Indra's fuel chamber was a cramped space, countless cables intertwined like the heart of a living creature.
There, standing blankly alone, was Rabesta. Endi stared at him in puzzlement.
"Rabesta, what are you doing?"
Rabesta, gazing intently at the tanks and wiring, replied in his usual poker face.
"This UFO-like contraption is annoying, so I snuck aboard to wreck it. Then it suddenly took off, and that surprised me."
That face of yours doesn't look surprised at all! Endi thought, eyes widening.
Then Rabesta, still expressionless, reached toward the wiring and, with a sudden "hey!" swung down his sword.
Sparks crackled from the severed cables, and at once the craft lurched, shaking like a mild earthquake.
"Hey, Rabesta! What the hell are you doing! What if this thing crashes!?"
"It won't fall so easily. And even if it does, we'll be able to escape, right?"
Rabesta's composure made Endi clutch his head.
"You idiot!! Lamia is on board this thing!!"
At Endi's raised voice, Rabesta narrowed his eyes for an instant, but soon returned to his usual vacant expression.
Meanwhile, down in the forest, Rose and Jackson clashed, sparks flying.
The sound of great trees being felled, the ring of blades colliding, filled the air.
Rose swung his spear, but Jackson's greatsword unleashed an onslaught like a storm.
Blows that split trees in two, strength that wielded the blade as if it were weightless, and above all, the practiced movements of one who had survived countless life-or-death battles.
Rose was being gradually driven back.
"You're tough, Headsman. But why is Indra flying? The appointed time hasn't come yet, has it?"
Breathing hard, Rose forced himself to sound calm.
"That's what I'd like to know."
Jackson answered irritably.
"Ha! The Guild abandoned you, didn't they? Where's Azbal, anyway?"
"I've no obligation to tell a man about to die. Once your slaughtered corpse, oh Prince, is found, it'll throw the entire nation into turmoil."
"I see… So Azbal's planning to flee the capital in the chaos, is he?"
At Rose's words, Jackson's eyes sharpened for an instant.
The next moment, their fierce clash resumed.
Rose swung his spear in a wide arc, Jackson slipped past it and closed in for his neck.
"Got you."
Jackson's grin made Rose's spine go cold.
"Damn…!"
At that instant of despair, Esta leapt between them, his sword catching Jackson's greatsword.
A sharp clang resounded through the forest.
Esta immediately tried to kick Jackson in the stomach, but Jackson leapt back to evade.
Esta, Jessica, and Moene lined up before Rose.
"If you want Rose's head, you'll have to kill us first."
Esta declared boldly.
"Calling your master by name, you cheeky brat."
Jackson mocked.
"Young master, we will protect you even at the cost of our lives. That is the mission of the Royal Guard!"
"Jessica, for once we actually agree?"
Jessica and Moene spoke in unison.
Rose looked down, his face expressionless.
"Annoying brats. I'll kill all four of you at once."
Jackson raised his greatsword to strike, but at that moment Rose moved.
His spear flashed, cleaving both Jackson's greatsword and his body in half.
It happened in an instant.
Jackson's lower body was severed, crawling on the ground.
"Wh…at… hap…pened…?"
Muttering so, Jackson breathed his last.
"Well done, Young Master!"
Moene cried out in joy, but Rose glared at the three with sharp eyes.
The air grew tense, and none of them could move.
"I have never once thought of you as shields to protect my life. Nor do I intend to treat you as tools. So from now on, I will not tolerate a single word about throwing your lives away for me. Understood?"
Rose's voice was deadly serious, carrying a near-demonic intensity.
Jessica and Moene hastily bowed.
"Yes! We overstepped terribly—our apologies!"
"As long as you understand."
Rose suddenly smiled, returning to his usual cheerfulness.
"Honestly, never heard of a prince who'd say that to his retainers."
Esta snorted, though a smile tugged at his lips.
Meanwhile, inside Indra, Endi and Rabesta cut down the Old Doal soldiers rushing at them as they pressed toward the cockpit.
In the narrow corridors, guns were useless, and the enemies attacked with swords.
Rabesta's blade gleamed, while Endi's quick movements bewildered their foes.
"Hey, how the hell do you know where the cockpit is?" Endi asked as they ran.
"We had copies of Indra's blueprints. Anyway, let's land this damn flying saucer somewhere."
"Yeah. Even if we rescue Lamia, we can't escape while stuck up here."
They kicked down the cockpit door and burst inside.
What they saw left them stunned.
The enemy leader, the Guild, lay unconscious, while Nova sat at the controls.
"Nova!? What the hell are you doing??"
"Huh? Why are you here?"
Endi and Rabesta's eyes went wide.
"Hey, what are you two doing aboard!?"
Nova was just as surprised.
"Nova, are you trying to die?"
At Rabesta's blunt question, Nova's shoulder twitched.
Rabesta pressed further.
"I knew it, that's just the kind of thing you'd think of. But Lamia's here too. Let's land somewhere. You can still turn back."
Nova gripped the controls in silence, but finally spoke.
"This is the path I chose. As a mafia boss, I've done plenty of filthy things. Even if no one died, I attacked the royal palace. There's no living clean after that. Take Lamia and get out. I'll settle this my way."
"That's not settling anything. Trying to pay for your crimes with death… you're just a coward."
Endi's words drew a mocking laugh from Nova.
"Say what you want. There's no turning back now. If you won't flee, you'll die with me."
At that moment, the Guild suddenly stirred, shoving Nova aside and seizing the controls.
"Don't get cocky, you brats! I won't let you do as you please!"
He fumbled at the panels, beeping sounds filling the air.
Then, from Indra's core, a massive warhead emerged.
On the ground, Ponaparto, Valentino, and the others noticed the anomaly, gazing skyward.
Endi, not understanding the situation, froze in panic.
Nova clicked his tongue, glaring at the Guild. Rabesta stood blankly as ever.
"At least I'll blow Baleralc sky-high!!"
The Guild shouted, slamming a large button.
A crimson beam shot from the warhead straight toward the ground.
The land below was engulfed in dazzling light, and people shielded their eyes.
But before it struck, the beam was swallowed up by a suddenly appearing vortex of flame, vanishing completely.
The fire devoured the destructive ray like a black hole.
What had just happened?
No one could comprehend the bizarre phenomenon.
A deafening blast resounded, fierce winds shook the trees, and parts of buildings collapsed—but the people on the ground were almost unharmed.
However, the blast shattered Indra's warhead, tearing a huge hole in the craft.
Indra caught fire, descending slowly toward the earth.
Far off, atop a great tree, Cain watched the sight.
"So that's Indra, huh? What a ridiculous name. Was it meant as a declaration of war against the Thunder Emperor? Science can't beat gods. Pathetic."
Cain smirked, murmuring his cryptic words.