Wind whistle at Zyro's ears as they plunge straight below. The ships ram facing the down towards the clouds in the distance, as it fall, powered by the sailed kayak weight and a mysterious force, produce by the magical runes blowing wind at it's back.

The ship items and the Grick crushed corpse, including the unconscious one that zyro dealt with have thrown off-board.

Except zyro, who's legs lock onto the control hold that is attach on the floor ship beside the acceleration lever. And his neighbor who's four hand grabbed onto the kayak fin fighting the wind like a flag was left aboard.

Zyro's adrenaline still remains as he guide a plunging aircraft with frightening speed. But despite this, zyro hearth was extremely calm. As if this speed is nothing compared to something he experience before.

He stare upfront with calculative eyes, his hand still pulling the wheel top. Motioning the ship front to plunge, due to this, the ship direction was not straight vertical. But a curved arc, and this is his plan.

With thousands of patrolling Gricks below the clouds, and a dozen airships above. And in their front was a collosal guarded roots, their safest and most logical option is backward, into the vast moonlit sky over the clouds. Away from the floating island and the enemies. However, if they're not fast enough, they'll be dead before they even made distance. Even though he doubted those spear and arrows range, Earth's laws of projectiles range might be different here.

Furthermore, even if distance were made, their lone ship is just an open target for the enemies to shoot at in the vast moonlit sky.

Zyro hand held the wheel tightly, as the ship go down in an ark direction. The clouds shrouded in shadows becoming closer and closer at them. A grin appear behind his mask, due to him having other plans. Zyro still pulling the wheel top, causing it's ram to head down. It's speed growing more dreadful by seconds due to increasing gravitational pull. As it near the clouds, it's front continue to tilt, causing it's to slowly went upsidedown. it's travel diagonally in a ark curve, plunging into the clouds as it's trajectory slowly fixed onto horizontal in a reverse position.

Zyro finally understand the man's feeling back then when his neighbor crawled like a cockroach in the island bottom, with only his limbs supporting his weight. The ship entered the clouds, zyro have a sickening feeling of piloting a strange aircraft upsidedown in extreme coldness. He quickly leaned to the side and spin the wheel, causing the ship to abruptly turn back to it's original position. Zyro catch the control, halting it's spin, and push it's front to it's limit. Steadying it direction before it go through the clouds.

Finally, they entered the clouds. He sighed in relief as he let go of the controls. Dropping against the floor, facing up, his legs loosen it's attachment to the wheel's hold. Satisfied, Zyro had use the everything he could thought of to increase the ship speed.

Plunging straight below in full power, and using the gravitational pull to build momentum to travel through the clouds. With the momentum he built up and the clouds shrouding, they won't be lacking speed or be an open target as they flee.

However, plans rarely work.

Facing up, He peer through the misty clouds above, feeling his adrenaline died down. Suddenly, a shallow yellow dot caught his eye. His eyes widened when he realized it's position, it's where the main army is.

Another dot appeared, then another. The numbers increases, that zyro failed to keep track of its count.

Then, the dots seems to move, rather, it's dropping.

Zyro cursed.

Wits quiver in the face of overwhelming power. Sure, they created distance and cover and separated the enemies attention for a short period of time. But the airship is not invisible in the thousands eyes watching everywhere. They're bond to be seen, and they are found.

Above, scattered flaming arrows was launch. Heading towards a certain spot - where the lost ship predicted position.

Zyro quickly got up, calculated where the projectiles will land. As expected, the projectiles where not directly headed at them, rather, it's scattered in their area. But even so, the quantity is just too overwhelming. He already figured the enemies ploy, if one of those flaming arrows hit their ship. The flame will reveal their position inside the clouds. Then, they'll be able able to switch from scatter shots, to direct shots, marking their doom.

Zyro grabbed the wheel, spinning it left and right as he evade the blazing projectiles. His hearth palpitate heavily, knowing the game his playing. A game of life and death where one mistake will end it all.

He didn't even have to stare in the direction his heading, due to it being shrouded in misty clouds, even the sides. Fortunately, the projectiles flames revealed its position, hinting zyro where to dodge. He steered wildly, like a professional racer in a twisted road. Evading countless blazing arrows.

"Thud"

Amidst navigating through the rain of arrows, he suddenly feel the ship shook, as if something had hit it, then another. Zyro took a quick glance back, where his neighbor is kneeling on the floor, a section of the deck was opened. The four-armed knight head buried inside, as if fixing the ship internal. However, what caught his attention the most is a certain projectiles that happened to past by. His eyes widened when he saw a long projectile cast in iron, its body covered by fiery flame. It's direction... Upward.

Confirming his thoughts, his neighbor voise resounded in his head.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

"Spears, under!"

His heart freeze, of course the patrolling Gricks below will participate in the hunt with one shot spears. Luckily for them, two had hit the aircraft belly.

The four-armed knight completely dive inside the boat internal to rid of the burning spears.

Clouds are made of micro water particles, it'll reflect the flame light in it's surroundings. So even if those flames are under the vessel, their ship look like a orange ball inside the clouds. And that orange ball will just get brighter as the wooden boat burns.

The rain of scattered arrows came to a brief stop, before another wave came. This one is more composed and purposeful, aiming to a small area in the clouds.

As thought thousands of blazing star had fallen, the countless aflame arrows descend like a tide of judgement.

The cluster of falling ambers reflected on Zyro, deep black eyes.

Not bothering to turn wheel anymore. Because there's no avoiding it. Left? Right? Stoping and turning back? No, the enemy had predicted it all.

Just as all hope was lost, the aircraft back exploded forward with raging wind. Pushing the vessel with newfound power. It's wings zip through the wind like blades, shaking as it struggle to held. Zyro concluded, that this might be his ally doings.

Just in time before it meet the rain of arrows, its advance croosed the range edge. Successfully evading the rain.

Still, how can they keep up? The enemy fleet will continue attacking without rest. It won't be long till they fall.

"How long will this boost last?!" He shouted to be heard.

"Not long" the knight replied.

Zyro cursed internally, he then made a quick decision and motion the vessel up, it flew upward, piercing the cloud as it came out. First the ram, followed by its body and end as it flew out of the sea of clouds. Bathing in the direct moon's radiance.

'like hell I'll die here' He motivated himself, after suffering in the damned root cage. He didn't even consider the option of surrendering and going back.

The ship rose above, like a graceful raven fleeing to it's freedom. With aflame belly and two black knight riding on it's back. While a trail of blazing arrows and spear follow its tracks.

As he release pressure from the wheel, locking it's direction straight up. Zyro made the last gamble, playing the last of his wits. He could have just get out of the clouds to decrease the flame radiance, but it won't hinder the enemies firepower. And they'll be exposed either way, so he go up. Where the Gricks wings can't reach, where the projectiles have to fight the force to gravity to hit them.

Dozens of enemy vessels have their front towards Zyro's small kayak, however, compare to speed, all of them are lacking. The kayak ascended with frightening speed, it's body completely straight up like an ferocious arrow. Zyro and his neighbor went back to their previous position, but this time, upwards.

Hundreds of flaming arrows rain at them, but lack the former speed and power. As they ascend, passing the fleet height nearby and reaching the floating island above.

Zyro was in awe, without the shrouding darkness below. He could finally see the moon that illuminated all. And indeed, is was blue. Hanging highly in the middle of countless glittery stars was circle of blue. It's size comparable to earth moon.

'I miss Earth' He thought as he took a look at the sky island.

His mouth agape at the sight. There, atop the floating island of the Gricks. A vast evergreen land beheld Infront of him, it's like a haven land in the sky. However, this land had no houses in it's wide expanse. But a single cyclopean circular castle made of white stone. Big and small windows littered its white outer walls. However, Zyro eyes was fixed on one thing.

There, in the majestic castle middle. Surrounded by mighty alasbasted walls. A single tree was planted at the center. With deep brown bark and twisting branches, holding countless crimson leaves as a crown. What bewildered Zyro the most is the sheer size it that tree. It towered above the circular castle, as thought the circular structure was just a plant pot.

'What a impressive birdhouse.'

Zyro though, making fun of the Gricks amidst chaos. Because in his mind, he already won. In their current height, the enemy's bows and spear are no use. Besides, he had long figured out the key to winning this war, its speed. They can't win through firepower which they have none, but they don't need to. Their goal is to scape, so they've been running away, but keep on lacking speed. But now, compared to the Gricks and their ship, zyro kayak had built momentum surpassing them in the aspect of swiftness, even the enemies kayak fall short. Furthermore, after reaching a certain height, zyro kayak will once again enjoy the aid of gravity when traveling diagonally, maintaining their velocity. By the time that momentum is gone, they'll be out of the enemy territory and had landed elsewhere.

By then, the enemy would have to pursue them in land.

Suddenly, heard a wood groan at his back, monetarily tired of dreadful sounds resounding. He didn't turn to look, for he knew it'll be something dreadful.

Quickly after that sound resounded, the four-armed knight, who's already outside the deck spoke.

"We're doomed"

After hearing that, Zyro turn around to confirm.

Indeed, they're doomed. A distance below, a Bat-like wing of red fabric was being carried by the wind. Leisurely flopping as it go, heading towards the enemy ships. In the left side of their boat, where a wing should been was a void.

One of the kayak wing finally broke.

Zyro felt his soul abandon his body.