The Queen Descends
Outside of the Soulforge Citadel's Queen's Palace, the Silver Armored Spiritual Monarch remained stiffly still, his breath stuck in his throat. He dared not move without leave, his body as hard as stone, as if the air about him cautioned him against acting impulsively. Respect burdened his stance, but so did shame.
Meanwhile, Nux walked around with an air of nonchalance, hands clasped behind his back as though walking through his own court yard and not the holy ground of the Citadel. His keen eyes raked over every pillar, every stone, nodding now and again with the confidence of a master surveying a property that was his.
But his hands were not lazy at all. His fingers played with Syra's long, soft rabbit ears, rubbing against their silky length.
Syra's pink eyes went glassy, mist veiling her eyes as her thin body shook. Her lips parted a little, teeth pinching down on her lower lip.
Benefactor. does he really think of me as just a pet? Or. is he on purpose teasing me like that?
Shyness seared her cheeks. Her heart lurched at each stroke, the numbness creeping deeper until her chest fluttered with a combination of fright and sweetness. She longed to withdraw, to upbraid him even—but no valor leapt to her lips.
Instead, her mind murmured in a wistful, defeated cadence:
Benefactor, don't… don't always touch my ears. They're too sensitive. Please… change it…
Syra shifted uncomfortably, attempting to move away. But as soon as she did, Nux's finger swept across her ear skillfully, pulling it back with a delicate hold, unwilling to release.
Her body shuddered. Her pink eyes sparkled as though they could ooze water. Eventually, she resigned to fighting altogether.
Forget it… isn't it just the ears? If it's the benefactor, then… then he can touch them.
Her lashes quivered, her heart shy and oddly warm.
It feels strange… but… perhaps a bit at home too…
Nux's smile grew wider, his hand freely stroking, obviously relishing the moment.
On the other, the face of the Silver Armored Spiritual Monarch contorted with pent-up fury. His body was still sore, and his puffy cheek pounded whenever his jaw clenched. His pride cried for vengeance, yet fear bound his hands.
Seeing Nux walk at ease and play with the rabbit-eared girl, he couldn't restrain himself any longer. His chest ached as his heart seethed with indignation.
"This… this is the Queen's Palace!" he snapped at last, voice cracking into a moan of outrage. "You have no idea about the rules? You actually believe this is your own backyard where you can just walk around freely?"
Nux hesitated, looking at him sidelong. The left corner of his lip curled into a slow, mocking curve.
"Oh?" His voice was carefree, almost laughing. "You want to… instruct me on how to act?"
The words were gentle, but the condescension behind them stung like a knife. His eyes—ice-cold, expressionless, heavy with contempt—stiffened the Silver Armored Spiritual Monarch's blood.
"You—!" His body shook, rage blinding sense. His face contorted into something bestial. "You presume so much here in the Soulforge Citadel? You are too conceited!"
Nux yawned slowly, covering his mouth with one hand. "Don't get a big head. I have no thought on the Citadel. I simply look down upon you. On a personal level."
"You—You… persimmons!" the voice of the Silver Armored Spiritual Monarch cracked, fury confusing his tongue.
"It's presumptuous," Nux corrected slowly, savoring the words. His tone was calm, deliberate. "Presumptuous. Not persimmons. If you're missing teeth, don't open your mouth so wide. No one will notice otherwise."
"You—!" The man's eyes turned bloodshot. "You… you shameless bastard!" His War Soul burst forth, and five light-ringing circles rose around him, light pouring over his armored body. The veneration of a great tiger unfurled, snarling and snapping, its aura violent.
Nux sighed and shook his head, face faintly pitying. "Do you have any idea how many words are written across your face at the moment?"
The Spiritual Monarch stood frozen, then barked a bitter laugh. "Do you really think I'm a fool? There's nothing written on my face!"
"No, there are five characters. Large ones."
Nux leaned forward a little, his eyes cold and piercing, his voice a slow, deliberate blow:
"'Please abuse. Please educate.'"
The man almost choked on his own anger. "You're looking for death!" His roar shook the ground, veins bulging at his neck.
Nux merely hooked a finger at him, his face hardening to something colder and more wolfish.
"To be honest," he said quietly, "if you don't rush me now, I'll just presume you're nothing but a coward—loud mouth, no bite. What are you then, if not pathetic?"
The Spiritual Monarch's rage overflowed. His lips twisted into a sadistic smile, bloodlust leaking from his eyes. "You won't be arrogant much longer! When my uncle emerges, you will scream to death. I can already hear your screams ringing in my ears, hahaha!"
Nux let out a slow breath, his tone possessing a heavy silence. "Pitiful. Perhaps the screams you heard were your own.
"You—!" The man sneered, his body trembling with hatred. "Boy, remember whose territory you're standing in. This is the Soulforge Citadel. Let's see who survives when this is over!"
"Shua!"
A sudden gust swept through the courtyard. Pallas descended from the sky, his eight spirit rings blazing brightly, his presence overwhelming as he landed before them.
"Uncle!" the Silver Armored Spiritual Monarch cried in relief. "You've come!"
Pallas's eyes gleamed with cruelty as his lips curled. "There's no problem now. The Queen is furious. This boy… is already dead."
The Spiritual Monarch's face lit with savage joy. He rubbed his hands, almost giddy. "Jie Jie Jie… boy, your time of death has come!"
"Oh?" Nux arched an eyebrow, unbothered.
Pallas's aura swirled angrily, his weathered face grim as he bellowed: "Still playing even now? Still airs before your death? The Queen is never to be insulted. Boy, make haste and come with me to your execution!"
Nux cocked his head, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Did you not promise to say some sweet words to the Queen for me?"
Before Pallas could respond, a forceful gust blew through the courtyard.
The air rippled.
Down from the heavens came she—an elegant, regal form draped in golden light.
The Queen, Rose.
Her golden gown clung to her perfect, unblemished curves, each step and movement dripping with authority and seduction. Her long, straight legs, encased in gem-studded boots, struck the marble floor with a rhythm that resonated like a heartbeat. Her face, beyond reason to be beautiful, bore the dignity of one unapproachable, a Goddess cloaked in mortal flesh.
"Da, da, da—"
Every step was intentional, ringing out through the silence as her presence filled the courtyard.
The Spiritual Monarch scorned Nux, voice trembling with excitement. "Boy, the Queen has arrived. Let's see. how long your hubris will endure