Chapter 106: The First Confrontation

Chapter 106: The First Confrontation The air changed the moment they stepped from the final stair onto the vast snow-covered courtyard. What had been the tight confines of the hidden stairwell exploded into an impossibly wide expanse, broken architecture looming against a colorless sky—skeletal frameworks casting long shadows across the pristine white ground. Number Six stepped forward, a cold smile playing across her lips as she regarded the assembled forces before her. The snow crunched beneath her boots, blood-red against the white expanse. "Allow me to properly introduce myself," she purred, the sound like steel wrapped in silk. "I am Luna of the Six, Master of Fire and Chosen of the First Eternal." Her violet eyes gleamed with malicious pride as she raised her chin. "Perhaps you’ve heard whispers of my accomplishments—three kingdoms razed, a thousand warriors fallen to my blades alone." She ran a finger along the raised marking on her forehead. "This symbol was earned with blood and loyalty beyond what any of you could comprehend." The frigid wind whipped around them, carrying snowflakes that seemed to avoid Luna’s form as if the air itself feared her touch. Behind her, ranks of black-robed warriors stood in perfect formation, their weapons gleaming dully in the strange, diffuse light. "Look at you all—clinging to stolen powers, wielding elements never meant for your kind." She laughed, the sound echoing across the open courtyard. "Like children playing with weapons they cannot possibly understand." A warrior slipped from the shadows behind Luna, approaching with head bowed in deference. She leaned in, whispering something urgent in Luna’s ear. The interruption caused Luna’s expression to flicker with momentary annoyance. "It seems I’m being summoned," she announced, her tone suggesting this was an inconvenience rather than a command she must obey. "The Master requires my presence." Luna waved a hand airily, tiny flames dancing between her fingertips. "But don’t fret—I wouldn’t dream of leaving you without entertainment." With a sharp gesture toward the front ranks of her army, Luna stepped back. The sea of black-robed warriors parted, revealing four figures advancing with predatory grace across the snow-packed ground. They moved in perfect unison, their steps leaving identical imprints in the snow. All four wore similar black armor accented with silver filigree that caught what little light filtered through the colorless sky. Their silver hair was styled identically—complex braids woven tight against their scalps, gathered into high ponytails that fell to their waists like Gala’s style, each strand shifting with unnatural precision. Despite their similar appearance, each warrior carried herself with distinct menace. The first twirled twin daggers that left frost trails in the air, the second rested a hand on an ornate bow with arrows that seemed fashioned from solidified shadow, the third’s fingers danced with barely contained energy that caused the ground beneath her to tremble, and the fourth moved with such lightness that her feet barely disturbed the snow. "My personal guard will handle your... situation," Luna announced, satisfaction evident in her tone. "They’ve been so looking forward to testing themselves against the famed defenders of Moonlight and Thornvale." The four warriors spread out in a semicircle, creating a barrier between Luna and the combined armies. "I shall return once the Master’s business is concluded," Luna added, already turning away. "Though I doubt any of you will still be breathing by then." Commander Maria stepped forward into the snow, her boots sinking ankle-deep as her hands moved in complex patterns. The air around the combined forces began to ripple and distort, reality folding in on itself as Maria’s illusion took hold. The snow-covered courtyard seemed to shift and tilt, phantom warriors appearing among the real ones until it became impossible to distinguish between substance and shadow. Even the ruins surrounding them appeared to waver and multiply, creating a disorienting labyrinth of duplicated structures. Luna paused, her head tilting slightly as her gaze cut through the illusion. A smile—genuinely amused rather than mocking—curved her lips. "Impressive," she conceded, turning back to face Maria directly. "You’ve clearly mastered the basics of illusion casting." Her violet eyes began to glow with inner fire, melting the snow in perfect circles around her feet. "But you’re blocking my path, Commander. How... disrespectful." With a casual flick of her wrist, Luna sent a pulse of energy outward. The illusions wavered like reflections in disturbed water, then shattered completely—fragments of false reality dissolving into nothingness. Snow that had been caught in the illusion fell suddenly, creating a brief, localized flurry. "Child’s play," Luna remarked, her tone almost bored. "Did you truly believe such simple deceptions would work against one who stands at the right hand of the First Eternal?" Before anyone could respond, Luna was already moving toward a half-collapsed archway, her stride unhurried despite the tension vibrating through the frozen air. "Since you’ve been such entertaining guests," she called over her shoulder, "allow me to leave you with a parting gift." The movement was almost too fast to follow—Luna’s hand extending backward, a burst of brilliant crimson light erupting from her palm. The fire streaked across the space between them, not toward the commanders or queens as expected, but toward two warriors in the second rank. Their screams tore through the silence of the snow-covered courtyard. The flames didn’t simply engulf them—they burrowed into their flesh like ravenous parasites. Their silver armor blackened and melted, fusing with skin beneath. One warrior’s face bubbled and collapsed inward, her eyeballs bursting with audible pops as the superheated fluid inside expanded. The other clawed desperately at her own melting features, fingers sinking into softened flesh before they too caught fire, leaving stumps of charred bone as she fell twitching to the snow. The inferno continued its path, racing toward Commander Maria with unnatural hunger. The snow in its path didn’t merely melt—it vaporized instantly, leaving a scorched trench of exposed earth. "Water!" Lyra shouted, her voice cutting through the chaos of screams and battle cries. Five water-wielders leapt forward in perfect coordination, streams of liquid surging from their outstretched hands to meet the advancing wall of flame. Steam hissed into existence where the opposing elements met, scalding clouds billowing through the ranks. The snow around them melted instantly, creating a widening circle of mud and slush. Earth-shapers joined the defense, raising barriers of stone and clay from beneath the snow to channel and contain the fire’s fury. For ten agonizing seconds, the elements warred against each other, neither gaining clear advantage. The water-wielders staggered under the strain, sweat freezing on their faces even as they fought to maintain their defense against the supernatural heat. Finally, the flames subsided, leaving behind blackened earth and a haze of steam that momentarily obscured vision. Where Luna had stood moments before, there was nothing—she had vanished through the archway, leaving only footprints that rapidly filled with fresh-falling snow. The courtyard fell silent save for the pained moans of the injured and the soft hiss of hot stone meeting cold air. Queen Elena recovered first, her face set with grim determination as she surveyed the damage. "We need to move quickly," she announced, her voice carrying across the stunned forces. "They know we’re here now—surprise is no longer our advantage." She gestured to the east and south paths that branched from the main courtyard. "We must find Viva and Eren before Luna returns with reinforcements." Her gaze swept the assembled warriors before settling on specific individuals. "Mika, you’ll lead the eastern search party." Mika stepped forward immediately, snow crunching beneath her determined stride, her earth-blade already drawn. "Yes, my queen." "Naia," Elena continued, "you’ll accompany the southern search party." Queen Elysia’s head snapped up at this, alarm evident in her expression. The air around her stirred in response to her agitation, small eddies forming in the falling snow. "My daughter is not to be placed in direct danger," she objected, moving to stand protectively beside Naia. "She is to remain with the main force, where she can be properly guarded." Elena met Elysia’s gaze steadily. "With respect, Your Majesty, Princess Naia has unique tracking abilities that may prove essential to locating the prisoners. Time is not our ally in this endeavor." "I can do this, Mother," Naia insisted, her voice quiet but firm. "My skills are needed." Elysia’s expression remained troubled, the wind around her increasing slightly as her control wavered. "She is my only heir," she said, not quite managing to hide the fear beneath her regal composure. "And she will not be alone," Elena pressed. "Captain Ester and Lieutenant Soren will accompany her team—Viva’s sisters have as much stake in this rescue as anyone." At the mention of their names, the two Thornvale warriors stepped forward through the snow. Despite the family resemblance, their expressions couldn’t have been more different—Ester’s face a mask of disciplined focus, Soren’s twisted with barely contained resentment. "Very well," Elysia finally conceded, though her eyes remained locked with her daughter’s. The air stilled around her as she regained control. "But you will exercise extreme caution. No unnecessary risks." Naia nodded once, determination replacing the earlier frustration in her stance. As the search parties began to form, Elena’s voice cut through the organization with final instructions. "Remember—our primary objective is to locate and extract Viva and the Veilwalker. Engage only when necessary, avoid confrontation where possible." The teams had just begun to move toward their assigned paths when four shadowy figures materialized from the swirling snow, blocking their way. The personal guards Luna had introduced now stood in combat stance, their weapons drawn and ready. Commander Lyra, Captain Diana, Commander Maria, and Commander Elira immediately moved to intercept, forming a protective barrier between the search parties and this new threat. "Go!" Lyra shouted over her shoulder, her water blades materializing in her hands, catching the dim light that filtered through the clouds. "We’ll handle this!" Mika hesitated only briefly before nodding and leading her team toward the eastern passage, while Naia and the sisters headed south, using the confrontation as cover for their departure. The four guards made no move to follow the search parties, their attention fixed solely on the commanders who faced them. "Where do you think you’re going?" one of them called, her voice lilting with mock innocence. Elira’s response came instantly, sharp with contempt. "To reclaim what you stole, you fire-scorched, half-witted servants of a delusional master." Her air blade hummed with energy as she raised it, snow swirling around the crackling weapon. "But first, it seems we need to teach you the price of standing in our way." The tension in the frozen courtyard stretched taut as the two groups faced each other, the fate of two kingdoms balancing on the edge of the coming conflict.