The Queen's Claim
"Boy, the queen has arrived. Let's see how conceited you are now!"
"Your Majesty, save me!" Pallas shouted frantically, as if witnessing a savior from heaven. His voice trembled with fear, grasping the last flutter of hope.
But Rose—the queen of the Soulforge Citadel—didn't even give him a sidelong glance. Her phoenix eyes blazed with golden fire, focused solely on Nux as if no other human being in existence mattered.
The Silver Armored Spiritual Monarch hauled himself forward, his armor clanking against the earth. He crawled, face smeared with blood and dust, screaming in shaking fury.
"Your Majesty, this man dares defy the Soulforge Citadel itself! He spat vile words about you—he deserves death!"
"Roll."
Rose's brows arched. A violet radiance flared from her jade-white palm.
"Boom!"
The blast shook the air. The Monarch screamed as purple fire engulfed him. His armor cracked and his flesh charred as his body hurled across the ground like broken debris.
The queen's gaze didn't so much as flicker toward him. Her eyes stayed locked on Nux, her entire being trembling as she slowly approached.
"Your Majesty, you're mistaken! It's him, this brat, who insulted you!" Pallas continued, voice shaking, eyes wide with disbelief.
But Rose walked as if deaf to all else. Her lips parted ever so slightly, her voice soft—almost vulnerable.
"What's going on?"
Nux shook his head, as if considering how much truth to reveal. Then, with a futile shrug, he spread his hands.
"It's nothing. I just told him you were my wife. He didn't believe me… so he thought I should be killed."
"Audacious! Arrogant! How dare you have the nerve to insult Her Majesty!" Pallas bellowed, veins throbbing with rage.
"Boom!"
"You are arrogant!"
Rose's icy rejection stung like a knife. The shadow of the Eight-Leg Purple Spider burst behind her, terrible and transcendent, its power submerging the arena in choking might. Slaughtering intent flooded Pallas like a river of swords.
Pallas's legs gave way. Chattering, he ground his teeth. Fear devoured his voice.
This. what was this? Which queen was his backing?
Nux's smile creased, wicked and entertained. "Pallas, don't you enjoy complaining? Go on, keep acting."
Blood gathered between Pallas's teeth as he tightened his jaw. "Your Majesty, you heard him! This imp has the audacity to insult you—how dare you ignore it?"
The queen's golden-colored eyes flashed, her voice chillier than ice. "I am willing. Do you dare to care?"
Pallas's mind went blank. His throat emitted a strangled sound. "T-this… she's mad… insane…
Rose straightened, her royal presence weighing down like an avalanche. "This man is mine. If you dare to slander him—are you even worthy?"
"What?"
Pallas's eyes almost popped out of their sockets. He reeled back, gagging on incredulity.
Impossible. The queen—untouchable, peerless, a woman who never let men get near—staking a claim on this kid as hers? How? Why?
"Boom!"
Before the idea could settle, an energy bomb crashed into him. His body splattered a red spray, blood vessels exploding as he was ripped into mist.
The hand that struck the deadly blow… was that of the very queen he had adored.
"Ugh…"
Nux let out a soft sigh, shaking his head. "Seriously… one cannot live after causing their own destruction."
Two figures now alone stood in the arena.
The man—tall, handsome, exuding a magnetic aura like a God come down.
The woman—matchless, otherworldly, her loveliness like an exiled fairy from heaven above.
They were a pair, and all else was overshadowed.
Rose's amber eyes sparkled with mist. She looked at Nux, dazed, as if she feared that if she blinked, he would disappear. Her slender jade hand went up, quivering, aching to stroke his face—yet retreated, recoiling like a bashful maiden who did not know her station.
Her lips shook. "You… scoundrel bastard. You're finally ready to return."
Nux smiled softly. "Did I say I wouldn't? I went to endure my tribulation."
"You've changed." Her voice was weak, her queenly facade peeling away like autumn leaves. No longer the distant monarch, she was merely a woman looking at the man she could never erase from her memory.
"What changed?" he asked, smiling softly.
Rose's cheeks flushed, her eyes shimmering like stars. "You've become… even more handsome. More… irresistible."
"Tsk, tsk. To be praised by the queen herself—how could a commoner like me possibly endure such honor?"
Rose's blush deepened. She gave a soft snort, biting her lip. "Who is a queen? Don't tease me. With you, I'll always just be Rose… the one who needs your protection."
"If news of this leaks out," Nux taunted, "I'll be cut down by blades upon blades of jealousy."
"Your strength—who would stand against you?"
"I lack that strength now."
Her heart jerked. Rose grabbed his wrist with no pause. "What are you saying?"
Her fingers cool, dainty, pressed against the pulse at the base of his wrist. The closeness of her touch caused warm blood to roar through Nux's chest.
Rose's cheeks flushed as she realized what she'd done. But she didn't move away. After all, deep in her heart, this was one man who had ever truly meant anything to her.
"What of your cultivation?" she insisted, voice thick with concern.
Nux shook his head. "It's a complicated tale. But the short of it—is that there's no danger. Breaking before mending. sometimes, that's the only way forward."
Relief danced in her eyes before being replaced by fierce resolve.
"Then from now on, I'll keep you safe. Anyone who dare bully my man—I'll kill them all!"
Nux raised an eyebrow. "Your man? Don't go about misidentifying people."
Rose stopped, lips opening. She clamped down, eyes faltering, before saying softly, shakingly. "You vowed to me once… to be my fiancé. And just now, you acknowledged it yourself."
"That was your Spiritual Monarch's nonsense." Nux denied outright, though the line of his lip gave away amusement.
"You scamp!" she flared, cheeks aflame. "I distinctly heard it."
She pouted, her rosy lips pressed together in outrage, her loveliness heady in its fragile defiance. But this aspect of her, but one Nux could perceive.
Nux's silence was reply enough.
Rose's heart beat vigorously. Summoning all her courage, she seized his hand firmly, holding it in obstinate strength. "I don't care. As long as you've returned… then I am your fiancée!"
The announcement shook like thunder.
At that moment, an avalanche of cues sounded in Nux's mind.
[Ding! Queen Rose's favorability with the host is 100]
[Ding! The host was able to win the queen's heart]
[Current mission progress: 100%]
[Task reward unlocked: True·Number One Beast War Soul in the World—First Dragons, Prime Dragon!]
But the voice of the system was not over…