Shin felt tired when he opened his eyes open slowly.
He could feel his whole body being weakened because of rescuing someone earlier.
Before he could clearly see where he was, he heard an unfamiliar voice.
“Oh kid, you’re up?”
Shin opened his eyes and saw that he was back in his room. The person who just spoke was a female with horns on her head, Shin could clearly remember seeing this girl earlier.
“What are you spacing out for, kid?”
Azane continued to stare at him with a smile.
“Oh.”
Shin came out of his daze, but he still stared at her.
While tilting his head, he asked.
“Who are you?”
Azane tried to suppress her laughter as she held her mouth closed tightly.
“Pft…”
Azane slowly raised her right hand over her heart, bowing slightly towards Shin, but her eyes stared deeply into Shin’s black eyes.
“I'm Azane, Valkyrie of the Red Moon clan.”
Still confused, Shin asked something else.
“What does a ‘Valkyrie’ mean?”
Azane widened her eyes slightly before a smirk appeared on her face.
“A Valkyrie is a person who only has one task to do or accomplish.”
While explaining, Azane proudly looked at Shin while eagerly talking.
“Us from the Red Moon clan has had the name of a Valkyrie since the Ancient Era. I'm now the last member of the Red Moon clan, I will fulfil the task we were once given.”
Towards the end, Azane had a soft smile on her face as she gazed at Shin.
“Awesome...”
Shin muttered as he was staring at Azane in awe.
“But, why are you here then?”
“Shouldn’t you be trying to accomplish the thing you need to do? It will only be a waste by staying here.”
As he was speaking, Shin glanced downwards.
It looks like she has an important task to do.
I wonder why she’s taking her time by talking to me, I can’t understand why she would do so.
“Hahaha.”
Azane laughed loudly when she heard Shin speak down to himself.
That kid sure is looking down on himself.
Surely, this is a person who we have been looking for. After all this time, we found him...
Azane laughed happily, but she also was a little sad because of how Shin was thinking.
“Hey kid, why are you looking down on yourself?”
“Would you believe it if I say that the reason us Valkyries have been fighting since the Ancient Era is for you?”
Azane smirked once more while staring at Shin fiddling his fingers.
“Uh? Me?”
Shin was shyly glancing at Azane, he felt his cheeks turning red when seeing her smirk.
Azane shook her head while staring at Shin.
“You are more important than you think, kid.”
“I will at least promise you this; the ones you are facing, have to step over my dead body to reach you.”
After a whole minute of silence where Shin couldn't glance up because of his red cheeks.
Azane didn’t try to hasten Shin, she only stared at him.
“What are those horns?”
Shin finally glanced up towards Azane and asked. He had never seen horns before on anyone, therefore he was really curious.
Azane pointed towards her horns while raising her eyebrows.
“These?”
“You don’t know what a Demon is?”
She gaped slightly, seeing Shin shaking his head.
Hmm...
If I’m not wrong, he should have returned to this world barely two weeks ago.
Also by his expression, he shouldn't have heard any tales of Demons.
“The members of the Red Moon clan are made of demons, we are a different race from the Humans.”
“We weren’t born with horns, but they grow up after we become a couple of years old.”
“Aren't you afraid of me; a demon?”
Azane asked in the end, hoping to hear his answer.
But, Shin shook his head.
“A demon race, is it? It doesn’t suit the name.”
His answer surprised Azane.
“In my eyes, a demon is supposed to be something evil and bad. I have seen people like that, those who never stop harming others.”
As he was speaking, Shin had a soft smile on his face and his tone was calm.
“But, you are not like that. Even if you have horns, you are more humane than those humans I have met before.”
Azane widened her eyes and mumbled.
“You sure are amazing...”
“By the way, do you have more questions?”
Shin nodded, he stared at Azane in awe because he thought a Valkyrie is really amazing.
“Can you tell me about two things? Who was that woman earlier and why are people speaking of ‘Ancient Era’ all the time, what is it?”
“Two questions...”
Azane mumbled before answering.
“I don’t know much about that woman, but I heard a little after you went unconscious.”
“She seems to be a Seer from a long lineage. If I’m not wrong, her ancestors should be from the Ancient Era.”
“What does a Seer do?”
Shin asked when she finished explaining.
Azane raised her eyebrows slightly before continuing to answer Shin.
“A Seer is someone who can see a possible future. The future they can see can either be changed if someone sees it or if ‘fate' changes.”
Shin tilted his head once more before asking in confusion.
“Then, why did she have to give away her son to be healed?”
An evil smirk appeared on her face when she heard Shin's question.
“A Seer is a Seer, they might be able to see the future. But, who said that they will tell us the whole future they might see?”
“To take preconscious, a deal where both gains or loses must be made.”
“If she refused with all her heart that she wouldn’t want her son to go with you, that would mean that what she saw would end badly for us.”
Shin nodded and asked in a low voice.
“What about the Ancient Era?”
“My mother told me a lot of things about the Ancient Era when I was a child.”
Azane smiled softly as she was thinking of her mother.
“The Ancient Era was a time where everything and everywhere was in war.”
“Humans, Elves, Dwarfs, Demons, Devils, Ghosts, Beasts, Ancient Beings and a lot of other races were waging war against each other. Throughout these times, there stood Thirteen Rulers owning their own areas, keeping their own races as supremacy.”
“It has been over 100 000 years since the Ancient Era ended, it all happened because of the Thirteen Rulers went against each other, destroying most races in the war and twelve of them died, leaving one left.”
Thirteen Rulers...?
Shin was lost in his thoughts when he heard Azane spoke about the Rulers.
“Accordingly to what your mother and that Witch said, your Guardians should be those fallen Rulers.”
Even so, it is amazing that those Rulers would obey a human child.
Azane thought while talking to Shin.
Wait, what?
Fallen Rulers?
With Peutoa, I have twelve Guardians, but, there should be twelve fallen from the Ancient Era…
Shin felt a headache as he was thinking further about it.
“Where’s mother?”
Shin raised his hands towards his head, kneading his temples.
“Your mother should be appointing her Proxy.”
Azane carelessly spoke.
“What’s a Proxy?”
Shin asked without raising his head towards Azane, his breathing slowly turned rougher.
Azane narrowed her eyes slightly, still answering Shin.
“A Proxy is someone who has the same status if the real one isn’t there.”
“For example; if your mother isn’t here, that Proxy has the right to rule the Kingdom.”
“Why does mother need a Proxy? Is she leaving?”
Shin trembled when he asked Azane.
“Haha, that is based on your answer, kid.”
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Azane laughed, she stepped forward towards Shin.
She opened her palm and two white pills appeared.
“Eat those, these would calm your mind and suppress any pain you are having.”
Azane held the pills and shoved it into Shin’s mouth.
She raised her hand and a glass of water appeared.
Shin took the glass of water and drank slowly.
He leaned back on his pillow, hazily glancing at Azane.
“Tell me more…”
“You should know, the map you were given by that Seer, is somewhere far away.”
Azane calmly explained, without hurrying at all.
“You are not in the best condition either, therefore we can’t rush there without harming your body.”
“The trip will take a long time and your mother will surely not leave you in the hands of anyone, haha.”
She laughed once again.
Even while being carefree, Azane had her aura spread around the castle.
She frowned and turned around.
“What is it?”
Shin could barely open his eyes, but he still forced himself to ask.
“Hey, kid.”
Azane’s voice turned serious, she turned around towards Shin.
“Currently, that bitch Muir is spreading her forces around everywhere in anger.”
“What will you do?”
Azane asked while staring fiercely at Shin.
“Hahahaaa, cough cough…”
Shin tried to laugh and coughed several times, his eyes turned bloodshot, but barely able to hold it open.
“Will that trip allow me to become stronger?”
Shin asked, barely managing to speak.
Azane nodded seriously.
“Yes, it will!”
“I will go…”
Shin lost his conscious, managing to barely answer Azane. His body slowly dropped sideways on his bed.
Azane turned around to the window, her eyes turned ice-cold and she narrowed them.
She glanced at Shin and mumbled.
“Yes, my Lord. Your wish is my command!”
She disappeared in an instance and were in front of a couple of others.
Azane stood still while letting out a bearing of an Ancient Being.
Why has my aura slowly changed while I have been close to that kid?
“How did it go?”
Aria in white asked without glancing at Azane.
“You don’t have to show him anything, it will go as planned.”
Azane snickered while speaking coldly.
“We will as planned leave this Kingdom.”
Kali, which was sitting on a chair with her eyes closed, nodded.
“Good.”
She opened her eyelids, showcasing her deep purple eyes. Also, a smirk appeared on her face as she was coldly speaking.
“We won’t give them any chance, I have already started everything on my side.”
“What about you guys?”
Azane snickered coldly while showing disdain towards Kali.
“I have emptied most of what I have, even if we face hundreds, nothing will be able to stop us.”
Laura nodded as her eyes gleamed.
“Empress, I have done everything that you asked me for.”
“That’s good.”
Aria simply nodded, she then glanced towards Peutoa.
“You?”
“I broke through Early-Stage Emperor.”
Peutoa narrowed her eyes slightly while coldly speaking.
“I have cleared the route, Shin will not be bothered for now…”
Aria glanced out the window, seeing the Kingdom burning and in ruins.
She glanced back towards the people behind Azane.
“My loyal followers…”
Most of the Guardian Families kneeled, their clothes were tattered and they had injuries on their bodies.
“You who are in front of me has stayed loyal even during rough times.”
Aria glanced at each of them.
“La Ville, Niea, Nupa, Feris, Azentia, Nispia and Gatticam. You are the ones who didn’t leave during the onslaught.”
Aria spread her arms while speaking loudly.
“Follow me once more, we will rise like we have before.”
“This time, we have a clear destination, we will prosper no matter what!”
Aria’s loud voice made each of them eager, they couldn’t refrain from smiling.
“Leave and prepare for tonight, we will head out when the sun goes down!”
Aria yelled once again, making almost everyone calmly standing up and leaving.
The only ones of the Guardian Families were four people, Tor Niea, Susan la Ville, Eline la Ville and Elise la Ville.
“Empress, what do you need me to do?”
Tor respectfully asked as he stared at Aria.
“Tor, I need you to keep everyone calm and lead them safely.”
Aria refrained from speaking loudly.
“This time, we will be moving in two groups.”
“The first group are the citizens and Guardian Families.”
“The second group includes Shin, Azane, Peutoa, Kali, Laura, Anaj and I.”
“I will do as you wish, Empress.”
Tor bowed deeply before walking backwards, leaving.
Aria then glanced at Susan, Elise and lastly at Eline.
“What is it?”
“Aria, why did you suddenly order us to leave? Do we have a safe location?”
Susan asked while narrowing her eyes.
“The Seer Ulrike has a place where we need to go.”
Aria didn’t tell much before handing her a map.
“Lead them with Tor towards there safely. With normal speed, it should take you less than a month to bring half a million citizens there.”
“Just make sure to start with gathering food during the journey and while staying there, when I arrive, I want the base created.”
Susan stared at the map, burning the details in her head, she then nodded towards Aria.
“I will accomplish your mission, Aria.”
“What about your group?”
“Humph!”
Aria coldly gazed out the window.
“We will be moving slower and we got something to do first.”
Susan nodded, she handed the map back to Aria before turning around.
Elise held her head down while following Susan.
The only one, not moving was Eline.
“Eline, come!”
Susan coldly ordered when she sensed that Eline wasn’t moving.
Eline calmly shook her head.
“I will not go with the first group.”
She slowly knelt, staring at Aria’s cold gaze, speaking without hesitation.
“Please let me follow your group.”
“Humph!”
Aria’s cold gaze turned colder, her aura slowly spread and engulfed Eline.
“The weakest one of us is a Cultivator of the Throne Stage, what can you, a mere Cultivation Warrior do?”
Still, without any hesitation, Eline spoke with a clear voice.
“I can use my body to protect him.”
“He almost died to protect us when they attacked us, I want to repay him, no matter what!”
Aria didn’t speak, she slowly walked towards the kneeling Eline.
She grabbed her scabbard, slowly taking out her silver sword. Her whole being emitted a dangerous aura, engulfing Eline. Aria narrowed her eyes, speaking coldly.
“Do you want to die?”
Even under Aria’s pressure, Eline didn’t back off in the slightest.
“Hahaha, kill me then, because I will not step back!”
Eline roared her lungs out, still not hesitating at all, even in the face of Aria’s aura and sword.
Aria’s aura abruptly vanished and a faint smile appeared on her face.
“We will be moving when the sun rises.”
When she finished, she turned around towards her throne.
“Speak your farewells to those you want, you may not survive this trip.”
Eline seriously nodded and slowly stood up, she sighed in relief in her heart.
She felt that her whole body was exhausted, but she continued to walk slowly towards Susan and Elise.
“Eline, are you sure that you want to go with him?”
Susan seriously asked Eline.
“Yes!”
Eline nodded towards Susan, she stared at Susan with sincerity.
“Sigh…”
Susan sighed while speaking in a low tone.
“When we go back, I will give you some protective equipment.”
A smile appeared on Eline’s face when she heard that Susan didn’t stop her.
“Sister, why are you going with them? Didn’t you hear the Empress saying that you will most likely die?!”
Elise walked near Eline and shouted in a low voice.
“Elise, since the day I met him, there was always a feeling I had. Whenever I saw him or just thought of him, my heart would crazily beat.”
Eline explained slowly while her eyes shined brightly.
“The day when they attacked, I tried my best to protect Shin because he was just a mortal.”
“But, he suddenly rushed forward and battled against all of them, just to protect us.”
“I later heard from Kali’s murmur that whenever Shin was using his powers, he would suffer from a backlash.”
Eline shook her head softly and continued explaining.
“I don’t know what kind of backlash he had, but if I’m not wrong, him losing his eyesight back then was also because of a backlash for using his powers.”
“I’m meaning to say, that Shin would not stop himself getting in harm just to protect those he loves, I want to be brave as him.”
Elise turned silent after hearing Eline’s explanation.
“Are you sure that you want to bring that girl with us?”
Kali asked while raising her eyebrows.
“It will be dangerous.”
“She knows about it too.”
Aria shook her head softly.
“I honestly believe that she would rather die than leave Shin right now. Let’s see if this will bring us good luck or bad luck.”
She sighed in her heart while glancing at Eline.
Aria then glanced at Laura and asked.
“How’s the situation in the other Kingdoms?”
Laura shook her head while speaking.
“We were the ones with heaviest damages, but each Kingdom is in a bad shape.”
“So far, the Kingdom of Leran managed to defend themselves and the citizens are resting in the royal castle.”
“The Kingdom of Perien had very little damage because it’s the smallest Kingdom. But, even so, half the Kingdom is in ruins.”
“The Kingdom of Laan had a couple of Half-Divinity when they first got attacked, because of that, they barely received any damage.”
“The Kingdom of Menian had the most damages, they are barely managing to keep up with the attacks of the beasts.”
Aria listened to Laura’s report seriously.
Before Aria could respond to Laura’s report, Azane butted in.
“I don’t care about any Kingdoms, are we going to follow the route we have already planned?”
“No, we are not changing anything.”
Aria said without any hesitation.
“Hihi.”
Kali laughed out loudly, her purple eyes slowly turned golden and her whole being erupted an aura like a volcano.
“I have regained my powers, I will show them what going through hell really means!”
The whole air around Kali trembled and spots of black holes appeared and disappeared.
Kali smiled and laughed without any care.
I will slaughter all of you!!!
A smile appeared on Aria’s face.
Finally, we would have someone who can be at the vanguard.
Laura stepped back because of the pressure Kali was giving off. But, she was happy in her heart.
Having someone strong as her would really be reassuring.
Peutoa emotionlessly glanced at Kali, raising her eyebrows slightly upwards.
A smirk appeared on Azane’s face when she sensed Kali’s true power.
This is great!
Hahahaha.
Aria turned around towards the inner parts of the palace, her eyes shined brightly, like that it could even see through any obstacles.
Don’t worry, Shin.
We will no longer be careless.
Hehe, I will repay them a million times of the pain you received!