Mage Lian walked beside Michael as they approached the towering ships.
"As we discussed earlier," Mage Lian began, his voice low but steady, "the creature we're hunting has the terrifying ability to control. Because of this, the kingdom decided to dispatch only knights on this journey—no ordinary humans are coming along."
Michael nodded thoughtfully, rembering the chaos such a creature could cause if it managed to turn weaker soldiers into an army.
Mage Lian continued, "There are ten squads of kingdom knights accompanying us. Each squad has fifty knights, and none are weaker than a Primary Stage Knight. So squads even have several Interdiate and Advanced Stage Knights."
Michael's brows rose slightly. "That's five hundred knights," he murmured.
"Indeed," Mage Lian affird. "Five hundred strong warriors."
Michael couldn't help but be impressed. This was no re hunting party.
"And together with these squads," Mage Lian added with a smile, "there are also two Grand Mages—myself and you."
Michael blinked. He hadn't expected to be counted so casually among such high-standing figures.
But then again.
He didn't seem to be....wrong.
A mont of silence passed before Michael, suppressing his curiosity no longer, asked in a low voice, "What about that... 'person' you ntioned before?"
At this, Mage Lian chuckled softly, his beard fluttering with the movent. "Ah, I see you didn't forget."
His eyes glead with quiet excitent.
"A Great Knight will be accompanying us."
Michael's heart leapt. A Great Knight. Those words carried weight.
Though he had only been here for a period of ti, he knew such individuals were legendary beings.
Unfortunately, Mage Lian didn't elaborate further, and Michael, sensing his companion's intention to keep the identity hidden, chose not to pry.
It was enough to know that such a powerhouse would be there.
Their chances of victory had just shot up trendously.
By the ti their conversation ended, they had arrived at the docking platform—and there, waiting, was a familiar figure.
Michael's eyes narrowed before recognition struck.
"Knight Rachel," he called out.
The man standing before them smiled broadly, his polished armor gleaming under the sun.
He looked just as sharp as Michael rembered him—the one who had been in charge of piloting the flying ship on their last venture together with Mage Lian.
Rachel strode forward, after greeting Mage Lian, he offered a short bow to Michael. "It's good to see you again, Sir Mic."
This youth, Knight Rachel had his thoughts about him.
And seeing him again, especially in a serious mission like this, talking casually with the Grand Mage mage him rethink so of his previous suspicions.
In fact, they might actually be true.
"You too," Michael replied with a nod.
"This ti," Rachel continued, patting the side of the massive ship looming beside them, "I'm once again in charge of your transportation."
Michael followed his gesture and whistled under his breath.
The ship was massive. Far larger than the one they had used before.
"Nine ters wide at the hull," Rachel said with a proud grin, seeing Michael's admiration.
"Ten ters at the middle deck."
Michael's gaze traveled upward.
"Eleven ters by the top," Rachel finished. "A real beauty, isn't she?"
"She is," Michael agreed honestly.
This ship was built like a flying fortress—large enough to carry dozens of knights, mages, and supplies.
While admiring the ship, Michael's thoughts drifted back to his undead.
He smiled lightly.
When the ti ca, they would be unleashed onto the battlefield—and this ti, it wouldn't be anything like before.
This ti, they would crush anything in their way.
---
After Mage Lian and Michael settled onto their assigned flying ship, the rest of the fleet stirred to life.
Seven mighty vessels, each a floating fortress, slowly began final checks before departure.
Flying out of the capital to the Everlong Forest was no minor undertaking, especially with the objective they had in mind.
Logistics had beco a mountain of responsibility.
Weapon racks were lined in neat, glinting rows, each piece carefully checked and rechecked by the quartermasters.
Potions were stacked in reinforced crates: health restoratives, stamina tonics, mana rejuvenators.
Every ship had a designated squad of alchemists and healers responsible for monitoring potion supplies. Several mages had also been assigned to tedious tasks.
No effort was spared.
Knight Rachel, satisfied with the final checks on the ship, turned and spotted a familiar figure leaning over a crate of weapons—Master Yuan, the Grand Mage Personal Assistant, a seasoned mage and one of the mission supervisors.
Approaching with easy strides, Rachel called out, "Master Yuan, any more word on what exactly we're up against?"
"We know what we need to know," Yuan replied curtly, brushing dust from his sleeves.
Rachel frowned slightly but didn't press. He respected Master Yuan enough to understand that the man wouldn't hide details out of malice.
Still, sensing the younger knight's lingering curiosity, Master Yuan said more.
"In truth," Yuan began, voice lowering, "the creature was first discovered by an adventuring party—an elite one. The kind with several interdiate level Warriors."
Rachel's eyebrows lifted.
That was not a group easily wiped out.
"But..." Yuan's tone turned heavy, "only one survived their encounter."
Rachel frowned..
"And that brought the kingdom's attention."
"Yes," Yuan nodded. "The Crown sent a squad of Kingdom Knights next, fifty strong. Confident. Ready."
He paused.
"They barely made it back alive. If not for Grand Mage Lian's intervention..." Yuan's lips tightened. "We'd have lost them all."
Rachel let out a slow breath. The creature wasn't just powerful.
It was dangerous on a fundantal level..
Despite the grim story, Rachel's face remained steady.
He was no greenhorn. Fear had long been replaced by a practical awareness of danger.
"I see," Rachel said. "But... if it controls minds, what defense do we have?"
A faint smile touched Yuan's lips.
"Do you think the Grand Mage Lian would walk into a trap unprepared?" he asked rhetorically. "He has a thod—at least enough to give us ti to respond."
Rachel nodded firmly. That was enough for him. He trusted the Grand Mage.
As their conversation drifted toward final preparations, Yuan's gaze briefly flickered to where Michael stood, speaking quietly with Mage Lian.
An unreadable emotion flashed through Yuan's eyes.
He had learned much recently.
Iinvestigating the aftermath of the last 'minor' incident involving the Grand Mage and the youth...
Yuan now knew.
This was no ordinary youth.
And yet... Yuan remained silent.
If the Grand Mage trusted the boy enough to bring him here, that was enough.
Besides, if Michael proved true to the signs Yuan had seen...
Then he might very well be the kingdom's unexpected ace in this battle.
As the flying ships began their slow ascent, casting long shadows over the docks, Rachel made his way back to Michael and Mage Lian.
His steps were firm, his heart steady.
The skies awaited them.
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