Chapter 125: Flying Once More
“I’ve heard about the plan, but Miss Aoxi, are you sure you want to use this method?”
“We could just ask Ember to carry us to that so-called ‘Accumulating Emperor Cloud’ like he did on the way here.”
Hearing the method provided by the tavern boss, Wright’s legs trembled a bit.
Isn’t this just the blind cat stumbling on a dead rat method from the navigational log?
It’s just that the cat isn’t blind anymore now.
But using that sea current to launch everyone and the ship straight up to the sky… is this some local specialty suicide method?
“Mm. This time, we’ll take this ship to Sky Island.”
Aoxi’s tone was very solemn, without her usual playful joking.
Only at times like this would the crew see a trace of La’s shadow in her, and remember that she is La’s sister.
“I have no objections.” Obei spoke first.
“I have no objections either.” Ember followed right after.
“And even if something unexpected happens midway, I can catch you all.”
“Except Aoxi.” He added.
But unexpectedly, this time Aoxi didn’t kiss Ember, instead stroking the strange poles on the ship by herself.
“Sigh~ Alright then.”
Seeing the three executives speak up, Wright and the others had no choice but to obey, then began loading the purchased supplies onto this strangely shaped ship.
……
10:58 AM, sea area east of Gaya Island.
“H-Hasn’t the time come yet? When exactly is that ‘Skyward Sea Current’ coming?”
Wright, the navigator, and the ship doctor trio were standing on the deck, their hands unconsciously gripping those poles due to tension.
“Don’t worry~ That tavern uncle said it would appear this morning, so it definitely will.”
At this moment, Aoxi was standing on one foot atop a pole, hands shading her eyes as she scanned around.
Meanwhile, on the sea surface not far away, a large pirate ship was quietly floating ahead of them.
That pirate ship with a dog’s head carved at the prow was the flagship of the Hound Pirate Crew that Aoxi and the others had robbed at the very beginning. Now that it was no longer needed, it was just right to give it to the tavern boss.
After all, according to the hooded elf on the ship, that guy had even sold his own tavern to scrape together money to repair this ship, so now it was perfect compensation for him.
Selling such a fully intact large ship would more than cover the price of a tavern.
However, when Aoxi handed the ship over to the tavern boss, that guy named Fulaihai’er looked at the ship with strangely odd eyes and was extremely reluctant to board it.
In the end, under everyone’s urging, he reluctantly got on board, then led Aoxi and the others ahead to the target sea area.
Now, their group had been anchored here for nearly an hour, but what was supposed to come still hadn’t arrived.
This made the already fearful Wright trio feel an even stronger psychological torment, like waiting for execution at the noon hour.
“Hm? That’s…”
Just as Wright couldn’t hold it anymore and went to the ship’s railing to relieve himself, he suddenly noticed a dark patch appear in his vision.
“Darkness” was approaching from the east.
But before anyone could react, a loud shout from the opposite ship reached their ears.
“Hurry! Follow it!”
“That’s the Accumulating Emperor Cloud!”
On the flagship of the Hound Pirate Crew, the tavern boss had his hands cupped around his mouth, shouting with all his might.
At the same time, the pirates beside him were signaling with flags for Aoxi and the others to follow.
Ordinary voices could easily be blown unclear and indistinct in this howling sea breeze, unable to carry far.
But Laika just had to shout it out.
Not only him, Fulaihai’er beside him and the other pirates on the ship were all shouting too.
That hoarse, desperate shouting was as if they were venting all the repression and unwillingness from so many years all at once.
“Hurry! Follow it!”
“It’s right ahead! Our destination is right ahead!!!”
On the ship, seeing the flag signal, Obei directly shoved aside the navigator who was still staring dazedly at the distant “darkness” ahead, decisively gripped the ship’s wheel, and turned.
Even if she had some reservations about Aoxi’s insistence on this method of uncertain success rate, since the other had decided, then as Aoxi’s sister, she would execute it decisively.
This uniquely shaped small boat was heading straight toward the destination.
……
Finally, after a tense and oppressive voyage, the small boat arrived directly beneath the Accumulating Emperor Cloud.
By now, the sky was completely shrouded, a darkness like a solar eclipse.
“Guh-woo~”
“A-Are we there?”
The navigator asked somewhat stammeringly; he still hadn’t quite processed it.
“Probably, I see the ship opposite hasn’t moved either.”
“This should be where that sea current is about to appear.”
Wright took a deep breath. Knowing he was about to be launched into the sky, he had instead calmed down, even wanting to light a cigarette.
But just as he let go of the pole his tense hands had been gripping to reach into his pocket, he suddenly felt his body shift.
Immediately after, the entire ship began turning uncontrollably, an unimaginably huge vortex tearing at their ship.
Unable to stand steady, he could only grab those poles again with both hands as tightly as possible. Now he finally understood why they had installed so many wooden poles on the deck.
“Damn it, what’s happening now? Why is the ship out of control?!”
“It’s a vortex! Such a huge vortex! We’ve been caught by the vortex!!”
“It’s so dark! Can’t see anything!”
“What do we do! What should we do now?!”
The ordinary trio, who had just settled down, saw this earth-shattering scene, and the calm they had barely maintained was instantly shattered again, uncontrollably shouting and yelling.
“Don’t panic! Hold on to nearby things.”
“This is the precursor to the Skyward Sea Current forming; it’ll disappear in a bit!”
The tavern boss and the others not far away immediately shouted explanations upon seeing this.
They were at the outermost edge of the vortex right now, not greatly affected.
But their tightly clenched hands still showed they weren’t as calm as they appeared.
Fortunately, no unexpected changes beyond Laika’s expectations occurred. This massive vortex didn’t last long before abruptly vanishing, just as abruptly as it had appeared.
Everything was just as he had planned.
The sea surface returned to calm, even the sea breeze stopped, as if nothing had happened at all.
Wright and the others collapsed on the deck with lingering fear, their legs powerless.
This terrifying suffocating sensation of being trapped at the center of a calamity was something they had never experienced even in the New World.
……
“Hey.”
“Red-haired brat.”
“We can only take you this far.”
On the now calm sea surface, the tavern boss stood at the ship’s prow, arms crossed, speaking calmly from not far away.
With no sea breeze or waves now, his words reached Aoxi’s ears clearly.
“The Skyward Sea Current is coming soon; it’s time to part ways.”
“Good luck to you.”
After saying this, he turned his back, just like Aoxi had before, straightening his arms and raising his thumbs.
Fulaihai’er and the others in front of him did the same, turning their backs and raising thumbs.
This was this group of men’s silent blessing and farewell.
“You must find Sky Island, brat!”
Leaving those words, Laika directly ordered a return voyage; they had to hurry out of the Skyward Sea Current’s range.
……
Boom!!!
Ten minutes later, with a massive roar, an incredibly wide water column erupted from the seabed straight into the sky.
Aoxi and the others’ red small boat seized the moment, smoothly riding this upward sea current directly into the high altitude.
They were now sailing vertically upward along the water column!
“Waaaaaah!”
“Th-This is…!”
“Hold the ship’s wheel! Don’t let go!”
“Secure the sails! Let this upward wind blow us above the cloud layer!”
“Hold tight to the ship; don’t fall off!”
“We’re flying! We’re really flying!”
On the distant sea surface, the tavern boss and the others quietly watched the small boat shoot into the sky, saying nothing.
But their fists were clenched tightly now, blood seeping out unnoticed.
『It has to succeed! It has to succeed!』
『Please!』
Unlike their calm surfaces, the tavern boss’s inner shouts were already heart-wrenching, scenes from the old days flashing in his mind—spirited and vigorous setting sail, smooth-sailing adventures, fearless flight into the sky, regretful dismal end…
His partners’ faces now floated one by one in his mind.
『Komaro, Grisen, Victor, Wolko, White… and Liboli’s Wing.』
『Everyone, watch closely! Watch the continuation of our dream!』
“This is bad! Senior!”
Fulaihai’er’s panicked voice suddenly interrupted.
“The Skyward Sea Current’s power seems insufficient!”
“They’re going to fall!”
“What?!”
Snapping out of his memories, the man named Krist·Laika widened his eyes toward the small boat in midair.
By now, the red small boat was only a short final distance from the underside of the Accumulating Emperor Cloud, but the Skyward Sea Current was already falling back, and the ship’s speed was plummeting!
This Skyward Sea Current didn’t have enough power!
At this rate, they would definitely crash back into the sea!!!
『What to do?』
『Failed?!』
『Why?』
“How could this happen?!”
“Damn it!”
“Why? We were at the final step!”
“We were so close to success!”
Laika rushed to the ship’s prow, bloodstained hands gripping the railing tightly.
Watching the red small boat gradually lose power and begin descending, his eyes nearly split open!
He wanted to do something, but realized he could do nothing, only watch helplessly!
Just like back then!
Failed…
Even betting everything, staking it all, it still failed…
Once again, and for the last time, failed…
Finally, seeing the small boat’s fall was irreversible, Laika seemed to have his soul drained, collapsing lifelessly to the ground.
Not just him, everyone on the ship seemed to lose all strength, kneeling on the ground.
Some even couldn’t help but cover their faces and sob out loud.
Dreams, partners, hope… everything they had would shatter into fragments again with that small boat’s fall.
『Fly!』
『Please! Fly!!!』
『This is our last chance! So anyone, anything!』
『Make it fly once more!』
『God!!!』
……
On the red small boat.
“Everyone! Hold on to nearby things and don’t let go; I’ll carry you all out!”
Ember had now transformed into pterodactyl form, preparing to transport everyone away.
His dozens-of-meters black membranous wings spread in midair; he prioritized rescuing the Wright trio, who would surely die from a fall from this height.
But just as he was about to grab Wright, he suddenly glimpsed a red figure speeding toward the ship’s prow, then leaping down!
“Aoxi! What are you doing? Come back!”
Ember hurriedly flew over, only seeing Aoxi clutching the chain at the ship’s prow tightly, gale winds blowing her hair wildly.
Whether it was an illusion or not, the tips of those crimson strands seemed to be emitting faint light.
“No!”
“It’s not the last moment yet! Not time to give up!”
“I can still hear it, hear their shouts!”
Right now, Aoxi could clearly hear the cries of those souls on the sea surface below!
“Don’t waste time; jump on my back quick, we’re about to crash back into the sea!”
“No, this is my promise to them!”
“I must take this ship to Sky Island together!”
“You!”
Aoxi said no more, instead closing her eyes to fully sense the throbbing transmitted from those souls.
Thump!
Thump!!
Thump!!!
This was the sound of heartbeats, also the throbbing of souls!
At this moment, her soul seemed to resonate with the souls of Laika and the others below; those fervent emotions crossed sea and sky, fiercely impacting her chest!
『Anyone, anything!』
『Make it fly once more!』
『God!!!』
……
“Mm.”
“I heard it all, your calls.”
Aoxi murmured softly.
“You’ve already proven that even without wings, ordinary people can fly.”
“So, leave the rest to me!”
“Entrust everything remaining to me!!!”
“I will…”
The faint voice crossed space, resounding deep in everyone’s souls.
Laika and the others on the sea surface suddenly lifted their heads miraculously, looking toward the sky.
They had just seemed to hear a god’s response.
“I will…”
“You will…”*n
“Carry your dreams…”
“Carry our dreams…”*n
“And soar high!!!”
“Soar high…”*n
As if ignited, everyone on the sea surface suddenly stood, roaring toward the sky, toward that ship of their dreams, with all their strength:
“Do your best, red-haired brat!”
“This is the promised thing!”
“Go!”
“Carry our dreams!”
“Soar high for me!!!”
……
“Hmph~”
“Of course!!”
“Hah!!!”
Splash!
Aoxi at the prow below suddenly exerted force, pulling the thick heavy chain straight!
“Everyone sit tight!”
“We’re…”
“Setting off!”
Bang!
A massive bang came from ahead, abruptly halting the ship’s descent!
Immediately after, Ember, Obei, Wright… everyone in the air, everyone on the sea opened their eyes wide, staring dumbly at the heavens.
Reflected in their pupils—a pair of crimson wings that shrouded the sky!
Any flights of human fancy have the possibility of becoming reality.
……
“Hm?”
On Fenrir Island, La, who was leisurely drinking tea, suddenly looked up toward the window.
“What’s wrong?”
Kaido, holding an invitation and looking it over curiously, asked.
“Nothing, just feeling a bit lonely without Aoxi and the others around.”
“Uro-ro-ro-ro! Indeed, without those two brats, even Burufaruto hasn’t had much energy lately.”
“Yeah, but the day they return should be quite lively.”
