Chapter: The Eclipse of the Gods
I. The Return of the Olympics The Amazonian Olympics should have been celebrated the previous year in the Amazonian country, but the war had laid waste to everything in its path. The attack of the demonic army, the chaos caused by Aliarda's flight, and the intervention of various armies forced the White Warlock King to ask the Amazonian Queen for a postponement. She, understanding the magnitude of the disaster, accepted, and the event was pushed back to the new year.
That new year had finally arrived. Preparations were complete, and the 121 queens had been invited—not only for their diplomatic roles but because the defending champion was one of their own. Since before dawn, the entire palace vibrated with feverish activity: the echo of trunks snapping shut, the clatter of armor being adjusted, and the scent of perfumes cutting through the lingering smell of metal and leather. Anticipation filled the air; that morning, everyone prepared to depart for the Amazonian Kingdom.
II. The Collapse of Power Just before the scheduled departure, a dull, heavy thud echoed from the King's chamber.
Kai had fallen to the floor.
The impact was not that of a ten-thousand-ton giant, but that of a light, clumsy, and almost fragile body. He sat up dazed, feeling that something within him was… empty. The absolute density that had sustained his existence for years had vanished. His speed, his strength, his primordial energy… nothing responded to his will.
And he was not the only one.
Throughout the various hallways of the palace, the queens woke with that same sense of bereavement: the absence. Magic had been snuffed out like a candle deprived of oxygen. The mages reached for their mana and found only silence. The warriors could not lift what they once handled as easily as a feather. The dragons—Hana and the other two—felt a brutal void where their divine fire once burned. Even Isabela, the Amazonian champion, discovered to her horror that her legendary strength had fallen to the level of any common warrior.
When they all finally gathered with Kai, worry hung in the air like a heavy shroud.
—I don't know what has happened, my loves —he said, making a visible effort to remain calm despite the newfound vulnerability of his body—. I woke up, and all my power was gone.
Siris, the angel, confirmed the same misfortune. Gretel announced that her demonic magic had been extinguished. Aliarda admitted that her supernatural strength had vanished. One by one, they all shared the same fate.
The entire marriage—122 beings capable of moving mountains and shaking planets—had been reduced in an instant to simple, common warriors. The uncertainty of this mystical silence weighed far more than the loss of power itself.
The Decision and the Departure
The silence that followed was long, uncomfortable, almost painful. But Kai took a deep breath and stepped forward, breaking the tension.
—Look at it this way —he said with a defiant half-smile—: you were going only as spectators. Now, you can actually participate. You weigh the same as any mortal warrior. If I weigh fifteen hundred kilos, you must be close to a hundred and twenty. You will be able to compete without anyone suspecting you possess divine natures.
The queens exchanged glances. They were shrouded in uncertainty, yes, but they knew he was right. The possibility of competing on equal footing with the Amazons ignited a new spark in the eyes of the warriors. And so, with their bewilderment still intact, they finished the preparations for the journey.
The convoy departed shortly after: one hundred and twenty-one queens escorted by a vast army composed almost exclusively of women, as men were strictly forbidden from entering Amazonian territory. Upon reaching the border, the Amazonian troops received them with rigorous ceremonies and protocols before escorting them toward the capital.
The King, however, stayed behind. He remained in his palace, conversing with his friend, Governor Alequei, as he tried to understand in the silence of his halls why his power—and that of his entire lineage—had vanished.
Yet, while Alequei and Kai searched for a solution, in another part of the universe—in the heart of the Abyss, within the throne room—Legion sat beside his aide, the goblin, who was in reality one of the most powerful demons of that realm. Both were receiving an unexpected visitor. All of this had occurred some eight or nine hours before Kai lost his power.
The Queens' Pact
The Queen of Hell repeated with an authority that brooked no refusal: —Legion, do you accept?
Amidst that silent diplomatic war, Legion trembled, unable to utter a word under the sovereign's pressure. It was then that Celeste stepped forward, with a cold and determined smile.
—Yes, my Queen —Celeste said finally, breaking her husband's deadlock.
—Perfect —the Queen of Hell smiled. —We must celebrate. Artemisa, you may go to your husband right now.
Princess Artemisa stepped elegantly toward the center of the hall. Legion, following his wife's will but with a gesture of profound exhaustion, raised his hand. He concentrated into a single focal point all the energy he had stripped from Kai and his one hundred and twenty-one queens. With that immense stolen power, he tore open a dimensional portal connecting directly to the mortal plane.
The portal stabilized right in front of the beach house in Jetrix.
Artemisa crossed the threshold, becoming the first pureblood demon to set foot in that world in eons. Once the princess was on the other side, Legion closed the breach with his remaining strength.
—Everything is in order, my Queen —Legion said, visibly exhausted from the effort of channeling so much stolen energy.
—It is exactly what I wanted —the Queen of Hell replied with a triumphant smile. She bid farewell with an elegant gesture and, escorted by Abriel, returned to her domains.
When the portal to Hell closed, the silence in the throne room was deathly. Legion slumped into his seat, looking at his wife in anguish.
—Why did you do that, Celeste? —he asked. —You just sent one of the most dangerous demons in the universe directly to Kai's house. Do you want to drive me mad?
—Listen, Legion —she replied with a bone-chilling calm. —You make promises and do not keep them. This way, no one can say that you, my King, do not keep your word. The prince must take responsibility for your debts. That princess is now his problem.
Belfort, the goblin, nodded with a smirk of satisfaction: —Yes, sir. She is his problem. That bastard well deserves it —he muttered, relishing the misfortune that awaited Kai.
The Intruder from Hell
Artemisa emerged from the portal right in front of the castle—the "beach house," as Kai fondly called it—within the domains of the Warlock King. At that exact moment, Kai was conversing with Alequei about his participation in the Katai tournament; now that his power had vanished and he was practically human, the tournament was a unique chance to test his pure combat styles. But that midday, around one o'clock, exhaustion overcame him, and he decided to return home for a nap.
As soon as she crossed into the mortal plane, Artemisa felt her strength collapse. The pure demonic energy that defined her existence flickered out. Her body, though strong, became fragile. She was a pureblood demon, different from Gretel—who was half-human—but their bodies shared traits: both possessed small horns and a dangerous beauty. Artemisa had smooth skin, hair that reached her knees, and dark eyes tinged with red, as if Hell itself pulsed within them.
Dizzy and weak, she walked toward the castle entrance. The magical security system, designed to react to any hostility against the King, did not trigger. Artemisa carried no malice; on the contrary, she felt a strange affection for Kai. Thanks to the colossal power he and his queens had accumulated—the very power Legion had sacrificed to open the portal—she had been able to cross. She felt it as an act of love, though Kai did not even know she existed.
Inside the castle, she followed Kai's scent to his private bedchamber. She brushed the silk bed, and an overwhelming weariness washed over her. Guided by the scent of the thermal springs, she soaked in the warmth of the bath to dissolve the tension. Then, she dressed in one of the queens' gowns: a white, nearly transparent fabric that outlined every curve of her body. Hungry, she tasted mortal food for the first time: cold desserts from the fridge that filled her with a simple happiness. Finally, she slid under Kai's sheets and fell into a deep sleep.
VI. The King's Awakening
Kai arrived later, bathed, and taking advantage of the castle's solitude, lay down naked. Turning in the darkness, his arm found a warm, soft body. In his sleepiness, he brushed thin horns and thought Gretel had returned early. But the texture of the skin and the unknown perfume made him bolt upright.
He snapped his fingers, and a dim light illuminated the room. What he saw took his breath away: an unknown woman lay in his bed, her hair like a dark river and horns unlike any woman he knew. A deep fear gripped his chest. If the 121 queens found him with another woman... he was dead. Or castrated.
He tried to escape, but Artemisa suddenly hugged him, climbing on top of him. Her breasts pressed against his chest, and her long hair wrapped around him like a silken trap. Desperate, Kai activated a small trace of his gravitational field and managed to hover, leaving the maiden on the bed. He was sweating as if in battle; the warrior who didn't sweat before a million enemies felt this woman was his undoing.
As he tried to walk away, the floorboards creaked. Artemisa opened her eyes and, in one leap, lunged at him, shouting: —My love! He tried to dodge her, terrified. —My King! —she exclaimed, radiant. —Wait... I don't know you —Kai managed to say, trying to push her away. —I know you. You are my husband! —she replied with a luminous smile.
Kai froze, thinking she might be an obsessed fan from the city. —You cannot infiltrate the King's domains —he stated. —I didn't infiltrate —she countered. —I am the King's domains.
Kai's temperature rose; this woman aroused him in a dangerous way. After forcing her to sit on the bed, Kai covered himself with a towel. —Do you know the queens can execute you? —he warned. —Queens? I am your queen —Artemisa replied. —If the others don't accept me, I'll give them a beating so they learn. I don't want to kill them because I don't want you to be sad, but I will teach them.
Kai felt a pain in his shoulder and saw scratches. She had dug her nails into him with a strength none of his 121 wives had ever achieved. She was dangerous.
Artemisa then told him the truth: the deal between Legion and her mother, the Queen of Hell. He, as the Prince of the Abyss, had to marry her, or Hell would unleash war against the Abyss and against Siris. Kai felt his world crumbling.
—And now you are mortal? —Kai asked. —No. I am just like you —she said. —If you are mortal, so am I. But you are eternal. We can die if we are killed, but we will be young forever, my love.
Kai, as a black knight, understood that fate was sealed: she would be his wife. But he set a limit: —You will not kiss me until you are officially my wife. And for that, the others must vote. Stay here.
Kai opened a portal with his blue necklace and vanished to seek answers. Artemisa remained alone, surrounded by Kai's scent, whispering with desire: —He is so strong... so noble... let those witches come back quickly...
The Currency of the Abyss
Kai arrived at the Abyss enraged, his presence a storm that made the black stone walls vibrate. Legion saw him appear, and the goblin, Belfort, writhed with laughter at the sight of the Warlock King in such a state of helplessness.
—How are you, my King? —Kai greeted, irony dripping from every word. —How are you, Prince? —Legion replied, with a calm that only fueled his heir's fury. He knew exactly why Kai was there.
—Can I ask you a question, Legion? —Kai said, his jaw so tight the muscles in his neck strained—. How many more times are you going to sell me like a whore?
Belfort exploded into laughter, rolling on the throne room floor. —Yes! You are a damn harlot! —the goblin shrieked through his cackles—. A harlot, boy!
Legion sighed, the weight of his crown seeming to sink him deeper into his throne. —I haven't sold you. You have duties as a Prince, and a prince must marry nobles and princesses from other realms to secure pacts. That is how power works.
Kai took a deep breath, trying to contain the urge to lash out. —She is more dangerous than I am —he finally stated. —Yes —Legion admitted gravely—. Much more dangerous. Be careful, Kai.
The goblin continued to laugh uncontrollably while Legion remained in complicit silence. He knew Kai was right: he was being used as a bargaining chip once again. Without another word, the Warlock King turned on his heel, opened a portal, and vanished without saying goodbye, returning to the castle where danger awaited him in the form of a woman.
VIII. Tea and the Trap
Upon his return, Kai found Artemisa waiting for him on his bed, barely covered by silk sheets, inviting him with her gaze to lie down beside her. Kai swallowed hard; this was too risky in every possible way.
—Do you want some tea? I'll make it for you myself —he said, forcing a cunning smile.
Kai was one of the most intelligent men on the planet and knew there was only one way to get a reprieve. He prepared an infusion with sedatives strong enough to bring down an elephant, unsure if they would have any effect on a creature of the pit. Artemisa took the cup, but as soon as the scent hit her nose, she threw the scalding tea directly into his face.
—Ah! Why did you do that? —Kai protested, wiping his face—. Why did you throw it at me? —Did you want to put me to sleep? —she asked, offended—. Oh, my love! Did you want to violate me while I slept? You are mean, very mean! —No. I wanted to put you to sleep because you are annoying —Kai replied with exhausted sincerity. —I'm not annoying. I'm your woman, and I want to be with you.
—Listen... do you see this necklace? —Kai pointed to the blue necklace around his neck—. If I kiss you or make love to you, I die. It's a curse of the rings I give. If I give you the ring and you betray me or do something against me, you die. No matter who you are.
Artemisa blinked, impressed by the severity of the pact. —Really, my love? I didn't want to hurt you... but it's not fair. Where are those witches? —At the Olympics —Kai answered—. They finish in two weeks. —I want to go to the Olympics —she declared without hesitation—. Send me as a noble of the White Warlocks. If I can't be with you now, I'll compete with them. When they ask, I'll tell them what's going on. You won't have to face them; I'll face them myself.
Kai saw in her courage a golden opportunity to regain some peace. —Fine. You leave tonight.
That night, under the mantle of the stars, the King set out with an escort to take Artemisa to the border. Throughout the journey, she didn't leave his side, hugging and stroking him constantly. —Don't do that, you'll kill me —Kai repeated, as tense as a violin string. —You're boring —she huffed, crossing her arms.
They crossed a terrestrial portal and appeared at the boundaries of the Amazonian Kingdom. There, the supposed "White Warlock noble" was received and escorted by the army of female warriors. Kai, letting out a sigh of relief that brought his soul back to his body, returned to his realm.
One of the greatest wars between queens the world had ever witnessed was about to begin.
The Shiver of the Night
On his way back to his kingdom, Kai felt a massive shiver tightening his chest. Never in his entire life had a woman provoked him like that, let alone wounded him. What truly disturbed him wasn't just the desire Artemisa stirred within him, but the certainty that this woman was, physically, stronger than he was. None of his wives, not even Siris with her celestial lineage, nor the powerful dragons, had ever managed to even scratch his skin. But Artemisa had: her nails were like surgical talons, capable of slicing through his flesh without effort.
It was a strange ecstasy—a mixture of fascination and terror before a problem of colossal proportions. Still, for the first time all day, Kai took a breath. He would have a moment of peace. Artemisa was finally far away.
On the other hand, the Princess of Hell was escorted to one of the mansions the Warlock King had rented for her. She was officially introduced as a noble of the White Warlocks who would participate in the Olympics. None of the servants knew her origin, but they all knew one fact that commanded silence: her last name was Killerman.
In the kingdom, every Killerman was direct family to the King. That mysterious noble was, without a doubt, someone of the highest importance. A sister? A cousin? Or a new wife the King was keeping in the shadows? No one dared to ask.
Meanwhile, the 121 queens—housed in another palace funded by Kai's treasury—slept soundly. They had no idea that the deadliest competitor of their lives had arrived that very night in Amazonian territory.
Artemisa finished her meal, bathed, and, dressed in a deep-cut red gown, stepped out onto the balcony with a glass of wine in her fingers. She looked at the moon with burning eyes. —I'm going to finish those witches… —she whispered to herself.
At that exact moment, an unnatural cold ran down the spines of the 121 queens in their respective beds. Siris, the fallen angel, felt a suffocating pressure in her chest and woke up startled. She scanned the darkness of her room but saw no one. However, her celestial instinct screamed a warning: something powerful, something ancient and dark, was drawing near.
Kai, finally reaching his palace, let himself sink into the silence. He understood that, whether he liked it or not, Artemisa would be one of his wives; fate and the diplomacy of the Abyss had already decided it. With a mix of relief and cynicism, he decided it was no longer his immediate problem. If a conflict arose, the 121 queens would have to solve it. Artemisa had to earn a place among them… though Kai suspected the demon's intention was not coexistence, but absolute domination.
The Challenge of the Killerman
Meanwhile, in the solitude of his palace, the King finally managed to relax. With a clearer mind, he began organizing the preparations for his journey to the Cathay Empire, where he would participate in the legendary Katai tournament—a stage where, stripped of his divine power, he would have to rely solely on his steel and instinct.
The following day, joy and bustle flooded the Amazonian capital. The Olympics, the most anticipated event of the cycle, were about to begin. Three thousand elite female athletes would compete for five hundred medals, a number designed to reward excellence without the glories overlapping.
The 121 queens, demonstrating their strategic intelligence, decided to avoid direct confrontations among themselves. They registered for different sports and categories, seeking to ensure the podium remained an exclusive domain of Kai's household.
Artemisa, for her part, showed an unexpected cunning. She understood that if she launched a direct attack against them from the first minute, the relationship would be born dead and would ultimately harm her beloved King. She decided, then, to compete in a completely different category… but she made sure her presence was impossible to ignore, positioning herself directly across from them in the stadium.
No one knew who she was. Her identity was a mystery wrapped in beauty and danger.
In the colossal stadium, the three thousand competitors were announced one by one in a ceremony that lasted over an hour. The queens—under the banner of the White Warlocks—were introduced early, receiving the cheers of the crowd.
But at the end, the commentator fell silent before announcing a last-minute surprise.
—We will add one final competitor —the voice echoed through the speakers—. There will now be three thousand and one athletes. She is a noble of the White Warlocks. Her name is… Artemisa Killerman!
The stadium erupted in applause, but among the queens, the effect was different. They looked at each other with a confusion that quickly turned into suspicion.
—A Killerman? —they whispered—. Could she be a relative of Kai's we don't know about?
At that moment, a woman of insulting beauty, her hair tied back with precision and sporting athletic gear that outlined her powerful figure, stood up in front of them all. With a smile laden with contempt and superiority, she raised her thumb toward the queens… and slowly, she turned it down.
The competitions were about to begin, and blood was already starting to boil.
The Clash of Demonic Blood
While the Warlock King, leagues away, finished adjusting his gear to depart for the Katai tournament, the air in the Amazonian stadium grew thick with tension. The queens had witnessed the stranger's defiant gesture, and a ripple of indignation ran through their ranks.
—What is wrong with this woman? —they whispered among themselves.
Gretel, whose demonic nature was always on high alert, could not ignore the small but perfect horns crowning Artemisa's head. Feeling a strange mix of familiarity and repulsion, she stepped forward until she stood directly in front of her.
—Why do you turn your thumb down at us? —Gretel asked in a glacial voice—. You are Artemisa Killerman, correct?
—Yes. And what of it? —Artemisa replied, meeting her gaze without blinking, with a calmness that was utterly insulting.
—Look, I don't know what your relationship with our husband is —Gretel said, stepping forward to mark her territory—, but we are the queens of this empire. You are merely a noble of the White Warlocks. You must show us the respect our position demands.
Artemisa let out a laugh heavy with arrogance.
—Oh, really? My deepest apologies… —she replied with a tone of mock courtesy that dripped with venom—. But I turn my thumb down if I want, and I turn it up if I feel like it. And if you want me to turn it up for you, little girl, you'll have to earn my respect first. How about we start with a bow? Do it now, and perhaps I'll grant you that honor.
Gretel clenched her fists until her knuckles turned white. Demonic fury began to boil in her blood. —Do you want to fight? I don't care if you come from the same territory as I do; I will have no mercy on you.
—Really? And you think you have what it takes to defeat me? —Artemisa countered, genuinely amused by the threat.
Siris, who had remained silent while analyzing the energy emanating from the stranger, intervened immediately. With a swift, firm movement, she grabbed Gretel by the arm and forced her back.
—Leave it. Do not mess with her… —the fallen angel whispered with an urgency that caught Gretel off guard.
—But who does this noble think she is? —Gretel grumbled, struggling, though the look in Siris's eyes made her stop.
All 121 queens watched Artemisa, plunged into absolute bewilderment. The Killerman simply gave them one last superior smile, turned elegantly on her heel, and retreated toward her competition area.
The sound of war horns announced the official start of the events. The Olympics had begun, but the true battle was already being fought in the shadows of the stands.
Medal Number 122 (English Version)
During the first few days, the queens competed against the Amazons in various categories. For many, it was a bitter trial, as the loss of their powers forced them to rely solely on their technique; still, thanks to their millennial experience, they managed to place in the top three or four spots during the first week.
Artemisa, on the other hand, did it without the slightest effort.
She signed up for weightlifting, a category in which none of the queens participated—not even Isabela, the Amazonian champion. She competed against the strongest women in the realm and surpassed them without breaking a sweat. She lifted three tons with a single hand, shaming the Amazonian record of 2,300 kilos. The gold medal was already hers. She thought that weight wouldn't draw attention, but exactly the opposite happened: no Amazon could understand how such a thin and small woman could possess such strength.
Rumors flew through the stadium: the White Warlock noble had swept the competition. Meanwhile, Isabela—the Amazonian champion and Kai's queen—defeated her rivals one by one in warrior wrestling, upholding her lineage's honor.
At the end of the first week, the queens gathered in private. —That Artemisa woman is not human —Siris declared in a grave tone. —She is of your own race, Gretel —she added, looking at the demon. Gretel frowned. Siris continued: —She is as powerful as I am.
—How can that be? You are an angel! —Sara exclaimed, surprised. —I don't know, but I know one thing: that girl is not from this planet. She is as strong as an angel. You must be careful. And I don't know why she carries the Killerman name. Could she be your sister? —Siris asked Aliarda.
—No —Aliarda replied—. I spoke with my mother recently. She told me a new woman would approach our husband, but I didn't think it would be so soon. They all looked at her with indignation. —And why didn't you say anything? —Aurora asked. —My mother said it wasn't safe… I didn't know if I should mention it —Aliarda replied, uncomfortable.
Worry took hold of the group. Isabela, the Amazon, asked: —Do you want us to face her in combat? Siris shook her head firmly. —No. You wouldn't win. Not one of you, not all of you together. She is much stronger than I am. We must remain calm, finish the Olympics, and speak with Kai when we return.
The 121 queens agreed. Artemisa, for her part, rested in her mansion with a dangerous smile, waiting for the end of the event. For the Crowned Beasts, strength was something simple, but for Artemisa, due to her infernal nature, strength was everything. In her world, the strongest ruled.
The week passed quickly. The 121 queens won gold medals in many categories. And Artemisa added medal number 122 for the Kingdom of the White Warlocks. After the celebrations and parades, the carriages began their return. Eager to see their husband, the queens arrived at the palace, but only found Governor Alequei.
—Where is our husband? —they all asked at once. —He went to compete in the Cathay Empire —Alequei replied—. In the tournament. The warriors there are stronger than those of any known nation.
At that moment, Artemisa appeared. She greeted them all with an exaggerated bow. —I am Artemisa Killerman —she said, smiling—. Kai's fiancée.
That single word—"fiancée"—set everyone's blood on fire. Even Siris felt a burning in her chest. Aurora, the leader of the harem, stepped forward. —What do you mean, you are our husband's fiancée? Alequei, feeling like a scolded child, explained everything: the mandatory pact between Hell and the Abyss. The queens' anger subsided slightly upon understanding that Kai was trapped.
Siris approached Artemisa. —Do you think this is right? That you belong on this plane? —she asked coldly. —Oh, really? Look who's talking. You shouldn't be here either, Siris. And yet, here you are —Artemisa replied with contempt—. I don't want to get along poorly with you. But Kai told me you must vote on whether I can be his wife. Remember one thing: your husband's life depends on how you vote. Keep that very clear.
The 121 queens froze. Kai was alone in Cathay, and the kingdom was in danger. Sara, from the Human Kingdom, spoke: —We don't know you. We knew Siris and the Crowned Beast princesses, but not you. —Fine —Artemisa replied—. But remember: you are the ones in danger.
She turned and left. Aliarda was the first to speak: —If my father did this, it must be for a reason. Why don't we vote for her to be one of us? Siris replied seriously: —She is a pure demon. We don't know what she's planning. But Sara sealed everyone's fate: —We have no choice. I will not put Kai's life at risk for anyone's whims.
Finally, the 121 queens entered the voting chamber. The result was unanimous. None would endanger their husband's life out of jealousy or pride.