Pick Me Up!

Whoooosh!

A sharp, high-pitched whistle, almost like the sound of wind, reverberated through the air.

One of the four ancient dragons, and the progenitor of the Schutenberg family that wielded the power of Magic—Elstadt.

Its form resembled a gigantic blue bird. Its wings were so expansive that they cast a shadow over the entirety of the imperial palace. Each of its feathers shimmered with a faint violet magical aura.

“Vermin. I will tear you apart with my own hands!”

Schutenberg flapped its colossal wings.

With just a couple of beats, the massive creature soared nearly 30 meters into the air and began rapidly closing in on my location.

…Ha.

This thing wasn’t something you could classify as a mere monster or boss. It was a transcendent being.

Just like Halkion or Assinis, it was an entity that existed outside all normal parameters.

Now they weren’t even trying to hide the fact they were breaking the game’s balance.

“Han! That thing…!”

Pria’s eyes widened in shock, her voice trembling with fear.

She didn’t need me to explain what it was. It was obvious.

“Hold on tight!”

I tightened my grip around Pria.

Faster. The fierce wind struck my body as I pushed forward.

“Do you think a mere human like you can escape me?”

A low hum emanated from Schutenberg.

The creature spread its wings wide, and hundreds of magical circles appeared across the surface of its feathers.

Damn.

Boom!

Dozens of violet beams fired in an instant, exploding around me.

I quickly twisted my body to the side.

“Ahhh!”

Pria let out a high-pitched scream as I spun and narrowly dodged the onslaught of beams.

The acrid scent of burning flesh reached my nose.

A single beam had grazed my wing, piercing straight through the protective barrier of black dragon scales in an instant.

Boom! Boom-boom-boom!

Schutenberg began firing magic bullets like a machine gun, all while pursuing me with terrifying speed, its enormous body seemingly defying the laws of nature.

I don’t have time for this.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

I had practiced flying, but I wasn’t fully used to it yet. At this rate, I’d be caught before I reached the crystal.

Should I face it head-on?

No. That was impossible.

Even on the ground, with all the advantages in my favor, this was the kind of opponent I’d struggle to defeat. Fighting it mid-air, and with Pria at my side? That would be suicide.

A direct confrontation wasn’t an option, and escaping seemed equally unlikely.

Then what could I do…?

“What are you so worried about?”

I turned to the side.

Perched on my shoulder, a plump pigeon was calmly preening its feathers.

“Halkion.”

“Looks like it’s my time to step in.”

The pigeon clacked its beak as it spoke.

“I can summon my true form—but only once.”

“…Alright.”

“I’ve already given you everything you need. Don’t stop now, Han!”

With those words, the pigeon threw itself downward, falling like a stone.

“Kraaaaaah!”

Crunch.

Crack-crack.

[Danger!]

[Ancient Species – Dragon Lord Halkion Syraos Lv. ???]

A steel-scaled dragon materialized in mid-air.

Boom!

Dozens of violet beams vanished in an instant with a single swipe of its claws.

Halkion’s crimson eyes glowed as they locked onto Schutenberg below.

“Well, well, if it isn’t the birdbrain.”

“You insolent wretch…”

KRAAAAAH!

The sky trembled as Halkion let out a deafening roar.

Folding its wings, the black dragon dove, transforming into a living spear as it hurtled downward.

Countless violet bullets slammed into Halkion, but the dragon didn’t so much as flinch. It closed the 100-meter gap in an instant and slashed with its claws.

BOOM!

The sound of the impact was deafening.

Schutenberg’s head snapped to the side as its massive body was sent hurtling through the air.

“Kuhack!”

“Hahaha! That crunch! You’ve always been satisfying to beat the hell out of, birdbrain!”

“I’ll kill you for this, Halkion!”

“Go ahead and try.”

Schutenberg righted itself in the air, its wings spreading wide as it began preparing an enormous spell. The number of magical circles forming was exponentially greater than those it had used on me earlier, and their size filled the sky.

If that spell were unleashed on the capital, it wouldn’t just destroy the defenses—it would reduce everything to ash in an instant.

“Leave this one to me.”

“…Alright.”

I turned my attention upward.

The enormous portal was still open, and from it, a giant was beginning to emerge.

“Pria, are you ready?”

“Always!”

“Good.”

I flapped my wings and climbed higher.

Below us, thunderous shockwaves erupted as the two transcendent beings clashed.

Below, chaos engulfed the battlefield.

[Corrupted Goblin Lv. 53] X 5769

The number of goblins invading the field exceeded 5,000. They swarmed through the streets, occupying parts of the city and advancing toward the royal palace.

I pushed myself to go even faster.

How many casualties so far?

I glanced to the side, where Anytng’s control panel displayed the current number of injured and incapacitated heroes.

A total of 103. Already, a tenth of our forces had been taken out of commission.

The portal drew closer.

Pria took a deep breath, her right hand tightening into a fist. A sword of light extended from her grip, growing to several meters in length.

“If we’re going to end this in one strike, we need to wait until its entire body is out,” she murmured, her voice steady but tense.

I nodded.

The timing had to be perfect—right as the giant fully emerged from the portal.

Suddenly, a piercing screech cut through the air.

I pulled back sharply as a barrage of razor-sharp feathers shot past the spot I had been occupying just moments ago.

[Corrupted Harpy Lv. 65] X 13

[Corrupted Wyvern Lv. 73] X 3

Flying monsters were closing in on us.

“Don’t let them distract you,” I said, shielding Pria with my wings.

All over my body, steel-like dragon scales began to sprout.

[This hero is immune to physical attacks!]

[This hero is immune to magical attacks!]

[This hero is immune to physical…!]

Waves of breath attacks and feather barrages struck me, but the black dragon scales absorbed the impact completely.

The giant was almost fully out of the portal. Only a bit more time remained.

Below us, Schutenberg and Halkion clashed ferociously. Violet lightning and black flames filled the sky, while the burning city below roared with chaos. Heroes battled relentlessly against the endless swarm of monsters, their silhouettes illuminated by the flames.

Meanwhile, debris from the portal continued to rain down, creating fresh monsters wherever it fell.

It was a scene straight out of hell.

How many times has this happened?

I stared out at the devastation.

This marked the 17th time this cycle had occurred.

I clenched my teeth and looked up.

Within the palace, the Crown Prince sat on the throne, his chin resting lazily on his hand.

Our eyes met.

“Isn’t it laughable?”

I'm currently Translating the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level Player. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon!