The words that came out of trembling lips were shocking.

“Why am I there?”

Gaia sealed her mouth as she saw a monstrous creature that looked exactly like her on the other side of the video.

To be precise, Gaia’s face was identical, but the creature had large insect wings attached to its back, and its hands and feet were transformed into monstrous features like a chimera.

Blood was dried and crusty on the lemon-colored hair fluttering in the air.

The same was true for the white cheeks.

Kalia, with a surprised expression, looked at it, then quickly regained her composure and inspected the figures beyond the chimera.

As expected…

Furiosa and Hoa, who were absentminded, were visible.

Similarly, Kalexia was also shocked, clenching his fists tightly.

Fortunately, the entire Fairy Army was not in a state of panic, and the battle didn’t stop.

However, since the most powerful forces were distracted, there were openings in their camp.

Kalia clenched her fist.

‘No, it can’t be.’

It was an obvious trick.

They somehow knew that Gaia was the weakness of the Fairy King’s clan and created a monster resembling her.

The intelligent family members couldn’t have been unaware of it, but how dare they attempt to dispose of the youngest one they had already lost once?

They would steel her heart, but it wouldn’t be easy.

-Father… Sis… ter.

Furthermore, the monster, with grotesque claws growing on its hands, ruthlessly slaughtered the Fairy Army, daring to challenge them.

It was as if it wanted to approach them and kill them.

Kalia was infuriated by Akan’s dirty tactics.

The cries of the allies grew louder as the approaching monster grew closer, bit by bit.

Strangely, even the attacks of the superior fairies didn’t seem to have much effect on the monster.

It was as if it were becoming a demon.

“What… What is that, Kalia?”

Gaia asked with a pale, disgusted face, but Kalia couldn’t give any answer.

The monster visible through the video turned its head and looked at Leah, who continued the battle on the opposite side.

It changed direction and walked towards her, with a fierce momentum, heading for Leah, who was slaughtering the lesser demon shadows.

Leah noticed him at that moment, amid her frenzied fighting.

Her pupils dilated, even visible through the screen.

Gaia sealed her mouth and murmured, “Mother.”

The monster in the video also murmured ‘Mother’ in Gaia’s voice almost simultaneously.

Leah looked at the approaching monster, which had taken the form of her daughter, while she stopped her attacks.

As her head tilted slightly, she furrowed her eyebrows.

-…Why is my daughter’s soul emanating from that thing?

She had carried her in her womb for five years and shared her flesh and soul with her daughter.

Even if they looked the same, it would be impossible not to know if it wasn’t the real one.

There was no reason for her heart to sink like this.

Leah turned her head and looked at Tokan.

Tokan had eyes that could see the truth.

When their eyes met, Tokan nodded with a pale, disgusted face.

His confusion was clearly evident on his expression.

That meant that in his eyes, the true essence of Gaia’s soul was contained within that monster.

-Then, does that thing also contain a fragment of Gaia?

Leah ground her teeth in anger.

-How much have they tortured my daughter? How far… do they plan to use my child?

Sadness and anger were clearly present in her low, somber voice.

Leah raised her head and looked at the approaching monster.

-Mo… Mother…

With a hoarse voice, she called out to her, stuttering.

Leah walked confidently towards the desperate monster, reaching out her hand.

The faces of the family members who were watching turned pale.

Kalia and Gaia on the other side of the video were equally shocked.

But without anyone stopping her, Leah approached the monster with Gaia’s face.

-Gaia, come here.

Leah spread her arms wide, opening them for an embrace.

The monster, in the form of Gaia, approached her with deformed legs, staggering towards her.

Other demons lunged at Leah, who stood still.

At that moment, sharp ice walls surrounded Leah and Gaia, forming an impenetrable barrier.-No one approach. No one will be allowed to pass.

Nua, who had released her restraint, stood behind the ice wall as if escorting Leah.

Ganini, who had been watching, also took the initiative and started clearing the surroundings.

Inside the ice wall, Leah, who had been dormant for a long time, faced the monster containing fragments of Gaia.

The monster entered Leah’s open arms.

-Mother…

Whose voice was this?

Was it the voice of the monster or the sound emitted by her daughter’s soul?

Leah held the monster tightly without moving.

The monster’s body trembled as if sobbing.

At the same time, the monster’s claws grew sharper and thicker.

The claws were about to strike Leah’s back.

A dazzling light of purification burst forth from Leah’s entire body.

The monster was greatly startled and staggered back.

Leah didn’t let go.

She gently patted the monster with both hands, as if saying it was okay.

In Leah’s strong arms, the monster struggled as if finding it difficult to breathe.

Leah was known for her tremendous power, to the extent of being on par with Kalexia.

Her strength was enough to break even sturdy trees.

With all her might, Leah embraced the monster and emitted a powerful purifying force.

-…Next time, be born as my daughter again. Then… I will take better care of you. I will never let you suffer.

-Mo… ther…

The metallic voice of the monster disappeared.

The monster, completely enveloped in Leah’s light, turned into ashes and scattered in the wind.

A bunch of lemon-colored hair fell down by Leah’s feet.

It was only a few strands of hair the size of two fingers.

Leah picked it up, blew away the dust, and carefully placed it inside her chest.

Then she turned around and shouted at the family members who were watching her.

-What are you all doing? Don’t lose focus and sweep them all away! Kal, move quickly! I want to go home soon!

Startled by her fierce words, the family members quickly grasped their weapons.

Hoa wiped her runny nose and raised her hand.

Two birds flew from her fingertips, sprinkling fairy dust beneath their long tails.

Kalia, who had been watching their actions through the video, turned to Gaia.

Gaia, who was staring blankly with a stiff face, turned to Kalia as if she felt her gaze.

Gaia smiled with a twisted expression on her face, not knowing what to do.

It felt strange.

She had seen herself turned into a monster and witnessed her mother personally annihilating it, embracing it in her arms…

But what truly made Gaia’s emotions strange was Leah’s final words.

“…Next time, be born as my daughter again. Then… I will take better care of you. I will never let you suffer.”

Her mother, who was so far away that she couldn’t be reached, seemed to be right beside her, squeezing her heart.

The shock of seeing her strange self a moment ago quickly subsided.

Somehow, her mind became resolute, as if everything was possible.

“I’m fine. Let’s stay strong. We have to get rid of them quickly.”

Kalia nodded as she looked at Gaia, who was mumbling.

Just then, while watching the video, Kalia came up with a good idea.

She tapped the table with her fist to grab the attention of the staff officers who were lost in thought.

“The 3rd and 4th Knights with experience in naval battles will be assigned to His Highness the Crown Prince. The rest will continue defending from their current positions. I will visit the Mage Tower and then report back to His Highness.”

“General, are you planning to focus solely on defense like this?”

Brik asked worriedly.

Other staff officers also looked at her with questioning eyes.

Of course, in a siege, defense itself was a good strategy.

However, continuously defending without knowing the enemy’s strength posed too much uncertainty and risk.

Kalia, who was on her way to the gate connected to the Crown Prince, turned around.

She smirked as she looked at her subordinates who wanted an answer.

“No, we must counterattack as well. So be prepared. I’ll come back after obtaining approval.”

With those words, Kalia swiftly entered the gate.

* * *

“Kalia!”

Simon greeted Kalia with joy as she appeared.

Kalia looked around the interior of the Mage Tower, where various magical powers were unfolding like a festival, and exclaimed in admiration.

“It’s chaotic here too.”“The entire Magic Division is on high alert. This is just the beginning. But you’re already complaining, so I guess you had a lot of fun while I was away.”

The leaders of each branch and the magicians inside the Mage Tower trembled as they heard his eerie words from behind the screen.

Kalia pretended not to notice and smiled.

There were already frustrated subordinates within her military headquarters, so it was nothing out of the ordinary.

“There shouldn’t be any broken barriers, right?”

“Hmm, there’s a time difference, but since support was sent from the Mage Tower to each division, it should be fine. The only place with intense battles is Rojas, and the Allied Nations are also sending support mages.”

Kalia nodded and looked around the bustling branch.

A massive screen displayed the entire continent at the center, while reports from various regions constantly streamed on either side.

Figures measuring the damage in each city took up one section, and reports on major magical creatures appearing in different areas kept pouring in without a break.

It was the Mage Tower that claimed to be the leader, so the Mage Tower had exploded with tasks as soon as the war began.

Although Simon appeared to be at ease, he too would be busy just receiving reports and giving orders, making it difficult to catch his breath.

It was only possible to have this level of leeway because they were currently focused on defense.

“But why did you come here? Is there something that requires the Mage Tower’s cooperation?”

“Have you assessed the enemy’s strength to some extent?”

In response to her question, Simon furrowed his brow and shook his head.

“Chimeras keep popping up endlessly. I don’t know how many there are. They’re also using black magic to coordinate the monsters. The forces of the countries that turned against us are also gathering.”

“It would be better to stop them now that they are not coming over here from Akan.”

“Ah, Akan is being excellently held off by the Fairy Army. Despite their main force being Chimeras, they’re not making any progress.”

“Still, the longer it drags on, the more disadvantageous it is for us. They don’t know fatigue, but we do.”

Simon nodded in agreement with Kalia’s words.

This war couldn’t be dragged out into a long-term conflict.

The other side would think the same and try to carry out as much slaughter as possible in the shortest amount of time.

Therefore, they had to capture them as quickly as possible.

“It seems that even the fairies have started providing support. That alone should be enough to handle Akan’s forces… But the problem lies with the capital. Akan thinks that occupying the capital is faster than defeating the Fairy Army. That’s why they’re forcefully sending Chimeras here.”

As he said that, Simon recalled Buford summoning the Chimeras in the conference hall.

“They’re probably using his blood to create a gate and transmit Chimeras from Akan to here. If we can capture only that Akan prince, we should be able to stop the gate.”

Simon lightly tapped the table, lost in thought.

Kalia, who had been silently observing him, spoke up.

“Well, speaking of that…”

At her words, Simon’s brows furrowed instantly.

* * *

Kalia left the Mage Tower and went straight to the Crown Prince.

Even Louismond’s face showed tension as he prepared for the expedition.

Several magicians had gathered.

To transport a considerable number of people over long distances required precise calculations and significant magical power.

The waiting period had become somewhat prolonged.

Kalia approached Louismond and asked with a somewhat blunt expression on her face:

“I won’t be able to accompany you this time. Are you okay with that?”

“With your Knights accompanying me, and Princess Janice, who knows Nathan better than anyone, will also be here.”

In response to the Crown Prince’s words, Princess Janice, dressed in the attire of a battle priestess, nodded with a tense expression.

On her finger, she wore a ring that enhanced her divine power. It was crafted jointly by the Ministry of Magic and the Temple of Rojas.

“Have we received any updates on the enemy’s movements?”

“We have received word that they are about an hour away from the Kantus Beach. The Navy has already arrived.”

An assistant explained while holding a small magical device in his palm.

On the device’s surface, maps of Rojas and neighboring countries were displayed, with the movement and deployment of troops marked in different colors.

A signal was sent to indicate that the magicians were ready.

Louismond nodded lightly.

“Then we should go now.”

“Please take care.”

He also exchanged a brief salute with Janice.

As Louismond took a step forward, he paused and turned back to her with a concerned expression.

“Oh, by the way, that plan the General just explained…”

“Yes?”

“…Are you really okay with it?”

“Yes, I am fine.”

“No, not you, the Archmage. My cousin.”

“Ah.”

Realizing what he meant, Kalia chuckled softly.

She shrugged her shoulders and said:

“I’ll give him a hard time later, but it’s okay.”

“…Who?”

“Me.”

Huh.

Louismond shook his head helplessly, unable to comprehend Kalia’s nonchalant words.

Soon, his body disappeared within the teleportation magic circle.