Edwin Lunar Chapter 40: Fall Through the Burning Sky

Read chapter 40 of Edwin Lunar by MananTayal on NovelPedia.

The world disappeared beneath Edwin Lunar. One second— He stood fighting Eclipse soldiers across the collapsing transit platform above Noroel. The next— He was falling through open sky. Wind exploded around him violently as broken metal and burning debris spiraled downward beside him. Above the clouds, war consumed the heavens while silver and crimson explosions illuminated the atmosphere like storms of fire. Far above— Carl's scream echoed faintly. "EDWIN!" The broken transit platform collapsed entirely. Eclipse soldiers continued battling Lucien and Iris while fragments of burning machinery rained across the floating city below. But Edwin kept falling. Faster. Faster. The city towers rushed upward beneath him while the sky itself burned with warships and Flame cannons above. His mind froze completely. No plan. No control. Just endless falling. Then the ring activated. Silver light burst from his hand. A circular energy shield formed around him instinctively while streams of glowing Flame symbols spread through the air. Edwin's fall slowed slightly. But not enough. The city below was still approaching dangerously fast. Suddenly— A silver aircraft shot downward through the clouds beneath him. The craft moved impossibly fast between explosions and falling debris while its engines screamed across the sky. Then the side hatch opened. "JUMP!" Carl. Edwin's eyes widened. Carl leaned dangerously out of the moving aircraft while holding onto the side rail with one hand. "THIS IS THE WORST RESCUE PLAN EVER!" The aircraft tilted violently to match Edwin's fall speed. Inside the cockpit— Iris controlled the stolen academy transport with terrifying concentration while Lucien fought another Eclipse soldier hanging from the rear landing rail. The entire scene was complete chaos. Edwin reached outward desperately as the aircraft sped beneath him. For one horrifying second— He missed. Carl grabbed his wrist at the last possible moment. "GOT YOU!" The force nearly pulled Carl out of the aircraft too. Lucien immediately grabbed Carl's arm while Iris screamed from the cockpit: "WE ARE LOSING ALTITUDE!" The aircraft spiraled violently through the burning skies of Noroel while explosions erupted around them. Together— Lucien and Carl pulled Edwin inside. All four crashed onto the metal floor breathing heavily. Silence lasted exactly two seconds. Then Carl pointed directly at Edwin. "You are NEVER allowed to fall from the sky again." Edwin laughed weakly despite everything. Somehow— They were still alive. Outside the aircraft windows, battle continued across Noroel. Massive Eclipse warships exchanged fire with Dominion fleets while burning debris fell through the clouds toward the lower cities. The Astral Keeper vessel continued fighting high above the atmosphere, its golden beams tearing through enemy formations like sunlight across darkness. But even it was being overwhelmed. "There are too many ships," Iris said quietly. Her hands moved rapidly across the controls. "The outer defense lines are collapsing." Lucien looked through the side hatch toward the academy towers ahead. "Sector Seven?" Iris checked the tactical display. Then her expression changed instantly. "No…" Carl noticed immediately. "What?" The holographic map projected across the cockpit. And everyone froze. Three giant Eclipse cruisers surrounded Sector Seven directly. The academy shield generators were already under attack. Crimson bombardments slammed repeatedly against the tower district while students evacuated across damaged aerial bridges below. One more strike— And the entire sector would collapse. Lucien activated his combat blade immediately. "We're too late." "No," Edwin answered quietly. The ring glowed brighter. Silver Flame energy spread across the aircraft floor around him. Carl slowly looked toward him. "…Why do I suddenly feel nervous?" Edwin stood. The energy surrounding the ring intensified again, flowing across his academy uniform like streams of silver fire. Fo