Elsewhere in the Grand Flame Kingdom...
Yui lay drenched in sweat, trapped within a nightmare.
In her dream, she was a mere child—only four years old—but enslaved and tormented. The king favored her in cruelty, playing with her like a toy, never showing mercy even in his beatings.
One day, she returned to her room and found a plate waiting.
Yui (crawling backward, tears streaming):
"Da… Daddy!!"
She screamed with all her might—inside the plate lay her father's severed head.
Fueled by fury, Yui stormed to the king and shouted, demanding why he had done such a thing.
The king's cold reply:
"Because you disobeyed my orders."
She lashed out at him with every ounce of anger she had, but the king only smiled cruelly and summoned her family.
He hung their bodies on the walls, shooting arrows at them as if playing a game, laughing all the while. In the end, he severed their heads and threw their corpses to the dogs.
Shock overtook Yui. She collapsed onto her knees, frozen in disbelief.
Then, in a twisted breakdown, she burst into manic laughter—her voice tinged with sorrow.
"Ha ha ha ha...!"
The king despised her reaction and ordered her captured. She was subjected to tortures worse than death.
At age five, the king finally ceased his cruelty.
Abandoned, betrayed, and broken—she lost everyone and sank into a vortex of suppressed rage.
She escaped the palace, but the king's followers relentlessly hunted her. She fled to every corner of the realm, only to return again and again—there was nowhere else to go. No kingdom welcomed a fugitive.
---
Yui woke, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"Why do these dreams keep coming back? I don't want to relive my past again…"
---
Rin woke to the sound of her crying.
Rin (groggy, concerned):
"What's wrong, Yui?"
Yui (quickly wiping her tears, forcing a smile):
"Nothing, just a stomach ache. I'll get some medicine now. Sleep well, Rin."
Rin drifted back to sleep, confused and troubled by a heavy sadness he felt radiating from Yui.
---
Yui stepped out into the empty streets.
Yui (slapping her own cheek, determined):
"Yui, this is the future. No more looking back. Only forward."
She moved to a quiet place and summoned the Swords of the Sun.
Ten blazing blades spun around her at lightning speed, each hotter than the sun's core—but Yui dampened their heat, coating them in crackling electric arcs.
Yui:
"I have to improve this technique. It's my strongest, but my stamina is too weak. If I push too hard, I'll pass out for a whole day… I must grow stronger. I can't be a burden."
Suddenly, she sensed someone watching her.
Yui (startled):
"Who's there?!"
Infernus descended from the sky, landing beside her.
Infernus:
"Yui, you're not a burden. You're incredibly strong—I admit that. But your problem is your stamina and endurance."
Yui (gazing down, frustrated):
"Yes… I know. Against Ryo, your fight was so intense that every punch shook the kingdom. Rin and I were thrown miles, back and forth. Your kingdom was almost destroyed. How could you not feel it?"
Infernus (blinking, confused):
"Really? My fight with Ryo was that strong? I didn't feel a thing."
Yui waved dismissively:
"It was strong! You seriously didn't notice? We flew miles with each blow. Your kingdom should have fallen. How did you not feel it?"
Infernus (shocked):
"...I really didn't."
Yui was puzzled but didn't dwell. Suddenly, she collapsed.
Infernus (alarmed):
"Yui! What's wrong?!"
Yui (weary):
"Don't worry, idiot. I'll only pass out for a day."
Infernus carried her back to their lodging and laid her down carefully.
---
One whole day later...
Yui awoke alone.
Yui (searching, calling out):
"Rin... Ryo... Infernus...?"
Ryo suddenly opened the door, grabbed her firmly, voice serious:
"Yui, come with me."
They arrived at the royal palace, finding Rin seated inside. Ryo and Yui entered.
Infernus (worried):
"The enemy has begun to move. You must leave immediately."
Rin (firm):
"Infernus, you're our friend. We will fight with all our strength. Why should we flee while our friend is under attack?"
Ryo:
"Infernus... Rin is right. We must support each other."
Yui, still dazed and thinking only of sleep, muttered:
"Okay… okay… what's going on? Can someone explain?"
Infernus explained a hundred monsters had invaded from all directions—east, west, north, and south—and the kingdom's army was insufficient to hold them back.
They needed Yui's strategic mind.
---
Yui took a map and laid it on the table, her demeanor shifting to that of a true war commander.
Yui:
"Listen carefully. This is not a game. Here's the plan:
1. Establish strategic defensive points—strongholds, forts, narrow roads—inside the kingdom.
Move the army carefully between these points to avoid open confrontations and direct monster attacks.
Use terrain and buildings to negate the enemy's numerical advantage.
This way, the army can maneuver freely, striking from stealth.
2. Ryo, you'll create small prisons scattered where monsters gather.
Trap groups of monsters to weaken their strength and disperse their threat.
This will allow our forces to concentrate attacks more effectively.
3. Rin, you will sow chaos among the monsters—deceive their leaders, use illusions or camouflage to create phantom forces.
Divert monsters into empty zones or traps.
This disruption will fracture their ranks, giving our army better chances.
4. Infernus, you will summon massive flames to protect vital areas—city gates, defensive centers, crowded places.
Launch organized fire strikes against trapped monsters, creating fire barriers to halt their advance.
This will reduce destruction and civilian casualties.
5. My role: In the western forest—the monsters' main gathering place—I will strike alone.
I know that forest and its carnivorous plants well.
I will fight there, avoiding dangers, turning the terrain to my advantage.
I plan a suicidal move—to burn the entire forest down."
---
Infernus (shocked, eyes wide):
"Have you lost your mind?! Do you understand what burning the forest means? What if the fire spreads here? What then?"
Yui (hesitant but firm):
"Infernus, please trust me as the commander. If the kingdom is harmed, I will offer my own head."
Infernus (placing a steady hand on her shoulder):
"I trust you, Yui. Don't let me down."
Rin spoke up:
"What kind of skill can you use to burn an entire forest? The Swords of the Sun? The full version?"
Yui (lowering her head, voice barely above a whisper):
"Yes... I'll unleash the full power—even if it costs me my life."
Rin (yelling):
"Are you insane?! That skill alone nearly kills you in a single fight! Burning a whole forest is suicide!"
Infernus (stepping closer, torn between worry and admiration):
"You're serious... willing to die for the kingdom?"
Yui (looking at them, eyes full of sorrow and resolve):
"I have nothing left—no family, no home. But you all... you are everything I have. I will never let anyone lose what I lost. I will fight with you all my life—not as a girl, but as a leader."
Silence fell, heavy and solemn.
Ryo (clenching his fist, biting his lip):
"No... you won't go alone. I'll come with you—even if I have to carry you while burning."
Rin (smiling sadly):
"I'll create illusions in the sky, making the monsters think the heavens have fallen. You won't be alone, Yui."
Infernus (turning toward the door):
"If we burn, we burn together. But we will rebuild this world from the ashes."
Yui smiled, tears falling:
"Thank you... This is the first time I've felt I'm not alone. But please don't come with me—you'll ruin the plan."
They all stood silently.
Infernus (firm):
"The kingdom may fall and rise again, but the spirit... the spirit never returns."
Yui (smiling sadly, voice steady):
"Thank you... but please, let me go. I promise I will return victorious. I will never fall. I will fight with the flag of victory, destroying evil. No child shall cry or be enslaved on my watch. I will fight for good all my life—as a leader, not a girl."
Infernus nodded, trusting her.
He ordered the others to prepare, then left without looking back—confident Yui would return triumphant.
Yui set out alone toward the forest…
---(If you enjoyed the chapter, don't forget to vote or leave a comment — it really helps and means a lot to me! 💬)
To be continued...