(Heartfelt thanks to You Bi Ji Yue, Wufeng Haotian, Mo Yu Linshang, Yakumo Maki, Pang Zi Zhong De Da Pang Zi, World's End Ballad, and Invincible Origin for their rewards!)
"Whoosh—!"
Amid an exceptionally piercing roar of wind, the golden flying boat known as Vimanas shot skyward as though it intended to charge straight out of the universe. It rose vertically at breakneck speed, whipping the surrounding air into a furious gale.
"Waaaaaah—!"
Aboard Vimanas, aside from Noah, who remained seated on the throne, Erza, Lucy, Gray, Happy, and the others, who had been standing around casually, were nearly flung away as the vessel abruptly changed direction and shot vertically into the sky. They all cried out in alarm.
Fortunately, Erza and Gray were far from ordinary. The instant Vimanas rose vertically, they reacted, throwing themselves onto the deck and tightly gripping the raised edges, preventing themselves from being flung off.
"Natsu!"
Happy immediately spread his wings and flew above Vimanas, grabbing Natsu, who did not have even the slightest ability to resist.
Unfortunately, Happy happened to catch Natsu by the scarf, turning Natsu's already sickly face from motion sickness completely blue. He nearly started foaming at the mouth.
"Waaah—!"
Only Lucy, whose physical abilities were not much better than those of an ordinary girl, failed to react in time. Her feet had already left Vimanas's deck, and she fell downward with a scream.
"Lucy!"
Erza and Gray cried out at the same time.
"Why am I the only one—?!"
Lucy let out a tearful scream and flailed about as though she were swimming in water.
Sadly, it was completely useless.
"Smack—!"
Just as Lucy was about to fall off Vimanas's deck and be thrown away, a hand suddenly shot out from the throne and seized hers.
Thinking she was