Lord of the Magical Beasts - Chapter 640 - Puppet

The story revolves around Charles Karino, a Levaamu Empire mercenary aerial pilot who mans the twin seater reconnaissance seaplane Santa Cruz. One day, he receives a preposterous assignment: to fly solo over 12,000 kilometers of enemy waters to protect a girl named Fana del Moral. Fana happens to be the next in line to the empire’s throne and a girl possessing beauty “equal to 5,000 beams of light.”

This is a standalone book. There’s another series under the name “To Aru Hikuushi e no Koiuta” (Love Song for a Certain Pilot) set in the same world, but in a completely different place and with different characters.

– Ulrezaj @ Mazui

Adapted to anime as “The Princess and the Pilot”

In the Abyss, all beings are imprisoned, struggling bitterly to survive. One day, in the eternally dark lower world, a young boy has a chance encounter and catches a glimpse of the upper worlds. He is fortunate to witness wonders beyond even the most beautiful dreams. Realizing there are worlds beyond his own, he refuses to settle for mediocrity and vows to ascend to the top step by step.

Lin Jiufeng transmigrates to become the Yuhua God Dynasty’s Crown Prince but is dethroned, banished to the Cold Palace, and imprisoned there because he had released the holy maiden of their rival country.

Lin Jiufeng isn’t dejected. He has brought a sign-in system with him when he transmigrated and he would receive rewards when he signs in at different places.

Before the Cold Palace’s gates, he signs in and receives the Ultimate Heaven Slashing Sword Skill!

In the Great Council Hall, he signs in and receives the Heaven Patching Technique!

In the Empress Dowager’s palace, he signs in and receives the God of War Totem!

…

Liu Jiufeng imagines that he can quietly sign in like this until he becomes invincible. Yet who would have imagined that the Heavenly Concubine whom he secretly released would rise in rebellion and seize power after she returns to her country?

After she succeeds, her first priority is to attack the Yuhua God Dynasty to rescue Lin Jiufeng.

When Liu Jiufeng hears of this news, he’s puzzled. «Do I need you to rescue me?»

Cut through the road of life and death with one knife, and Hanren slaughtered all those who had hearts!

…

I don’t want to be a knife, I want to be a knife bearer.

I don’t want to be a pawn, I want to be a chess player.

an ordinary person.

But he wants to live out himself in this world.

The unknown road ahead is slim, and the future is unknown; just walking step by step, before you know it, it is already a journey, and there is no world.

The thorny road, the red dust is far away; the clever move, the step is high;

Flatten the sea, turn over the rivers and lakes; clear the blue sky, hold the sword of heaven.

- Description from novelbuddy