The Stargazing Witch & The Dungeon Planet
Chapter 80: Boom On The Docks

Chapter 80: Boom On The Docks

“Hello, nice to meet you too. I’m here to blow up some invaders. Shall we help create more fireworks?” My warm introduction to the open area of the docks was met with confusion and concern. 

As the one manning the entrance–who wasn’t about the station’s security staff and seemed to be an employee of one of the companies–was unsure what to do about me.

I went through a passable section of the barrier to enter the docks, and the area where I was now was the shipyard. There was usually a separate barrier over this area, but it had been removed to allow people on the docks to fly out and shoot without restriction.

The guard mumbled, “Umm….” 

“Just move,” I said confidently and simply walked by. Places to be and people to blow up.

“Hey…!” The guard reached out.

I flicked his hand back, “If you want to be useless, please do it somewhere else.” And I strolled into the docks. The man didn’t follow and instead walked back to where I assumed his friends were.

I transformed the Starlight blades into thin gauntlets that went up to my elbow. I appeared less psycho this way, while still looking prepared, no one was going to have me stabbed for having my guard up in a combat situation. 

(" What’s on the agenda? ”)

Blow some ships up?

(" So no plans? ”)

We have already discussed it; if you are that bored to the point you are asking me the same question over and over again, at least be on the lookout for trouble.

(" Sure, sure ”)

I looked around me and at the fireworks in the sky and the people on the guard. Mechs were set up as anti-spaceship artillery, and people were standing by on standby.

There was a good mix of people clearly taking the situation seriously and a bunch of others who looked like they were ready to go to the pub at any moment.

The chaotic onslaught of ships made it hard to tell which side was winning. The disguise on the ships didn’t help that, but with the sheer number difference, the defence seemed to be winning.

What are they even thinking…?

I’m not a genius, far from it, and I couldn’t tell if I was missing something, but by the stars, this plan on a surface level looked stupid.

These have to be pirates? Maybe a few competent ones and a couple of Dominous Hood ships, but a direct attack isn’t going to do shit.

(" So, do you have any bright sparkling ideas of what might be going on ”)

Eh, barely. What makes the most sense is that this is a distraction. A distraction for what? No bloody idea, anything really. They could be trying to steal the items now; they already have them and are trying to sneak out; or maybe they are trying to blow the whole station up.

Without more information, my guesses were merely poor speculation.

While I was planning where to attack, a wave of energy shot out again.

There is that pulse again.

After feeling it for a third time, it was clearly coming from somewhere in the first segment.

I looked around, and most people didn’t seem to have noticed it, but there were a small few that looked around, concerned about the feeling.

Before I or anyone else could do anything about the new pulse, eight ships started barrelling towards the dock. 

“Hahaha! I got it!” A loud voice laughed as the nearby mech turned its rifle to the one furthest ahead. 

“What are you doing?! It’s headed right for us?!” 

“And? Just got to blow it up before it crashes!” 

I clasped my hands together and reformed the Starlight as a barrier around me.

(" Concerned? ”)

Yes.

I watched as the other ships dropped payloads of hundreds of small bombs. They were still headed for an uncontrolled crash course, but they were trying to lose their cargo to control themselves. Mana was primed at my feet, ready to [Burst] away if any got too close.

The mech fired its large mana rifle, piercing right through the ship, causing the unstable bombs inside to go off. 

Within a moment, no more peace existed on this dock as bombs rained down and shook the floor of the station. Outside the blast of the explosions, which caused massive damage; fire, lightning, and an acidic substance flew in all directions.

People tried getting out of the way, but the unlikely few who barely dodged the explosion were tortured by the terrifying mix of energies, tearing the armour and bodies apart.

A few of the ships were able to fly away, but a couple of them crashed and exploded into the dock.

My shield blocked the explosion but shattered under the strain, and I jumped out of the way before the energies hit me.

(" Wow, you showed up and everything went to shit? How unfortunate ”)

I wanted to refute Espr, but as I watched a cloaked figure rise from the remains of a ship and try to sneak away, I had a feeling they might be right.