Chapter 29: Duke Elamine

*Pit--a-pat*

A faint sound of hurried footsteps resounded in the hull, but they were quite indiscernible because of the noises in the background.

*Boom!* *Swoosh!* *Clang!*

Clashing soldiers, raining blood, heavy breathing, loud cannons, and such were occurring in the background. The noises were chaotic, but with purpose.

*Rattle*

Soldiers were rolling cannonballs to reload the cannons, they were breathing heavily from fatigue, but they were still persevering.

*Thud*

The sound of footsteps stopped. A woman was standing in a straight posture at the location where the sound stopped.

The surrounding soldiers suddenly felt the temperature rise a little. They looked at the source of heat, and when they recognized it, they quickly stood up upright and bowed.

This woman was Melajaine. She was radiating an extremely high flame aura, causing the places she stepped at to slightly scorch. She bears the strictness of a soldier, but resembles the dignity of a fairy.

She looked around imposingly, like she was the owner of the place.

*Pit-a-pat*

A young woman suddenly walked towards her. Her posture was upright and her face looked serious, but the lights in her eyes displayed undisguised admiration.

Sydney spoke in a loud voice.

"Ma'am, this is Sydney, reporting!"

Melajaine nodded indifferently.

"Tell me the current situation in the 4 hours I was gone."

"Yes! So far, we have fired a total of 8 rounds of fireballs. Variables aside, it is estimated that the enemy barrier will break in another round. Our troops have surrounded the enemy already. They are prepared to attack anytime."

"The enemies have been targeting the center of our barrier and we've received damage, this however, is negligible."

"The flying enemy scouts are in combat with ours. We have lost about 200+ soldiers, but we have taken control of most of the high ground."

Sydney reported in a loyal tone.

"Good. Continue all operations. Report all suspicious events and immediately report to me if there's an emergency. All other personnels, come with me and form a formation ideal for besieging. The barrier will break anytime soon."

"Yes, ma'am!"

All the soldiers shouted in agreement.

*Thud* *Pit-a-pat*

The hull immediately got noisy but orderly. All the available soldiers immediately hopped on to their aerial beast.

There were not many aerial beasts, so the Ershnirians outnumbered them. However, as they control the sky, it will be no obstacle to crash the enemy camp to pieces.

Thousands of heavy footsteps echoed in the hull, all from the running soldiers. All of them formed 10 lines with their corresponding beast.

"Go!"

After the signal, the soldiers at the front of the line immediately took off.

*Flap*

At the front, one of the eagles jumped and desperately flapped its wings to stabilize itself. It wasn't able to stabilize itself easily because of the person riding it. However, as time went on, the eagle got the hang of it.

"'Come here!"

Melajaine commanded the soldiers. After all of the soldiers took flight, they immediately regrouped themselves and formed whirlpool formation.They were like vultures circling a dead prey, but the prey was the camp instead.

This formation covers all vision and allows flexibility. It also allows bombing from a safe distance. Although catching up to the enemy might take a while, this maximizes the advantage of occupying the sky.

"All soldiers, standby!"

The soldiers did as they were told. Since the formation was circular, they just kept on circling the sky.

The soldiers looked down to observe the camp. What came into their view was the desperate looks of the enemies. Some looked like they were ready to sacrifice themselves, screaming and pointing their weapons at them.

One of the soldiers was nervous. Even though he was used to killing, he was not used to wars.

Wars deprived people of their life and hope. It made him feel small and scared, like a boat in the middle of raging seas and storms.

'What if they try to kill me in desperation? Like suicide bombing? What if I weren't able to help at all? What if they target me? So what if we win when I'll die anyway?'

This soldier was slightly shaking in fear, he looked around and saw that the enemy was 10× more than them.

When he looked at his teammates, he saw them slightly shaking too, but he didn't see anyone backing down. He knows that they have to continue, they have to move on, they have to keep climbing the cliff. Because once they let go, they'll fall.

The soldier closed his eyes to calm his throbbing heart.

'Oh God, please help me.'

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Meanwhile, at the camp, the Commander felt his heart pounding in nervousness. His face looked grim and he felt a hint of fear when he looked at the airship.

'All I can do now is to defend and wait for the enemy to get tired. Even though an airship can give way to safety and escape, it needs too many resources.'

*Sigh*

The Commander sighed in helplessness inside his mind. As a Commander, he can't just leave this place and let it get raided by enemies, yet he can't deal with the enemies.

*Sigh*

The feeling of helplessness coursed in every part of his body. He felt weak, like a boat in the middle of the raging seas. He kept doubting himself.

'Did I make the right choice? What should I have done instead?'

He didn't have anyone to hold onto, all of his family was gone. He felt like he was drowning in his feelings, it kept pulling him down, making it hard for him to breathe.

"Sir!"

The loud shout of his subordinate woke him up from his stupor.

"Sir, we have brought Zowie."

'There's no going back now.'

The subordinate lightly stepped aside to give way for a rather young man. Zowie was being led here by two soldiers, looking like a.... fugitive.

'Why are they guarding him like that? What if he got angry?! If he can reinforce our barrier, then he'll be our only hope in surviving, you bloody idiots!'

The Commander reprimanded them in his mind, but he knew that he shouldn't show such favoritism in front of his soldiers.

"Squad leader Zowie, I have a mission for you, I hope you'll accept it."

Hearing this, Zowie slightly tensed, but he hurriedly corrected his posture.

"Yes, sir!"

The commander smiled and nodded in satisfaction and relief.

"Good. You're assigned with the task of reinforcing the barrier. I trust that you'll do it well."

"Yes, sir!"

'Looks like this will be easy.'

Zowie thought to himself.

The commander was delighted with his response. He pulled a soldier nearby and lent him to Zowie.

'What the heck!? I'm a person, not a tool! Don't just pull me out of nowhere and then lend me to a kid. Damn it!'

The soldier thought to himself stingily, but he still showed respect towards the Commander.

"This is the person leading the group maintaining the barrier. He'll assist you in completing your task."

"Yes, sir!"

"Good, you should go now. Time is not on our side.

Zowie bowed slightly but didn't take his leave. Instead, he paused slightly and asked a question.

"Sir, I would like to ask a question, sir."

"Ask."

"....Will he come, sir?"

Zowie asked obscurely but the Commander understood it.

"Nope. The royal family and other Integrated threatened him. He is assigned to another location at this moment."

Zowie seemed to be thinking something and was slightly disappointed. But he hurriedly tossed the thing he was thinking about and hurriedly left.

'That kid, he must be wishing that his brother will save him.'

The Commander shook his head while looking pitifully at Zowie's departing figure.

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"Hey, what is the problem with the barrier?"

While walking, Zowie suddenly asked the assistant. Hearing his question, the assistant suddenly frowned.

"What? What problem? The barrier has no problem! It's only falling apart because the energy reserve can't keep up with its consumption! Don't make it sound like we didn't do our job!"

Zowie was astonished by his answer. He raised his chin and snorted in annoyance.

"Huh? You've got some guts to talk to me like that! The Commander wouldn't have to call me if you did your job right! Now you have the gal to defend your petty little pride?"

Retorted by Zowie.

Hearing this, the assistant was slightly embarrassed. He can't help but get angry.

'This damn kid! It's not our fault if we don't have a large energy storage or the enemy is just too powerful! Hmph! You're only like that because you're lucky that someone has your back.'

"Anyway, how do you get the energy to maintain this barrier?"

"Hmph. We harvest the light energy of luminous celestial bodies using an artifact. Any light energy that made contact with the formation in the artifact would be immediately collected for storage. Ha! I bet that you don't get it, don't you?"

Hearing this, Zowie's eyebrow twitched, but he didn't answer.

'Calm down, self. Let's just wait and see his expression after I solve this measly thing.'

"Whatever. Just lead me to the generator."

"Hmph! Follow me. Be careful not to get lost."

The assistant said provokingly.

'Damn him! Does he treat me like a child!? I'll kill him!'

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*Flap* *Squawk!*

At this moment, in the sky, the flying enemies are still circling the camp. In the middle of the formation, a woman was watching the camp in a regnant attitude. She was Melajaine.

A while later, a young woman, Sydney, approached her and reported.

"Ma'am, the cannons are about to fire in 1 minute."

Melajaine nodded indifferently but she immediately commanded her soldiers.

"Attention!"

The voice was loud and clear. Everyone heard it and listened carefully.

"The cannon is about to fire any minute. Prepare your weapons!"

The soldiers hurriedly took out their weapons and steadied their postures. They slightly leaned forward to lessen air resistance and gripped their weapons tightly.

*Swoosh* *Flap*

Only the sound of flapping wings and splitting air remained, but the soldiers felt nervous. Like a dripping faucet, time trickled slowly until the time came.

In the hull of the ship, the person in charge of the cannons double checked.

"Are all the cannons loaded?*

"Yes, sir!"

"Are there no problems?"

"Yes, sir!"

"Good! Ready the formation!"

Along the signal, the formation and runes on the cannons started glowing. The formations were now storing energy used to launch the cannonballs.

"Aim at the enemy!"

The soldiers double-checked the pathway of the bullets and corrected if the aim was incorrect.

"Fire!"

With the signal, the soldiers hurriedly activated the weapon.

*Boom!* *Swoosh* *Rattle*

The cannons shook from the recoil, but the fireballs were launched in the air. Smoke was rising from the mouth of the cannons, and the formation and runes dimmed down.

After a while, the fireballs started to fall down. The air split as the gravity continued to increase the force.

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Like a meteor shower, the fireballs in the sky looked beautiful and bright. However, colors drained from the faces of the soldiers when they saw this.

"Prepare for impact!"

The Commander ordered. Hurriedly, the soldiers rushed to lift their shield and conjure elements barriers.

Earth walls rose up and water barriers. Some hid inside the buildings, but they still can't feel an ounce of security.

'Will the barrier break? Are we gonna die?'

The Commander also prepared for impact. With his level 10 Core, he can easily conjure an earth wall, and this is even sturdier than others.

He peeked at the small hole he left above the barrier. The barrier and the fireball came into his view, but he was thinking about Zowie.

'Zowie.... Hurry up!'

*Swoosh*

Hundreds of raining fireballs set the afternoon sky ablaze. Everyone gloomily watched the falling fireballs.

'Is this the end for us?'

This was the thought of everyone. At this moment, the fireballs finally collided with the barrier.

*Boom!* *Zing* *Rumble*

Every time the fireballs collide with the barrier, they would explode brightly like fireworks. They were like roses, beautiful but full of thorns.

The walls and the barrier shook. Smoke rose up and blocked the camp.

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"Attack!"

Up above, Melajaine commanded the soldiers to attack. All the soldiers dropped attacks like bombs, boulders, and such.

*Swoosh*

Magic rained down on the sky and cleared the dark smoke blocking the view. However, what they met was only a bright wall of light.

Debris and rubbles were scattered everywhere, but the dazzling brilliance was not obstructed in any way.

"Wha— What!?"

Melajaine frowned.

'The report said that the barrier would be destroyed by now, what happened?'

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At the camp, all the soldiers were shocked for a brief moment. They didn't expect that the barrier would still hold on.

"We.... Were you safe?"

One of the soldiers dizzily blurted, and like a wildfire, other soldiers screamed in happiness and delight.

"F*ck! Yes! We're safe."

"Woohoo!"

Everyone sighed in relief when they discovered that the barrier was not destroyed.

This time, the barrier seemed like it was lifting the heavens with its shoulder, bearing all pressure and pain alone. Everyone can't help but be grateful for the barrier.

Insig was one of them, from the moment the enemy attacked, he felt really scared and pessimistic. He thought that the barrier would not hold on any longer and they would die, but it still held on.

'Oh God, please bless whoever the person who helped us.'

Insig prayed to himself. He was really really grateful.

"It... it really worked?"

Zowie foolishly asked. Right now, he was standing in a place surrounded by dark glass panels, but only the top was visible. You can see that Zowie was indiscriminately releasing beams of light all throughout his body.

The place where he was standing seemed like an abyss because you can't see any parts of it. It was dark all around, you couldn't even see your hands, although you could still feel the aura of light flowing through them.

This was the generator. It was rather dark because all light was being absorbed by the formation.

"Oh my God! Holy shit! Wow! It worked! You're really something!"

The assistant said in surprise. The fireballs scared the shit out of him, he can't help but release all the stress and dear inside this. scream

Zowie was happy and proud of what he did, however, he kept a straight face like it was nothing.

"Whatever. Anyway, are you convinced that I can control myself now?"

A while ago, they made a bet about Zowie losing control of his power. At this time, all other people were hundreds of meters away from him.

"Hahaha."

The assistant chuckled nervously, he was rather embarrassed of himself.

Zowie just rolled his eyes and continued pouring light into the generator. Bright white runes suddenly surfaced, surrounding his body.

The runes crawled in his skin and formed a faint image of half the sun. This caused the faint vision of dawn to appear.

"[Solar Arts: Light of Dawn]!"

The sun up in the sky seemed to be brighter. Like stairs to heaven, light fell down on the place where Zowie was.

Slowly, the cracks on the barrier began to mend. Lights seemed to crawl on the runes on the walls and slowly healed the barrier.

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"No!! They can actually heal the barrier! Damn it!"

Melajaine frustratingly shouted. The 9 rounds of cannonballs already took so much resources from them. If she failed this mission, she would be punished harshly.

'No! This can't go on! I have to hurry and get help from the Duke!'

She was about to go back when suddenly, she discovered that a cloud was approaching her.

This seemed innocuous and normal, however, all the clouds were cleared away from the impact, which makes this even more abnormal.

When Melajaine focused her sight, she saw the faint silhouette of a man standing atop the clouds. He bears the disposition of a person that has reached the top of the world. He was lofty like a mountain, regnant like the clouds, and confident like a king.

However, Melajaine's pupil shrunk when she recognized the person. She subconsciously blurted out his name.

"D— Duke Elamine!"