‘Well, of course, watching the flames is also fun.’

As Obin continued their tasks on the deck, there was a heated exchange in the cockpit of a transport ship that had just spotted them.

"Don't let the apostle get close to the transport ship!" The captain of the transport ship shouted.

However, the fleet responsible for protecting the transport ship was either crashing from attacks by Hop No. 3 or trying to maintain a distance to avoid it. The transport ships had no weaponry so that they could accommodate as many soldiers, making it difficult for them to bring down enemies. Moreover, while it was uncertain how many bombs were aboard the ship, if the bombs went off at the center of the group of transport sheeps, it would cause significant damage.

The transport ships, in disarray, tried to communicate orders, but signals got mixed. With the command ship down, no other strategies seemed available.

An adjutant said to the captain, "There's no other way here. We have to avoid them."

"If we do, the ships behind us might collide with them. Due to the compromised command system, some ships may not be aware of the situation."

"Then what should we do?"

The captain momentarily stared at the warship Obin was on with a stiff face.

"...Sacrifice one of our transport ships to buy time. We have Laitla with us."

"Captain?"

"...We are the lead transport ship. Signalman, send flag signals to the rear transport ships."

At the captain's command, both the adjutant and signalman remained silent for a moment.

It could be said it was an unreasonable order. The transport ships were not only carrying air forces, but also soldiers set to march on the continent across the ocean. To save lives, the captain's logic was right, but to win the war, it was an impossible decision. Someone had to make the ultimate sacrifice.

"Yes, sir!" The signalman saluted.

Soon, everyone on the ship moved efficiently for their final task. On the other hand, Obin was aware that one of the Union Kingdom's transport ships was advancing for a heroic deed.

'In reality, they're just like us.'

Perhaps that's why the war lasted so long.

While Obin believed and followed Bountiful Harvest's teachings, Obin also received guidance from the main god Night Sky. According to Night Sky, although everyone had the same intention, misunderstandings and thinking of each other as different fueled this terrible war.

'But that's the nature of the world. It's inevitable.'

Obin pulled something that was in a disassembled state out from the all-purpose military bag.

Obin couldn't be compared to the madman Toolbo, who was a great inventor, but imitating a military engineer was something Obin could do as well. When Obin tightened the screws and hammered in nails, a single-seat Helix Wing was constructed.

'If a tragedy is bound to happen, it must end as soon as possible.'

Obin pressed a button on the machine they had set up on the deck. Because the single-seat Helix Wing couldn't generate lift on its own, Obin checked the approaching transport ship and ran across the deck. As the auxiliary wings on both sides caught the wind, Obin felt themself become weightless. Obin hid inside the clouds and circled around the transport fleet.

Obin looked at their wristwatch.

'Is it now?'

When nothing happened, Obin alternated between looking at the warship they had left and their watch.

'Was the connection wrong? There's still distance between the warship and transport ship, so if I move quickly again...'

While Obin was thinking this, a loud explosion erupted.

...!

Tinnitus rang in Obin’s head, and due to the following red flash, Obin had to shut their eyes tightly. Considering the gunpowder and shells that had been on the original warship, and the explosives Obin had densely packed into the broken deck, it was an expected result.

The warship with explosives scattered down as unrecognizable charred remains beneath the flames, and the massive fire also burned the front of the transport ship that was near the explosion.

'As expected, the impact wasn't strong enough to affect all the transport ships.'

Obin thought it didn't matter. Obin had anticipated that things wouldn't be easy if the enemies scattered. It was an inevitable situation as long as Toolbo was brilliantly active. So Obin intended to deceive their enemies through a dazzling explosion.

'The moment people believe they've overcome a crisis due to someone's noble sacrifice is the moment we aim for.'

People were most vulnerable when they believed they had overcome a crisis.

Obin approached the transport ship on the far right of the fleet.

Then, before the guard on the ship could detect them, they sniped the guard from the Helix Wing and slid onto the deck.

'My nicknames also have some use.'

Known by glamorous nicknames like the Vengeful Spirit and the Bombing Horse, Obin was recognized as a war hero within the Empire. Among the apostles, Obin was best known for infiltration and assassination, and unfortunately, these skills were not yet recognized by the enemies through any nicknames. Thanks to Obin's proficiency, the Union Kingdom was still unaware that Obin was behind many assassination incidents.

'After all, capturing a trench alone and being called a Vengeful Spirit, or hiding bombs and detonating them, are only possible when maintaining a low profile.'

Holding a single dagger, Obin walked into the bridge. It only took a few minutes to silently clear it out.

Through the communication console, Obin instructed the communicator, "Make urgent contact with each transport ship's captain. Check if there are any other threats, if they need assistance, and if there are any disruptions in future operations. Communicate with each ship."

After the communicator's acknowledgement, Obin said, "Each team, listen up. There will be an important meeting on the bridge. No one is allowed to enter or exit until 1800. That's all."

Responses came from the tech and supply teams, and then Obin began setting up more explosives from the bridge.

'This time, I'll really blow them all up in one go.'

But not everything went smoothly. As the transport fleet gathered, Obin saw a huge pale green body outside the window. Obin stopped setting up the explosives and pressed themself against the wall.

-This is suspicious. I'm sure I saw the damn bug sneaking in here.

It was Laitla. Circling the ship, Laitla looked at the deck and the airship.

-The captain of this ship, come out and respond.

Without any reaction, Obin paused to think.

'What happened to Aruna?'

Obin took out a portable telescope and looked out the window. From afar, Obin saw Aruna trapped inside a translucent icosahedron. It was magic. Being a divine beast like Aruna, physical strength alone could dispel the magic, so the barrier was cracking as Aruna pounded against it with her beak. Still, it looked difficult for her to break free immediately.

'The explosion I caused drew attention.'

Laitla then said.

-By the name of Laitla, the third Apostle of the Union Kingdom, I command. From this moment on, the highest command of this ship is transferred to me. All personnel not on assignment, check the bridge.

From the all-purpose military bag, Obin was about to grab the machine gun and sighed.

'Even if I block it, it's meaningless. In that case...'

Obin looked back at the explosives they had filled the bridge with.

'I need to fill more explosives and wait for the other transport ships to get closer. But there's no time to wait for that. On the other hand, if I detonate it now, I can hurt Laitla.'

Obin didn't think they could kill Laitla, but if they could hurt Laitla, perhaps Aruna and Toolbo could shoot down the remaining airships.

'But they could break in any moment now, so there's no time to set a timer. I have to detonate it now.'

Even though Obin was an apostle, unless they had the body of a Dragon or a divine beast, it would be hard to withstand such an explosion. There would be an exception if there were tales of Obin surviving such attacks, but Obin didn't have such an ability.

'Once again, let's create a magnificent blaze...'

Just as Obin reached for the lighter on their chest, a sharp engine roar tore through the air.

"...Chaaarge!"

It was Hop No. 3 and Toolbo.

Hop No. 3 charged toward Laitla's head.

It seemed almost impossible given the distance, but Obin didn’t think too much about it.

'I got too caught up playing hero alone.'

Pulling out the machine gun, Obin kicked open the bridge door. Soldiers rushing toward the bridge fell as they were hit by Obin's bullets.

Meanwhile, Laitla snarled at Hop No. 3, which was climbing up its back.

-You damn hybrid…!

Though Laitla had the tough skin of a Dragon, scales flew off and blood spurted as the spinning drill made contact. Laitla tried shaking it off and even bit at Hop No. 3, but the machine clung tight with its clawed feet, continuing its crawl up Laitla’s back, tearing up blood vessels and making blood gush out.

-How dare you!

Laitla's crystals glowed, and sharp magical bars appeared out of thin air. The heated bars aimed at Toolbo, but then Laitla was shot by a machine gun from the transport ship, and its magic concentration wavered, the magical bars shattering.

Turning around, Laitla saw Obin, who had dominated the deck. Though Obin hadn't caused too much damage to Laitla, they had successfully disrupted its concentration.

-You pests!

Laitla began reaching toward the ship's deck. However, it was stopped short again.

-You’re the pest!

A massive blue flame grabbed Laitla by the neck and slammed it into the transport ship. The Dragon's head pierced through the side of the hull.

Though Laitla tried to fight back against Hop No. 3 and Aruna, the blow to its head seemed to have dazed it.

'Now's the time!'

Obin, having come back to their senses, ran back toward the bridge.

With Laitla's head lodged in, there could have been a chance to kill Laitla.

As Obin reached for the lighter in their pocket, preparing to light it and open the bridge's door, Obin heard a voice.

-Good work, Obin.

It was the familiar voice they had heard earlier.

-...Night Sky?

-It's a good idea, but there's no need to be a hero again.

Obin didn't immediately understand what that meant.

-Because you’re already a hero.

Suddenly, a massive gust of wind blew. The wind wrapped around Obin, as well as Toolbo and Aruna, who were fighting against Laitla. Then the wind pulled them high up into the sky. The smell of gunpowder and blood, corpses and rifles, the shattered transport ship and its white envelope, the sign of the Union Kingdom, and the long pale-green Dragon, all became mere specks from their elevated perspective. It happened all in an instant.

Under normal circumstances, their skin would have been torn off, and they would have lost consciousness due to the pressure, but for the three apostles, it felt just like a warm summer breeze.

Then, Laitla, who looked in confusion at the sudden disappearance of its enemies and the now ownerless oil lighter, got caught in the strong wind, twirled around, and hurled back down into the midst of the explosives.

An explosion followed.