Eternal Emerald Dragon

Chapter 352 - 351 - Valkyrie

The war waged on the northern border of Sarth but the initial progress of the Demon Empire was thwarted at key points.  The forces that had progressed deeper into the continent found themselves surrounded.

They could not retreat, nor could they advance.  They could only die.

They did not die alone.  Several mid to high level powers went with them.  The stunning number of Sky Realm demons on the Empire side made the supreme powers respond in kind but it was too late to save many.

All in all, 17 smaller sects, 20 large capitals, and innumerable villages or towns had been sacrificed to the war.  While some escaped, it was unknown if they could survive the local aether beasts or other dangers being without support could bring.

A few nobles or Elders survived but their status was washed away as their backing was wiped from the world.

Compared to the last war, there was actually far less death and destruction for the natives of Sarth.  The greatest losses were on the Demon Empire side.  As reports spread it was clear that the new supreme power lived up to its expectations.

The Moebius Sect dispatched elixir masters, Forgers, and all support it could to the central areas affected by the invaders so loss of life and the chaos came to heel far faster.  Its Sect Master's foresight to stymie the southern assaults saved countless lives.

For that alone, many allies of the Sect felt proud to be connected to them but then Lind Frey stepped forward once more.

He supposedly stopped the invasion point for the Divine Sword Sect all on his own.  While some believed that, many others simply thought he used his knowledge to maximum effect to catch the demons off guard.

The only factual battle was farther east that was against something of terrifying legends of several wars ago.  A Voidwalker, a feared demon bloodline, had appeared again but it also had the Akashic Bloodline Physique.

The few powers that had records of fighting each kind of demon could only imagine the terror of a single being with such power.  Yet, the 3 forts of the Heavenly Maidens were saved once more by Lind Frey and his adopted daughter Tal.

The coastline was evidence enough of the kind of battle as it had been wrecked beyond any recognition.  New forts would have to be built but the lives were irreplaceable to the Heavenly Maiden Sect.

The war entered its second month at that point but things had become a bit of a stalemate.  The demons had Sky Realms to spare while the native forces of Sarth had to clean up and secure their own borders.

While some might think the Demon Empire could begin to take advantage of the pause to regroup, spies revealed the Empress was raging in her dark palace.  All knew why.

It was the same reason she held back to attack the Heavenly Maiden Sect last.  The power of the Heavenly Maidens was terrifying but they were not saviors of their competitors.  Cultivation was about strength and benefits.

If the Divine Sword Sect asked for help, they would gladly give it due to their good relations, the same for accepting survivors.  They also, however, knew the pride of the Divine Sword Sect so would not interfere at all even if they were wiped out.

It was something quite a few had trouble grasping but it was reality.

As for the other powers on Sarth, it would be safe to say that while things were cordial, they were not friendly.  The Heavenly Maiden Sect had several times wiped out subordinate powers of the Saint Kingdom and Darkmoor Kingdom for harming a member of their sect.  There was no mercy and no negotiation.

It was part of why they were so feared.

The Stardust Emporium would in fact act if the Heavenly Maidens Sect was attacked as well due to their level of power in the Floating Isles as well.

Now that the sect had been attacked, time was an enemy to the Demon Empire it could not afford but their biggest trump cards had been exhausted.

Kexin sat in the Demon Hall reading the reports with a sad face.  She was not fond of her childhood but it was due to the suffering from her dantian and attempts to cultivate that were the core of it.

Her office had several small things from her father and even her elder brother Yor.  They were artifacts that had teachings from her earliest days and a few precious stones from when she was a child.  After she became a Demon Soul Realm, all of that ended.

"I am back Elder Kexin."  A tired looking young demon entered.  His body lacked horns, wings, and tail he had had not too long ago.  It had been stunning to learn that Kalen could control his physique to the point of being able to revert to a normal looking demon.

Supposedly, it was impossible to suppress the bloodline once it flourished, but Kalen broke many assumptions about the Akashic Bloodline.

"You did well.  The prisoners have been handed off to Darkmoor Kingdom?"  She saw his nod.  Master Frey did not trust the Saint Kingdom to treat prisoners well.  Darkmoor might have severe disagreements but their etiquette for warfare was well known.

So long as there was no trouble, the prisoners would be returned to the Demon Empire after compensation was received.

If no compensation came…there were always the arenas.

"Any word on Master Frey and my sister?"  Kexin shook her head.  It had been several weeks but it was as if Lind Frey had vanished from the world.  She assumed the Heavenly Maidens took him in after the brutal fight.

Tal was missing too so it seemed likely.

"Lady Kexin!"  A young aether child of red and gold came running in.  She had been a new disciple that took an interest in lightning, for obvious reasons, and wondered about demon lightning qualities.

It was something Lind encouraged and Kexin had seen many benefits over her 20 years in Moebius Sect.

"What is it, Firella?"  The Soul Realm girl blushed but bowed to Kalen and her appropriately.

"There is a very pretty lady here to see you!"  Confusion spread on Kexin's face.  She was not expecting anyone.  She was holding down the sect with the other elders left behind to defend the city in case of any attacks.

She left her courtyard and entered the main complex of the Demon Hall.  As its name stated, it was the locus where study on demon elixir masters, Forgers, and cultivation were studied.

Lind had taught many of the disciples that came over the century he was recovering as best he could but it took decades for progress.  In the last 20 years, there had been an explosion of demonic elixirs and Forged weapons, armor, and artifacts.

Kexin smiled as she arrived in one of the meeting rooms.  She noticed it was their best quality one reserved for Sky Realm visitors.  Her smile vanished as she realized someone serious had come to see her.

She made sure to smooth out her robes and that her Moebius strip emblem was proper before opening the door.

"I apologize for the wait, senior."  As expected, a Sky Realm was present but she froze as she felt the power of that Sky Realm.  She had been around tier 1 Sky Realms and was very familiar with their power.

The gorgeous woman in front of her was far above any she had ever met!  The mere glance from her soft pink eyes seemed like it could shatter her easily.

Her hair was resplendent even without sunlight to make it glow, as if crystals were woven in the light brown strands themselves.  She had her hair tied into a single ponytail over her left shoulder.

The white robes she had were also brighter than they should be.  It was clearly a high quality item but Kexin.  Her body was a bundle of energy.  The woman looked very thin but Kexin knew with a flick of her finger, the entire building would be gone.

Kexin tried to stay calm, but her instincts screamed at her to run away.  She closed her obsidian eyes and took a breath to settle herself.  Her black flames flared to burn away her uncertainty and she reopened her eyes to see a sword blade at her nose.

"I had heard rumors but I find it unpleasant to see the reality.  A vile flame of harmony if ever I felt one."  Kexin had burned away her fears but she had been trained by Lind to not be foolish in such a state.

"If you want to blame someone, blame that intensity you used on me when I came in?  What does the Sect Master of the Heavenly Maidens want with me?"  Surprise blossomed on the Maiden's face but the sword vanished.

"It would seem you have a spine at least.  Your ancestors did not."  Confusion now bloomed in Kexin.  While the Heavenly Maiden Sect did end the last war, that was far beyond the longest lived Sky Realm she had ever known.

A small laugh came from the woman.before she turned back to the couch she was sitting on before.

"Despite appearances, I am not human.  It is why I am able to descend despite being at the peak of the Sky Realm.  I can contain the pressure for a time unlike those weak beings."  The disdain for humanity sounded odd coming from a Heavenly Maiden.

"I was not aware of any condition that could allow anyone above Tier 1 of Sky Realm to return for any length of time without risking damage to their dantian and meridians."  It was the problem of density.  The Qi in the lower world was just enough for a Tier 1 to exist but not advance without help.

Anything above that and the cultivator would be struggling to keep the Qi in their bodies from bursting out forcibly.

"The vast majority of demons and other humanoids suffer from such fragility, we do not."  Kexin froze.  An aether beast.  She was an aether beast!

Another short laugh followed but a glaring aura that nearly blinded Kexin.

"You are all too limited.  There are more races than just what this tiny mortal realm can hold."  The woman seemed to have an armor appear around her with wings of the softest white but they only made her look more imposing.  "I am Valkyrie and you will be the last survivor of your family after today."