Beasley, having finished his usual meeting with the princesses for his monthly report, did not head immediately to his residence as he usually did.
This time, however, he changed his route and slipped into a secluded alley.
…
In the dark alley, a group of figures stood gathered in a discreet conversation.
Most wore guard armor; others, however, hid their faces beneath hoods. At the center of the group stood Minister Beasley.
"Have you completed all the preparations I ordered?" he asked in a low but authoritative voice.
"Yes, Beasley-sama," one of the guards replied.
"Good. As agreed, we will leave the back gates open and unguarded so the army can enter the city without obstacles."
"Yes, Beasley-sama," they answered in unison.
Without any of them noticing, a few meters away, a silhouette remained hidden among the shadows, carefully listening to every word.
…
At the rear of the city, a small group of soldiers surrounded a panting young woman, covered in wounds.
Even so, she held her axe firmly, pointing it at them without any intention of backing down.
"Girl, your perseverance is admirable," one of the soldiers commented.
"Lower your weapon and join us," Beasley added with an obscene smile. "Then you can enjoy the pleasure… hahaha."
"Mph… I'm not a child," Luu Luu spat. "Forcing women is the only way you could ever be with one. No one would want you willingly with that pig face of yours."
"You're courting death!" Beasley roared.
Beasley gave a nod to an archer and shouted to two other guards:
"What are you waiting for? Shoot, but don't kill her! We'll enjoy her!"
"Yes, Beasley-sama!" the guards shouted as they attacked.
Although wounded and exhausted, Luu Luu managed to maintain a slight advantage against both of them.
However, she did not notice the archer who, from behind, was already aiming at her.
By the time she realized, it was too late.
Luu Luu closed her eyes, bracing for the impact.
Just before the arrow reached her, a dagger cut through the air and intercepted it.
Luu Luu, with her eyes closed, waited… but felt nothing. She hesitated for a moment, then slowly opened them, realizing she was still safe.
She lifted her gaze, trying to see who had saved her. She could only make out the silhouette of what appeared to be a woman.
But before she could react, two guards lunged at her, attempting to strike her with their swords.
¡BOOM!
Before the blades could reach her, a burst of brute force struck the guards, hurling them into the stone walls with such violence that the walls cracked.
Reik stepped forward and glanced sideways toward the female silhouette in the distance, giving a slight nod.
The figure returned the gesture… and disappeared into the shadows.
Reik turned his gaze toward Luu Luu, recalling that heroine, and then focused his attention on the enemies. He cracked his neck and said:
"Looks like I didn't arrive late."
As he prepared to attack, Beasley had already realized that the situation had irreversibly turned against him. He didn't say a word; he only gave a brief nod.
The guards understood instantly.
They had seen Reik's strength, even if only for a moment… and they knew they were not at his level.
They knew they would be cannon fodder.
But they had no other choice.
They clenched their teeth… and charged.
Reik showed no mercy.
He moved quickly, using only his fists. Each blow was lethal. He advanced without stopping, tearing through them with brutality, seeking to eliminate every obstacle as quickly as possible to reach Beasley.
However…
Although he took down all the enemies with overwhelming efficiency, it was enough time for Beasley to escape.
By the time the last body hit the ground, it was already too late.
Beasley had vanished.
"I'm sorry, we arrived too late," Alicia said, appearing alongside Primm and a squad of knights, the frustration on her face clearly evident.
…
Meanwhile, at the edge of the forest, reality turned into a nightmare. More than six hundred combatants formed a grotesque mass beneath Vault's banner.
It was a nightmarish horde: towering ogres, bloodthirsty goblins, renegade mercenaries, and the dark elves who had betrayed Olga.
Behind that dark tide stood Vault, mounted on a horse as black as night. A twisted, unpleasant smile warped his face. At his side stood his right hand, the mage Kin, silent and attentive.
Vault still boiled with rage for having lost the opportunity to possess the Queen of the Dark Elves. The frustration burned within him… but then he calmed down when Kin warned him of the danger.
According to Kin, that human—Reik—despite not possessing mana, had monstrous physical strength. But that was not all.
Kin had detected a strange energy that occasionally enveloped him to enhance his strength and endurance.
It was not mana.
It was not aura.
And yet… it was enough to show that he had been holding back.
'It was as if he had used them… for training,' Kin had thought at the time.
That idea enraged Vault even more.
Even so, Vault was convinced that next time would be different.
This time he would win.
He counted on creatures whose brute strength far surpassed the previous ones: minotaurs, cyclopes… monsters that had not yet entered the battlefield.
Additionally, he trusted in his own strength: a warrior skilled in the use of aura.
This time he would not make mistakes.
This time he would finish that meddler.
And then… he would reclaim what he considered his.
The elven queen.
And her body.