Chapter 282 The return of the forgotten Princess [Sacrifice - Part II]
-- POV General --
"L-Long time no see huh, b-big brother"
These words, uttered as a whisper, had the effect of a cannonball launched at full speed into the stomach, stunning the Prince on the spot. Was it really true ? The face he'd thought he'd never see again was right in front of him, Alayna was here, she was alive. She was alive and he had tried to kill her ? Impossible, yet it was indeed her blood that now flowed on the dark floor, the blood he himself had caused to be spilled.
"You...ho-..."
For the first time Erzian didn't know what to say or do, he who had long believed his sister was dead. Everything was so sudden, a wave of emotions swept over him to the point where he could no longer discern anything. Was it relief ? Anger ? Astonishment ? Joy ? Or perhaps disappointment ? The young man's face twisted into different expressions, not even knowing himself what he was feeling, knotted up in his own mind.
However, the more he looked at the woman kneeling before him, the more all these emotions changed into something far more familiar...hatred. It was so much easier to let your anger explode, giving you the illusion that nothing and nobody could touch your heart. No matter what happened, he was there to protect the Kingdom and he would do so even at the cost of the death of the one who had mysteriously disappeared months before.
"HAHAHAHAHA I see, I was almost fooled. It's all your fault really, isn't it ?"
"..."
"Everything that's been going on since the beginning. Your disappearance, Father's expedition and his death. Everything. You're with them aren't you ? Y-You...you betrayed your own blood...your own people...didn't you ?"
To the Prince it was more than obvious, Alayna had really gone off on her own, and while the whole of Zal mourned their Princess, she was making a pact with these creatures. What had happened to make her find herself at this very moment, wearing a hood, trying to free these subraces ? It was beyond comprehension, but the more he thought about it, the more his anger and hatred grew, and the sense of betrayal hit him like a sledgehammer.
All Erzian's limbs were trembling, he didn't know whether to laugh or cry, but he was sure he wanted revenge. Torn between the idea of his sister and what was happening before his eyes, he decided to stop thinking about it and do what he thought was best. Shaking his head, he raised his sword once more and brought it down on Alayna, but not without feeling his chest tighten for a reason he obviously didn't know.
"You're the spoiled fruit of our family, you don't even deserve to bear the name of Zal, let alone the title of Princess ! DO YOU HEAR ME ??? YOU SHOULD NEVER HAVE COME BACK !!!"
Plunged into a boundless rage, Erzian swung his attacks at the poor young woman, who could only try to dodge. He wanted to make this pain stop and make her pay, he wanted to soothe this feeling of betrayal so he went on and on, she had to die. The blood from Alayna's wound continued to flow from her sudden movements, but that was beside the point of what she'd come here for in the first place.
"TRAITOR ! TRASH ! YOU BITCH ! OUR ONLY FATHER, THE KINGDOM, YOUR OWN BLOOD ! AAAAAAAAAAH !!!"
The young woman did her best to block the blows that were too fast to dodge, but it was difficult. Between the words spat in her face and the physical force used, she found herself buried on all sides, slashed again and again. The blood kept pouring out and before long, the former Princess's face and body were strewn with cuts, each as deep as the next.
She couldn't fight properly because she was protecting something in her pocket, what was it ? It didn't really matter to Erzian, who saw it as a deadly punishment to satisfy his ego. Seeing her so weak, so helpless, so scared was more than just a reward. He wanted to break her, to make her scream, to make her say that he was right and that all she had been in this world ? A useless trouble-making parasite.
"HAHAHAHA LOOK AT YOU ! You can't stand on your legs and yet you persist in standing between me and these slaves. Dear sister, I'll be nice and make this quick~"
Was this a fight ? Was this what warriors endure hour after hour ? This fatigue, this pain, this pressure, this fear, it was all so real, so frightening, and yet the battle had only begun ten minutes ago. Alayna felt her strength gradually diminishing, her vision darkening, but even though her legs no longer seemed able to carry her any further, she had a mission to accomplish, whatever the cost.
Erzian, on the other hand, was so overwhelmed by his own contradictions that he hadn't even noticed that she had approached the watchtower again. Pointing her sword with a trembling arm, it was time to go for broke, it was now or never. For the first time, the young blonde woman was going to attack, or at least do what she could to scrape off those few precious seconds she desperately needed.
"AAAAAAAAAAHHH !!!"
Not uttering a word, the former Princess leaned on her left leg despite the pain, pretending a direct and stupid attack. However, as her surprised brother moved to catch her, she used her speed not to strike but to slide between his legs. Then grabbing his right calf, she knocked him forward as she drew on her strength to run where the chain began.
"Wha..."
Yes, the two Princes of Zal were the only ones who could use their mana to manipulate the shackle, but never had they considered their sister. Only Iolas was able to manipulate one element but it was enough, as Erzian found himself face down on the ground, Alayna had time to run. As if her life depended on it, she began to run no matter if her legs failed her or if her wounds made her want to scream out in pain.
It was at this moment that she could make the difference, finally, after all these years, it was now that she could change the course of history. She who had rejected everything, was going to use her blood one last time in memory of who she was, for who she had become. And so, in an almost transcendent state, the only Princess of Zal finally threw herself onto the chain, letting the red liquid run down the runic handle.
The next instant, like a miracle-bringing sound, the metal rings finally detached, freeing all the slaves at once. Confused by what had just happened, none of them moved, unable to decide what to do to stay alive. Run forward ? Hide ? Run away ? Fear had not left them, and while for them it was undoubtedly part of the plan, for the Prince his house of cards was crumbling before his eyes.
"YOU SNEAKY BITCH !!! So this was your plan ??? The whole army of disgusting creatures has been running around in circles since the beginning, waiting for you to free those slaves ??? How pathetic !!!"
Was this the real aim of the Elysium warriors' movement all along ? Pathetic perhaps, but it had worked all the same. Yet somehow he'd been defeated and that ? That was unforgivable. Ignoring her brother who was slowly walking towards her with a murderous air, Alayna drew on her very last strength to grab what she'd been keeping preciously in her pocket all this time : a horn.
"ANSWER ME WHEN I TALK TO YOU !!!"
As she finally blew inside generating a fat, muffled sound echoing throughout the valley, Erzian couldn't bear her silence no longer. She'd spoken barely a few words to him before ruining his plan without so much as an explanation or apology. Had the sister he knew always been so ungrateful ? If so, then whatever her sins, he was going to finish what he'd started...without remorse.
The former Princess was unable to move, her body refusing to listen, it was like losing control. Her vision had become blurred and the last thing she could do was smile in the face of the man who had already raised his sword to make her disappear from this world. But for some reason, Alayna wasn't afraid, she'd done what she had to do and hadn't conceded defeat to her brother...that was enough.
But was it really ? Unfortunately, she couldn't think any further, and as the blade dangerously approached in slow motion, the young woman finally lost consciousness.
What followed was a chain reaction produced only seconds after the horn had sounded on the battlefield. In an instant, the ground began to tremble, causing Erzian to lose his balance and delaying his movement, thus losing precision. Shortly afterwards, huge roots sprang up from the ground, but not just anywhere - in the front line, where the slaves still stood.
Like giant living snakes, they soared high into the sky, carrying the newly freed slaves in their wake. The next second, Nixia's shrill whistle at the other end rang out, changing the movement of the army...the offensive had finally begun. Confused and as enraged as ever, despite the chaos, he set his sights on Alayna's heart, to end the battle as quickly as possible and return to the castle victorious and full of glory.
However, just as the Prince had almost reached his goal, he felt himself pushed back violently as two figures appeared like shadows. They had joined the watchtower and Alayna away, disappearing again with disconcerting ease ? Why was the other staying here ? The world seemed to have ganged up on him, no matter how bravely he tried to while one carried the brave young woman in her arms, the other kept an eye on Erzian. All he could hear were whispers, too busy squinting to try and see who these two might be.
"You did it, you bought enough time and freed the slaves. Your plan was risky but it worked, everything, everything you predicted worked out, you're amazing, I-I'm so proud of you Alli. Leave the rest to us, rest and...and please...don't die."
"..."
"Take her immediately for treatment and make sure she stays alive."
"Hai !"
Huh ? Alli ? Beyond his shock and confusion, the blond young man didn't understand what was happening. The more he observed, the more he could recognize the uniforms of Zal's knights. Were they his own soldiers ? So why was one of them taking Alayna away, disappearing again with disconcerting ease ? Why was the other staying here ? The world seemed to have ganged up on him, no matter how bravely he tried to fight.
"O-OI ! YOU SHITTY SOLDIER ! WHY DID YOU INTERFERE ? YOU BRAINLESS IDIOT, GIVE ME YOUR NAME RIGHT NOW SO I CAN HAVE YOU AND YOUR WHOLE FAMILY KILLED, YOU ARMORED DOG BASTARD !"
Having seemingly lost his mind, Erzian was now a ball of rage unable to hold his own tongue, spitting violent words at what appeared to be one of his knights. Those around understood nothing, but they had heard the words, which remained engraved deep in their hearts. Turning around at last, the mysterious person brought a hand to their steel helmet before grabbing it to throw it to the ground.
"She beat you...Alayna beat you and her courage changed everything. I swear you'll never hurt my loved ones again."
"HUUUH ? What are you babbling about you st-..."
Under the moon's rays, the young man found himself suddenly speechless before a pair of different-colored eyes, one blue, the other golden. In front of the beauty of this hypnotizing gaze, it didn't take him long to think of the pair of panthers he had tortured years earlier. As Erzian stared at what appeared to be a young woman, his own gaze came to fall on two fluffy ears and a tail.
"Y-You ?"
He'd been so absorbed by the sudden appearance of what he'd so wanted to possess in the past that he hadn't observed properly, but it was her. He didn't need more time to guess...that fur, that hair, those eyes, that breed...he was sure of it. Yes, after eight long years, Luna was finally standing before the executioner who had deprived her of the love of a father and mother, she was standing before the one she had sworn to kill with her own hands.
"That's it for you. It won't be long before your men fall and in a few minutes our plan will set itself in motion, you're running out of time."
"Just because you've freed some slaves doesn't mean that y-..."
"ERZIAN ZAL, first Prince of the Kingdom...I will be your last opponent."
The young Commander's words had been spoken calmly, but the aura surrounding her at that moment was becoming more and more deadly. Chaos reigned, the Knights and Paladins tried as best they could to coordinate, but the Princes' plan had backfired. What was going on ? There were thousands of soldiers on each side, so they should be able to manage, shouldn't they ?
Erzian trembled as he gritted his teeth, but it wasn't because his plan had fallen through or the condition of his army. He was trembling because the more the seconds passed, the more he realized that the creature in front of him was there to kill him, and that she had ample capacity to do so. No one would come to his aid, no one could save him from the fight with the vengeful, insatiable beast that sweet Luna had become.
________
FULL STATUS
Names : Freya / Lucifer Nightshade
Age : 0 year old / Mentally : 25 years old
Sex : Female
Course: Ice Demon Wolf of Chaos - Adult
Race : Imperial Demon
Titles :
- Demon Goddess of Primordial Blood and Death (former - until all powers are recovered) - 35%.
- Wrathful Lucifer (7th Sin) - Master of the uniques Sins Demons (to unlock it, please gather the other 6 - 3/6 - (locked)
- Dragon tamer
- Ruthless slayer
Level : 47/70
Exp needed for next level: 7 000 / 48 000
HP : 170 000 / 170 000 MP : 85 000 / 85 000. BLOOD : 100 / 100
Strength: 660
Defense : 660
Agility : 666
Endurance: 663
Speed : 662
Intelligence: 660
Charisma: 500 (imperial she-wolf)
Attribute points to allocate : 1 600
Married to : Gaya Nightshade
Daughter : Shiro Nightshade
Twins (son & daughter) : Tyle & Altaïs Nightshade
Little sister : Kira Nightshade (Greedy Fox)
Big sister : Kalaa Nightshade
Empire (menu)
Subordinates: 15 491(keep growing)
Humans killed: 153
Souls: 0/3
Elements: Ice / Chaos (Freya) - Blood / Death (Lucifer)
Skills (all):
Attacks :
- Demon Claws (Lvl 5)
- Bite of hell (Lvl 6)
- Infernal ice spikes (Lvl 6)
- Fighting techniques (Lvl max)
- Mastery of the katana (lvl max)
- Demonic Empress aura (lvl 7)
Défense :
- Ice demon wall (Lvl 6)
- Demonic Cloak (lvl 5)
- Pain Resistance (lvl 6)
Attack/Defense :
- Domain of the Ice Empress "Frozen Wrath" (lvl 4)
- Death Gaze (lvl 1)
Others :
- Humanoid form
- Demonic form (linked to the title so incomplete) - 20%.
- Ice creation (Lvl 6)
- Detection and control of mana (lvl 6)
- Storage of chaos (Lvl 4)
- Devouring Chaos (Lvl 5)
- Master of Souls (lvl 3)
- Lucifer's Threads of Blood (lvl 3)
- Healing Blood (lvl 3)
- Reminiscence (lvl 2)
- Analysis
- Telepathy
Passives :
- Commander (lvl max)
- Natural Aura of the Ice Empress ]
