Pick Me Up!-Chapter 321: Mission Type, Transcendence (6)

Aaron was hanging onto the metal pillar.

His complexion had gone pale. His hands, clenched tightly around the post, were trembling uncontrollably.

‘I—I’m going to die...’

The Capitalism tore through the city without the slightest regard for its passengers.

Had Aaron not undergone rigorous physical training, he would’ve long lost his balance and been flung from the airship.

But...

The results were undeniable.

There was no longer any need to fight.

The Capitalism had no onboard defenses, yet no monster dared approach it.

They couldn’t even get close. If any managed to latch on, they were violently hurled away by the erratic maneuvers.

Thanks to that, the Capitalism had successfully passed through Zone 2 and was barreling toward its final destination.

Veeeeenng!

The wind was so loud that Aaron’s ears rang from the pressure.

“Yah-hooooo!”

Perched at the prow, Jena stood firm and shouted with wild glee, expertly balancing herself.

“Faster, Oppa! Faster!”

“She’s out of her mind,” Ridigion muttered.

Both Ridigion and Nihaku stared at her with expressions of pure disbelief.

Meanwhile, inside the control cabin:

“Is everyone all right?”

Siris steadied herself as she looked around.

The non-combat personnel were scattered across the floor, passed out. Every time the ship jerked, their limp bodies were tossed about like rag dolls.

‘What kind of piloting is this...’

She had never seen anything like it.

At first, she thought they were trying to crash the ship on purpose.

Thankfully, her fears proved unfounded.

The Capitalism was, in its own insane way, making steady progress toward the target.

‘Yurnet...’

She was unharmed.

Using gravity magic to stay upright, she was feeding energy into Bifröst.

[Downloading...... 501329/547637]

[Estimated time remaining – 5 minutes]

The transmission was proceeding without delay.

In fact, it was ahead of schedule.

Despite the chaos, Yurnet remained fully focused.

“We’re almost there. Be ready.”

In the corner of the cabin, Katio—tied to a pillar—finally spoke up.

Even as he talked, the cabin trembled violently.

“You’ve seen the situation panel, right? The airship can’t enter the center of Zone 3.”

Siris nodded.

Near the dimensional barrier separating Eden from the Boundary Realm, high-density interference pulses were deployed. No machines could function within that zone. From there on, they’d have to proceed on foot.

“I’m only dropping you off at the entrance. After that, you’re on your own.”

“Thank you.”

It didn’t matter where they came from.

‘If not for their help...’

She would’ve been forced to take a much longer and more dangerous route.

By now, she’d likely be struggling in some dark corner of the city.

“You better not screw this up, not after everything we’ve done.”

Katio scratched his cheek, looking a little embarrassed.

BOOM!

They’d been flying for who knows how long when a shock rocked the entire deck—and Aaron blacked out for a moment.

The airship had crashed into the ground.

SKKKKKKKREEEEE!

The Capitalism’s underside scraped across the concrete, shrieking as sparks burst from the friction. Shattered fragments of the ship were flung in every direction, glowing red-hot.

“Damn it! Is it going to crash like this too!?”

Ridigion clenched his teeth and shouted.

Jena just grinned.

“Relax, relax. This way we go even farther!”

“What if it explodes!?”

“Don’t worry. I already shut the engine down.”

Fsshhhhh—

A hissing sound came from the rear of the ship.

The Hell of Hell engine had powered down. They’d officially entered a zone where no flight was possible.

Only then did Amkena let go of the controls.

“That was... awesome. We got here so fast...”

Nihaku exhaled in awe.

Though they had to swerve around monster swarms, the Capitalism had covered several kilometers in under ten minutes.

“Alright, game over!”

Jena tapped the deck with the tip of her foot.

Aaron slowly rose to his feet, staggering.

“I never... want to go through that again...”

“Why not? It was fun.”

FWOOOSH—!

Fire ignited across the deck, rapidly spreading.

“It’s disposable, so it’ll blow up soon. We have to get out.”

No sooner had she spoken than the side of the ship opened, forming a staircase.

Ridigion leapt down first. Nihaku, Jena, and Aaron quickly followed him out.

After them, the control crew and the unconscious non-combat personnel began to evacuate.

Siris was the last to step onto the road—

BOOM! POP-POP-BOOM!

A series of small explosions signaled the Capitalism’s complete shutdown.

Its flames began to spread to nearby storefronts.

“What a commotion,” Yurnet muttered, narrowing her eyes.

They had arrived near a bustling commercial district.

Beyond the forest of towering buildings stretching skyward, a colossal barrier could be seen.

Their mission’s final objective.

“In any case, the upload is complete.”

Yurnet drew Bifröst.

The jet-black blade was etched with intricate, alien runes and formulas.

“Here. Take it.”

“You’ve done well.”

Siris accepted the sword and strapped it to her side.

Now it was time to break through.

[Unidentified Contamination Entity Lv.???] × 2135

[Mutated Giant Contamination Entity Lv.211] × 158

[Mutated Special Contamination Entity......]

SCREEEEEECH!

A wall of enemies surrounded them on all sides.

In every alley, behind every window—monsters surged like crashing waves.

Their eyes glowed menacingly as they closed in.

“There are... more than we expected.”

“Well, we did cause quite a scene. Probably drew out everything in the area.”

Katio stepped forward.

After quickly surveying their surroundings, he turned to the heroes of Niflheim.

“Can you handle this on your own?”

“From this point on—”

Siris cut in, stepping in front of Ridigion.

“...”

Ridigion glanced at her, then stepped back without a word.

Siris murmured to herself.

Amkena’s account—Townia.

The staging ground where the Master had lived as a hero.

‘I thought it was just a temporary connection.’

A utilitarian relationship, forged for survival.

When running Niflheim, Master Loki always made decisions with cold logic. She assumed it was the same in Townia. That between the Master and these people, there was no camaraderie, no friendship.

‘But these people...’

They didn’t have to fight.

They could’ve returned home.

“It seems... I was mistaken.”

Siris finally spoke.

The members of the 13th Floor, standing behind her, turned their attention to her voice.

‘I didn’t understand.’

Why the Master chose to remain here.

A life of unending suffering.

A peaceful life on Earth would’ve been so much better.

“Haa...”

Siris closed her eyes.

‘The Master... was human too.’

He wasn’t perfect.

He made mistakes, misjudgments.

Sometimes, he followed emotion over reason.

Loki the Master and Han Israt the Hero were not the same person.

But perhaps that was why they’d fought so desperately to get here.

“We were wrong about him.”

She looked directly at Jena.

“You’re Jena Shirai, right?”

“Yup! Loyal subordinate #1 from Townia, at your service!”

Jena gave a sharp salute.

Siris smiled.

“What kind of person was the Master?”

“Well...”

Jena scratched her cheek awkwardly.

After hesitating a moment, she spoke.

“Blunt, rude, always said whatever he wanted.”

“...”

“He was the worst. We knew each other for so long, but he just vanished without saying goodbye. He always did whatever he pleased. Seriously—it really hurt.”

She pouted, lips jutting out.

But then her expression softened.

“Still... he wasn’t a bad person.”

“He was a jerk. Just not a villain.”

Katio replied shortly.

“I see.”

Siris nodded.

Up ahead, contamination entities were swarming into the street.

There were hundreds—no, more.

“Jena. Katio.”

“...”

“I ask for your help. Please fight with us.”

Siris bowed deeply at the waist.

Jena waved her hands frantically.

“Sis, you don’t have to go that far...!”

“No. It’s us who should be grateful. It seems you all had a deeper bond with the Master than we ever did. Thank you... for fighting beside him in our place. If not for you, he might not have survived this far.”

The members behind her said nothing.

Ridigion leaned back against the wall, arms crossed, while Nihaku stood blankly, lost in thought.

Yurnet lowered her head slightly, deep in contemplation.

“A touching scene, truly.”

A sharp whistle rang out.

Everyone turned.

From behind the flaming wreckage of the airship, a man with a sharp, fox-like face emerged, smirking.

“Didn’t think I’d live to see the day. The famed sub-master of Niflheim bowing to someone else.”

The man’s tone was relaxed, amused. With every step he took, the sheath at his waist clinked and swayed.

“Who the hell is this clown, talking to our sweet Siriny like—”

“Stop.”

“But—!”

“Please.”

At Siris’s firm request, Nihaku backed off with a pout.

“Bell-oppa, you’re late. You should’ve just come with me from the start.”

“No thanks. Once was enough. I’ve no desire to endure that kind of lunatic piloting again.”

The man glanced around.

Hundreds, thousands of contamination entities were closing in from all directions.

A dark grin curled his lips.

“What a warm welcome. Looks like we’ve got a proper mess on our hands.”

“...You’re...”

“Velkistra, at your service. You folks used to call that man ‘Master,’ didn’t you? We shared some time together in Townia. I see a few familiar faces.”

He gave Aaron a sly wink.

Then, with a more serious expression, Velkistra added,

“Don’t bother asking how I got here. The dimensional gate linked to Townia was still open inside the ship. I just passed through after you all left.”

“......”

“Quite a surprise, really. All the high and mighty types I knew used to have backs so stiff they couldn’t bend an inch. You—seem different. No steel rod in the spine, I presume?”

He «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» chuckled.

Siris took a deep breath and opened her mouth.

“I ask you as well—”

“No need.”

Clang!

In a flash, Velkistra drew his sword and leapt into the air.

A spider-like contamination entity descending from a rooftop was sliced in half, spraying black blood.

“Haa...”

Bathed in gore, Velkistra muttered,

“Make sure there’s nothing left to regret. I don’t want this ending with some half-assed whimper. Either we clean this up—or we all die. I hate loose ends.”

His eyes snapped wide open.

A vivid killing intent radiated from them, sharp as blades.

“Let’s begin.”

A white horn burst from Velkistra’s forehead.

[Engraving ‘White Dragon’s Blood’ activated!]

KRRRRRNG!

His sword shook violently.

Brilliant white waves rippled from the blade’s hilt, humming with power.

BOOM!

Velkistra vaulted from the cracked asphalt.

Twisting midair, he brought his blade down in a sweeping arc.

A formless shockwave cleaved through the horde in front of them.

The contamination entities blocking the road were reduced to shreds in an instant.

Without pause, Velkistra hurled himself straight into the densest cluster of monsters.

Blood and limbs exploded outward in a storm of carnage.

“Guess it’s our turn!”

Behind him, Jena drew her bow.

Three arrows were already nocked and ready.

Thwip!

One bolt pierced a contamination entity clean through the forehead. Jena looked back at Siris and grinned.

“We’ll clear the way. You and the others should conserve your strength for when it really counts.”

“......”

“We’re just doing what needs to be done. Right?”

“Damn right!”

Someone shouted from behind.

Siris turned around once more.

A girl in light leather armor cracked her fists together.

“The Gale Tribe never forgets a debt.”

Kishasha Vikshabi.

One of Townia’s beastkin heroes.

The tiger ears atop her head twitched excitedly.

“For Han Israt, our noble warrior.”

“Ha!”

Dozens of girls behind Kishasha roared in unison.

They were fellow catfolk warriors.

Crack.

Kishasha twisted her wrist.

The royal blood of the Beast King roared through her veins.

“Now is the time of warriors!”

On all fours, the beastkin heroes charged.

A contamination entity poking its head around the corner was instantly obliterated by Kishasha’s tackle.

Near the smoldering remains of the Capitalism, a rounded dimensional gate opened.

One after another, heroes poured out, weapons drawn.

Niflheim reinforcements weren’t coming. Their fleet was still undergoing repairs.

But—

Townia.

Individually, the heroes might’ve been weaker than Niflheim’s elite.

They likely wouldn’t decide the battle.

Even so—

They were here, willing to die for the Master.

That, above all, was irrefutable.

Their sincerity couldn’t be dismissed or belittled.

“Siris.”

Aaron spoke, looking her straight in the eyes.

“Let’s go.”

Siris’s gaze steadied.

Her eyes locked onto the towering barrier beyond the cityscape.

Beyond it, the Master was waiting.

Master... I’m coming to find you.

Siris gripped Levatein tightly.