The Legend of the ruthless Empress Freya

- POV Freya -

Since Shiro had that nightmare she didn't talk much, the whole morning she had spent looking out of the window without saying a word. Usually her sweet and cute little voice would have filled the atmosphere but this time everything was silent. No one asked when we were going to arrive dozens and dozens of times, which was a shame because for once I could answer "soon".

We had been on the road for a week, Commander Luna and her platoon should have already reached the capital named Zal and started the operation. The order of the mission was : radio silence for a month, except in case of extreme emergency so everyone was busy with their mission. Luna among the humans, the other section leaders in Elysium preparing the invasion while the imperial family headed south to Vancesia.

After meeting Jade Wolfury, who happened to be a fallen vampire Queen, I was intrigued by her story, not only because of her title but also because of my instincts. Why was she hiding among humans ? Why did she feel a certain hold from me ? And still so many questions ran through my head, only slightly eased by our conversation after that night of judgment at the coliseum.

I now knew a small part of her story, that Jade had spent over a hundred years traveling across countries in search of someone. Someone who would allow her to return to her Kingdom and reclaim the title of Queen after revoking her disqualification. From what I understood, vampire queens came and went over the years, destined to be exiled from birth until one of them completed the quest.

So the ginger vampire had spent her life forging herself through roads and countries, learning and growing stronger from humans. Having learned to feed on animal blood and ordinary food, she had eventually blended in with the masses, becoming one of the most powerful Knights of Zal. All of Jade's actions were aimed at investigating and finding this important person I didn't know about.

She couldn't tell me more, but she knew who was authorized to tell me what I wanted to know, and we were headed straight for him right now. This is why we had left the Empire, to find and enter the hidden Realm of the Vampires. Located in the south of Vancesia, we finally arrived at our destination without knowing if we would be able to get the answers to our many questions.

Jade had agreed to guide us there even though we didn't know if we would be able to enter, but according to her there was a chance. This person that her people were looking for intrigued me, as much as her blood attracted me for some reason I didn't know. The vampire also felt this almost imperceptible and strange bond especially since I seemed to have an instinctive hold on her, even more accentuated in my demon form.

It was also for this reason that Jade had agreed to lead me and my family to the place she had left years ago. Besides, as a prisoner of war, she didn't have much of a choice, so we might as well get along even on our own account. So we had been gone for a week and this heavy silence was finally broken by the voice of the one beside me holding the reins of the carriage.

"We are arriving..."

"How long ?"

"Ten minutes."

Miss Wolfuri for this last day was leading the convoy as it sailed through what appeared to be the bottom of an abandoned canyon. We were surrounded by dry, hostile old rocks that rose proudly around us to the gray, threatening afternoon sky. A mist was gradually enveloping us as we disappeared into the middle of this natural and undoubtedly thousand-year-old fort.

"When we arrive at the entrance, I would ask your Highness to say nothing and let me speak. We'll only have one chance to enter all together, if we fail I'm afraid we'll have to go back to where we came from, is that okay ?"

"..."

"It must be said that you don't go unnoticed in terms of...power ahem, it might be quite tense"

In a final tip Jade explained what she was most worried about so after nodding, I decided to suppress all my aura I could. Very quickly at the relaxation of the shoulders of the one next to me and the twins in front of the carriage, I guessed that a very big pressure had disappeared. The next moment I also felt my wife, Kira, Kalaa, June and May retract their aura so that we looked like a harmless group.

"I-...nevermind"

Without saying another word, the vampire tightened her grip on Inferno and Pearl's reins as I felt the smell of her stress invade my very sensitive nostrils. Soon we came to a place where the rocks around us became tighter and tighter, leaving us no choice. Either we decided to go forward or backward but it was impossible to choose another option than these two, already enclosed by these natural mountains.

Only the noise of the convoy resounded, bouncing against the rock that began to form natural pillars where pebbles in the form of giant plateaus were arranged. Thus, the light disappeared little by little from our road, hiding it in the shadow of the sun and its hot rays. There was no wind, everything was calm but I felt a powerful mana enveloping us as we advanced without knowing its source.

"They're here."

Jade didn't need to say these words to me since besides the surrounding powerful mana, I had also felt the presence of several people watching us. They seemed to have arrived shortly after concealing our auras and had finally decided to show themselves. Three people then appeared in front of our horses dressed as simple villagers but I knew they were the ones standing guard.

"Strangers are not welcome here, go back to where you came from if you don't want to get into trouble and I'm serious"

Just like our guide we met during the war, they had pointed ears and two long canines protruding slightly from their mouths. I could feel the presence of other guards watching us from further away, but I decided to say nothing and let Jade handle the situation. The man who had spoken had not shouted but had intensified his killing intent to scare us but that was without counting the one next to me who then stood up.

"What a strange way to greet your Queen...fallen for sure, but still Queen. Let us pass I have to deal with the Priest and this is not a request, it's an order"

The young redheaded woman had removed her hood and finally revealed her face freezing the three vampires in front of us in shock. From what I understood, seeing her here was something exceptional and unheard of considering the duty she had been given since birth. Yet Queen Jade was there, and while the others were silent, the man managed to formulate some questions despite his totally muddled mind.

"M-My Queen...you here ? Would that mean you have completed your mission ? But then who...who are these people with you and I-..."

"That is none of your business, as I told you I have business with the Priest and this time I will not repeat it. Open the passage"

It was true that an unknown convoy had entered their land counting individuals hidden under hoods, it was suspicious. Yet the very presence of Jade seemed to change everything, simple guards could not disobey despite her fallen title. After many long seconds of hesitation, the man stepped back before beginning to whisper words, making a giant red magic circle filled with mana appear between him and us.

Without another word, the one beside me drove the carriage forward followed by the two sisters June and May sitting on their own mount. As we all stood in the center, suddenly a jet of light shot out from the figures of the circle and enveloped us in a blinding beam. I had never seen or experienced this before and I didn't have time to understand that the next second the landscape around us had already changed completely.

"But this is..."

"A teleportation spell using runes, the specialty of my race."

In an instant we found ourselves in a huge place that seemed to be a city built underground, huge and very dark. Mana stones illuminated the different passages, bridges, streets and houses, but I had the impression that I was in a kind of dungeon. The most incredible thing was that dragons seemed to fly from the ceiling which was very high and even live in holes in the walls around the city.

*So this is...the Vampires Realm*

"We cohabit with dragons of all races in order to survive underground with all the food we need. It's not uncommon to see peoples doing this, especially when the threat and human strength has been growing for several years."

A whole race seemed to live underground, hidden from humans for thousands of years between these dark, black rocks. The air was surprisingly clean and as we stepped ashore I couldn't help but wonder how their society worked. We had been teleported to the bottom of this huge underground cave in front of a very large castle that looked very much like a gothic style cathedral.

It was a marvelous building flanked by a multitude of towers and turrets built of gray stone that was moldy from the humidity. It was old but soaring to the ceiling with grace, gargoyles of fantastical creatures positioned at the top for added class. The two large black wooden doors in front of us were also beautiful and as it opened, Jade slipped behind me to speak.

"The Priest is the only one authorized to tell you about our history and especially our quest. I brought you here as planned because you intrigue me as much as I intrigue you but I advise you to be careful. Here we don't like strangers and even though I am the rightful Queen of this people, the Priest is the one and only messenger of our Goddess."

"Goddess ?"

"I cannot say more, it is not my role"

The Vampires seemed to have a completely different culture with definite roles and rules that she wanted to respect despite the high position she had. Everyone was out of the carriage, the faces were mostly worried and that was normal considering where we were. But I wasn't going to let anything happen to them and I also knew that unlike the humans, Jade's people weren't going to be hostile if we weren't.

"Shiro, Angel, stay close to Lia, Kalaa, Kira and her two soldiers. We are all staying together so don't be afraid~"

As I stroked Inferno's fiery mane, I could see Gaya reassuring the children though concern could also be seen in her eyes very slightly. It is true that I had imagined the Realm differently and more welcoming but it was important to discover new places to better understand the world. While I was making the ice bird that Shiro liked so much appear to calm her, the doors finally opened with a big thud.

For the first time, I decided to stand at the back, letting Jade and Gaya lead the group so that my presence would not be assumed to be hostile. Kalaa and Kira were on the sides, each accompanied by a twin, while Lia was in the center with the children. It was time to meet this famous Priest and thus find out if once again my instincts had not deceived me about my connection to this race.

"Let's go."

Starting to move forward, leaving behind our belongings and our horses, we passed through the gates which immediately closed behind us. Then, one by one, torches lit up on the walls creating a path that went straight to the back of the large room where a shape was taking form at the back. It was dark, but I could see almost as if it were daylight, and next to this figure, a stone statue stood on a pure gold base.

It represented a young vampire girl with short hair, asleep next to a very small dragon that did not seem to be an earthling but of another race given the single horn it had on its forehead. The girl was barefoot, in a dress and immediately reminded me of a loli straight out of mangas and animes of my old life. I didn't know who she was but this statue must have been very important given where she was.

"Never in my lifetime would I have thought to see a Queen dare to return to her city without having done her duty...what are you doing here, your Majesty ?"

Suddenly, a rather soft but accusatory voice began to echo from the end of the room as the figure finally emerged from the gloom, it was the famous Priest. He was tall, wore half-moon glasses, had long black hair and eyes of the same color. Dressed in a Victorian style suit, he was quite handsome and seemed harmless if we did not pay attention to Jade's expression which had changed.

We were finally in front of the Vampire Priest in the middle of their territory and the negotiation could finally begin and I was going to stop at nothing to get some answers. Although the atmosphere was tense, we had promised each other to be diplomatic and not to create problems. However, little did I know that the promise I had made to keep my cool would be instantly shattered in the next few minutes.

[End of this Arc]

___

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 ]