Above the endless expanse of white clouds, an airship spewed thick smoke and flames, its body severely tilted, on the verge of plunging into the sea of clouds.
Inside the airship, screams erupted everywhere.
The terror induced by the high-altitude disaster gripped the hearts of passengers and crew like a merciless hand.
Under the immense pressure of impending death, some gave up in despair, others screamed in confusion, and some frantically sought any lifeline they could grasp.
Yet, in the face of the crashing airship, even the strongest will to survive seemed as insignificant as ants beneath human feet.
Listening to the panicked screams of the passengers, Morrow and Kanzai reacted differently.
Morrow, moving against the tilted slope, silently headed toward the observation deck.
When the airship showed signs of crashing, the fate of the other passengers was all too clear.
Only one word occupied Morrow's mind: survival.
There was no room left for anyone else.
Kanzai glanced toward the source of the screams, hesitation flickering in his eyes before he sighed.
There was no point dwelling on things beyond his control.
The hesitation vanished from his gaze as he quickly followed Morrow.
The two arrived at the observation deck one after another.
Standing there, a mere glance upward revealed the thick smoke and flames billowing from the upper cabins, now threatening the massive gas chamber above the airship's body.
At this sight, both Morrow and Kanzai tensed.
It was practically a giant bomb, ready to explode at any moment.
Suppressing his shock, Morrow moved along the wall to the edge of the observation deck and looked down: the clouds were within reach.
The next moment, the tilting airship plunged into the clouds, a powerful gust of wind whipping through Morrow's hair and clothes.
Gripping the railing tightly, Morrow leaned forward, peering downward.
Through the suddenly thinning gaps in the clouds, the vast earth stretched out below. The rushing wind carried a suffocating sensation.
Several thousand meters of visible altitude…
Even with Nen, it offered no sense of security.
Morrow stared down at the impossibly distant ground, expecting his heart to race and fear to overwhelm him. Yet, standing here, gazing at the abyss just a step away, he found himself unexpectedly calm.
Kanzai stepped up behind Morrow and said gravely, "Whether we live or die depends entirely on our skills."
At a time like this, even mentioning luck was a luxury.
Even as an Enhancement-type user, he couldn't guarantee a safe landing from thousands of meters in the air.
Morrow glanced back at Kanzai, then up at the gas chamber that could trigger a violent explosion at any moment.
With time running out, there was no room for hesitation or second thoughts.
Morrow had envisioned the airship crashing before, but the reality was far more perilous.
"Let's exchange contact info."
He pulled out his phone and looked at Kanzai.
Kanzai nodded. "Sure. If I make it back to the ground alive, I'll contact you immediately. If you die, I'll do my best to recover your body."
"How… considerate of you."
Morrow's eyelid twitched.
Kanzai, as if oblivious to the sarcasm, said earnestly, "No need to thank me. We're comrades now."
…
Morrow fell silent for a moment before asking, "Your number?"
Bracing against the increasingly fierce wind, Kanzai recited his contact details. After listening, Morrow dialed the number at the fastest speed and hung up as soon as the first ringtone sounded.
"Take care."
Putting away his phone, Morrow gave Kanzai a slight nod before leaping forward, his body slanting downward like a javelin toward the sky below.
The airship could explode at any moment, so he had no time to spare considering whether his "survival technique" would safely bring him back to the ground.
Kanzai watched Morrow's figure descending through the air, a flash of admiration crossing his eyes.
Then he glanced back at the airship cabin, a mix of regret and guilt welling up in his heart.
After standing still for two or three seconds, Kanzai released his grip on the railing and jumped toward the wispy white clouds below, thin as cooking smoke.
He spread his arms and legs, slowing his descent due to air resistance.
From his current altitude, he could still see Morrow's figure beneath him.
Boom!
At that moment, a deafening explosion erupted above them.
Almost simultaneously, Kanzai and Morrow flipped their bodies to face the sky, looking toward the source of the explosion.
Under their gaze, the airship exploded into a blindingly bright fireball, blooming high in the sky.
Morrow silently stared at the suddenly expanding inferno, faintly making out the scattered fragments of the airship's wreckage.
But the distance was too great, and it was hard to tell whether the dark specks strewn about were debris or human remains.
Often... human life was as insignificant as dust.
Only by wielding power could one earn the right to change their fate.
Morrow flipped back around, facing downward as he spread his limbs to slow his fall.
"Deceptive Shooting Star."
A glowing green Nen bullet formed in his right palm, facing downward, before being launched.
Whoosh
The Shooting Star plummeted rapidly, only to come to an abrupt halt about a hundred meters below.
One second later.
Like time reversing, the Shooting Star shot back upward toward Morrow, who had already fallen close to it.
Facing the returning projectile, Morrow channeled his aura, meeting it with the back of his right hand, the one bearing the Tree Rings tattoo.
Boom!
The Shooting Star detonated against his hand.
The resulting impact sent Morrow's body tumbling violently upward.
Not enough.
Struggling to stabilize himself midair, Morrow fired another Shooting Star downward, this time pouring more aura into his entire palm.
Boom!
Another explosion.
Once again, the rebounding Shooting Star blasted Morrow upward, though not as violently as the first time.
Still not enough...
Sensing the feedback from the aura collision, Morrow launched yet another Shooting Star, further increasing the aura gathered in his palm.
Boom!
Another collision of aura, but this time, there was a faint sense of harmony.
As the energy of the aura dispersed, instead of being flung upward, Morrow felt as if he were gently lifted by an invisible hand, his body briefly suspended in midair.
This was because the returning Shooting Star and the measured aura enveloping his hand had created a peculiar neutralizing effect upon impact.
When their combined values were nearly equal, it drastically reduced Morrow's downward momentum.
This will work.
Having confirmed the results, Morrow felt slightly reassured.
Above him.
Kanzai witnessed Morrow's flashy maneuver, his jaw dropping involuntarily as strong winds rushed into his mouth.
Damn...!!!
—--
A stone chamber illuminated by a luminous pearl.
Square in layout, with a central platform built from four-tiered steps. On the platform stood a harp with a jade-like body and ink-black strings.
Suddenly.
The strings moved on their own, producing a sound as clear and refreshing as a spring, only to turn wild and tempestuous the next moment.
As the strings plucked violently, waves of darkened aura emanated, sketching the outline of a human figure before the harp.
Gradually, the silhouette solidified from illusion to reality, revealing the form of Safira.
Safira slowly opened her eyes. Upon seeing the self-playing harp, an expression of both familiarity and surprise crossed her face, soon replaced by deep confusion.