Around the time Fenrir was owning Vulcanus, the search squad was running desperately.

The frozen field did help them, freeing them from the heat and giving them enough time to chug down potions to heal. However, at the same time, it worked against them, slowing their movements due to the extreme cold.

Even the animal spirits summoned by the Shamans weren't able to shrug off the chill.

And what's more, even if they ran desperately, with their speed, it was impossible to escape the range of the two legendary fighters so easily.

"C-C-Cold...!"

But more than the witches, it was actually the Shamans who were in serious trouble.

They were basically wearing nothing but underwear in terms of coverage.

In short, they weren't equipped to withstand the extreme cold!

The five of them shivered, hugging their arms as they pushed through the field, the wind turning frigid as it whooshed past them. To make it worse, the metal piercings they wore were freezing cold, causing the skin in contact with them to begin frostbiting.

If not for Fenrir literally overpowering Vulcanus, they would have already been in grave danger!

However, that was about to change.

"...!"

Everyone felt the shift in Vulcanus at the same time.

If he was an unbeatable enemy before, then now, he could only be described as a harbinger of death itself. Their minds screamed, hearts pounding wildly—they knew there was no escaping anymore...!

"Rosaria, Mimika... and... company?"

But amid that despairing situation, a single figure appeared.

A man wearing a suit, extremely out of place in the icy field. To the girls, he appeared without warning, as if he had come into existence in the blink of an eye.

His sharp eyes swept over the search squad, counting them one by one, before nodding.

"Looks like everyone's present, thankfully," he sighed. "Then you should all group up. We'll be getting out of here."

While most of them were still bewildered, the few members of the original escort group gasped, shouting a single, exalted name.

"Sir Axel! How—?!"

"Axel?" Penelope felt confused upon hearing that name. "The one we're searching for? The one who's supposed to be missing...?"

"Yes, that's me," the man—Axel—replied with a nod. "But now's not the time to chat. Quickly, gather around. We're moving!"

"...?"

It was true that they were practically inside a warzone, so the girls moved as instructed. Once everyone had gathered in a single spot, Axel nodded in satisfaction.

"Alright, stand still for a moment..."

He extended a hand forward and summoned a new vehicle.

One that even Rosaria and the others had never seen before.

A large machine shaped like a tilted cross. Its appendages looked more like blades than wings.

Beneath those "blades" were two large rectangular housings on each side, containing massive fans lined with hundreds of small blades. A similar pair could be seen near the tail end.

"What is that...?"

"A... giant metal bird?"

"Sir Axel... amazing!"

The girls gasped at the sight of the vehicle—an aircraft—for the first time. However, they didn't have the luxury to inspect it closely.

"Quick, board the plane and sit where appropriate," Axel commanded. "Turn right upon entry," he added.

The Shamans moved first, returning their spirit beasts into tattoos before climbing the stairs. Upon entering, they were immediately surprised by how spacious the interior was.

To the right, three rows of seats lined each side, with a total capacity of sixty people.

The seats themselves were no ordinary seats. They were soft and cushioned, so comfortable that the Shamans didn't want to stand up again once they sat down!

Soon, everyone had boarded the plane.

It was just in time, as Axel could see in the distance Fenrir and Vulcanus—now glowing gold—clashing more fiercely than before.

"Getting caught in the middle of that would be no joke," he muttered.

Without delay, Axel climbed up the stairs and pulled the cabin door closed. He then moved to the cockpit, strapped himself in, and grasped the control stick with a smile.

"Now..." he said. "Navi, Mimir, do your thing!" He called to his old buddy and the fresh recruit.

Piloting an aircraft was never easy.

Even an isekai aircraft, operating on different principles, still had dozens—if not hundreds—of switches, levers, and buttons to manage.

There was no way Axel could master it with just a few hours of tinkering!

Thus, he could only leave the complicated controls to the "experts."

"Hmph! What a stupid Master, can't even pilot a plane!"

The black cat, Mimir, complained as she waved her paws, bringing the engines to life.

[Passive radar activated. Wing thrusters at 100% output. Tail thrusters at 50% output. Auxiliary systems all green!]

Navi spoke as well, managing the controls assigned to him—mainly propulsion and navigation.

With the two System Spirits working together, piloting the plane became almost effortless.

"Then, take off...!"

Axel poured mana into the control stick, powering the four thrusters.

The engines roared as energy surged, and he pulled the stick back, angling the thrusters straight downward—

WHOOOOOOOSH!

The aircraft lifted vertically, raising a loud, ear-piercing howl.

As they rose, the passengers felt inertia press them into their seats. But thanks to how comfortable they were, none of them complained.

Instead, excitement bubbled up from the unfamiliar sensation.

Once they reached about twenty meters in the air, Axel slowly pushed the stick forward, adjusting the thrusters to angle backward—sending the aircraft surging ahead.

With the wings now bearing the lift, the thrusters shifted fully toward speed. In mere seconds, they broke the sound barrier and continued accelerating.

However, even then, it wasn't fast enough.

"Shit...!"

Axel cursed as a small sun-like explosion bloomed to their right.

Fenrir and Vulcanus's battle was steadily expanding its reach!

Still, Axel had no time to worry about the two monsters.

After all, even though witches could fly using special brooms, they avoided doing so in or near the Red Zone—for good reason.

It was extremely dangerous.

[Contractor, twelve bogeys on our six, with twenty-four approaching from the nine and three o'clock directions.]

Navi's report made Axel frown. "As expected... they came!"

The reason witches avoided flying in this zone was simple—territorial monsters.

Wyverns.

Danger closed in from three directions, but Axel didn't hesitate. Instead, he licked his lips in excitement and shouted an order.

"Mimir, arm the weapons!"

He wasn't going down without a fight!

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