The Legend of the ruthless Empress Freya

- POV General -

The midday sun was shining high in the sky of Elysium, life had resumed its course and in the streets of the Empire, citizens with smiles were shopping. Little by little, those who had been most affected by the war were recovering from their emotional and physical wounds. The feeling of unity and strength was new to many, but that's why this place was unique and loved by all.

As restaurants filled with hungry people or shopkeepers sold their food, they were watched. High in the sky, wide ice wings spread over the sun, the Empress watched her Empire. Dressed in a magnificent black kimono with purple symbols, hair in a ponytail, with her ears, wolf tail and horns carved in black, she looked like a deity watching over her world.

Freya saw with her own eyes Elysium, which in a few months had grown at an incredible rate through the Dark Forest. All the facilities had moved back as the Empire grew, so even the huge walls had moved a few miles. The she-wolf was watching everything, but her gaze was focused on a small passage in the wall that was unknown to the inhabitants but not to the army.

The main barracks for the soldiers was near the Imperial mansion and the hospital, but a small military building, a guardhouse, had been built at the entrance to the great wall and at the small passage in question. The first was used to monitor the comings and goings of the large main gate and the second was to be used more discreetly. As at this moment, far from the gaze of the citizens, one of the only humans to have survived, was being released.

Myles, the former Captain of the Knights of Zal as per Freya's plan was to be released so he could return to his Kingdom. Of course it was not without a small message or rather a warning that the Empress wanted to pass on to the Supreme of the Church himself. So it was in the small, open-roofed military building on the far right and out of sight, that the passage in the form of a door had been opened.

There, Freya could see all the Commanders, of whom only Luna was accompanied by 10 of her most powerful subordinates. Ralph, at the end of her muscular arm, was holding the man who had lost his legs and had a canvas bag over his head, his wrists tied behind his back. Next to him, a gray horse belonging to the Empire's stables stood waiting to be loaded, Inferno the black stallion with the she-wolf's mane of flames standing beside it.

On the ground, another brown bag containing the King's head encased in ice had been tied to the horse's side for safekeeping. As Freya had explained at the meeting in the throne room, Myles was going to be the bearer of an ominous message, a message of doom, one that could change everything. This human, the only one to survive, would herald the destruction of an entire Kingdom and carry with him the promise of bloody vengeance.

"Everything is ready, isn't it Luna ?"

"Yes, my ten best spies are here, specializing in assassination, concealment, gathering information on earth as well as in the sky. We don't know how long we'll be gone but we're ready."

Since the army kept growing, the ten Commanders were seeing hundreds of soldiers arrive in their ranks every week. So the ten young women who had started out commanding a dozen warriors were now each leading hundreds. Among them, a few had made their mark in addition to the Lieutenants who always assisted the Commanders for easier management.

Luna's ten best spies were therefore among the elite, which was the minimum given the mission they would have to accomplish. They didn't know how long they would be gone, but they wouldn't return until they knew everything about the Kingdom of Zal. The Empress had told them enough, a war is not won by force or numbers alone, the one who has the most information about their opponent can change everything.

"Did you say goodbye to your dear and sweet Alayna ? Or should I say 'your little candy cane' ?  hahahaha~"

"Why don't you take care of Nina, Ralphy ! And don't think I don't see you laughing, Emilia, Naïa and even you Nixia !"

The girls, knowing perfectly the love she had for the human arrived a few months ago, could not help teasing their friend. Luna, for her part, had not hesitated to retort, taking care not to be heard by her subordinates, a pressing desire to hit them. Persea, the beautiful and delicate blond dryad, seen a little as the mother of the group, took the floor, a big warm smile on the face.

"Hahaha~, my my~, stop bothering her for a bit haha~ Anyway if everything is ready it's perfect, all we need is her highness so a little less noise, okay~ ?"

"Haaaiiiiiii~"

The woman with the flower crown was right, they were not with each other at the barracks in their private apartments but during their working hours. The she-wolf could arrive at any moment and then the moment remained too important to disperse on other subjects. While the 9 young women answered in unison to what Persea had just said, a shadow appeared, hiding the sun rays coming from the ceilingless building.

Very quickly, heavy beats of wings came to raise the dust and to make tremble the walls in powerful air currents obliging everyone to resist. The Empress was there, her great ice wings spread out like a phoenix as they disappeared leaving her to land. The next second, everyone was down on one knee, head down...all except Inferno who then came trotting happily over to his mistress.

"NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN, YOUR HIGHNESS !"

"Stand up"

Pronouncing these words in a calm but firm voice, Freya began to caress the mane of her black stallion yet made of real flames. Just like Naïa, part of the fire fox race, who since her evolution had hair made of flames not seeming to be able to burn the others. Thus, no one seemed to be surprised as everyone stood up to stand in front of the she-wolf in kimono.

"Commander Luna, I heard from the sky that everything is ready ?"

"Yes Empress everything is ready"

The half-panther young woman had taken a step forward while trying to hide her embarrassment, realizing that Freya had heard everything from the beginning. Her friends were all smiling, knowing Luna perfectly, but still silent. Knowing perfectly well what was going on, the Empress didn't point out anything, nodding her head before answering and launching the operation.

"Then let's not waste any time."

"Hai ! Load the prisoner onto the mount and tie him up so he doesn't fall off !"

Yet soon enough, everyone's serious demeanor returned as Commander Luna ordered her subordinates to prepare Myles for his journey. Thus, the barely conscious or even alive man was tied to the gray horse as well as the bag with the head on it so that it would not fall off. While everything was set up, Nixia the black-scaled lamia approached to give more directions about the mount.

"Your Highness, this is one of our best long-distance horses, and it will be able to reach Zal in just one week. We have trained it to return on its own once the human has arrived at the gates of his Kingdom."

"Perfect."

Everything was falling into place, the legless man was going to have a very long week ahead of him and after what he had just been through, his sanity was in danger. But the she-wolf didn't care about that, because the most important thing was that he arrived alive and with the King's head. The rest was of little importance, Myles could very well sink into an eternal madness as long as he accomplished his forced mission, everything was fine.

On the left side of the grey horse, a bag with some food and water had been placed there for him to feed on, if he thought about it. In any case, everything had been done properly and all that remained was to announce the long-awaited departure of this messenger of death. Approaching the unfortunate man, Freya hung a small mechanical box on his chest that she fixed to his skin directly with her own ice.

It was in fact a new object worked by the dwarves under the direction of Yuric the chief blacksmith from mana and mana stone capable of reproducing sounds. Thanks to the modern knowledge of the Empress and the know-how of the dwarves, new inventions were born in Elysium. So, if all went well, Freya's voice could be heard at some point by Zal's leaders if all went well.

"He's ready to go, Empress."

Without a word, the she-wolf walked over to the pale man, speechless and looking as if he might fall off the horse at any moment if he hadn't been tied up. The poor man could only move his hands, a prisoner of this mount that was taking him home but at what cost ? Freya didn't care and while the human's eyes were empty, she leaned into his ear to give him her last instructions.

"Arrange to have an interview with the Supreme and the highest members of your Kingdom so that you can show them our little gift. Once you are together, you will also press the button in the center of that little thing hanging on you to deliver my message. We are watching you...if you don't do everything as planned, you will die of a thousand pains."

It was a bluff but at this point, in his condition, Myles only wished for death, on the other hand, he didn't want to suffer anymore so he nodded his head very slightly. He looked like a dead fish but that was all Freya needed to smile softly bringing out one of his fangs.

"See to it that he gets to his destination alive, follow him as discreetly as possible and infiltrate the Kingdom as it should be. I'm counting on you Commander Luna."

"Hai ! May you have a safe journey as well, your Highness."

"Good luck Commander, soldiers...and most importantly..."

Although the Empress had unwavering confidence in her Commanders, letting Luna go alone accompanied by 10 spies was still risky. Once there, far from the Empire, they would be alone, they could only rely on themselves in case of danger, them and no one else. So Freya counted on the young half-panther woman to make all the most reasonable decisions, even if it meant ordering the escape.

"...most importantly, take care of yourself."

The beautiful young woman with hair as black as night and violet eyes as bright as jewels, had spoken these last words with seriousness. At that moment, Luna and her subordinates understood that the mission was important but that their lives were even more important. They needed no more words to understand, so the Commander and her subordinates, without consulting each other, all knelt down with a burning heart.

"We swear to succeed in our mission and will do everything to return safe and sound, your Highness !"

It was easy to feel that determination emanating from these 11 people willing to leave their Empire in order to fulfill a mission to protect it. Freya didn't show it, but she was very proud and as they all stood up, she nodded her head, looking into Luna's eyes. It was now truly time to leave and begin this week-long journey before their most dangerous infiltration.

"Empress, fellow Commanders, may we meet again. SOLDIERS !"

After these few words, the next moment the leader of the armed intelligence section disappeared leaving behind her a few flashes of light. Her 10 subordinates did the same while Persea slammed the rump of the horse, which, after rearing up, ran off into the forest. That was it, the first operation was launched and soon after, the one of the Empress and her family was going to be too in the form of a journey.

All had disappeared and only the remnants of the flying dust that the grey horse had kicked up when it left in a hurry remained. All that remained was to wait and trust the 11 warriors who had just left to change part of Elysium's destiny. The next few minutes passed in total and solemn silence before finally, Freya climbed on Inferno's back to return to her preparations at the mansion.

"Thank you for coming over Commander, I won't keep you any longer and I have things to do. I'm counting on you for the rest."

"Yes, your Highness."

With a heel strike to the side of her black stallion, the Empress exited the small building before taking the shortcut that would take her straight to her mansion. Crossing the streets of Elysium was a bit much and not wanting to create a riot or a gathering, discretion was the order of the day. The other 9 young women also ended up returning to their occupation, all hoping with all their hearts that Luna and her soldiers would remain safe.

No one could have foreseen at that moment that the young Commander would find herself facing old demons from her past when she set foot in the Kingdom. The King was dead, his daughter had even become her girlfriend, but what about the rest of the family ? Alayna's older brother, the one who had condemned Luna's parents years ago, Prince Erzian was still alive and the young woman would soon find out.

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FULL STATUS

Names : Freya / Lucifer Nightshade

Age : 0 year old / Mentally : 25 years old

Sex : Female

Course: Ice Demon Wolf of Chaos - Adult

Race : Imperial Demon

Titles :

- Demon Goddess of Primordial Blood and Death (former - until all powers are recovered) - 30%.

- Wrathful Lucifer (7th Sin) - Master of the uniques Sins Demons (to unlock it, please gather the other 6 - 3/6 - (locked)

- Dragon tamer

- Ruthless slayer

Level : 45/70

Exp needed for next level: 0 / 46 000

HP : 170 000 / 170 000 MP : 85 000 / 85 000. BLOOD : 100 / 100

Strength: 660

Defense : 660

Agility : 666

Endurance: 663

Speed : 662

Intelligence: 660

Charisma: 500 (imperial she-wolf)

Attribute points to allocate : 0

Married to : Gaya Nightshade

Daughter : Shiro Nightshade

Twins (son & daughter) : Tyle & Altaïs Nightshade

Little sister : Kira Nightshade (Greedy Fox)

Big sister : Kalaa Nightshade

Empire (menu)

Subordinates: 5865 (keep growing)

Humans killed: 153

Souls: 0/3

Elements: Ice / Chaos (Freya) - Blood / Death (Lucifer)

Skills (all):

Attacks :

- Demon Claws (Lvl 5)

- Bite of hell (Lvl 6)

- Infernal ice spikes (Lvl 6)

- Fighting techniques (Lvl max)

- Mastery of the katana (lvl max)

- Demonic Empress aura (lvl 7)

Défense :

- Ice demon wall (Lvl 6)

- Demonic Cloak (lvl 5)

- Pain Resistance (lvl 6)

Attack/Defense :

- Domain of the Ice Empress "Frozen Wrath" (lvl 4)

- Death Gaze (lvl 1)

Others :

- Humanoid form

- Demonic form (linked to the title so incomplete) - 20%.

- Ice creation (Lvl 6)

- Detection and control of mana (lvl 6)

- Storage of chaos (Lvl 4)

- Devouring Chaos (Lvl 5)

- Master of Souls (lvl 3)

- Lucifer's Threads of Blood (lvl 3)

- Healing Blood (lvl 3)

- Analysis

- Telepathy

Passives :

- Commander (lvl max)

- Natural Aura of the Ice Empress ]