Editing Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume20 Chapter4 (section)

===Part 2===

Teleporting back from the Water Elemental Shrine, Kamito and his companions returned to the hall they had last gathered.

The four Queens were already sitting at the table.

"It appears that the Darkness Kagura ritual was a success."

"Y-Yes..."

Hearing Iseria's comment, Claire and the girls blushed.

However, they soon regained composure.

"Speaking of which, how is the situation?"

"Hmm, it leaves little room for optimism."

Saying that, Iseria waved her hand towards the water sphere on the table.

Seeing the image of the outside world reflected on the surface, Claire gasped.

"We're surrounded..."

Riding Pegasi, second-generation flying militarized spirits, knights were encircling the gigantic body of the white whale that swam through the air as though it were an ocean.

The silver-white armor shining and glittering, paired with crimson capes, were symbols of the Sacred Spirit Knights, elite troops of the Holy Kingdom.

"The Dire Whale is not enough to resist them on its own."

Iseria said.

"Can't we escape?"

"It will be very difficult."

Claire's suggestion of retreat was met with Ellis shaking her head.

"The Holy Kingdom's main force of flying militarized spirits far surpass the speed of the Empire's flying ships. Once caught up, they cannot be shaken off by this spirit's flying speed."

After all, Ellis hailed from a family with a long military tradition and was very familiar with all kinds of military intelligence from all nations across the continent. If she asserted so, then there was no way to retreat.

Well-coordinated, eight spirit knights were circling deftly in the air, gradually approaching the white whale, tossing their elemental waffe holy spears like fishing harpoons.

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhn!

The gigantic white whale roared in pain, struggling violently.

"This is horrible. I feel so much pity for Mr. Whale!"

Rinslet spoke with anger.

"Can't we counterattack?"

Seeing that, Claire asked Iseria.

"Just as you can see, the Dire Whale is a spirit with a gentle personality."

"...! At this rate, we are only waiting to be shot down. I shall strike back."

Ellis picked up her elemental waffe spear and prepared to sortie.

"Wait, going alone is too dangerous!"

Fianna hastily grabbed her arm to stop her.

"But I am the only one able to use flight magic... Kyah!"

The floor of the hall tilted greatly.

The Sacred Spirit Knights' attacks had torn the white whale's pectoral fin.

"Careful&mdash;"

Ellis cried out and stumbled. Kamito hastily caught her.

"Oh, Kamito..."

"...! This is bad, it appears that we are really going to crash!"

"&mdash;A crisis right off the bat..."

The four Queens were huddled together, trembling.

Just then...

Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom!

A series of explosions were heard.

"What!?"

"...I-Is that cannon fire?"

Claire stared at the water sphere.

The artillery seemed to aiming at the Sacred Spirit Knights rather than the Dire Whale. A couple of spirit knights mounted on Pegasi were unfortunately caught in the blasts and crashed to the ground.

"...Such accurate artillery shots. Who on earth could it be&mdash;"

The answer soon emerged.

A gigantic military ship broke through the pure white clouds, sailing through the sky.

On the side of the military ship were countless cannons.

The silhouette of that ship, all covered with steel armor with a sharp battering ram&mdash;

"&mdash;The ''Revenant''!"

"Why is the ''Revenant'' here?"

Kamito whispered in surprise.

As the symbol of Legitimate Ordesia, the ship should be moored at the imperial capital.

'&mdash;Lad, can you... hear me...?'

"...!?"

Suddenly, the water sphere showed a new image, a face extremely familiar to Kamito.

"Greyworth!?"

"H-Headmistress!?"

The face belonged to the Witch of the present, no longer in her prime.

'Muir is here too! Can you see, Onii-sama?'

His adorable adopted sister's twintails jumped energetically in a corner of the image.

"And Muir... Why are you all here!?"

'&mdash;We shall explain later. Evacuate to this ship first.'

"Easy for you to say..."

The ''Revenant'' was located directly below the Dire Whale.

(...Don't tell me she wants us to jump onto the deck?)

Not that he could not do it, but it would be highly challenging to do so while protecting the four Queens at the same time.

If they were attacked by enemies during the descent, all would be lost.

'&mdash;I shall open a Gate right away. Be patient.'

Saying that, Greyworth began to chant void spirit magic, her specialty.

Next, a pitch-black shadow appeared beneath Kamito and company.

'&mdash;The Gate will not hold for long. Hurry.'

The hall in the Dire Whale shook again.

Kamito and company exchanged a glance then immediately jumped into the shadow.