“I believe in strong women. I believe in the woman who is able to stand up for herself. I believe in the woman who doesn't need to hide behind her husband's back. I believe that if you have problems, as a woman you deal with them, you don't play victim, you don't make yourself look pitiful, you don't point fingers. You stand and you deal. You face the world with a head held high and you carry the universe in your heart.”
― C. JoyBell C.
News about the approaching enemy force spread rapidly throughout the Crystal Pyramid. Both within and without, the Harkuns and those who have sworn themselves to Olana’s service were preparing for battle. All except the mortal guests which includes the Arcadians and Nidus. A new warlock in the service of Olana. Nidus watched along with the others as the holographic screen showed the approaching enemy forces getting closer and closer.
“This is madness. Why are we just standing here watching? We should be doing something to help Lady Olana.”
Nidus said in frustration, he wanted to be useful to Olana. Because of her, his magic has increased and now he has a grimoire. Just reading the first page has increased his magic even more. So far, all he has done for her is collecting materials and supplies for the swearing ceremony.
“There is no need to worry master. If what the legends say is true, Olana is more than capable of defending her fortress. Which may I remind you? Is fully powered and fully operational. In the times when she ruled, no Nether Lord in their right mind would launch an assault on the Crystal Pyramid. I’m surprised Eldest would do something like this. I’ve met this Demon Lord of Lust once, and he did not strike me as being a particularly wise individual. That being said, even Eldest should know that attacking Olana is not a recipe for longevity. I believe that Romantian angel in gold armor is the puppet master pulling the Demon Lord’s strings.”
Nidus looked at his demon Balocustos in disbelief.
“Why would a Demon Lord, any demon lord subordinated themselves to an angel, any angel when they rule a portion of the Nether Realm?”
“For the same reason I serve you master. For power.”
Balocustos replied simply and went on.
“You must understand master, demons are always striving to gain more power, more strength, and more territory. We do this not out of greed, but for the power to prevent others from making us their prey. The Nether Realm is no place for weaklings, if you are weak then you must become strong. Or risk being a slave to others, which is the simple truth of the Nether Realm. The strong prey on the weak, and the weak will lie and steal to become strong. However, the Crystal Pyramid was different. In the Courts, the Nether Lords will use and take advantage of lesser demons. But Olana was different, she offered protection and peace to those under her wings. You did not have to swear loyalty to her, the Crystal Pyramid was free and safe. A rival to the Courts.”
By this point Nidus and already turned back to looking at the floating holographic screen. Just in time to see the angle change to viewing the very top of the pyramid. Nidus’s eyes widen to see Olana standing at the top of the Crystal Pyramid. Her platform was twenty feet in diameter, and because the pyramid was six sided the top was a hexagon shape.
“She’s outside by herself, is that wise?”
Nidus asked feeling nervous about his Lady all alone, while the enemy came closer to the pyramid. Balocustos chuckled.
“You are about to see why Olana is a Devil Queen not to be messed with.”
………………………………..
Tabitha stood at the top of the Crystal Pyramid, using her devil sight to see the fleet coming straight towards her fortress. 400 airships filled with thousands of demonic soldiers, with their Demon Lord Eldest and the angel knight Sir Judah Kefir leading the charge. Tabitha smiled at the thought of what she had planned for all those demon airships. This is a good opportunity to unleash all that power I have built up during the ceremony.
“My Lady, you should at least have guards at your side.”
The telepathic voice came from Sudan, and Tabitha could feel that her First Warrior was a bit nervous. Tabitha could not blame her, the last time this fortress was attacked. Olana ended up dead, and the Harkuns did not want to lose the newly reborn Olana so soon.
“Trust me Sudan, Nord and the others need to stay inside the pyramid for now. The forces I’m about to unleash would carry them away.”
“But what about you, my Lady?”
“I will be at the epicenter; I am in no danger.”
“As you say my Lady. Nord and Xylia will be ready.”
Sudan ended the telepathic link, and Tabitha could now concentrate on gathering a large number of magical particles for the spell she had thought of. Now, I can use up all that built up power I gained during the swearing ceremony. To unleash hell upon my enemies. Tabitha held her rod tight with her right hand and concentrated on building up the power. And there was plenty of power to be had. With the Rod of Might acting as a guide and the Crystal Pyramid refining the magic and cycling the power through Tabitha. There was nothing she could not do.
For the first time in five thousand years, dark stormy clouds appeared in the skies of the Nether Realm. Lightning crackled and the nether winds began to howl and rage. The crews on board the enemy airships were frightened at the sight of clouds in the sky. The crackling of the lightning and boom of thunder made them jump and shiver. Nether winds shook and rocked their airships in all directions.
“What is happening!?”
Demanded Sir Judah Kefir, just barely maintaining his balance. The flag ship of the Demon Lord of Lust was shaking like a child’s rattle.
“This is the power of Olana, she is causing this storm!”
Eldest declared, gripping his throne tightly as the airship rocked to the side and back again.
“We must withdraw! The closer we get to the Crystal Pyramid, the worse this storm will get!”
Eldest wanted to turn around, he knew this was a bad idea from the get-go. Any fool could see that Olana has master the power of a fully functional Crystal Pyramid. The winds were getting stronger and its howling grew louder, Eldest could barely hear Judah’s reply but he heard it.
“No! We push forward! We will not retreat until Romanto’s will is done!”
Eldest wanted to curse the angel for a fool, but he had no choice but to do as the angel knight commanded. And so, the fleet of 400 airships pushed deeper into the territory of the Crystal Pyramid. So far, Eldest had not lost any airships, but that all changed the closer they got to the pyramid. More lightning crackled and the nether winds grew stronger. The first ship exploded when a bolt of lightning lanced through the hull from bow to stern, breaking the ship in half before it blew a part into pieces. The demons onboard were ripped apart, their body parts and organs scattering. Being taken by the nether winds, it will take days for the enemy demons to regenerate if they still have strength to do so.
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More and more airships were being struck by lightning. Some were destroyed by a strike like the first, others were torn apart my multiple strikes. Those airships were larger and more heavily armored, yet the results were inevitable.
“Damn you Kefir! This is madness! My fleet will not reach the Crystal Pyramid if this keeps up! Olana means to destroy every ship before we reach her with this storm she has conjured!”
Eldest bellowed from the deck of his flag ship. Having lost his seat as the airship continues to rock and shake back and forth.
“Do not faulter! Push forward! Push forward!”
Judah screamed out the command at the top of his lungs. The nether winds had become a full-blown hurricane now. The nether winds were now strong enough to grab airships and crashed them into each other. The demons onboard could not fly away, if they tried the nether winds would just rip them to shreds like paper. Airships were beng destroyed and demons torn apart, and they had not even reached their objective. Eldest watched in helpless fury as his impressive fleet was destroyed in a storm of Olana’s making.
Tabitha smiled, she wanted to laugh but held on to her concentration. She did not want to lose the magic she had conjured, it could prove disastrous. One third of the enemy fleet was destroyed. Their airships broken and in flames, but Tabitha was only just getting started. Pouring more power into her spells, she would summon more storms. The very weather itself was at her command, and Tabitha loved it.
Nidus watched in share amazement as Olana controlled the winds and lightning, causing massive damage to the enemy. Everyone watched in awe, and all were speechless. Then, the aura of her magic shifted slightly. Nidus wondered what else his Lady was about to unleash.
“My Lord Eldest! We need to turn back! At this rate the fleet wi—”
A massive ball of ice struck the head of the demon who was reporting the casualties to Eldest. The Demon Lord of Lust blinked in surprise at the suddenness of seeing the demon’s head crushed by a large ball of ice. The demon was laying on the deck with his skull cracked open and brain matter and blood spilling out, but Eldest had no time to take in the carnage. He was dodging more ice balls, and they were large enough to put holes and dents in the hulls of his airships. It was a hailstorm, Olana had summoned hail to rain down on her enemies. Wood and metal were being cracked, smashed, and broken. Demons who were not able to get out of the way were taken out.
The magic users among the demon army cast shield spells to protect portions of their respective airships. For a time, the shield spells seem to work. But Olana had more in store for them. Eldest’s eyes widen in stunned horror as a tornado emerged in front of the already battered and diminished fleet. The tornado began as a group of dark clouds swirled together and then stretched all the way down to the barren ground of the Nether Realm. The tornado was half a mile wide, and it grabbed three airships, but it was not the only tornado. Half a dozen more tornados appeared, and Eldest knew right then and there his fleet was doomed. Tornados inside of a hurricane, a hailstorm with balls of ice the size of watermelons, and lightning bolts still striking at his airships. It was stupid to attack the Crystal Pyramid. We should have never come here. Those were Eldest’s thoughts before his flag ship was struck by a powerful bolt of lightning. Shattering his airship into pieces and sending everyone and everything crashing back to earth.
Tabitha watched with satisfaction as the remaining airships were destroyed by her storm. No doubt, there will be survivors but not as numerous. Tabitha dispelled the storm using a small portion of her will to command the magic. In under a minute, the tornados dissipated, the nether winds died, the hailstorm ceased, and the sky cleared. Revealing its normal or abnormal dark blue, red, and orange hues. Tabitha opened a telepathic link to her Harkun commanders.
“Nord, Xylia, now bring forth your forces. Let us unleash the dogs of war.”
“Yes, my Lady, your will shall be done.”
They both said in unison, and Tabitha could feel their joy and excitement at the prospect of battle. The Harkuns were looking forward to this fight, it has been a long time since they fought at their Lady’s side.
………………………………..
Sandra had yet to pick her jaw off the floor. She was in shock and awe at the tremendous power Olana had just unleashed upon their enemy. In a matter of minutes, the Devil Queen had just destroyed a fleet of 400 airships. She did it by controlling the very weather of the Nether Realm, a place where the laws of nature do not hold sway. And now, thousands of Harkuns led by Warrior Generals Nord and Xylia flew out of openings in the Crystal Pyramid. Olana had already launched herself into the sky, at the head of her army.
“What a glorious sight to behold.”
Strike said watching the screen, Olana’s rod had transformed into a morning star mace with the other end turning into a steel spike.
“Did you ever once in your lives think that we my sisters would be standing here watching our goddess go into battle? Leading her army against a foe who dares to challenge her power?”
“No, never could I have imagined such a sight.”
Serene replied, her focus on the action on the screen.
“This is a day all the tribes of the Arcadians will remember for as long as the tribes exist. Tales of this day will be told around campfires and homes to children. We my friends are watching history, and we are witnessing glory.”
Gig declared with calm enthusiasm. They watched along with everyone in the lobby as the horde of Harkuns approached the now down and demoralized demon army. Invaders who had dared to step foot on the ground claimed by Olana herself. Very few of the enemy demons were in fighting shape, but when they saw the approaching Harkuns with Olana leading them. They desperately tried to form some type of ranks. Some of them had weapons, but most of them were unarmed. All they had were their claws and fangs, and these were poor substitute against the Harkuns. Who were armed and fully armored and prepared for battle.
………………………………..
Eldest roared in agony as he pulled out a piece of a jagged sliver of metal from his once magnificent flag ship. Black ichor spilled from his right leg, but the bleeding quickly stopped, and the wound healed in a matter of seconds. As he got back to his feet, he heard one of his demons yell out.
“The Devil Queen herself comes! And she comes with a horde of Harkuns at her back!”
Eldest looked to the sky to see that the unknown demon spoke true. Olana flew straight for them at the head of an army of perhaps 5,000 Harkuns, maybe more.
“We need to retreat now!”
The Demon Lord had studied the state of his troops, he had a little under 8,000 demons. More were lost during that storm Olana had unleashed. He had had 15,000 demon warriors of his own. Plus, another 10,000 borrowed from Davindor. Now, his fleet was completely gone, and his army was scattered all over the landscape. Most if not all his demons were either injured or incapacitated. It would take time for them to fully regenerate, they were not demon lords like himself. Even Eldest felt a fleeting pain from his healed right leg, and he knew that this would be a slaughter and not a fight.
“No! It is too late to turn back now! We must fight! That is the only option left to us!”
Eldest saw Sir Judah Kefir striding towards him, the angel knight was one of the few uninjured.
“Damn you Romantians! Look at my army!”
Eldest gesture to his demons who were preparing for the coming onslaught as best as they could.
“We no longer have the advantage, and Olana is coming herself! We have already lost the battle before it even began!”
Eldest wanted to curse the Romantian angel for putting him in this situation. Judah drew his sword and said with deathly calm.
“If you believe that escape is a possibility, then fly like the coward you are. You will not get far. Olana will see to it. There is only one path left for you Demon Lord. Victory or death!”
Eldest’s eyes went bright orange with fury, he wanted to strike the impertinent angel. But Sir Judah Kefir was right, damn him to the deepest pits of the Nether Realm. Eldest cursed the angel in his mind before shouting.
“Prepare for battle! Death to the Devil Queen!”
There were roars of agreement from the demons, but sadly it was from a few.
“My Lord, should we not strike while Eldest’s loyal forces are still in disarray? Your supporters are still ready to obey your commands.”
“No Tombs, not yet.”
Asmodeus placed a hand on the demon’s scaly shoulder.
“Let Olana have her fun, trust me Tombs. She will not appreciate you taking her prey.”
“As you wish my Lord. We will not move until you give the word.”
“Good my friend, just sit back and enjoy the show. I definitely will.”
Olana, Devil Queen of the Great Crystal Pyramid of the Nether Realm. Mother of Harkuns, and Goddess of the Arcadians was the first to strike at her foes. With the head of the morning star mace glowing with red power. She dived to the ground at the center of the enemy and smashed her weapon onto the earth. Unleashing a shockwave of magical energy that carved a crater and sent demons flying in all directions. Olana hovered over the crater she had just made, her massive wings flapping rhythmically keeping her stationary. In her gold armor and long crimson skirt, her eyes glowed bright with gold and silver light, and her raven black hair fluttered in the nether winds. She was like a being of war, ready to do battle. Olana gripped her mace tightly and said one phrase.
“HARKUNS ATTACK!!”
The Harkuns did not hesitate, they happily obeyed their Mistress, their Lady, and their Queen. They rained down on the demons with murderous intent and began to hack and slash those who were foolish enough to challenge the new Crystal Empire. It was not a good day to be their enemy.