[WHAT'S happening?]
Tara was in a panic.
She successfully shut down the portal that Mona Roseheart tried to open to enter the Spirit World uninvited.
And she was also ready to close the door that William might open.
However, the Grand Spirit didn't step in.
Someone else did, and that person succeeded.
[Those little bolts of lightning…]
The portal that forced its way open had a dark violent whirlpool inside, and the whirlpool itself was filled with little bolts of lightning that shone so brightly.
Each bolt was also filled with enormous of Mana.
Hence, she couldn't even touch it.
[This power… it belongs to Lord Levi's son…!]
Tara still tried to close the portal, but it was already too late.
The people who wanted to get in had already stepped foot in her land.
[How dare they…!]
"Mona Roseheart, Nikolai de Moonasterio," Tara said sternly. "I don't remember inviting you to my land."
"Well, we don't remember asking for your permission," Nikolai de Moonasterio scoffed, looking down at Tara with those chilling red eyes of his. "It's been a while, Tara. What changed for you to be hostile against us?"
"You are not my guests," Tara said firmly. "I don't think a queen like me should be welcoming intruders like you."
"Intruders?" Nikolai de Moonasterio asked sarcastically, crossing his arms over his chest. "I'm giving you a chance to reconsider if we were intruders or not, Your Majesty. You wouldn't want us to be your enemies, would you?"
That wasn't a request– it was a threat.
Nikolai de Moonasterio really did inherit the arrogance of his bloodline.
[But Nikolai de Moonasterio isn't as strong as he used to be, is he? It's a miracle that he's still alive after Nero de Moonasterio ascended the throne. But I can feel that his Moonglow has already weakened.]
Hence, Tara concluded that she could take Nikolai de Moonasterio on a fight.
[I'm now as big as an average human, and I grew up quickly after inhaling the air that Neoma de Moonasterio breathed. The bigger I got, the stronger I became. Hence, I'm confident that I can fight.]
The problem would be Mona Roseheart.
[I've never won a fight against Mona Roseheart in the past. And I'm sure Nikolai de Moonasterio would protect his wife. I might need to gather my people and…]
Mona caught Tara's gaze and smiled.
And that smile was chilling.
Tara was reminded why she chose to never get on Mona Roseheart's bad side before.
[Mona Roseheart is like a natural disaster– she doesn't choose her victims.]
"Don't worry, Tara," Mona said "kindly." "Nikolai and I wouldn't fight at the same time since it would be unfair to you. Moreover, we don't want this fight to escalate."
Tara scoffed. "So, you're here to fight."
"Yes, and I'm here to ask you for a formal duel, my old friend," Mona said in a serious tone. "I know you already know why you're here."
Tara couldn't refute that.
There were spirits and fairies in the human world that would send Tara a report every now and then if it concerned the Spirit World.
Like now.
[I heard the Imperial Family needs a piece of my land.]
Tara once lent a hand to the Imperial Family when she took Nero de Moonasterio under her custody for several years.
But it was only because she knew it wouldn't harm her.
It was different now.
[Most gods have a grudge against the Imperial Family because of Neoma de Moonasterio. I must remain on the neutral side…]
Tara didn't get to finish her thoughts because Mona Roseheart threw a glove at her face.
It happened so fast that the next thing she knew, the glove already hit her cheek.
[That hurts…]
Tara was too stunned to react.
The fairies and the other Spirits around got upset on Tara's behalf.
"How dare you hit our queen!"
"We can't forgive you even if you are THE Mona Roseheart!"
"Apologize to our queen!"
"I will apologize and beg for forgiveness if I lose," Mona Roseheart said coldly, her glowing ice-blue eyes focused solely on Tara. "Accept the duel, Tara. This is the most peaceful way we can solve the problem."
Tara touched the cheek that was hit by the glove. "And if I still decline…"
Mona Roseheart turned to Nikolai de Moonasterio.
The emperor then snapped his fingers.
In just the blink of an eye, Nikolai de Moonasterio's Soul Beasts– in their human forms– appeared behind him.
The ground suddenly shook, and Tara's legs almost shook.
[How could this be…!]
Nikolai de Moonasterio had already lost a huge portion of his Moonglow, hence his Soul Beasts should have already weakened.
However, that wasn't the case.
The ground in the Spirit World shook because it almost couldn't handle the combined power that the Soul Beasts held.
Right.
The Soul Beasts couldn't use their full power in the human world, but that rule didn't apply to the Spirit World.
[In short, the Soul Beasts have full control of their divine power here…!]
"Are you threatening to destroy the Spirit World?!" Tara yelled angrily, her eyes glowing menacingly. "How dare you threaten my world?! You must think you're a god because the de Moonasterios has always been hailed as one. However, you're still nothing but mere humans!"
"What does it have to do with our race?" Nikolai asked, shrugging. "It's not my fault that I'm stronger than most of you, is it?"
"You–"
"You'll never win a verbal fight against an arrogant de Moonasterio, my old friend," Mona Roseheart said, smiling at her. "Tara, if I win, I'll take a piece of your land. However, in return, we will protect the Spirit World from the wrath of the gods who want us down."
Ah.
Tara realized that Mona already knew why she didn't want to get involved with the Imperial Family.
She was close to giving in, however…
"My queen, please don't fall for their provocations!"
"We will stand by your decision!"
"We're ready to fight Nikolai de Moonasterio and Mona Roseheart!"
"Just give us a word, Your Majesty!"
Ah.
Tara was touched by his people's support.
However, she knew that Mona Roseheart and Nikolai de Moonasterio wouldn't let her decline the duel.
[Even if it's only the two of them here, each one of them is worth a hundred minor gods.]
Moreover, the Soul Beasts were also there.
[They can definitely damage the Spirit World beyond recovery.]
However, a duel was only between two people.
"Alright," Tara said, taking a deep breath. "I will accept your duel– on one condition, Mona Roseheart."
"Tell me."
"You're only allowed to summon one god or Spirit."
Tara had countless sparring with Mona Roseheart when they were younger.
However, she had never won against her once because she could summon gods and Spirits that were stronger than Tara in different aspects.
"Alright, I accept your terms," Mona Roseheart said, opening her hand. In just a few seconds, Nidya appeared– and Nidya would be the Summoner's famous rosegold staff. "Should we fight here?"
'Here' would be the vast field at the back of the Royal Palace.
Hence, even if they fought her, no civilians would be hurt and the damage would be minimal.
"It seems like you chose to open a portal here for the purpose of fighting," Tara said, moving her shoulders until her beautiful golden wings protruded on her back. For a fairy like her, their source of power came from their pair of golden wings. "Mona Roseheart, I will not hold back."
"As you should," Mona Roseheart said, stabbing her rosegold staff on the ground. And then a glowing magic circle appeared below her. "I'll summon the Spirit that I choose to help me fight you, Tara."
Hmm?
Spirit?
[I thought Mona would summon the usual goddess that she would call during a fight…]
"Please come out, Irina."
"Irina?" Tara asked in disbelief, letting out a gasp. "Why did you summon the Cosmic Tree?!"
Mona smiled "sweetly." "Because I can?"
***
"ARE YOU done with your training with Arche and Aruna de Moonasterio?"
"Uh-huh," Neoma said, immediately hugging Ruto because she needed a recharge. "Nero and I already mastered the Soul Switching Technique because we're awesome like that."
"Good job," Ruto said, gently patting Neoma's back. "You did well, Neoma."
"Of course."
They could act lovey-dovey at the moment because only the two of them were in the training hall at the moment.
It was the training hall that Neoma owned.
And there was a reason why she was there with Ruto.
"Are you not going to help Emperor Nero deal with the male Rosehearts that he gathered?" Ruto asked carefully. "I thought His Majesty has finally decided what to do with them."
"Mama Boss gave him a hint, and so did the older Emperor Nero," Neoma said, removing herself from Ruto because she was already recharged. "Nero can deal with his own shit. We have an important job to do."
Ruto nodded silently, and then he snapped his fingers. "Veton, come out."
Veton, the giant Thunderbird, appeared out of thin air.
Fortunately, the training hall was big enough to accommodate Veton.
"Thank you for coming, Veton," Neoma said, smiling although her eyes were cold. "Now, spit the old bitch out."
Veton let out a purring sound that soon turned into a gagging sound.
The process was a bit disgusting, but it worked.
Soon, Veton successfully spat out the soul of the former Goddess of Fertility.
Larissa fell to the floor, covered in saliva.
"It's been a while, Larissa," Neoma said coldly. "Do you have a last wish before I bury you alive?"
***
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