Level Up: Voidwalker

[Amethyst's POV]

Amethyst was standing on the airship's balcony, watching several Achaemenidian Thunderships closing in on them. She jumped and summoned her wings with a deep breath before soaring away from the airship.

'Azhar'Zul wants me to be stronger, and sitting back and letting the others fight won't do,' she thought while clenching her fist in determination. 'I need to grow stronger just like him.'

When the phoenix girl closed in on the enemy craft, she started casting Cosmic Blasts that connected with one of the Thunderships and easily blew its wing apart, causing it to plummet toward the ground below. Read new chapters at m_v-l'e|m,p| y r

She cheered in triumph but had to swiftly dive for cover as the other Thunderships began firing at her. Amethyst maneuvered through the air, weaving and darting in unpredictable patterns that left the enemy cannons unable to track her.

'Too fast for them,' she mused with a big smile.

Amethyst managed to attract their attention as she was who they were after, and the other women soon realized this. Still, it was useless as the phoenix girl dodged the last round of mana shells before burning the enemy airships to ash.

The purple-haired girl flapped her wings with a giggle before returning to the group. When she arrived, they piled on top of her while praising them. Once they all got up, Grishna grabbed Amethyst and hugged her, saying, ''You're growing strong Little Bird. One of these days, you will be one of the greatest if you continue growing.''

Amethyst blushed, but a smile appeared, ''Thank you, Gris,'' she responded.

The orc girl beamed as Artemis commented next, ''Azhar'Zul has a powerful lover; he better not mess with you now.''

Everyone laughed, but the brunette praised the phoenix even more as Estelle spoke last, ''We will need to teach you how to use a weapon, but I'm impressed with your strength, Amethyst. You will make a splendid adventurer when you come of age.''

Following that, the group entered their room but was summoned to the bridge. Estelle looked at Grishna, who shrugged, ''The captain probably wants to thank us for saving his airship; these machines are like their children,'' she said with a laugh.

While they all sat there, a knock on the door was heard, causing Artemis to open it. They spotted a goblin woman who quickly spoke respectfully: ''The captain would like to speak with you, ladies. He wants to thank your party personally.''

The four women agreed and followed the goblin through the airship, where they spotted dozens of scared passengers of all different races fleeing the invasion. When Grishna spoke to the group, ''When do you think the Southmen will stop?''

Artemis and Amethyst shrugged, not knowing, but Estelle quickly informed them with a knowing voice, ''Maybe they will stop when taking the northern empires as the Shadowfang and Frostfang Kingdoms are horrible to live in, let alone occupy,''

They all nodded before Artemis asked the blonde a question as she grew curious, ''Isn't the empire pushing it? How can they hold so much land.''

Estelle smiled before answering the brunette, ''The empire's armies number in the trillions, and the generals he promotes are all experienced and war-hardened veterans from the many battles they have fought on behalf of the Achaemenid Imperial Family.''

Afterward, the group chatted amongst themselves as the goblin woman guided them through the bustling passenger section. They eventually arrived at a more luxurious area, where several uniformed men and women were seated.

Upon entering the room, the goblin woman gestured to the chairs arranged in front of them, indicating that they should take a seat. Once they were all settled, the older goblin stood up and bowed toward them.

''Thank you for saving our airship girls,'' he said respectfully as he looked at Amethyst, who stiffened under his gaze. ''Especially you young phoenix, what brings you so far from the Blue Dune Desert?''

When Amethyst heard this, she smiled at the name before explaining, ''I was captured by northern slavers until my lover saved me. After that, we started traveling and stopped at a city where we were separated when the Southmen captured him.''

Following that, the captain, Steven, offered them four lifetime passes to use while traveling with the Greenskin Confederation. This shocked the group, but the goblin explained that it was customary for them to give their new friends gifts.

Once the meeting was over, the captain suggested they flee to the free city in the north, which would allow them to wait for Azhar'Zul. The four women agreed and began planning their journey, as no trains, airships, or ships traveled there.

The journey to Thalassar City took a week as they had to stop and refuel in the safe airfields across the Dark Elf empire. Artemis gazed out the window before alerting the group, ''It seems like the elves are taking the Achaemenid threat seriously now. They're sending armies south without fighting each other.''

Grishna and Estelle looked outside to see the combined armies heading to cut off the invaders. The orc girl spoke concernedly, ''It looks like the coming months will be chaos across Astoria. I wager more monsters will appear due to all the death lingering in the air.''

They all agreed with a nod as Amethyst pointed in the distance, ''A powerful spell was used to destroy that fortress on the shoreline where the Achaemenid Navy targeted the Thalassian coastal forts.''

Explosions rocked the landscape below, causing Estelle to comment, ''It looks like the northern realms haven't surrendered yet. Otherwise, there wouldn't be this much destruction.''

In the following days, the four women arrived at Thalassar City, where it was utter chaos as recruiters tried to convince people to join the army. Apart from Estelle, none had been to the Dark Elf capital, and the blonde became their guide.

The group visited many stores to stockpile everything they would need to travel north. It took them three days to gather everything they needed to leave the city behind, as the Achaemenids had taken all of Oakenheart Kingdom apart from the border region.

After gathering their supplies, the women checked into a cozy inn for the night. They took advantage of the chance to freshen up and enjoy a restful sleep. The following day, the group felt rejuvenated and prepared; they set out for the eastern gate.

***

[Duke Eldric Montague's POV]

Eldric had been pushed back to the Aurora Pass, which borders the Oakenheart and Darkwood Kingdoms. The two kingdoms signed a defense pact with the Thalassians, who were trying to stop the invasion alongside them.

Between the war and finding his son, Eldric had been extremely stressed, but the one thing he was happy about was that his daughters were in the far north, and his wife was at the family mansion in Thalassar City.

He stood on a stone wall that the Dwarven earth mages had constructed to block the Achaemenids when they finally appeared. While watching the defense lines being constructed, his second-in-command and best friend Jerrick appeared.

The man went to salute, but Eldric waved him away. ''Come on, Jer. We're brothers. There's no need to salute while we're alone,'' he said with a smile.

Jerrick nodded before he started speaking. ''The scouts are reporting the Southmen are a few days away; we have enough time to set up the defense line, especially since our reinforcements will arrive from Thalassia in the next day or two.''

''I know. I think we can hold them back with the support of the remaining navy, which numbers ten ships; they were the only ones that escaped the destruction of the Gondarahl Port, which was devastating to the dwarven royal family, which lost a prince and princess to a barrage of mana shells.''

The two men went quiet when thinking of the loss, but Eldric remembered his boy and pictures his white hair and green eyes. This put a smile on his face, which Jerrick caught, causing him to comment, ''Thinking about Atlas?''

Eldric nodded as Jerrick continued, "There are rumors circulating among the refugees that the Achaemenids are searching for a particular boy."

At this, Eldric spun toward his closest friend, his expression a mix of urgency and concern. "Tell me everything you know," he demanded.

Jerrick's eyes twinkled with a hint of satisfaction as he pulled out a wanted poster. With a knowing smile, he asked, "Does this face look familiar, old friend?"

Eldric's eyes widened in shock as he examined the portrait on the paper. The face was unmistakably familiar, yet there were unsettling changes, "What has happened to him?" he murmured, his voice trembling. "Why are his eyes blue? And why does he appear to be an elf now?"

He shook his head before pulling out a communication talisman and contacting his wife Evelina, [My doll. Atlas is alive! But his changed due to something those Achaemenidians did to him]

After that, Eldric held the artifact just as he got a reply, [How do you know this? The Silvershields found nothing apart from a log about a familiar boy]

[I'm holding an Achaemenidian wanted poster with his picture and offering two platinum coins for his capture. It seems like he's finding trouble with the strongest empire on Valoria]

Afterward, Eldric thought with a relieved smile, "What has this boy been through? But at least he's still alive."

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