Chapter "562"

Rudger is trying to tell her something.

Seridan's eyes shone with unprecedented intensity.

Instinctively, she sensed that the knowledge Rudger was about to impart would be the key to achieving the ultimate explosion she desired

Rudger didn't particularly want to share this with Seridan either.

Just looking at modern history would be enough to understand what changes the world underwent when the Manhattan Project succeeded on Earth.

But now wasn't the time to hold back.

They had to use whatever was available.

"What I can tell you is only theoretical. The rest you'll have to figure out yourself."

Perhaps he said this because of some final brake mechanism remaining within him but Seridan nodded vigorously, saying that would be enough.

No, she would likely go even further beyond that.

"Time is short, so I can only explain this once. Listen carefully."

* * *

The construction of the airship proceeded instantly.

In reality, building just one would take over a week.

And that's assuming all the detailed components were prepared and the environment and workforce needed for production were perfectly in place.

But in Dreamland, it took less than 5 minutes to make an airship.

The materials were all created by Dream Walkers, and the blueprints were made on the spot by Seridan and Bruno.

"A regular gas-filled airship won't be enough. We need to fly faster."

"How about making something like an enlarged biplane?"

"There's not enough space to rotate propellers of this size. And the output would be weak. We need a powerful propulsion system."

"We won't need magic stones. We're not limited by such things here. Whatever it is, a form that creates intense propulsion by burning fuel would be optimal."

Seridan and Bruno worked well together.

They exchanged opinions without pausing for even a second.

Both possessed extraordinary talent and ambition.

Like chemical substances that cause intense chemical reactions rather than unmixable oil and water, they experienced new sparks of inspiration in their minds with each exchange of ideas.

The mental waves were faintly visible in the form of heat haze around them.

Even the Dream Walkers forgot the seriousness of the current situation and watched in admiration.

"To minimize air resistance, we need to make the front part sharp."

"Many people need to ride it. If I had to define it, it would be like a flying battleship."

"We'll need to attach propulsion systems to both wings and the rear."

"When we get outside, we'll have to create engines that draw in oxygen through intakes at the front, combust it, and discharge it through the rear."

If a scientist had been present, or at least someone well-versed in science, they would have foamed at the mouth.

Anyone would feel that way knowing that modern science had advanced by decades in just 5 minutes.

Thus, in just 5 minutes, a massive vessel was completed.

In the steel battleship with wings, main guns were installed throughout, and the bow was sharpened for ramming, reminiscent of a giant blade.

The desire to admire its imposing appearance was overwhelming, but now they had to suppress it.

"Everyone board!"

"Civilians and students, please step back!"

Despite making it as large as possible, the number of people who could board the ship was limited.

Those who could participate in the fight boarded the vessel.

"Let me go too! I can definitely help!"

Julia insisted, but no one accepted her request.

"No."

The one who refused was Zantman.

"Why not!"

"You've already done as much as you could. From here on, it's a battle for adults."

"Are you still treating me like a child?"

"Yes. You're still young."

Julia was about to shout something in response to Zantman's words.

Until she heard his next words.

"That's why you have a bright future ahead of you more than anyone else. Telling someone like you to participate in a fight where you might die would disqualify me as an adult. Of course, it's also advice from a senior."

"...Then what about the others, are they okay?"

"Of course, we don't plan on dying. But well, how many days do folks like us or I have left to live? If we're gone, who will lead the Dream School?"

Zantman always spoke teasingly.

Saying you're still lacking, you need to keep working hard.

Each time, Julia would grit her teeth and show results that Zantman couldn't help but acknowledge.

With the thought of seeing how long he would refuse to recognize her.

"You're the only one, Julia."

But now, seeing Zantman's expression as he smiled at her with a warm gaze, she realized that he acknowledged her from the beginning.

"...You know, senior, you're really unfair."

Julia regretted not realizing this sooner.

They say the most precious things are closest to you.

She had neglected the family-like people she had been living with, saying she wanted to meet a departed friend.

Wasn't that truly foolish behavior?

"And there, you're Sedina Roschen, right?"

"Yes."

Zantman nodded to Sedina, who stood with Julia.

"As I said before, I ask you once more."

"I..."

Sedina bit her lip and then nodded.

She also wanted to fight alongside Rudger.

She wanted to overcome adversities by his side.

How wonderful it would be to see that scenery from that day in front of the World Tree again.

But in this situation, that would be greedy.

She had already exhausted her strength, and Julia was equally tired.

"Yes. Don't worry."

Zantman smiled with satisfaction and boarded the ship.

The Dream School Dream Walkers, watching from afar, berated him.

"Zantman, you jerk! Why are you taking on the cool role alone!"

"Always pretending not to care, have you finally softened up? You've never been honest."

"If the dead could see this, they'd be laughing their heads off."

Laughing at his chiding colleagues, Zantman replied with a smile.

"Shut up, you fools! Are you all ready?"

Needless to say more.

At the resounding response, Zantman spoke to Clara.

"Master. We're all prepared."

"Yes. It seems so. The same goes for the others."

When Clara gave the signal, the Dream Walkers began to infuse the ship with dream energy.

The ship, created through imagination, moved using the Dream Walkers' dream energy as fuel.

Red flames were discharged from the jet engines on both wings and the outlet below.

The red flames fixed in droplet form and gradually turned blue.

The battleship rose.

Though impossible to create with modern technology, flight was entirely possible in the dream world.

"Whoa. It really moves!"

"What should we call this? It's not an airship; perhaps it should be called an aerial battleship."

The aerial battleship, propelled forward, flew like a shot toward Noxana.

Noxana was gripping the obelisk that had pierced her solar plexus with both hands, trying to pull it out.

Blue flames arose whenever her slimy black hands touched the obelisk.

At first, the obelisk's seal repelled Noxana’s palms, but as time passed, the situation changed.

This was because Noxana was gradually getting stronger while the power of the seal remained the same.

The force that once repelled her hands merely pushed back, and it didn't take long before it allowed her touch.

At this rate, breaking the seal would soon follow.

At that moment, the aerial battleship's main guns blazed.

-Boom! Boom! Boom!

The shells fired from the long barrels of the main guns struck Noxana’s body all over.

Red explosions engulfed the goddess' entire body, and people opened their eyes wide in surprise at the sight.

"Wahaha! How's that! The taste of my special bombs!"

Seridan shouted with joy as if she had been waiting for this moment.

Making an aerial battleship was good, but what attracted her attention more was, of course, the explosions.

For this purpose, she had hung numerous main guns on the aerial battleship.

The main guns blazed again, and Noxana’s attention shifted from the seal.

"The goddess has noticed us!"

It must have been more than just annoying to ignore and continue breaking the seal.

Something like a pitch-black storm cloud flowed from Noxana’s body.

Upon closer inspection, it wasn't a storm cloud.

It was a bizarre creature made of clumped black tar-like substance.

It was a bird with wings where arms should be and sharp claws on its legs.

On its shiny, oval-shaped face, there was only a mouth, which was long and torn like a beast's maw.

"Dream creatures!"

Franz shouted as he saw the black beasts.

The dream creatures summoned by Noxana surged like storm clouds and flew toward the aerial battleship.

Each individual wasn't very threatening, but the problem was their number.

There were so many, it was like watching tens of thousands of sardines swimming in the sea.

"W-wait! Aren't there too many?!"

"First, intercept them!"

The battleship's main guns blazed, and missiles mounted on both wings were fired simultaneously.

Smoke trails reached the black clouds and caused explosions.

-Boom! Boom! Boom!

Large and small red spherical explosions followed.

But even after the explosions subsided, the number of approaching creatures didn't decrease at all.

-Screech!

The creatures opened their mouths and charged while the people on the battleship's deck engaged in interception.

Brilliant magic exploded all around.

With creatures overflowing everywhere, there was no missing.

Each time magic swept through, dozens of creatures fell.

But even after killing and killing more, the creatures kept pouring in endlessly.

Despite people attacking non-stop, one or two creatures broke through the defensive fire and reached the aerial battleship.

-Crunch!

"Oh no! My main gun!"

Three creatures turned one main gun into rags with their claws and teeth.

Seridan screamed at the sight of the tattered main gun but that was just the beginning.

The creatures demonstrating swift aerial maneuvers began hitting the battleship with their bodies.

Each time they collided with the battleship, the creatures became black blood puddles, but they didn't stop.

The creatures moving according to the goddess' will had no fear of death.

As the creatures threw themselves and struck, even the sturdiest aerial battleship couldn't withstand.

The battleship's external armor slowly began to dent.

"Damn it! There's no end to them!"

"At this rate, we'll crash!"

If you catch 10, 100 fill the gap.

Such a massive quantity battle was a first in their lives.

It was the same for Rudger.

It was the first time since fighting the Beast of Gevaudan that he experienced such a quantity battle.

The Beast of Gevaudan was difficult with countless cryptids rushing in, but compared to now, it was really nothing.

The creatures filling the entire field of view began to push back the aerial battleship's propulsion.

As it tilted sideways and was about to collapse, the Dream Walkers desperately prevented it.

"Starboard main guns malfunctioning! Already more than half have been broken!"

"Engine 2 down! Output is decreasing! We can't hold any longer!"

The news from Seridan and Bruno only fueled the sense of despair.

If they continued this endless war of attrition, only defeat awaited.

"Cease interception!"

It was then that Rudger's voice, imbued with magical power, resounded loudly.

Just when maintaining the defensive fire seemed necessary to prevent the battleship from sinking, cease interception?

Before anyone could question this strange decision, Rudger took action first.

Intense magical power and dream energy materialized around him, and began creating dark gray steel cubes.

"That is..."

Franz, who recognized what kind of magic it was, opened his eyes wide.

Steel cubes increased around Rudger and attached to various parts of the broken battleship, restoring it.

No, beyond restoration, they reinforced it to be even stronger.

Elisa, who realized something, shouted.

"Everyone, cease interception! Save your strength!"

Zantman, also understanding what Rudger was trying to do, nodded with shining eyes.

"Right! So that's it! Hey you guys! Turn all your dream energy into propulsion for moving the battleship!"

"What? But if we sink!"

"Just do it! Otherwise, we'll all die!"

"Whatever!" Find the newest release on ɴ

The battleship's engines, receiving dream energy from the Dream Walkers, moved fiercely and spewed fire.

By now, the number of cubes generated in the void had grown to resemble swarming ants.

This magic that Rudger was using now wasn't originally his.

It was the strongest magic used by a man who sacrificed his life to save a friend, now only a soul.

"Elementum Ex Machina."

It appeared in the world again by Rudger's hand.

"Infinitus Circen."

The countless rotating cubes moved according to Rudger's will.

The battleship's pointed bow had been tattered by the creatures but steel cubes piled up neatly over the broken bow, forming a shape.

"Magnetar Sword."

A steel blade was created at the bow of the battleship.

It looked as if the battleship itself had become a blade.