Chapter 287

Chapter 287: Everyone’s Ambitions

The Solar Flare resembled a half-dome covering the warship’s top, usually invisible until activated. When triggered, it released blinding light and unleashed rings of energy resembling solar prominences. Any warship struck by these rings was instantly crushed to fragments.

By now, Midi had pieced together the events.

Clearly, the captain of the Wind King Cruiser lacked familiarity with this new Solar Flare weapon. When losing the battle, he recklessly activated it.

The outcome was devastating—every warship within several kilometers, friend or foe, was obliterated, creating a vast empty zone.

This explained the Dusk Graveyard’s emptiness. Everything—floating islands, reefs, warships from heavens or Demon Realm—had been erased by the Solar Flare’s fury.

Though the attack’s historical impact remained unknown, Midi felt satisfied. Without this cataclysmic strike clearing the airspace, how could an intact warship remain? Normally, a flagship facing defeat would be blasted to dust by concentrated enemy fire, not preserved so perfectly.

Yet the Solar Flare’s overwhelming power backfired. The Wind King Cruiser’s internal magic circuits burned out, leaving only basic suspension functional. The warship became paralyzed midair.

During the Heavenly War, this Dusk Graveyard area was likely a minor battlefield. Trapped in their immobilized steel cage, the crew faced certain capture if enemies discovered them.

Had Midi been there, he’d have abandoned ship via lifeboat too.

Before fleeing, they’d rigged a self-destruct to prevent Demon Faction from seizing the warship. But the detonator’s timer failed.

Through twisted fate, this malfunction benefited Midi—an adventurer arriving millennia later.

These conclusions were speculative, distorted by time’s passage. The Heavenly War’s truths had long vanished in time’s flow.

But truth didn’t matter now. What mattered was claiming this near-pristine sky warship—a flagship-grade heavy cruiser—as his own!

Owning the Wind King Cruiser meant Midi had half-entered the Stormy Region.

Beyond revolutionizing Sea of Clouds’ alchemy techniques through its ancient technology, even if Emil needed years to study it, the warship itself offered immediate advantages.

He could stealthily enter Ice Cloud Circle to hunt cloud beasts for Ice Soul Pearls—a lucrative monopoly. The last pearl sold for 800,000 Crystal Coins to the Blue Truth Sect. Even Midi found such sums staggering.

In his past life, Ice Soul Pearls fetched mere 30,000 coins as demand dropped and competitors emerged. But now, leading this era, Midi held absolute advantage.

With the Wind King, he could forge routes between Sea of Clouds and Stormy Region’s core—Star Ocean. Avoiding Blue Truth Sect, he’d harvest Star Ocean’s resources and terrain knowledge, establishing footholds for conquering the entire Stormy Region.

If the Awakened Secret Technique "Sky Sword Dance" made Midi invincible in Sea of Clouds, the Wind King Cruiser secured his strategic Undefeated Position.

Attack freely, defend securely, move anywhere instantly—every commander’s dream.

Yet bright futures require steady foundations. After briefly indulging in visions of Wind King’s potential, Midi regained true calm. The path ahead stretched long—the Stormy Region was but one corner of world of Arad.

As a reincarnator with twenty years’ memories, Midi knew this well.

True Experts still roamed Arad. Worse, the Stormy Region itself hid a supreme expert no warship could defeat—only direct confrontation would suffice.

This knowledge stirred quiet vigilance in Midi’s heart.

In the eyes of the others, Midi’s calmness impressed them deeply.

This was a genuine ancient warship. Though it had ended up in Midi’s possession, even Emil, Reinhardt, and the typically carefree Wiseman couldn’t hold back their excitement.

Simply "borrowing" this vessel promised unimaginable gains—

For Emil, it meant obtaining a living encyclopedia of ancient celestial alchemy, accessible indefinitely with Midi and her sister handling all practical matters.

For Reinhardt, securing a few ancient alchemy techniques from Midi could let him build a mighty aerial fleet, crush his elder brother through personal power, and claim the imperial championship.

As for Wiseman? By merely lingering aboard, he’d follow Midi into the Sea of Clouds’ most perilous, hidden corners to freely capture creatures for his experiments. While touring the ship, he’d already picked out rooms to convert into an undead alchemy laboratory.

The Wind King’s arrival ignited restless ambition in everyone, whether driven or detached. Yet its absolute master, Midi, had regained composure shockingly fast.

Uncommon discipline? True detachment? Or ambitions too vast for even the Wind King to contain?

"What’s wrong?" Midi emerged from his thoughts, noticing their silent, intense stares. He touched his face reflexively—had a flower sprouted there?

"Nothing," Reinhardt shrugged, feigning seriousness. "Just thinking the Wind King could let us dominate the Sea of Clouds. Don’t forget your promise, Midi Asreks."

"I’ll grant the necessary techniques once Emil develops them," said Midi, understanding royal politics and Reinhardt’s needs. His gaze turned solemn. "But remember—the road ahead remains long."

Declaring "the road remains long" after gaining history’s mightiest warship? Clearly, one Wind King sufficed not. How immense were this guy’s ambitions? What heights did he seek?

Reinhardt and Wiseman exchanged stunned glances.

"Long road? Sounds fun," Wiseman smirked. "I’ll reserve my spot."

Reinhardt briefly ignored Wiseman’s brazen loyalty shift—no longer treason since the Forest of Gran pact, just rivalry—to wonder: Where did Midi Asreks aim? Why couldn’t even a prince match his vision?

"Let’s focus on repairs first." Midi clapped decisively. "Reinhardt, swap with Avril to maintain contact with the Narwhal and scout the area."

"Why me?" protested the fourth prince, unwilling to leave during this pivotal moment.

"Because you’re the only non-alchemist here," Midi answered, eyes glinting with faint mischief.