Chapter 93
“Shield!”
Wooong—!
It worked.
The barrier of magic blocked the storm winds that felt like they would tear her skin apart.
Ludwig, who had faltered for a moment, also returned to casting fire. A shield, the same as Ariella’s, surrounded his body.
Ludwig had overflowing magic but little knowledge of spells. Ariella was the opposite. Together, they covered each other’s weaknesses and made their strengths even stronger.
“Uwooooh!”
On the other side, Ulken charged forward, covered by Richmond’s protective shield.
“Frozen Spear!”
Richmond drew out cold mana.
Dark yin mana condensed into a sharp spear of ice.
Swoosh!
The spear hit the serpent.
Its scales froze, then cracked under Ulken’s claws, and the flames that Ludwig followed up with burned through the weak spots.
Their attacks were still fierce, but Ariella, watching from behind, sensed the tide of battle changing.
This isn’t good.
Even though it was one monster against many, the Sea Serpent’s momentum was sharp and wild.
It was almost as if it had become one with the storm, controlling the wind as it pleased.
The magic-imbued winds disturbed the spells of her allies, twisting and scattering their attacks.
And their mana is draining too fast.
Ariella could sense how quickly her companions’ mana was being consumed.
Flight magic and several other spells at once—of course they were burning through their strength.
It felt almost like fighting underwater.
The serpent, instead of weakening, grew more violent with every wound, and the storm winds only grew stronger.
“We can’t drag this out any longer!”
Ludwig didn’t answer, only pushed his fire harder.
His flames cut through the wind, stretching forward in a straight line.
That was when Ariella’s heart jumped.
…Pi?!
A familiar aura was approaching from afar.
It was the hatchling.
Even though she had told Pi to wait on another island, it had sensed something was wrong and flown here.
But Pi’s mana couldn’t pierce through the storm. It only circled helplessly outside.
A dragon’s breath could cut through natural winds, but this magical storm was too powerful.
So dragon words don’t work either?
Normally, a dragon should be able to overwhelm a monster’s magic—but the difference in power was just too great.
Like an adult human against a baby orc, the outcome was obvious.
No, Pi. Go back!
The hatchling spun and tumbled like a paper plane caught in the storm, nearly flipped upside down.
“Kyaaaaaah!”
The serpent roared again.
Ariella, who had been watching Pi, turned back.
Her spine went cold.
That roar sounded just like the one it gave before it changed the weather.
What now?
A dark, dangerous power spread from the Sea Serpent.
Was it trying to strengthen the storm even more?
Grrrrumble—!
But her guess was wrong.
And it was worse.
The serpent’s power didn’t rise to the sky—it sank into the sea.
The ocean began to tremble.
The surface rippled first, then deep water surged upward.
No… it can’t be—
Whooosh!
A mountain of water rose up, forming into a wall.
A tidal wave.
“Fly!” Ariella screamed.
The crushing weight of water—no web of spells could block it. Even her Hold magic would shatter like cobwebs against that wall of sea.
Craaaash!
It looked like the horizon itself was collapsing.
The massive wave roared toward the island.
Water collided, swirling and foaming, mixing with rain until it was all one storm.
Everywhere she looked—only water.
Richmond grabbed Ulken. He tried to lift them into the air, but the winds made it nearly impossible.
“Damn it, the wind!”
The gale screamed, the rain fell like arrows.
Ludwig and Ariella couldn’t lift themselves easily either.
“Kyaaaaaaah!”
The Sea Serpent spotted a new target.
Its eyes locked on Ariella.
“Ariel—!”
Ludwig’s cry wasn’t even finished—
Whoosh!
The serpent’s tail whipped like a giant lash. Ariella twisted aside on instinct.
Crash!
The rock she had stood on shattered to pieces.
The blast threw shards everywhere, knocking her off balance.
The next instant, she was rolling across the ground.
“Ariella!”
Ludwig’s voice was louder and rawer than she had ever heard before.
When Ariella fell, both their shields vanished.
Yet Ludwig charged through the storm toward her. His skin split, blood scattering in the wind.
He dropped to his knees in front of her, covering her with his own body.
And then—
Whoooosh!
The wall of black seawater smashed into the island.
Craaaash!
It swallowed Ariella and Ludwig whole.
“Ariella, I already told you—it’s been decided. The crown prince will be your younger brother.”
A voice echoed faintly.
“As an older sister, you should yield for family. You must give up for your brother’s future. Why do you cling to what was never yours? You were never officially crowned anyway.”
Her father’s voice.
Ariella wanted to shake her head.
She had given her whole life to becoming the heir.
She had studied every subject, joined in governance, earned countless achievements.
The people loved her. Foreign nations trusted her.
And yet the tower she built had been destroyed. Her deeds erased. She was cast out of her own kingdom.
Because of one thing: a younger half-brother had been born.
She didn’t want to deny him simply because he was three years old.
She only wanted a fair chance to compete.
But that chance was never given.
“If you keep resisting, you will only bring chaos to the succession. The nobles will worry. Our kingdom will lose the Empire’s trust. Do you want our nation to fall because of your stubbornness?”
Another voice cut in.
It was Count Igor, servant of the new queen and the man who had worked hardest to push her aside.
“Princess, you were always known for your intelligence. So think. You have no place left in Oinos. Instead of clinging to defeat, isn’t it better to leave with dignity? I’ve prepared a fine path for you—the third consort of the Holy Empire’s Emperor. A position anyone would envy.”
Not Empress. Not even the second wife.
Just the third consort.
A life spent in endless political struggles, wasted away.
She hated it. She would rather die.
Splash!
The sound of waves.
Ariella remembered the cabin she had been locked in.
The day she left Oinos.
Through the small square window, she saw the coastline of her homeland growing distant.
But now it was freezing.
The sea around her was black and bitter cold, suffocating her.
I don’t want this!
She hugged her shoulders, shivering.
And then—
Fwoosh!
The scene changed.
Fire. Sparks flew, warmth filled her body.
The ship was burning.
Ah!
She felt her breath again.
The moving prison that had carried her away—gone.
Her long red hair, once trailing to her waist, had already been cut short.
It felt light. Free.
Her eyes fixed on a single place.
The brightest flame.
She reached out.
Her palm closed around fire, but it didn’t hurt.
Instead, relief filled her.
How long has it been since I felt peace like this?
She smiled faintly.
And then the fire spoke.
The voice was rough, somewhere between boy and man, but filled with worry.
“Are you awake now? Open your eyes.”
Ariella opened them.
