Sora and Louise got caught by Varut two kilometers from the edge.
"Leave Louise and Verus, and I'll let you walk. Deal with the devil," Varut said coldly.
"Hmph, you think you've got this won?" Sora reined his horse, untied Verus and propped him behind a tree, then drew Delphlink from his waist.
"That's right, partner—gonna thrash him good. Haven't liked him from the jump," Delphlink chimed in.
"Varut, did you really betray Her Highness the Princess?" Louise demanded, gripping her wand tight.
"Humph, that little girl. Never swore loyalty to her." Varut leaped from the stone giant, [Float] magic easing his drop, sword-wand in hand as he stalked toward Sora step by step.
"Fukai, snag Louise. This familiar's mine."
"Yes, Lord Varut," Fukai replied softly.
Sora glanced up at Fukai.
Fukai's pulse raced, cheeks flushing. Oh, Lord Sora, look at me more—craving your favor, your love. That charm potion, so overpowering.
"Louise, snap to. Prep your void [Explosion]."
"Ah, got it." Louise raised her wand, eyes shut, chanting loud.
"『Iolu Snu Phil Aaron Sakusha』『Beozs Yule Sbiel Kano O'Shea』 'Gera Isa Wenxiu Hagar Peokon Iru...'"
"Stop her, Fukai!" Varut barked.
"Now, Fukai," Sora said coldly.
Under Fukai's command, the earth giant balled its right fist and hammered down.
Varut sensed the wind pressure behind, whipped around shocked. "What?!"
The giant's fist stamped Varut's stunned face, cratering him into the dirt.
Dust billowed; the giant lifted its fist, clearing space.
Sora charged two-handed.
"Yah Fell Albrook." [Fireball]
"Hash Wendy Lie." [Wind Blade]
Flame and wind power surged into Delphlink, transmuted, birthing a howling fireball. Sora swung—human-sized blaze roared scorching, slamming ground-trapped Varut.
Sora closed, slashed Varut's chest; blood sprayed wild.
"Ah!!" Varut spewed blood, glaring furious at Sora.
"Weird, you dared try stealing Louise from me," Sora said coldly.
"But—damn it. Fukai!!" Varut's face twisted hideous, shrieking.
"Familiar!!" Sora felt the surge behind, sidestepped.
"[EXPLOSION]—detonate!!!"
Void white light blasted from Louise's hand, swallowing Varut.
In the glare, Varut stretched tall and vanished, agony warping his snarl.
"Lu!! Yi!! Si!!!"
Light flared blinding, detonating.
Sora bolted to Louise, scooped her, leaped clear.
Fukai willed the earth giant's hand up as shield.
"Boom!!!"
Massive blast engulfed Varut total.
Light faded, leaving ten-meter-deep crater.
Sora steadied Louise; she stared complex at the void pit.
"Sora... he's gone?"
"Yeah, gone."
Sora reached, tousled Louise's peach-blond tangled hair.
"Don't fret—I'm right here."
"Mm, Sora." Louise leaned into his chest.
They savored the warmth awhile.
Fukai approached: "Lord Sora."
Louise looked up, eyed her: "Her?"
"Yeah, mine now. C'mon, Louise—let's roll."
"Yes, Lord Sora."
"Your people? Sora, what'd you do?"
Horses bolted scared; Sora hoisted Verus, and the three trekked continent's edge.
Royalists knew defeat loomed. King aimed to shield Verus, prepped secret small airship. Gelfin learned just days prior—rebels clueless.
They hit the brink, paralleled hundreds meters. Spotted the airship tethered to ten-meter tree.
Rope looped trunk dozen times, craft hovering ten meters off-continent.
"One at a time—I'll ferry you."
Sora set Verus down, scooped Louise one-armed, rope-climbed, deposited her on deck.
Back down the rope, Sora bound Verus piggyback, reclimbed.
Third go: "Grip tight—I ain't catching falls." "Yes, Lord Sora." Fukai koala-clung; Sora hand-over-handed across.
All four aboard, Sora drew sword, severed rope.
Floating continent Albion drifted preset path; small ship bobbed steady.
"Who pilots?" Sora asked.
"Truly sorry, Lord Sora."
"Don't eye me—I'm nobility. Servants or captains handle this," Louise huffed, lips pursed.
"Tricky. Random throttle and drop?" Sora shrugged.
"No joking—Albion's 4000 meters up. Splatter city," Louise shot back.
"Quarreling? Sailing's easy—me," Delphlink boasted.
"Huh, you sure, Delph?" Sora doubted.
"Know [Gundaruff] ain't just sword? Controls carts, ships free. God's left hand—masters all weapon-kin."
"For real? Testing." Sora entered cockpit, hand to wheel—knowledge flooded natural.
"Got it now." Sora spun wheel, tuned wind stone output.
"Back we go—Tolistine."
Airship wheeled, nosed slow toward mainland below.
"Miss school, Her Highness," Louise murmured.
"Yeah, miss 'em too."
"Huh? 'Em?" Louise perked wary.
"Ahaha, nothing. Homeward—Tolistine." Sora laughed it off.
Louise dropped it. Cloud-sea gazed, mind wandering far.
Verus lay out cold in cabin, propped wall-wise.
Fukai stared rapt at Sora—ah, Lord Sora, can't get enough.