(Thank you very much to 'Kaede no Chōrei', 'I Love Little Sisters', 'My Computer Crashed', and 'Youcai Luobo' for the rewards!)
"Whoosh—!"
Amid the howling gale, an airship no smaller than the Fraxinus streaked across the distant sky at a ferocious speed rivaling that of an airplane. It produced a thunderous sonic boom as it flew at top speed against the wind pressure.
The airship resembled a gigantic yacht, except it was entirely made of wood. Behind it was not a propeller, but a huge Magic Array nearly as large as the vessel itself. Like a thruster, it spun rapidly while propelling the airship forward.
An invisible barrier protected the airship's hull, preventing the fragile wooden body from cracking under the wind pressure. At the same time, it blocked out most of the wind, allowing only a faint breeze to pass through and sweep across the deck.
On the airship's deck, Shokuhou Misaki, Kinuhata Saiai, Frenda, Takitsubo Rikou, and Astrea stood with a large number of Misaka Sisters, all gazing toward the front of the airship.
"Shokuhou!"
At a certain moment, Kinuhata Saiai pointed ahead—more precisely, diagonally below them—and shouted.
"Look! The Royal City is up ahead!"
At her words, the girls all turned their gazes downward and forward, and soon saw it as well.
Far below the airship stood a massive city. At its center was a dazzling golden palace, shining brilliantly.
However, upon seeing that radiant city, the girls' expressions turned alarmed.
For no other reason than that the immense, shining city was currently under a violent invasion.
One massive magical beast after another formed wave-like assault formations. Wave after wave, they rushed down from the mountains in every direction, charging madly toward the city at the center with brutal, direct aggression.
In the sky, flying magical beasts