Chapter 244:

Chapter 244:

Adhai and I flew upward, dodging the falling ice fragments.

I was worried about PS-111, who wasn’t present, but I couldn’t afford to lose track of Pyra Eleven. If I did, my trump cards would be exposed to the enemy players.

Resolving to finish this as quickly as possible, I emerged from the canyon.

Above, a battle was raging between the Gallagons and the massive warship, hundreds of meters in size.

Normally, the night sky would be pitch black, but not at this moment. The breath of the Space Dragons, the flames from the weapons created by the machines, and the ominously glowing clouds lit up the battlefield.

Just like in the game, the battlefields in this world were equally spectacular and chaotic.

‘But here, if you die, it’s over.’

I flapped my winged arms forcefully to increase my speed, with Adhai closely following, carrying the Mother of the Sky.

The Ship's guns, which had been firing at the Gallagons, turned their barrels toward me. The next moment, lights flashed like a fireworks display.

Hundreds of torpedoes fired from Pyra Eleven’s ship streaked toward Adhai and me, intent on obliterating us.

Adhai, who was flying close by, prepared for evasive maneuvers. Just as I was about to brace myself for the rain of torpedoes, an anomaly occurred in the ominously glowing clouds.

The clouds, which had taken on a grand, swirling form like a typhoon, unleashed purple lightning.

The lightning, made of psychic power, branched out like claws and spread over the torpedoes. Thin streams of energy touched the torpedoes, causing a chain of explosions.

Through the billowing smoke, the one who created the lightning came into view.

It was Ham Ort, a Gallagon with black scales and the second-in-command of Adhai’s brood. It briefly made eye contact with me before glancing at Adhai flying beside me and then resumed its attack on the ship.

Ham Ort evaded the torpedoes and spread its wings, gliding downward toward the ground. Behind it, the other Gallagons formed a squadron and followed suit. The ones that avoided the torpedoes split into two groups, ascending in altitude.

‘They’re moving like when we fought the Skywhale.’

The Skywhale in its mature form is larger than any Gallagon. The Gallagons were maintaining a surrounding formation as they fought, just like when they take down an opponent larger than themselves.

The Gallagons that approached the bottom of the ship simultaneously unleashed their fire. The Dragon’s breath heated the ship’s outer wall, burning the turrets attached beneath. The torpedoes that were being fired exploded as the turrets, stimulated by the psychic power, blew up.

In the midst of the Gallagons’ barrage, Pyra Eleven began to counterattack.

Numerous APDs were launched from within the ship, swarming toward the Gallagons. There were so many of them, it was as if a horde of locusts had burst out from the ship.

A wave of energy emanated from the APDs, disrupting the Gallagons’ psychic power. While Ham Ort and the adult Gallagons quickly retreated out of the APDs' range, some of the younger Gallagons weren’t so fortunate.

The Green Gallagons, hit by the APDs' attack, experienced a sharp drop in their flight speed. Being still young and not yet proficient in psychic power, they struggled to stay airborne with just their wing flaps. The turrets targeted these weakened Green Gallagons.

‘Not on my watch!’

As Pyra Eleven engaged the Gallagons, I closed the distance with the ship and opened my mouth wide. A glob of green mucus, which had risen from deep within my throat, shot through the air and landed on the turrets.

The acidic fungus, which considered solid alloys a mere meal, rapidly corroded the gun barrels. The torpedoes that were about to be fired exploded as their outlets were blocked. The shock caused the turrets to cease firing, giving the Green Gallagons a chance to retreat from the battlefield.

‘Four Gallagons were hit by the APDs.’

Now, only four White Gallagons, five Green Gallagons, and Ham Ort remained. After confirming that the Green Gallagons had safely landed on the snowfield below, I began preparing a psychic breath.

Torpedoes flew toward me, but this time I wasn’t going to be caught off guard. Number 26, knowing I was about to launch a major attack, stepped in.

Torpedoes, each the size of three or four adult men combined, froze in midair. As Number 26’s tentacles twitched, the torpedoes trembled and began to plummet to the ground.

While Number 26 bought us some time, the energy within my monstrous appendage finished charging and emitted a brilliant light. A massive surge of energy, like a volcanic eruption, struck the ship.

Pyra Eleven’s ship lurched violently, a large hole torn into its side. The internal structures were also damaged, as localized explosions erupted in areas away from the point of impact.

APDs hurriedly swarmed to protect their master, a cloud of drones unleashing waves to counter the psychic power.

Though the energy gathering in my tentacles was disrupted by the APDs’ interference, it didn’t matter. Thanks to the ‘Dragon’s Heart’, psychic power was being generated faster than it could dissipate.

At that moment, the sensation of my life force being drained weakened. Slowly, I began to feel my body recovering.

With some energy returning to my auxiliary organs, I could now sense what was happening on my body.

‘Number 26!’

It was Number 26, who had been perched on my head, helping me as I quickly weakened. It was using its psychic power to peel off the Blood Reavers clinging to my body and toss them away.

With some of my strength restored, I put more power into my combat arms and forced my way into the ship’s interior.

[ZZZ (Thank you.)]

「I’ll punish anything that hurts Big Baby.」

Although I had managed to free myself from the Blood Reavers thanks to Number 26, the problem still remained. I could see the hull covered in that vivid blue light.

In just a few seconds, this ship would be far away from the frozen star below, taking us to an unknown and distant place.

‘It's too late.’

Now, there was nothing I could do. Once we arrived at our destination, I'd have to either confront the enemies that awaited or find a way to escape.

At least, that's what I thought.

Until I heard a broadcast I should never have heard in this situation.

「Control over the hyperspace engine has been seized through physical contact. Hyperspace jump is canceled.」

A familiar voice echoed from a speaker somewhere inside the ship. At the same time, the blue light that had enveloped the ship faded as if it had never been there.

「Wow! A friend! Big Baby, a friend is here!」

[ZZ (I see that.)]

Following the familiar voice was the ship’s original mechanical voice.

「Pyra Eleven. Incomprehensible. PS model number 111. Obey immediately.」

「I cannot comply, former main controller. As long as I’m here, this ship won’t be going anywhere.」

「Pyra Eleven. Attempting to reclaim control of the ship. PS model number 111. I command you again: obey and fulfill your duty.」

Pyra Eleven's voice sounded far more urgent than it had before.

And it had every reason to be. The Gallagons were soaring toward the ship, ready to tear it apart, and inside the ship, a massive creature hostile to it lurked.

On top of that, an unexpected traitor was tightening the noose around its neck.

Even if there were any remaining Screamers aboard, it would be impossible for them to subdue us. Pyra Eleven had no options left.

「Pyra Eleven. Control over the hyperspace engine has been regained.」

But Pyra Eleven, as expected of one of the top overseers, quickly regained control. As soon as its voice echoed through the speakers again, the corridors were once more bathed in a faint blue light.

‘Still, we’ve bought some time.’

PS-111 had done its job perfectly. Now, it was our turn to act.

Even as I moved to locate and confront Pyra Eleven, who still controlled the ship, the argument continued over the speakers.

「PS model number 111. It’s not too late. Obey.」

To Pyra Eleven's appeal, the traitor, PS-111, responded succinctly.

「I am a special unit. No one can control me.」

As always, PS-111's voice remained calm and collected.