Eternal Emerald Dragon

Chapter 348 - 347 - Empress' Wrath

The war was only a month old but it had not unfolded as desired.  There had been 3 strategic losses that infuriated the Blood Empire.

The 2 thrusts from the southern tip of Sarth had come to nothing.  The fractious powers under Darkmoor had been nothing but chaos as hoped but it had been quelled by Moebius Sect without Darkmoor needing to ask or assist.

Honestly, Resha had only hoped to tie up Darkmoor to allow the Saint Kingdom force to get momentum before anyone could react.

Frustratingly, a boy they had once tried to snatch up stood in their way.  The Akashic Physique was feared for good reason by all demons.  What was more terrifying were the reports of how in control the boy was.

All historical records were clear that those of the Akashic Physique were insane berserkers that pulled nearby demons into their bloodlust.  Now, one existed that had mastered the physique!

Her spies in the Saint Kingdom had also taken the better part of 2 weeks to get the information to her so there was no chance of saving those forces!  The Nightfalls were dead and the Purgatory Realm warriors were enthralled by the Cygnus brat!

The loss of those 2 gambits was terrible but the horrifying loss at the northern tip of the Divine Sword Sect made Resha rage for days.

Lind Frey!

A single cultivator had dominated her forces by his aura alone!  A mid Diamond Tier of all things!

Nightfalls had fallen before him at his word!  The report had been leaked as well by spies likely from Darkmoor but it would have leaked anyway for those that thought she was too young to be waging the war.

The thing that made her actually calm down was the fact that Moebius Sect's forces were tied up with the mess in the south.  Their powerhouses, even those that had been hidden, were unable to simply leave to come north.

Despite the victory for the Divine Sword Sect, their forces had suffered grave injuries and exhausted themselves.  They also could not abandon their post as a weaker force could still pierce the border if allowed to.

Still, the losses were not small to her empire.  She had awakened many of the Nightfalls suspended but not all of them yet.  She was not insane.

Their active Nightfalls were the ones sent to flatten the Conclave so they were also safe.

"My Empress, the nobles–"  Her slim aide tried to deliver a message but he was decapitated the next moment.  Her female servant began to sweat but did not make a peep as Resha calmed herself.

"I am well aware of what those jackals want."  It was true.  She had spies embedded in each house as they had spies embedded in the royal retinues.  In fact, the servant currently spouting blood like a fountain was one of those spies she knew of.

Her tantrum irritated her but she felt immensely better.

"Sela!  I want Lind Frey's current location."  The man had made his presence known so finding him was now possible.  The slim girl jumped but she quickly straightened her leather armor as she used jade stones to reach out to their contacts.

Time seemed to crawl.

An eternity to Resha was but a few moments when a smile crossed the young girl's face.

"We have him Empress!  He is heading east to the Atreides Port!"  It made sense.  He wanted to fight and the port was a major choke point for ships.  Resha had sent forces by air and artifact long ago but only what she could.

Ships were moving across the seas but the beasts were as dangerous to her as to anyone.  The port was heavily reinforced by the Heavenly Maiden Sect, but she had anticipated that.

Taking the port would be a bonus, but not required for her plans.

"Good, let him waste time there.  Tell Cymera to begin."  The servant paled at the mention of that name.  It was not well known outside the Blood Empire but inside it was a nightmare.  If there was a true demon in the whole of the empire, it was Cymera Bloodsworn.

"Y-yes, my Empress."  The message was relayed out and even the servant could feel the pause from a few of the relay points.  It showed the level of fear that demoness inspired in them all.

The order was leaked to the nobles which were scheming up to that point on bringing Resha down at a key point in the war were silenced.  Not a single one of them had known where that creature was but the fact she listened to Resha terrified each of them.

All of the nobles had a single thought as they imagined that demon being unleashed on their enemies.  They actually felt pity for them.

⬧⬧⬧⬧

The northern coast of the Heavenly Maiden Sect was much like the rest of its territory, well organized.  There were forts setup at fixed intervals to easily signal the next of any invasion force.

Based on the reports from the west, they had been expecting one anytime, but while there were reports of ships making their way across the Blood Way as it was called between Sarth and Rith.

It was a relatively safe course in the water but it was often the place of their graves, hence its name.  People could not be stopped from crossing so it was regulated to prevent criminals and other issues propagating.

This also stopped the slave trade from operating in the north of Sarth.

"Where are they?"  A dark haired girl, Xiu, was pacing in the command room of her fort.  There were only a dozen of them there but now they were all Diamond Tiers compared to the Gold Tiers previously stationed there.

The Gold Tiers had been sent back to support interior issues as beasts did not care humans and demons were at war.

"They are coming, be glad for the respite."  A brawny woman, Min, with a large scar across her neck and cheek was examining a sword.  It was a peak grade 4 weapon from the Floating Isles.

All their weapons had been upgraded as a precaution as fast as possible.

Diamond Tiers combined with such weapons were able to face Sky Realms at tier 1 so the lack of activity gave them some time.

"Our guest elder is a hard worker."  Min smirked as she kept working over her blade.  The news of Lind Frey literally thwarting 3 fronts of the war had done a lot to give hope but it did not stop the reports of death.

The strange lack of demon incursion between the Heavenly Maiden Sect and Divine Sword Sect told them that the Shadow Sect was clear in its neutrality.  If pushed, they would fight, but only if they were pushed.

The notification was not something the Demon Empire cared about as they made the announcement themselves with the destruction of the Conclave.

"I never got to meet him when he was in the sect.  Is it true he is handsome?"  Xiu was not being flighty, she did not even seem really interested in the answer.  She mostly seemed to want a distraction.

"Handsome?  I suppose so, if you like them skinny.  He needed to eat more back then.  Spent too much time in the libraries or in his lab."  Min never looked up from her sword but a warm smile spread on her face involuntarily.

Anyone that had spent time with Lind back then had treated him as a little brother rather than a guest elder.  He was so earnest and hard working.

Xiu was surprised at the answer as she had heard he was well built but still slim.  She was about to ask another question when silence descended on the world.

Both Xiu and Min took stances as their sisters activated formations to defend the fort.  They also were able to see the forts to either side shine with Qi as their defenses came on.

The silences stretched but cultivators were used to waiting.  Diamond Tiers were not unfamiliar with patient foes.  Xiu tried to use her Art called Voices of Wind to see if she could detect anything but the Art failed.

Her confused look was followed by a feeling of horror as the sun vanished!

A black void replaced it as she suddenly realized what she was looking at.  It was a very rare event in the mortal realms as only a certain combination of elements could do it.  They were demonic and required massive Qi to pull off!

"It is a Voidwalker!"  Min's voice snapped Xiu out of her fear but it was too late to act.  A voluptuous figure was looking down at them with cold gray eyes.  Her armor was chain mail and black leather but it allowed excellent ease of movement.

"Weak."  The word reached all 3 forts as the black hole in the sky fell and they truly saw its size.  Xiu lost all hope as they had no way to escape.  A Voidwalker demon was rare as it required the duality of dark light and shadow to work together perfectly.

Further, the aura was clear, it was a Nightfall Demon!  Space was her plaything so even escape talismans would not work!

The shore began to be ripped apart and pulled into the tear into the void.  Only oblivion awaited them all and there was no escape.

"We die together, sister."  Xiu heard Min and could only nod as an arm was put around her.  Tears fell as she wished she could do something in her last moments.

"ROOOOOOAAAAAARRRRRR!!!!"  Emerald flames exploded in front of the forts followed by demonic Qi of dark light and shadow!  The tear slowed but its pull was still strong!  It was pulling in the very ground around them as the formations began to flicker.

"You came."  Somehow the demonic voice carried in the air to them all but Xiu could only stare at the small form in front of the tear.  It was a man with emerald light blazing around him as all 6 demonic Qi flared visibly in the air.

It was only Gold Tier in strength but it seemed to be working.  The tear began to shrink slowly yet Xiu expected the demoness to attack at any moment.  Strangely, nothing happened as the tear finally sealed.

The shoreline had completely been changed as the water roared back to slam into the new cliffs.  The forts' formations collapsed as the terrain had been destroyed in front of them.

A heaving body floated on a disc in midair while staring up at the flying Nightfall Demon.

"Good, very good.  I could not interfere so long as the tear was active, but you have freed me.  I prefer what is to come."  The armor began to bulge in odd places but all felt terror as wings, tail, and horns sprouted from the demoness.  "I cannot hold back any longer."

Her voice was distorted as light seemed to dim around her.

"Akashic Physique.  The Demon Empire was holding out on me."  A male voice carried on the air but it was shortly drowned out by a horrifying scream from the demoness.  The waters boiled below her as crazed demon berserkers appeared.

"It would seem we get to live a little longer sister, do not waste it."  Min's words made Xiu take a deep breath.  Alive, she was alive!  She had never felt so alive than at that moment!  She wiped her tears away as she conjured her Arts.

"Prepare for battle!"  Her words carried to all her sisters in the fort and she could only pray the other 2 were the same.  The foaming demons seemed to fly across the land as their twisted leader dove from the sky at the man that saved all their lives.

"He is damned handsome to me, by the way."  Xiu spoke words that seemed to surprise Min before she started laughing loudly.  They both hopped out to the outer walls to await their 'guests.'