Chapter 138: Sortie
“What do you plan to do tomorrow?”
In a place far from the crowd, Ember and Obei were chatting idly.
Neither of them was the type to enjoy crowds, and with Ember’s “approachable” appearance, no one dared to come close.
“Nothing special planned, just taking this group of Shandia people straight to Shandora, then driving away those Sky people.”
“Drive them away?”
“That’s right, I don’t plan to change the power balance between the two races. The Shandia people will still be the weaker side.”
“I see.”
If the Shandia people had enough strength to protect their homeland on their own, then the Beasts Pirates’ status wouldn’t seem so important, would it?
That won’t do.
“Besides, I haven’t completely given up on those Sky people either.”
Although the Sky Island natives and the Shandia people these two races now have deep blood feuds, in such a small area like Sky Island, future communication between the two races is inevitable.
According to the Shandia Chief, the Sky people are even more diverse in their use of “clouds” and “dials” than the Shandia people.
After all, since they have been suppressing the Shandia people for so long, they must have something worthwhile. It would be too bad to just eliminate them outright.
The Shandia people’s weapon-focused “dial” culture and the Sky people’s life-focused “dial” culture… Obei was very much looking forward to what unexpected results the fusion of these two cultures would produce.
“But to make two races that have been fighting for hundreds of years obey obediently after we leave, we definitely need to do something.”
Obei, sitting on the ground, extended her left hand, the orange light of the bonfire shining through her fingers into her eyes.
“You plan to do it yourself?”
“Yeah.”
In the firelight, her five slender fingers gradually clenched, and Obei said calmly:
“Tomorrow, I will let both the Sky people and the Shandia people see what true power is—power they absolutely cannot resist.”
『At the same time, this will also be the trigger for my authority to further awaken.』
……
“I see, but you seem a bit anxious. Is it because of Aoxi?”
Ember said calmly.
“…”
Obei fell silent.
“Based on your usual style imitating Ra, you wouldn’t normally get involved in something like this.”
This wasn’t any secret.
Compared to Aoxi, Obei’s style of action was indeed more similar to Ra’s.
Or rather, she had always been intentionally or unintentionally imitating Ra, just like a child imitating their parents’ walk.
In a situation like this, if it were Ra, she probably wouldn’t care about these natives’ troubles at all and would just take the gold and leave.
Unless there was something else that could pique her interest.
“…”
Obei still didn’t speak.
“As expected—”
“Ember, I remember you weren’t the type to talk so much before.”
Obei said coldly:
“This role doesn’t suit you.”
Clearly, someone on the scene was getting anxious.
Ember had guessed right; the reason Obei was so proactive this time was indeed pressure from Aoxi.
Some people might not say it out loud, but deep down they were already rolling in envy.
『Why does that idiot always manage to get ahead of me?』
『Why does she just shout about “dreams” or “promises” and suddenly power up like that?』
『Is it really only people with that kind of personality who can be the protagonist?』
『Damn it! I want little wings too! So envious! So envious! So envious!』
……
In the early morning, the bonfire burned out.
While the children were still sleeping soundly from last night’s banquet, the Shandia warriors had already prepared their weapons and equipment, standing solemnly in front of Kargra’s statue.
This seemed to be an ancient pre-battle prayer ceremony.
“Great Warrior Kargra, please protect us once more, grant us courage and strength. Let our spears pierce the enemies’ hearts, our arrows slit their throats. Here I…”
After solemnly reciting a long prayer, Zannick, as the warrior leader, turned around.
After a night’s rest, this sturdy Warrior Captain was already able to move a little more freely.
Facing all the fully equipped Shandia warriors, with only one arm left, he raised his spear and shouted loudly:
“Brave Shandia warriors! Reclaiming our ancestors’ homeland and relighting Shandora’s fire happens today!”
“Oh!”*n
“Reclaim the homeland! Relight Shandora’s fire!”*n
“Fulfill the ancestors’ last wish!”*n
“Depart!”
With Zannick’s order, over a hundred Shandia warriors donned their special jet shoes and sped toward Shandora, also known as “God’s Island—Apayaado.”
……
“Are you sure you want to come along too? In your current state, it’s better to stay honest in bed.”
Obei looked at Zannick, who was being supported by several Guerrilla Captains as they advanced, and asked.
“I am the current Warrior Captain and a descendant of the Great Warrior Kargra.”
“So, whether for the village’s warriors or the ancestors’ last wish, I must personally witness the moment our homeland returns.”
“This is my mission.”
“Is that so? Then keep up properly.”
Since they didn’t have shoes that could move freely on Sea Clouds, Obei and the other two planned to fly straight there.
Now that the others had set off, Ember and Aoxi spread their wings and in an instant flew to the front of the group.
Obei was being held in one arm by Ember, looking toward the distance from high altitude.
“Obei, you brat. Isn’t it fine letting your sister carry you while flying?”
“I can fly much faster than this guy Ember.”
“No need.”
“Aww~ Don’t be so shy~”
“Come on, come over and let sister hold you.”
With that, Aoxi spread her arms and flew up close to Ember.
“Mm~”
“Come on, come on~”
“Ember, fly higher, get away from this guy.”
Obei really didn’t want to deal with her, and neither did Ember, so the Lunarian young man flapped his wings and flew higher.
But unfortunately, Aoxi was indeed much faster and more agile than Ember.
If Ember was like a B2 bomber in the air, then Aoxi was like a water droplet; no matter how Ember adjusted height or direction, she could instantly close in and circle around.
……
“Apayaado,” or “Shandora,” was actually not far from Cloud Village—or rather, without the clouds blocking, Obei and the others could see the island’s location directly from the village.
So even though they deliberately slowed down to match the Shandia people, the group arrived at the island’s outskirts in less than half an hour.
“Shandora…”
Looking at the vast earth (puddle) right before his eyes, Zannick gently pushed away the support from the captains beside him and slowly approached the island’s edge, carefully scooping up a handful of dirt with his left hand.
“Once, every child in the tribe, upon reaching adulthood, wanted just this small handful of puddle as their coming-of-age gift.”
“Their parents would sometimes ask us warriors for help, or risk their lives to secretly come here and bring some back.”
“But after some were discovered and killed by those Sky Island God Squad members, I forbade it, and the children in the tribe never asked for it again…”
As he spoke, Zannick seemed to recall the heartbroken cries of those children who learned of their parents’ deaths.
“You can reminisce or whatever later. Come up first; someone’s already heading this way.”
Obei, who had already landed, stood on Shandora’s land and extended her hand toward Zannick on the Sea Cloud below.
“Thank you.”
Zannick looked up at the girl standing tall on the earth and extended his left hand, grasping hers directly.
Then he felt an unshakeable force pull him up. When he came to, he was already standing on the island.
The sensation under his feet told him this was genuine land.
And under Obei’s puzzled gaze, he took off his shoes and stepped barefoot onto the soft dirt, feeling a bond spanning a thousand years between himself and the land beneath.
Strangely, this bravest and strongest Shandia warrior suddenly felt an urge to burst into tears.
……
“Who are you people?!”
A sudden hostile shout interrupted Zannick’s thoughts.
The Sky Island God Squad members who rushed over upon hearing the commotion saw three unfamiliar faces suddenly appear on the island, along with the dense crowd of Shandia warriors behind them, and immediately raised their weapons to demand answers.
“We’re just passing masked… cough! Pirates, no need to remember us.”
With that, Aoxi lightly flapped her wings, sending those God Squad members flying straight into the trees behind, where they fainted.
“Alright, Uncle.”
“Don’t cry here. Hurry up and move. Finish early and clock out early.”
Hands behind her head, Aoxi looked like she was out for a casual outing.
“Let’s go.”
Obei also turned her head to signal the Shandia people behind to follow. Through Observation Haki, she had already grasped the positions of the Sky people on the island.
……
Inside Apayaado’s temple.
“God, the squad is fully prepared and ready to fight at any time. Belly button!”
Gan Foll sat on the divine throne, listening to the Chief Priest’s report beside him.
“Mm, have the families of those God Squad members been arranged as well?”
“Yes, they are all now at their homes on Angel Island. If anything happens, they can board ships and leave immediately.”
“Good.”
Hearing that all preparations were complete, Gan Foll breathed a sigh of relief.
Ever since learning two days ago that the monster had invaded Sky Island, he had been on edge.
The Sky people’s population was far larger than the Shandia people’s, and they had Angel Island as a fixed residence. If that monster attacked, the casualties would be unacceptable.
“God, it’s been two days with no movement. Could that monster you mentioned have already left—”
Bang!
Before the Chief Priest finished speaking, one of his subordinate priests flew into the temple like a cannonball, smashing a large section of the outer wall.
“Hey! Sky people, come out and sign the treaty!”
I notice many people think the giant god soldier has no wings?
Let me clarify: it does have wings, and they’re not small.
Obei: “I heard you’ve been telling everyone I can’t fly?”
