Chapter 824

News spread across the world that a new kingdom had risen in the eastern part of the Empire. The leader, a saintess of Astraea, had proven herself to be the strongest warrior of the current era through the bloody battle at the Sky Mountain Range.

“Did she really sweep away those pointy-eared freaks and winged lizards like chunks of meat? What a splendid butcher! Though I don’t like the fact that she’s descended from twelve butchers!”

Even in the Republic of the Dwarves, which was focusing all its strength on exterminating the rodent monster army invading their underground after the truce with Alvheim.

“The name Ha-shal-leur… I’ve heard it before. Wasn’t she the human who annihilated the subordinates we sent and even defeated the revived Insect-Dragon?”

“Yes, Heavenly Demon. She’s the very woman who killed Beherikes and executed Macaoros.”

“Imprudence has always been their fatal flaw. No matter how much I warned them, they never listened, and now they’ve paid the price with their lives.”

Even in the Heavenly Demon Palace of Persciella, who was gradually subduing the Evil Faction of the Dragon Kingdom and expanding her influence.

“The Winter Wolf, the assassin of King Ryu-rik, has broken away from the Empire? That’s… quite interesting news. I’d like to hear the details.”

Even to Oleg, who had risen to the throne of Baraykruz after defeating and devouring countless competitors, surpassing the realm of a Paladin.

“To think she’s crouching at the eastern edge… I can’t even send an assassin now.”

“But we can’t just leave her be. If she gains power comparable to a monster like Carolus or our ancestors…”

“It’s impossible until the Blessing of the World Tree grows stronger.”

Even in Alvheim, which had lost seven Guardians overnight and was silently recovering its lost strength.

And,

“The monster who defeated Kagan Or-han, ‘Abha Gisaka,’ has coiled around the barrier…?”

The Kagan of Ka`har, who had briefly unified the Great Plains. Even in the eastern grasslands, which had begun to split again after the death of Ai-shan Gi-or Or-han.

“They say she’s established a nation and calls herself Khan. The sorcerers there… I mean, the shamans, have made her their priestess? There are even rumors she’s slain a dragon.”

In the past, during the lifetimes of Ludwig and Or-han, information from the west rarely reached the east…

But after both of them died on the same day, the situation became so chaotic that information control became difficult, and now even the Ka`har could easily obtain information from the Empire.

Thus, the news that Ha-shal-leur, who had taken Landenburg, had established a kingdom called Hestela and ascended as queen spread like wildfire across the Great Plains.

“…Shouldn’t we prepare? If she crosses the barrier and attacks, can Targien or Sahallyeon stop her…?”

And naturally, this was a huge threat to the Ka`har of the Great Plains.

Ai-shan Gi-or Ha-shal-leur.

A transcendent warrior who brought death to the invincible Or-han, a grand sorceress who flies through the sky, breathes fire, and crushes castles.

After the crushing defeat in the Great War, the Grassland People began to call her the incarnation of Reversed Heaven, Abha Gisaka, from ancient legends.

Abha Gisaka.

The Death of the Sky.

Heavenly Demon.

With such a being establishing a new kingdom right next to them, the Ka`har couldn’t help but feel anxious, wondering if her intention was to burn the entire Great Plains to ashes.

Especially for Or-han’s bloodline, who had a direct grudge against her, the kingdom of Hestela was seen as a forward base to exact revenge for Ai-mel-ra.

While Ludwig had merely kept the Ka`har in check and defended against the Empire, now that Ha-shal-leur had become the master of the barrier, such a lukewarm standoff couldn’t last long.

Ha-shal-leur would come.

That was the shared understanding of Targien, Sahallyeon, their allies, and all their subordinates—an unavoidable death sentence.

‘We must kill her. Peirus is all talk, with no intention of helping me or stopping her. Trusting and relying on him will only make me a sacrificial offering in his plans.’

The Third Apostle, ■■■■, reaffirmed her resolve to kill Ha-shal-leur before she could be killed herself.

There was no hesitation. After failing to manipulate the Eighth Apostle, Ragnar, into killing Ha-shal-leur, her trust with Peirus had long been severed.

From the Third Apostle’s perspective, Peirus had never intended to harm Ha-shal-leur in the first place.

Even though she was well aware of the enmity between the Third Apostle and Ha-shal-leur, the Third Apostle felt no guilt in opposing Peirus’s stance.

By allowing Ha-shal-leur to grow unchecked, Peirus had already betrayed the Third Apostle in her eyes.

‘Direct confrontation is certain defeat. Then we must set a trap and lure her in…’

The Third Apostle began preparing a trap to capture or kill Ha-shal-leur, recalling every sorcery and magical formula she knew.

And then.

—

“Haah… haah…”

In the wilderness of the Great Plains, which had lost its ruler, a single cavalryman with a desperate expression galloped across the land scorched by the flames of the last war.

A lightly armored cavalryman draped in fur leather over his clothes. His twin black ponytails fluttered like eels swimming against a river.

He looked no older than sixteen. His sharp, nervous face was twisted with tension and hostility.

“She’s nearby! Chase her!”

“Our lord ordered us not to kill her! You understand what that means, right?”

“As long as we catch her, it doesn’t matter what we do!”

Fierce and frivolous voices echoed from all directions. The sound of hooves, like beating leather drums, grew closer. The pursuers were approaching.

“Filthy scum…!”

The voices of the warriors grew nearer. The stench of their vile and obscene desires made the girl grimace and mutter a low curse.

Just a few days ago, anyone who dared speak such words to her would have had their tongue ripped out and limbs torn off, left to rot in the fields. Yet now, these scoundrels pounced like a pack of hyenas at the first opportunity.

Though she understood that killing, plundering, and violating were the essence of a warrior, being on the receiving end made her realize there was nothing more disgusting and repulsive.

“Found her! She didn’t get far!”

“Prepare the noose! First, get her off the horse!”

“Haha, who would’ve thought we’d get a taste of Meiharin’s daughter. We should thank Kagan Targien!”

The warriors’ mockery revealed her identity.

Meiharin’s daughter, Ai-shan Gi-or Ima-ra.

Originally, she should have been holed up in Ordos with Meiharin, Sahallyeon, and the Blue Army. Not galloping across the plains like prey being hunted.

Of course, this was entirely her own doing.

“Once we hang her from the saddle and show her to that viper—”

“Listen, listen, there’s nothing you can’t say!”

Ima-ra, furious with desperation and humiliation, twisted her body to glare at the warriors behind her. She pulled the bowstring of the composite bow in her left hand to its limit.

Her slender arms, straining against the immense tension, trembled as veins bulged.

– Twang!

The arrow shot forth.

With a sharp whistling sound, the metal shard streaked like lightning and embedded itself in the chest of the warrior who had been spewing obscenities.

“Ugh!”

The arrow pierced the warrior’s scale armor like glass, puncturing his lungs. The warrior, who had relied solely on his armor and made no attempt to defend, let out a choked groan and fell from his horse, writhing on the ground.

“What the hell is that bow!”

The pursuers, startled by the unexpectedly devastating power, hastily raised their shields and spears, lowering their stances.

“A bow strong enough to pierce armor so easily? Where did a girl who’s not even a warrior get something like that…!”

This was no ordinary composite bow.

Two years ago, it was a bow that rivaled the arrows of Ai-shan Gi-or Ha-shal-leur, a great warrior renowned as the Black Wolf, who had slaughtered countless Westerners.

Such a weapon was not something a girl, known to be far from martial arts, should possess.

Unless it was a gift from a warrior worthy of wielding it.

– Twang!

Another whistling sound. The arrow shattered the warrior’s shield, and another arrow pierced the horse’s forehead, sending the rider crashing to the ground.

“Ugh…!”

“Don’t let your guard down! She’s no ordinary archer!”

“Was the rumor that she’s just a sheltered noble girl a lie…?”

Unlike Ha-shal-leur, who had rampaged as a warrior since childhood, Ai-shan Gi-or Ima-ra was known to have lived quietly as a high-born lady.

Yet, the archery skills the warriors now faced were as swift and precise as those of a seasoned hunter. In the blink of an eye, three warriors had fallen, despite thinking they had her cornered.

“You underestimated me. Did the name Ai-shan Gi-or seem so laughable to you?”

Seeing the warriors’ flustered expressions, Ima-ra felt a slight relief. With a sneer, she pulled the bowstring with all her might.

The bow creaked, bending under the strain. The powerful bow, a gift from her half-sister long ago, unleashed another flash of light.