The Shield's advance came to an abrupt halt as they found themselves confronted by Sir Leviathan and Sir Kraken, two of Vylonia's most formidable Generals. Known as the Wings of the Emperor, these brothers held the esteemed positions of Minister of the Left and Minister of the Right, respectively. Their presence exuded an air of authority and danger.
"What unfortunate timing to face such adversaries," Caius muttered, frustration tinging his voice.
Valerus nodded in agreement. "It seems we cannot proceed without a fight. We must defeat them to break through."
Princess Athena stepped forward, her voice ringing with determination as she addressed the Generals. "Please, do not interfere. I only wish to save my family, and if you oppose me, I will not hesitate to strike you down."
Sir Kraken scoffed at her resolve. "Lady Athena, you may be our strongest General, but do you honestly believe you can take on both of us simultaneously?"
A wave of anger washed over Princess Athena, her body tensing in response. "Do not test me. I warn you, my patience is wearing thin."
Sir Leviathan's words only served to fan the flames of her fury. "Absalom is dead, and your brothers, the Seven Days, care little for your fate. Should we kill you, we would face no repercussions."
Massaging her neck and limbs, Princess Athena emitted a low, ominous hum, her fury growing with every passing moment. The building began to tremble beneath her feet, responding to the weight of her emotions.
Isolde observed the situation with concern. They're making a grave mistake in provoking Athena. They should know better than to incite her wrath.
"Guys," Princess Athena called, her voice resolute, "continue on without me. I will handle these two."
Valerus hesitated, worry creasing his brow. "Athena, facing two Generals alone is far too dangerous even for you. We cannot abandon a comrade in such peril."
Athena's face flushed, her cheeks burning with a mix of emotions. She thought to herself, He's worried about me. Valerus is worried about me. This must be what mother called true love.
Just then, Princess Alexandra questioned, "Huh? Athena, are you alright?"
Athena took a deep breath, a radiant smile spreading across her face, "Yes, I'm fine. Go on ahead. I will take care of these guys,"
"But Athena...." Valerus tried to interject
Princess Athena's heart fluttered at Valerus's concern as she cut him. "Do not forget who you're speaking to," she retorted, her tone firm.
As her aura flared, the entire structure shuddered in response. Valerus, recognizing the determination in her eyes, relented. "Very well, but promise me you'll stay alive. We must return to Thorenzia together."
Princess Athena's face softened, a smile gracing her lips. "Of course."
The Shield pressed on, Princess Alexandra and Isolde combining their water and earth Hera to shatter the barrier Sir Leviathan had erected earlier. As the Generals attempted to intervene, they found themselves paralyzed by the sheer force of Princess Athena's killing intent. They could only watch helplessly as the Shield vanished from sight, their hopes for Thorenzia's freedom burning brighter than ever.
Meanwhile, in another section of the palace, Luisa worked diligently to free the imprisoned Thorenzians. As the din of battle echoed through the halls, the liberated captives voiced their confusion and curiosity.
"What's happening out there? Why is it so loud?" one prisoner inquired.
"The time has come for the Thorenzians to reclaim their freedom, and you must join the fight," Luisa urged, her voice ringing with conviction.
Suddenly, one of the freed Thorenzians brandished a weapon, directing it threateningly at Luisa. "Why are you assisting us? You were once the Queen of Vylonia!"
Luisa attempted to reason with the distrustful Thorenzian. "Isn't it obvious? I'm releasing you because I'm your ally now."
"I'm not convinced," he retorted, suspicion coloring his voice.
Another Thorenzian intervened, urging restraint. "Let it go! She's helping us."
A member of the El Zoranda clan then gripped the blade, defusing the tense situation. "She's one of us now," he declared.
The skeptical Thorenzian pressed for more information. "Who are you?"
"I am Samson El Zoranda. It's a pleasure to meet you," the newcomer introduced himself.
The Thorenzians' eyes widened in awe. "Are you a descendant of the legendary Nathaniel El Zoranda?" one asked, a hint of reverence in their voice.
"Indeed. Luisa sought us out, taught us Hera, and played a crucial role in preparing us for this fight for freedom. She has proven beyond any doubt that she is now one of us," Samson explained.
With this revelation, the Thorenzians embraced Luisa as a fellow ally in their struggle. As they joined the El Zoranda clan in battle, Luisa departed in a different direction.
"Where are you going?" Samson called out with concern.
"I'm going to free the Thorenzians who are about to be used as test subjects," Luisa replied, her voice resolute.
"Be careful," Samson cautioned, acknowledging her determination.
"I will," Luisa assured him before continuing on her path.
With the Shield now departed, the Generals squared off against each other, Sir Leviathan and Sir Kraken joining forces against Princess Athena. The intensity of their combined power was palpable.
"The Uranus clan is incredibly powerful; crossing them is a death sentence," Sir Kraken reflected, his thoughts racing.
"Why are you siding with our enemies, Lady Athena?" Sir Leviathan questioned, his tone a mix of bewilderment and anger.
"I'm simply trying to redeem my family, and I'll eliminate anyone who stands in my way," Princess Athena declared, her voice unwavering.
The battle raged on as Sir Kraken lunged at Princess Athena, his flame Hera erupting with intense fury. Unperturbed, Princess Athena skillfully extinguished the blaze with her water Hera. The Generals' blades clashed, their fierce confrontation a dance of fire and water.
Seizing an opportunity, Sir Leviathan launched an earth Hera attack from Princess Athena's blind spot. With her honed instincts, she dodged the onslaught, leaving Sir Kraken to bear the brunt of the relentless barrage of rocks.
Capitalizing on the chaos, Princess Athena advanced on Sir Leviathan, her sword finding its mark as she inflicted a wound upon him. "I warned you," she mused, her voice steady, "but you chose not to listen."
Just as the tides seemed to turn, the Generals rose to their feet, unharmed and unfazed. "Project Paragon," Princess Athena realized, her eyes narrowing.
"Did you believe you could defeat us without Hera, Lady Athena?" Sir Leviathan questioned, his tone laced with a mix of mockery and curiosity.
"It appears you're aware of Project Paragon – the forbidden experiment that renders us impervious to physical attacks," Sir Kraken explained. "Only refined Hera users can hope to defeat us now."
"So, Sariel has perfected that devilish project," Princess Athena acknowledged, a hint of disdain in her voice.
"Lady Sariel is a genius. She has transformed all Seven Days and us Generals into invincible fighters," Sir Leviathan declared, his pride evident.
The atmosphere shifted as water began to coalesce around Princess Athena. "It seems I have no choice but to eliminate you both," she said, her tone resolute.
Meanwhile, the Shield continued their desperate sprint through the palace halls, their concern for Princess Athena mounting with each passing moment. Isolde's face contorted with worry, prompting Thane to inquire about her well-being.
"I'm worried about Princess Athena," Isolde confided. "Ever since Luisa told us about Project Paragon, I've had an ominous feeling. If those two monsters have been subjected to the experiment, it's only logical to think they might be stronger than Athena right now. The implications could be dire."
"That's a valid point," Princess Alexandra agreed, her own concern evident in her voice.
"We must have faith in Athena," Valerus asserted, his tone unwavering. "She stayed behind, fully aware of the danger. Let's focus on our mission and trust in her strength!"
A moment of silence hung heavy in the air as they continued their relentless pursuit through the seemingly endless halls.
"Besides," Valerus continued, his voice ringing with determination, "we have the Seven Days to contend with. Let us believe in Athena and fulfill our duty!"
"Right!" The Shield responded in unison, their resolve steeled by Valerus's words.
Just as their determination peaked, a glimmer of light beckoned from the end of the hall, illuminating their path. "There's a light ahead!" Elara called out, her voice filled with a renewed sense of hope.
"I was beginning to think this tunnel was endless," Caius admitted, his tone tinged with relief.
As they emerged into the light, they found themselves surrounded by an array of doors, each one holding the potential for unforeseen danger. "Which door should we open?" Princess Alexandra wondered aloud, her voice laced with caution. "Choosing recklessly could prove disastrous."