Chapter 152: The First

Outside the anti-magic barrier, I created a large earthen spike and used gravity magic to make it light enough to carry into the sky.

Then I used it to pierce the torpedo speeding through the water. It was large only by human standards and far too small to punch through a ship, but it was more than enough for a torpedo.

“All personnel, prepare for combat! Support our fleet!”

After saving one of our ships, I drew my rifle and called to the magic aerial soldiers flying behind me.

I had devoted considerable effort to training magic aerial soldiers since arriving in the Orline Empire.

I had already raised enough for a full unit. Together, we flew toward the enemy fleet.

“I need to keep moving or I’ll get rusty.”

We took up positions at high altitude, raised our sniper rifles, and placed our fingers on the triggers.

“…One.”

Despite my remark about keeping active, I began sniping helpless targets from an altitude of six hundred meters. This world still possessed very little effective anti-aircraft equipment.

No one below could hope to aim at such distant, tiny figures.

Unlike the weapon I had carried aboard the Lunoa fleet, the rifle I had brought this time had been properly modified for sniping. I exploited our overwhelming altitude to steadily reduce the enemy crew.

Several things were different from the previous battle.

The Friez fleet wasn’t nearly as large. Last time, the sheer number of ships had allowed them to fire indiscriminately into the sky and create a barrage so dense that we couldn’t approach. They couldn’t do that now.

“Sixteen.”

At present, the Orline fleet outnumbered the Friez fleet.

Simply reducing the people on their bridges would give us an advantage in the artillery duel. If we continued wearing them down, our fleet should win the exchange of fire.

“…Twenty.”

I thought we could finish the battle that way.

Then–

“…What?”

Several figures leaped from a bridge whose crew had been thinned and rose into the air.

“Magic aerial soldiers!? They sent them to sea too!?”

They were Friez magic aerial soldiers.

I had assumed they were deployed only along the border with Lunoa. My eye widened at their appearance, and I immediately looked around at my unit.

“Everyone, fall back for now!”

The Friez Kingdom had been the first to employ flight magic.

The soldiers approaching us were naturally experienced, and their movements were plainly superior to those of Orline troops who had only just learned the technique.

We would lose if we met them head-on.

I ordered my unit to scatter and was about to climb to an altitude where I could create an advantage when–

“!?”

From somewhere in the distance came the loud, deep blast of a ship’s whistle.