Chapter 38 An Empress Never Kneels [Dark Forest War - Part III]

[N/A: I'll spare you the incantations, it would take too long to write and I'm not very good at making things up. Just remember that everyone has to incant before casting a spell (except Freya)].

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-- POV Freya --

The four women in front of me looked at me with confusion as if I had just said something totally absurd. But I was serious...very serious, I wanted to fight them to prove that I wasn't just a "half human" who was a little stronger than normal.

I had observed the status of Nixia, Emilia, Ralph and Thorunn during all our conversation and even if I could not see their skills yet because they were not part of my subordinates, I had nevertheless a very good idea of their strength.

[Onee-san, if you decide to fight them be careful not to hurt them seriously, they are all level 15 and you are level 32. On the other hand I remind you that you are special because of your course and the system, your overall strength is close to level 40 in this world even if it is theoretically difficult to evaluate your strength].

*Don't worry, I know what I'm doing.*

Kira seemed a little skeptical about my idea of having to face them all at once, not for me but for them. To be honest I was doing this for strategic purposes but also because I was hungry for a fight. These four women wanted to know my power ? Very well, I was going to show them.

"So ? What do you say ?"

The temptation to know my abilities was too strong and matched with my plans so it was just perfect. So the four of them nodded quickly thinking they could together force me to bend the knee, while I felt my blood boil with excitement as my warrior spirit awoke at the thought of facing them.

We went deeper into the mountain so as not to disturb the camp and arouse the suspicions of the humans and find a perfect spot for our little group fight. Luna didn't want to fight because she was wounded and the little Hans was still clinging to her which made the experience impossible anyway.

[The idea of settling down in the hollow of these mountains is a very good idea.]

I noticed that we were indeed almost invisible once in this canyon hidden by forest and mountains on all sides as the women in front of me stopped to let me know we had arrived.

Nixia, Ralph and Thorunn were mages whereas Emilia was obviously a swordswoman. While walking I had taken advantage of it to open again their status and to think of a strategy for the war of territory against the humans.

[Nixia

Race : Half-human Lamia

Element: Dark Flames

Lvl 15/30

HP : 30 000 / 30 000 MP : 15 000 / 15 000

Strength : 150

Defense : 165

Agility : 120

Stamina : 140

Speed : 110 ]

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[ Ralph

Race : Vampire-Wolf

Element: Lava

Lvl 15/30

HP : 30 000 / 30 000 MP : 15 000 / 15 000

Strength : 170

Defense : 130

Agility : 110

Stamina : 125

Speed : 160 ]

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[ Thorunn

Race : Vampire

Element: Wind

Lvl 15/30

HP : 30 000 / 30 000 MP : 15 000 / 15 000

Strength : 170

Defense : 145

Agility : 100

Stamina : 135

Speed : 150 ]

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[ Emilia

Race : Half human

Element : x

Lvl 15/30

HP : 30 000 / 30 000

Strength : 165

Defense : 125

Agility : 170

Stamina : 105

Speed : 137 ]

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They all had a really commendable strength and at that moment I absolutely wanted them to join me because with the advantages that the system gave me I was sure to be able to make them warriors who would be feared by everyone in the world. Face to face with the girls, Nixia then spoke with her sweet voice to ask me once again if I was sure I wanted to face them together.

"Here we are. Are you sure you want to face us four against one ?"

I didn't answer as I closed my eyes to take a deep breath before slowly opening them and beckoning them with my hand to attack, nonsense a small smile in the corner provocatively.

[Good luck onee-chan]

*Luck ? I don't need it Kira. I will build this Kingdom from scratch with only the power of my arms, my will and those who will follow me. I never leave room for luck little sister kufufu~*

[I don't know why, but I figured you would answer that haha~]

Indeed, I wasn't going to let luck decide my future and who I was going to become. I was ready to build this Kingdom even if it had to rest on a mountain of human corpses, an ocean of blood or a land of entrails. The first step towards this reality was in front of me, these women wounded and bruised by humans throughout their lives that I was about to face.

"Then let's go !"

Nixia as she spoke conjured up two perfectly identical spears of black flame, they crackled and the lamia seemed to be able to fight hand to hand with them or just with her magic. I was watching with curiosity and fascination when I felt a growl coming from behind me, it was Ralph who like a wild beast was throwing herself at me as if I were her worst enemy. She was growling and seemed to have gone crazy but her gestures proved the contrary. Indeed, while I easily avoided the powerful blows she was throwing at me, I noticed that they were precise and always aimed at one of my vital points.

Jumping back gracefully to get away from her, two spears of black flames were already coming at me as I landed delicately. My mind was racing and I could see that I was surrounded. Everything was slowed down and I could see the two spears of fire coming from my left and right sides while behind me was Thorunn who had silently approached and in front was Nixia accompanied by Ralph.

*Good ! Very good ! I see that there is a good coordination.*

As I was about to jump high, a sword-wielding figure hovered over me and began its descent ready to strike me with a deadly blow..it was Emilia.

[They are particularly vivid and effective].

Blocked on all sides I used my speed, my precision and my strength to avoid the two spears, to block the sword of Emilia with my katana and to move away Ralph and Nixia with a kick not too violent not to kill them on the spot.

Thorunn always smiled whereas she pronounced her incantation. The wind around her accelerated as four blades of wind shot in my direction.

[You're not going to use the elements ?]

*Not yet, I want to understand their power. They all seem to have incredible potential.*

I had decided not to move whereas the wind blades arrived towards me, Thorunn seemed delighted and relaxed her shoulders by thinking to have won but I disappeared already to reappear behind her and to send her to crash against the mountain.

"Always be on guard.."

Emilia who seemed to have felt my movement was already launching herself on me sword in hand and was swinging it without slackening while I dodged each blow easily and with flexibility.

The catgirl was out of breath so I grabbed her big sword with one hand and with a movement of my arm it went crashing with it user near where I had sent Thorunn a little while ago.

"What..."

Nixia and Ralph, who had been watching these movements, did not understand how I had managed to get them so easily without even using my magic. Appearing behind them this time, I whispered mockingly.

"Oi ! Weren't you supposed to make me get down on one knee ?"

I didn't want to end it too quickly so I didn't move to see what they would do to succeed.

"Don't underestimate us !"

Ralph shouting these words still darted around but this time her eyes shone more intensely, with frustration and excitement.

*Oooh perfect. Keep looking at me like that.*

Her movements were faster than before and more precise, if a human of the same level had to face her in these conditions he would quickly lose his life. But I was not just anyone. Grabbing her shirt collar with one hand, I crushed my knee into her belly to cut off her breath. Everything happened in a split second and the hybrid woman unfortunately couldn't see it coming. I threw then Ralph at the sides of Thorunn and Emilia who were always on the ground incable to rise.

It remained only one more.

Turning my glance towards the beautiful lamia, I smiled with all my teeth making bring out my fangs which gave me an even wilder air. I was smiling because I was having fun. Even though they couldn't match me, it was a pleasure to fight with half-humans who I hope will be part of my army.

Nixia was not as agile and fast as the others so she relied mostly on her black flame magic to defeat me but it was not enough. Her spears were spinning in the air before she grabbed them in each hand to try to get me in close combat. She couldn't move that fast but her control of her weapons was perfect. Nixia spun her spears with grace and ease while moving her lower body to prevent me from predicting her movements.

*This technique can be reworked and become formidable but for the moment it is not perfect.*

This way of fighting prevented me from reaching her but it only concerned the places she could see, the blind spots were her main weak point. I used my speed again to jump into her back and grab her wrists to prevent her from moving her arms. With a controlled elbow strike, I sent her into the rock to join her fellow fighters.

Whereas Nixia, Ralph, Emilia and Thorunn were all on the ground exhausted and defeated, I advanced to face them and pronounce of a powerful voice a single sentence.

"An Empress never kneels."

Although I sent them crashing into the mountain walls, I knew that with rest they would not suffer too much from their injuries. These women were all strong despite their level and my eyes shone with excitement at the thought of them joining my ranks.

During our fight, all the inhabitants of the camp had gathered around us to observe curious and excited despite the circumstances. They all looked at me with admiration and respect not without a small hint of fear as I could hear them whispering.

"She didn't use her magic once..."

"It looked like she was controlling her strength too..."

"She must be much more powerful than that then !"

"Do you think she can really save us ?"

"Yes for sure !"

I was satisfied because the purpose of this move was to make everyone understand that I wasn't kidding and that I would take back this forest no matter what. I also wanted people to respect me and see me as the Empress I was and would become.

Sweeping the crowd with my eyes as they froze in place, I quickly counted the people present.

*Mmmh 20, if I count Nixia, Thorunn, Ralph and Emilia that makes 24, even 26 with the small Hans and Luna.*

[They are not numerous, it misses besides 5 other people if Luna did not make a mistake.]

*Yes, we have to wait for them before I can start explaining my plan. As for the number, I think that many are locked up in the ruins, whole families or even clans. *

[Time is running out !]

While I was conversing as usual with Kira, the four women in front of me had risen and were all looking at me equally with enormous respect. For the very first time Thorunn took the word followed by Emilia.

"Is this really all your power ?"

"How all this is possible ? What is your level ?"

Seeing that I finally had their full attention, I closed my eyes to release my entire aura this time throughout the mountain while we were still hidden by those natural walls. The rock shook and the ground vibrated as the half-humans fell to the earth almost unconscious. The four women in front of me were shaking and couldn't move in front of this aura that paralyzed them. I had not targeted anyone and yet everyone was affected by my demonic aura alone, I had not even used my natural aura because I was unable to do so at the moment. Even without showing my real physical and magical skills they were all convinced.

Retracting my aura slowly as i was opening my eyelids revealing my hypnotizing and dangerous eyes, I could see absolutely all the half-humans including the female warriors kneeling before me as one.

-- PING --

[Congratulations ! You have obtained 26 citizens/subordinates.]

A smile appeared on my face as I could hear Kira speaking to me.

[An Empress never kneels huh ? Haha~ Indeed onee-san...indeed]

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FULL STATUS

Name : Freya

Age : 0 years / Mentally : 25 years

Sex : Female

Course : Ice Demon Wolf of chaos - Adult

Race : Major Demon

Titles : Blessed by Titania, Goddess of endless Chaos and eternal frozen Hell.

Dragon tamer

Ruthless slayer

Level : 32/70

Exp required for next level: 2 000 / 33 000

HP : 90 000 / 90 000 MP : 45 000 / 45 000

Strength : 340

Defense : 336

Agility : 350

Stamina : 353

Speed : 342

Intelligence : 340

Charisma : 410 (imperial she-wolf)

Attribute points to allocate : 0

Engaged to: Gaya

Daughter : Shiro

Kingdom (menu)

Subordinates : 128

Humans killed : 128

Elements: Ice / Chaos

Skills (all):

Attack - Demon Claws (Lvl 5)

- Bite of hell (Lvl 5)

- Infernal ice spikes (Lvl 5)

- Fighting techniques (lvl max)

- Mastery of the katana (lvl max)

- Demonic aura of the empress (lvl 3)

Defense - Ice demon wall (lvl 4)

- Demonic cloak (lvl 5)

Pain Resistance (lvl 3)

Attack/Defense - Domain of the Ice Empress "frozen wrath" (lvl 1) - (under condition)

Others - Humanoid form

- Ice creation (Lvl 4)

- Storage of chaos (Lvl 3)

- Devouring chaos (Lvl 4)

- Analysis

- Second soul (Lvl max) - unique

- Telepathy

Passives - Commander (lvl max)

- Natural Aura of the Ice Empress ]