Chapter 291

Chapter 291: Confronting the Magic Griffin

“Find a narrow area with limited visibility. Use wreckage to block their view and hinder the Magic Griffin warship’s movement.”

“Refuel the engine and jettison nonessential cargo.”

“Rest while you can. Don’t deploy the Vanguard ship—getting spotted would worsen our situation.”

Orders flowed steadily from Reinhardt and Victoria.

Meanwhile, Midi had retreated to his cabin to recuperate.

The heap of magic crystals had maintained a balance between absorption and consumption, keeping Midi from abruptly stopping the Demon Shadow Step’s enhancement of the Skyship. Had he faltered, the sudden loss of momentum could’ve torn the vessel apart even without the enemy’s interference.

Yet despite the crystals, the toll remained heavy.

It was like trying to recover from a marathon by drinking water alone—especially when the strain wasn’t just physical. Channeling magic into skills drained both body and mind.

Back in his cabin, Midi avoided further magic crystals. Instead, he gathered a wisp of Radiance of Light at his fingertip, carefully refining it.

Unlike ordinary magic crystals, this substance brimmed with dense, light-aligned energy—far more suited to his needs. If crystals were plain water, Radiance of Light was nourishing milk.

He’d avoided using it earlier due to its slow refinement process, but now, with precious minutes bought, he needed its potency.

The Radiance melted into a milky warmth within him. Sensing its light-element aura, the Dragon Sealing Sword in his body trembled, pulling the energy to its blade. A new luminous pattern etched itself onto the steel in moments.

*This fast?*

Midi’s eyes widened. Normally, this amount would take two hours to refine. Heart pounding, he tried a full grain—a day’s work for a level 53 like him.

Five minutes later, the grain had vanished into the sword as another glowing mark.

*A hidden advantage?*

Excitement surged. At this rate, he might level up immediately. But after absorbing a second grain, his speed plummeted to normal.

The breakthrough only occurred at exhaustion’s brink—a state Midi’s vast magic reserves rarely reached. Only desperation had driven him here; no cautious warrior would willingly drain themselves so.

Perhaps in a controlled setting, he might push limits repeatedly. For now, though, the crisis had passed.

Fifteen minutes after leaving, Midi strode onto the deck, fully restored.

“Status report?”

The crew gaped. One muttered, “He could barely stand earlier… How’s he fine already?”

What kind of monstrous recovery speed was this?

Everyone stared at Midi, whose eyes glowed with vitality and whose movements radiated strength, as if he’d simply woken from a nap. This single thought churned relentlessly in their minds.

Yet after witnessing Midi’s miracle of single-handedly propelling a Skyship, they’d grown numb to his extraordinary feats. Clearly, this man defied all logic. Trying to judge him with normal reasoning would only highlight their own foolishness.

They quickly shook off their shock.

"We planned to rest first," Reinhardt cut in, summarizing briskly, "then seek your orders. Only you know how to counter the Magic Griffin warship and that Saint."

"Skip the rest." Midi gripped the helm again. "Abandon ship. Leave this to me. If we don’t flee now, we won’t get another chance."

Current techniques made launching Vanguard ships from a speeding Skyship nearly impossible—especially large rescue vessels carrying a dozen people. Even if launched, one shell from the Magic Griffin warship would obliterate them.

Moreover, what would the enemy think seeing swarms of Vanguard ships fleeing the Narwhal? Those crafts couldn’t survive this desolate Airspace. Within a day, their magic reserves would deplete, sending them crashing down.

The enemy would deduce another Skyship—or multiple—hid in this graveyard. They’d abandon chasing the Narwhal to hunt the escaping pilots.

Captured prisoners couldn’t withstand mind-related abilities. All intelligence would leak, exposing the Wind King Warship. Midi refused to let his efforts go to waste.

As their commander, he wouldn’t let loyal followers die pointlessly. The logical decision was clear—evacuate everyone while possible, while he alone faced the Magic Griffin.

To others, this seemed tragically heroic.

"Aren’t you overreaching?" Victoria’s worried gaze lingered on Midi. The heavenly girl knew her level 40 was useless here. As Rothschild Guild’s key figure, Midi would insist she disembark to aid future faction struggles.

Objectively, removing her from battle was tactically sound. Yet when the moment came, Victoria’s deepest desire was to remain beside this human.

He’d shattered hundred-ship blockades, slain cloud beasts, achieved miracle victories. She yearned to witness his triumph again.

*Don’t be selfish*, she chided herself, hiding her eyes behind fallen hair. *The Saint terrifies even Midi. I mustn’t become dead weight.*

"Not overreaching." Oblivious to her subtle shift, Midi casually patted her shoulder. "Truthfully, you’d just hinder me. Off the ship, all of you."

He expected her trademark scoff. Instead, Victoria stepped forward resolutely, rose on tiptoes, and brushed her lips against his cheek—a fleeting sparrow’s peck, yet unforgettable.

"Take care, Mr. Midi." Her gaze held unwavering earnestness. "I’ll await your safe return."

Before he could react, she strode away as decisively as she’d approached. Old steward Lund smiled approvingly, bowing deeply.

"I wonder," Reinhardt mused pointedly, "how the famously powerful ‘Queen of Magic’ and mysterious ‘Mist Sorceress Alice’ would react to this scene?"

"Not my concern." Midi recovered, spreading his hands calmly—though his eyes flashed unmasked killing intent.

"My silence fee’s cheap." Reinhardt leaned in. "Let me fight beside you. You’re sending them away to battle, yes? The ‘Sword of Victory and Guardian’ doesn’t flee. Besides, escape’s impossible now."

"Perceptive." Midi’s smile held edges.

Though Radiance of Light restored him, another speed burst wouldn’t shake the Magic Griffin twice. Having witnessed the Narwhal’s unnatural velocity, they’d likely abandon capture plans for outright destruction.

No Skyship outran artillery shells.

Reinhardt was right—Midi meant to fight.

"Any commander worth the title would see this." Reinhardt’s pride shone. "I lead the Imperial army, after all."

"Stay then." Midi’s tone hardened. "But know this—death’s likely. I won’t save you."

"My resolve’s firm." Reinhardt’s eyes blazed with battle intent, mirroring the future Dark Emperor’s aura Midi remembered.

Midi nodded once. "Welcome to the battlefield, Reinhardt. Let’s give them hell."