"Unexpected Visitor: Grand Duchess Appearance"

Snake Calendar, Year 2025

20th Day of September, Tuesday Day 2 of the Lockdown

Somewhere in the Core Part of the Verdant Hollow

Verdant Hollow Warzone

It was the second day of the Forest Drake Expedition. The coordinated forces of five cities had already managed to take down the four guardians protecting the Forest Drake. These beasts, powerful and unrelenting, had been strategically placed to ensure the Drake remained untouched during its evolution. However, the guardians' defeat came at a steep cost—thousands of soldiers and adventurers had perished in the process.

Now, the Forest Drake stood alone in the heart of Verdant Hollow, encased in a shimmering, green barrier of pure energy that pulsed with the rhythm of its impending evolution. Time was running out, and the commanders knew they had to strike before it reached its second phase.

"Teams Alpha through Delta, focus fire on the barrier!" Brigadier General Drystan Solas Seastone's voice boomed through the communication network. "Keep the pressure on! Heavy artillery, fire at will!"

The battlefield erupted in chaos.

Cannons roared, launching explosive shells that detonated against the barrier with deafening blasts. Mana-fueled weaponry lit up the sky with streaks of blue and red energy, slamming into the Forest Drake's shield. Adventurers armed with enchanted rifles unleashed volleys of bullets, while mages chanted in unison, casting powerful spells that rained fire, ice, and lightning down on the shimmering dome.

"Keep it up!" a sergeant barked, his voice hoarse from shouting. "We're cracking it!"

The barrier began to waver, flickering as cracks spidered across its surface. Cheers erupted from the ranks, but the celebration was short-lived.

Inside the barrier, the Forest Drake stirred. Its massive, scaled body shifted, the ground trembling beneath its weight. The glow of its barrier intensified as its amber eyes opened, radiating fury.

"It's moving!" a ranger shouted, his voice tinged with panic.

"Disperse! Get out of its range!" General Seastone ordered.

The Forest Drake's First Phase

With a thunderous roar that echoed across the battlefield, the Forest Drake shattered its barrier, sending a shockwave rippling outward. Soldiers and adventurers were flung back like leaves in a storm, some crashing into trees while others barely managed to hold their ground.

The Forest Drake's claws, each as long as a man, slammed into the earth, tearing deep gouges into the soil. It lunged forward, swiping at a cluster of soldiers.

"Drake Claw! Incoming! Scatter!"

The warning came too late. The devastating swipe cleaved through the front line, sending bodies flying. Blood splattered the ground as screams of pain filled the air.

"Mages, cover fire!" Commander Astrid Frostwarden shouted, her sniper rifle cracking as she fired a shot that pierced Drake's shoulder.

Bolts of magic streaked toward the Drake, striking its tough hide and leaving scorch marks. Archers and riflemen followed suit, pelting it with arrows and bullets.

The Forest Drake responded with a bone-rattling roar. The sound paralyzed dozens of soldiers, their legs trembling as fear overwhelmed them.

"Stay focused!" a knight bellowed, slamming his shield into the ground. "Resist the fear! Push forward!"

The Second Phase Begins

As the Forest Drake's health dropped below 50%, it unleashed a feral growl. Its body began to glow with an ominous light, and its movements became erratic and wild.

"It's entering its second phase!" Orlan, the lead scholar, shouted from a safe position behind the front lines. "Its abilities will be enhanced! Stay sharp!"

The Forest Drake's scales hardened, becoming encased in a layer of earthen armor that deflected most attacks.

"Ordinary weapons won't work!" an officer yelled. "Focus on high-tier spells and enchanted gear!"

The Drake slammed its tail into the ground, sending a shockwave that knocked down anyone within range. It then reared its head and roared again, summoning massive tree-like branches from the ground.

"Earth Branch Prison!" someone shouted in alarm.

The branches coiled around groups of soldiers, forming cages that trapped them inside. Moments later, a sickly green mist began to fill the cages.

"It's poison! Get them out of there!" medics and support mages rushed to the trapped soldiers, using dispel and barrier spells to free them.

The battlefield was descending into chaos. Casualties were mounting, and despite their best efforts, the Forest Drake seemed unstoppable.

A Mistake Realized: The Mutant Forest Drake

As the forces pressed on, they began to notice something strange. The Forest Drake's movements were faster, more precise, and far more aggressive than expected. Its abilities were also stronger than what had been recorded in the Monster Encyclopedia.

"This isn't an ordinary Forest Drake," Commander Astrid realized, her voice grim. "It's a mutation!"

Before the message could be relayed to all units, the mutant Forest Drake unleashed a devastating combination of its abilities. It roared, paralyzing half the remaining forces, and followed up with a poison-infused breath attack that swept across the battlefield.

The air filled with toxic fumes as soldiers and adventurers screamed, their bodies succumbing to the poison. Over 5,000 fell in mere moments.

"Retreat!" General Seastone shouted desperately. "Fall back now!"

The Grand Duchess Appears

As the survivors scrambled to escape, a sudden gust of wind swept through the battlefield. All eyes turned to the sky, where a figure descended rapidly, her form outlined against the stormy clouds.

A woman in ornate armor, gleaming with golden runes, landed with incredible force on the Forest Drake's head, driving a massive greatsword straight into its skull. The impact caused a shockwave that rippled outward, stunning the Drake and everyone nearby.

The woman's long silver hair billowed in the wind as she stood atop the writhing Drake. Her piercing emerald eyes surveyed the battlefield with a calm, commanding presence.

"It's her…" General Seastone whispered, his voice filled with awe. "The Grand Duchess of the Western Continent, Lady Nimue Veritas Ashvale. The Blade of Solaris."

A Heroic End

The Forest Drake roared in agony, its body thrashing as the evolution process was interrupted. Furious, it entered a berserk state, its movements wild and destructive.

Lady Nimue didn't flinch. With a single, fluid motion, she leaped into the air, her greatsword glowing with radiant energy.

"For the people," she murmured, her voice steady. "And for balance."

She brought the blade down with overwhelming force, cleaving through the Drake's neck as if it were made of paper. The massive creature let out one final, bloodcurdling roar before collapsing to the ground, lifeless.

The battlefield fell silent, save for the crackling of residual energy.

Lady Nimue stepped off the Drake's corpse, her armor pristine despite the battle. She turned to the stunned forces and spoke, her voice carrying authority and warmth.

"You fought bravely," she said. "Rest now. The threat is over."

Aftermath

With the Drake slain, the forces regrouped, tending to the wounded and honoring the fallen. Lady Nimue's intervention had saved countless lives, but the cost of the battle was still heavy.

As the sun began to rise, casting light over the ravaged battlefield, the Grand Duchess stood quietly, her presence a beacon of hope for those who survived.

The legend of Lady Nimue Veritas Ashvale grew that day, her name forever etched into the annals of history as the savior of Verdant Hollow. But, what they heard about her being here was something unexpected and very coincident, the reason was she was visiting each cities of this continent and felt unusual tremors as she check it out, she was only wearing ordinary clothes and carry her big heavy sword, it was pure luck that she encounter this mess.