The ball was held for three days. The newly crowned queen was already on the verge of complaining, feeling that managing the entire kingdom was slowly taking away her freedom. Lance, meanwhile, was reluctant to become the next king, but Aamon would not allow him to refuse. Everyone continued to celebrate throughout the Three-Day After Ball.
Meanwhile, the Mysterious Emperor had tortured Lady Cierra until she was on the verge of death.
"You were my successor's 'ally,' yet you were the one who brought about his downfall."
Lady Cierra was panting heavily, her body weak from the torture. "The Night's Generation only followed your lead because we believed you would not seek revenge through cruelty, but through fair judgment. You deceived everyone, including me and Alastair. You are the real traitor!"
Lady Cierra's voice was weak, but her words enraged the Mysterious Emperor. He suddenly slapped her.
"I will make sure to end the lives of everyone you have given your affection to." He leaned closer and whispered, "But you should remain here to witness my upcoming show. Let us see which of us will regret our decisions."
"You are a lunatic! A demon!" Lady Cierra shouted with the last of her remaining strength.
Then, Lady Cierra fainted.
"Lock her up," the Mysterious Emperor ordered.
His elite guards immediately obeyed and carried Lady Cierra away.
Once the Mysterious Emperor was alone, he stared into the empty room.
"A lunatic? A demon?" he whispered to himself.
Then, he began to laugh.
"They killed my entire family. They killed my successor, the one who earned my admiration. They destroyed my family's empire. And now, they are celebrating the rise of the Icelands' new queen?"
His laughter slowly faded into a cold expression.
"I have only just begun my revenge. From the deaths of those old kings, to Byanka's disappearance and temporary loss of memory, to the birth of the illegitimate princess who is now queen... and now, my plan to end the Royal Winter and Royal Fire bloodlines once and for all."
[3rd Day of the Three-Day After Ball]
Everyone was prepared for the Beast Hunting Event, the Embroidery Contest, and the Immortal Sword Control Championship.
The winner of the Beast Hunting Event was the Duke of White Generation Palace. The winner of the Embroidery Contest was Casanova's cousin, Lady Cassandra of House Greenia.
The Immortal Sword Control Championship, however, had yet to conclude.
Lance and Varenka remained among the spectators, prepared to act as guardians should anything go wrong. Meanwhile, Byanka, Aamon, and Casanova stayed at the palace, preparing an advanced defensive barrier because they had all sensed something ominous approaching.
Only five candidates remained in the Immortal Sword Control Championship, and Lance was extremely excited to witness the final stages.
Lance was more powerful than Byanka and Aamon, but compared to Varenka, his strength was considerably lower.
(Author here is worried about the ending.)
Suddenly, the Mysterious Emperor shattered the advanced defensive barrier that Byanka, Aamon, and Casanova had created.
Varenka immediately sensed the destruction. Her instincts sharpened, and she became even more cautious and protective.
Only three candidates remained.
The first candidate was a mysterious and unidentified warrior. The second was the Lord of House Winter. The third and youngest candidate was Prince Edward Calvin of White Generation Palace.
Without warning, the Ancient Army arrived and began destroying every border city of the Icelands and Firelands.
The Mysterious Emperor seized Lady Cierra and used her as a human shield in case anyone attempted to attack him.
The destruction sent everyone into a panic.
Then, the anonymous first candidate suddenly attacked everyone in his path, including Varenka and Lance.
Commoners, nobles, and royals were killed or severely injured. However, many fought desperately to protect the lives of those around them.
Varenka and Lance attacked the anonymous candidate together.
Varenka unleashed her hybrid powers, while Lance summoned his Immortal Guardians, the Phoenix of Immortals and the Dragon of Emperors.
Meanwhile, the Mysterious Emperor engaged Byanka and Aamon in battle.
Casanova was severely injured and was close to death. Lance sustained several injuries, while Varenka coughed up blood.
Then, Varenka involuntarily remembered something from her past.
<< Varenka's Flashback >>
"I will teach you the Forbidden Spell of the Night's Generation. It can burn your body until nothing remains but ashes. It can also destroy your soul, preventing you from reincarnating. Use this spell wisely, because it can end the lives of many, including your own," Lady Cierra explained.
<< Back to Reality >>
"The Forbidden Spell..." Varenka murmured.
"Sister Varenka! I can't hold this shield spell any longer!" Lance shouted.
Varenka snapped back to reality and immediately attacked the anonymous first candidate.
"Lance! Hurry and go to Father! I can defeat him!" Varenka shouted.
Lance hesitated for a moment before hurriedly leaving.
"You say you can defeat me?" the anonymous man questioned mockingly.
"Yes, I can defeat you! You are nothing but an ant!" Varenka insulted.
"How dare you insult me!" he roared.
The anonymous man unleashed everything he had, launching attack after attack while Varenka desperately defended herself.
Eventually, the anonymous warrior realized that he was running out of energy.
Varenka noticed the opening.
She raised her hand and shouted the Forbidden Spell of the Night's Generation.
"Master of the Pure Heavens, Almighty Creator of All! I lend your power to distinguish the demons! I am the disciple of your chosen Lady Cierra of Night! Cast the Forbidden Spell of Night!"
"Impossible..." the anonymous warrior whispered in shock.
The Mysterious Emperor sensed the overwhelming power and immediately became enraged.
"You bold queen! How dare you cast the Forbidden Spell of Night?!" he shouted.
The Mysterious Emperor immediately rushed toward Varenka.
Lance had already finished eliminating the Ancient Army. When he noticed the Mysterious Emperor rushing toward Varenka, he followed him.
Meanwhile, Byanka and Aamon continued wiping out the remaining Ancient Soldiers while separately tending to Casanova's injuries.
The anonymous warrior was eventually killed.
The Mysterious Emperor became furious.
Varenka and the Mysterious Emperor engaged in a fierce battle. Their attacks shook the battlefield until the Mysterious Emperor unleashed a strike that would have killed Varenka.
Lance suddenly intervened and blocked the attack.
He was struck directly.
Lance coughed up a large amount of blood as severe internal and external injuries overwhelmed his body.
Varenka's eyes widened in horror.
Her anger surged.
She cast the Forbidden Spell of Night once again.
"Are you crazy?!" the Mysterious Emperor shouted. "You will die!"
"You killed my brother right in front of me. Now, it is time for either both of us to die or for one of us to fall!"
Varenka shouted with all her remaining strength.
[Narration]
The Ancient Empire was finally defeated.
Varenka and the Mysterious Emperor both died in the final confrontation, while Lance survived after being rescued and healed by the new Lady of Night.
Varenka was remembered as a queen whose reign ended far earlier than anyone had expected.
As for Lady Cierra, her final contribution was to give Varenka a new life through reincarnation.
The war had ended, but the story of Varenka's legacy was only beginning.