Chapter 26: Moon Princess
The village lay in ruins, smoke curling lazily from charred rooftops under a bruised dawn sky. The air hung heavy with the acrid tang of scorched earth and blood, a metallic bite that clung to the tongue. Broken weapons littered the streets like forgotten toys, and the distant wail of the wounded faded into the morning mist.
Tor stood amid the wreckage, Jin cradled in his arms like a fragile relic. Her breathing was shallow, flames flickering weakly beneath her skin, remnants of the dual phoenixes warring within her single core. His expression was unreadable, the same detached calm that had carried him through the night's slaughter, but his eyes held a quiet storm. Sorrow and rage, banked but burning.
A squad from the Spatial Fortress approached, boots crunching over debris. Their black armor gleamed dully in the low light, the silver spatial runes etched along the plates pulsing faintly. The leader dropped to one knee, his squad following in perfect unison.
"Young master," the leader said, voice steady but laced with reverence, "the Great Elder celebrates your victory."
Whispers rippled through the scattered survivors and mages who had fought the horde.
"Wait… aren't those the 'Fortress Terrors'?"
"You're joking, right? What are they doing in this backwater village?"
"And look, they're bowing to that kid. The one who crushed the last elder like an insect."
Tor acknowledged the praise with the barest nod, his gaze never leaving the leader's bowed head. The cheering crowd meant nothing. Praise meant nothing.
"Jin's core is damaged," he said, voice flat, cutting through the murmurs like a blade. "What do I do?"
The leader swallowed, sensing the undercurrent of fury beneath the calm. "Reporting to the young master, the Great Elder instructs you to remain here for a time. A fitting solution will arrive soon." He hesitated, then added carefully, "Please hand custody of the young lady to us."
The leader rose, stepping forward to take Jin. His eyes met Tor's. A shiver raced down the man's spine, cold as void. Instinct overrode training, his body sliding back into a defensive stance, right hand snapping to his blade hilt. A heartbeat later, realization hit. He dropped to both knees, forehead pressing to the dirt.
"I was disrespectful. Please forgive me."
Tor's voice remained even, almost bored. "Tell Uncle Ter I will protect Jin until I hear the solution."
He turned, Jin secure in his arms, and walked toward the Lightning Delights inn. The crowd parted silently, awe and fear thick in the air. No one dared speak.
In an undisclosed location, far from the village's smoke, a vast plain stretched under a starless night sky. The ground was cracked and barren, wind whispering through dead grass like distant voices.
A masked girl stood alone, hood drawn low, her long silver hair catching faint moonlight as it spilled from beneath the fabric. Golden eyes, ancient and ethereal, fixed on a massive floating landmass suspended above the clouds. It hovered like a silent judge, edges glowing faintly with defensive arrays.
Lightning cracked the darkness. When the flash faded, a young woman stood beside Luna, purple eyes sharp, leather armor hugging her frame, spear resting casually on her shoulder. Arcs of electricity danced across her skin without effort, illuminating her grin.
"You know you cannot escape me," Lexi said, voice light but edged with curiosity. She followed Luna's gaze upward. "So where are we going?"
"Up."
Lexi blinked. "Luna, I do not understand. Are you alright? Do you need a doctor? Or maybe you need Tor?"
Usually, that would earn a flustered curse or a playful shove. Today, Luna remained still, focused, her delicate features calm beneath the mask, silver strands shifting in the wind.
"Up," she repeated softly. "To the City of Liberation's outpost."
With a light hop, she launched skyward. A sonic boom shattered the silence, the ground caving beneath her departure point in a perfect crater.
"Hey, Luna, slow down!" Lexi laughed, dissolving into lightning and streaking after her.
The outpost floated serene above the clouds, a fortress of steel and stone defying gravity. Manned turrets lined the perimeter, humming with energy. Defensive wards shimmered like heat haze. Deep within, a castle-like structure loomed, banners snapping in high-altitude winds.
No patrols were visible. The place seemed abandoned until two figures appeared at the formation's edge.
Luna, mask still in place, stood beside Lexi. The wind whipped their clothes, carrying the faint ozone scent of Lexi's power. Luna's silver hair escaped the hood in wisps, catching stray light like threads of moonlight.
Lexi glanced sideways. "So, you are not worried about Jin?"
"I am," Luna said quietly, her voice soft yet carrying an ancient weight. "That is why we are here."
She pulled a small rectangular device from her cloak and handed it to Lexi.
Lexi's eyes lit up. "What's this? A super secret weapon? Are we blowing up the whole army base?"
Luna's lips curved beneath the mask, a rare, genuine giggle escaping, light and melodic. "You could put it that way."
Lexi leaned closer, anticipation sparkling in her purple eyes. "What's it called?"
"Flash drive."
Lexi deflated dramatically. "Huh? You are making fun of me. It is just a flash drive? Boring. So no fight?"
"I would prefer if you do not," Luna said, golden pupils flashing briefly through the mask slits, fate stirring in their depths. "We are not enemies yet."
Lexi grinned wider, lightning crackling excitedly. "Oh, golden pupils, fate. This means we will be enemies someday. Fine, I will let it go for now. Knowing you, it will be more fun later." She examined the drive. "So what do I do with this boring thing?"
"Slot it in the mainframe for five minutes. Let it work."
Lexi tilted her head. "And?"
"I imbued it with devourer mana."
Lexi's regret vanished, replaced by wicked delight. She stared at the drive like a new toy. Devourer mana, consume whatever the wielder desired. In this case, information.
"Oh, I like it," she purred. "An army with no intel is crippled." She closed her eyes, lightning senses extending, tracing power lines, sieving devices, marking hidden guards.
Luna watched silently, her ethereal presence undisturbed by the wind. Unseen, she invoked Devourer on Lexi, erasing her aura completely, stealth absolute.
"I will be right back," Lexi said, vanishing into the base in a bolt.
"I will distract them," Luna murmured.
She stepped forward.
One step. Aura restrained.
Two steps. Still nothing.
Three. Four.
On the fifth, she released it.
Moonlight seemed to flood the outpost despite the clouds. Her presence washed over the base like a tidal wave, ethereal, cold, undeniable. Silver hair fully escaped the hood now, flowing like liquid starlight.
Alarms silent. No shouts.
By her fifth step, five thousand soldiers assembled in perfect formation before her. Armor clanked as one. They dropped to their knees in unison, heads bowed.
"We greet the Moon Princess."
The greeting echoed across the floating landmass, reverent and absolute.
Luna glanced over them, high-ranking officers mixed among the ranks, faces pale with awe. None dared meet her golden eyes.
She ignored them entirely. "Tell your commander to come greet me," she said, voice calm as still water.
A few officers shifted, mouths opening to speak, protocol and questions in motion.
She walked past without acknowledgment, silver hair trailing like a comet's tail.
Seconds later, a sonic boom cracked the air. A man in his forties streaked from the distant castle, trailing savage pressure. He landed before her with a ground-shaking impact, dust billowing.
His smile was polished, welcoming.
His eyes were pure predator, savage hunger barely masked.