Before the war. Before the betrayal. Before her name was feared across the realms—this is where the story truly begins. In a time when Ada was still mortal, and her father hadn’t yet been consumed by paranoia, the seeds of chaos were already being sown. Two powerful voices meet, both haunted by their pasts, unaware that their clash is only the beginning

  High Priestess Vaedra of the Celestial Order is no stranger to war, nor to the corruption it leaves behind. Gifted with visions and revered for her wisdom, Vaedra has walked through kingdoms undone by their own leaders—rulers who let fear twist into tyranny. She arrives at the palace not in anger, but in warning. She sees the signs in Ada’s father—the paranoia, the isolation, the growing distrust—and knows where it leads.

  Vaedra comes to stop history from repeating. But when she warns him that his paranoia will become his downfall, he dismisses her words… unaware that his descent has already begun

  Eldrid sat upon his throne, lost in thought, contemplating how to defeat the Orcs that continued to threaten his homeland. Despite witnessing his daughter Ada’s overwhelming strength, a creeping fear still clogged his heart—one he couldn’t explain. A whisper of doubt echoed louder with each passing day: What if, one day, Ada turns on me? What if she seizes power… and takes everything from me?

  Before he could dwell further, a quiet shift in the air caught his attention. At the door stood a woman in white robes—no, not just a woman… a priest. His guards turned to him, awaiting his command.

  “Should we let her in, my king?” one asked.

  Eldrid gave a slow nod. The guards stepped aside, and the doors opened.

  The priestess stepped forward, elegant yet commanding. She wore flowing white robes, black thigh-highs, and carried a golden staff. Her eyes locked with Eldrid’s, unwavering.

  Eldrid leaned forward, voice laced with authority. “Make it quick, priest. What is your purpose here?”

  The priestess stared at him for a moment in silence before replying.

  “I’ve come to warn you of your fate, King Eldrid.”

  Eldrid’s brow furrowed. “And who are you to speak as though you know my fate?”

  “I am Vaedra,” she said calmly. “High Priestess of the Northern Church.”

  At the name, Eldrid’s expression shifted—momentary shock, then a slow, mocking smirk. “And what is my fate, O High Priestess?”

  Vaedra remained still, her expression unshaken by his arrogance.

  “I can see it in your eyes, Eldrid… paranoia.”

  His smirk faltered. His eyes narrowed—because even if he didn’t understand how… she was right

  Eldrid scoffed. “Paranoia of what, priest?”

  Vaedra’s voice was steady, unwavering. “Of your daughter. You fear how powerful she will become. You’re afraid she’ll one day overpower you.”

  Eldrid’s hand clenched the armrest of his throne. He hated that she was right. Hated how easily she read him—like a poster on the wall, exposed and understood.

  “I’m not afraid of my own daughter,” he muttered, voice tight with anger.

  But Vaedra cut him off, firm and unrelenting. “Eldrid, your paranoia is going to lead you to turn on your own blood… even your own daughter—”

  “HOW DARE YOU!” Eldrid roared, shooting to his feet. “How dare you assume that I would slay my own daughter out of paranoia! You may want to watch your tongue, priest!”

  Yet Vaedra didn’t flinch. She simply stared at him—at a king who had just revealed how broken he was

  In the background, a young Ada stood quietly. Short, dressed in golden armor, her pale skin and black hair catching the faint light from the throne room. She had heard her father yelling and came to see why.

  Peeking around the corner, she spotted the priestess—confused by the stranger’s presence. But what caught her attention even more was her father’s stance: fists clenched, body tense, barely holding back rage. Ada instinctively stayed hidden, silently watching.

  Vaedra spoke again, her words laced with truth… and a hint of disdain.

  “You will see it one day, King Eldrid. You’ll remember this warning—and you’ll wish you had listened.”

  Eldrid stared at her, cold and silent. Deep down, part of him wanted to kill her where she stood. But he held back. Showing that kind of weakness would only prove her right.

  With a wave of his hand, the guards moved to escort Vaedra toward the gates.

  Once outside, Vaedra paused. She looked over her shoulder, guilt creeping into her chest. She knew what was coming. She had seen it. But now… there was nothing more she could do.

  Without another word, she turned and made her way back to the Northern Church.

  A few years after Ada's resurrection, Ziron traveled to the Northern Church in search of wisdom, unaware that Vaedrea, the High Priestess, already knew of his deeds

  Once Ziron reached the Northern Church, two priests were standing guard. However, they recognized who he was, so naturally, they let him in. As Ziron walked inside, he saw Vaedrea sitting on her throne—as if she had been waiting for this moment. Vaedrea then said, "Ziron, it's nice to see an old friend."

  Ziron smirked slightly and replied, "It is, my lady. But I must ask to speak with you in private."

  Vaedrea looked at her priests, and they bowed, signaling that they would leave the two alone

  Then Vaedrea rose from her throne and looked at Ziron, smiling gently.

  "So, what is it, Ziron? What troubles you?" she asked.

  Ziron looked at her, stepping a little closer.

  "I... you must swear never to tell anyone. Especially... someone."

  Vaedrea’s expression grew serious.

  "Of course, Ziron. You can tell me anything."

  Ziron hesitated, visibly nervous, then finally spoke.

  "I... I came upon a body. A woman's body."

  Vaedrea already had an idea where this was going, but she remained silent, wanting to hear it from him.

  Ziron continued.

  "And... I used forbidden magic to bring her back. I did it out of hope."

  Vaedrea nodded slowly.

  "In hope of what, Ziron?"

  "In hope that she will defeat her father—the one who seeks to dominate all of Alederia."

  Vaedrea’s eyes narrowed slightly as she processed his words. She understood.

  Ziron took a breath and went on.

  "Her... her name is Ada."

  That name struck Vaedrea like a blade. She remembered the King’s daughter. The news itself didn’t shock her—but the name did. Somehow, it still carried weight.

  She let Ziron continue.

  "She... she will become a Death Knight—a force of death, a force of power. But the cost... is that it will slowly kill her."

  Vaedrea’s right eyebrow shot up in alarm.

  "Are you talking about Aldon’s Curse?!"

  Ziron nodded slowly

  Ziron then continued, "Someone must watch over her… make sure she doesn’t push herself too far."

  Vaedrea was surprised—she had never seen Ziron care this much for anyone, especially someone else’s daughter.

  "Ziron… why do you care so much about this woman, even though she’s not your daugh—"

  "She feels like a daughter to me," Ziron interrupted, his voice trembling. "Her spirit… the way she listened without hesitation… how wise she is. I just—" he paused, eyes welling up, "I just got this protective feeling over her, and I have no idea what to do, Vaedrea."

  Tears began falling down his face as he continued.

  "I’m afraid… that if anyone finds out who she is—or what she will become…" he looked at Vaedrea with a pleading expression, "I’m afraid they’ll treat her differently… or worse… they’ll kill her."

  Vaedrea stared at him, stunned. She had never seen Ziron like this—so raw, so vulnerable.

  "Ziron, you… you can’t always protect her fr—"

  But this time, Ziron snapped, cutting her off. He stepped forward, his face inches from hers, voice raised with desperation.

  "I KNOW I CAN’T PROTECT HER FOREVER! THAT’S WHAT’S SLOWLY KILLING ME!"

  "One side of me is telling me to hide her from the world, to keep her safe... but the other side..." his voice broke, "the other side is telling me to train her until she becomes the strongest!"

  Vaedrea nearly stumbled backward from the force of his outburst. She looked at Ziron with fear in her eyes.

  Realizing what he had just done, Ziron’s expression fell. He backed away, lowering his gaze.

  "I... I’m so sorry..." he whispered.

  Vaedrea remained there, stunned, unsure of what to say—just lying in the silence of Ziron’s pain.

  Vaedrea finally rose and placed a hand on Ziron’s shoulder, tears streaming down her face.

  "Ziron... I... I had no idea," she said softly. "But I swear—I’ll keep her alive with all of my power."

  Ziron looked at her in shock, but then a small smile formed on his face. Without saying a word, he pulled Vaedrea into a hug.

  Vaedrea let out a surprised yelp—but then, she embraced him

  A few days after her encounter with Ziron, a human knight arrived at the gates of the Northern Church, urgently speaking to one of the priests.

  "I have news for Lady Vaedrea!" the knight declared.

  The priest, alarmed by the urgency in the knight’s voice, hurried to find her.

  "Vaedrea, my lady—I have news!" the priest exclaimed.

  Vaedrea looked at him calmly.

  "Well, spill it."

  The priest caught his breath and said, "We’ve been requested to join the war against King Eldrid."

  Vaedrea didn’t even flinch. Her expression remained still, then she replied coldly,

  "Tell them I’m not sharing any of my blood."

  The priest stared at her, shocked—knowing they should support the war effort—but after a pause, he nodded.

  "Yes, my lady."

  He turned and left to inform the knight at the gate

  After a few hours passed, Vaedrea set out to witness the battle between Ada and her father. As she drew closer, she could feel the shockwaves from every punch. Then, she heard it—Ada's roar. It was powerful, primal, and shook the very air around her.

  When Vaedrea reached the top of the mountain, she saw her—Ada—moving like a blur, locked in a vicious clash with King Eldrid. They traded blows back and forth, each strike shaking the earth. Vaedrea, overwhelmed by the sheer force, whispered in awe:

  "By the Gilden's Light..."

  —but low enough that Ada wouldn’t hear her.

  She kept watching, stunned by every punch Ada landed, every dash, every flawless counter.

  Then, it happened.

  Ada finally brought her father to his knees. Vaedrea watched closely, wondering if Ada would show mercy... or deliver the final blow.

  Suddenly, Ada’s body began to twitch.

  And then—like a nightmare—she roared, unleashing a surge of purple aura that exploded outward. Vaedrea’s eyes widened in horror as she watched Ada slay her own father.

  Thinking it was over, Vaedrea sighed.

  But then she saw it.

  Ada began walking toward the nearby city, her eyes glowing with intense purple light, her body radiating uncontrolled fury.

  Vaedrea froze. She knew this would happen. She knew Ada was going to snap… and lose herself.

  Part of her wanted to intervene—to stop her.

  But the other part… the other part believed Ada needed to learn from this.

  So, Vaedrea turned.

  Even as the screams echoed behind her,

  Even as the destruction began—

  She walked away,

  Forcing herself to return to the church.

  As Vaedrea sat on her throne, the doors suddenly burst open.

  It was Ziron—his face full of rage and heartbreak. He looked emotionally beaten, every step radiating fury as he stormed up the stairs.

  The priests at the sides crossed their staffs across his chest to block his path, but Ziron snapped:

  "WHY DID YOU NOT STOP HER? WHY?!"

  Vaedrea lowered her eyes, knowing this confrontation would not end well.

  "She needs to learn the price of her power, Ziron," she replied calmly.

  Ziron’s rage exploded further.

  "LEARN?! You mean letting her kill innocents and completely break down?! She..."

  His voice cracked.

  "She said she wishes she wasn’t alive anymore..."

  That line hit Vaedrea hard. Her chest tightened. She swallowed thickly, then said:

  "Yes... even that, Ziron. She needs to learn to control it."

  Ziron, furious beyond words, nearly shoved the priests aside. Sensing this, Vaedrea raised her hand, signaling them to stand down.

  Ziron stepped forward, voice raised with raw pain.

  "HOW IS SHE SUPPOSED TO LEARN BY HERSELF?! SHE’S ALREADY MURDERED 80,000 PEOPLE, AND NOW SHE’S MORE BROKEN THAN EVER—ALL BECAUSE WE WEREN’T THERE TO CHECK ON HER!"

  Vaedrea’s patience snapped.

  "IF WE KEEP HER IN CHECK CONSTANTLY, HOW WILL SHE EVER LEARN TO HANDLE HER EMOTIONS WHEN YOU’RE NOT AROUND—OR WORSE... if you're dead?"

  Ziron staggered slightly, like the words had physically struck him. He looked down, voice quieter now.

  "I... I know what you mean. But she still needs guidance. Deep down, she’s just a lost little girl."

  Vaedrea narrowed her eyes.

  "And how long do you think that ‘little girl’ will last if she keeps depending on you?"

  Ziron glared at her, wounded and furious. Without another word, he turned sharply, disrespect in every step, and shouted:

  "IF NO ONE ELSE IS GOING TO TAKE CARE OF HER—THEN I WILL!"

  Vaedrea let out a scoff, then turned to face the stained-glass window, silent and conflicted

  As Ziron stormed out of the church, he suddenly noticed a woman in robes waiting for him. It was Valrie.

  Ziron sighed and asked,

  "How long were you waiting, Valrie?"

  Valrie responded softly,

  "Long enough to know you're hurting."

  Ziron's breath caught in his throat, the words hitting deeper than he expected. After a pause, he muttered,

  "She won't help Ada."

  Valrie’s gaze turned toward the church, her face twisting with quiet disgust.

  Suddenly, Ziron snapped—his voice booming:

  "SHE’S JUST A GIRL! LOST! AND NO ONE WILL UNDERSTAND IT—SO I’M THE ONLY ONE WHO WILL PROTECT HER!"

  He stormed off, his footsteps heavy with frustration and pain.

  Valrie stood frozen for a moment, shocked to see Ziron like this. She had never seen him unravel.

  Then, without a word, she followed—her own anger toward the church beginning to rise.

  As time passed, chaos suddenly erupted outside the Northern Church. People were screaming.

  Vaedrea scrambled to a window and looked out, her eyes widening.

  She saw two figures moving so fast that she couldn’t even track them—but when one of them was knocked down, she finally caught a glimpse.

  It was Ada.

  Suddenly, a man in red armor slammed into her with incredible force.

  Realizing the danger, Vaedrea sprang into action, yelling:

  "EVERYONE—DOWN TO THE VAULT!"

  Panic broke out. People screamed and rushed to safety, but debris began to fall. Some were struck. Others were pinned or crushed beneath the rubble.

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  Vaedrea rushed out, using her staff to lift fallen beams and shattered stone. In the chaos, a young boy cried out:

  "VAEDREA! PLEASE—SAVE ME AND MY MOM! SHE’S STUCK OVER THERE!"

  Without hesitation, Vaedrea dashed over and helped free the boy’s mother. But just as she did, the woman looked up, her face draining of color—eyes wide in horror.

  Vaedrea turned to look...

  It was him.

  The man fighting Ada—her brother, Maldrig.

  Vaedrea quickly stepped in front of the woman and took a battle stance. Maldrig met her gaze and did the same.

  He dashed toward her.

  Vaedrea raised her staff and cast a barrier just in time, blocking the strike. She gritted her teeth as Maldrig’s relentless blows pounded against the shield.

  Glancing back, she shouted to the mother:

  "Go!"

  The woman ran, clutching her child as she fled toward the vault.

  Vaedrea focused again, struggling to maintain the barrier.

  Then—Ada appeared in a blur, crashing into Maldrig with full force.

  He went flying into the mountains in the distance.

  Seizing the opportunity, Vaedrea turned and sprinted toward the vault to rejoin her people

  As Vaedrea shut the vault, she could hear Ada’s screams of pain and agony echoing outside. Each slam, each cry grew louder... but still, Vaedrea locked the vault—for good.

  After a few hours, Vaedrea and her people heard nothing but birds chirping.

  Cautiously, Vaedrea opened the vault.

  Her eyes widened.

  Her church was in ruins.

  Bodies lay scattered—the people she couldn’t save.

  And then… she saw Ada standing where the church gate once stood.

  Silent. Motionless.

  Vaedrea looked back at the people still inside the vault.

  Then, without saying a word, she closed it again

  Vaedrea slowly drew her staff and began walking toward Ada, each step cautious and deliberate.

  Ada glanced over her shoulder and smirked slightly, knowing full well that Vaedrea was afraid.

  Vaedrea hesitated, then spoke softly:

  "Ada..."

  Ada slowly turned around to face her, eyes steady.

  Then, in a low, chilling voice, Ada said:

  "Tell me..."

  Ada continued, slowly drawing her two swords.

  "Tell me... how long did you know Ziron?"

  Vaedrea’s eyes widened in shock, then she lied:

  "I never knew him."

  In an instant, Ada appeared in front of her—so fast Vaedrea couldn’t even react.

  "LIAR."

  Ada’s voice cut through the air like a blade.

  "Valrie told me everything..."

  Vaedrea’s eyes widened even further, panic rising in her chest.

  "W... what happened to Ziron?" she asked, her voice trembling.

  Ada’s expression darkened, her anger rising as the memory surged back.

  "He’s dead..." she said coldly.

  Vaedrea looked down, guilt overtaking her.

  "I... I’m sorry."

  Ada’s fury erupted.

  "YOU’RE SORRY?! YOU DIDN’T EVEN HELP FIGHT—AND NOW YOU’RE SORRY?!"

  Vaedrea stepped back quickly, her breath catching.

  "I had to save my people. Even you, Ada, would understand that."

  But Ada only grew more enraged, her swords now at her sides, trembling with barely contained power.

  "I would understand that?! YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT IT’S LIKE—FIGHTING WITH EVERY OUNCE OF YOUR BREATH—YOUR POWER!"

  She stepped closer.

  Vaedrea, now cornered by the force of Ada’s wrath, raised her staff—ready to defend herself if she had to.

  Ada’s eyes locked onto her—and she smirked.

  "So... you see me as a threat, huh?

  Ada smirked even more and said,

  "Fine. I’ll be the threat you saw coming!"

  Vaedrea, eyes filled with sorrow and on the verge of tears, looked at her—truly seeing what Ada had become.

  "Ada... please," she pleaded softly.

  But Ada dashed forward and sent Vaedrea flying with a powerful strike.

  Vaedrea crashed to the ground with a heavy thud. Her patience, now fading, cracked beneath the weight of the moment. She slowly rose to her feet, her eyes narrowing as Ada descended toward her.

  "You’re lost, Ada," Vaedrea said coldly.

  "Attacking innocent people..."

  Ada’s expression twisted in pain and rage.

  "And who came begging to you when he needed help to control me...? WHO?!"

  Vaedrea’s fury boiled over. She dashed at Ada and landed a powerful holy-infused punch to her chest.

  Ada went flying, slamming into the ground. As she landed, she gasped—the air knocked completely out of her.

  Vaedrea landed slowly, her presence steady—but now just as emotionally shaken

  Vaedrea shouted,

  "I tried helping him—I did! But he wouldn’t listen! He was just as blind as you!"

  Ada growled, then let out a furious roar as she dashed forward. The two clashed with explosive force.

  Ada threw a punch—Vaedrea blocked it with a holy barrier.

  Vaedrea countered, swinging a glowing holy whip, but Ada blocked it mid-air, her fury rising.

  "YOU LEFT HIM—JUST LIKE YOU LEFT ME!" Ada screamed.

  Vaedrea snapped back,

  "HE LEFT HIMSELF, ADA! HE GOT CAUGHT UP TRYING TO BE THE FATHER HE NEVER WAS!"

  The words hung in the air—and Vaedrea instantly knew she had said the wrong thing.

  Ada’s eyes widened with rage. She roared even louder and charged.

  "YOU WILL NEVER KNOW WHAT HE HAS DONE FOR ME!"

  As she screamed, she landed a powerful punch, sending Vaedrea stumbling backward.

  "HE TREATED ME WITH LOVE—WITH EVERYTHING A FATHER COULD GIVE!"

  Vaedrea barely had time to react. She struggled to keep up as Ada unleashed a furious flurry of punches, each blow driven by grief and rage.

  "AND NOW HE’S GONE—AND YOU DIDN’T DO ANYTHING TO STOP IT!"

  With a final, thunderous strike, Vaedrea was sent flying, crashing into a boulder with a crushing impact

  Vaedrea slowly rose, clutching her stomach—the pain making it hard to stand.

  Ada descended from the sky, landing softly. She smirked at the sight of Vaedrea struggling.

  "What’s wrong, priest?" she taunted.

  "Struggling to stand? I know how that feels... hopeless, right?"

  Vaedrea growled through gritted teeth, then let out a fierce roar and charged.

  They clashed again, this time with renewed fury.

  Vaedrea landed a few clean blows.

  Then Ada struck back.

  The two began trading strikes, blow for blow—neither willing to back down

  Finally, Ada landed a powerful blow to Vaedrea’s face, sending her flying and tumbling across the ground.

  Vaedrea tried to rise, groaning—but Ada was already standing over her.

  Unable to keep going, Vaedrea fell to her knees, knowing she couldn’t fight Ada any longer.

  Ada smirked, breathing heavily.

  "Is that all?" she taunted.

  "I thought you could put up more of a fight—or hell, maybe even hurt me."

  That line hit Vaedrea hard.

  She realized Ada didn’t just want to win—she wanted to be hurt, to be pushed, to feel something through the pain.

  In a low, trembling voice, Vaedrea spoke:

  "I’m... I’m so sorry, Ada. I should’ve been there. I just... I just..."

  Ada froze.

  The words.

  The tone.

  It felt familiar—hauntingly so.

  Then it clicked.

  That plea—it echoed something from her past.

  A woman pleading... just like this... right before Ada snapped

  Ada stumbled back as the voices came flooding in. She collapsed to the ground, curling up like a child, screaming:

  "GET OUT OF MY HEAD! ARGHHH!"

  Vaedrea froze—shocked—but her heart shattered at the sight.

  Without hesitation, she crawled over to Ada, sobbing, and wrapped her arms around her.

  "I’m... I’m so sorry... I’m here now," she whispered.

  Ada was stunned.

  For a moment, she didn’t know how to react.

  But somehow... she felt warm.

  Loved.

  Her mind screamed not to fall for it—

  But her heart, so broken, so desperate for comfort, begged her to accept it.

  So... she did

  Through her sobs, Vaedrea whispered:

  "I’m so sorry, Ada... I wasn’t there for you. I should’ve been... I should’ve faced my guilt. I’m so, so sorry."

  In Vaedrea’s mind, a storm of thoughts swirled:

  Why am I so broken...?

  Why does this feel like a mother who’s lost her child...?

  Am I... becoming like Ziron?

  Ada, still in her arms, began to sob loudly—her cries raw and unfiltered.

  And Vaedrea sobbed with her, holding on as tightly as she could

  As they both sobbed, Valrie came searching for Ada.

  From a distance, she spotted them—Ada and Vaedrea, holding each other, both emotionally shattered.

  The sight broke her.

  Seeing Ada like that—vulnerable, clinging to someone—awakened her protective instincts. She wanted to run over and hold her, to shield her.

  But she stopped.

  She knew Ada needed this.

  She needed a mother figure now—and for the first time, it seemed like she was finally letting someone in.

  Valrie lowered her head, her own eyes stinging with emotion.

  She turned and walked away, tears threatening to fall

  Finally, Ada and Vaedrea rose from their shared sobbing, the silence between them now heavy with understanding.

  Ada looked at Vaedrea—this time, not with anger, but with something different... something tender. She looked at her like a mother.

  But suddenly, Ada’s heart pulsed with a pain so sharp it dropped her to her knees.

  Vaedrea gasped and rushed to her side, panic in her voice.

  "ADA?! ADA, ARE YOU OKAY?!"

  Ada could barely speak through the agony.

  Vaedrea, trembling, reached for her and the first words that slipped out were:

  "Hold on, sweetie... I’ll find a way to lower the pain!"

  She didn’t even realize she had called her sweetie—it came out instinctively, like a mother to her child.

  Vaedrea quickly began casting a spell, trying to draw some of the pain away, her hands glowing softly.

  Ada, catching her breath, suddenly gasped:

  "Eldenboir... it’s under attack!"

  Vaedrea’s eyes widened in shock.

  Without hesitation, she helped Ada to her feet. There was no need for discussion.

  As soon as Ada had enough strength to fly, they both launched into the sky—headed straight for the town

  As Ada and Vaedrea flew across the sky with speed, the voices in Ada’s head grew louder—each one warning her of what was to come.

  She kept pushing, kept flying, even though she desperately wanted to break down.

  She knew whoever was attacking this city had to be stopped.

  Then, a very familiar voice came through...

  It was Ziron.

  “Ada, I love you—and I will always love you.”

  It caught Ada off guard, but it also empowered her.

  It made her proud.

  Looking up, she whispered,

  “I won’t let you down, Ziron.”

  Vaedrea, hearing those words, smiled a little.

  Then she said to herself,

  “This time, my friend... I won’t leave her. I won’t let you down.

  As they reached the city, Ada and Vaedrea began scouting the area.

  Everything was ruined.

  A strange green aura covered the ground and the buildings.

  Ashes—what remained of the people—were scattered everywhere.

  Ada was the first to descend, followed by Vaedrea.

  Then Valrie joined them.

  She walked out slowly, looking shaken and defeated.

  “I…”

  She collapsed to her knees.

  Ada ran over, panicked.

  “VALRIE!” she shouted.

  Valrie looked up weakly and said,

  “He’s too strong, Ada…”

  Ada’s expression shifted to confusion.

  “Who?” she asked.

  Before Valrie could respond, a blast struck Ada in her side and sent her flying.

  Vaedrea immediately readied herself to fight.

  Valrie forced herself to her feet and stood beside Vaedrea.

  “I may have a grudge with your people,” she said, “but consider me a temporary ally.”

  Vaedrea smirked.

  “I’ll take it.”

  Then the figure emerged.

  An orc—half-undead, half-living—stepped forward with a glowing green orb in hand.

  He smirked and said,

  “Hm. That was easy. I thought the Death Knight would be harder to hit.”

  Both Valrie and Vaedrea scoffed and growled

  Valrie grew impatient, her eyes flaring with anger.

  “You don’t dare talk about Ada like that—ARRRGHHH!”

  She charged in, roaring, and Vaedrea followed with a battle cry of her own.

  The orc smirked and raised his hand, summoning two demons to intercept them.

  But Valrie and Vaedrea were unfazed—they struck with fury and took the demons down with ease.

  Just as they prepared to face the orc, he vanished.

  Then, the ground began to tremble.

  A massive army appeared—millions upon millions of demons swarming the battlefield.

  Valrie and Vaedrea’s eyes widened in disbelief.

  They instinctively began to back up, but the demons didn’t wait.

  They charged.

  Valrie unleashed a fire orb, taking down two.

  Vaedrea followed up with a radiant holy smite, incinerating another.

  They fought back-to-back, holding off wave after wave.

  Meanwhile, Ada struggled to rise. The blast from the orc still burned inside her—it hurt more the harder she moved.

  But she pushed through the pain.

  Gritting her teeth, she forced herself to her feet.

  With a roar, she charged into the battlefield.

  Valrie, catching sight of her, smiled through the chaos.

  She was glad—Ada was back.

  Ada sliced through a demon with a clean arc of her blade.

  Valrie launched an arcane missile, blasting another apart.

  Vaedrea raised her staff and summoned a beam of holy light, reducing a demon to ash.

  Suddenly, a demon caught Valrie off guard.

  She barely dodged the blade—but the demon's second swipe connected, hitting her hard in the side.

  The force sent her crashing into the side of a mountain.

  Ada turned at the sound.

  “VALRIE!” she shouted.

  But in that moment, a demon slashed Ada down her back.

  “ARGH!” she screamed in pain, then spun around and cut the demon down.

  Another charged in, landing a brutal hit to Ada’s face that sent her flying.

  Vaedrea was struck next, slammed into a rock wall.

  All three of them—battered, bruised, and bloodied—quickly forced themselves back to their feet.

  They knew these demons would not give them a moment to rest.

  Valrie shouted through clenched teeth as she blocked another attack,

  “What are we supposed to do, Ada?!”

  Ada froze.

  She had never struggled like this before—not against an army.

  “ADA, WHAT DO WE DO?!” Valrie screamed again, her voice full of desperation as she fended off another demon.

  Surrounded, outnumbered, and overwhelmed, all three were locked in battle.

  And somewhere, hidden among the chaos, the orc watched it all—laughing.

  He knew.

  They couldn’t hold out.

  Ada, panicking, looked around while holding off the swarming demons.

  Time felt like it was slipping away.

  The entire army was closing in, surrounding them from all sides.

  Vaedrea took another hit.

  Then Valrie.

  Their screams echoed in Ada’s head.

  Her heart pounded louder and louder—until finally,

  She roared,

  “ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!”

  With a burst of raw fury, she blitzed into the demon army, tearing through them one by one.

  But as she reached a demon general, he caught her off guard—

  And landed a devastating blow to her chest.

  Ada went skidding back across the ground, crashing near where Valrie and Vaedrea were.

  She gasped, coughing and struggling for breath.

  Valrie looked over in shock.

  “ADA!” she screamed—

  But before she could reach her, demons cut her off.

  Desperation slammed into her.

  She screamed,

  “GET OUT OF MY WAY!”

  An arcane pulse exploded from her, pushing all the demons back with sheer force.

  Ada looked up, exhausted—but surprised.

  Vaedrea tried to rush over, but a demon rose from the blast and blocked her path.

  Something shifted in Vaedrea’s eyes—

  A motherly instinct awakened.

  She shouted,

  “TAKE THIS! ARGHHHHHH!”

  And unleashed a holy blast straight into the demon’s face,

  Launching it into the side of a mountain.

  She knelt beside Ada.

  “You okay?” she asked, breathless.

  Ada smirked weakly.

  “It’ll take more than that.”

  Vaedrea smirked back—

  But the army wasn’t done.

  Once again, the demons began to surround them

  As Ada, Vaedrea, and Valrie looked up—bruised, bloodied, and nearly accepting defeat—they stood tall, ready to fight one last time.

  They would not fall without a final stand.

  Then suddenly...

  A horn echoed in the distance.

  Valrie turned toward the sound, her eyes widening.

  Over the hills, riding with elegance and power, came the High Elves—their king leading them on horseback.

  He rode down to them, stopping beside Valrie with a confident smirk.

  “Need help, ladies?” he said with a grin.

  Then he turned back to the mountain.

  Behind him… more forces emerged.

  Dwarves. Humans. Blood Elves.

  All of them arriving—rallied for battle.

  Ada slowly rose to her feet, staring in disbelief at the growing army before her.

  The elven king turned to her, stepped off his horse, and offered her his sword.

  “You lead them, Ada. You're more of a leader than I’ll ever be.”

  Ada stood there—shocked.

  But she nodded firmly, took the sword, and mounted the horse.

  Just then, the orc emerged from the shadows, watching with a twisted grin.

  Suddenly, from Ada’s side, a small girl in mechanic gear came running up.

  Wide-eyed and grinning, she shouted,

  “Oh my God! It’s Ada—it’s really Ada! I’ve heard all your stories!”

  Ada blinked, confused.

  The girl stuck out a hand.

  “I’m Shayna. The smartest mechanic here.”

  She hit a button on her gauntlet—

  And a turret rose from the ground, clicking into place.

  Ada raised an eyebrow, impressed.

  “Well… I’m glad to have you on my team, Shayna.”

  Shayna nearly collapsed from excitement, but held it together, grinning as she took her place.

  A dwarf stepped up next to Ada, his voice gravelly.

  “I’ve heard what you’ve done for our land… it’s respectable.”

  Ada nodded at him.

  “And who are you?”

  “Bailin,” he said. “The strongest dwarf you’ll ever meet.”

  Ada smirked.

  But then, something hit her.

  Someone was missing.

  Ameria.

  She glanced around quickly—until her eyes landed on a figure in the trees.

  Ameria was perched high, picking off demons with precision.

  Ada smiled.

  Everyone was here now.

  She wasn't fighting alone.

  She had all of Alderia behind her.

  Galloping to the front of the army, Ada’s heart pounded—

  It felt so familiar.

  Like when she faced her father.

  Like when she stood against the Pale Orc.

  She raised her voice, clear and powerful for all to hear:

  “MEN AND WOMEN!

  We are here to fight a force that threatens to take our land!

  They are vicious—

  They are ruthless—

  But so are WE.

  In the name of Alderia… WE STAND UNTIL WE DROP!”

  Before she could say more, the army erupted in a thunderous cheer:

  “FOR ADA!”

  Ada froze for just a second—shocked.

  Then she turned back toward the orc.

  She raised her sword and shouted,

  “FOR ALDERIA!”

  The army roared in unison—

  Elves, Dwarves, Humans, Blood Elves—

  All charged forward

  Both armies clashed, roaring as steel met flesh and spells lit up the battlefield.

  Ada, Shayna, Vaedrea, Bailin, Ameria, and Valrie fought together—each moving like it was their calling.

  Demons fell one by one, their teamwork unmatched.

  Even though Ada’s army was gaining ground, the orc smirked in the shadows.

  He stepped back and began summoning something.

  Ada noticed it—

  And she knew instantly: this was bad.

  Suddenly, a meteor came crashing down from the sky, slamming into the earth.

  From the crater rose a massive demon, towering and monstrous.

  It roared and began swiping through soldiers, crushing anyone in its path.

  Ada looked at her group.

  They looked back.

  No words needed.

  They nodded—and charged together.

  Ada led the charge,

  followed by Vaedrea,

  then Bailin,

  Valrie,

  Ameria,

  and finally Shayna.

  Shayna deployed two turrets that instantly opened fire on the demon.

  Then she jumped onto a hoverboard, zooming around the monster while wielding a minigun, blasting AC/DC’s “Hell’s Bells” through her speakers.

  She laughed maniacally as bullets rained down.

  Bailin charged in next, swinging his massive warhammer and dodging the demon’s deadly swipes.

  Ada did the same—fast, agile, and relentless.

  Ameria ran along the walls, loosing arrows at high speed with perfect aim.

  Valrie floated mid-air, unleashing fireballs and arcane missiles from above.

  Vaedrea flew as well, taking hits with her barrier to protect the others, holding the demon's attention.

  Then, Bailin and Ada synced up.

  “Bailin!” Ada shouted.

  “When I fly up—throw your hammer!”

  Bailin grinned.

  “Don’t even need to ask!”

  The plan snapped into action.

  Ada shot into the air—

  Bailin hurled his warhammer skyward—

  Ada kicked it midair, launching it with force.

  It struck the demon in the head, making it stumble back, but it wasn’t enough to finish it.

  Then—

  “Together, Vaedrea!” Valrie shouted.

  The two charged up a combined fire and holy blast, then fired it at the demon.

  The explosion hit hard—

  The demon roared and staggered again.

  Shayna zipped through the air, eyes gleaming.

  With a smirk, she pulled out a rocket launcher.

  “SEE YA!” she shouted, firing it right into the demon’s face.

  The explosion rocked the battlefield.

  The demon reeled, roaring in rage and pain.

  But it still wasn’t enough.

  Ada yelled, “It’s not enough—we need more!”

  Valrie, still dodging attacks, shouted back,

  “What if we all launch a charged attack at once?!”

  Ada nodded mid-dodge.

  “That’ll work! On your mark, Valrie!”

  Ada, Valrie, Vaedrea, and Shayna flew into the air, positioning themselves in front of the massive demon.

  Bailin climbed atop a large rock, while Ameria did the same on another ledge.

  They all readied their attacks.

  Valrie narrowed her eyes and shouted,

  "NOW!"

  All six unleashed their blasts at once.

  The combined energy hit the demon directly—

  It roared in agony and collapsed to the ground.

  “YES!” Shayna shouted, pumping her fist in victory.

  But then—

  The orc scoffed.

  And did the unthinkable.

  He dashed straight toward Shayna, too fast to stop—

  And landed a clean, brutal blow.

  Shayna went flying, crashing hard into the side of a mountain.

  “SHAYNA!” Ada screamed.

  But before she could react, a blast came hurtling toward her.

  She tried to block it—

  But it broke through her defenses and sent her flying into a boulder.

  One by one, each of them was overpowered, knocked back, and scattered across the battlefield.

  Ada lay buried under debris, weak and bloodied.

  Her eyes slowly fluttered open—

  And she saw the orc now fighting off Ameria.

  A wave of fear hit her.

  She knew—she wasn't strong enough to face him alone.

  She tried to move, but the pain was too much.

  She was pinned, exhausted, and broken.

  She closed her eyes again...

  Then opened them to see Ameria get struck,

  followed by Vaedrea charging in, determined and fearless.

  They fought with everything they had.

  Then Bailin engaged the orc directly.

  Their weapons clashed—steel against rage.

  Through gritted teeth, Bailin shouted,

  “Who are you?! Why would you turn against your own people?!”

  The orc paused—

  Then began to laugh darkly.

  “My people?” he sneered.

  “Ahahaha… you mean the pathetic orcs?”

  Bailin’s eyes widened—shocked.

  “They were never my people.

  And now—

  you and your friends will watch your pathetic world burn to ash!”

  BAM!

  He landed a heavy hit on Bailin, sending him flying.

  Then Vaedrea came rushing over to Ada, struggling to free her from the rocks.

  Valrie soon joined, and together they finally pulled Ada out.

  Everyone—bloodied, panting, barely standing—

  Regrouped beside each other, facing the orc.

  Without a word, Ada instinctively stepped forward.

  She scowled, locking eyes with the monster.

  The orc smirked.

  “Oh? The Death Knight—

  Not so proud anymore, huh? What a shame.”

  He grinned.

  Ada’s fists clenched.

  “You’ll have to try harder than that to break me.”

  Circe let out a cruel laugh.

  “Oh, trust me…

  I’m going to have a great time breaking each one of you.”

  Ada snarled—then charged.

  Circe blocked her strike and countered with a powerful blow.

  One by one, the others followed.

  Each time, Circe blocked and countered—

  Landing brutal strikes on every one of them

  Vaedrea raised her hand and cast a barrier, trapping Circe in glowing holy light.

  He scowled, straining against its force.

  “ADA, NOW!” Vaedrea shouted.

  Ada saw the opening and charged in—

  But everything suddenly slowed.

  Circe roared, bursting through the barrier in a violent shockwave that sent everyone flying.

  Each of them slammed into the rocks.

  Ada, though, skidded harshly across the ground, crashing hard against stone.

  Circe rose slowly, a smirk creeping across his face.

  “Heh... not bad.

  But you’ll have to try harder than that, priest.”

  He turned and walked toward Shayna, grabbing her by the hair and lifting her off the ground.

  Shayna squirmed and kicked, defiant in his grip.

  “Heh. Fiesty… for a pathetic human,” Circe mocked.

  Shayna spat in his face.

  He paused—then wiped it off with a slow grin.

  Ada, watching helplessly, crawled toward them, her voice barely above a whisper.

  “Don’t... you dare... lay a—cough—hand... on her...”

  Circe glanced at her and laughed.

  “Or what, Death Knight?

  You can’t even stand.”

  Ada clenched her jaw, scowling—

  But deep down, she knew he was right.

  Then—

  A holy bolt struck Circe in the back.

  Vaedrea stood with her hand raised, panting.

  The blast hit. Circe staggered slightly.

  Now he was angry.

  “I was going to spare this one…” he said darkly.

  “But since you won’t stop...

  It’s time for her to suffer.”

  Before Ada could even scream, Circe began draining Shayna’s life force.

  Her scream echoed across the battlefield.

  Ada’s voice cracked as she cried out,

  “PLEASE! PLEASE LET HER GO! ARGH—STOP!”

  But Circe didn’t stop.

  He continued, watching Shayna with twisted amusement as her body weakened in his grasp.

  Eventually, he released her.

  Shayna dropped to her knees, barely conscious.

  He laughed.

  Ada and the others watched in frozen horror.

  But Ada—she was shaking.

  Still crawling.

  Still begging.

  “Please... please...”

  Circe turned back and landed a brutal blow to Shayna’s stomach.

  Her body recoiled, the pain overwhelming.

  Ada gasped.

  Every hit felt like it was landing on her own soul.

  Then—

  She snapped.

  “I SWEAR I’M GOING TO KILL YOU!

  I’M GOING TO KILL YOU, CIRCE!”

  He grinned—and struck Shayna again.

  Shayna finally passed out, overcome by pain and fear.

  Ada’s eyes shot open.

  Terror gripped her.

  She feared she was too late.

  Feared Shayna was gone.

  Circe threw Shayna’s limp body in front of Ada.

  Ada scrambled forward, desperate for any sign of life.

  But before she could find one—

  She snapped completely.

  Ada rose to her knees, her body trembling, her scream tearing through the battlefield:

  “**YOU... ARGHH...

  YOU WILL PAY FOR THAT!

  YOU WILL PAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!”

  A violent purple aura erupted from her.

  Vaedrea stepped back, her heart sinking.

  She knew—

  Ada had lost control.

  Valrie saw it too.

  But Bailin, who had never seen this side of Ada before, stood frozen in shock.

  Ada suddenly blitzed forward, vanishing from sight.

  She reappeared right in front of Circe.

  He raised his arms to block—

  But her fist connected.

  CRACK!

  Circe grunted in pain, stumbling slightly.

  Ada’s eyes burned with rage.

  And she didn’t stop there—

  She threw another punch—

  And it landed

  Bailin looked on with concern and asked,

  “Is it going to be enough to hold Circe?”

  Valrie narrowed her eyes and replied,

  “Let’s hope it is.”

  Meanwhile, Ada and Circe continued exchanging blows—fists slamming, power flaring.

  Then, Ada landed a strike hard enough to send Circe flying into a rock.

  Circe rose, his face twisted in fury.

  He raised his hand and fired a blast directly at Ada’s army.

  Ada gasped.

  Without hesitation, she dashed forward to intercept it.

  She blocked the blast—

  But it shattered her defenses.

  She took the full force.

  “AHHHHHHH!” she screamed as the explosion sent her flying.

  She hit the ground, hard—

  But forced herself to recover.

  Before she could catch her breath,

  Circe was already charging at her, rage fueling his speed.

  He struck—

  A brutal blow to Ada’s stomach,

  then slammed her into the ground with crushing force.

  Ada gritted her teeth, growling as she pushed herself up again.

  She readied herself—

  Then kicked Circe back, sending him skidding across the ground.

  He caught himself on his hand, rose, and smiled.

  “Not bad.”

  Then he roared—

  His power rising as he began charging up, the air around him crackling with dark energy.

  Ada stood her ground, surrounded by a glowing purple aura, her hair flowing like a storm.

  Valrie’s eyes widened.

  “What the—? I thought this was Circe’s full power!”

  Vaedrea cursed under her breath.

  “Damn it! Ada had the edge!”

  Then—

  They clashed again.

  Circe and Ada collided midair,

  throwing punches and blasts at breakneck speed,

  each hit shaking the battlefield.

  But then—

  Circe charged a blast in his hand—

  And landed it directly into Ada’s stomach, launching her into the sky.

  Before she could recover—

  He flew up, grabbed her, and slammed her down,

  firing a massive blast straight into her body as it hit the ground.

  BOOM!

  “That’s bad!” Valrie shouted in horror.

  Ada lay motionless on the battlefield.

  Then—

  Valrie, Vaedrea, Bailin, Shayna, and Ameria rushed in, forming a line in front of her fallen body.

  Vaedrea stepped forward, breathing hard.

  “Guys, we just need to hold him off—until she gets back up!”

  Everyone nodded.

  They stood their ground

  Circe scowled and unleashed a sweeping blast, forcing everyone to brace themselves.

  They grunted under the pressure, struggling to hold their ground.

  Then, through the smoke and energy, Circe charged forward—straight for Valrie.

  Valrie quickly threw up a barrier, but Circe broke through it with a single devastating punch.

  She skidded backward, sliding across the ground.

  Gritting her teeth, she raised another barrier, trying to buy time.

  Vaedrea fired a volley of holy bolts, desperately trying to draw Circe’s attention—

  But his speed was overwhelming, and every shot missed.

  Then—

  He vanished and reappeared, landing a brutal sweeping blow on Valrie,

  sending her flying across the battlefield.

  Bailin jumped in with a roar, clashing with Circe in a storm of strength.

  Their weapons met with a thunderous crash—

  But Circe overpowered him, pushing Bailin back with raw force.

  The group regrouped, panting and battered, each one of them barely holding on.

  Time was running out.

  How much longer could they last?

  Would Ada rise in time?

  We’ll find out... in the next chapter.