The first clash of swords thundered like lightning.
Adelheid attacked with perfect military precision.
Thrust. Horizontal slash. Rotation.
Naporia blocked. Deflected. Evaded.
Without any apparent effort.
Her movements were fluid. Efficient.
She wasted not a single centimeter.
Adelheid stepped back, assessing.
Fast. Very fast.
She attacked again.
This time with more force.
The swords collided three times in a single second.
Naporia smiled.
"You're better. But you're still holding back."
Adelheid frowned.
"I'm not—"
Naporia attacked.
A diagonal slash that Adelheid barely blocked.
The force drove her backward.
"Yes, you are," Naporia said as she advanced. "I can see it. You're restraining yourself."
She swung her sword in a deadly arc.
"As if you were afraid of breaking me."
Adelheid blocked again, but felt the impact rattle her bones.
She's strong. Much stronger than she looks.
Naporia stepped closer, her eyes gleaming.
"But you don't need to hold back with me."
She smiled. A predatory smile.
"Because I don't break."
And she attacked with everything she had.
Adelheid was forced back three steps.
Blocking. Deflecting. Barely holding on.
Then… something changed.
Adelheid's eyes sharpened.
Her expression… transformed.
Cold discipline evaporated.
And what remained…
Was something wild.
Adelheid smiled.
Not her usual smile.
But something darker.
More dangerous.
"Finally," she whispered. "Someone who can endure it."
And she counterattacked.
With a ferocity Kaito had never seen.
The blows were brutal. Merciless.
Adelheid wasn't fighting just to win.
She was fighting to destroy.
Naporia blocked, but was pushed back.
"Ah! That's it!"
She laughed.
"That's what I wanted to see!"
Both lunged at each other.
The sound of clashing steel filled the courtyard.
Sparks flew.
The stone ground began to crack beneath their feet.
Kaito watched, frozen.
Adelheid… was terrifying.
Every strike was calculated to wound. To break.
Her face showed pure pleasure.
Not joy.
Battle ecstasy.
I've never seen her like this.
Not even with Vargun.
Because Vargun was never a real threat to her.
But Naporia…
Kaito felt a chill.
Naporia is different.
Lilith stepped closer, watching with narrowed eyes.
Then she looked at Kaito.
She saw his expression.
Admiration. Fear. Fascination.
Something twisted in Lilith's chest.
"I could show you that side too, my king."
Kaito looked at her, startled.
Lilith smiled, but there was something cold in it.
"I also have a side… less civilized."
Her eyes glowed gold.
"If you want to see it… you only have to ask."
Kaito swallowed.
"Lilith, I—"
An explosion of energy cut him off.
Adelheid had activated her Iron Will at full power.
The pressure was crushing.
Naporia responded with her own aura.
It wasn't mind control.
It was pure conquering presence.
The air itself seemed to vibrate.
The fortress windows began to crack.
Soldiers watching from the walls staggered.
Some fell to their knees.
Kaito realized it.
This is getting out of control.
If this continues…
He looked around.
Buildings were shaking.
People were peeking out, terrified.
His kingdom.
His people.
In danger because of this duel.
He didn't think.
He just acted.
He ran toward the center of the fight.
"KAITO, NO!" Lilith shouted.
But it was too late.
Kaito stepped between both blades.
Just as they were about to clash again.
Both froze.
Inches from his neck.
Silence fell like stone.
Adelheid was panting, her eyes still wild.
"C-Commander… what are you—?"
Naporia slowly lowered her sword.
She looked at Kaito with an unreadable expression.
Kaito spoke in a firm voice.
"Enough."
He looked at both of them.
"This duel ends now."
Adelheid blinked, as if coming out of a trance.
She looked around.
Cracked buildings. Frightened people.
Horror crossed her face.
"I… I didn't…"
Naporia sheathed her sword.
Then… she smiled.
Not mockingly.
With genuine respect.
"You did something stupid, kid."
She walked toward Kaito.
"You stepped between two blades. You risked your life."
She stopped in front of him.
"Why?"
Kaito met her gaze.
"Because my people were in danger. My kingdom was in danger."
He paused.
"And I won't allow anything… not even you… to destroy it."
Naporia studied him for several seconds.
Then she slowly nodded.
"Well said."
She knelt.
One knee on the ground.
Fist over her heart.
"You did something no king would do. You risked yourself for your people."
She looked up.
"That… earns my respect, mon général."
Kaito blinked.
"Mon général?"
Naporia smiled.
"My general. That's what I'll call you. Because you're not just a king."
She stood.
"You're a commander who fights alongside his people. Not above them."
She extended her hand.
"I will serve you, Kaito Yukimura."
Kaito shook her hand.
"Welcome, Naporia."
Naporia nodded.
"But I have conditions."
Kaito sighed.
"Of course you do."
Naporia smiled.
"First: I want to command my own forces. Assault forces. I will answer to no one but you."
She glanced at Adelheid.
"No offense, Commander. But I don't take orders from other generals."
Adelheid clenched her jaw, but nodded.
"Understood."
Naporia continued.
"Second: I want the right to 'blood tribute.'"
Kaito frowned.
"What is that?"
Naporia spun her sword.
"When we face enemies… I want the right to challenge them to single combat."
Her eyes gleamed.
"It's a tradition. The enemy leader and me. One on one."
She paused.
"If I win, their army surrenders. If I lose… well, I won't."
Kaito considered it.
"And if they refuse?"
Naporia shrugged.
"Then I slaughter them normally."
Kaito exhaled.
"I accept. But only when it's strategically viable."
Naporia nodded.
"Fair."
Then she stepped closer.
"And the third…"
Her voice grew more serious.
"One day, mon général… you and I will cross swords."
Kaito tensed.
"What?"
Naporia smiled.
"Not now. Not soon. But eventually."
She tapped her chest.
"I need to know if you truly deserve my loyalty. Not just through words. But through steel."
Her eyes locked onto his.
"When that day comes… we'll fight. And then I'll know whether you're worthy of being called mon général… or just another cowardly king."
Kaito felt the weight of her words.
Then he nodded.
"I accept."
Naporia smiled broadly.
"Perfect."
She turned away.
And for the first time…
The three queens stood together.
Adelheid, regaining her composure, expression stern.
Lilith, watching with calculated curiosity.
Naporia, confident smile, sword resting on her shoulder.
The tension was palpable.
Like three storms in the same sky.
Naporia spoke first.
"So… about those bandits who killed your people."
She looked at Kaito.
"The Shadow Guild, right?"
Kaito nodded.
Naporia smiled. Cold. Lethal.
"Let me show you how to carry out an efficient massacre."
Adelheid frowned.
"We need to plan—"
Naporia cut her off.
"You've planned enough. Now you need action."
She looked at Lilith.
"You have intelligence on them, don't you?"
Lilith nodded slowly.
"Some locations. Routes. Contacts."
Naporia nodded.
"Perfect. Give me that. And in three days…"
Her eyes glowed crimson.
"There won't be a single member of the Guild left alive."
Kaito felt a chill.
What have I just done?
What have I just… unleashed?
He looked at Naporia.
Small. Barely one sixty meters tall.
But her presence…
Was that of a conqueror.
Of someone who had burned empires.
And now…
She was under his command.
Or so I think.
Naporia turned to him.
"Orders, mon général?"
Kaito took a deep breath.
"Coordinate with Lilith. Get all the information."
He looked at Adelheid.
"And with Adelheid. You'll need tactical support."
He looked at all three.
"But I want minimal civilian casualties. Understood?"
Naporia smiled.
"Of course. I'll only kill criminals."
She paused.
"Well… maybe a few witnesses if necessary."
Kaito gave her a hard look.
"Naporia."
She raised her hands.
"Joking, mon général. Mostly."
She turned away.
"Rest. Tomorrow we plan. The day after, we move."
She started walking away, then stopped.
"Oh, and Commander Adelheid."
Adelheid looked at her.
Naporia smiled.
"Good fight. Next time… let's finish it."
And she vanished into the shadows.
Adelheid stared at the spot where she'd been.
Then looked at Kaito.
"Commander… she is—"
"Dangerous," Kaito finished. "I know."
He looked at Lilith.
"What do you think?"
Lilith smiled.
"I think you've just acquired a very sharp weapon."
She stepped closer.
"I only hope it doesn't cut you."
And she, too, withdrew.
Kaito remained alone with Adelheid.
She stepped closer.
"Commander… what you saw today… that side of me…"
Kaito looked at her.
Adelheid lowered her gaze, embarrassed.
"I… I lose control sometimes. In battle. It's like—"
"Like you can finally be yourself," Kaito finished.
Adelheid looked up, surprised.
Kaito smiled faintly.
"It didn't scare me, Adelheid. It… impressed me."
He placed a hand on her shoulder.
"But you're right to control it. That strength… needs direction."
He paused.
"And that's why I'm here. To give you that direction."
Warmth spread in Adelheid's chest.
"Thank you, Commander."
Kaito nodded.
"Rest. Tomorrow will be complicated."
Adelheid withdrew.
Kaito remained alone in the courtyard.
Staring at the cracks in the ground.
The shattered windows.
The damage from the duel.
"Three queens," he murmured. "What have I gotten myself into?"
But deep down…
He knew he needed them.
All three.
Adelheid: his sword and discipline.
Lilith: his poison and cunning.
Naporia: his edge and conquest.
Together…
They were unstoppable.
Or they would destroy each other.
And I'll have to make sure it's the former.
He looked toward the horizon.
Where the Shadow Guild waited.
Unaware of what was coming.
"Three days," he murmured. "In three days… we'll see what Naporia is capable of."
And he left.
Not knowing he had just taken the first step…
Toward something far greater.
And far more dangerous.