Flying Explosives

Baghdid City was approximately 474 kilometers away from Cobalt City. One of the many challenges of traveling between cities was the rugged, destroyed terrain—often teeming with dangerous monsters.

On the day of the cataclysm, countless monsters had poured out of gates. Humanity, unable to cope with their sheer numbers, had retreated behind the safety of the Great Walls. To this day, an unimaginable number of monsters still roamed the land, keeping humanity confined.

Lost in my thoughts, I found myself imagining rushing out to slay the lurking monsters when a sudden pat on my shoulder startled me.

"Hey, what are you thinking about?" Eirin asked. Then, leaning closer with a teasing tone, he added, "Is it a girl or something?"

"You're half right, but it's not a girl. It's something I like very much," I replied, smirking.

"Who might that be?" he asked, now adopting an overly serious expression as if solving a mystery.

"I'm not telling you," I said, brushing him off with a grin.

Lyra was focused on driving the truck, a vehicle specifically designed for traveling outside city boundaries.

After the discovery of mana stones as a viable energy source, humanity had managed to overcome yet another crisis. After the cataclysm, severe energy shortages had nearly ended the humanity as most conventional sources had been destroyed.

But the discovery of mana stones had ushered in a new era of abundant energy. Machines that once relied on fossil fuels or electricity were quickly adapted to run on mana stones, revolutionizing how humanity survived in this hostile world.

Our most of the journey passed in silence, with the occasional joke breaking the monotony. I even managed to nap for a bit—a habit I'd carried over from my previous life.

"Miss Lyra, if you're tired, just let us know. We'd be more than happy to take over driving," I said in an overly dramatic tone.

"Yes, Miss Lyra, my senior is absolutely correct," Eirin chimed in, perfectly mimicking my mood.

"Cut the crap! How would I even call myself a hunter if I got tired from just driving?" she retorted loudly, her irritation evident.

After some time, we'd covered about half the distance, a journey that had already taken four to five hours.

"Meh, if we were on foot, we'd probably be in Baghdid by now," I said as we approached a checkpoint.

Checkpoints, as the name suggests, were stationed between cities to ensure the safety of travelers and to check for any illegal items. Hunters were typically assigned there for such inspections.

As the small hut marking the checkpoint came into view, I couldn't shake a strange feeling. Something was off.

"Hey, Lyra, stop!" I commanded instinctively, my tone sharper.

"Is something wrong?" she asked, confused. It seemed she hadn't sensed anything unusual.

"Just stop. Something's wrong. I'll go check," I said to Lyra. Activating [Flight], I soared to the hut and landed nearby. What greeted me were three dead bodies. Two were sliced into pieces, as if sliced by an exceptionally sharp blade, while the third was plastered against the wall.

I scanned the hut closely. Eirin and Lyra joined me, both of their expressions shifting from casual curiosity to concern.

"Both of you, get back on the truck—now," I said urgently. "It seems we've stumbled upon something dangerous."

"Shouldn't we inform the stationed hunters first?" Lyra asked, her voice tinged with worry.

"We don't have the time for that," I replied firmly.

With a flick of [Telekinetic Control], I lifted both of them and placed them back in the truck, catching them completely off guard.

"Huh?!" Both of them exclaimed in unison, their shocked expressions nearly identical.

"Idiot! You should've warned us first!" Eirin protested, still flustered.

I lifted the truck effortlessly into the air using [Telekinetic Control] and positioned myself behind it.

"Both of you, get ready," I warned, preparing to propel us forward at full speed.

"Wait, wait, wai—!" Their protests were cut off as I launched the truck, rocketing through the air at an immense speed.

My urgency wasn't because the monsters posed a threat to the city—there were more than enough capable hunters stationed there to handle it. The true reason was the mana stones the monsters carried. I had a little experiment in mind, and I wasn't going to let the opportunity slip by.

After about 15 or 16 minutes, I felt it—a massive concentration of corrupted mana, far surpassing my own reserves. Whether it came from a single monster or an entire horde, I couldn't tell yet.

"Did you feel that mana?" Eirin asked, his eyes darting between Lyra and me as I slowed down.

"Yeah," I replied, scanning the area cautiously. My gaze landed on something peculiar—a small fly, faintly tinted with corrupted mana.

"Jum—!"

Boom!

Before I could finish my warning, an explosion erupted. Thanks to my [Divergent Mind], I had just enough time to calculate a countermeasure. Reacting instantly, just before explosion, I shielded both of them from the blast and pulled them out of the truck.

As the dust settled, both of them became visible.

Both of them were hovering midair, their bodies visibly burnt. While the damage seemed minor, their charred clothing and scorched skin were enough to ensure that my [Telekinetic Control] wasn't enough anymore.

"It seems the force of the explosion was greater than what my [Telekinetic Control] could shield," I thought, looking at the obliterated truck.

"So, my [Telekinetic Control] can only shield against forces within the limit of what I can lift," I realized, discovering a crucial detail about my ability.

!!!!!!

As I was lost in thought, I sensed a massive flood of corrupted mana rapidly approaching.

"Zephyr! Look behind you!" Eirin shouted, his voice filled with urgency as I quickly placed both of them down.

Turning around, I saw a swarm of the same explosive flies rushing toward us.

"Damn! I guess I was too cocky not to strengthen my [Telekinetic Control]," I thought, my eyes narrowing at the incoming flood of monster flies.

"Run!!" I shouted, and all of us bolted at full speed. But some of the larger flies were advancing faster, closing in on our position.

"I can't even imagine what'll happen if those bigger flies explode!" Lyra yelled as she sprinted.

"Do something, you super rookie!" Eirin shouted at me.

"Even if I'm a super rookie, in the end, I'm still just a rookie," I retorted as one of the larger flies appeared right in front of us. Its bulbous eyes glinted, and its mouth, filled with wriggling tentacles, drooled ominously.

"Shit," Eirin muttered, his voice barely audible over the tension.

Just as the massive fly was about to explode, I pushed Eirin away using [Telekinetic Control] while he activated a shield skill simultaneously.

"Eirin!!!" Lyra screamed in panic.

Booom!!

This time, the explosion was massive, sending me flying backward. I crashed onto the rugged ground, disoriented, as a deafening roar reverberated in my ears. A 30-meter-wide crater replaced the spot where the massive fly had detonated. My eyes darted around in panic, searching for Eirin, but he was nowhere in sight.

The approaching swarm grew closer with each passing second, their ominous buzzing filling the air.

As the dust cleared, my heart sank at the sight of Eirin's body. He had been hurled far from the explosion, Lying motionless on the ground, his body marred with burn marks. Blood dripped steadily from his wounds, and his charred clothes clung to him like a second skin.

This was bad-far worse than I had anticipated.

"Lyra, take Eirin to Baghdid immediately and inform them of the situation. I'll hold these monster flies back with my unique skill," I said firmly, my voice laced with urgency.

Without waiting for her response, I carefully lifted Eirin's unconscious body and handed him over to Lyra.

"Just... take care of yourself," Lyra said, her voice trembling, her concerned eyes locked on mine.

"One more thing," I added, stopping her before she turned to leave. I extended my hand toward her and muttered softly, "[Gravity Manipulation]." A subtle shift in her weight occurred, making her movements quicker and more effortless.

"What did you do?" she asked, her brow furrowed in confusion.

"This isn't the time to ask," I replied with a faint smile, masking the dread as the swarm drew dangerously close.

"Go now!" I shouted, turning my focus back to the advancing flies.

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Enjoy...