Chapter 281

“What is it?”

A soldier’s habit is to understand the situation in the face of the unexpected.

I crouch down in a position to always be ready to move at any time and watched the explosions in the sky, which were quickly followed by something like a fluid pouring down.

When I touched it on my arm, it was sticky to the touch, it seemed to be some kind of bodily fluid.

Then I realized. I realized that the sky did not explode, but that something has pieced the giant moth Taranis’s body. What is falling now is the body fluid of Taranis.

Is this part of the transfer magic that Titania is trying to do?

— No, it is not.

Are we under attack?

As I looked up, the bodies of the moth were hit by explosions in many parts, followed by the sound of the air roaring, and pillars of dirt rose from the ground from that same explosion struck the ground.

The dust and sand spewed up so high that it reached the height of the building. It even feels on the same level as a small earthquake.

“Bombardment?”

The Missiles that through Taranis from above are landing on the ground. That’s what it looks like for me.

–This…this is no joke.

What is this scale? From the tremendous amount of dirt that is bursting out of the ground, it almost feels like the attack is coming from space. It’s like a meteorite.

The atmosphere was filled with the low, anguished cry……. That must be Taranis’s scream.

『Gevaudan, come back quickly! Taranis is under attack!!』

Titania yelled.

『By what!?』

I asked, and Abigail answered instead.

『It’s a Candle of Destruction!!』

『And what is that?!』

Candle!? What kind of candle is this!!

『It’s an Artillery Cannon! FORCOM must have brought it out!』

『We must attack their firing positions!!』

『They’re firing at us from 1,000 kilometers away!! so there’s nothing we can do!! They can’t guide aim at us precisely, but if it hit us, we’ll be in serious trouble!! One shot is enough to destroy a skyscraper, be careful not to get hit!!!』

W-wha……1000km…….

Did mankind even make such a thing? Scary.

be careful! Even if you say that there’s not much I can do…

“…… Hold tight, Yakumo.”

I hugged Yakumo tightly, and he grabbed my apron strings.

I ran.

I felt like running through a minefield, scared shitless, leaving my luck to the heavens.

Fortunately, it seemed the aim was choppy and the anthill was not hit yet – but there was also the danger of not being able to predict the impact point at all.

I run past the spot where the shell just fall.

As I ran, I glanced to the side and saw a large crater.

The pit was rather deep. What a power. Uwa.

I choose a flat surface where the shell had not landed and ran.

I felt the tempo of the small earthquakes was increasing. The intervals between explosions are getting smaller. I have a feeling that a full-scale effective fire is coming.

Mankind is going to turn this place into a death zone.

–This is not good.

If we don’t hurry, they will really turn us into mincemeat.

It’s pointless to think about it. All I could think about was running as fast as I could straight for the Castle.

As I thought that,

–ouch……

Yakumo poked his finger up my nose. Two fingers were neatly lodged deep within my nostril.

It really hurts when it’s pulled to the side. I come to a complete halt.

“- Hey… hey! what are you doing! playing at times like this!”

His clear eyes were peering into my eyes. No meaning.

“I don’t have time to play right now…”

The next moment, a wall of red dirt erupts right in front of my face.

Pressure pushed me from the front, and I tumbled on the spot.

The debris of earth and sand was flying up. It was melting and glowing red from the tremendous heat generated by the kinetic energy, turning it into lava.

I wrapped Yakumo in my arms to keep him safe from the scorching dirt.

I stayed still and waited quietly until the situation calmed down.

–It takes some time for it to cool down.

I was horrified as I looked down at the deep crater that had appeared before me.

In the center of the crater was a pool of shimmering molten earth, emitting heat waves.

“T-that was dangerous…”

I took a deep breath and then changed course.

We ran through a hail of destruction.

We are almost at the ant hill castle.

『–Kuh……it can’t go on like this!! 』

A desperate voice reached my ears.

『Quintessence control is–』

『Titania? You’re okay??』

『Gevaudan…… Taranis is going to fall!!』

I looked around the terrace, concerned, and noticed Titania gritting her teeth and concentrating on the egg. Thunder sparkles from her full-size horns, her brow furrowed. Her impatient look communicated a feeling of urgency that was beyond description.

If Taranis crashes—-

What will happen then!?

—-Boom!!!!

A strong tremble came from under my feet.

It was unusual. The violent rumbling of the earth made my neck stiffen.

It felt as if the whole Earth was shaking, and a sense of unease slowly seeped into my chest.

This shaking was not caused by the bombardment of the candle of destruction. It was from something else.

–I feel a sense of death.

The presence of a Grim Reaper. It’s coming from everywhere, so much so that I can’t find its source.

I have to get back as soon as possible.

I looked up as I ran, and saw everyone shouting at us from the terrace.

『Quicklyーーーー!!』

『hurry up, Jibodan !!!』

『Eeeeee, I’m flying–』

『Awaawaaa……』

『Yakumo!!』

『Gevaudan!!』