INVADE?

As Vermillion, Jenessa, and Kaelan departed from the village, a sense of sadness lingered in the air, especially for Yumi, who had grown attached to them during their brief time together. However, the impact they left behind was undeniable. By teaching the villagers cooking skills, even if it was just a few recipes, they had provided a significant improvement to the quality of life in Dreadhaven. No longer reliant on raw meat, the villagers now had the knowledge to prepare nourishing meals for themselves. They even began to experiment and develop additional cooking skills on their own, further enhancing their culinary abilities. With this issue resolved, another problem plaguing the village had been successfully addressed.

Amidst these developments, one question must be lingered in your minds: where is Doomthunder?, Upon our arrival in the village, he had arrived a few minutes later, initially causing fear among the villagers due to their ingrained fear of hounds. However, upon learning that Doomthunder had become my loyal companion, the villagers gradually began to feel at ease. I had also made a pact with him, to which he had readily agreed, offering his soul in loyalty.

Soon after, Doomthunder had left the village to gather his entire hound group. It had been two days since his departure, and I anticipated it would take at least one more day for him to return with his full group.

Where's Scarlett?, She's facing a life-and-death situation. But wait, who or what could possibly be formidable enough to pose such a threat to the mighty Scarlett Nova?

Well, brace yourself, because it's not a fearsome foe or a cunning villain—it's none other than a pile of clothes. Yes, you heard that right. "Female clothes", to be precise.

"C'mon, wear it already!" Yumi's voice rang out, tinged with a hint of frustration.

Inside Scarlett's shelter, a struggle ensued as Scarlett resisted the villagers' attempts to make her wear the clothes they had specially made for her. Seiira and Yumi exerted all their efforts to convince Scarlett to don the attire.

"Look at your revealing clothes! Think about the children. You're setting a bad example for them. And think about the villagers who put so much effort into making these clothes just for you," Yumi exclaimed, her tone carrying a touch of aggression.

Scarlett pushed back, adamant in her refusal. "I'm not disrespecting their sincerity. I just can't wear it!" she insisted, resisting their efforts. Bound by her contract with Avion, she had promised to wear the revealing clothes until she freed the villagers from their troubles.

"You can't fool me. Just wear these clothes," Yumi chuckled mischievously, determined to see Scarlett comply.

As Scarlett contemplated using her physical strength to break free from the situation, a sudden realization hit her like a bolt of lightning. It was the memory of her defeat at the hands of Aoto, back in "Chapter 28 - Rock, Paper, Scissors," where he had exploited her weakness by making her imagine wearing a bikini in front of everyone, causing her to lose focus and ultimately the game.

Recalling her motto—that a true warrior should have fewer weaknesses—Scarlett felt a surge of determination coursing through her veins. She couldn't let her fear of female clothes control her. With a deep breath, she steeled herself and reached for the garments.

"Huff... huff... I'll wear it!" Scarlett declared, her voice filled with determination as she made the decision to overcome her fear and face the challenge head-on.

With the others respectfully leaving the shelter to give Scarlett privacy, she hesitantly opened the package containing the clothes. Inside was a semi-backless purple off-shoulder sweater, a garment that reflected Scarlett's known affinity for the color purple, especially after her display of purple fire against Sulfurion, which had spread across the village.

However, the real surprise lay in the sight of a pair of black stockings, the very same ones Elder Semiath had given her on her first day in the village. After some initial hesitation, Scarlett made the decision to wear them, a thought nagging at the back of her mind about her contract with Avion.

"Can I really wear it? What about Avion's contract?" Scarlett pondered briefly. However, with the realization that she had already solved many problems and her village was on the verge of becoming a town, she chose not to dwell on it too much. With determination, she removed her jewelry and set it aside before slipping into the purple sweater and black stockings.

As she looked at herself in the mirror, Scarlett couldn't help but feel a sense of beauty and blush from embarrassment wash over her by her own beauty. "My shoulders are still visible, but it's much better than wearing those revealing clothes," she remarked with a sense of relief and satisfaction.

As Scarlett observed that nothing untoward had happened after donning the new attire, she realized that there was no harm in wearing different clothes now. With a sense of liberation, she had successfully escaped from the pressure of wearing those erotic garments.

"You all can enter now!" Scarlett announced, her voice carrying a note of assurance.

Hearing her invitation, Yumi, Seiira, and the others entered the shelter, their eyes widening in astonishment at Scarlett's transformed appearance. Caught off guard by their admiring gazes, Scarlett felt a blush creep into her cheeks as she nervously rubbed her legs together.

"You look like an elegant housewife!" Yumi exclaimed with enthusiasm, her words meant as a compliment.

However, Scarlett's expression twisted in disappointment at the unexpected remark. With a hint of aggression in her tone, she responded, "Really? A housewife? Don't compliment me if you're going to say something like that." Despite her irritation, there was a sense of vulnerability in her reaction, revealing her discomfort with the comparison.

Scarlett was about to smack Yumi on the head in annoyance, but before she could, Evadne burst into the shelter with a look of dissatisfaction and anger on his face.

"Scarlett-sama, please help. The adults won't let me use the dumbbells!" Evadne pleaded, his frustration evident.

"Dumbbells?" Scarlett exclaimed in surprise. She had brought resources to set up a gym in the village and had included enchanted dumbbells for bodybuilding purposes. However, these dumbbells were far too heavy for a child like Evadne to lift.

"You're too young to lift them. You can try when you're older," Scarlett reassured him gently, trying to dissuade him from attempting something beyond his capabilities.

But Evadne was determined. "I can lift them! You told me to be like a man, so I've been training secretly at night when no one's watching. I'll show you, just come with me," he insisted, leading Scarlett to the area where the gym resources were stored.

As Scarlett followed him, the others returned to their tasks, thinking Evadne was simply joking. However, his serious expression told a different story.

In the not fully made gym area, the array of dumbbells, ranging from hundreds of kilograms to hundreds of tons. To her astonishment, Evadne made a beeline for an 80-ton dumbbell.

Scarlett moved forward to stop him, but before she could intervene, Evadne effortlessly lifted the massive dumbbell with one hand, a proud smile spreading across his face as he showcased his strength and bravery.

Scarlett's mind raced with disbelief as she muttered under her breath, "How did he do that?" The sight of Evadne effortlessly lifting such a heavy weight left her stunned and amazed.

As Evadne placed the dumbbell back on the floor, Scarlett leaned in closer to him, her hands gently resting on his shoulders. "Can you open your status window?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.

Others couldn't see inside each other's status windows unless they possessed a skill like appraisal. Instesd they can only see an blue rectangular shaped hollow floating in air, So Scarlett decided to ask Evadne directly, hoping to get a glimpse of his stats.

As Evadne opened his status window, Scarlett's eyes widened in disbelief. She had forgotten all about asking for his stat points. Instead, she was taken aback by what she saw. Unlike the usual blue color of a status window, Evadne's was a striking red, much like Avion's—a sign that he was free from the Creator's will.

Even after months of training with the first Demon King Avion, Scarlett had yet to make her status window turn red and break free from the Creator's will. Yet here, in front of her, Evadne's status window had effortlessly manifested in red, without any apparent effort on his part.

"Do you have any unusual or powerful-looking skills?" Scarlett inquired, her curiosity piqued.

Glancing at his status window, Evadne discovered an unexpected skill. "Yeah, I have one. It's called... umm... Ultimate skill: Tremor King," he replied, his tone tinged with uncertainty.

"Tremor? Is he like Whitebeard from One Piece?, More importantly an 'Ultimate skill?'" Scarlett mused silently. Evadne's past was shrouded in mystery; he had been abandoned by his parents as a baby and now lived with Elder Semiath in the village, unaware of his true heritage.

"Evadne Emberwing, huh? Emberwing... wings... angels? But he's a demon, right?" Scarlett sighed, giving up on trying to decipher his true identity. "Just who exactly is he?"

PLACE : KINGDOM OF GWARGA

In the hushed confines of the royal palace, Prince Lórien paced back and forth in his lavish room, his expression a tumultuous mix of dissatisfaction, concern, anger, and tension.

When Scarlett had infiltrated the palace, Lórien had just returned from a hunt for monsters. This meant he hadn't been able to confront Scarlett or thwart her plans.

Scarlett had effortlessly taken Yumi and many other things, thanks to the 'Ouroboros Mark' placed on the king. With their ruler under Scarlett's control, they had been left with no choice but to comply with her demands.

However, now that the 'Ouroboros Mark' had vanished from the king, Lórien found himself grappling with the dilemma of rescuing Yumi Yamamoto from Scarlett's clutches. He couldn't shake the gnawing uncertainty about Yumi's safety, not knowing whether she was unharmed or facing peril at Scarlett's hands.

In the midst of his frustration, a figure strode into the room without bothering to knock. It was a man in his fifties, his black-golden hair and beard resembling those of Gwarga's king—Lórien's father—from head to toe. However, this man was not his father but his uncle, the king's twin brother.

Seeing his uncle enter, Lórien couldn't help but let out a disgruntled sigh. "Now what do you want, Uncle?" he questioned, his tone tinged with irritation.

His uncle chuckled softly and absentmindedly stroked his beard, a habit that distinguished him from the king. While the king of Gwarga may have been somewhat clever, his twin brother possessed a cunning and desire that set him apart.

"I thought you might be in a difficult situation, so I came to offer my assistance as your uncle," his uncle remarked with a smirk, his words laced with a hint of mischief.

"So, what's your advice?" Lórien queried, his tone indicating a mixture of resignation and curiosity.

His uncle grinned knowingly. "Come on, you know what I'm going to suggest," he replied, his voice brimming with confidence. "I'll handle your father, and you'll be free to invade that village and rescue the Summoned hero."

Lórien's gaze shifted towards his uncle, a hint of uncertainty clouding his expression. "But what if I lose?" he asked, voicing his apprehension.

His uncle's grin widened, his eyes gleaming with a hint of mischief. "Train the Summoned hero yourself. Then, after a few weeks, take them with you to invade the village," he suggested, leaning in closer to Lórien. "And remember," he added, placing a hand on Lórien's sword, "even if things don't go as planned, you have that, Right? Your own 'Warlord!'."

With a weary sigh, Lórien nodded in agreement. "I suppose you're right. I can't just sit idle. I'm heading to the Warrior Academy right now," he declared, determination evident in his voice as he resolved to take action.

With determination etched on his features, Lórien wasted no time in departing for the Warrior Academy. As he exited the room, a sinister grin spread across the face of his uncle, Leonidas, who couldn't contain his excitement. "This is the moment I've been waiting for my whole life," he declared with malicious glee.

Leonidas, the twin brother of Lysander, the king of Gwarga, had always harbored ambitions of claiming the throne of the Kingdom of Gwarga for himself. Despite being more cunning and industrious than his elder brother, he had been denied the throne simply because he was born a few seconds later, His older brother came out their mother's womb first and he, few seconds later. It irked him to no end that his birth order determined his fate, relegating him to a position of lesser importance.

Even now, instead of his childrens, It's Lórien, his nephew and Lysander's son, poised to inherit the throne, Leonidas felt the burning desire to seize power for himself. He was willing to go to any lengths to achieve his goal, and with the perfect opportunity now presenting itself, he was prepared to act swiftly and decisively.

It didn't take long for Lórien to reach the Warrior Academy, where his reputation preceded him. As news spread of the prince's arrival, students and professors alike buzzed with excitement. Lórien wasted no time in meeting with the professors to discuss his plans.

Minutes later, on the academy grounds, teachers and exceptional students gathered around, most of whom were summoned heroes from other realms, along with a few natives of this world. Standing before them, Lórien held his long sword, his presence commanding attention.

With a heavy voice that cut through the silence, Lórien introduced himself. "You may already know me as Lórien, prince of Gwarga," he began, his words carrying authority. "And you may have heard that a succubus has invaded the palace and taken the summoned hero Yumi Yamamoto with her."

As he paced back and forth, his determination evident, Lórien addressed the gathered students. "You've been chosen to train with me. Over the next two or three weeks, I will personally train each of you to become stronger than you ever thought possible."

With a sense of purpose, Lórien revealed a crystal, the same one Scarlett had given to the king. "This crystal holds the coordinates of the village where the succubus resides," he explained, a smile playing on his lips. "We will invade that village and rescue Yumi Yamamoto."