Chapter 101: The Carnela Port Recapture Operation (8)

Chapter 101: The Carnela Port Recapture Operation (8)

I destroyed the largest battleship and took down the white-armored soldiers that were protecting it. However, I had no intention of sinking with the battleship. I had to escape right away.

“...You’re being too reckless,”

And I had a plan for the escape. My compound eyes had caught sight of Mika descending from the sky. He sighed in exasperation and dropped a rope. Without daring to respond, I grabbed hold of it.

Mika flapped his four wings and soared upward, reaching the altitude where we had scattered the bombs before. From the safety of the sky, I surveyed the condition of the other battleships that were still operational, except for the one I had sunk swiftly.

Though four of them remained afloat, they seemed unable to move due to the whirlpools created by the sinking battleships. In this situation, it seemed that I wouldn’t have to worry about being pursued for a while.

However, the battleships turned the tide and launched a counterattack. In addition to their cannons, they had several stationary, large guns that unleashed a barrage of metal fragments, targeting Farl and the other flying demons in the sky. Thanks to the warning from Asumi, no one was caught off guard and shot down. Yet, it seemed challenging for them to get close to the battleship.

Linardo and Thuru, on the other hand, had managed to infiltrate one of the few remaining operational battleships that was miraculously almost unscathed. Judging from the two’s emanating fighting spirit and spiritual power, they were facing a tough battle but not yet in a dire situation. We could join forces later. My focus now was to sink the remaining three battleships.

“...”

“So, you want me to take you to that ship? As you wish,”

Mika, seemingly determined to fulfill my desire, initiated a sudden descent right then and there. Descending to an altitude just above the water’s surface, where I wouldn’t make contact, he maintained that height and approached the targeted battleship.

It seemed that the enemies on the battleship had noticed our presence as well, as bullets were fired in our direction... but each one passed well above Mika. Moreover, none of them descended lower towards us.

“It appears that the stationary guns are either broken or find it difficult to shoot at a low altitude near the water’s surface. We’ll continue our approach in low-level flight,”

Mika murmured softly before he descended even further, so close to the turbulent surface that my feet occasionally skimmed over it. At this proximity, even the sound of bullets slicing through the air became faint. Unlike Farl and the others soaring in the sky, we didn’t need to maneuver in zigzag patterns. We simply flew straight towards the targeted battleship.

Just before colliding with the battleship, Mika ascended vertically, and I timed my release. Even after letting go, I ascended a little further due to inertia, and then I landed on the deck.

“■■■■!”

As soon as I landed, over ten armored soldiers who had been lying in wait opened fire, aiming their guns at me simultaneously. With my still hardened exoskeleton, this barrage felt more like a heavy downpour than anything that could cause pain.

The stationary guns, capable of inflicting significant damage, had disengaged to pursue Mika, who had retreated to the sky, so they weren’t targeting me. Well, if they did, they would end up destroying the entire deck along with me, so it couldn’t be helped.

Without even drawing my swords, I dashed towards the armored soldiers. The one who appeared to be their commander interrupted the gunfire and discarded his gun on the spot. He then deployed a concealed blade from within his armor and prepared to face me.

“■■■!”

“...”

“■■■... ■■...!”

Unfazed by his attacks, I closed in and casually grabbed the armored soldier’s neck, lifting him up. Despite his desperate resistance, I mercilessly drove my poisonous stinger into his neck.

The stabbed armored soldier started losing his strength, unable to resist any longer. After confirming the poison had taken effect, I released my grip. As I did, the armored soldiers who had been observing us began to open fire while shouting some stuff. It seemed there were no more skilled fighters among them than the armored soldier at my feet. Well, then, let’s bring this to an end.

“............!”

I released a surge of spiritual power before, conjuring a vast amount of sand in mid-air. Using it, I constructed a giant pair of pincers, intending to clamp them around the battleship I stood upon. Hmm, it’s tougher than I thought. This is what Asumi had mentioned. But I will press on.

Amidst the relentless rain of metal fragments, I skillfully manipulated the sand pincers. With a grating sound of metal giving way, the pincers wedged themselves into the battleship and began to warp. Wedging in meant they could surely cut through. If I exert a little more effort, they should sever it!

Megi Megi Megi!

Thanks to my persistence, the sand pincers successfully bore a large hole into the battleship. Plunging the pincers into the hole, I triggered an explosion. The blast widened the hole significantly, causing the battleship to tremble and sway. And when the hole reached the depths of the sea, the battleship began to take on water.

I maintained my balance, unaffected by the ship’s movement. However, the armored soldiers who had been incessantly firing at me faltered and stumbled due to the ship’s instability. Unfortunate ones were flung overboard and plummeted into the water. Well, for now, this is the end of this battleship. Now, which one should I target next...!?

“Gagi!?” (What!?)

While I was pondering which battleship to target next, I noticed a sudden weakening of the presence from Linardo, who should have been engaged in battle on another ship. This couldn’t be ignored! I had to go to his aid!

Just as I started to panic, Mika approached at high speed from behind. His face displayed utmost seriousness, as if he had somehow sensed Linardo’s peril.

“Grab onto me!”

I seized the rope he extended, and together we leaped from the sinking battleship. We had a specific destination in mind—the relatively undamaged ship where the two of them, Linardo and Tuhru, were stationed.

However, due to its lesser damage, the battleship was still equipped with large defensive guns. Even for someone like me, a direct hit would hurt, and if Mika happened to be struck in a critical spot, it could be fatal. Mika maneuvered in a zigzag pattern to avoid the incoming bullets, but the density of fire was much higher compared to the other battleships. At this rate, Mika would be shot down without a doubt.

In that moment, I conjured sand like usual, shaping it into a round shield to protect Mika. The shield absorbed all the bullets, scattering sand as they collided. Since we were moving at high speed, there was no chance to collect the scattered sand. I continuously added more sand to reinforce the shield, ensuring its strength didn’t diminish.

“Now’s the time! Go!”

Forcing our way through, we finally reached the top of the battleship. Several lifeless bodies lay scattered across the deck, with no remaining fighters. All enemies must be fully occupied inside the ship, dealing with the two who had infiltrated.

I released my grip from the rope connecting me to Mika and landed on the deck. Linardo’s presence... though weakened, he was still alive. Please hold on a little longer! With desperate hope in my heart, I made my way inside the ship.