Chapter 215 Bodyguard?
The shadow cast by the light brown camouflage hull covered half of the town as the air battleship Goliath reappeared over Valley Town.
However, this time it is not intended to start a war, but to become a pioneering vessel for exploring the unknown.
The ship hovered steadily ten meters above the ground. The fully restored hull showed no trace of the great battle a month ago; only upon close inspection could one discover that the paint had been repainted.
Its length of over 300 meters made it look even more magnificent than the anti-gravity spaceship " Silver Battleship " from another world, causing Pazu, who was standing below the hull craning his neck, to have his eyes light up.
From a young age, he dreamed of flying, and even built his own flying machine at home. Although his master Duffi always criticized him for not doing his job properly, it was his dream.
With the legendary world's largest spaceship right in front of him, he could no longer contain himself.
Pazu rushed up the gangway, touched the smooth metal handrail, and then tapped the heavy, echo-less outer armor, his face full of excitement.
" Sheeta! Come on up!" He waved to the crowd below, eager to share in the joy. Sheeta was wearing a bright yellow short-sleeved shirt and pink overalls, the same flight suit that Dola wore in her youth in the movie. It looked both capable and playful on Sheeta.
Despite everything they've been through, curiosity and playfulness are still natural traits for children this age. Seeing Pazu...
Looking impatient, the girl smiled and ran after him.
"Wait for me!"
The two children rushed into the cabin one after the other and quickly disappeared into the complex passageways. Moments later, Pazu's shouts and Sheeta's laughter echoed from the upper deck. The two were playing hide-and-seek on the giant ship.
Dola stood in the loading area directly below, watching the two little ones run into the warship, and shook her head helplessly.
She marveled at the two children's good fortune; not only were they favored by that adult, but they were also able to go on an expedition to explore the legendary Laputa —their luck was simply enviable.
Secondly, he was amazed that he, the leader of the air pirates, had one day become the captain of the Goliath.
Such an expedition would naturally not be handed over to outsiders. The Goliath Mu En now commanded by Dola and her crew, along with three hundred soldiers who have completely pledged allegiance to the Erdtree.
Those soldiers were handpicked from prisoners of war, and having witnessed the miracle firsthand, their loyalty was more reliable than anyone else's.
Dola knew very well that this ship was the Northern Kingdom's ultimate weapon, normally piloted by the most elite troops, and ordinary people were not even allowed to get close to it. Yet now, she could command it at will.
Those air force generals who once hunted her down, those spaceship merchants who hated her to the core—I wonder what their expressions would be if they knew she was standing here now.
Life is unpredictable.
Although Dola shook her head, a slight smile appeared on her lips.
"Report to Mom!"
A gruff voice came from behind.
Dola turned around and saw her strongest eldest son Charles, striding down the gangway of the warship.
He had changed into an oversized green military uniform, and his tall figure, coupled with his thick golden beard, made him look quite imposing when he stood at attention and saluted.
"Soldiers and supplies have been loaded onto the ship, and we are ready to depart at any time!"
When Charles's gaze fell on Dola's face, he couldn't help but reveal a hint of emotion.
He had only ever heard of the idea of rejuvenation in old fairy tales, stories of kings regaining their youth by drinking from fairy springs or wizards using magic to make people return to their prime—all just stories to fool children.
But now, this has truly happened. The old woman, whose figure had changed, whose skin was wrinkled, and whose teeth had fallen out, has transformed overnight back into the beautiful captain from my childhood memories.
Dola waved her slender, fair hand.
"Alright, stop pretending in front of me. When the incarnation of the god returns, we—"
Boom!!!
A loud bang interrupted Dola. Her years of experience as a space pirate made her alert, so she grabbed her eldest son, who was several sizes bigger than her, and hid behind the gangway. The metal plates there were enough to protect her from the shrapnel from ordinary artillery fire.
"What's going on?" She was completely bewildered. Could someone dare to attack the Goliath, the aerial battleship representing the pinnacle of the kingdom's military power?
A moment later, no second "cannonball" landed. The two pirates stared blankly at each other, looking over in disbelief.
Not far away, the grass had been smashed into a large crater by some heavy object, and the soil and turf were torn apart in all directions as if struck by a meteorite.
Amidst the smoke and dust, a familiar voice, tinged with deep helplessness, rang out.
"As the master of the laws of gravity, how can he not fly using gravity?!"
The culprits behind this massive crater were none other than Mu En and the Fallingstar Beast.
Originally, Mu En was using his newly acquired Gravity Control to carry this guy through the air.
He suddenly had a brilliant idea: since this thing can also Gravity Control, why not let it fly on its own?
Only after he let go did he realize that the Gravity Sorcery ingrained in this clumsy bull's instincts could only teach it offensive moves; as for...
They haven't learned anything about how to use gravity for maneuvering.
Mu En naturally couldn't have known this, and then—the plane crashed.
"Roar----"
The Fallingstar Beast climbed out of the pit, shook its big head, and let out a low, slightly aggrieved hum.
Who told you that knowing how to manipulate gravity automatically makes you fly? That's an ability only evolved beings possess. Asking someone with my imposing physique to learn to fly is putting the cart before the horse.
"Hmm?" Mu En reached out and patted Niuniu's thick thigh. Young man, you've taken the wrong path!
The Fallingstar Beast froze, "No, no, Big Brother is right! I'll definitely practice harder from now on!"
The communication between the tree and the cow is naturally inaudible to outsiders.
The curious soldiers and pirates who had peered out to watch only saw a towering figure emerge from the smoke and dust.
What a terrifying monster it was!
The behemoth resembled a bison, but its size exceeded seven meters. If its long tail was included, its length from head to tail definitely exceeded ten meters.
The rocky muscles were clearly defined, seemingly capable of withstanding artillery shells; its pair of scythe-like mandibles looked as if they could slice through a car; and its long, flexible tail, covered in sharp spikes, could smash a boulder embedded in the ground to dust with a casual swing.
end.
What's most chilling is the giant blue eye embedded in its head. Anyone who makes eye contact with it feels a chill rise up their spine—a warning from their biological instincts that this is not a "creature" they know!
The entire open area where the ship was moored was completely silent. Every soldier's back was soaked with cold sweat, and even the weapons in their hands were trembling. Only the giant ship behind them could give them a sense of security.
Until Dola spoke up, "God—my sir, isn't this guy the one from before—"
Although its appearance had changed slightly, she couldn't possibly fail to recognize the giant rock beast that had once chased her and her two children through the mine.
"Yes, its name is Fallingstar Beast, you can also call it Niuniu, and it will be your bodyguard from now on."
The Fallingstar Beast obediently walked up to Dola, bowed down, and made a gesture of submission.
Bodyguard?
As the Fallingstar Beast approached, Dola went blank for a moment, and when she came to her senses, she was covered in cold sweat.
Bodyguards, my foot! We'd be lucky if this guy didn't eat us alive!
After waiting for a moment and seeing that Dola did not react, the Fallingstar Beast turned around and walked towards the Goliath at Mu En's instruction.
The soldiers around him breathed a sigh of relief only after it walked down the wide gangway used for loading and unloading cargo into the cargo hold; some even plopped down on the ground.
Dola wiped her sweat and took a few deep breaths before she could finally calm down.
" The Goliath is ready and awaiting your command."
Mu En turned his gaze to a pulse jet that was flying away in the distance, and to the long line of dozens of trucks on the ground.
Those were Muska and the missionary team led by Duffi.
Hopefully, the additional instructions I gave Muska earlier will be effective, and that this currently capable subordinate will not harbor any resentment.
He then looked away and stepped onto the gangway.
"Okay, let's board."