Harsh Landing

When the flames finally cleared, there was nothing left but an empty clear sky.

The celebration was short-lived. Alpha noticed it first - the subtle shift in the aeronef's movement as it began to lose altitude. The ship groaned and creaked from the damage caused by Suzaku's massive explosion, and the magical propulsion system was struggling to keep them airborne.

— The ship is going down, Alpha said, gripping the damaged railing.

Suzaku looked around at the scorched deck and splintered wood with obvious guilt.

— I am sorry. I did not realize the blast would damage our vessel so severely.

— Don't apologize, replied Alpha firmly. You saved our lives. We needed that level of power to defeat the demon.

Dave was already floating toward the ship's magical propulsion core, opening data panels as quickly as he could. The mana reserves were dropping steadily, and several key components showed critical damage readings.

— I can fix this, Dave said, immediately beginning to alter the ship's properties. He boosted the mana regeneration rate and tried to repair the damaged systems through code manipulation.

For a brief moment, the ship's descent slowed. But within seconds, the altitude loss resumed at the same rate as before.

— What's happening? asked Alpha, watching Dave work frantically.

Dave tried again, this time dramatically increasing the core's power output and efficiency. Again, there was a temporary improvement followed by the same steady decline.

— I don't understand, Dave muttered, staring at the data panels in confusion. The changes I'm making should be working, but they keep reverting back.

He attempted several more modifications - increasing the hull's structural integrity, boosting the magical lift generators, even trying to reduce the ship's overall weight. Each time, the improvements lasted only a few moments before failing.

Then it clicked. Dave stopped his frantic attempts and floated back from the damaged core with a look of realization.

— The ship is too damaged, he explained to Alpha. As long as the physical components are broken or compromised, the stats won't stay put. My [re_coding] ability can't override actual structural damage.

Kuria, who had been slowly recovering thanks to the regeneration effect Dave had added to her robe, struggled to sit up.

— How much time do we have? she asked weakly.

Alpha looked over the side of the ship at the landscape rushing up toward them.

— At this rate of descent... maybe ten minutes before we crash.

Dave's mind raced. They had survived the demon encounter only to face death from their own victory. There had to be something he could do, some way to use his abilities to save them all.

Behind them, Suzaku suddenly collapsed to her knees, completely drained from casting such a devastating spell. She barely managed to grab onto a piece of broken railing to keep herself from sliding across the tilting deck, her breathing heavy and labored.

— Suzaku! Alpha rushed to her side to steady her.

— I am... fine, she gasped weakly. Just need... a moment.

Dave continued examining the ship's systems, his frustration mounting as each attempt to permanently repair the damage failed. Then, as he studied the aeronef's wing structure, a new idea formed.

— I can't save the ship, Dave announced to Alpha. But I think I can modify the wings' air resistance to help us land safely. We'll still crash, but it should be survivable.

— What about the ship itself? asked Alpha.

— The hull will sustain serious damage, probably beyond repair. But at least we'll be alive to worry about it.

Alpha nodded grimly.

— Do it.

Dave immediately began working on the wing systems, dramatically increasing their air resistance and adjusting their aerodynamic properties. Unlike the damaged magical core, the wings were still structurally intact, which meant his modifications would hold.

The ship's descent began to slow noticeably as the enhanced wings caught more air. Instead of plummeting toward the ground, they were now gliding at a much more manageable angle.

— It's working, Alpha said with relief, helping Suzaku sit more comfortably against the railing.

— We're still going to hit hard, warned Dave. Everyone needs to brace for impact and find something solid to hold onto.

Kuria struggled to her feet, still weak but determined to prepare for the crash landing.

— How long until we reach the ground? she asked.

Alpha looked over the edge at the approaching landscape.

— Maybe five minutes. Everyone find secure positions and hold tight.

Alpha quickly moved between his injured companions, putting his support training to use. He knelt beside Kuria first, placing his hands over her spear wound.

— [heal_3], he said, casting a basic healing spell. Golden light emanated from his palms, and while it couldn't fully close such a severe injury, it helped stabilize her condition and reduced the bleeding.

— Thank you, Kuria said weakly, her breathing becoming slightly easier.

Next, Alpha moved to Suzaku, who was still slumped against the railing. He placed a hand on her shoulder and cast another support spell.

— [mana_regeneration_boost_2].

A faint blue glow surrounded Suzaku as her mana recovery rate increased. Within moments, some color returned to her face and she was able to sit up straighter.

— I can move now, she said quietly, gripping the railing more firmly.

— Good, replied Alpha. We are going to need everyone conscious and mobile when we hit the ground.

Dave watched the landscape rushing toward them, noting they were approaching what looked like a forested area with some cleared fields.

— There, he pointed to a relatively flat meadow ahead. That looks like our best option for a crash site.

Alpha helped both women secure themselves against sturdy parts of the ship's structure, then braced himself as well.

— Here we go, he called out as the ground rose up to meet them.

The aeronef struck the earth at an angle, its enhanced wings catching the air just enough to prevent a catastrophic impact. The ship grazed across the meadow, its hull scraping against rocks and dirt as it slid toward the tree line. Several large trees absorbed the ship's remaining momentum, their trunks bending and cracking under the impact as the vessel finally came to a complete halt.

For a moment, there was only silence except for the settling creaks of damaged wood and metal.

— Is everyone alive? Alpha called out.

— Here, replied Kuria weakly.

— I am fine, said Suzaku, pushing herself up from where she had been thrown against the railing.

Dave floated through the wreckage, checking on everyone. Miraculously, despite the violent landing, they had all survived with only minor additional injuries.

Several hours later, they had established a makeshift camp using salvageable parts from the destroyed aeronef. The ship's cabin walls had been repurposed into a crude shelter, and various pieces of equipment had been recovered from the wreckage.

Alpha returned to their campsite carrying an armload of firewood he had gathered from the surrounding forest. The sun was beginning to set, casting long shadows through the trees.

Suzaku sat cross-legged near their makeshift hearth, her hands producing small controlled flames to keep the fire alive. Her energy had mostly returned, though she still looked tired from the day's battles.

— How is she doing? Alpha asked quietly, nodding toward Kuria.

Kuria was resting in one of the sleeping bags that had been provided by the kingdom, positioned close to the fire for warmth. The combination of Dave's regeneration enhancement, Alpha's healing magic, and her own natural recovery had stabilized her condition, but she was still weak from blood loss.

— Better, replied Suzaku. The bleeding has stopped completely, and she has been able to eat a little. She should recover fully with rest.

Alpha set down the firewood and looked around their improvised shelter.

— We did well considering the circumstances. Tomorrow we will need to figure out how to continue our journey on foot.

Dave floated nearby, still processing everything that had happened. They had survived a demon attack and a crash landing, but they were now stranded far from their destination with limited supplies and an injured teammate.

The fire crackled softly as darkness settled around their makeshift camp. After a few moments of peaceful silence, Suzaku looked up from the flames and spoke directly toward the empty air where Dave was floating.

— When are you going to tell us more about that presence that has been following us since the beginning of our journey?