Everyone gets together [Dark Forest War - Part V]

-- POV Freya --

Before me stood 26 new citizens for my Kingdom, 26 battered and weary hearts that I vowed to protect as I had protected the slaves of the manor. They had not spoken a single word, but there was an unwavering determination in each one's eyes. The mountains were silent and imposing as I finally activated my new menu.

*Kira, it is time to define the forest as my kingdom.*

-- PING --

[Do you want to set the Dark Forest as your first Kingdom location ? ]

[ YES/NO ]

*Yes !*

-- PING --

[Congratulations, your Kingdom is now located at: Dark Forest]

[You have earned 100 attribute points.]

[Find a name and start building !]

[ Building constructed: 0/1 ]

I finally had the location of my Kingdom, the name and organization could wait until we took out the trash. What I wanted was to allow those who had pledged allegiance to me to level up during the upcoming war. There were not many of us so every little advantage was welcome.

*Kira, please open my Kingdom menu !*

___

[KINGDOM (please name it)

Empress: Freya

Wife: (Gaya)

Princess: Shiro

Administration: ...

Commanders of the armies : ...

Chief of construction : ...

Building constructed : 0/1

Chief blacksmith : ...

Chief cook : ...

Chief spy : ...

Responsible for the cultures : ...

Location : Dark Forest

Subordinates / inhabitants : 128

Official soldiers : ...

I still had a lot of things to do, once the humans were killed my days would not be any calmer, but everything in its time. Looking at those who were still kneeling I finally spoke.

_______

-- POV Nixia --

After witnessing her power, no one could ignore her words. There was a fire burning in her mesmerizing eyes and her frightening aura seemed both protective and reassuring. This morning we still didn't know what to do and now we finally had someone to guide us, someone to help us. Not to mention her heavenly beauty and despite her natural coldness, we were drawn to her. I knew and we all knew that she was the person who would deliver us from this life of misfortune. It may have seemed crazy to see all of us kneeling before her, but there was something unique about this woman that compelled us to follow her.

*Well...as far as I'm concerned it would be more...bent over? Lowered ?*

As my mind relaxed in spite of myself, the Empress' voice echoed through the mountains.

"I introduce myself again, I am Freya and I declare the Dark Forest to be my Kingdom. I am the Empress of it and since you have decided to follow me, I promise to protect you as I already protect those dear to me."

*She's not alone ?*

I didn't even have time to think about anything else when she started again.

"It's time to gather our forces to counterattack. I know that you must be missing about five people, and I have two people waiting for me outside the forest. I have to go and get them before night falls and once we are all together I will explain my plan."

Naïa, Ynir, Trioa, Persea and Caipy were indeed missing and were looking for possible people still hidden to bring them back to the camp. We didn't really know each other except for our sad past and they had no idea what had happened while they were gone, but it was up to us to explain it to them. Even if they decided not to follow the Empress, they would at least accept her help to rescue the prisoners.

"I'm going to go ! Nixia, I want you to take charge of explaining the changes to those who I hope will arrive soon. Luna, take care of the children and little Hans, Emilia prepare me a list of the weapons you have, Thorunn and Ralph keep the camp until I return !"

Her orders came with incredible ease as if she was born to lead. Her amethyst eyes conveyed their passion as we responded with a heart full of hope and respect.

"YES YOUR HIGHNESS !"

In just a few hours our camp had finally regained confidence with the coming of this mysterious Empress. No one really knew what was going to happen and how she planned to create her Kingdom, but we were all fascinated by this unique and powerful being who had given us hope.

As I watched her disappear with her great speed, the girls gathered around me with serious expressions on their faces. Ralph was the first to speak.

"I do believe that the Empress could accomplish great things. My wolf instincts tell me that she deserves my allegiance..."

That this proud and brave warrior would agree to pledge allegiance to someone, was something almost impossible. And yet the Empress Freya had succeeded in this feat. Emilia nodded her head at her words while Thorunn obviously smiled in the same vein.

"Her Highness Freya saved me and little Hans. I don't really know who she is yet but I want to follow her, I want to learn from her and become stronger. Have you felt her aura ? Her presence ? She was born to lead and I'm sure that no one as incredible as her will come before us again. Half-humans, beastmen and all other non-human races have been tormented for far too long. It's time to change, it's time to wake up and fight back ! I feel a new air on the horizon and I sense that this change will be produced by her highness Freya..."

Luna had spoken the words that were in all our hearts and minds. Finally we all felt the same at that moment and we had the desire to follow this Empress who wanted the happiness of all the oppressed races.

Each of us had been hurt at some point in our lives by humans and I was no exception.

I had spent years being tortured by humans who found it amusing to experiment on my scales. Ralph had seen her clan slaughtered by adventurers who sought to exterminate them. Luna had also seen her parents die sacrificing themselves to prevent her from being captured for her unique eyes and unusual race. Thorunn had spent her life running from the Church and Emilia was an unattached young woman traveling from country to country fleeing humans or fighting them. Coming out of my thoughts, I decided to carry out the task I had been given.

"You know what you have to do, so I'm going to do my part of the job !"

They all spun in an opposite direction as I saw the five members who had not witnessed the spectacle of our monumental beating and the Empress who had taken us under her wing returning in the distance.

There was Naïa who was one of the main targets of the humans because of her origins. She was small, 16 years old with red hair and green eyes that were the characteristics of her entire race. She was a fox and a level 10 fire mage.

"We haven't found anyone...everyone seems to have been captured."

Naia had a look of disappointment on her face as she said these words.

"Don't worry, we'll soon release them all and your parents too."

The one who had spoken stood beside her with eyes filled with compassion, it was Ynir. She was a half human with butterfly wings and two small antennae on her forehead. Ynir had black hair with rainbow highlights in some places and light blue eyes. She had joined because she wanted to protect the forest at all costs from those humans she hated so much and who had also taken her family from her.

"Wait ! I have something to explain to you. There have been many changes while you were away..."

I decided to explain to them what had happened here while they were away. As I explained in as much detail as possible, everyone's face was surprised and excited. I was doing my best to make them agree to follow the Empress because I wanted to stand by her side to realize her dream...our dream.

"..."

They were speechless and did not know if it was possible for such things to happen.

"This is..."

Trioa couldn't speak as she seemed happy and eager to meet the Empress. She was a half-human wyvern and had two wings on her back as gray as her eyes and hair. She was a tall 20 years old, very shy and always kind.

Caipy, the oldest of us all, stepped forward to ask me a question.

"You seem to respect her unconditionally judging by your speech. Is her goal to protect this forest ? If so, I think that me and Persea here will have no problem pledging allegiance to her when she returns."

Persea at her side nodded her head to confirm her words. They were both equally protective of the forest due to their races. Caipy was a Dark elf with dark green hair, matte skin and black eyes. No one really knew her age, but she was undeniably the oldest of us all.

Persea was a dryad who couldn't stand to see humans in the forest, she had golden hair with a crown of flowers and soft green eyes. Both of them, they could sometimes make us forget our worries. Caipy and Persea were warm and motherly to all the members of the camp, which always gave us strength.

"Her Highness Freya not only wants to preserve the forest from humans but also wants to build her Kingdom here so that she can save and welcome all oppressed races. Her Highness proposes that we walk beside her to build with our own hands this place where no one will ever be mistreated and killed again."

The five of them looked at me intently and slowly allowed themselves to be won over by this idea. They had not yet met the Empress who had left a while ago. Who could she be looking for ? She had mentioned two people but had not given any further explanation, so we had to wait for her.

_____

Everyone was gathered in the camp and all the tasks given by the Empress had been completed. We were all waiting, looking in the direction she had gone, as the sun was just starting to set.

Women, children and men unable to fight were patiently waiting for the return of their Empress, their heroine who had given them hope and lit a fire almost extinguished in their souls.

Naïa, Trioa, Persea, Caipy and Ynir were at my side, impatient to discover this being that I had described as formidable, when suddenly we saw a dark and enormous form coming from the trees. It was impossible to see properly because it was slowly getting dark and the trees were too dense, but it was definitely not a half-human.

"Is that her ? I feel immense power emanating from that figure.."

Ynir had moved to a guard position while I tried as best I could to identify the creature.

"I...I don't know..."

I felt an aura similar to the Empress, but its form did not match what I had seen earlier. The figure finally emerged from the darkness and there stood a huge, imposing wolf, terrifying, powerful and dominant. It had two horns and a fur as black as night, dark and disturbing. Its eyes were the same as those of the Empress because they shone with the same dangerous, wild and cold glow.

"Y..your highness ?"

Luna had stepped forward cautiously questioning the majestic beast before us. It was hard to speak as the surrounding air was overwhelmed by its presence and natural superior aura.

As everyone held their breath, a small girl appeared on the back of the imperial beast. She had a tail and two wolf ears as white as her hair that seemed to glisten in the wind. The eyes of the little half-human were strangely the same color as the wolf she was riding and everyone wondered who she was.

The giant wolf then began to move back slightly into the darkness leaving only its shadow in front of us. We could see its shadow shrink more and more to take on human form before putting on clothes and emerging from the bushes with the little one in its arms. It was indeed the Empress.

People were kneeling down one by one after discovering her identity to greet her and welcome her back. I myself was leaning forward to show my respect and I could see that the five who had not yet met her were naturally kneeling.

We were all delighted to see her but one question was on all our lips: who was this little girl ?

Our question was quickly answered as the little girl spoke up.

"Wooow mommy ! Are these all the people you're protecting ?"

Before us stood the Empress and Princess of this Kingdom.

_____

FULL STATUS

Name : Freya

Age : 0 years / Mentally : 25 years

Sex : Female

Course : Ice Demon Wolf of chaos - Adult

Race : Major Demon

Titles : Blessed by Titania, Goddess of endless Chaos and eternal frozen Hell.

Dragon tamer

Ruthless slayer

Level : 32/70

Exp required for next level: 2 000 / 33 000

HP : 90 000 / 90 000 MP : 45 000 / 45 000

Strength : 340

Defense : 336

Agility : 350

Stamina : 353

Speed : 342

Intelligence : 340

Charisma : 410 (imperial she-wolf)

Attribute points to allocate : 100

Engaged to: Gaya

Daughter : Shiro

Kingdom (menu)

Subordinates : 128

Humans killed : 128

Elements: Ice / Chaos

Skills (all):

Attack - Demon Claws (Lvl 5)

- Bite of hell (Lvl 5)

- Infernal ice spikes (Lvl 5)

- Fighting techniques (lvl max)

- Mastery of the katana (lvl max)

- Demonic aura of the empress (lvl 3)

Defense - Ice demon wall (lvl 4)

- Demonic cloak (lvl 5)

Pain Resistance (lvl 3)

Attack/Defense - Domain of the Ice Empress "frozen wrath" (lvl 1) - (under condition)

Others - Humanoid form

- Ice creation (Lvl 4)

- Storage of chaos (Lvl 3)

- Devouring chaos (Lvl 4)

- Analysis

- Second soul (Lvl max) - unique

- Telepathy

Passives - Commander (lvl max)

- Natural Aura of the Ice Empress ]