The interior of the massive Floating Spiritual Power Carriage was lined with neatly arranged wooden seats, with a closed red copper furnace in the center.
Powerful flames penetrated the metal, allowing one to clearly feel the surging mighty force within.
Is this its power core?
I haven’t seen any Spiritual Horses; this carriage is driven purely by Spiritual Energy.
He looked around and felt that the interior space was very much like a Flying Ship.
Members of the Hall Reserves took their seats one after another, and Rod followed suit, sitting next to the King of Freeloaders.
Lannis pushed his glasses, which were now reduced to a single frame.
"Rod, I won’t lose to you, my time is very long," said Lannis.
Rod was stunned for a moment before he realized what he was talking about, and replied with a mix of laughter and helplessness, "Brother, I won’t compete with you for Cilly, if you truly like her, pursue her properly, without resorting to deceit or impersonation."
Lannis looked at him, his eyes sparkling behind the frame.
He seemed about to say something, but then Chucher walked in with a booming voice and interrupted him.
"Brace yourselves, lads, we’re taking off!"
The massive Spiritual Power Carriage ascended into the air, and a powerful burst of Spiritual Energy erupted from the furnace, propelling the carriage through the sky at an unimaginable speed.
Fortunately, none on board were ordinary folks, otherwise the sudden overload would have crushed everyone into meat patties.
Rod mustered his Spiritual Energy, tensing his muscles for a good while until the powerful pressure subsided.
Outside the window, only swirling Black Fog remained, and the Fire Hall had long since disappeared.
From the red copper furnace came rhythmic booming sounds, the tangerine flames shrinking and expanding like breaths.
Lannis caught Rod’s glance and explained, "This is the heart of Spiritual Energy of the giant Floating Carriage, crafted from precious Star Marrow and pure Red Jade, with a core of a Soul Crystal, very expensive, and there are only three in the entire Royal City."
Ordinary carriages driven purely by Spiritual Energy cannot leave the Royal City; the Fire Hall truly is exceptional.
After the carriage stabilized, Chucher spoke loudly, "Lads and lasses, we’ll be arriving in the Trident River Region in a quarter of an hour, be ready for combat!"
The crowd responded in unison, "Yes, Teacher Chucher!"
"Your task is to assist the warriors below in holding their respective strongholds, maintain the situation until the main forces of the Battle Group arrive, understand?"
Chucher paused, then continued, "This is a group mission; the monsters from the Underworld are unpredictable, and the threats faced by each area are different. Don’t rigidly stick to one stronghold, you may support others if the situation allows, but if you encounter an insurmountable danger, call for support immediately. I will come to your aid as fast as possible, understood?"
"Understood, Teacher Chucher!"
Chucher looked around, noticing Rod’s flickering eyes, and spoke.
"Little Rod, do you have a question?"
Rod hesitated for a moment then asked, "Teacher Chucher, are we going into battle just ? What about our respective Battle Groups?"
All eyes inside the Floating Carriage turned to him.
The expressions in the young members of the Fire Hall Reserves were all very complex.
Chucher slapped his forehead.
"Ah right, I forgot, you have the Black Battle Group, don’t worry, I will notify them to come reinforce."
Rod frowned slightly, sensing the issue.
"You don’t have one?"
"No," replied Ryan from Green Grass Town, "this is generally a distinction for First Level Combatants. Only High Rank Combatants within the Hall who rank can bring their own Battle Group into battle."
"We’re just Reserve members; it’s impossible for us to have our own Battle Group."
Cilly looked at Rod with shining eyes, "You really are different!"
Chucher laughed, "The hero from Troli indeed stands out. If you could, without any assistance, take down such a huge piece of land like Star Town, then you too would have your own Battle Group."
Lannis adjusted his glasses, "I will work hard!"
Cilly pouted, "I don’t want to work hard, can I join his Battle Group instead?"
Chucher laughed, "Ask him after the fight is over," then suddenly stomped his foot, breaking open the floorboards at the front of the "Flying Ship".
Howling gales hit everyone’s faces like heavy punches, as the black fog, separated by the firelight, madly swept by below the Flying Ship.
"Ladies and gentlemen, prepare for battle!"
he declared loudly, his voice still audible through the roaring wind.
"Lannis from Wood City!"
The handsome young man with a boyish face stood up from beside Rod and without hesitation jumped into the wind, instantly disappearing into the Black Fog.
"Cilly from Flower City."
The beautiful, perfectly proportioned Cilly, previously freeloader, stood up.
The gale scattered her long hair, but it didn’t hinder her steps as she executed a graceful somersault and leaped down.
"Ryan from Green Grass Town!"
The not so tall, but strongly Spiritual Energy-endowed Ryan stood up and, with a perfect dive, jumped down from the Flying Ship.
Chucher called names in turn, and the number of people in the Flying Ship dwindled.
Finally, it was Rod’s turn.
"The hero from Troli, Rod!"
Rod stood up with no hesitation, took the plunge into the Black Fog.
In the blink of an eye, he was swept away by the Gale, disappearing into the boundless Black Fog.
Warmth, firelight, companions—all left him in a twinkling.