Airship Cockpit
“I can’t fly any higher. We need to make an emergency landing… What a hassle.”
The blaring alarm echoed through the cockpit, where people were struggling to maintain control of the airship, and I could feel the altitude steadily decreasing. The reality of an impending crash made me a bit anxious. At this height, there was no way everyone would survive. I even considered just grabbing Roel and jumping out, but that wouldn’t do. It would mean abandoning everyone else. As I wrestled with what to do, Genia casually chimed in.
“The beach over there is a better option. No beasts in sight.”
“You’re right. Let’s go with that.”
Despite the dire situation, Genia spoke to the pilots as if she were casually greeting them in the morning.
“So, which monster attacked us?”
“Seeing the Kingdom of Metallica and this airship, it’s no surprise the monsters would come after us,” someone replied.
“That tiger monster…”
As we descended, I caught sight of a hulking tiger standing on two legs outside the front window. With its fists raised, it seemed ready to launch a ranged attack. There was Tiferia over there, waving at us. Oh, and a monster was coming from behind! But without even turning around, she dispatched it with a single swing of her weapon.
It’s incredible how many people are fighting. Adventurers desperately battling the monsters emerging from the sea, soldiers from Avangarde, and even some unfamiliar troops. The number of monster corpses is staggering, but the number of fallen comrades is even greater. If only we had arrived sooner…
“We’re making an emergency landing. Please find something to hold onto.”
First, I had to deal with that attacking tiger. Maybe it was just my imagination, but I felt like its sharp, cruel eyes were locked onto me.
Port Suluard, West Coast
Branburm unleashed the Lightning Vulcan!
Dealt 1299 damage to Wing Cheetah x12! HP 0/1050
Dealt 1428 damage to Soldier Leo x19! HP 0/805
Dealt 1107 damage to Great King Elephant x3! HP 2943/4050
“Ha ha ha ha! So this is the Garden of Beasts! I expected something more, but these are just pathetic minions!”
From his silver chest, Branburm unleashed a barrage of lights that shot out at high speed. Each one struck a monster, tearing away parts of its body. The cumulative effect was devastating.
I have no idea how he does that. Is it his skill?
“All units, take aim!”
Metallica soldiers’ beam machine guns!
Dealt 748 damage to Great King Elephant! HP 2195/4050
“Change weapons! Equip plasma railguns!”
At Branburm’s command, everyone moved in perfect unison, drawing different weapons. They lined up and fired in unison. It looked like a laser wrapped in lightning—a spear of light. I can only describe it that way, but it must have been crafted with knowledge beyond my imagination.
Metallica soldiers’ plasma railguns!
Dealt 2833 damage to Great King Elephant!
Defeated Great King Elephant! HP 0/4050
As the massive elephant was pierced, electric shocks coursed through its body. It was nowhere near Lord Daigami’s Divine Thunder, but it was still intense. More than ten adventurers were struggling against that one elephant, while we had only half that number. The soldiers moved with such precision that they almost seemed mechanical.
“Take down the Great King Elephants in groups of five. Everyone, keep an eye on your energy levels.”
“Yes! Please be careful too, Branburm-sama!”
“Ah, so that’s the Kingdom of Metallica…”
“I’ve heard the rumors, but they’re terrifying.”
“I can’t help but wonder what all my sword training has been for…”
It was our allies who were trembling. The enemies continued to rampage without a care, and that tiger who attacked the airship was now targeting me. It leaped toward me, aiming to crush me.
I wasn’t particularly worried, but it was still an unpleasant feeling, so I dodged out of the way.
“Whoa, that was close!”
“Haha! You must be Rua, right? I’m from the Garden of Beasts, Third Division! Great Glade here! I hear you took down a Demon General?”
The tiger monster stood before me, its muscular frame and blood-stained fur emphasizing its brutality.
“Isn’t that the Flash Strike Girl? I’ve seen her at the Combat Tournament!”
“Whoa, is that really her?! She looks like a child…”
“Did you not hear? She knocked A-Rank Hecaton away with a single blow! They say she’s even stronger than the Five Elites fighting over there!”
“Rumor has it she’s on par with Tiferia-chan!”
“Maybe we can turn the tide…! Everyone! The Flash Strike Girl is here! We no longer need to fear the Garden of Beasts! Come on, Rua-chan!”
At the roar of cheers, even the monsters paused in confusion. It seemed to heighten the excitement, but I really wished they wouldn’t call me the Flash Strike Girl. I truly wanted them to stop.
And since the Five Elites were looking at us with genuine displeasure, I hoped they wouldn’t say anything reckless.
“…It’s true. Rua-san! You’re a lifesaver!”
It was Ritta. The opponent she was fighting back-to-back with looked formidable. More than that, she was gliding through the air. I couldn’t even walk on water, so I wondered how the monsters in the Garden of Beasts managed that. I had practiced hard against the lava-covered monsters in the Abyss Cave, but could I ever reach that level?
“Heh, what a great trust you have. This little girl is Rua, huh?”
“How did that monkey know? Wait, what? Why is that monkey here? I thought I defeated it…”
While Great Glade was eager to fight me, I spotted Sogokku rampaging on the beach. And not just one, but dozens of them.
“Ah, I see. The one I defeated was among those!”
“…So, that means the Twelve Demon Generals are nothing but fakes! The true masters are those still sleeping in the Demon Lord Castle!”
“Eh? What? Sorry, I wasn’t listening…”
“…”
Storm King Glade unleashed Tornado Knuckle!
A whirlwind erupted from Glade’s fist, twisting and writhing chaotically. Sand was whipped up from the beach, causing chaos among the fighters and monsters nearby.
He probably used this skill to attack the airship. Not just wind pressure, but a full-blown tornado. Roel had told me I could do this skill too, but for some reason, it made me incredibly frustrated.
Rua cannot be damaged!
Regardless of the power, it was infuriating. I should really practice this properly next time. I need to be able to fight with the same strength as when I wield a sword, even without one.
“What?! You’re just standing there after taking my Tornado Knuckle?!”
“How do you do that? What kind of training did you undergo?”
“Then how about this!”
Storm King Glade unleashed Twin Tornado Knuckle!
This time, he used both hands. If I couldn’t withstand this, a single skill could wipe out our party. It had that kind of power. My mother once told me that a tornado could blow away houses, but this skill could easily take down an airship.
And now, feeling emboldened after hitting me, he was conjuring several tornadoes around himself. This was definitely bad news.
“OOOHHHH! GREEEEEEEID!”
Rua’s attack! Dealt 529,101 damage to Storm King Glade!
Defeated Storm King Glade! HP 0/14,200
“Ugh… No way… I… I can’t be… No way…”
Things were getting noisy, and considering the damage around us, it was better to take him down. Even after being split in half, he still had the presence of mind to talk. It reminded me of the insect monster that had attacked me in the Abyss Cave, which had kept coming even after being severed.
That meant he had a lot of life force, and I figured he wouldn’t be deterred by just a few wounds.
“Is that the Flash Strike Girl…?”
“Is that really the same human?!”
“How has someone like that been buried until now…? Maybe she’s even stronger than an S-Rank…”
Just a moment ago, they were cheering, but now they looked utterly shocked. No, they were even recoiling. If they were going to act like that, I wouldn’t help them anymore.
“G-Great Glade is dead…! One of the Third Division has fallen…!”
“W-We should retreat! Sogokku! Stop playing around and let’s head back to the Garden of Beasts!”
The pig monster hurriedly distanced itself from me, and a strange green monster turned its gaze away from Ritta’s squad. If they were going to run away, that would work in my favor.
“Lua-chan, how’s it going over there? Over here, that big elephant is proving to be a bit of a hassle…”
Roel swung her Fire Rod! She dealt 1,607 damage to the Great King Elephant!
HP: 2,443/4,050
Watching the elephant writhing in agony, engulfed in crimson flames, it hardly seemed like a hassle at all. In fact, after that single blow, the elephant was charred all over and couldn’t even think about fighting back. I figured it would eventually burn to death if left alone.
“Th-that’s the flames of the Underworld… It’s a fire unleashed from the depths of the afterlife that incinerates all living things!”
Even the Adventurers, who were supposed to be our allies, were starting to panic and spouting nonsense. They had been saved by Roel, yet their gratitude felt awkward and forced.
“Fall back, Sogokku!”
“Don’t be ridiculous! The rest of the Third Brigade should be arriving soon… Oh! Here they come!”
From the depths of the ocean, rising with a surge of seawater, came three monsters: a creature with sheep’s wool, a bull-like monster with twisted golden horns, and a human-shaped being with a snake for a neck. The moment they landed, the cheers from the crowd fell silent. It was understandable; even though I had taken down one, three monsters of equal or greater strength than the tiger monster had just appeared.
“Honestly, this saltwater is ruining my prized fur…”
“They’re everywhere! Strong ones over there and here too!”
“…It seems Glade has already been taken down.”
“Ugh, it’s true. That fool let his guard down again, didn’t he?”
The soldiers and Adventurers trembled instinctively under the gaze of those monsters, which seemed to be solely focused on whom to kill. Thankfully, thanks to Branburm and the soldiers of Metallica, most of the monsters had been defeated, leaving just those three, along with Ritta battling another, and a horde of Sogokku. Alright, if it’s come to this, I’ll take them all on myself.
“Oh? I didn’t expect to see a child here. Is there really such a shortage of talent?”
Platiu stood boldly before the sheep monster, which was larger than an adult human. The crowd murmured, but no one stepped forward to help.
“A child?”
“What should we do? We have to help her…”
“This is a perfect opportunity to showcase the essence of the Kingdom of Metallica.”
“Director Genia…”
Before I knew it, Genia had appeared next to Branburm. She was holding a Plasma Railgun, but she didn’t look like she could fight a monster at all. Or could she? Maybe she could fight after all.
“Are you sure it’s safe for you to be out here, Director Genia? I have no intention of protecting a liability.”
“Don’t worry, we have plenty of strong allies here.”
Why did she glance at me? Sure, I intended to help if things got dangerous, but I didn’t appreciate being relied upon. It felt like she could see right through me, and that made me uneasy.
“Machine Maiden!”
In an instant, her small jumpsuit peeled off, leaving her bare. But beneath it was a skin-tight suit that clung to her body, revealing far too much skin for comfort. Just as I whispered, the iron box on Platiu’s back transformed, separating into pieces. It morphed into a helmet that fit snugly over her head, along with silver armor adorned with pink lines that clung to her shoulders and chest.
From her back sprouted wings resembling those of a bird or angel, giving her a divine appearance. Each feather was made of thick silver, and when they spread, they expanded to more than three times her body size. I couldn’t believe it; it felt like less than a second had passed. Platiu had transformed into a figure reminiscent of a mechanical human, akin to an angel from a storybook.
For just a fleeting moment, I found myself captivated.
“Wow, she looks amazing…”
“…Lua-chan?”
I was so entranced that I barely registered Roel’s words beside me. She was stunning, beautiful. I didn’t know why, but my heart raced. Just watching her filled me with excitement, a sense of admiration that bordered on exhilaration.
“I want that… Machine Maiden, I want that…”
“W-what’s gotten into you? You’re acting like a child.”
“Don’t you think it’s cool?”
“I was surprised, but not to that extent…”
It seemed Roel didn’t understand the appeal. The silver armor reflecting the sunlight, with flat protrusions on either side of her head resembling horns—what were those for? I couldn’t contain my excitement.
“Well, well, so this is the rumored Metallica…
Very well, you all stay back. I, Jaul, will take care of this personally.”
The Harbinger of Silence, Jaul, has appeared! HP: 12,500
“Silence is equivalent to death! I shall grant you the most peaceful death in this world!”
Despite his warm-looking fur, his words were menacing. He appeared slower than Glade, the tiger. Digging his front paws into the sand, Jaul charged at Platiu.
The Harbinger of Silence, Jaul, charges forward! Platiu deftly dodged!
Flames erupted from her wings as Platiu soared into the sky. Jaul’s charge continued unabated, crashing into the minions behind where Platiu had just stood. Though the massive elephant-like monster was no longer there, the force of the impact was enough to take down the winged leopard and boar monsters in one blow.
“Jaul! We’re here too, you know!”
“If you don’t want to die, then disappear!”
“He doesn’t care about his minions at all…”
Ritta gripped her spear tightly. The few injuries among the soldiers around her showed they had fought valiantly. As the squad leader, she must have done her best to command everyone. For someone like Ritta, Jaul’s indiscriminate attacks were unforgivable.
I felt a bit annoyed too. I would have preferred to take him down myself. But for now, I wanted to see Platiu’s strength, so I decided to stay quiet.
“Now I can’t attack. Ha! Take that, you fool!”
“Well done. But my true power begins now.”
The Harbinger of Silence, Jaul, unleashed his Silent Gaze!
“Ugh… I’m feeling sleepy…”
“Me too…”
The soldiers and Adventurers began to wobble and fall. Not death—no, this was sleep.
“Lua-chan, I feel kind of… sleepy too…”
“Platiu! If you can’t take him down, I’ll step in! If this continues, the damage will spread!”
“It’s already over.”
Platiu locked onto the Harbinger of Silence, Jaul!
“My slumber doesn’t affect you, does it? But how about this?”
The Harbinger of Silence, Jaul, began to dance the Nightmare Dance!
He twirled around, and at first, I thought it was just a silly display, but the danger quickly became apparent.
“Lua-chan, my head… it hurts…”
“R-Roel?!”
“My Nightmare Dance erodes the minds of those in slumber. Normally, it would last a minute at best.
What do you think? If you don’t come down, those currently asleep will remain so forever.”
Platiu unleashed the Atomic Blaster!
A fiery beam shot from the gun-like device attached to Platiu’s arm, aimed straight at Jaul. It pierced through his fur, scorching the skin beneath. The remaining flames began to consume his fur entirely.
Platiu dealt 3,714 damage to the Harbinger of Silence, Jaul! HP: 8,786/12,500
“Ugh! You little brat, how dare you!”
“But this is just the beginning!”
“Dispersing Atomic Blaster!”
Like a meteor shower, countless red beams shot from Platiu, striking Jaul before he had a chance to react. The beams pierced through his head and body, exploding upon hitting the sandy beach.
Platiu dealt 1,802 damage to the Harbinger of Silence, Jaul!
Platiu dealt 1,398 damage to the Harbinger of Silence, Jaul!
Platiu dealt 1,601 damage to the Harbinger of Silence, Jaul!
Platiu dealt 2,017 damage to the Harbinger of Silence, Jaul!
Platiu dealt 1,444 damage to the Harbinger of Silence, Jaul!
Platiu dealt 2,103 damage to the Harbinger of Silence, Jaul!
“Whoa!”
“I’m getting blown away!”
Both humans and monsters were mesmerized by the light, only to be met with an explosion that belied its beauty. What remained was the charred, unrecognizable form of Jaul.
The Harbinger of Silence, Jaul, has been defeated! HP: 0/12,500
“Victory!”
Platiu flashed a peace sign at me for some reason. Despite the flames erupting from her wings, Platiu was always such a calm child.
To be honest, she’s way too strong. Beyond my expectations. This is Platiu, the S-rank of the Kingdom of Metallica. Ritta, Kirkton, the Adventurers, the Five Elites, and the monsters too. I could only watch the flames that burned Jaul.
“Platiu, it seems you’ve modified it again. What do you think, General Branburm?”
“Hmm…”
Branburm, faced with Genia’s smile, remained silent, merely grunting in response.
“Oh dear, it seems we might not have a role to play after all.”
“Perhaps so. This Fist Saint is left with nothing but a shameful result! Hahaha!”
Only Tiferia and another S-rank man, who seemed to be an uncle, were watching with relaxed expressions. Yet, amidst all this, the monsters were still not giving up.
“Hahaha, that Jaul really went down in flames!”
“…A beast that can’t handle aerial combat ends up like this.”
What I thought was a four-legged cow monster suddenly stood up like a human. Its size surpassed even that of Glade. Next, it was my turn; its gaze was clearly directed at Platiu.
Monster Compendium
Storm King Glade – HP 14,200
A main force of the Garden of Beasts, one of the third battalion. A humanoid tiger.
It possesses high intelligence and can speak human language, its fists stirring up storms.
Extremely aggressive in nature, it even challenges its own master, the Beast Master, to battle.
Harbinger of Silence Jaul – HP 12,500
A main force of the Garden of Beasts, one of the third battalion. Appears as a large sheep.
It possesses high intelligence and can speak human language, its eyes luring all living beings into slumber.
Specializing in subtle tactics rather than brute force, it excels in the Nightmare Dance that torments those in a sleeping state. Though it speaks in gentle honorifics, its cruelty is unmatched in the third battalion.