Chapter 284

Chapter 284: Unmanned Aircraft

After ten thousand years, these unmanned aircraft still retained their energy sources and maintained their tactical capabilities.

The four discs darted through the sky in ways impossible for Vanguard ships or wyverns, covering each other as they easily maneuvered around various wreckages, swiftly closing in on Wiseman.

Cannon doors slid open on their smooth surfaces, spewing flames at the two-headed wyvern from four directions.

Under the relentless Rain of Bullets, the wyvern couldn’t dodge. But its rider wasn’t some ordinary pilot—he was the Delos Empire’s top expert, the dreaded "Hand of Nightmare," someone even Midi wary of.

Seeing escape impossible, Wiseman sighed and got serious.

The Necromancer muttered a complex spell, his eyes flooding with ink-like black magic.

Instantly, the two-headed wyvern’s four eyes glowed red. The undead mount surged with power, its speed multiplying as it twisted through the air like a snake, slipping past the discs’ encirclement.

Wiseman tapped his dragon-eye staff, launching a black light sphere that split mid-air into four, each homing in on a disc.

Necromancer skill: Split Dark Soul Wave.

Sensing the magic wave, the discs halted fire and veered away. But the black spheres curved sharply, chasing them down.

Four explosions boomed, fiery blooms lighting the sky as the skirmish ended.

“You… you…” Emil stammered, face white with rage.

Those were ten-thousand-year-old heavenly unmanned aircraft, perfectly functional! To modern alchemy, they were priceless treasures! Capturing them intact could’ve revolutionized her techniques by studying their power systems and AI.

Yet Wiseman had blown them to ash! Even gentle Emil couldn’t stomach this.

Midi, however, just eyed the fading fireballs and sped toward Wiseman. “Lead the way before she snaps. There’s a passage to the inner circle, right?”

“Fine, follow me.” Wiseman shrugged.

He barely knew Emil, but her sister was Avril—a level 60 assassin. Even a fearless magic user like Wiseman knew to tread carefully around assassins.

Under Emil’s murderous gaze, he muttered a command. His undead wyvern pivoted mid-air, retracing their path.

“Oh, and you take the lead this time,” Wiseman added, smirking at Midi.

The smile from his former rival made Midi uneasy. He smelled a trap.

“Why?”

“Because there’s a whole swarm of heavenly unmanned aircraft ahead. Since Emil wants them, why not grab a few bare-handed?” Wiseman said innocently.

Engine roars answered as more discs surged from the inner graveyard’s wreckage—dozens, perhaps hundreds.

Curiosity had driven Wiseman, using his wyvern’s agility, into zones even Midi hadn’t breached.

He’d stirred a hornet’s nest.

Now he’d brought the hornets back to sting.

Midi grimaced at the approaching discs but felt a thrill. What ruins could preserve so many ancient aircraft so perfectly?

Even if not a whole sky warship, the wreckage must be largely intact.

The thought quickened his pulse.

Since entering the Sea of Clouds, Midi had spent a year and a half pursuing this moment. As for the dozens of heavenly unmanned aircraft, he paid them no mind.

To be blunt, these aircraft were deployed by the thousands during the celestial wars. Their main purpose wasn’t attacking, but acting as alchemical machines to deploy large magic arrays under heavy cannon fire. Their attack power hardly mattered.

Neither the sisters Avril and Emil nor the Narwhal’s pilots needed to assist. Midi, Wiseman, and Reinhardt alone could clear these unmanned crafts effortlessly.

With a sharp cry, Midi transformed into a golden-red streak, weaving through the drone swarm. Though fast, the aircraft couldn’t outpace him. When closing on targets, he didn’t bother with sword techniques – pure sword light enveloping him became weapon enough.

Wiseman appeared even more relaxed. The Necromancer sat motionless on his two-headed wyvern, casually pointing his dragon-eye staff to unleash endless black spheres. These projectiles split midair like exploding fireworks, detonating entire sectors.

Fourth Prince Reinhardt struggled comparatively. As a sword soul, he specialized in duels against powerful foes, not sweeping attacks. Worse, his Vanguard ship offered poor maneuverability in aerial combat – no solid footing, just awkward turns.

Yet the prince persisted. Between Midi’s blazing trails and Wiseman’s dark bombardments, Reinhardt kept swinging his sword. Steering the flying vehicle single-handedly like a warhorse, he executed dive attacks and spiraling recoveries while dodging explosion debris. Midi and Wiseman’s relentless assaults left no room for caution – if they held back for Reinhardt’s sake, the first to protest would be the prideful prince himself.

Though inefficient, Reinhardt pressed on. He understood aerial combat would dominate future battles, while ground duels would become rare in the Sea of Clouds. Complaining about his profession’s limitations or regretting his awakening’s lack of flying skills solved nothing. Adapt or perish. Never retreat. Trust the blade.

Catching the prince’s stubborn figure in his peripheral vision, Midi mused – this guy’s eventual rise to emperor in their past life hadn’t been accidental.

"Enough," Midi declared.

Most drones lay destroyed. Emil’s eyes reddened while Avril fingered her dagger – clearly targeting companions rather than machines. Seeing the twins’ mounting irritation, Midi halted Wiseman and Reinhardt’s carnage.

His Moon longsword flashed. A sun-glinting ice streak shot forward like a striking serpent, piercing the last unmanned aircraft.

Asura skill: Ice Blade Wave Sword.

The frozen drone plummeted meteor-like, only to be caught in nets spread by four waiting Vanguard ships.

"Advance," Midi ordered calmly.

But an eager voice interrupted. "Mr. Midi…" Emil peered through her glasses with liquid eyes. Though less brazen than her sister’s seductions, a dark elf’s natural charm proved hard to resist.

Midi’s reincarnated will weathered this effortlessly. "Advance," he repeated before streaking ahead, avoiding debate. He knew Emil’s wish – to immediately dissect the captured drone. But letting an alchemy genius abandon their quest for some ancient warship? That’d be sacrificing treasure for trinkets. If Emil lacked discipline, he’d enforce it.

The true adventure had just begun.

Gazing toward the drones’ origin point, passion ignited in Midi’s starry eyes.