Chapter 411: Chapter 408 – A Decisive Decision
Nocture’s firm actions spread like a shockwave across the entire fused world.
In just two days, news of the silent massacre night and the total destruction of the enemy territories had reached every corner of the continent. The human kingdoms from both the Old Earth and the New Earth, which had ford a temporary truce to target Nocture, were now in extre panic. They had thought that offering compensation in treasures and artifacts, or at least sending official apologies, would be enough. Instead, Nocture not only killed the involved regional leaders, they had completely razed every city, fortress, and village into nothing but black ruins.
KRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK!!!
The sounds of explosions and the roars of elental zombies still rang in the survivors’ ears. Once-prosperous cities now lay in nothing but ash and scorched rubble. Thousands of residents who chose to migrate to Nocture walked in long lines, their faces pale but filled with relief for having escaped the hell created by Sylvia’s zombie forces.
Various factions in the outside world reacted differently.
The most panicked were, of course, the factions that had openly opposed Nocture. Human kings, envious minor gods, and monster hunter groups were now holding ergency etings behind the thick walls of their kingdoms. Their faces turned deathly pale as they heard reports that all their puppet territories had vanished overnight.
"She... she wasn’t joking," muttered one human king with a trembling voice. "We only sent assassins... but she destroyed everything."
A minor Greek god who had survived the encirclent gripped his staff tightly. "We thought she was still weak after fighting the Elder Dragon. It turns out... we were terribly wrong."
However, for neutral parties and Nocture’s allies, their reactions were much calr. They knew the true nature of this undead kingdom very well. Nocture was a purely defensive kingdom. As long as it was not attacked, it would remain silent and not interfere with the outside world. But if anyone dared to touch it even slightly the retaliation would co extrely, rcilessly, and without limit.
A neutral rchant guild leader in a large city simply shook his head slowly while sipping his wine. "I’ve said it from the beginning. Don’t touch Nocture. They are not aggressors, they are avengers. And their revenge is always... lethal."
In a distant ancient temple, an old neutral priest smiled faintly. "The Queen of Death only returned what they did to her. If you hadn’t infiltrated that night, your cities would still be standing now."
While the outside world was in an uproar with debates, accusations, and spreading fear, Sylvia was calmly relaxing in the back garden of Nocture Castle.
The garden was one of the most beautiful places in the city of darkness. Tall black trees with deep purple leaves reached toward the sky, blood-red and pitch-black flowers blood perfectly, and a thin mist hung low like a silk blanket. In the center of the garden stood an elegant black stone table surrounded by comfortable chairs.
Sylvia sat gracefully in one of the chairs, her black mantle neatly folded on her lap. In her hand was a cup of thick black tea, steaming with a gentle aroma of soft tea leaves. Across from her, Sofia sat with a gentle smile, her golden wings neatly folded behind her back, enjoying the sa tea.
On the soft black grass, Noir lounged lazily. The massive dragon’s body had shrunk again into the size of a large, adorable cat. His pitch-black scales glead softly under the dim light, his tail swayed gently, and he curled up beside Sylvia’s feet with half-closed eyes, as if enjoying the rare warmth of the afternoon in Nocture.
The atmosphere was extrely peaceful, a sharp contrast to the chaos happening in the outside world.
Sylvia took a slow sip of her tea, then placed the cup down with elegant movents. "The world is in quite an uproar," she said in a relaxed, cold voice. "They thought I would be satisfied with compensation and apologies. How amusing."
Sofia smiled gently, her fingers twirling the teacup. "They still don’t truly know you, Sylvia. They still think like ordinary human kingdoms if you lose, you just pay reparations and make peace. But Nocture... is different."
Sylvia nodded slowly. Her red eyes gazed into the distance, as if she could see the commotion in the outside world. "That’s right. I don’t need their wealth. I need a clear ssage. Now they know that if they dare touch Nocture, it’s not just their leaders who die, their entire territories will disappear from the map."
She paused for a mont and took another sip of tea. A gentle breeze blew through her long black hair.
"Sofia," she called softly.
"Yes?"
"I want to go alone for a while."
Sofia imdiately straightened up. The light from her golden wings flickered once in surprise. "Alone? Sylvia... after everything that just happened? The outside world is in panic, and bigger enemies are still watching from the dinsional rifts. The owner of those giant claws... we still don’t know who he really is."
Sylvia smiled faintly, but her gaze remained cold and resolute. "That’s exactly why I have to go. The fusion with Stacia and Alicia has given
new power, but I feel there is still a limit inside . I need to increase my own strength. Alone. Without guards, without troops. Just ."
Sofia shook her head quickly, her face full of worry. "I refuse. At least take
or Velthya. Or Noir. We just lost ten nights because you were unconscious. I don’t want to lose you again."
Sylvia placed her teacup down gently. She looked straight into Sofia’s blue angel eyes. "Sofia... I know you’re worried. But this is necessary. I am no longer the Queen of Death I once was. The power of the three souls inside my body still needs to be fully mastered by . If I keep relying on all of you, I will never reach the next level."
Noir, who had been lounging lazily, suddenly lifted his head. His small ears perked up, and his undead red eyes stared at his queen with hope. He let out a low sound grrr... as if wanting to join.
Sylvia glanced at the small dragon and smiled faintly. "You can’t co either, Noir. You must stay in Nocture. Protect this city together with the others. You are now our greatest power here."
Noir lowered his head sadly, his small tail drooping onto the grass. A low, sorrowful sound ca from his throat grrruuu... but he did not rebel.
Sofia was still hesitant, gripping her teacup tighter. "Sylvia... at least..."
Sylvia raised her hand gently, stopping Sofia’s protest. "I won’t truly be alone. I will bring my two sisters with . Alicia and Stacia will accompany . The power of our three souls will grow more easily if we are together."
Sofia remained silent for a long ti. She looked at Sylvia with eyes full of worry, but finally let out a long sigh and nodded slowly. "Alright... I give in. But promise
that if the danger becos too great, you will return imdiately or call for us."
Sylvia smiled gently for the first ti that day. "I promise."
Noir was still staring at his queen with sad eyes, his ears slightly lowered. Sylvia reached out and gently stroked the small dragon’s head. "Don’t sulk. You are Nocture’s guardian now. If anyone dares approach while I’m gone, you may eliminate them however you like."
Noir growled softly, but still looked sad. He laid his head back down on the grass, his tail swaying slowly without enthusiasm.
In the distance, the noisy sounds of the outside world could still be faintly heard through the wind news of destroyed cities, the panic of human kingdoms, and speculation about the increasingly terrifying power of the Queen of Death. Yet in the back garden of Nocture Castle, the atmosphere remained calm and peaceful.
Sylvia took another sip of her tea, savoring the gentle bitterness. "The world can make as much noise as they want," she said softly. "I will return stronger. And when that ti cos... no one will dare touch Nocture again."
Sofia nodded, though the worry in her eyes was still clearly visible. "We will guard Nocture well until you return."
Noir let out one more small, sad sound grrruuu... but finally closed his eyes and slept lazily, as if reluctantly accepting his queen’s order.
The night wind blew gently through the garden, carrying the scent of black flowers and spiced tea. Behind that tranquility, Sylvia had already begun planning her solo journey, a journey to unlock the new limits of power that had been dormant inside her.
And the world outside Nocture’s walls continued to churn, unaware that the dark queen they feared was calmly sitting and drinking tea, while planning her next move that would make them tremble even more.
Sofia placed her teacup down gently, her blue eyes still filled with unconcealable worry. "Sylvia... how long will you be gone?"
Sylvia gazed into the distance, toward the black mist that shrouded the city walls. "I’m not sure yet. Maybe a few weeks. Maybe longer. I need to find a suitable place where the power of death flows strongly without interference. A small dinsional rift in the northern mountains or the ruins of an ancient temple in the destroyed territories... I’ll decide once I’m on the road."
Sofia let out a long sigh, finally surrendering completely. "Alright... I will guard Nocture together with the others. Velthya, Zark, Celes, Aurellia we will all stay on alert. But please... take good care of yourself. The outside world is restless. Many eyes are watching Nocture now."
Sylvia smiled faintly, a cold smile full of confidence. "They can watch as much as they want. The more they fear us, the safer Nocture becos. And when I return... I will bring power that makes them not even dare to think of our na."
She took her final sip of tea, then placed the cup on the stone table with elegant grace. The faint light from the black flowers in the garden illuminated her beautiful face, half-hidden behind her long hair.
"I will depart tomorrow morning with Alicia and Stacia," she said softly. "Tonight, let
enjoy this peace a little longer."
Sofia nodded without a word. Noir simply curled up tighter beside his queen’s feet, as if trying to delay her departure for just a little while more.
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