Chapter 6: The Land of the Winds Episode 1: Soaring to the Land of the Winds

Part 1/5: A Change of Atmosphere

The maglev train sped out from the heart of Draft, heading toward Hypergate—one of the major transportation hubs connecting all continents. This city was the pinnacle of Arcadia's advanced travel technology, where speed, safety, and logistics were meticulously designed to accommodate large-scale trade.

The train glided smoothly, almost as if it were floating in mid-air. The magnetic propulsion system eliminated vibrations, making the ride eerily silent. However, despite the quiet hum of the train, the atmosphere inside felt much heavier than it should have been.

They had just gone through an intense discussion filled with lingering doubts about Draft, yet that was merely the beginning. Their true destination was Skyperion, the kingdom of winds—a land caught in the throes of political turmoil. Among their traveling companions was Princess Keela Thunderwill, a member of the royal family and possibly the key to changing the fate of her homeland.

What awaited them was not just another mission to cleanse Chaos, nor merely escorting a princess home. It was a battle against the storm of power struggles that lay ahead.

Yue and Draco exchanged glances and gave a slight nod, as if speaking to each other without words. It's time to change the mood.

Yue turned toward the window, her eyes widening with excitement. "Wow~! Why are there so many train tracks over there?"

Elina responded with a more relaxed expression. "That's the central railway hub of Hypergate. This city is one of the most critical trading hubs in the world. Our destination is there as well."

"Wow, that sounds so exciting!" Yue grinned and raised her eyebrows at Draco, passing the baton.

Draco caught on immediately. "Oh, so this is a major trade route, huh? Osiris, why don't you explain it to us?"

Osiris adjusted her imaginary glasses slightly before launching into an explanation, her natural instinct kicking in. "The world trade routes form the most vital intercontinental transportation network in Arcadia…"

She continued, detailing how each continent utilized its own cutting-edge technology:

• The Magma Solidify Trains of Draken, capable of traversing both arctic frost and molten lava.

• The Silver Whale Submarine Fleet of Undine, which facilitated maritime trade across vast oceans.

• The Kirov Airships of Skyperion, the backbone of aerial transport.

• And, of course, the fastest maglev trains, operated by Draft and Gnome, all converging at Hypergate—their next stop.

Mirelle added, "I've seen the Silver Whale Fleet before. It's truly massive. Every time they arrive, they bring a huge influx of goods and people, and they also help export our products. Without them, travel would be far more difficult."

Keela nodded in agreement. "The Kirov Airships are just as crucial. Without them, Skyperion would be nothing more than an abandoned wasteland."

Akira chimed in. "That does sound impressive… but if someone were to launch a terrorist attack on these major routes, the damage would be catastrophic."

Elina responded swiftly. "That's exactly why security is paramount. One of the Guardians' key responsibilities is protecting these trade routes."

Akira frowned in thought. "That must require an immense amount of money and personnel, right?"

Elina nodded. "Yes. It costs an enormous amount… But luckily, The Great Bear Star Trade Group from Mollarr help fund it."

Draco raised an eyebrow. "They're willing to pour that much money into this? Just how rich are they?"

Elina chuckled. "They call it 'risk insurance.' If the trade routes remain safe, they profit greatly. But if something happens, they'll suffer just as much. To them, these routes are like their lifelines."

Their conversation deepened their understanding of just how vital these trade routes were. However, before they could discuss further, an automated announcement echoed through the train cabin.

"Welcome to Hypergate—Arcadia's hub of commerce and transportation."

They had arrived.

The beginning of a new mission awaited.

Part 2/5: The City of Hypergate

The city of Hypergate was a whirlwind of movement, a place where people bustled about like tireless worker ants in an ever-busy colony. The sheer density of foot traffic forced them to hold hands while navigating through the crowd. Mirelle seized the opportunity to grab Akira's hand, while Yue positioned herself right in the middle, wedging between him and Keela. On the other side, Draco was sandwiched between Elina and Osiris.

Countless eyes followed them as they passed through the streets, especially drawn to Akira and Draco, who were surrounded by beautiful women—like princes straight out of a fairytale. But if those onlookers knew the chaos behind the scenes, akin to a miniature war in progress, they would probably abandon their envy immediately.

With the relentless energy of the city, there was barely any time to rest. Even walking through the crowd was an ordeal. The group managed to make only a brief stop for some quick shopping before resuming their journey.

Their next destination: "Barrett"—a high-speed premium-class train. The ticket prices were far from cheap, but once they boarded, it was evident why. The interior boasted luxurious decor, plush leather seats, and top-tier service. To ensure privacy, they rented an entire carriage for eight people. The cost was steep, but the comfort was well worth it.

As the train pulled out of the station, a sense of excitement began to build. However, just as they were about to enjoy the scenery outside, the train plunged into a pitch-black tunnel, and the breathtaking view vanished in an instant.

Yue pouted dramatically. "What?! I didn't even get to see the view yet!"

Osiris chuckled softly and activated a holographic display. "How about watching this instead?"

She proceeded to explain, "This train operates on maglev technology, but with an added aerodynamic drill-head system at the front. The design consists of multiple cone-shaped segments arranged in a sequence from smallest to largest. This configuration creates a drag-and-draft effect, reducing air resistance and enhancing speed. Essentially, these drill-heads function like a screw, boring through the air while electromagnetic rings along the track accelerate the train further. However, this method is only feasible on completely straight tracks."

As soon as her explanation ended, they suddenly felt a slight jolt, followed by a flicker of light passing rapidly outside the windows. A brief sensation of dizziness swept over them—the result of the acceleration rings kicking in. The first few weren't too bad, but as the train continued, the rings became more frequent, each one boosting their speed exponentially. The acceleration was staggering. The train soon reached a seemingly stable velocity, only for the deceleration rings to kick in moments later. Gradually, the train began to slow down until it came to a complete stop.

They exchanged bewildered glances, still processing what had just happened. The entire journey had taken only a few minutes—despite the fact that they had just crossed an entire continent.

It was an unbelievable speed.

No wonder the tickets were so expensive.

This wasn't just transportation.

It was buying time itself—compressing a cross-continental journey of several days into mere minutes.

Part 3/5: The Port City of Aetherise

They had finally arrived at the port city that served as the gateway to Skyperion—Aetherise. The name alone exuded an air of regality and nobility, but that was merely the beginning. The city's architecture, decorations, and even the clothing of its people screamed luxury. It was like a grander, more opulent version of Tibet, where every building shimmered with embedded gemstones and polished metals. The entire city seemed to glow, as if it existed solely to flaunt its wealth to the world.

From Hypergate onward, everything in Aetherise was meticulously categorized by volume and weight to facilitate the logistics of loading onto Kirov Airships. The group initially planned to purchase mid-tier passenger tickets to save on costs. However, an unexpected surprise awaited them.

The moment the staff recognized Keela, chaos ensued.

Realizing that one of their own princesses had returned, they rushed forward in a flurry of excitement, escorting the group straight to the highest-class accommodations without hesitation.

This was an exclusive private airship docking bay, heavily guarded and adorned with extravagant furnishings. Everything around them radiated grandeur.

Yue gawked at the sight before her, eyes sparkling. "This is incredible! It's like we're about to ascend to heaven or something!"

Mirelle, however, had a different perspective. "How much money must they have wasted to build all this? Meanwhile, so many people across Arcadia are still struggling to survive."

Keela sighed. "The nobles and aristocrats of Skyperion love to flaunt their prestige. But honestly? I agree with you, Mirelle. All this money could have been used to help people in need."

Everyone nodded in agreement, acknowledging the pointless extravagance of it all.

Still, that didn't change the fact that they had just been granted the most luxurious private airship available, along with top-tier service.

Keela looked around, clearly uncomfortable. She muttered so softly that it was almost a whisper.

"I hate this… I'd rather travel like a normal person."

She let out a deep sigh before continuing, "I was just lucky to be born into royalty. That doesn't make me special. If someone else had been born in my place, they'd be receiving the same treatment."

Akira stepped closer, her words stirring something within him.

"The princess wants to be judged by her own worth rather than her birthright… That's a noble thought."

He paused for a moment before adding in a serious tone,

"But think about this—what if the person who got this 'luck' was actually a terrible person? What would happen to the land then?"

Draco's eyes widened at the realization. "Whoa. If someone bad were given this kind of privilege, they'd just exploit everything for themselves and make life miserable for everyone else. Lucky for them, but a disaster for everyone else."

Akira nodded. "Exactly. Since you were born into this position, why not use it to make the world a better place? You could help those who suffer. At the same time, you might have to use your authority to strip power from the corrupt and uplift the good. That would give your 'luck' true meaning. I believe that."

His words struck Keela like a key unlocking the chains she had been carrying all this time.

Her eyes sparkled with newfound clarity, as if she had been freed for the first time.

She turned to Akira and gave him a genuine, heartfelt smile of gratitude.

No one realized it yet, but this shift in her mindset would become the catalyst for a massive change—one that would shake not just Skyperion, but all of Arcadia itself.

The luxurious private airship lifted off gracefully, just as Keela's heart felt lighter than before.

The scenery outside was breathtaking—a view unlike anything seen from the ground.

Yet, among the group, only Elina, Keela, and Akira seemed unfazed by the experience. This caught Yue's attention.

"Why aren't you guys excited?" she asked curiously.

Osiris offered her theory. "I assume the princess is used to it since this is her homeland. As for big sister, she's probably traveled around Arcadia enough that this isn't her first time in the skies. But Akira… I have no idea."

Keela nodded in agreement, while Elina beamed with joy at being called "big sister" by Osiris before responding, "Yeah, I've been to every continent in Arcadia, but that doesn't mean I know everything about them. Still, I've ridden airships plenty of times before—though most of the time, I was in the overcrowded public docks over there."

She gestured out the window toward the public airship docks below, where regular citizens crowded together in tight spaces. Unlike their exclusive luxury airship, the public terminals were clearly cramped and bustling with activity.

Yue turned back to Akira, still puzzled. "What about you, big brother? Why don't you look excited?"

Akira smiled faintly.

"Who said I'm not excited? This is my first time riding an airship in this world."

He chuckled before adding, "It's just… I've already flown in airplanes back in the human world, that's all."

That response immediately sparked a lively conversation about the human world—about airplanes, distant travel, and famous tourist destinations.

Their curiosity grew, especially Yue's, who seemed the most eager to visit Earth someday.

Time passed quickly as their conversation remained engaging and full of wonder.

But then—

Their excitement was abruptly cut short.

A sudden commotion erupted in the distance—the sound of battle.

Part 4/5: The First Aerial Battle

As they looked outside, they saw a cargo airship under attack by sky pirates. The raiders moved swiftly and efficiently, displaying clear experience in aerial combat. In contrast, the massive cargo vessel was sluggish, making it an easy, defenseless target.

There was no hesitation.

Without Akira even needing to give an order, the team immediately sprang into action, each member knowing their role instinctively. They all had one shared objective—to protect the cargo ship and stop the sky pirates.

Elina, the team's steadfast shield, was the first to take off. Riding her hoverboard with practiced ease, she soared through the air and erected a protective barrier around the ship's rudder controls, the most crucial part of the vessel. If that was destroyed, the entire airship would be doomed.

Draco, the team's reckless powerhouse, had once been known for charging head-on into battle. But ever since they devised the "Bomber" technique, his approach had evolved.

He locked onto a stationary pirate ship, one that had anchored itself with ropes to keep the cargo vessel from escaping. It was the perfect target.

Draco launched a magic-enhanced gravity stone, small yet incredibly dense, sending it plummeting toward the enemy ship like a meteor. The weight-enhanced projectile smashed straight through the hull, sending the pirate airship plummeting downwards like autumn leaves in the wind.

Meanwhile, Akira surged forward, riding on a black light streak at blinding speed. Everything around him seemed to slow down, as if time itself had frozen.

Using his enhanced speed, he combined sword techniques with elemental buffs granted by Mirelle. With fire and water magic infused into his slashes, he sent wave-like sword attacks toward enemy ships. Whenever one struck, he would dive straight toward the impact site, breaching the pirate ships from within and destroying them from the inside out.

Yet, not every strike landed perfectly. If his target was too far, the attack would sometimes miss. To compensate, he adapted his grip mid-air, twisting his body into a spinning slash—a Saturn-ring-like rotation that carved through enemy ships as he passed them by.

The move resembled techniques from a legendary giant-slaying story, but it came with a drawback—executing it mid-air made it difficult to change direction, limiting its precision. However, if used in tight quarters, it could be utterly devastating.

Keela, the team's new sharpshooter, started by firing lightning arrows toward the sails and engines of the pirate ships with impressive accuracy. However, as her arrows began to run low, she swiftly switched to her sniper rifle.

Though her rate of fire decreased, her destructive power and range more than made up for it.

She didn't need to worry about missing.

After all, she was the Lightning Falcon Sniper.

Not to be outdone, Mirelle used mid-tier wind magic to disrupt the pirates' control over their ships. Acceleration and deceleration reversed unpredictably—where they needed speed, they slowed; where they needed to stop, they surged forward uncontrollably.

The enemy ships began to stagger and tilt erratically, like a drunken fleet lost in the storm. Some even crashed into each other, sowing complete chaos in the pirate ranks.

Yue, meanwhile, activated her Fairy Wings, soaring straight toward the cargo ship under attack.

Without waiting for instructions, she immediately began tending to the injured, healing them with her magic.

Osiris took a different approach. She vanished into stealth mode, flying far above everyone else. From this elevated vantage point, she analyzed enemy formations and relayed strategic insights to her teammates.

Even with Mirelle's turbulent winds, she was able to predict the pirate ships' erratic movements to some extent, providing real-time tactical guidance to ensure their victory.

The battle ended in triumph.

The sky pirates were completely wiped out. Some attempted to flee, but none could escape the Lightning Falcon's sniper rounds—she picked them off one by one, sending their airships plummeting from the sky.

And more than just securing victory, the team had successfully tested their aerial combat skills for the first time—a crucial milestone for battles to come.

Part 5/5: Rescuing the Cargo Airship

They made their way to the cargo airship, and the moment their feet touched the deck, voices of gratitude rang out from all directions.

However, when Keela arrived, their reverence escalated even further.

Keela had never cared for titles or status, nor had she ever held herself above others because of her lineage. Yet, no matter how hard she tried, the people of Skyperion would always regard her as royalty.

As they conversed with the crew, they learned that this airship belonged to the Falcon Star Trade Group—a faction loyal to Noren Fairsteel, Keela's close friend. It was no surprise, then, that they had shown her such deep respect.

Before leaving, Keela sent a message through the crew.

She had returned—and if Noren wished to meet, he should come to her mother's home.

The crew eagerly agreed to deliver the message, honored to be of service.

After bidding farewell to the cargo ship with smiles, the group returned to their own airship.

The staff greeted them once again, this time with genuine admiration in their eyes.

They spoke honestly—impressed that the group had stepped in to help people without waiting for a request and without expecting any reward. Such selflessness was rare in Skyperion.

And yet, what truly shook them… was that a member of the royal family herself had acted without hesitation.

At that moment, several of them swore their allegiance to Keela, vowing to stand by her side no matter what happened next.

The team congratulated Keela, but while she smiled softly, a flicker of hesitation and unease lingered in her gaze.

Once they returned to their private quarters, they asked her about it.

She sighed before revealing her concerns.

"Oaths like these… They seem noble on the surface. But the truth is—"

"By swearing loyalty to me, they are acknowledging me as a contender for the throne."

Her expression grew more troubled.

"In Skyperion, the battle for succession has always been between male heirs. Only my brothers—Evan and Kalan—were ever expected to compete for the crown."

"But now… if people start counting me among the contenders…"

Keela lowered her gaze.

"I feel trapped."

"I'm close to Kalan. I don't want to be his enemy. But at the same time… I don't want to fight Evan either. We may not be close, but he's still my brother… He's still family."

Her burden was palpable, and the weight of her predicament began seeping into the group.

The true nature of Skyperion's internal conflicts was becoming clearer—and the deeper they dug, the more complicated it seemed.

But what if this wasn't just a three-way battle between royal factions?

What if there were even greater forces at play?

Akira took a deep breath.

This wasn't just about power struggles anymore.

This could become an all-out war—a bloodstained battlefield where lives would be lost, not just titles.

He had fought for survival before.

But this time… it wasn't his life at stake.

This time, his friends would be caught in a maelstrom of politics, betrayal, and war.

And their safety was his top priority.

They would have to tread carefully.

Every move would be critical.

They could not afford to make a single mistake.

No one knew just how brutal the battles ahead would be.

But one thing was certain—

Once this war for the throne began…

Skyperion would never be the same again.