The Semilia Kingdom [2]

Victoria set a map in front of me and I looked at it. It was a map of the Semilia Kingdom. She marked the important locations that would quickly get us to the castle quickly and seize the throne.

"This is the quickest way to the castle. If we follow along this path, we will be there within an hour. These three strongholds should be enough to keep our best elites in and fend off the enemy. Our target is Siegfried...We should kill him if possible." Victoria said.

I nodded then stood up and fixed my clothing. "Let's head out then. I'll let you lead the way."

"As you wish my Queen." Victoria said then closed the map and gathered her things.

We walked out of the house and went to gather the others. Victoria told them the plan then they nodded and prepared for the battle that was to come. We got on our horses and set out to Semilia Kingdom.

Within 45 minutes of travel, we made it to our destination then got off our horses, except Kotome and Zekuu. I commanded then to stay on their horses and stick close to me and Victoria.

"Jin, you shall take the stronghold close to the left and Ren, you'll take the right. Defeat the base captains so our army can get in and support." I commanded.

"Of course." Jin said then vanished.

"I'll get right on it." Ren nodded and ran off.

"Let's get down to business. We are up against a faction of the Holy Order Army so we won't have such an easy time. Tread carefully." I said then summoned my Vesper Argentum.

"Yes." Victoria nodded.

We ran forward and headed along the path Victoria marked.

"Lunia Army spotted! Sound the horns and prepare for battle!" One of the captains of the enemy army called out.

The horns blew and signalled it was time for battle. Victoria and I kept going forward then noticed a group headed our way then we engaged in battle. We began to slay the group of soldiers like they were nothing.

"So strong.." One soldier groaned before falling on his knees and dying by my blade.

I ran ahead to the first stronghold and noticed the Stronghold Captain then ran towards her. I fought off her allies then surrounded my blade in my aura then bellowed and swung my sword in a circle, releasing cutting waves around my body. I ran towards the stronghold captain then blocked her attack and kicked her away. She grunted and rolled backwards then I walked forward and watched her. She ran to me then yelled. I parried her attack then gripped her neck and raised her off the ground. She grunted and grabbed my wrist and struggled.

"Uphelian scum..." I said then glared and my eyes shined brightly. "Die.."

I snapped her neck then dropped her. We captured the first Stronghold and my army was able to infiltrate and hold the keep. I ran ahead then my group followed us.

Jin threw six large shurikens and killed a group of Siegfried's army then ran straight for the stronghold. He jumped up and surrounded his katana in his dark energy then slashed down and a dark explosion happened, blowing his enemies back. He ran forward towards the stronghold captain then slashed through him quickly then performed a chiburi before sheathing his katana. The captain fell to the ground, dead. Jin captured the stronghold then more of my army began to infiltrate the kingdom.

Ren used his water abilities to cut through the enemy army and defeated a few elites along the way. He ran straight to the stronghold and prepared himself to capture the keep. He defeated more enemies in the stronghold then ran towards the captain then used a burst of speed to appear behind the captain before kicking him on his back and trapped him in a water bubble then expanded the bubble before causing it to explode and defeated every enemy unit in the keep. He captured the stronghold allowing my army to march in and hold the keep.

"General Siegfried! We have taken heavy damage to our kingdom! Stella and her army have already captured our main strongholds! Our troops need immediate reinforcements!" A knight said then looked at Siegfried sitting on the throne.

"Send in the Guardian. Keep them occupied." Siegfried said then closed his eyes.

"As you wish, General!" The knight said then ran off.

I stopped running as I noticed we entered the final stronghold before reaching the castle. Victoria stopped beside me and noticed Jin and Ren arriving as well. I looked at them then nodded.

"This is it, the final stretch before we capture Semilia. We've come too far to lose now, keep your guards up." I said then sensed incredibly powerful light energy.

"Stella look out!" Jin said then pushed me out the way and noticed an attack from a knight.

I looked at the knight then readied my blade. The knight had on full golden armor and their sword was made from pure light. I glared then dashed towards the knight. I slashed at him, but he parried my attack then punched my stomach. I coughed then went flying into a wall. I groaned then fell on my knees.

"Nngh...sent Stella flying just like that.." Jin grunted softly then readied his katana to fight the knight.

Victoria dashed forward then used Flash Step to move around the knight quickly then appeared behind him spinning and going for a powerful attack. She hit his armor and barely did any damage to it. She looked surprised then groaned as she as sent crashing into a wall as well.

"Hold him off! I'm gonna try to seal his abilities!" Jin called out to Ren.

Ren nodded and ran towards the Guardian and used his water to attack him, but it wasn't doing any damage to him. Ren noticed an attack then dodged the first attack but couldn't dodge the beam that followed behind him. He groaned and crashed into a wall and fell.

"Damn...What is this thing..?" Jin asked and looked at the Guardian.

I stood up slowly and my eyes shined red. My Vesper Argentum turned into the Seven Suns Blade then I looked at the knight seriously.

"Kill..." A voice called out in my head.

I let out a bellow and transformed into my demon form and cursed marks appeared around the left side of my body then a demon wing emerged from the left side of my back. The knight looked at me and wasn't focused on Jin anymore.

"Kill...Kill..!" The voice in my yelled and got louder.

I smirked and looked at the guardian seriously. "You believed you've got the best of me..? Now I'll show you what I can really do.."

The knight dashed towards me. I parried his first attack then summoned a ball of dark energy then pressed it against his chest and it exploded, sending him flying backwards. I appeared above him then kicked him down and sent a beam of darkness after him. He was hit by the beam as he was standing then rolled on his side. His armor shattered and he looked at me seriously. I landed on my feet then laughed and covered my right eye. I looked at him.

"Now you die!" I bellowed and dashed towards him.

He dashed towards me and our blades clashed. We engaged in a ferocious sword battle and clashed multiple times. I bellowed and pushed him back then my dark aura surrounded my body I vanished and began striking him quickly around his body then appeared behind him then multiple slashes hit him and he fell to one knee.

"Die!" I bellowed and blasted him with a massive dark beam of energy. I laughed as an explosion happened.

Ren and Victoria slowly got up and noticed the explosion. I smirked widely and once the smoke cleared, the Guardian was on the ground dead.

"Well well...so you actually did defeat the Guardian. You're stronger than I remember, Stella." Siegfried said as he walked into the stronghold.

Zain appeared in the Stronghold then stood up and looked at Siegfried. "This is as far as you go, Siegfried."

"Heh...I knew you wouldn't stay loyal to us and you also took up a hideous form. King Zephyr won't be too happy about this news.." Siegfried said then readied his twin blades.

"You won't be alive to tell him." Zain said then black and red aura spiralled around him then red lightning cracked around his arm then he summoned a red sword that looked exactly like Excalibur.

"Oh really..? Let's test that theory then!" Siegfried said then ran towards Zain.

Zain ran towards Siegfried then they clashed and Siegfried grunted as he was pushed back by his tremendous power. Zain roared and slashed in a circle, knocking one of Siegfried's swords out of his hand.

"Shining Hellblast!" Zain bellowed and sent a massive beam of black flames at Siegfried.

A barrier protected Siegfried then a person appeared behind Siegfried and vanished with them and what was left of Siegfried's army retreated. The attack ended then we noticed Siegfried missing. I scoffed then reverted to my normal form.

"He got away.." Zain said then lowered his hand. He looked at us then looked at me.

I looked at Zain then smirked and walked ahead to the castle. Zain followed me with Victoria following behind as well. I opened the castle doors and went to the dungeons as I knew that's where the queen and her daughter resided. I looked into the cell and noticed both the queen and her daughter.

The queen had long blonde rapunzel like hair that stopped at her lower back. Her eyes shined a light blue color and she wore a royal queen's attire. Her daughter looked similar to her except her body was more petite and her hair was a short blonde that extended to the base of her neck. She wore a blue and gold dress, gold stockings, and gold shoes. She carried a short sword, but it never left its scabbard.

"Stella..? You're alive..?" The woman asked.

"Yes, Lina. I am alive." I said then opened the cell door.

Lina and her daughter got out of the cell then noticed Zain. The girl ran toward Zain and hugged him.

"Big brother..! I missed you so much!" The girl sobbed.

"I know...It's alright Kanon...I am fine.." Zain said as he hugged back.

I turned around and crossed my arms. "Semilia is Lunia's Territory now."

"Stella-"

"No it's fine. It's only fair that we join Lunia's cause and fight against the Holy Order and Uphelian. After all she did save us." Lina said then smiled at me.

"Ha...Save you. Funny, but we'll go with that. Anyway, I'll be with my assistant to plan our next course of attack." I said.

"Already? Come stay a while, you too Zain. Your army can stay for a while before heading back out into war." Lina said.

I looked at Victoria.

"We defeated most of the Holy Order elites. We should be fine until the end of the month." Victoria said.

I sighed then looked at Lina. "Fine..we will stay."

"Good. Now I'll go prepare supper. I know you all must be very tired." Lina smiled then hurried out of the dungeon.

It was going to be an interesting seven days, I know that for sure especially since Zain was going to be staying as well.