Level Up: Voidwalker

Amethyst cast several Cosmic Blasts that killed a group of Southmen who tried to attack Grishna as she neared the top. The four climbed up the fortress walls as the archers and mages covered them from the other side.

Explosions, screams, and black billowing smoke caused chaos all across the bridge as arrows struck everything. It took the group ten minutes to reach the top, and when they got up, the three women skillfully dispatched the enemy soldiers, allowing them to fight for control of Blood Bridge.

Grishna used her spear to keep the warriors out of reach as Amethyst peppered them with powerful cosmic magic. While they did this, the blonde knight blocked a berserker's hammer just before she sliced off the man's legs and thrust her sword through his face.

In the meantime, Estelle blocked many attacks aimed at the group as Artemis darted around the wall and stabbed the Southmen while weaving around the enemies, thudding them to the ground.

The battle continued for another ten minutes until the enemy retreated as Grishna decapitated their fiercest warrior. The four started casting spells at the Southmen below, who backed off after a while.

Amethyst watched the surviving Southmen retreat to the nearby fortress while more soldiers and adventurers appeared on their side of the bridge. Rollo walked up to them with a big smile and slapped Grishna on the back, ''Powerful just like your mother! Sorry for doubting you and your friends, girl.''

The orc girl smiled as everyone spoke to the older man about the upcoming plans for the war. The four women rested on the right side and relaxed for an hour or two as the allied soldiers secured the bridge against an Achaemendian counterattack.

Meanwhile, Artemis was leaning against a wall while using her Eaglevision to scout the enemy base. The mana bird soared across the landscape and arrived above the fortress as her keen eyes spotted the enemy preparing for another assault with fresh soldiers.

Artemis quickly turned to the group and, while taking out her sword, warned, "They're gearing up to retake the fort. We need to brace ourselves for the incoming wave, ladies."

Rollo responded with a nod and cast a spell that burst into the sky like a flare. Moments later, reinforcements arrived, and the alliance soldiers began fortifying their defenses. Amethyst extended her wings, ready for action, while Artemis spun her sling, prepared for the next attack.

Estelle and Grishna took their positions at the forefront, their resolve unwavering. The alliance soldiers drew their bows and readied their spells, their focus intense. The tension in the air was palpable, and then a resounding horn blast cut through the commotion, signaling the imminent battle.

Seconds later, a sea of arrows and spells appeared in the air, causing Estelle to shout, ''Girls to me know now!''

Amethyst, Grishna, and Artemis dashed toward her as she cast Holy Barrier, which shielded them from the destructive explosions that wiped out most of the allied soldiers with one swoop.

As the dust began to settle, Grishna's sharp eyes saw a woman in a menacing mask moving toward them from the right. With no time to lose, she charged forward to intercept her. She swung, which the masked stranger managed to block, but the clash quickly escalated into a fierce exchange of blows.

Meanwhile, Artemis took advantage of the chaos below, launching explosive pellets from her sling with precise aim. Each projectile erupted in a burst of fire and debris, sending shockwaves through the horde of Southmen.

Amethyst summoned her wings before soaring into the sky and casting Cosmic Bullets and Cosmic Blasts into the enemy ranks, causing some of them to fly into the river below while others were defended by their mages.

Grishna reappeared, her earlier clash with the masked stranger seeming to be at a stalemate. Just then, Artemis seized the opportunity and, with precise timing, drove her dagger into the woman's back.

The sudden, unexpected attack left the stranger vulnerable, allowing Grishna to deliver a series of brutal blows that reduced her to a crumpled mess. As the orc girl finished, she swiftly turned, her green eyes narrowing with renewed focus.

She charged at another assailant threatening Estelle, delivering a powerful kick that sent him sprawling. Following that, the group continued pushing the Southmen back, and soon enough, they stopped attacking a few days later.

While peace descended upon the Malduhr River frontline, the four women stayed atop the wall for another week, but one morning, Amethyst convinced them to take a break in the nearby dwarven town of Vurndor to sleep in a real bed and eat nice food.

Estelle and Grishna agreed while Artemis followed behind. The phoenix girl walks ahead of the group while admiring the scenery. The blonde knight asked what she saw, and the young girl explained that it was like seeing a painting of all different colors.

Amethyst compared it to normal sight, which was just colorful. The three older girls nodded in understanding as they let a column of Thalassian soldiers march past. When Grishna saw them, she got annoyed and muttered, ''Damn dark elves think they're better than everyone else.''

Artemis marveled at the intricately crafted silver armor worn by the elves. Their sleek and elegant helmets shielded their faces, leaving only their piercing eyes visible and fixed resolutely ahead.

As someone who had never set foot in Astoria, the brunette absorbed every detail with wide-eyed wonder, captivated by the unfamiliar and breathtaking sights. Rolling green hills ended in a mountain range that stretched across the Oakenshield Kingdom.

Grishna looked at Amethyst, who was falling behind; the orc girl smiled before speaking, ''Come on, Little Bird, we will rent out an inn room with a comfortable bed so you can sleep.''

The phoenix girl raised her head, yawning, saying, ''That would be nice, but your snoring is too much and keeps me up all night.''

Artemis laughed while Estelle smiled, but Grishna retorted defensively, ''I can't help that! It's an orc trait.''

The group took another twenty minutes to arrive at the heavily guarded dwarf town. The soldiers at the gate waved them through, allowing the girls to enter and see the stalls selling dwarven food.

Grishna exclaimed in excitement, ''Dwarf stall food is delicious; you girls need to try it.''

They all agreed and headed to the nearest stall, where the irresistible aroma of kebabs greeted them. After each purchased a meal, they went to a nearby park. They found a spot by a stunning fountain, perfect for enjoying their food.

Following that, the days passed quickly, and when the girls were heading back to the bridge, a warning came in the form of an injured Rollo; the big man found them at the camp as the Southmen attacked and drove the allies back.

He glanced at Amethyst and then turned to Grishna before speaking in a worried voice as he warned them, "Get the phoenix out of here! The Sentinels are after her—they know she's connected to the demon Dahaka they've been preaching about."

At his words, the four of them quickly composed themselves. Estelle stepped forward, casting Healing Light on the older man as she spoke in a reassuring tone, "We'll make our way to the Thalassian Empire. If the Southmen shift north, we'll make our way to the Northern Wastes, where no one goes. There's a free border city we could hide in."

***

[Yashar Safavi's POV]

The First Prince of the Achaemenid Empire was leading the invasion north when his scouts found a route through the Sands of Sorrow Desert. He was now resting before pushing forward after conquering the Wildheart Kingdom.

Due to empire policy, Yashar had to treat the captured royal family respectfully and show them that the Achaemenidians were there to help, even if they burned their lands because they were nervous.

He was in the capital, Astrion. When the imperial guard and two hundred Immortals entered the city, they were welcomed by the Wildheart Royal Family, who submitted to the empire without much fuss.

While Yashar was resting in the palace, playing with one of the Wildheart Princesses, he was abruptly interrupted by the commander of the Sentinels, ''My Prince, the Dahaka's lover has been spotted at Blood Bridge Southwest from here,'' he reported.

'What!' he internally thought.

Yashar pushed the girl off him and jumped up. "Who is she? What details do you have?"

The man stepped forward while explaining, ''She's a young blind girl with purple hair and elf ears; reports speak of beautiful wings the same color as her hair. The general said she was flying around, taking out dozens of our soldiers.''

When hearing this, a plan formed in his head, 'I will enslave the demons wife and have control over him, then I can use the boy to defeat my siblings for the crown,' he thought.

Yashar shook his head and questioned, ''Do you have a picture of her Davos?''

The commander nodded and handed over a Mana Recorder, allowing him to see a beautiful girl who reminded him of a fairy, ''She will become mine; I want the girl to join my harem if she renounces that demon.''

He then turned to the pink-haired girl and said, ''Princess, you will join me on my journey to the front. I need some stress relief, and you're perfect for that.''

Yashar and his new consort left the palace while leading the fresh million-strong Achaemenidian army that washed over the land; the only cities or towns they destroyed were the ones that didn't surrender while sparing the others.

The First Prince wasn't like his father, who was a merciful man and allowed people to live after losing a siege where, as Yashar put everyone to the sword. He would soon be known as the Blood Prince of the empire.

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