Chapter 125: Mosquitoes Can't Fly This High
Over the next few days, Heathcliff noticed his popularity in the Sky Castle had suddenly risen significantly. Whether it was Erina, Hisako, or Yunyun, they would all greet him warmly when passing by, unlike before when they'd stare at him with "murderer in a death game" eyes.
'Strange, what did I do?' The guild leader wondered, stroking his chin. 'Could it be because my defense against Hayashi's "Fierce Tiger Overlord Heart-Ripping Punch" (self-named) was so impressive?'
With this thought, he walked with renewed vigor.
It wasn't until Yunyun asked him to help test her magic's power that realization struck. After readily agreeing, equipping his gear, and standing on the training grounds, it dawned on him.
Oh, so I'm just the training dummy.
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Meanwhile, as Hayashi's group was adapting to their new powers, the sixth-floor guardian of Sky Castle, Violet, was following Hayashi's orders to operate the mechanical factories at full capacity. They produced nearly ten thousand Level 35 mechanical scouts (mosquito-shaped) and deployed them to hide near villages at the edge of the Re-Estize Kingdom.
One day during routine training, Violet suddenly approached Hayashi with a report: "Supreme One, the mechanical scouts have detected a cavalry unit approaching the Re-Estize border from the direction of the Baharuth Empire."
"Hmm?"
Hayashi stopped his movements and straightened up. "Any visual feed? Show me."
Violet nodded. A projection emitted from her left eye, forming a screen in the air before Hayashi. The image showed a man with slicked-back golden hair resembling an isekai lemon protagonist riding a galloping horse.
Having recently rewatched Overlord to refresh key plot points, Hayashi stroked his chin. "Yes, that's him—captain of the Sunlight Scripture under the Slane Theocracy, Ni... Nile River Great White Shark!"
Hisako facepalmed. "Young master, if you really can't remember his name, just give him a nickname! Nile River Great White Shark is ridiculous!"
Besides, the Nile only has crocodiles, not great white sharks!!
Hayashi waved dismissively. "No big deal. As long as we know 'Nile River Lemon' refers to him, right?"
Hisako sighed. First it was Nile River Great White Shark, now Lemon—next it'll probably be Nile River Brick House.
"Since the Slane Theocracy's plan has begun, let's move." Hayashi stretched his shoulders and shouted: "Cure! Cure!!!"
"Whoosh—"
With golden light, the blonde beauty with six angel wings appeared instantly like an eager golden retriever, announcing loudly: "Angel Guard Team..."
"Skip the introductions! Get ready for action—that Nile River Brick House has appeared!" Hayashi pointed at the projection displayed by Violet and said, "Just follow the script we've been working on these past few days and give it your best shot. Got it?"
"Understood!"
Though a little disheartened at not being able to finish her introduction, the brave Kayle feared no hardship!
She stood up heroically, fastened her helmet, and dashed toward the door, shouting as she ran, "Captain of the Angel Guard, First Layer Guardian of the Sky City, Six-Winged Angel Kayle, deploying!"
Hayashi watched Kayle's retreating figure with a mix of amusement and exasperation. "Does this kid have to recite her full title every time or she won't feel satisfied?" he muttered.
Is this some kind of compulsion?
Beside him, Erina guiltily turned her head away and began whistling a soundless tune—Sorry, Hayashi. When I was setting up Kayle's profile, I thought announcing her titles like that was really cool...
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Meanwhile, at the border between the Re-Estize Kingdom and the Baharuth Empire.
"Whoa—"
Nigun Grid Luin reined in his warhorse, gradually slowing its pace, while the knights behind him followed suit.
"This terrain is decent."
Nigun uttered something utterly inhumane as he glanced around. "All units, rest here! Third Squad, patrol the perimeter. Second Squad, gather firewood. First Squad, come with me to hunt! We'll eat before continuing our march!"
"Yes, sir!" xN
The squad members swiftly dispersed to carry out their tasks, unaware that every move they made was being observed by a mosquito that had been tailing them all along, now hidden among the leaves.
Oh, and there was one more—Kayle, the angel hovering ten thousand meters above, arms crossed, gazing down at them with cold, merciless eyes like a deity judging mere mortals.
Since the Supreme One ordered me to monitor them, I won't miss a single action!
Kayle scrutinized Nigun's every move with the intensity of a frame-by-frame PV analyst.
Just then, Kayle's ears caught the faint bzzz of something approaching her neck. Without hesitation, she clapped her hands together with a sharp smack right where the sound originated.
Kayle frowned at her palm. "Foolish insect! How dare you attempt to defile this sacred body crafted by the Supreme One with your filthy existence! And now your corpse has sullied the armor bestowed upon me by the Supreme One—you deserve death a thousand times over... Hm?"
Her expression blank, Kayle stared at the "mosquito" corpse in her palm—Wait, are those electronic components rolling out of its body?
As Kayle pondered this, another bzzz sounded nearby. This time, however, she resisted the urge to swat it, allowing the mosquito to land near her ear.
A few seconds later, Violet's voice buzzed in her ear through the mosquito device: "Lord Kayle, mosquitoes can't fly above twenty meters, so please remember—anything buzzing near your ear at ten thousand meters altitude can only be an electronic surveillance mosquito."
"I... I understand," Kayle replied, tilting her head upward with a slightly shaken expression. "But Lord Violet—I'm not trying to shift blame here, just offering a suggestion—do electronic mosquitoes really need such hyper-realistic buzzing sound effects?"
If you didn't buzz, why would I swat you?
Violet fell silent for a few seconds before responding, "Lord Kayle, what would you do if an object approached you in complete silence?"
Kayle realized her mistake and lowered her head. "My apologies. The realistic sound effects are indeed necessary. I was being ignorant."
If it approached silently, the mosquito would be instantly destroyed, right? At least the buzzing conveys a "Hehe, here comes the mozzie~" vibe.
"More importantly, continue monitoring Nigun's movements. The Sky Castle will arrive overhead in approximately twenty minutes—"
"Understood!"
Kayle straightened up, reinvigorated. She resolved to redeem herself in the upcoming performance!
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Fifteen minutes later, Nigun's forces had finished their evening meal, buried their traces with soil, and remounted their horses, preparing to resume their march toward the Re-Estize Kingdom's border.
Kayle didn't rush to reveal herself immediately. Instead, she waited until Nigun's troops had advanced another two minutes before unfurling her wings. Like a comet streaking across the sky, she descended in a blaze of golden holy flames.
"Halt, mortals!"
Kayle's divine voice reverberated through the air, causing every member of the Slane Theocracy present to widen their eyes in shock.
"Th-this... this is..." Nigun's face twisted into an expression akin to DIO seeing JOJO, his features contorted with ecstatic disbelief as if witnessing a miracle. "An... an angel! A living angel!!"
"You are about to enter the domain of the Sky Castle—" Kayle hovered majestically midair, her right hand flicking outward as a greatsword wreathed in flames materialized in her grasp. "State your purpose for approaching!"
"Sk-Sky Castle?"
Nigun gaped stupidly, stammering, "W-we're heading toward the Re-Estize Kingdom! W-we know nothing of any Sky Castle, Angel-sama!"
Had Hayashi been present, he would've clapped and laughed uproariously, marveling at how Kayle's angelic appearance alone served as a divine smackdown to these faithful believers.
Kayle slowly spread her arms, declaring with solemn, pilgrim-like gravitas: "No. The Sky Castle has already descended—"
"Eh?"
Nigun barely managed this single syllable of confusion before the sight before him struck him dumb—
Behind the angel, under the glow of the pristine moonlight, an awe-inspiring colossal fortress emerged gradually from behind the clouds. Its massive shadow enveloped the Theocracy's forces below, yet strangely, their warhorses showed no panic—only an eerie sense of tranquility.
Hundreds of angels, fluttering with either two or four wings, emerged from the castle. Some wielded spears, others greatswords, staves, or shields, their expressions ranging from solemn to indifferent to haughty as they sealed off the surrounding space.
"Ah... ah... ah..."
Nigen's mouth hung open, his face filled with the fervor and excitement of one who had finally glimpsed the paradise he had long pursued. Struggling, he leaped down from his horse and fell to his knees with a "thud," closing his eyes in devout prayer as he murmured, "Is that... is that the realm where the gods reside?"
Was he... about to witness the majesty of the divine?