Chapter 1244: Snowflake Kidnapped too?
Just before Lia could get kidnapped, meanwhile, in the Zephyra Empire,
"Everyone, kill them!!" Kaelen shouted furiously, his voice cracking through the battlefield. His eyes burned with rage as he looked at the black-armoured metallic figures that stormed into their territory, their weapons glowing with orange light as they tried to capture his people.
Kaelen’s body twisted, bones cracking and reshaping, fur bursting from his skin as he shifted into his wolf form.
With a thunderous growl, he leapt forward, his fangs tearing through steel as if it were paper. He bit into every metallic-armoured figure within reach.
Their guns fired in panic, but Kaelen was faster—his body blurred, weaving through the air, striking down one enemy after another like a tiger pouncing relentlessly on helpless prey.
Meanwhile, Liora darted across the battlefield, her movements faster than the eye could follow.
Her claws gleamed like crescent blades, slashing through the metallic figures as though they were fragile clay dolls.
Perched atop her shoulders was Maelona, her face turned pale and her wide eyes filled with confusion.
What the hell was going on here?
Just then, an orange spear shot straight toward Maelona. For a split second, the world slowed.
But before it could strike, an arrow cut through the air.
Aria’s arrow... It pierced the spear mid-flight, shattering it into glowing fragments that rained harmlessly to the ground.
"Careful, Mom" Aria whispered, standing tall atop the tallest tree.
Her bow shimmered, her hands steady as she unleashed another arrow.
Each shot flew with perfect precision, embedding itself into the metallic figures’ foreheads—one after another.
Headshot... Headshot!
"Why are they capturing us? Who are these people?" Maelona’s voice trembled.
Meanwhile, a little far away in the academy, still under rebuilding, Delphine and Dora stood shoulder to shoulder.
The ground trembled under the clash of steel and roars of beasts.
"Principal?" Delphine called out softly.
But Dora’s sharp eyes locked on the metallic figures dragging innocent people away in a net.
"You can help them," Dora muttered finally.
Delphine clenched her jaw and nodded firmly. Without hesitation, she leapt into the fray. Other professors joined her, casting spells, summoning shields of fire and light to defend the city.
Dora remained frozen. Her fingers trembled violently, her fists clenched against her clothes.
’So... It’s finally begun?’ she thought.
She turned away, closing her eyes.
A little farther away, Finnian too was fighting with everything he had. His body darted between enemies, his hands striking with sharp precision, disabling them without killing.
He pulled children from danger, shielded elders with his body, and guided the wounded to safety. His lips were pressed into a tight line, "Stay strong... I’ll protect you all," he whispered under his breath.
... Naiadae Empire,
"So many unknown things... popping out of nowhere," Celestia muttered.
She moved like a shadow, her figure swallowed by darkness one moment, only to reappear in another... striking, vanishing, striking again.
Meanwhile, blades of a tsunami rose like towering walls of water, flowing down the streets with unstoppable force. The surging tide slammed into the metallic figures, piercing through them with blades of liquid steel. The civilians cried out in awe as the very water blades protected them.
Aqualina stood amidst the storm, her eyes glowing faintly as the waves obeyed her command. A slight smirk tugged at her lips as she whispered coldly, "This is not the water you should touch."
In a swift motion, her water-forged blade sliced through the neck of a metallic figure. She turned, her gaze softening only when it fell upon her people. "Go! Move out quickly"
High above, Sandra floated in the sky, her clothes dancing in the winds as her eyes scanned the countless portals ripping open in the Empire.
’The Beginning....’ she thought.
She raised her hand, and with a single command, hundreds of her soldiers surged forward.
Aqualina’s smirk faded. Her brows furrowed as she raised her hand, catching a glowing orange net that had been hurled toward her. The net vibrated with strange power, humming like fire itself before disintegrating into sparks in her palm.
She narrowed her eyes and looked at Celestia.
"This feels weird," she said, her voice tight, troubled.
Celestia stopped mid-swing, frowning deeply, her gaze locking with Aqualina’s. "What do you mean?" she asked.
Aqualina pointed out one of the soldiers caught in the glowing net.
The man writhed helplessly, his body jerking like a butterfly trapped in a web, wings unable to spread.
His eyes widened in panic as he clawed at the fiery strands, but the more he struggled, the tighter the net constricted.
Celestia’s brows knit together. She stepped closer, sensing the strange distortion in the air. The same soldier tried to raise his weapon, lips parting to form a spell—but nothing came.
"It... blocks our connection?" she whispered, her voice sharp with disbelief.
Aqualina nodded. Without another word, she thrust her sword forward. The blade shimmered, then shot through the net, slicing the glowing threads apart in a burst of sparks, freeing the soldier inside.
Meanwhile, in the Frostblade territory,
Kai and Leon fought back-to-back, their bodies battered yet unyielding as they defended the frightened citizens.
"Leon! On your back!" Kai shouted, his voice ragged.
Leon crouched down instinctively. Kai leapt over him, his blade carving through the figure that had nearly captured Leon.
Leon gritted his teeth, "Not this time!" he growled, his throat glowing red.
He inhaled deeply and roared, flames erupting from his mouth in a torrent that melted the approaching figures into molten heaps.
... Pyra Empire,
"Suck it up, bitches!!" Thalia roared, her voice echoing like thunder as flames surged around her. She scorched metallic figures and melted them like ice cream.
Behind her, dragons roared in unison, unleashing their wrath upon the invaders. Wings spread wide, scales blazing, they tore through the sky like living storms.
Raven stood still, her face blank, her heterochromatic eyes fixed on the chaos. Beside her, Selene tilted her head, her lips curving into a faint hum of curiosity.
"Should I call Aether?" Selene asked.
Raven shook her head firmly. "I can handle this myself," she replied coldly. She turned, her gaze briefly meeting her mother’s.
Emberlyn’s eyes softened for only a second before hardening again, and she raised a great trumpet to her lips. A deep, resonating blast tore through the air, and at once, every dragon in the empire responded.
Wings flared, fire breath filled the skies, and the empire itself seemed to awaken as their kin surged into battle.
The generals stormed the battlefield.
Above them, the Supreme General hovered in the sky, his massive wings blocking out the sky. His sharp gaze surveyed the land. Behind him floated his daughter, Lyirrs, her eyes darting between her father and the battlefield, ready to strike at any threat that dared approach him.
"Do you know where these people came from?" Emberlyn asked suddenly, her brow furrowed.
Raven’s face remained calm, "This is the first time..." she murmured.
"Is it... another Trial?" Selene frowned.
Raven shook her head again. "No. We haven’t received any notification so far."
"Then what is it?" Emberlyn pressed.
For that, silence answered.
... Aurora Empire,
"Sigh, that annoying good bitch... who does she think she is?" Snowflake muttered bitterly, her voice dripping with scorn as she slithered deeper into the dark forest. Her belly was round and satisfied, her lips slick from her most recent feast.
Helena, the so-called "good bitch," always nagging about manners, always forcing discipline. Snowflake’s face twisted in annoyance. "Good manners and all that crap... as if I’d ever need it," she hissed.
She licked her lips slowly, savouring the lingering taste of her meal. Her pupils narrowed, "And damn you, Master! How dare you leave me with this good bitch!" she snapped, her voice echoing into the empty woods.
Aether had left her here—left her on purpose!
No way in hell was she ever going to change into some "good little bitch" like Helena.
No. Way!
She hissed loudly, "NOPE!"
Snowflake let out a frustrated gasp, her body trembling with anger and exhaustion. Finally, she slumped onto the cold ground, deciding to take a nap.
But just as her eyelids fell, a chill swept the forest. A shadow crept behind her, moving silently and slowly.
Meanwhile, in the core of the Empire,
"Helena! Hold the barrier!" Sera shouted as she unleashed white flames at the advancing metallic figure.
The searing blaze engulfed the creature, but instead of melting its armour, the fire seemed to sear the flesh hidden beneath. The figure convulsed, trembling violently as if its nerves were burning from within.
It flinched, staggered, and finally collapsed like a puppet whose strings had been cut.
"I am trying!" Helena shouted, her face strained with effort.
Her barrier shimmered like a dome of light, holding back waves of enemies. Inside, she was shielding civilians, wrapping them in safety, but then...
Suddenly flickered open inside her own barrier. That shouldn’t have been possible. Soldiers and priests rushed forward, blades flashing, chants rising as they fought desperately against the intruders who slipped past her protection.
"Tsk," Sera clicked her tongue in frustration, landing lightly inside the barrier.
Her white flames ignited once more, burning through figures that had forced their way in.
She narrowed her eyes. "Something is bypassing our powers," she muttered, sending another burst of flames into the enemy ranks.
Helena’s expression darkened, "Yes. I couldn’t sense anything at all... they just appeared inside the barrier. That’s impossible without my permission." Her voice trembled slightly, though she fought to keep it steady.
For her barrier was absolute... unbreakable, impenetrable. None could step inside unless she allowed it. None... except...
"Unless Mother wills it," Sera said grimly.
Helena’s heart froze as she gasped, "Why would she... why would she do that?"
Sera shook her head, "I don’t know. But right now, we protect the people."
Sera’s flames roared, cutting down figures that dared to get close. Yet despite their efforts, some civilians were captured!
Sera lunged at one of the metallic figures, her hand glowing white-hot as she seized it by the neck. With a snarl, she shouted, "Who are you!?" Her grip tightened.
The figure writhed violently, almost breaking apart, when suddenly its body dissolved into golden particles.
Sera’s eyes widened... She tightened her fist, but the fragments slipped away like sand. One by one, invaders shimmered and vanished as well.
Sera looked at the golden particles in her hand as she muttered, "Arcane?"
Helena raised her eyebrows in disbelief.
"Inform Aether," Sera ordered firmly.
Helena nodded quickly. Her voice whispered across the bond.
/Aether, we encounter—/
Before she could finish,
/A weird metallic figure appeared and captured your people, right?/
Helena’s eyes widened, her lips parting in surprise. /Yes. How do you know that?/
Aether’s reply was grim,
/It’s not just your Empire. Every Empire was attacked by them./
The world tilted. Helena staggered back, her hand trembling as she looked at Sera. Her voice cracked. "Every Empire..."
Sera frowned as she nodded and looked around with a stern expression.
"Wait!" she gasped suddenly. Her head snapped around. "Where is Snowflake?"
"Don’t tell me..." Helena’s voice faltered as her heart skipped a beat.