Family system

"It is not all because of me. Your own magic is the reason that you are qualified to be here. You may not believe in your own magic, but please trust my vision. You are the key to holding this domain together." Elena said with honesty. She felt that this girl had a lot of potential.

Lyris was tearing up but quickly wiped them away with her clothes. "Yes, I will remember your words, lady Elena."

Elena smiled and knew that this girl would reach great heights. She could introduce her to her husband in the future, but that was for another time. "I know that you have already tried your best and completed many quests. So, I have a reward for you." Elena reached into her space ring and took out a book.

The book had a fiery look, just like the domain they were in. "This book describes a race specializing in the infernal affinity. They had a lot of specialties and were difficult to kill. They are still alive somewhere in this universe, and my husband traded this book for something in his possession with them.

You are special because you have this affinity while not having their bloodline. You should find out what you can do and what your predecessors could do with the power you have in your hand."

Lyris trembled as she slowly reached out to take the book. While she knew that she had worked hard, she didn't know that it had even caught the attention of her monarch. She slowly took the book from Elena's hand and immediately felt a connection with the book. 'Thank you, Lady Elena. I will defend this place until I die.'

Lyris swore in her heart that she would express her gratitude to Elena and pay her back for everything she had done for her. "Now, you should go back and go to your lodging. We have a big day tomorrow." Elena smiled and shooed her away. Lyris listened and bowed before walking out of the room.

Elena sight as she slumped back in her chair. "Acting so serious and coldly is seriously exhausting." She sighed again in exhaustion before returning to Aphrodite with the portal. She didn't have to wait long before the portal opened in her throne room.

She sends the last orders through the communication channels before walking through the portal. When she was fully through, she was met with the sight of Aphrodite, Isabella, and Valentina. "So, I am last huh?" While it didn't matter, I still had to say it.

"Yes, I thought that you would have the most work. Was I wrong?" Aphrodite asked with a big question mark on her face. "No, you were right. I finished my tasks, so thank you for your consideration."

"You are welcome. Now, go to your rooms and rest. You need to sleep to have enough energy for tomorrow." Aphrodite stood up from her seat and began walking out of the room.

The bunker we were in had many different rooms. While most guest rooms were on the other side, we were given some rooms close to the command center. "There are enough empty rooms, so you can choose which one you like. I still have some things to prepare, so I will see you guys tomorrow."

With that, Aphrodite returned to where we had come from. We looked between the three of us before shrugging our shoulders. I chose the first room, while Isabella chose the second one. Not wanting to be third, Valentina chose the first room on the other side of the hallway.

When I got inside, I looked around and saw an average room. While I was used to a more luxurious room, that didn't mean that I let this average room get to me. I liked it because it let me think back to my childhood before I met my husband. 'I should go to sleep.' Thinking about my husband was sweet, and I felt warmth in my heart every time I did.

I still needed to rest my body and mind for tomorrow. It didn't take long before I was drifting away to sleep, my body getting comfortable in the warmth of the blanket and the soft mattress under my body.

…

The next day.

Cities all around the world were in chaos as this was the day that the next attack came. Even Goldspire, the strongest city in the world, had some worries. Some citizens always had doubts about the defenses, but those were the minority. There were times when there were more, but the more the soldiers defended the city without fail, the more trust they got from the people.

Some people still protesting the defenses were punished in some way. The ones who started it were banished from the city, while the ones who just followed were sent to the red-light district, where they were calmed before they were drained dry—both body and wallet.

On the city walls stood the soldiers, ready with a serious look on their faces. While the gods and the people living inside the mansion in the middle of the city knew that everybody was safe, that wasn't the same for the soldiers on the wall. They weren't that important in the grand scheme of things, and that is why they were kept in the dark.

That didn't mean that these soldiers were going to die like some fodder. Some people of the cult were also dressed up as soldiers to protect them at crucial moments. Because of that, the number of deaths was always low in these ranks, but there were still causalities in every attack.

That is because people are always reckless and arrogant. They charge at the enemy without reinforcement because they think that they are strong. Eighty-five percent of them don't ever come back. The ones that do are still out of service, with a low pension, just enough to survive.

Now, the dreadful moment arrived. Purple portals stretched wide across the darkened sky, pulsating with energy from their depths. Monsters that we had already seen came. Grotesque humanoid creatures emerged in formations. Their malformed heads, resembling twisted, failed mushroom caps, glowed faintly with streaks of sickly purple light. Their bodies were corrupted blends of blank, pale flesh mottled with dark splotches, radiating the same ominous hue. Each bore a golden star in their chest, pulsating like a heartbeat.

Their weapons gleamed with the same unnatural energy: short, jagged purple scythes, already slick with malignant energy. Among them, twisted archers emerged, long, distorted arms stretched into sinewy bows with arrows seemingly formed from their very bones.

Higher in the air, larger, more terrifying creatures drifted downward. These bore stars etched into their grotesque, bulbous heads, their weapon of choice an eerie flute carved from otherworldly material. Every haunting note they played sent shimmering ripples through the battlefield, warping reality and teleporting lesser creatures to optimal attack positions.

Swarming around their feet were the grotesque eyeball creatures, each no larger than a football. Their veiny, horned forms scuttled with unsettling speed, emitting sharp clicking noises as they maneuvered through the growing battlefield. Despite their almost comical appearance, their sharp horns glinted with a deadly edge.

…

"Hold the line!" The nameless Commander's voice rang clear, cutting through the rising cacophony of monstrous screeches and wind howls. Rows of female soldiers clad in enchanted armor-locked shields, enchanted bows raised high.

A pulse from the largest portal cast an ominous light over the battlefield. The ground cracked, blackened veins spreading outward where the creatures set foot, leaving toxic rot in their path.

"Frontline, spears ready!" the Commander ordered.

A war cry echoed as soldiers lowered their enchanted spears, their tips crackling with mana. As the monsters charged, shrieking with wild fury, a barrage of blazing arrows cut through the skies, raining destruction on the charging horde.

The first wave of twisted humanoid scythe-wielders hit the spears with brutal force. Sickening cracks echoed as enchanted steel met corrupted flesh. The frontline staggered but held strong, pushing back with practiced precision.

Suddenly, a haunting melody filled the air—a discordant tune played from one of the larger monsters' flutes. Reality twisted; several mushroom-headed monsters vanished and reappeared behind the defensive line, causing chaos among the backline archers.

"Rear guard! Form defensive circles!" barked the Commander, her tone cutting through the confusion like steel.

The archers spun around, swiftly drawing glowing runes in the air. A brilliant defensive barrier surged to life, forcing the ambushing creatures back into the open, where waiting blades cut them down.

… Find adventures on My Virtual Library Empire

The skies darkened further as winged monstrosities emerged from new rifts. Their twisted forms blended the anatomy of bats and corrupted birds. They circled high, waiting for the perfect moment to dive into the fray.

Scouts on the walls rang alarm bells as barriers along the city's defensive towers flared to life, firing enchanted ballista bolts into the sky. Explosions of light seared the night as two flying monsters exploded mid-dive, falling in flaming heaps outside the city perimeter.