Chapter 422 No man's land
"Ah, General Eldric. It's been some time," Tang Yue relaxed her fingers, allowing the choking elf to gasp for air as he collapsed back onto his throne, visibly shaken.
"You seem to have... aged," she remarked, noting the strands of silver in Eldric's otherwise golden hair.
"A consequence of time and worry, my Princess," General Eldric replied gravely, walking forward. "The situation has grown complex since you vanished."
"So I gather," Tang Yue retorted, her eyes darting back to the elf who still occupied the throne. "Now, where is Charlotte and Xander?"
"Before I tell you that, might I inquire as to why you returned?" Eldric posed, his eyes narrowing ever so slightly as if measuring her intent.
"Oh, should a wife not be concerned for her husband and her friend?" she smirked.
Eldric winced at the mention of the word 'friend' and then sighed, "Concerned you may be, but much has happened that you should be aware of."
"Prince Xander and my daughter have eloped. They have fled this entire Kingdom and the mainland. There is no news of them anywhere."
"Anywhere?"
"Yes, Princess. We have searched the entire mainland, the Dwarven settlement, and all the minor clans and settlements, some even by force."
Tang Yue's eyes widened for a second before her expression turned steely.
"They've gone missing? Vanished off the mainland and yet no one, not even the vaunted intelligence networks of Eldoria, can find them?"
Eldric nodded solemnly. "It's as if the earth swallowed them whole. Many speculate that they've ventured into the Forbidden Territories."
"The Forbidden Territories?" Tang Yue's eyes narrowed.
"That's right, the very same Forbidden Territories where the Veil between worlds is thin, and ancient creatures wander," General Eldric explained, his voice tinged with the respect one gives to legends.
Tang Yue became silent. She, of course, knew what the elf was talking about. She had heard about this forbidden territory all her life and had even fantasized several times about heading into it and exploring and suddenly found her life changed.
The latter part of the fantasy had already come true and now it looked like it was time for the former part of her fantasy. It was time to meet these so-called ancient creatures.
If she were to defeat those Gods that want her dead, then she needed more power. She needed to devour more powerful creatures.
She did not know why Charlotte and Xander went there when she clearly told them she was going somewhere else.
Perhaps they thought that her training area was connected to this forbidden territory. Either way, it was time to tear down the whole damn thing, along with the ancient creatures.
"I will make you all my stepping stones." Tang Yue clenched her fists in determination.
Smiling, she turned to lock eyes with the false ruler. "You can keep your throne warm for now."
And just like that, she vanished, leaving behind a room full of uneasy souls, pondering the gravity of their actions and inactions alike.
For the first time in many years, Eldoria's future seemed uncertain, teetering on the edge of either salvation or ruin. And at the center of it all was a woman who no one had ever placed in their eyes.
Charlotte's father looked at the place where Tang Yue had disappeared from in deep thought. "What incredible speed... how..."
He was shocked and confused. How could someone possibly change so much in such a short time? How could they become this powerful?!
"A monster! A true monster!" He mumbled and sat down, still a shiver running down his spine.
***
Tang Yue did not bring anyone with her this time around. She alone traveled. Her figure blurred as she moved at an incredible speed towards the forbidden territories.
Soon she approached the ominous borders of the forbidden zone. It wasn't that difficult to locate because it made up half of their world.
Stopping for a moment, she inhaled deeply, taking in the mixed aroma of aged earth and intense mana. "Show me what you've got," she whispered as if issuing a challenge to the land itself.
The moment she stepped over the invisible threshold, a shiver of energy cascaded through her.
She felt as though she'd been submerged in a sea of pure, raw magic. A smile graced her lips; she needed this power. She could feel her body craving for it.
Ever since she devoured the dragon, her body was craving more and more power. Normally, she would be concerned about it, but not now. She needed this power if she was going to lead any kind of life at all and protect the ones whom she loved.
She took another breath and then directly barged in.
Divine Sense. Immediately several powerful auras scanned her and Tang Yue without hesitation rushed toward the one closest to her.
Why was she rushing in hastily to deal with beasts termed as ancient creatures?
This was because the first fight was important. Perhaps she would lose in all the other fights but in this first fight, she always had a chance to win.
And it was precisely because she was the weaker one here.
Tang Yue charged forward and it didn't take long before a majestic golden lion with an opulent mane emerged from the shadows, its eyes ablaze like the sun.
"Ah, a human. It's been a long while since a morsel has ventured this far," the lion spoke, its voice imbued with regal authority.
"I am no one's morsel," Tang Yue retorted, inwardly surprised that the lion was talking to her. True to the legends, this place did indeed seem to house powerful beings but this one was not the one she was looking for.
"You are not my match." Tang Yue unleashed one attack after another, wanting to test her newly acquired magic. Draconian magic.
And she had obtained a whole lot of it.
"Ah, perhaps not, but neither are you mine," the lion opened its mouth but before it could finish what it wanted to say...
Inferno's Breath!
Wyrm's Wrath!
Emberclaw Torrent!
Twilight Wingstrike!
Serpentine Lash!
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