“Gyaah!!”

  A blue-furred Equinoid let out a pained scream as he colpsed, his back riddled with arrows expertly shot by elven archers.

  Callen whistled as he leaped down from a nearby tree, his movements light and agile. “hen teacher said we’d gotten stronger, I didn’t want to believe it. But I just took down six Equinoids on my own.” He grinned, brushing dirt off his sleeve.

  “One of the advantages of serving a good master, I assume.” Torren’s voice came from behind him, calm and collected as always. The Antari warrior stepped forward, his expression as unreadable as ever.

  The two stood in the rgest settlement of the Equinoid territory.

  As Crimara had predicted, the Equinoids had rallied their entire army for an atta Kaede’s city, leaving their homend with only a skeleton force to defend it.

  Crimara’s pn had been simple and effit. She had brought only a few fighters with her, the elven brothers Callen and Ryder, and Torren, one of the Antari elites. Along with a man squad. Their mission was to capture the Equinoid leader and cripple their forces.

  The defense had been ughably short. Within mihe settlement y in ruins, its defenders overwhelmed.

  Crimara strode past the incapacitated Equinoids -her master had made it clear that unnecessary deaths were to be avoided- as she made her way toward peared to be the leader's abode.

  Inside, she found Rhyder, who immediately dropped to one knee upon notig her.

  "What did you find?" she asked, her tone sharp and anding.

  "Lady Crimara," Rhyder began, keeping his head bowed. "The leader of the Equinoids is not here. Furthermore, from the messages I’ve received from the others, he’s not at any of the other settlemeher."

  "I see," she sighed, her tone calm but calg. "So, he's with his army. Brave, if nothing else. But this works in our favor. Once he's overwhelmed by our forces, his will to fight will shatter."

  With no further reason to linger, Crimara turned on her heel. "Victory is already ours," she decred. "Let us return."

  ---

  G!

  With a swift motion, Aurina parried a lightning-fast spear thrust, her cymore defleg the blow with precision. Simultaneously, she sidestepped a massive swinging axe, letting it crash into the ground with a resounding thud.

  Before the Bovoid could react, Aurina pnted her foot firmly on the axe's bde, pinning it in pce.

  The massive Bovoid grit his teeth, muscles straining as he tried to pull his on free. Despite his strength, the axe refused to budge, trapped under Aurina’s unyieldi.

  Aurina sighed before delivering a sharp kick to the axe, the force sending the Bovoid leader sprawling to the ground.

  Without missing a beat, she turned, raising her cymore just in time to block a series of rapid strikes from the Equinoid.

  Aurina’s cymore whirled in a deadly arc as she deflected another crushing blow from the Bovoid’s axe. Sparks flew as their ons cshed again. She leapt back, her boots skidding against the cracked earth.

  This time, the Bovoid leader wasn’t giving her a moment to breathe. He lunged, his massive frame barreling forward with terrifying speed. Each swing of his axe seemed to shake the air, and though Aurina dodged or parried eae, the relentless onsught forced her to take a step back.

  Before she could ter, a blur of silver shot from her fnk. The Equinoid, with his spear glinting in the faint light, darted in to strike. Aurina barely had time to twist away, his bde grazing her armor and leaving a shallow scratch across her shoulder.

  Her eyebrows rose. They were coordinating now, attag her in tandem, f her to split her attentioween the raw power of the Bovoid and the lightning-quick precision of the Equinoid.

  The Bovoid roared, seizing the opportunity. He charged again, his axe carving through the air with terrifying momentum. Aurina ducked low, the bde whistling over her head, aaliated with a sweeping strike of her cymore.

  It ected. Her bde tore through his chest, leaving a deep gash. But instead of faltering, the Bovoid bellowed in rage, his bloodlust fueling him further.

  Aurina spun on her heel, her instincts screaming a warning. The Equinoid was already upon her, his spear thrusting toward her throat. She raised her cymore just in time, defleg the strike, but the force of it sent her hand back.

  The Equinoid smirked, his movements fluid and graceful as he pressed his advantage. “What’s wrong? Overwhelmed?” he taunted, his strikes being faster, more feral.

  Aurina didn’t respond. She g the battlefield surrounding them a her mind screaming in frustration. It was only a matter before the bined might of the Bovoids and Equinoids would overwhelm her forces. It was only a matter of time before the first Antari fell.

  She dropped low, her cymore slig through the ground in a wide arc. The Equinoid leapt back to avoid it, but the sudden shift in momentum bought Aurina the fra of a sed she needed.

  With a burst of speed, she closed the distaween herself and the Bovoid. Her bde fshed, aiming for his exposed side, but his axe came up just in time to block.

  The impact sent another shockwave rippling through the battlefield.

  The Bovoid grihrough bloodied teeth, his voice a rumbling growl. “Is this all you’ve got? I expected more from the Ant queen.”

  Aurina’s grip tightened on her cymore. Her amber eyes burned with rage. She wasn’t outmatched, not even close, but the lohis dragged on, the more dangerous the situation became for the Antari.

  She had to end it. Now.

  With a sharp exhale, Aurina pnted her foot and surged forward, her cymore bzing with a crimson light. The Bovoid swung his axe to intercept, but she twisted mid-strike, redireg her bde to sm into the Equinoid instead.

  The Equinoid’s eyes widened as her cymore collided with his spear, shattering the slender pole in an instant and sending him sprawling.

  Aurina turned back to the Bovoid without hesitation. Her cymore swept upward, meeting his desding axe in a final, explosive csh. The ground cracked beh their feet as the force of her strike sent the Bovoid reeling.

  Breathing heavily, Aurina leveled her cymore at the two of them. “Yield,” she demanded, her voice low and anding.

  But her the Bovoid nor the Equinoid showed any iion of surrendering. They pushed themselves to their feet, bloodied but defiant. "All we gotta do, is keep you occupied long enough for your army to fall." The Equinoid wheezed.

  Aurina’s jaw tightened. So be it. If they wanted a fight to the bitter end, she would give them one.

  With a roar, the Bovoid leader charged, his massive axe raised high, ready to strike. Aurina responded in kind, surging forward to meet him.

  BOOM!

  Another explosion rocked the battlefield.

  As the dust settled, Aurina’s heart sank.

  Standiween her and the Bovoid was Kaede, her back turoward Aurina. The Bovoid's massive axe ground futilely against Kaede’s shoulder, uo pierce her.

  Kaede's gaze shifted to the colossal oing on her shoulder, her expression calm and unbothered. Then, with a slow, deliberate breath, she exhaled softly against the axe.

  To the Bovoid’s utter shock, the axe began to break apart, crumbling into tiny fragments wherever her breath touched.

  The battlefield fell silent.

  Nearly every member of the Bovoid-Equinoid alliance froze, their instincts screaming as they felt the overwhelming aura radiating from the human figure standing before them. The oppressive energy left them rooted in pce, uo look away.

  The Antari, too, fell into hushed revereheir monarch had arrived, and not a single one dared to move. They stood as still as statues, fearful of even the slightest twitch, lest they miss somethiraordinary.

  The Bovoid leapt back, regrouping with the Equinoid. “Who the hell are you supposed to be?” he demanded.

  Kaede remained silent, her eyes calmly the two monsters before her.

  Thud!

  Kaede tur the sound, her eyes widening as she saw Aurina drop to her knees, her forehead pressed firmly to the ground.

  “A-Aurina, what are you doing?!” Kaede excimed.

  “Five me, Master,” Aurina cried, her voice heavy with shame. “That you saw fit to e in person means I have failed you. Please, allow me to atone for my failures.”

  Kaede sweatdropped, a nervous ugh bubbling ihoughts. ‘Oi, you’re making me look like some kind of tyrant here!’ She sighed, rubbing her forehead in exasperation. “Calm down, Aurina. Do you uand what you did wrong?”

  Aurina, still too ashamed to lift her head, shook it firmly against the dirt.

  Kaede’s expression hardened. “Aurina,” she said agaione more stern this time. “You found yourself vastly outnumbered, even after firming you had the wrong intelligence about the enemy. Now, tell me, what did you d?”

  Her voice echoed across the now-silent battlefield, carrying through the forest. The batants, both Antari and Bovoid alike, stood frozen, watg as Kaede reprimanded her subordinate.

  Some of the Bovoids and Equinoids couldn’t help but think to themselves, "Is now really the time for that!?"

  Aurina remained quiet for a long moment before finally speaking. “I failed to adapt,” Aurina said quietly, her voice trembling but resolute. “I relied too heavily on our initial pn, evehe circumstances ged. I allowed my pride to y judgment.”

  Kaede crossed her arms, nodding slowly. “Good. You uand. I kept waiting for you to request for aid, backup, anything. But then you chose to put your troops in unnecessary dahat more than anything, pissed me off.”

  Aurina raised her head slightly, her amber eyes filled with fear and shame. “I won’t make the same mistake again, Master.”

  "I certainly hope not," Kaede said softly, her gaze warm and steady. "You're all my responsibility now. My children -teically- and I never want to see any of you hurt. Not if there's anything I do about it. So, rely on me, my wayward daughter." She extended her hand, her smile gentle.

  Auri a rush of emotions she couldn’t tain as tears streamed down her face. Trembling, she reached out and took Kaede’s hand. "Yes, mas-mother."

  The word felt f f oongue.

  As soon as she spoke, Aurina was enveloped in a radiant golden glow. The light grew brighter, enveloping her entirely, before slowly fading away.

  Kaede blinked in astonishment. Standing before her was a young woman with long, silky bck hair casg down her back. Her four arms had been reduced to two, and though she now resembled a human, two delicate btennae remained perched atop her head, a subtle reminder of her ins.

  Across the battlefield, the same phenomenoed. One by ohe five hundred Antari were bathed in the golden glow, their forms shifting and evolving. When the light dimmed, they, too, had taken on human-like appearaheir i features softened but not erased entirely.

  Kaede stared, her mouth agape for a few moments. 'Artificia, what just happened?'

  Upon hearing Artificia's response, her surprise only deepened. 'That's a thing!?'

  "Hey." A deep voice broke through her thoughts. It was the Bovoid leader, still bleeding from his battle with Aurina.

  Kaede turo face him and the Equinoid beside him.

  "To think someone like her had a master," the Bovoid said solemnly. "I know a losing battle when I see one. So, I have one question."

  Kaede took a steadying breath. A massive aura erupted from her, enpassing the etlefield. "Go ahead," she said coolly.

  If the Bovoid was intimidated, he didn’t show it. Instead, he asked his question with unwavering resolve. "What do you pn to do? An ant y growing this strong is naturally bad news. However, it seems they’ve fallen under your banner. Your answer will determine whether the Bovoids will die resisting you."

  Kaede blinked, her Aura reg as she let out a soft breath. Then a smile spread across her face, calm yet fident. "Well, I suppose you could say I’m just looking for a pce where I be happy, surrounded by my friends and family. Even if, admittedly, my family has grown a lot retly." She paused, her gaze sweeping over the Bovoid leader and his group. "I’m building a city. And I’m more than happy to wele anyone who wants to join our little unity."

  Her tone shifted slightly, an edge of siy ced with a touch of vi. "After all, when people work together, we achieve great things. You’re living proof of that. No offense, but you guys didn’t stand a ce against Aurina and her forces on your ow when you came together, you were able to push her back far more than anyone expected."

  The Equinoid's expression shifted as he seemed to ponder her words for a moment before asking, "And what if we refuse to join your city?"

  Kaede smiled, her tone calm yet resolute. "We wouldn’t foryoo join. Of course, you would have to leave your current home. I didn’t even want to attack you all. This versation was supposed to happen ter, iure. But if you decide not to be part of our unity, that’s perfectly fine. As long as you don’t interfere with us, we won’t interfere with you."

  The Bovoid leader and the Equinoid exged a long, calg ghe tensioweehid palpable. The remaining soldiers behind them stood like statues, watg Kaede closely, their eyes flickering nervously between her and their anders. For a long moment, no one spoke. The only sound was the faint rustle of the wind through the trees, carrying with it the st of the freshly disturbed earth.

  The Bovoid leader took a step forward, his imposing figure still t over the others. His eyes, red and weary from battle, narrowed as he regarded Kaede. "You say that you wish to build a city," he said slowly, his voice gruff, yet tinged with curiosity. "And that you want us to join you."

  Kaede met his gaze steadily, her calm demeanor unwavering as she nodded. "That’s right. I’m not asking for blind loyalty or fealty. I’m a pce for you to call home, a ce to be part of something bigger. If you don’t want to join, that’s fine, but if you do, I promise you it won’t be in vain."

  The Equinoid shifted uneasily, his spear held loosely in his hands. His eyes darted to the Bovoid, then back to Kaede. “But why should we trust you? After everything, why should we risk our lives for your cause?"

  Kaede’s smile softened, and she took a step toward them, her voice growing warmer, though still filled with an undeniable authority. "Because I’m something no one else has. Stability. A future for your people, free from the stant battles and bloodshed. It may take time, but together, we build something strong. Something worth fighting for. I’ve already proven I keep my promises. I’ll protect what’s mine."

  The Bovoid leader chuckled. "The Bovoids thrive off stant battles and bloodshed though."

  Kaede’s smile didn’t falter. “I know that. But stant fighting is draining, isn’t it? Even for your people. Do you think that this endless cycle of flict is truly sustainable? One day, there won’t be any battles left to win. And when that day es, what will you have left?”

  "I'm not oo worry that far into the future." The Bovoid leader said. There was a long, tense silehe wind whistled through the trees as the Bovoid leader seemed to sider her words. He g the Equinoid beside him, eared equally torn, and then back at Kaede.

  "You make it sound like there's a choice," the Bovoid muttered. "Just drop everything and follow you? Fet how we’ve been living feions?"

  "I uand," Kaede replied calmly, her tone unwavering. "But my point still stands. What I'm building will iably face resistahere will be those who will try to tear it down. Who's to say you won't find yourselves fighting those battles?"

  The Bovoid leader chuckled, then burst into full ughter. Kaede blinked, while the Equinoid leader merely shook his head. "Good grief."

  The Bovoid leader eventually stopped ughing and smiled. "I'm in! To serve someoh power parable to that of a Demon Lord? Now that’s not half bad!"

  Kaede raised an eyebrow. 'What was that about a Demon Lord?'

  The Bovoid leader dropped to his knees, and all the Bovoids around him followed suit. "You have the full might of the stro race, the Bovoids, Master. No one in this forest will dare defy you!"

  The Equinoid leader also kneeled, and the Equinoids did the same. "Master, do not listen to this meathead. With the Equinoids, you are now the stro for the entire Forest of Jura."

  Kaede stood in silence, her mind rag as the Bovoid leader and the Equinoid leader both k before her. The sudden shift in their demeanor was almost surreal. One moment, they had been staunemies, prepared to fight to the bitter end, and the , they were sweariy to her without hesitation.

  She g Aurina, who had risen to her feet, her expression still one of awe and reverehe other Antari around them were simirly still, waiting for Kaede’s move. It was almost too easy.

  ‘Just like that, huh? The elves were the same as well weren't they?’ Kaede thought to herself, a slight chuckle esg her lips as she shook her head. She hadn’t expected such a quick turnaround.

  She looked back at the kneeling leaders, their eyes full of resped submission. A part of her wao push them for more, to test whether they truly uood what they were pledging, but another part was simply tent. She’d built something strong, strong enough t them to their knees.

  "Rise," Kaede said softly, her voice carrying the weight of both authority and reassurance.

  The Bovoid leader and Equinoid leader stood, their postures now less bative, their expressions more respectful.

  "We’ll make this work," Kaede tinued, her smile returning. "But remember, this is a pce for everyone, everyone who’s willing to tribute. There’s no room for those who still wish to fight mindlessly. Uood?"

  The Bovoid leader grinned, his earlier gruffness gone, repced by a mreeable attitude. "Uood, Master."

  The Equinoid leader gave a firm nod, his eyes now softer. "We are at your service."

  Kaede hen her expression turned serious. "I guess I should mention something before I leave."

  Aurina looked fused. "What do you mean, master?"

  Kaede smiled. "Give me a sed." In an instant, the heavy pressure in the air dissipated, and everyo a weight lift off their shoulders.

  Then, they se.

  The Bovoid leader turward. "Hey, hey, hey. The usual pressure... it's gone!"

  The Equinoid leader was equally stunned. "But that would mean..."

  Kaede nodded. "It is as you fear. A few minutes ago, Veldora's presenpletely vanished from the Great Forest of Jura."

  _________________________

  Kaede has acquired the title. [Mother of Monsters]

  The citizens of Kaede's city have acquired the titles. [Sons and Daughters of ######]

  ________________________

  End of Volume One

  SaberGlory