Chapter 2

The Begusta kicked her in the stomach with such force that it sent her flying and crashing into an enemy warrior who was busy battling a Gemurian soldier.

She gasped for air, but with her fierce determination, she managed to rise again.

Suddenly, she was splattered with blood as a Gemurian warrior stabbed the enemy she had just collided with, who was about to attack her. "General Hemira!" The soldier wanted to help her get up.

"General Hemira!" the nearby warriors called out to her with concern.

However, as the Gemurian soldiers turned their attention to her, the enemy swiftly seized the chance to strike. Foes lunged forward, ruthlessly stabbing her comrades. Hemira whirled around, her fury igniting.

"You fools! Never let your guard down!" she shouted angrily at them for their negligence in battle.

The warrior who wanted to help her earlier nodded and returned to the fray. She quickly sought out the source of the terrifying scream she had heard earlier.

The fighters in front of the palace parted, and a gigantic black horse emerged, twice the size of an ordinary horse. It had enormous bat-like wings with sharp tips.

A PEREUS!

It charged forward, crashing into anyone in its path, whether foe or ally. Its heavy footsteps shook the ground slightly.

She looked at the two figures riding it. In front was an incredibly beautiful maiden with flowing hair, driving a Pereus. She was clad in red fabric that covered only her most delicate parts. But when her gaze shifted to the back of that woman, her eyes widened.

"PRINCESS CERES!" she screamed in utter panic.

The princess's body was tightly bound with ropes, the end of which was held by the woman in red. Tears of fear streamed down the princess's face.

Their royalty had been captured!

Her neck veins gradually bulged from gritting her teeth in disbelief. Her fists clenched tightly, unwilling to accept what she was witnessing.

Her body reacted first—she ran toward them. "PRINCESSSS!" she cried, her mind now filled solely with the desire to rescue her. She slashed and stabbed at the enemies blocking her path, her body numb to the pain of the many wounds inflicted upon her.

The princess looked at her and immediately recognized her. "Hemira! Help me!" she cried out in fear, pleading for aid.

She saw the Pereus come to a halt as the woman in red pulled the rope tied around the princess's neck. The woman looked at her and smirked, then yanked at the princess's hair.

"Ahhhhhhh!" the helpless royal screamed in pain as her raven-black hair was cruelly yanked.

"PRINCESS!" Her voice almost tore her vocal cords in her panic, but she couldn't reach them quickly because more enemies stood in her way. Even the white mages trying to assist were overwhelmed by foes from the sky.

"YOU FIEND! Let go of our princess!" she yelled in fury at the woman in red, continuing to charge forward as her allies helped clear the enemies blocking her path.

The woman in red arched an eyebrow and smirked, clearly entertained by Hemira's furious reaction. "And what if I choose not to?" the woman taunted with a sweet, mocking smile, tightening her grip on the princess's hair again.

The warriors of Gemuria and the white mages charged at them, but with just a single flap of the Pereus's massive wings, they were sent flying back.

No one dared to launch weapons at them, fearing the princess might be harmed.

No one could get close enough to the woman in red to rescue their royal.

"Hemira!" the princess called out to her again, but a red smoke suddenly surrounded her, emanating from the woman in red's hand.

The princess collapsed unconscious.

Hemira's eyes widened as her anger grew even stronger.

"How tiresome it is to have such a raucous princess," the woman sneered. "Her voice was grating on my ears, so I put her to sleep. But who knows? Maybe I'll decide not to wake her... ever again! KYAHAHAHA!" She laughed shrilly.

Hemira's fury intensified, but just as she was about to rush forward again, her earlier enemy, a Begusta, blocked her path, forcing her to stop.

"We're not done yet, warrior," it grinned wickedly.

"I don't have time for you!" In her haste, she swiftly slashed her sword across Begusta's previously unscathed cheek, causing blood to spurt out. Now, both of its cheeks bore wounds on her. She leaped high and delivered a spinning kick to the side of its face, sending it crashing into a large rock.

Breathing heavily from exhaustion, Hemira pressed on, running toward the Pereus.

Every step she took sent searing pain through her side, and blood dripped from her badly scratched arm. Still, she forced herself to run even faster, determined to reach them.

Just as she was getting close, the Pereus began flapping its wings again, creating a powerful windstorm that sent everyone nearby flying.

She was forced to stop, shielding her face with her arms to avoid getting dirt in her eyes.

"Kyahahahahaah! Farewell, losers! Your princess is ours! Kyahahaha!" the woman in red taunted as she flew away on the Pereus.

Hemira squinted through the wind, her rage building as she saw the laughing woman. She clenched her fist and sprinted after the airborne Pereus, even though the wind pounded against her.

The other surviving attackers who had assaulted the palace began to disappear in clouds of black smoke, as did their fallen foes. The Begusta she had fought earlier, now in human form, vanished as well.

Hemira stopped running and measured the distance between herself and the woman in red, who was flying away on the Pereus. She gathered her strength, ready to throw her sword at the woman. "HAAAAAAHHHH!" With all her might, she hurled her sword toward her enemy, who was still laughing.

The sword flew swiftly toward its target, but the woman in red dodged it with a slight movement, finally stopping her mocking laughter.

She shot Hemira a hateful glare but soon replaced it with a teasing grin. "Is that all the great General or warriors can do? You're all useless! Kyahahaha—" She cut off mid-laugh as blood trickled from her cheek.

A thin cut had appeared from the sword Hemira had thrown. Anger twisted the woman's beautiful face as she realized she'd been wounded. "YOU!" She prepared to descend from the Pereus to attack Hemira, but black smoke appeared in the air near her.

From the smoke emerged a cloaked figure, face hidden under a hood. This was not the Begusta she had fought earlier—the presence of this person felt different. The figure gestured for the woman in red to stop her descent, and despite her clear reluctance, she complied, shooting Hemira a hateful look.

Hemira's gaze shifted to the hooded figure. Even though she couldn't see the person's face, a shiver of fear ran down her spine for reasons she couldn't explain.

The figure turned to her, revealing the face of a man. His smile sent chills through her entire body.

The Pereus flapped its wings again, soaring into the sky with the cloaked man, the woman in red, and the captured princess bound behind her.

"PRINCEEEESS!" Hemira screamed once more, trying to chase after the Pereus, but it suddenly disappeared into the sky in a cloud of black smoke.

The remaining warriors and mages of Gemuria tried to give chase, but it was too late.

Their kingdom's princess was gone, taken by the enemy, and they had been powerless to stop it.

Hemira dropped to her knees, her fists pounding the ground in frustration as she grappled with the crushing reality of their princess's capture.

***

Mostro – refers to all evil beings, regardless of their race.

White Mages – benevolent people skilled in using various types of magic, but they only wield their powers for good.

Black Mages – the opposite of White Mages. They are evil and kill people they harbor hatred for. They use curses and dark magic.

Begusta – a ferocious and strong beast, but not intelligent. It sees everything as food. Its ability to quickly heal wounds makes it difficult to defeat.

Pereus – known for being wild and soaring to great heights-can shield itself from attacks by wrapping its massive wings around its body. It also has a powerful kick capable of breaking through thick shields.

Krowa – giant ravens that grow larger than humans over the years.

Hemira's Army of Warriors – human warriors who fight using weapons and strength. They are always at the front lines of battles.

The Mage Army – skilled in magic, guards the palace and is positioned behind the warriors since they also need protection. They are fewer but incredibly powerful.