Chapter 1462: Night of Endless Toss and Turns
12:00 a.m.
The hangars blazed with light.
Every magic stone that gave off illumination had been collected and distributed throughout the bays. A portion had been mounted on the planes themselves against the absence of any other light source.
This operation would commit every Aerial Knight. The two hundred and some aircraft represented not merely Neverwinter’s air force but humanity’s full remaining hope.
Several hundred ground crew surged through the warehouses with carts, inspecting each plane in turn, Anna leading the effort with her hair pinned up and thigh-high boots, her work clothes leaving a mark on everyone who saw her. The atmosphere sharpened around her simply by her being there.
Roland was no exception. The grease on her cheeks against the clear sapphire of her eyes — that image stayed with him.
1:30 a.m.
Plane inspections complete; refueling began.
Ventilation fans ran at full capacity to thin the fuel fumes. To reduce risk and lower the chance of open-flame accidents, the work proceeded simultaneously in the hangars and on the ground surface.
Of all the surface-side aircraft, the most arresting were the two single-wing, four-engine bombers.
They were far smaller than an ordinary plane, but their form was still something to stop and stare at — a wingspan above thirty meters, painted pitch-black, standing apart at a glance.
Phoenix’s engine had been swapped out. She could now fly only on base oil, but in exchange she carried a reliable and thoroughly tested airframe. The Ministry of Engineering had managed to produce two planes before the operation launched.
The bombers’ distinctiveness was not only their scale.
The presence of First Army soldiers and God’s Punishment Witches standing guard at each plane’s belly made the purpose clear to everyone who passed. Most people had never laid eyes on the weapon that so many hopes rested on, but they all understood which two planes were the axis of this battle.
3:00 a.m.
The Aerial Knights gathered for their final route review.
“Remember — the dark gives you nothing to navigate by. The stars overhead will deceive you, and any light on the ground will be an enemy bonfire!” Tilly stood on the platform and spoke loudly. “The only thing you can trust is the tail light blinking ahead of you. Keep your eyes on your squadron mates. Once you leave the island, there is no turning back.
“If everything goes smoothly, we will reach the designated position by daybreak. After that, the two bombers will drop in succession. During this time, your mission is to protect the main assault planes from any approach — shoot down anything that draws close, Devilbeast or senior demon alike.
“Listen carefully: due to the interval between the two drops and the destructive radius of the bombs, you must not remain near the target. And regardless of outcome, the fleet returns to the hangar. His Majesty Roland has allowed for failure. He has not agreed to sending people who can survive out to die. The sky belongs to us — I intend to keep it that way.
“Let us write a new page of history for humanity. For this operation, I will be flying beside you.”
“Yes, Your Highness!” The response rang through the hangar from every direction.
3:50 a.m.
“To be honest — I’m nervous.”
Roland noticed Tilly’s hands trembling slightly at the ramp beside Phoenix. It was the first time he had ever seen that quality in her — unsteady, uncertain.
They were half an hour from the scheduled launch. Two hundred aircraft: enough, in another world, to sustain four or five major operations. They had to hold formation before takeoff to ensure no one was left behind in the long-distance raid.
“Are you afraid?”
“Maybe.” She nodded, then shook her head. “But more than afraid, I’m impatient for it. Brother — do you remember our promise? Just knowing the day is nearly here, I can’t seem to hold down what’s rising in my chest.”
When the Battle of Divine Will ended, Ashes would return. That was the faith that had carried Tilly through everything.
“Yes, I remember,” Roland said gently. “But the condition is that you come back safe — so I won’t have lied to you.”
Tilly looked up at him. “Brother — can you hold me?”
He opened his arms. She stepped forward into them naturally, rested her forehead against his chest. Time seemed to slide backward — to a moment a year ago, when she had wept in this same embrace.
A moment later, her breathing steadied.
“I’m going.” She stepped back.
“Go on.”
She boarded Phoenix and lowered the canopy. Through the glass she mouthed something at him.
Thank you.
The ramp withdrew. The propellers began to turn.
4:20 a.m.
Sluice gates one through ten opened.
Biplane units poured out of the cruiser. Sylvie activated her Magic Eyes and held the whole formation in view, nudging those who drifted from their paths and flagging any plane that lost sight of its companion. In the darkness, two hundred planes surrounded Eleanor Skycruiser like fireflies circling a lantern.
This was the phase most likely to produce accidents. Without radar or night vision, the pilots were effectively blind — unable to distinguish ground from sky, altitude from horizon. As more planes climbed and the moving lights of the formation wove and crossed, confusion spread. Without Lightning and Maggie guided by Sylvie’s information, tapping on cockpit glass before accidents compounded, the fleet might already have lost planes to the dark.
4:55 a.m.
Roland gave the command by radio.
Seagull and Phoenix climbed first, followed closely by the two bombers — Kun Peng and Ark of Peace, the twin cores of the two formations. Fire of Heaven and Fury of Heaven planes formed the escort. Though organized as two formations, the distinction was for the sake of night navigation only; on the mission itself, every aircraft was equally critical and equally tasked with survival.
Maggie and Lightning departed last.
They waved back at Roland, standing at the command post, then turned and flew into the darkness. Shavi, Wendy, Andrea, Sylvie, and the rest aboard Seagull made this formation, all told, humanity’s entire concentrated effort.
The fleet was consumed by darkness in minutes. Nothing remained but the empty sky they had gone into.
Roland stood looking after them for a long time.
“If you don’t believe in God, the only thing left to you is prayer,” Nightingale said softly at his side.
He gave a small nod.
That was probably the thought in every mind left behind. They had each done their part. What remained was the hardest thing — waiting for the outcome, for fate to arrange itself as it would.
“Fortunately, we won’t have to wait long.” Anna turned and looked toward the dark horizon. “The sky will be bright soon.”
Chapter 1462 - Night of Endless Toss and Turns
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
12:00 a.m.
The hangars remained brightly lit.
All the magic stones that gave off light were gathered and distributed to the hangars. Aside from providing light, a portion of the magic stones were installed onto the planes for the lack of light sources.
This operation involved all the Aerial Knights; not only did the 200 odd planes represent Neverwinter’s full air force, they also represented humanity’s hope.
Several hundred ground crew support rushed about the warehouses with carts, inspecting every plane with Anna in the lead. With her hair tied up and with thigh-high boots, her appearance in work clothes left a huge impression on everyone. It also elevated the atmosphere.
Roland was no exception—her greasy cheeks in contrast with her sparkling and clear sapphire eyes left a deep impression in him.
1:30 a.m.
With the plane inspections coming to a close, the refilling of fuel began.
All the ventilation fans operated at full capacity to reduce the fuel fumes in the air.
Due to the low requirement for illumination, along with the bid to lower risks and prevent accidents from occurring, this step was conducted at the hangars and ground surface simultaneously.
Out of the ground surface air units, the most eye-catching plane were the two single-winged, four-engined bombers.
Although they were much smaller than the standard plane, their form remained sufficiently spectacular, with a wingspan of over 30 meters. Its pitch-black paint made it stand out at a glance.
After swapping out the Phoenix’s engine, she was only capable of flight with base oil, but in exchange for this was a reliable and mature body frame. Because of this, the Ministry of Engineering was able to rush out two planes before the actualization of the operation.
Of course, the attractiveness of the two planes was not just their size.
The appearance of the First Army and God’s Punishment Witches guarding the belly of the plane similarly indicated that the two planes were different from the others. Although the majority of the people had never seen the weapon that many had placed their hopes on, everyone knew that the two planes were the crux to deciding the battle.
3:00 a.m.
The Aerial Knights gathered and conducted their last route review.
“Remember, the cover of the night doesn’t give you any reference objects to direct you. The stars in the sky will confuse you, and any light sources on the ground will be the enemy bonfires!” Tilly stood on the platform and spoke loudly. “The only thing you can believe in are the flickering tail lights on the plane in front of you! Open your eyes wide and watch the positions of your teammates. Upon leaving the floating island, there will be no chance of turning back!
“If everything goes smoothly, we will arrive at the designated location by daybreak. After that, the two bombers will cast their bombs in succession. During this process, your mission is to ensure that our main assault planes doesn’t get attacked. Shoot down anything that attempts to draw close to it, be they Devilbeasts or senior demons!
“Listen clearly, due to the gap between the casting of both bombs and the explosive might of the bombs, do not stay too close to the target. Aside from that, regardless of the outcome, the fleet must return to the hangar. King Roland has allowed for failure, but hasn’t agreed to sending people capable of living and surviving to die on the battlefield. The sky belongs to us, and I hope that will never change!
“Let us write a brand new page of history for humanity—for this operation, I will be flying alongside you!”
“Yes, Your Highness!” everyone shouted out in unison.
3:50 a.m.
“To be honest, I’m nervous.”
On the ramp beside Phoenix, Roland noticed Tilly’s slightly trembling hands.
It was his first time seeing her reveal an unsteady and nervous expression.
They were only half an hour away from the scheduled flight. Two hundred aircrafts, if placed in the other world, was capable of sustaining four to five major operations. They had to ensure the flight formation prior flying to ensure that no one got left behind in the long-distance raid.
“Are you afraid?”
“Maybe…” She nodded her head first, then shook it. “But I’m even more anticipative of it. Brother, do you remember our promise? Just the thought that the day is coming soon makes me somewhat unable to hold down the emotions in my heart.”
When the Battle of Divine Will concluded, Ashes would come back to life. This was the faith and belief that had supported her all the way through.
“Yes, I remember,” Roland replied gently. “But the condition is that you return safely, to ensure that I didn’t lie to you.”
Tilly raised her head. “Brother, can you hug me?”
He extended his hands out and pulled the small figure into his embrace, who leaned forward naturally and laid her forehead on his chest. Time seemed to reverse to a point in time a year ago—the time when she wept in his embrace.
A moment later, Tilly’s breathing stabilized.
“I’m going.” She took two steps back.
“Go on.”
She boarded the plane, lowered the cabin cover and mouthed a few words to Roland.
It was apparently ‘thank you.’
The ramp retreated as the propellers started to spin.
4:20 a.m.
Sluice gates numbered one to ten were all opened, as biplane units flew out of the cruiser.
Sylvie activated her Magic Eyes and observed the entire situation, reminding those that might potentially lose their comrades or to assist those deviating from the flight path. In the dark of the night, two hundred planes surrounded Eleanor Skycruiser like a swarm of fireflies.
This was the phase that potentially had the highest rate of accidents—the lack of radar guidance and night vision equipment rendered the pilots blind, preventing them from differentiating the ground from the air. As more and more planes soared into the air, drifting flight path lights brought about some confusion. If Lightning and Maggie had not received Sylvie’s guidance, tapping on the glass panes of everyone before any accidents happened, the fleet might had already lost some planes.
4:55 a.m.
Through the radio, Roland gave out the commands.
Seagull and Phoenix took the lead and initiated an ascent and they were closely followed by the two bombers. They had been given the names “Kun Peng” and “Ark of Peace,” which represented the cores of the two formations.
Following that were the Fire of Heaven and Fury of Heaven planes, that formed the escort fleet. Although differentiated into two formations, it was only for the convenience of night flight. As for the mission itself, every plane were equally important and had been tasked to prioritize survival.
Maggie and Lightning were the last to leave.
The two waved to Roland, who was at the command station, and turned to fly into the darkness. Adding Shavi, Wendy, Andrea, Sylvie and the others who were on the Seagull, this formation could be termed to be humanity’s full force effort.
Very quickly, the large fleet became engulfed by the darkness and disappeared without a trace.
Roland looked in the direction of their departure for a long period of time.
“Even if you do not believe in God, the only thing you can do now is pray…” Nightingale whispered emotionally.
He nodded his head slightly.
It was probably what everyone else staying behind was thinking.
They had all done their part.
The next phase was the most difficult and worrying wait—to wait for fate to be determined.
“Fortunately, we do not need to wait for long.” Anna pointed to the dark horizon. “The sky… will be bright soon.”
…