Nalia’s POV

Nalia stood in shock, her eyes wide with disbelief, as she witnessed her fellow cult members being struck down one by one by the knights. Her entire world was crumbling right in front of her eyes. Just as they were on the cusp of realizing their dream, it had morphed into a nightmarish reality.

She turned back and gazed upon their ultimate creation: an amalgamation of souls, its surface writhing with thousands of faces. It stood mightily behind her, its immense frame nearly engulfing half of the chamber. "It's so close to achieving perfection. The ten-thousand sacrifice soulmire. Oh, our great wish. The mighty vessel upon which our lord shall descend," she murmured, a mix of awe and desperation in her voice.

Tears streamed down her face as she beheld their creation, yet the screams of her comrades pierced the air, making it clear that her dream was now as distant as the horizon.

"No! It cannot end this way!" she exclaimed, her voice cracking with desperation. She rushed toward the soulmire and kneeled before it with a look of utter despair. "Oh, mighty Yaksha, please, free me from my flesh and deliver my soul! Let me be a part of you!" she pleaded.

A blood-red aura enveloped her as she began her incantation. Her long-awaited wish, to merge with her deity, lay tantalizingly within reach. She was determined not to let it slip through her fingers.

Yet, just as she felt her soul beginning to detach from her body, a sword pierced through her chest. Her world spun dizzyingly as she coughed up blood, and as she lay on the ground, the last sight that met her eyes was the bearded face of the lord who had slain her.

Letting out a gasp, Nalia's body jerked upright. With a terrified expression, she scanned her surroundings, only to realize she was still lying in her bed. It was merely a nightmare, a vivid echo from a past life.

Lord William, she thought, grinding her teeth as the memory of the man who had killed her surfaced. Yet, as she recalled his current predicament, a sly smile crept across her face. Oh, how pitiful. How the mighty have fallen. You, who once haunted me and my brethren, are now but a plaything in my grasp. At my mere whim, I can dictate your fate.

As she stepped out of her bed, a knock at the door caught her attention. Knowing who awaited her, Nalia beckoned with a smile, "Come in, Soren."

Soren entered, a respectful bow in his posture. "My lady, I have come to report the events of yesterday."

"Please, proceed," Nalia responded, beginning her makeup routine. "I've heard that Tristan has fallen, but the rest of the army returned. Was there a particular reason?"

"Yes, my lady," Soren nodded, his voice steady. "We were ready to strike when the Monster King intervened."

At this revelation, Nalia's heart skipped a beat, and she turned around, her expression grave. "Then how do you stand before me?"

"We watched from a long distance, my lady," Soren clarified. "We didn't engage, as the Monster King was enraged at the army that had trespassed his domain. In his wrath, he eliminated Tristan for us."

Nalia scrunched her eyebrows for a second before exhaling a sigh of relief. "That is indeed more favorable than any alternative I had envisioned." She then fixed Soren with a piercing gaze. "But have you confirmed Tristan's demise? After all, he is our most crucial target."

"I did," Soren confirmed with a nod. "I examined Tristan's remains after everyone had departed. What was left was nothing but the melted remnants of his armor and his charred bones. He is undoubtedly deceased."

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Hearing this, Nalia's smile broadened, and her heart rate steadied. "How very fortunate. This outcome surpasses even my expectations. Given that witnesses observed Tristan's demise at the hands of the Monster King, there will be no suspicions of our involvement. This clears the path for us to install Johannes as the lord of Locksley without any opposition."

"Indeed, my lady. It seems the gods are in our favor," Soren agreed with a respectful nod.

Nalia's thoughts then shifted to the matter concerning William's other child. "What of James? Have you managed to assassinate him?"

Soren hesitated briefly before answering, "We were unable to locate him at his estate, my lady. It appears he has eluded us."

"He escaped?" Nalia arched an eyebrow, her mind racing. "Who do you suspect could have orchestrated it?"

"I believe it to be General Henry who planned this escape, my lady," Soren replied. "He had already expressed strong opposition to Tristan's expedition, advocating instead for bolstered defenses. Moreover, he did hear a rumor about Robert, James’ bodyguard, mentionning General Henry before escaping. While we couldn’t confirm the truth of this rumor, all signals point at Henry being the main man behind this escape."

Hearing Soren's analysis, Nalia pondered for a moment before nodding in agreement. "That does seem the most plausible scenario," she conceded, recalling General Henry from her past life. He had been a formidable adversary, one whose actions had significantly contributed to her downfall.

As memories of her previous existence surfaced, she shook her head dismissively and stated, "Ultimately, James is of no consequence. Should he reemerge and seek to assert his claim as lord, we can easily fill his council with our own men and manipulate him through it. He's merely a child, after all."

"That approach would indeed align perfectly with our objectives," Soren agreed. "Depending on how events unfold, he might even prove to be a more advantageous pawn for us than Johannes."

Encouraged by this line of reasoning, Nalia's smile widened. "Excellent. It appears we've adeptly navigated our obstacles. Now, our focus must shift to dealing with the Monster King."

"Are you contemplating an offensive soon, my lady?" Soren inquired, a hint of concern in his voice. "Yet, we remain ignorant of the full scope of his powers. Our espionage has been concentrated on Locksley, making it challenging to procure reliable intelligence on that Monster village without drawing attention."

Nalia laughed softly, her eyes gleaming with anticipation. "I have no intention of launching a direct assault, nor does his strength concern me," she assured him. "Once we're fully armed with Yellow Storm items from the dungeons they've unveiled, confronting the abyss will be within our grasp. Granted, I'll need to use up a significant number of souls to breach the 20th floor, but the rewards justify the sacrifice. With my class advancement, they'll have no means of eluding me."

"I eagerly await that moment," Soren said, his chuckle mirroring Nalia's confidence. He then ventured, "If I may inquire, when do you envision launching this assault?"

"We will stage an ambush tomorrow as they emerge from the abyss portal," Nalia declared, a cunning smile playing at the corners of her mouth. "At the moment they're most vulnerable, drained from expending all their mana, we'll strike."

Soren's face lit up with a smile, and he knelt before her. "My lady, I eagerly anticipate the day you ascend as the queen of this region. No, the queen of the entire country."

Observing his reaction, Nalia's smile remained, though her expression was unreadable. She approached the kneeling Soren and tenderly caressed his cheek. "And you shall stand by my side in that new era, my dear Soren."

Soren's eyes widened, a rush of emotions playing across his face. However, as he struggled to find the words, he quickly stood and cleared his throat. "I must take my leave now, my lady. The Strongheart manor still requires my vigilance."

"You are always so dependable, Soren," Nalia said, her smile genuine as Soren exited the room.

Yet, as soon as the door closed behind him, her face settled into a mask of indifference. What a pitiful lad. His infatuation is so palpable, that I do not even need to use my eyes.

She stretched languidly and reclined on her bed. Alas, Soren, you are nothing but a relic of a bygone era to me. Your memory is but hazy images of a time I had already forgotten. My heart now belongs solely to one being. Oh mighty Yaksha, how I yearn for your arrival in this world, to reign supreme together.