Angel Monarch

With most discoveries done, as Yvonne promised, they began the actual training.

First, Yvonne showed ways to use multiple daggers in combat. Next, she showed throwing techniques to Vicky. Even though she could control the flight of her daggers, it's better to learn how to actually throw the weapon.

Finally, she gave two long, training daggers to Vicky, and they spent a few hours duelling. As ordered, Vicky tried using Zone as many times as she could physically endure.

It didn't make her unconscious, and even the pain lessened. By the end, she could endure the agony for nearly five minutes.

Also, just as Yvonne predicted, her fighting prowess with the dagger was much greater than the sword. A few times she even gave trouble to her teacher, but still she only managed a few glancing blows.

When they began duelling, Thea had already gone away to her own training with Lydia.

By the time evening approached, Vicky could barely stand. Phantom pain circled throughout her body, and her vision constantly turned blurry for no apparent reason.

After a refreshing shower, she summoned her clothing and prepared to teleport away. That's when her silver watch lit up as a new message arrived.

Vicky had to read the person's name dozens of times before actually accepting it… Bea, her mother, finally written back!

The young Princess's hands trembled as she brought up the message. It was quite long, and also heart-wrenching…

'Otto finally left, and I managed to find some peace from the guards. I'm sorry I haven't written anything all this time, but I simply wasn't able to. Otto took away my watch, after I tried visiting you the last time…'

'I don't exactly know what happened to him, but slowly, he became more and more possessive. He constantly accused me of horrible things, and even hit me a few times when consumed with rage. He always quickly apologized afterwards, but still his state got worse…'

Tears welled in Vicky's eyes as she continued reading the message.

'By the time I stopped contacting everyone, his mind was already lost. I did my best to help him at first, but after his beatings and jealousy became unbearable, I tried to leave. However, he and his brother caught me somehow…'

'They locked me away for a long time, probably months. Only after promising Otto to never try escaping again did he let me out. Still, he made my life a living hell, with strange ravens always following me, watching me…'

Her entire body shook, while continuing to curse herself. "Dammit… I know something was wrong… Why didn't I reach out sooner!"

'In secret, I tried contacting the Angelic Order, but Otto discovered it. Strangely, as time went on, he stopped punishing me. Instead, he found a much better way to make me cooperate. He used his own people…'

'If I somehow misbehaved, I would hear the news the next day… Unexplained explosions, strange monster attacks within Castleburg, burnt corpses popping up in alleyways… He never outright said it, but I knew it was his doing!'

Vicky took quick, shaky breaths as tears continued running down her cheeks.

'He kept up this act for the entire time. After the first few occasions, I stopped trying to contact any of you, which also ended the constant deaths… However, this stalemate ended when we saw you two weeks ago…'

'After leaving the gathering, he outright threatened me. He said if I try contacting you, he would kill everyone in Castleburg… But I just couldn't let it go. After seeing you healthy and proud, I decided to contact you!'

A small sad smile grew on the young Princess's face. She believed this entire time, Bea hated her, and that's why they lost contact, but the truth was much worse… Somehow that made Vicky feel better…

'I stole this watch from one of my guards. It instantly connected to my status window, and that's when I saw all your messages…'

'I want you to rescue me, but only if you can guarantee the safety of Castleburg's citizens. I would rather rot here forever than cause the death of hundreds of millions!'

Somewhere far away, in the real world outside of this long message, she heard a kind, feminine voice call her name. Vicky, however, stayed focused on Bea's last words.

'Lastly, something's happening here. Otto has begun leaving the castle and the city way more frequently. It has something to do with his brother, Victor. Maybe Sarah could provide some insight about their relationship…'

'These strange ravens keep popping up everywhere. There are thousands of them flying around the castle. A few even lived in the castle's rafters, always watching over everything…'

The message ended abruptly, and without proper conclusion. She felt something might've happened, and that's why her mother couldn't finish it.

A shiver arced across Vicky's body as she imagined how much Bea must've endured in the past year.

She continued crying for a moment, before suddenly a large hand landed on her shoulder. The young Princess yelped in surprise, jumped away and summoned her daggers.

However, upon glancing at the hand's owner, she dismissed her weapons and wiped away her tears. Yvonne looked down at her in confusion and worry.

"What's wrong Princess? Did something happen? I saw you reading something on your watch and didn't want to bother you, however you seemed to be crying… Who sent the message?"

Vicky sniffled once more, then slowly a deathly serious, bored expression took over her scarred face. She ignored all of Yvonne's questions and instead summoned a portal.

Before stepping through, she stared into Yvonne's metallic gray eyes. Her own white eyes held great fury within.

"Yvonne, summon every available Transcended! Today we escalate the war!"

Her voice, which Yvonne heard constantly for the past week, felt different this time. It wasn't the young girl, absorbed in her training, instead it was the matured Princess, ready to march into war!

She couldn't even react to the Princess's words, since the next moment she already went through the portal.

Yvonne wasn't certain what to do, so she ran to her brother, Yannick. As she explained the Princess's order, the blind man just nodded and began writing summons to every Transcended off duty.

There were about a hundred Transcended available. Yannick wrote to each and every one, however soon an official notice went out from Henry requesting their current positions.

All over the Angelic Order's territory, portals began opening, each leading to the same destination…

In the heart of New Athens, below the Temple of Eternal Flame, the Angelic Order's headquarters stretched for hundreds of meters below ground.

Vicky stood in its main hall, with Astrid, Kim and Henry by her side. They all wore their war-gear, perfect for the occasion.

Before arriving there, Vicky let all three read Bea's message. They all felt angry as well and agreed with Vicky's plan to rescue her.

Hundreds of portals opened in the main hall, summoning a formidable army. Everyone wore their armor and walked with their weapons in hand.

A pair of portals opened behind Vicky, from which Lilith and Adam stepped out. Cass also suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

Mary and James didn't get teleported to the main hall, since they were already preparing for the operation in Castleburg.

All the Transcended walked out, both confused and excited. They didn't understand the sudden summons, but they were more than happy to escalate the war!

Yvonne and Yannick walked at their front, leading them closer to the young Princess.

When everyone exited the portals, they all closed simultaneously. Each Transcended knelt down before Vicky. Some glanced at their Princess with religious fervor, others with respect, while a few seemed contemptuous.

The Evolved were always extremely prideful. It felt wrong kneeling before a weak-looking, small girl. They never witnessed Vicky's fighting prowess, so they didn't value her authority.

However, if they continued standing, that monster behind her would've definitely punished each individual… The shorter woman with swirling purple eyes and long golden hair with black roots. She had the same scar as her Goddess and her Princess. Lilith, the Dreamweaver…

Her reputation skyrocketed upon reaching Transcended. She became the Princess's personal inquisitor, acquiring information from everyone's minds directly. A truly terrifying power, with no actual counters.

So, instead of trying their luck and experiencing any nightmares, they bit their pride and knelt before the Princess.

Vicky stared down at all of them with a bored expression, hiding the deep rage beneath the surface. She took one step forward, separating from Henry, and spoke for the first time without any prepared speech.

"You know why I ordered everyone here. Today we strike back! With a recent intel I got, we can begin something we prepared long ago… From now, Operation Castlefall is in effect!"

The soldiers began whispering between themselves. They only heard rumors of Operation Castlefall, but they weren't completely in the dark about the plan.

"James and Mary are already prepping the Aegis Transmitter and Generator. Our job is solely to exterminate every raven in the castle and the city!… Don't bother taking prisoners. Lilith will take care of any interrogation on the spot!"

Smiles spread across the faces of the Transcended. Even the ones not accepting of Vicky's leadership felt ecstatic about this attack!

"Cass will take care of Otto, but he shouldn't cause any issues if everything goes right! All of you will split into groups of five, but don't stick to each other. This is an extermination, after all!"

Suddenly, Vicky opened about a dozen portals, each leading to different parts of the castle. The Transcended took a few seconds to split into groups, then entered separate portals.

While everyone was leaving, Yvonne stood up and looked at Vicky. The young Princess moved towards a different portal, but before she could've stepped through, the tall woman caught her arm.

"I'm coming with you! You'll need someone to watch you back! Neither of us knows the exact situation and the numbers of our enemy!"

Vicky had no reason to object. Adam already followed her as a bodyguard, but two is better than one. They also presumably headed for the most guarded area within the castle, so Yvonne would most definitely be useful!

Soon everyone stepped through their own portal, and Operation Castlefall officially began!