"Magic Airship"—the world's largest vessel—could carry up to a thousand passengers at full capacity. Routine flights held only three to five hundred, yet profits remained solid.
"Brother Wude, quick! A little wyvern!" Elisa stood on the deck, fierce winds blocked by a spatial barrier. The airship glided smoothly, not a hint of turbulence—thanks to the barrier deflecting all disruptive air currents.
Little wyverns were lesser dragons: plainly named, yet relatively rare. Though dragonkind had long vanished with no draconic traces found in this world, ancient texts claimed even the mightiest dragons barely matched an Ascendant Sovereign’s power—while those bizarre Colossal Beasts could slay one. Thus, dragons here were far less legendary than folklore suggested.
Still, the little wyvern ranked among the most beautiful monsters—like a peacock soaring through the sky? (Never seen one, but that’s how I picture it.) Legend said: if it spread its tail before you in splendor, you could wish—especially for love—and it would come true.
"Whoa! A little wyvern? So rare! Lemme see… Alreis, stop clinging to my sleeve!" Wude tried stepping toward Elisa, only to find Alreis gripping his sleeve tight.
Alreis glared warily at smiling Tini, like a cat whose territory had been invaded. She struck a "fierce" pose—but honestly, utterly adorable.
"Alreis, you’re older than Tini. Act your age," Wude sighed, helpless. Ever since Tini pinned her down and *disciplined* her, Alreis kept close to Wude, avoiding Tini at all costs.
"Alreis… am I truly that terrifying?" Tini—though appearing a young girl—spoke with mature grace. And honestly? Hug-worthy.
"You scheming witch! This grudge is sealed! Just wait for my chance!" Alreis snarled, yet still clung to Wude’s sleeve.
Elisa puffed her cheeks, stomping over with a faux-angry pout. "Brother Wude! Why didn’t you come?! The little wyvern’s gone!"
"Alright, don’t be mad." Sleeve still trapped, Wude reached out and ruffled Elisa’s hair. Truth be told, though Elisa seemed the oldest of the three girls, she was the most childish…
Wude felt drained. How did "real-life winners" juggle crowds of girls? He had only three—and already overwhelmed. Though… all undeniably adorable.
"Wheee! Gotcha!" Tini cackled, lunging at Alreis. Alreis shrieked, dashing across the deck. Passengers watching smiled warmly, as if seeing their own children play with joyful liveliness.
Unbeknownst to Wude, Alreis and Tini’s spiritual energy silently enveloped the entire airship. Beneath calm exteriors, their focus remained razor-sharp—they simply chose not to show it. After all, Wude and Elisa were far too weak.
How far could a Sage’s perception reach? This rank, merely one step below an Ascendant Sovereign… At minimum, all of Falos City lay under that Sage’s watch. Distance offered safety; closeness meant detection. Even their countermeasures couldn’t fully block a Sage’s senses. Neither was in full power.
Closer to Falos = higher risk. Avoidance was impossible. Alreis and Tini had already decided: this airship would be their battlefield.
Forged originally by a Sage, most national airships were jointly crafted by an Ascendant Sovereign and Sages—the Sovereign’s control inherently superior. Fighting here gave them a slight edge. Other passengers? The Sage would evacuate them upon arrival.
A Sage wouldn’t slaughter recklessly—that was their code. Airship passengers came from tangled backgrounds; random killings invited chaos. Unlike Ascendant Sovereigns, Sages couldn’t ignore sub-rank threats. Even a coalition of Level 8 experts could fell a Sage.
Sages preserved their lives for ascension. They’d never risk themselves lightly—but seize any chance to become Sovereign. Such was a "Sage."
Ascendant Sovereigns were once Sages too. Yet the moment they ascended, everything changed: power, mindset, all.
While dashing across the deck, Alreis and Tini etched hidden magical arrays—preparations against the Sage. Combined with their artifacts, victory wasn’t hopeless.
To the weak, Sages were revered. To Sovereigns, loyal aides—until ascension or death. But to a fallen Sovereign? Sages became ravenous beasts, hungry for opportunity.
BOOM! BOOM! Lightning struck the hull. Even shielded, the airship shuddered violently.
"He’s here!" Alreis and Tini’s senses locked onto the figure arriving at imperceptible speed.
"Binding Array of Life!" Tini clasped her hands. Spiritual energy triggered a hidden node.
A magical array flashed into being. Emerald light erupted across the deck. Before horrified onlookers, a middle-aged man materialized within the glow—powerfully built, faint wrinkles etching a weathered face, eyes dim with exhaustion. Yet emerald chains of light coiled tightly around him.
"Your Highness, Blessing of Life! I have found you at last!" Unshaken by the bonds, his voice trembled with fervent joy.
"Chris. Spare the pleasantries—I know your purpose." Tini’s playful smile vanished, replaced by stern gravity.
From afar, Wude sensed danger and moved to intervene—
—but froze. An invisible force pinned him utterly. Straining with all his might, he couldn’t shift an inch.
"...!" He couldn’t even speak.
"Your Eminence… You truly are compromised!" Triumph glittered in Chris’s weary eyes.
"I said: enough chatter!" Tini’s voice sharpened. "Your path to Ascendant Sovereign lies before you! Seize it—or fall. Your strength decides!"
An emerald staff bloomed in her hand, crowned with an unknown flower shimmering with radiant light.
"Your Eminence, permit me to return these insignificant souls to the earth," Chris bowed deeply.
As he spoke, the chains unraveled. A casual wave—and Wude and Elisa were yanked upward, hurled off the deck. A translucent white bubble enveloped them: protection.
As Wude fell, he caught Alreis’s gaze—complex, sorrowful. He finally understood: their chase wasn’t play. It was to hide their bond. To protect him… With that thought, he vanished into the sky.
"Now then—" Golden light erupted beneath Chris’s feet—but harmed him not.
"What is this?!" He shot Tini a bewildered look. The light solidified into a rune branded onto his skin.
"A spell my predecessor and I crafted long ago: Flame of Life!" Tini stated casually.
"AAAAH!" Golden flames erupted across Chris’s body. Yet his scream held a trace of ecstasy. "Incredible! Truly an Ascendant Sovereign’s legacy! Even past research inflicts irreversible wounds on a Sage?! Such terrifying power and wisdom!!!"
"However—you remain compromised!" The flames snuffed out. Tini’s face darkened. *As expected… this spell alone can’t defeat a Sage.*
"And now—" Chris’s words died. A blade of spatial energy erupted from his chest.
"Who…?" He turned with agonizing effort.
"I am Alreis—the Ascendant Sovereign of Time and Space!"
