The Systemic Lands

Chapter XLI – Day (1,043) (2) – The Sword Of Stars

Chapter XLI – Day (1,043) (2) – The Sword Of Stars

I shot across the battlefield. Kicking off the ground to constantly adjust my trajectory as I headed right for the Astrologer. Three of his Valkyries moved forward to intercept me.

I ducked under a sword swing. Jabbing out. Her armor took most of the blow and she went stumbling back. I didn’t hesitate to see the follow up as I struck out again. The war hammer hit my hand and bent. My other hand lashed out for her eye. She let go of her weapon and retreated.

The third Valkyrie swooped in from above. I spun to the side as her lance stabbed into the ground. My hand flicked out and three needles impacted her, sending her stumbling and digging into her armor.

“Imbue Life Shatter!” The words were shouted out by the Astrologer and I was already moving. A pain lanced through my head. How! My stats should be able to handle any mental attack. My eyes quickly darted to the Valkyrie next to the Astrologer wearing all black. Blood dripped out of nose as rage consumed me.

I put everything I had to move for the Astrologer. The woman stepped in front of him. My hand reached out and pierced her armor and then grasped her heart. I felt it struggle to beat as I crushed it beneath my hand. “NULL REFRACTION SHATTER!”

The attack assailed my mind as I brought the fresh corpse up to block the triangular blades of energy. The Valkyrie was shredded, and I tossed her to the side. The Astrologer swung up a sword. Slow, weak, helpless!

I moved right for him. He was going to die! “SHATTER!” He screamed with rage and pain. It was music to my ears. The sword glowed and broke apart into floating shards in front me. I kicked off the ground to flank him, but he spun, the shards of his sword turning with his hilt, keeping them interposed between us.

The fifth Valkyrie lunged at me, but I batted her to the side, shattered her arm. She was pointless. Only the Astrologer mattered. Blood began to leak from my eyes as well as my nose. I was going to kill him. “Shatter Sword of Stars!”

Each floating shard of the shattered sword glowed. My danger sense flared. The shards shot directly for me. I retreated backwards in a zig zag pattern, and they tracked me as I noticed the Astrologer twisting the hilt of the former sword.

The energy contained within each sword shard erupted forth. Wave after wave of energy buffeted me. I focused the energy into my body into a shell to protect me from the energy attacks. Fire, light, cold, poison, and countless other energy types bombarded me.

My energy shell was worn away and the last of the attacks hit my robes. I stumbled backwards as the attacks finished. I was on my feet and the Astrologer was in the distance breathing heavily. His Valkyries staggering to their feet. He turned towards me and began to shout.

“You will die by my skills and my planning Divine Empress, Hei Long. For your future is cut, So I Predict!”

He dares! I stepped forward to finish him off and then staggered. Pain cut through my skull. I was forced to a knee. How?! I focused on my energy. There was something. Something foreign. He had cursed me. And was using energy resonance to bypass my defenses.

I put my energy up into a mental barrier and quickly retreated. The pain quickly subsided and the foreign energy disappeared. The Astrologer was not pursuing. But I had no doubt he had done something. Imbue Life combined with a mental attack and his word of power.

I returned to my battle lines and went to my tent behind my throne. I didn’t spare a glance at my Lord General was kow-towing in my direction. I entered and sat down. I steadied my breathing and closed my eyes.

Blood continued to trip from my nose and eyes. My head hurt. I slammed my fist down onto a table in rage. It shattered into hundreds of pieces. He had linked us. That skill at the end. He had done something to me. “AHHHH!” I roared in rage. The cloth of my tent rippled from my sheer outburst.

He had a second blessing from the Heavens. That skill he had used was unique. He had was predicting my death to empower himself. The dog. How dare he! To use this Divine Empress as a stepping stone, who did he think he was?!

I rose from my chair and stepped outside. I went over to my Lord General who remained in a kow-tow.

“Get up,” I said. He quickly rose. “What is the status of our advance?” I asked.

“We are pushing in at the flanks, but the center has stalled. There was a messenger from the opposing side asking for a ceasefire. He said, if there is no ceasefire, then the Astrologer would push forward.”

“Ceasefire? There will be no ceasefire. Fight to the last man,” I replied. There would be no retreat.

“Divine Empress. The Astrologer is still on the field of battle. We cannot counter him,” my Lord General said. He was implying it was my failure. My fault. My hands clenched into fists.

“Then take the flanks. I shall-“ I stumbled as pain lanced through my head. My Lord General hesitated on what to do. I waved him away and regained my posture. “Take the flanks Lord General. Push forward! No retreat! Not one step!”

“Yes Divine Empress,” he said and quickly left my side. I looked around, but no one dared look in my direction. Pain struck my head once again.

“Lord General,” I called out. He stopped and quickly returned to my side.

“Yes, Divine Empress?”

“Bring me to the messenger,” I said, and he quickly led me to the messenger. He was carrying a white flag. I walked over to him, and he didn’t even bow his head.

He made to open his mouth, but I would my hand on his face. I pushed my energy into his. He began to let out a choked scream as his face melted beneath my hand. “Convey this to the Astrologer. We fight! There will be no surrender, cease fire, or retreat. If he wants my head, he can come and take it.” I pushed the messenger away.

“Whip him across the battlefield to make sure my message is conveyed,” I said calmly even as blood poured from my eyes and nose.

“Yes Divine Empress,” my Lord General said and made the arrangements. I made my way back to my throne and took my seat. If the Astrologer could kill me, then he would kill me. But I was not retreating. I would let the corpses pile up.

I would unleash horror after horror on him and his cities. My Empire had the advantage for the UCS and were not going to stop pushing. Divine Empress Hei Long does not back down or negotiate. The time for treaties was over. Now was the time for suffering and screaming.

I would carve this into the Astrologer’s mind as his cities burned and his people were killed under the onslaught. He would be worn down and eventually fall. That was the benefit of being an absolute dictator. The only person’s opinion that mattered was mine. Everyone else was to be crushed under my foot or serve me as the dogs they were.