At an altitude of five thousand meters, a blue-and-white skyship glided smoothly through the air. The azure runes embedded along its sides proclaimed its origin—the Shinra family of the Jerodia Empire.

"Wow, this is what it feels like to fly!"

Alicia, bubbling with childlike curiosity, had rushed out to the deck the moment the skyship stabilized. She leaned over the railing, peering straight down. The human cities below looked incredibly tiny.

Her Fire Drake fluttered beside her, wings flapping excitedly. Too young to fly this high on its own, the little creature shared her thrill.

"Can’t you act a bit more dignified? Didn’t you ride a black dragon before?"

Albel sighed helplessly at Alicia’s exuberance. Why did this noble lady seem like some country bumpkin who’d never seen the world? She’d flown high on a dragon just recently.

"I barely got a good look last time before that jerk flipped me off!"

Alicia spun around, pouting as she shot back at Albel’s teasing.

"Fair point. But be careful—if you fall, no one’s saving you."

Albel paused, recalling her point. Still, he couldn’t resist messing with the Holy Maiden.

"You idiot. The skyship’s shielded."

Alicia shot him a disdainful glance.

"Uh… so you knew."

Albel’s face flushed with embarrassment. He’d assumed she didn’t realize. At this height, winds could easily blow a person away—but no sound reached them, thanks to the transparent magic barrier enveloping the deck.

"Hmph. Trying to trick me? You’re ten thousand years too early."

Alicia swelled with pride at Albel’s flustered expression.

"Albel and Alicia get along so well."

Shenluo World approached, smiling warmly.

"Not at all! He bullies me constantly. If World hadn’t just explained the skyship’s layout, I’d have fallen for his trick."

Alicia stuck her tongue out at Albel. Their relationship was anything but good.

"Bad or not, you’re still my wife."

Albel rolled his eyes. How quickly Alicia had started calling Shenluo World by name. Girls bonded fast. Meanwhile, he was still stuck with formal titles like "Miss." Too stiff.

"Since we’re friends now, Albel, may I call you Al like Alicia does?"

Shenluo World seemed to read his thoughts, offering the suggestion.

"Of course! And I’ll call you World."

Albel’s eyes lit up. Not bad—this meant their bond was deepening.

"Naturally."

Shenluo World nodded with a gentle smile. "I came to inform you we’ll reach Qatar City in half an hour. We’ll refuel there for half a day. The landing will be bumpy—please return to your cabins."

"Got it. Thanks."

Albel nodded gratefully. He’d never ridden a skyship before. Demonic warships were too slow, used as mobile fortresses. Demons usually traveled by dragon.

"I’ll leave you two alone. See you later."

Shenluo World tactfully retreated, leaving only Albel and Alicia on the deck.

"Al, look! A giant dragon’s resting over there!"

Alicia spotted something new, waving him over eagerly.

"That’s a fucking snake!"

Meanwhile, to the left of the Shinra family skyship, a small black combat skyship emerged silently from the clouds. It lurked like a predator waiting to ambush its prey.

The metal deck of the combat skyship slid open. A crimson-haired girl stepped out, her long red hair whipping violently in the wind. Yet her slender frame stood utterly still, unshaken despite the lack of a wind barrier.

"That emblem… Shinra family. Big catch today. Release the Slaughter Whale."

The red-haired girl studied the distant skyship, her lips curling into a sharp smile. She waved a hand. The small skyship rose, revealing chains hidden in the clouds. At their end, a massive black whale strained against its bonds.

"Well then. The show’s about to begin."

Inside the skyship’s cabin:

"Sister Yurei, this tea is delicious!"

Verdandi sipped the tea Yurei Amamiya had brewed, her face melting into pure bliss. She’d lived with her brother for ten years but never tasted anything this exquisite.

"Drink as much as you like. There’s plenty more."

Yurei Amamiya smiled fondly at the doll-like black-haired girl. How could someone as frivolous as Albel have such a sweet, obedient sister? Were they even related?

*BANG!*

A deafening explosion rocked the cabin. The skyship lurched violently.

*CRASH!*

Alusa’s teacup slid off the table, shattering on the floor. Tea splattered everywhere.

"What’s happening?!"

Yurei Amamiya shot to her feet, eyes darting to the window. Beside her, Verdandi dissolved into black feathers, vanishing via Instant Teleportation to the deck.

"Brother, what’s going on?"

Verdandi reappeared at Albel’s side, confusion etched on her face.

"Something slammed into the hull."

Albel steadied Alicia, who’d nearly toppled over. He scanned the direction of the impact.

A colossal black whale—thirty meters long, with two pairs of tiny wings on its sides—rose slowly into view. Six eyes on its head fixed on them.

"Holy shit! A whale flying in the sky?!"

Albel gaped. Those stubby wings shouldn’t lift it. Newton’s coffin lid must be rattling right now. He could accept a dragon or giant bird, but a whale? Unbelievable.

"What’s wrong?"

Yurei Amamiya and Alusa rushed out, equally stunned by the sight.

"That’s a Slaughter Whale. A thirteen-star sky beast."

Shenluo World joined them on deck, identifying the monster.

As he spoke, detailed stats materialized before the whale:

**Overall Level: 13 Stars**

**Attack Power: 116,200**

**Defense Power: 244,000**

"Such a long health bar."

Yurei Amamiya glanced at Albel. Only he could handle this behemoth.

"Brace yourselves! It’s charging again!"

Alusa spotted the Slaughter Whale repositioning. She yelled a warning just as it lunged.

*BANG!*

The skyship shuddered under the impact. Alicia clung tightly to Albel to stay upright. The others grabbed nearby railings.

Cracks spiderwebbed across the deck’s magic barrier. One more hit, and it would shatter—hurling everyone into the hurricane-force winds.

"Get back inside. This is too dangerous for you."

Albel gestured for Shenluo World’s group to retreat. No matter its level or size, this flying meat was worth only three hundred bucks to his Demon Sword Laevatein. He just needed to kiss Alicia to summon it… Wait. Where was Alicia?

He reached out—but grasped empty air. She’d already fled toward the cabin with the others.

"You idiot! Get back here!"

Albel nearly collapsed in exasperation. He sprinted after her, yanked her back, and planted a quick kiss on her lips.

"Uh… I forgot about that…"

Alicia scratched her head sheepishly. She’d been too busy running for her life.

"I’ll deal with you later."

Albel flicked her forehead, then shoved her toward the cabin. Alone, he strode toward the Slaughter Whale.

*ROAR!*

The beast bared its massive jaws, snarling a threat at the tiny human on deck.

"Roar all you want. We’ll see if you can still scream after this."

Albel snorted. Push him too far, and he wasn’t Hello Kitty.

As he raised his right hand to summon the Demon Sword Laevatein, a crimson-haired girl with a single ponytail appeared behind him. Her flaming longsword slashed down.

*THUD!*

A loud crash echoed. The red-haired girl missed, landing face-first on the deck.

What the hell was this?

Albel’s eye twitched. He crouched to check on her. But the Slaughter Whale, seeing its master down, charged with all its might.

*BANG!*

The barrier shattered completely. Hurricane winds blasted the deck, sweeping Albel and the red-haired girl away like scraps of paper.

"FUCK!"

Albel’s shout vanished into the roaring gale.