Chapter 132: The battle for Monas Kye (Part 1)
The pink haired girl laid motionlessly on the bed for days, her thoughts cloaked in a dense fog, struggling to grasp the events swirling around her. Amidst the haze, she caught fragments of Maia and Kibadios' voices, their concern palpable yet indecipherable to her clouded mind. Though she longed to ease their worries, she lacked the strength to rouse from her delirium. Of the few moments when she could open her eyes, all she could see was her Master sitting by her side, days and nights. As she drifted in slumber, memories surged forth, a torrent sweeping her weary consciousness back to the haziness of her earliest recollections. Among them, a fleeting image emerged: her infant, tiny hand reaching out to a young elven boy, igniting his excitement. Whether such memories were real or mere illusions made up by her mind, she did not know. Yet, she recognized the boy's innocent face, for it is that of her beloved betrothed.
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「Zuoen, wait for me!!」Her brother excitedly called out as Zuoen and she laughed, enjoying the northern winds blowing over their heads. Despite barely even reaching 10 years old, the boy had already been able to summon a giant paper crane created from his Runecraft spell. The boy even taught Yue and Ren to perform the spell on their own. If Yue recalled correctly, these memories were that of their first flight, when she and Zuoen were carried off into the sky by the paper crane he called forth while Ren, too, summoned his own to chase after them.
「Let's race, Ren!! Yue and me against you. First to reach the peak of Mount Tai wins!」Zuoen shouted.
「You're crazy, Zuoen! That's too far away! Besides, Mount Tai is sacred! Only my father is allowed to climb it during the Feng and Shang sacrifice!」
「Who's going to tell His Majesty? What? You're scared?」teased Zuoen.
「What? As if!!」Ren angrily retorted.「See you two there!!」
「We're really going to race against Ren nii sama, Zuoen nii?」Yue asked.
「Nah. I just want him to leave us alone for a bit. I guess my strategy works. Look at him flying off into the distance like that.」The boy grinned. 「I'd rather spend my time enjoying the calm scenery below with you, Yue chan.」
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「Zuoen of the Ying Clan, I hereby grant you the title of General.」The king, adorned in the royal crimson clothes, bestowed onto the kneeling young elven man with a golden quill.
「I, Zuoen, humbly accept this honor. With the First's Spirit as my witness, I pledge to fulfill my duties as one of Yue's Generals with utmost honor, safeguarding this land and its people until my final breath. Should I ever betray this oath, may the First's Spirit strike me down.」
「I expected great accomplishment from you, the youngest ever General in the long history of the Kingdom.」The king slightly bent down and discreetly whispered into the young elven man's ear.「And my future son-in-law. I entrust Yue in your hand.」
「Of course, Your Majesty.」smiled Zuoen. The man quickly glanced at the high balcony, where Yue was looking down at him, her eyes full of excitement and pride.
「Look at that, the youngest ever General.」Ren leaned toward Yue.「That gotta attract even more attention from beautiful court ladies than what he has already been receiving. You gotta watch your man more closely now.」
「He's not like that, Ren nii!」Yue pouted.
「Well, it's not strange for a General to take in multiple partners.」Ren shrugged.
「I believe in Zuoen nii! Besides…」Yue hesitated for a moment.「Even if he were to fancy someone else… as long as his heart still has place for me, it'd be fine.」
「You're fine being part of a harem? Though, I guess it's better than being married off to some kings from other states.」Ren noted.「Leave it to your nii sama! I will accompany him days and nights to make sure no other girls get close to him.」
「You should really spend your time doing more productive things, Nii sama.」Yue chuckled.
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「Zuoen, you really have to go?」The princess softly asked.
「Yeah… I can't help it. All the intel we've been receiving are pointing to the imminent invasion by the Kingdom of Yin. After all, among the northern states, we're the last kingdom still standing. It's only a matter of time until they turn their gaze upon our land. We have to reinforce the Hangu Fortress, preventing them from entering the heartland of our Kingdom.」Zuoen patted Yue's soft hair. 「Wait for me, Yue chan. I've asked His Majesty and received his permission. Once I return from the frontline, I will finally take you as my bride.」The man leaned in, kissing the girl on her blushing cheek.
「Please be safe, Zuoen」Not satisfied with a mere peck on the cheek, the girl boldly pulled her dearest fiance close for a passionate kiss, surprising the veteran General.
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「Ren, take Yue and get away from here!!」The young elven man commanded.
「There's no way I will leave you behind, Nii sama!!」Ren screamed back, though his voice was drowned by the symphony of explosion, shouting, and crying sounds as their usually serene capital completely engulfed in flame while Yinese soldiers poured into the city, massacring indiscriminately everyone on their path.「You're our crown prince! You're the one who should take Yue with you and escape this place! I'll act as your vanguard.」
「Exactly because I'm the crown prince, that's why I should stay here and protect this land until the end. If this kingdom is extinguished, then I shall perish along with it. Remember, Ren, our Royal Family made two distinct oaths. One where we promise to protect the livelihood of our citizens while the other is to continue to fulfill the promise that the First had made. You have to escape this place and keep the royal line alive to not let the First's Oath go unfulfilled. Please listen to me and take Yue with you.」The elven man smiled. He turned to look at his sister. Despite having lost her sight after crying for days and nights the moment she learned of Zuoen's supposed demise, the girl was now standing out on the very same royal balcony where she once stood to celebrate her fiance's ascension to the rank of General. Such joyous moments were now nothing but fading memories in her mind as she stood still, her face could feel the intense heat coming from dozens of raging fires that were spreading around the capital.「Besides, it has to be you, Ren. After what happened to Zuoen, Yue cannot afford to lose you. Please, take care of our dear sister.」
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Fragments of memories, of peaceful past and heart-wrenching moments, continued to flash in her mind. Her cherished memories of Zuoen, weaved in together with the time she spent serving Kibadios, played out in front of her eyes… If what Wei Shimin said was true… then she has to make a decision… If what Wei Shimin said was true… then… Suddenly, a glimpse of her forgotten memories surfaced: The moment when she felt her eldest brother clashed against a familiar aura of a Runecraft user. The very same moment when she sensed the aura of her brother dissipated into thin air. For years, she had believed the Runecraft user she had sensed that fought her brother would have been that of her pupil, the future second emperor of the Yin Empire, given how familiar the aura felt to her… but… what if, such familiarity was because that person was the one who taught her? What if… that person was…
「Zuoen!」cried out Yue as she finally woke up from her long slumber. The princess now found herself to be completely naked and with her Master staying by her side. Yet, unlike most previous times when she found herself unclothed, she could not sense even a hint of heat coming from Kibadios. Whether he was trying to actively suppress it, she did not know. All she knew was that the hybrid had been wiping her sweat soaked tender body with a warm cloth. She could feel his cool, wet hand move the towel down from her slender neck down to her bare breasts then to the rest of her warm body.
「... Master…」Yue's weak hand reached out to her Master's.
「Yue chan!」Maia called out.
「Yue? You're awake?」The hybrid could barely hide his excitement and relief.
「Yes…」Yue whispered.「Sorry for making you looking after me, Kibadios sama.」
「Don't worry about it. After all, I did promise Ren to keep you safe. He would literally kill me if something were to happen to you.」Laughed Kibadios.「How are you feeling now?」
「... I feel… I feel as if I have finally… made up my mind.」A single droplet of tears rolled down her cheek.
「Huh?」The hybrid and Maia were both confused.
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「Everyone's ready, my lord.」An ogre reported back to Kailos, who had donned his Clan armor dyed in a blood crimson color. The armor was crafted with a clear influence from the Sengoku Jidai, with a mask molded from a typical ogre protruding out from one of his shoulder pads.
「Good. How are Ectharen and our King, Wylan?」
「Their divisions are also ready.」
「Good… Let's set out, shall we? Give them no quarter! Fight as if your lives and the lives of your loved ones depend on it!!」ordered Kailos as an army of the last free people of the Grassland departed their final stronghold at predawn, for they knew the final battle that would dictate their fate would come the moment the sun rose.
「TO BATTLEE!!!!」screamed the assembled men.
For days now, they have been getting reports back from Kibadios and as they have guessed, the truce that Wei Shimin signed with his blood was nothing but a ruse. According to the hybrid, if the floating island was to remain on its course, it would soon reach Alsen and fulfill Wei Shimin's promise of not attacking the city until Yue "was returned" safely. The moment he reached Alsen, it was to be expected that the Yinese army that camped out a few leagues beyond the city wall would simultaneously launch their attack. That was why instead of waiting around for the inevitable battle, the three Clan Heads had decided to launch a surprise attack on their enemy encampment early on the fateful day, depriving their enemies of any advantages. For the past few days, the men had been trained days and nights inside the dungeon while the refugees recuperated. The plan Wei Shimin had for Alsen had now certainly backfired, with many of the refugees now joining in the fight for their freedom, allowing the troop numbers fighting under the banner of Alsen to swell to almost 40k.
「Finally, we are back in action!」Ryuu grinned as he stretched his arms.
「Don't be overconfident, Ryuu chan.」Ryan readied his sword.「Remember what Kibadios said: "Only a fool would blindly attack his opponents without having already planned out plan Z in his head."」
「Of course, Ryan senpai. I just can't help but be excited. We've been sitting on our asses for days now.」
「It can't be helped. It's not like we can attack the whole army without any reconnaissance or planning.」Rowan noted.
「You guys really are going to clash against the Yin Army?」Sitting on the side, Ember asked. 「We're left with no choice.」shrugged Rowan.「We've known this battle would come sooner or later. If you're uncomfortable staying on the side of the demihumans, you can take your leave.」
「As if… Kibadios have saved our lives many times… The least I can do is to protect those he cares about.」Smiled Ember.「I may not join you guys in this battle but I will stay behind to protect the civilians.」
「Hmm, how do we know you're not staying behind just to backstab us? After all, you're a hero and a hero always sides with the human.」Ryuu blurted out.
「How can you say such a thing, Ryuu kun? Ember and I would never…」
「Well, at least that's what the old me would have said.」Ryuu cut off Floria.「Given how you went out of your way to warn us about that Akaban and your connection with Haden, I doubt you would betray us.」
「Thank you, Ryuu dono.」It was Haden who spoke up.「Given how both Floria and I had lived through such betrayal under the hand of Corey and Desmond, I know she's incapable of backstabbing anyone.」The former adventurer turned to Ember.「and since Ember was the one who saved Floria, I know she, too, cannot commit such atrocity.」
「Yeah, yeah, I know.」Ryuu nodded. 「I was just kinda teasing them.」
「Hmm, aren't Ryan also a hero?」pointed out Ember with a smile. The hero did not seem to get upset despite what Ryuu had just accused her of.
「Huh? Ryan senpai? Of course… But… Senpai's different!」Ryuu argued.
「Enough, Ryuu chan.」Rowan knocked on the dragonkin's head, surprising even the hero and her companion. After all, it would be extremely rare to find someone who dared to hit the head of such a prideful race.「We really appreciate your help, Ember dono, Floria dono.」Rowan bowed.「Please keep Kibadios' people safe.」
「Of course we will!」Nodded the girls.
「And don't you forget, I'm also here! I'm not well versed in barriers like Yue but I can still erect some decent ones.」Ren spoke up.
「Let's all do our parts in the upcoming battle!」Ryan grinned.
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「So, you're saying that Zuoen betrayed the kingdom to save yours and Ren chan's lives?」Maia confirmed after listening to the princess' story.
「Allegedly. After all, it's the crafty Wei Shimin we're talking about. He might be trying to deceive Yue dono.」Reminded Kuron.
「But, didn't Yue chan say she believed his story?」Uri asked.
「... I don't know… But I didn't feel like Wei Shimin was lying. Besides… it's… it's actually something I believe …Zuoen… would do.」The girl hesitantly admitted.
「Then you telling us this means you've decided not to take Wei Shimin's offer?」Kibadios stared at the girl, carefully studied her every emotion.
「... Yes…」The princess stood up in front of her Master before bowing down.「As the last royal members of the Yue Kingdom, it is my duty to serve you, Kibadios sama…」
「What about as "Yue"?」The hybrid reached out and raised her chin up, forcing her to look straight at him.「What about as a girl who had devoted her heart to your dearly beloved instead of me? What is that girl's decision?」
「Master…」Maia softly called out to the hybrid as if she wanted him to stop cornering Yue like this.
「... If… If… If what Wei Shimin said was true… then… even I cannot…cannot forgive Zuoen for what he did… Betraying the trust of my father… my brothers… my people…」Yue struggled to form a comprehensive sentence. 「Even if my heart yearns to see him, my mind cannot allow it… Zuoen had made a grave misstep and committed an unforgivable sin. My feelings for him… doesn't matter anymore.」
「Is that the conclusion you have come to, Yue chan?」Kibadios' stern voice suddenly turned soft.
「Yes.」
「Then, I, as your Master, shall personally grant him the appropriate judgment in your stead.」The hybrid pulled the princess into his tight embrace which burst into tears.「That way, you don't have to deal with him and further wound your bleeding heart…」
「Master…. MASTER!!!!」The girl cried out, as if she was letting all the emotion she had bottled up within her burst out in the open. Tears overflowed from her eyes while her arms held tightly onto the hybrid's back. Kibadios simply patted her head and let her vent out her repressed emotions, all the while whispering softly into her ears 「It's okay, Yue chan… It's okay… I'm here for you.」
「Zaeryn…」Standing in the back of the room witnessing the tender scene in front of his eyes, Ayer angrily clenched his fist.
「Your Majesty… 」After standing around for a while, it was Falkor who spoke up first.「I'm sorry but I'm afraid we're running out of time. It's almost time for Wei Shimin to undergo the ritual that you've told us about.」
「Yeah… I know, it's already pre-dawn on the fifth day.」Kibadios nodded.「I guess it's time for us to move out.」
「Master, I'm sorry that I wasted your time.」Yue finally broke away from Kibadios and wiped her tears.「Did you do anything else while… while I was bedridden?」
「Of course not!」Uri waved his hand.
「The Young Lord… I mean, His Majesty's been taking care of you ever since you've fallen unconscious, Yue chan.」Gyo smiled.「We told him we can take turn to care for you, but he was adamant not to leave your side.」
「You guys don't know, but Yue chan is a descendant of the High Elves, a race that is highly emotional. Their emotions can easily affect their well being. From the outside, it may look like Yue simply caught a cold, but in truth, it was clear that it's her emotions that were becoming unstable and that is very dangerous for a high elf. That's why I need to be by her side, just in case.」explained Kibadios.
「Thank you, Master.」Yue gave the hybrid a genuine smile of appreciation, her hand instinctively reaching out to his own, which did not go unnoticed in Kibadios' eyes.
「Now now now, what should we do?」Uri asked.「Simply crash the ritual?」
「We go with the same plan we had five days ago, when I first learned of what Wei Shimin was planning. We will divide into two groups: One group would go down to the basement and secure my mother while I and others confront Wei Shimin after he has gained his new power via performing the ritual. This is one of the few chances where I may be able to
Tsk… Who could have thought Zaeryn would have a chance at gaining the same power that he himself, together with Aspen, had once crushed ten millennia ago? Ayer, the enslaved Ennead cursed. If he possesses that power, who knows how much of a threat he can pose to us Astral… Though if somehow, he's defeated by Wei Shimin then it'd be perfect.
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The air trembled with the thunderous cacophony of explosions, shattering the pre-dawn stillness like a hammer against glass. The tightly packed encampment of Alsen quaked under the force of the demihuman onslaught, catching Hou Yi and the Yinese army off guard. What truly stunned Hou Yi, however, was the precise timing of the attack. It unfolded just as the Yin Empire prepared to unleash their own assault upon the city since they were expecting the arrival of their Supreme Commander with his formidable flying fortress. With ground forces poised for advance and aerial dominance assured, Hou Yi had anticipated Alsen's imminent fall within mere hours.
Yet, as his troops prepared for the impending attack on Alsen, from the depths of the early morning gloom, troops of the Three Great Clans from Alsen surged forth, bolstered by a wave of refugees who had mustered strength during the preceding days of respite. Although they were supposed to be exhausted refugees, they were first and foremost, demihuman inhabitants of Monas Kye. And much like how every citizen of Zou from One Piece could stand their ground against the Beast Pirate, the same could be said for the inhabitants of the Grasslands. They encircled the Yin forces with a ferocity that belied their fatigue, catching the Yinese off guard from all sides.
In theory, such a coordinated counterattack should have been detected well in advance. Hou Yi had meticulously deployed outposts and spies to provide early warnings against any Grasslander retaliation. However, logistical complications stemming from relentless harassment by Erik and his band had forced Hou Yi to thin out his defensive network. Initially dismissed as mere nuisances, Erik's tactics had gradually eroded the Yin Empire's preparedness, leaving them vulnerable to Alsen's reprisal. Moreover, Alsen's special forces, under the personal command of Teran, Yuusei's father, had systematically dismantled the Yin spy network, leaving Hou Yi blind to the looming threat. Though Hou Yi harbored no illusions about the Grasslander's intentions, the sheer audacity of their full-scale assault so soon after the exhaustion of a week-long siege was a miscalculation he could ill afford.
「Soldiers of the Great Yin Empire! Pick up your weapons and fight back!」ordered Hou Yi loudly.「Let those barbaric demihumans know the true power of The Great Southern Subjugation Army! Let's put an end to their pathetic lives!」
Clangg!! Hou Yi could barely have time to parry off the katana slash aimed at his neck as he finished his sentence. 「You… Kailos of the House of the Horn!」Hou Yi gritted his teeth the moment he noticed the man standing in front of him.
「This is it, Hou Yi. We will put your ambition and the ambition of the Yin Empire to rest. We will show you why Monas Kye has always been a free land of us Demihumans!!!」growled the ogre.「We will crush your army here before you Master can come to your aid!」
「Huh? How do you know Wei Shimin sama is coming?」Hou Yi raised his eyebrows.
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「Ahhh… to think we would be caught off guard.」The female dragonkin, one of the 12 Heavenly Generals, leisurely stepped out from her tent, a confident smile donned on her face.
「Wei Ying sama, please hellpppppp!!!」The foot soldier screamed out to Wei Ying, though she simply stood still, unconcernedly. Even if she wanted to help, it was simply too late since as soon as he finished his sentence, the soldier had realized that his torso was already pierced through by a sharp trident like spear.
「Ara ara… You're that dragonkin I was interested in.」Wei Ying grinned broadly, since the prey she singled out had just appeared in front of her eyes.
「Huh? Who are you again, small fry?」Ryuu cocked his head in confusion.
「Tsk.」Wei Ying was clearly irritated.「I'll make you remember!」
Not too far away, Hou Yi and Kailos have been continuously clashing for a while, without either of them having come out on top. Though, as the Commander of the army fought off the Clan Leader while assessing the situation, he realized that the Grasslanders had clearly gained much intelligence regarding his army and his plan of initiating the second assault on Alsen. The timing of the Grasslanders' attack was no fluke.
「Don't tell me we have a leak.」whispered Hou Yi under his breath.「But who… and how…」
「Ha, Hou Yi dono, it seems like you require some assistance.」A voice spoke up from inside a lone tent. Before Kailos could ascertain where the voice had come from, he quickly found 3 sharp scalpels already projected at him. Luckily, the ogre was able to dodge them at the last minute. But had it not been for his years of experience and quick reflex, his head would have been sliced through by the 3 scalpels already since they were cloaked with such sharp Nen layers that they had no problem pierce through any large boulder found across the vast Grassland.
「Who…」
「You should certainly pay more attention while fighting…」the voice now came from behind Kailos.「An ogre huh? Are you that infamous "Kibadios"?」
「You!!」Kailos hastily turned around, then jumped back a few paces away from the menacing, well dressed man.
「Akaban dono, the man you're facing is Kailos, leader of the House of the Horn, a great clan of the Grassland.」answered Hou Yi.
「Ahh… so you're not Kibadios. Now, where is he? I've been here waiting for him for a few days now.」Disappointed the Hero.
「You're… Akaban, one of the Six?」Kailos could feel his hand shaking.
「Yes.」Nodded the hero before he moved forward, as fast as a flash. 「Now that pleasantries are over, if you still refuse to tell me where this Kibadios is, then please die!」Although it was a frontal attack, Akaban's movement was simply too swift for Kailos to follow, all he could see was a blur.
ALSO, New commissioned dj (by https://skeb.jp/@Ayuksert2)
Since it'd be censored even if I post it here anyways, please GOOGLE: "The night before Kibadios' departure." There should be a ton of websites that have it (though I only posted on bato.to, e hentai, and myreadingmanga.)
This is part 1. Part 2 will feature Rowan, Ryan, and Ren, you know, the remaining harem members who were left behind. Idk when I will have it ready tho.