The situation was urgent, leaving no room for delay.
Through his connections, Hermes managed to borrow a few flying dragons from the Ganesha familia, dragons that had been tamed since childhood. His plan was to reach the far end of the continent by air, aiming for the ruins of Alsos, hidden deep within a vast sea of trees.
However, with only three flying dragons available, there wasn't enough space for everyone to travel together.
As the gods began to discuss who should go, Yami stepped forward and spoke up. "No need to worry. We can all go together. Leave it to me!"
At his words, the others fell silent.
Yami activated his space-manipulating power, enveloping everyone within it. Yet, instead of the expected teleportation, everyone found themselves seated on the back of a single flying dragon. Remarkably, the dragon didn't seem to feel any additional weight.
"Yami, how is this possible?" Goddess Hephaestus asked, unable to contain her curiosity.
"It's a small trick of space manipulation," Yami explained calmly. "We're separated by space, so we're weightless, yet still physically present. The dragon will carry us as if we're not here. If I had known the exact location, I wouldn't have needed to bother with this. A simple thought would have taken us all directly to our destination."
His words were straightforward, yet carried an air of extraordinary capability.
He wasn't exaggerating.
After mastering the Third Magic, also referred to as Heaven's Feel: Cup of Heaven, Yami had materialized his soul, making it both immortal and an infinite source of magic. Even long-distance space transmission posed no burden to him.
"Incredible!" Hermes exclaimed, a bit theatrically. "With power like that, I'm fully confident in this mission. Now I understand why the 'Spear of Orion' chose you, Yami."
For anyone else, receiving such praise from a god might have been a cause for excitement. But Yami only nodded slightly, accepting the compliment with minimal enthusiasm.
"It's getting late," Yami said, "and delays could lead to unforeseen changes. Let's move out."
"Right!" came the unanimous response.
With that, the flying dragon lifted off from the city wall of Orario, rising gracefully into the sky and heading in a clear direction.
Meanwhile, across Orario, gods who were aware of the situation kept a close eye on events as they unfolded.
Yami's decision to wield the "Spear of Orion" and aid Artemis in subduing Antares pleased the gods, particularly those led by Ouranos. As Orario's strongest, Yami's involvement brought a sense of security. However, they knew they couldn't let their guard down elsewhere.
Antares, having broken free and consumed Artemis's body and divine power, was causing the dungeon beneath Orario to stir. To prevent monsters from breaking through to the surface, vigilant defense was essential.
"I hope everything goes smoothly with Artemis," one god murmured.
"If even Yami cannot defeat Antares in its current state, then no one in all of Orario can," another added. "If that happens, the arrow that could destroy the world might not be so easily stopped. The fragile peace between gods and humans could be shattered, and that's something we must avoid at all costs. Don't let us down, Yami!"
In the dark underground temple, Ouranos sat on his throne, gazing into the distance with deep, thoughtful eyes. After a moment, he issued more commands.
"Fels, relay my orders," he said gravely. "All familias must remain vigilant to prevent any disturbances in the dungeon. No matter what happens, the monsters must not be allowed to reach the surface. Also, go to the dungeon and instruct Ray, who is alone in the 'artificial maze,' to stay hidden and protect herself."
The skeletal figure clad in black robes nodded slowly and vanished from the temple.
Although the excitement of the Moon Festival hadn't yet faded, most adventurers in Orario were unaware of the crisis lurking behind the lively celebrations. Yami's departure, along with the others, caused little stir. While the Hephaestus familia was well-known in Orario and closely watched by other adventurers, Yami's claim that he was leaving on a "world journey" had been accepted as a reward recognized by the Adventurer's Guild.
Even with several familia members absent, life in the city continued as usual, and many adventurers envied Yami's fortune before returning to their own explorations.
High in the sky, the flying dragon sped along, far from Orario now. The warm morning sun slowly climbed into the sky, its rays illuminating the landscape below. The rushing wind didn't affect the passengers in the slightest.
"Wow!" a chorus of voices exclaimed as the girls peered curiously at the ground below. Various terrains—hills, plains, grasslands—unfolded before them, each more fascinating than the last. For those who had never left Orario, the view was mesmerizing.
It was rare for adventurers to leave Orario without special permission. Even Yami had only glimpsed a small part of the world outside when participating in the War Game against the Apollo familia. But this time was different, and the aerial view was breathtaking.
Even Goddess Hestia, who had been somber due to concern for Artemis, found herself comforted by the stunning scenery.
After several days of flying, they finally approached the sea of trees. The journey had taken about a week, and while the repetitive landscapes had begun to wear on their senses, leaving them physically and mentally exhausted, no one complained.
As they flew on in silence, something suddenly appeared on the ground below.