?


    The scenery was not barbaric or anything, as all the things happened in a matter of seconds.


    Blood sshed in a perfect way.


    As of that moment, there was no Brock, not even his clothes, nor his weapon. Nothing remained except a pool of red liquid that dripped off the woman''s hands.


    Everyone present was shocked to silence, including King Sterlin, who had witnessed everything from beginning to end without saying a single word.


    There was horror-stricken on his face as he watched thedy whip her hand in a smooth motion, expelling all the blood on her hand to the ground.


    She slowly stepped forward, the only sound ringing through the entire hall was the rhythmic tapping of her steps.


    Aria watched the scene in horror and craned her toward the King. His horror-struck expression was a delight to watch.


    Her lips curved upward, a simple and pathetic smile. "See that, that was I talking about," sheughed throatily.


    The King turned towards her; him snapping back to reality.


    "What are you waiting for? Kill her! Kill her, damn it!" He stood from the throne and grabbed Aria by her neck, "You''reing with me," he said, dragging her behind him.


    The soldiers who had snapped back due to the yelling of the King suddenly lunged at the Lady.


    Soldiers powered up their mana and coated it on themselves, empowering them. Magicians chanted their spells and created barriers.


    Some summoned monsters to aid them inbat while others used their abilities and weapons.


    All of this happening within mere moments.


    Sterlin smiled as he watched his whole army getting ready to annihte the woman. He was sure nothing would get through them.


    Boy, was he wrong?


    Firstly, the spells reached her first before the foot soldiers can run to her but with just a flick of her hand, shepletely and totally nullified those magical attacks.


    Then the beasts came at her, but she effortlessly dodged their attacks and took them out with just a few precise strikes.


    Then the soldiers reached her, and with their coordinated and disciplined movements they tried to take her down but she easily avoided all their attacks, using her bare hands.


    She snatched a sword from a soldier and plunged it into the other one''s heart. Then with quick precision and effortless movements, she danced around the masses.


    One by one, she dispatched her opponents with ease. But still, they kepting and she danced around.


    There wasn''t a single soldier standing anymore. Everyone had fallen dead.


    Atst, it was just her, standing in a pile of dead bodies and a river of red.


    King Sterlin had already escaped the throne room.


    Without any hurry, she walked through the doors to the outside.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    ...


    King Sterlin had run to the outside, specifically to the barracks.


    "Get out! Get out of here, you offuses! There is a crazy bitch trying to kill me, your King, go on and kill her. All of you!"


    Without wasting any time, they ran outside with their weapons.


    "Where is themander when I needed him? Call him and tell him to send everything and anything here. Fucking bitch."


    At the same time, something rose through the sky and exploded, brilliant colors of red and ck painted the skies above the city.


    As soon as the explosion faded awayrge war cries were heard from the east of the kingdom, from the sea.


    Large battleships sailed through the violent sea, painting a perfect picture.


    The rm zed throughout the kingdom as people rushed toward the capital.


    ***


    "This was your whole idea from the start? To capture the ind?" Duke Zadkiel asked as he, along with the other Dukes and the King and his officials, stood at a ship on the far back of the sea.


    There was only a short notice from the King to send an army from each Duchy as there might be an immediate war at hand. None of the Dukes thought they would be the ones to strike first.


    "This was just a backup n in case the negotiation failed," said the King, outlooking the ships, his ships cruising through the sea. He had his hands tied behind his back, his eyes focusing on the fleets.


    "Hell yeah!" Said Duke Moonstone. He was finally having something to look forward to. It has been so long since there was a war in the Kingdom, and now, without notice, they were attacking the Aurore ind. "Anyone would shudder in fear when they even think about harming our Kingdom."


    Duke Silverthorne looked at his fellow Dukes with excitement. "Of course, as they should be!"


    "What made you think the other kingdoms would not interfere with this? After all, Aurore Ind is not just any other ind, it is powerful and rich. They wouldn''t want to lose it either." Asked Duke Zadkiel, his voicecing with concern and logic.


    "That''s an excellent question, Duke," the King said. "But we''re prepared for that too. It''smon sense that they wille after us. Some will try to join with the Inders, but it doesn''t matter. We''re not here to capture the Ind, but if he can capture the Ind, that''s a bonus too. Don''t worry about too many things, Zadkiel, let your King handle it."


    He was confident, he was the same old one. Duke Zadkiel looked at his old friend with concern and relief.


    Concern about the things he was currently doing, this was so not like him. He didn''t like war at all. War meant death and destruction.


    Relief over the fact that he''s confident and himself. It meant nothing to worry about anything at all as all things should be under control.


    "We can freely run around the ind like a kid ying on the beach," said the King. "Until the Autumn Kingdom releases "him" to the battleground. So we''re going to speed up the process as much as we can."


    "Who?" Duke Goldberry asked.


    But before the King can reply, Duke Zadkiel asked.


    "Are you responsible for the assassination of Queen Serielle?"