When the three princesses arrive at the war council chamber, King Edric was there with the First Queen and the First Prince. "Good timing. I'm glad you're here. Your other siblings, especially the Second to Sixth Princes, are currently guarding their territories." King Edric said. "Marybelle, I need you to cast a buffing spell to strengthen our army from different locations. Use the magic land table with your mother. You two are the only ones capable of using 'Divine Overseer,' which will ensure our forces are armed with holy enhancements," the King instructed. Divine Overseer is a skill capable of sending buffs from different parts of their kingdom if used with the magic land Table. "Veldina, gather the adventurers' in the guild and head out immediately. I trust you know what to do," he added. "Luisa, use your golems to help the soldiers and generals fortify the royal capital's defenses." the King commanded.
Marybelle's expression turned solemn, her hands already moving in a practiced sequence as she began to weave her holy magic. The 1st Queen, ever supportive, joined her daughter in casting the divine overseer spell, their combined power resonating through the sacred artifact known as the Magic Land Table. The artifact, a relic passed down through generations of queens, amplified and focused their enchanted energies. A shimmering barrier sprang to life, encasing the army stationed around the capital and other regions governed by the kingdom, imbuing their weapons with holy essence. The warriors, infused with divine favor, would now march forth with renewed vigor and potency against the demonic invaders. Meanwhile, Veldina bowed crisply, acknowledging her father's trust in her abilities. "Understood, Your Majesty. I shall assemble the Adventurers in the Guild and hasten to the frontlines."
The artifact was swiftly transported to the holy chamber by soldiers to ensure that holy magic would be amplified, enhancing the soldiers' holy elemental buffs. Meanwhile, Maxwell and the king had already joined the front lines alongside the current sword hero, Generals, adventurers, and the kingdom's soldiers. The four queens were stationed at key points in the capital, working to cast a quadruple-layer barrier. However, before they could complete the barrier, three shadowy figures infiltrated the capital unnoticed, making their way toward the castle.
In a land governed by the Second Prince, Arthur felt the divine blessing from his sister and mother back at the royal capital. He realized they must have used the Magic Land Table, a map artifact that allows a person's magic to affect the area it is cast upon with the Divine Overseer skill of a Saintess. "Charge, my soldiers! Kill the demons!" Arthur shouted with renewed vigor. Soldiers clad in armor shone with holy aura, their swords glowing as they charged against the demon horde. Demons screamed and stumbled as the blessed blades carved through their infernal flesh.
In a distant province, Prince Percival stood atop a hill, his white cloak billowing in the wind. Channeling the holy essence granted by the 1st Queen and sister. Golems crafted from ores by Luisa materialized around him, towering sentinels armed with blazing halberds. Together, they drove the demons back with resounding thuds.
The 4th, 5th, and 6th princes along with the 4th to 7th princesses also felt the ripple effect of Marybelle and Elysandra's magical contribution through the Magic Land Table. In their respective domains, their armies were energized, bolstered by a surge of holy power.
An hour before sunrise, Sylveria woke to the faint sound of alarms coming from the city outside the castle. Though not loud because of the holy barrier surrounding the castle, it was enough to rouse her. She quickly shook Isla and Isao awake.
"Wake up, you two. Something's going on. That's the invasion alarm, so there must be trouble," Sylveria said. Having spent the entire day hiding in the library, they had no idea what was happening or why there were so many guards around the castle. Isao was groggy, and Isla, exhausted from reading so many books, felt like her brain was overloaded.
"The invasion alarm?" Isao yawned, rubbing her eyes as she looked at Sylveria. "That doesn't sound good. Could it be connected to...?" Her voice trailed off as she considered the possible link to the demon king.
Over the past few days, Isao, Isla and Sylveria had been secretly hunting monsters near the capital, keeping their actions hidden from the princess's family. At first, they thought the appearance of high-level monsters
like the red slime was a coincidence. However, they soon suspected it might be tied to the demon king's growing influence.
"I’m not sure," Sylveria admitted, pacing the room. "But we need to investigate and inform Veldina or the King immediately. Stay sharp, everyone." With that, the trio quickly got dressed and prepared themselves for whatever danger might be threatening their kingdom.
Arriving, the trio noticed the throne room was empty, likely because the King had gone to battle with his generals. Sylveria then led them to the Holy chamber, where they found the First Queen and Princess Marybelle near the Magic Land Table, previously in the war council chamber. Both women were pouring their holy energy into the table to support various regions and supply them with divine power. "Woah... It's amazing," Isao breathed softly, peering around Sylveria's shoulder. The sheer scale of the Queen's and Princess's divine intervention left her awestruck. Meanwhile, Isla was running back and forth across the room, slamming or piercing the marble floor with her very sharp weapons and leaving them buried in different spots.
"What are you doing, Isla?" Sylveria asked, watching her with curiosity. "Preparing... just in case an enemy breach this place.Yawn..." Isla replied with her usual aloof expression. Her actions didn't pause as she continued to embed her arsenal into the marble flooring with calculated strikes. Blades sank into stone, securing them for rapid retrieval. With each successful placement, Isla's expression remained inscrutable, betraying neither haste nor worry.
"We're in a fortified castle, Isla." Sylveria reminded her friend, trying to curb the unnecessary preparation. "It's highly unlikely enemies will breach our walls."
"Hmph, nothing's impossible," Isla replied dismissively, burying her short sword. "Better safe than sorry. Besides, these rooms could become a trap or shelter if needed."
Despite Sylveria's raised eyebrow, Isla remained undeterred in her quiet diligence. Isao, meanwhile, continued to marvel at the golden glow enveloping the royal duo. "Isla, we'll leave this place to you. Isao, come with me. I want to check the throne room again. Aside from the First Queen and Marybelle, the other queens and my siblings are likely busy defending different parts of our territory," Sylveria said as Isao followed. "But didn't we see the throne room was empty earlier?" Isao asked. "True, but the throne room gives us a clear view of the capital. We'll know if monsters have reached the city," Sylveria explained. Her determination unwavering despite the unlikely scenario. Isao fell into step beside her, their resolve strengthened by their conviction. Together, they made their way back to the opulent throne room, Isao's eyes scanning the empty space for any sign of danger.
They confirmed their initial assessment - the room was indeed vacant, save for the magnificent throne at its center. Sylveria approached the window overlooking the capital, her fingers tracing the cold glass. The early morning sun cast a golden glow upon the city, a tranquil scene that belied the gravity of their situation outside the capital. No monsters or signs of turmoil marred the peaceful city. Still, Sylveria couldn't shake the uneasy feeling that settled in the pit of her stomach. "Let's continue checking the perimeter and alert posts," she said, turning to face Isao. "Something feels off, and I'd rather be on the side of caution."
As they turned to leave, the glass window suddenly shattered, sending shards raining down. From the wreckage emerged three imposing demon generals, their twisted grins brimming with contempt for the young humans before them. "Hmph, just kids," the lead general sneered, his scarlet eyes narrowing. "Let's hurry and destroy the magic table." The other two nodded and charged forward recklessly. But before they could advance, Sylveria quickly summoned a barrier of crystalline ice with her rapier, blocking the corridor and trapping the generals in the throne room.
Isao also acted, drawing her blade and teleporting two out of the 3 demon generals in a flash. The two flanking generals were sent outside the castle walls, replaced by lavender flowers infused with her unique magic. The petals floated gently, creating a mesmerizing distraction. "Sorry, but you'll have to deal with us first," Isao said coolly.
