The game's first two flyer missions will be done with the mosquito flyer that you discover in the swamp around Two Rivers, but all remaining missions will have you piloting Kang's Marvelous Dragonfly. All but one of these missions are completely optional (the very first is mandatory), but they will grant you access to powerful flyer upgrades, important story elements, and instructions for using Lord Lao's Furnace, so it's in your best interest to try them out.


Mission 1: Returning Home

This mission takes place after you leave the Swamp Cave and are returning to Two Rivers. After some basic instructions on how to navigate your ship, you'll go up against some low-level fighters and a handful of bombers as you make your way to the beach area of Two Rivers.

Participating in this mission automatically earns you the Radiant Aura flyer upgrade.


Mission 2: Leaving the Town

After defeating all of Gao's men during your return to Two Rivers, you will take off in Gao's mosquito flyer once again with plans of reaching the Imperial City. Unfortunately, the route is plagued with enemy flyers and you'll have to do battle with several other flyers, bombers, and a large number of balloon flyers above a mass of water. At the very end of the mission, you'll have to destroy two large bomber-style flyers armed with guns capable of firing a spray of bullets.

Even if you finish the mission with full health, your mosquito flyer will have taken on all the damage it can handle and you'll crash land at the Dam Site outside of Tien's Landing.


Mission 3: Leaving the Workshop

Once Gao the Greater has been slain and you've powered up the Marvelous Dragonfly using the Inscrutable Power Source, you'll be able to launch Kang's flyer from the hangar in the Pirate Workshop. Gaining access to the Marvelous Dragonfly automatically earns you the Shrieking Fury flyer upgrade, which is easily one of my favorites. You'll make good use of it too, as the skyways between the workshop and Tien's Landing are patrolled by numerous enemy flyers and a handful of balloon flyers.


Mission 4: Kang's First Mission

When you arrive in the Imperial City for the first time, Kang will tell you that he created a wind map on his way here. Agree to explore where it leads and you'll find yourself in a mission above another large body of water. While you're battling standard flyers, three pirate flyers, and a large gunner flyer, Kang will start to get visions of schematics and feel compelled to build something.

At the mission's conclusion, you'll receive the Cloudburst flyer upgrade and Kang will declare that he's built some sort of lever called the Confoundable Minutia. Convince him to activate it and you'll be transported to a heaven containing Lord Lao's Furnace.


Mission 5: Kang's Second Mission

Once you've successfully used three of the configurations for Lord Lao's Furnace, Kang will start regaining a lost memory. A wind map will appear behind him and you'll be able to use it to take yet another journey in the Marvelous Dragonfly.

This mission pits you against a large army of balloon flyers above a mountainous coastal region. Many of the balloon flyers have black "barriers" strung between them in order to slow your progress. You'll have to unleash a torrent of shots to take down a single barrier, so expect your trigger finger to be a bit sore by the end of the mission. Eventually, Kang will congratulate you for making it through the mission and you'll receive the Mirage flyer upgrade. In addition, Kang will tell you that he was able to snag another fuel for the furnace by hanging a net out the window of the Marvelous Dragonfly. This will "net" you A Vial of Sulfurous Water.


Mission 6: Spirit Journey

After successfully utilizing six of the configurations for Lord Lao's Furnace, Kang will be surrounded with energy. Memories will begin seeping in to his brain and he will start visualizing patterns, schematics, and explosions. He will then realize that Lord Lao has been imprisoned and that you must take the Marvelous Dragonfly up once again to rescue him.

This is one of the hardest flyer missions you'll ever have to participate in. You'll be flying through dark, stormy clouds where you'll come under constant assault by strange ghastly-looking flyers and balls of energy. Eventually, you'll reach the mission's final encounter, which is essentially a large mass of energy surrounded by five rotating globes of energy. The entire entity will almost constantly be firing in random directions and, every so often, each globe will emit a powerful beam of light that can easily take down the Marvelous Dragonfly in one hit. Luckily, the direction these beams of light are going to travel in is somewhat predictable and can be dodged with some quick maneuvering. Keep blasting away until all five rotating globes are destroyed (they will regenerate if given time) and then work on the central mass of energy until it explodes.

With the mission complete, you'll be returned to your follower campsite and will automatically receive the Consume Spirit flyer upgrade. At this point, Kang will reveal that the entity was imprisoning Lord Lao's memories and now that it's destroyed he realizes that he is Lord Lao. Now that he has full understanding of his capabilities, he presents you with two Eyes of the Void, the Configuration of the Goat, and the Configuration of the Rat. These items unlock the most powerful rewards Lord Lao's Furnace has to offer, but using them will put the furnace out of commission for good.


Mission 7: A Test for Hin Goo

Your first mission for Mechanic Hin Goo in the Imperial City's Market District involves retrieving some parts for him so that he can continue to produce upgrades for flyers. The mission takes place above a stretch of water with various islands dotting its surface. You'll be up against a relentless number of standard flyers, as well as six very large gunner flyers.

When the final gunner flyer has been destroyed, you'll be returned to the Imperial City. Your efforts are rewarded with a nice amount of experience points, as well as 1500 silver pieces from Hin Goo. You can now purchase A Bar of Nickeled Iron and the Tremor flyer upgrade from him, if you wish. He also has additional missions available, which you'll find detailed below.


Mission 8: Escort the Prefect

After completing "A Test For Hin Goo", the mechanic will offer you a second mission. This time, you're to escort the prefect of Shangdang county to his home. The prefect's ship is designed for luxury, so he needs all the defense he can get from the raiders along the way. Hin Goo promises you extra silver for every raider you destroy, so you're going for total annihilation on this mission.

The mission takes place above a mountainous coastal region, where you'll have to fight off a small army of standard flyers and two large gunner flyers. If the prefect's ship is destroyed, you automatically fail the mission, so it's a good idea to activate your Radiant Aura and just fly on top of the prefect at all times to keep him safe. When the mission is over, you'll receive another experience bonus and 1500 silver pieces (though more may be possible if you clear all the raiders). You'll also find that you can now pick up the Reverse Tides flyer upgrade from Hin Goo's list of goods for sale.


Mission 9: Rescue Mission

Hin Goo's third and final mission is probably the hardest yet. As it turns out, the associate he mentioned earlier is still alive. His ship has been heavily damaged by imperial flyers, though, so Hin Goo wants you to drop off some parts so the associate can repair his ship and safely return.

You'll be flying above water once again, though this time the dark clouds around you crackle with a gathering storm. Various contingents of standard flyers will swoop down at you while several pirate bombers fly in from the sides of the screen. Toward the end of the mission, you'll have to deal with a couple of gunner flyers that swoop in from the sides of the screen, as well.

Finishing this mission nets you more experience and a hefty 4500 silver piece reward. Although there are no more missions to tackle for Hin Goo, the mechanic does have two more very powerful flyer upgrades available for sale - Firestorm and Dragon's Wrath.


Mission 10: The Battle of Dirge

Shortly after you've awaken from your overnight stay in Dirge, you and your followers will gather in the Outer Courtyard to discuss what to do about the approaching Imperial Army. Kang will suggest that you try to put a dent in their forces by making a quick run in the Marvelous Dragonfly, which will trigger this mission if you choose to take him up on the offer.

The whole battle will take place high above the walls of Dirge. Expect a little of everything in this mission - standard flyers, pirate flyers, balloon flyers, etc. - and a totally unique "boss" enemy at the very end. This gargantuan flyer is capable of firing several different directional shots and as many as five heat-seeking missiles at once! Some careful maneuvering and quick firing are required to bring the beast down. When the massive flyer explodes, you'll be returned to the courtyard and will receive the Spirit's Calling flyer upgrade.


Mission 11: Encounter in the Skies #1

The "Encounter in the Skies" missions take place while traveling between specific locations (Tien's Landing to the Imperial City or the Imperial City to the Imperial Palace). They're all fairly easy, straightforward missions, with your typical groups of enemy flyers and the occasional bomber, balloon, or pirate flyer. Expect a smaller "boss" flyer armed with directional guns and heat-seeking missiles at the end of each.


Mission 12: Encounter in the Skies #2

The "Encounter in the Skies" missions take place while traveling between specific locations (Tien's Landing to the Imperial City or the Imperial City to the Imperial Palace). They're all fairly easy, straightforward missions, with your typical groups of enemy flyers and the occasional bomber, balloon, or pirate flyer. Expect a smaller "boss" flyer armed with directional guns and heat-seeking missiles at the end of each.


Mission 13: Encounter in the Skies #3

The "Encounter in the Skies" missions take place while traveling between specific locations (Tien's Landing to the Imperial City or the Imperial City to the Imperial Palace). They're all fairly easy, straightforward missions, with your typical groups of enemy flyers and the occasional bomber, balloon, or pirate flyer. Expect a smaller "boss" flyer armed with directional guns and heat-seeking missiles at the end of each.