"This went smooth, but don''t let your guard down too much." Hana''s voice rang in Valentina''s ears. "The monsters here are rtively weakpared to others in this domain. The only reason that this ce wasn''t ever breached is because nobody was as capable as that wolf of yours in destroying the obelisk.


    Isabe smiled proudly as she heard her cute wolf beingplimented. She gave her some extra head pats, and as she did, she heard Sk?ll groaning in pleasure. She loved it when her master rewarded her, and Isabe was also amused. ''I sometimes think I go an oversized dog instead of a wolf, but I like her more this way.''


    Hana folded her arms, her gaze scanning the ruined battlefield. "We can''t stay here long. The destruction of the obelisk won''t go unnoticed."


    Elena stretched her shoulders, wiping remnants of the monster of her de from her de. "Let them notice," she said coldly. "We came here to destroy everything they''ve built."


    Valentina nodded, gripping the hilt of her sword as she said. "We''ve alreadye this far; no sense in holding back now."


    Isabe chuckled softly, scratching behind Sk?ll''s ears as the massive wolf purred delightfully. "Besides, with her around, I''d like to see them try." Sk?ll''s eyes sparkled, but she resumed her regalposure, her ears flicking dismissively.


    Hana inclined her head. "Good that you are ready because the next stage won''t be as... simple." She pointed toward the distant, jagged mountains where dark storm clouds twisted menacingly around an ominous spire crackling with cursed energy.


    "That''s our next target," she continued. "The central ry controlling dimensional transport in this region. Without it, they won''t be able to send reinforcements here."


    Isabe rose, her wolf standing at her side with quiet intensity. "How heavily defended is it?"


    Hana''s expression turned grim. "Heavily enough that failure isn''t an option."


    Valentina stretched, rolling her shoulders with a determined gleam in her eyes. "Then we''d better not fail."


    …


    The four women moved through the deste terrain, leaving the shattered remnants of the obelisk behind. The ground beneath them pulsed faintly with energy, though the mana felt weaker now. The twisted earth no longer fought back as much, but an oppressive tension still hung in the air.


    They moved fast but still were cautious. Valentina led the way, her sword resting easily on her shoulder, ever prepared. Elena walked beside her eyes, scanning the horizon for any signs of monsters that may ambush them. Isabe stayed at the center, asionally exchanging signals with Sk?ll, whose frame moved smoothly and soundlessly through the charredndscape. Hana stayed behind, covering them but guiding them toward their next destination.


    After hours of walking, they reached the edge of a deep, rocky gorge. Jagged cliffs loomed on either side, framing a narrow, winding path carved through dark stone.


    "This is where we can rest," Hana said, nodding toward a secluded overhang beneath a rock formation. "We need to be at full strength before the next fight."


    Without argument, they settled in. Sk?lly at the overhang entrance, her silver eyes constantly scanning the horizon. Elena took out a sharpening stone, dragging it along the edge of her de.


    Valentina leaned back against the cool rock wall, letting out a quiet breath. "What do you know about the ry''s defenses?" she asked.


    Hana knelt near a dim, flickering mana crystal embedded in the ground. With a flick of her wrist, she drew shimmering lines of energy across its surface, forming a map. "Expect reinforced Phantoms patrolling the perimeter, along with energy wards far more dangerous than what we faced at the obelisk."


    "Any weak points that could help us?" Isabe asked.


    "The wards are powered by three anchor nodes buried around the ry," Hana exined. "We destroy those first, or the entire facility bes imprable."@@novelbin@@


    "Let me guess," Elena interjected dryly, "those nodes are heavily guarded."


    "Correct," Hana confirmed. "Expect elite creations—beasts, unlike anything you''ve faced before."


    A charged silence followed. Valentina broke it with a grim smirk. "Sounds like fun."


    Isabe let out a quiet breath. "And after the nodes?"


    "We meet at the ry''s control chamber." Hana''s expression darkened. "There... we cut their link to this entire region."


    ***


    The four remained vignt, taking short shifts to rest while Sk?ll silently patrolled the area around them. The distant hum of mana from the ry buzzed faintly in the background.


    As Elena watched during the final hours before dawn, Valentina stirred awake and joined her.


    "Can''t sleep?" Elena asked without looking away from the horizon.


    Valentina shrugged. "Too much on my mind." She nced at the distant spire, its dark glow reflecting in her eyes. "Do you think that the n is going to work?"


    Elena''s fingers tightened around the hilt of her de. "Yes." Her voice was steady, resolute. "While we don''t know everything about the enemy, we know a lot, and if ites to the worst, I can always summon Ashen."


    Before Valentina could respond, Sk?ll suddenly growled low, her ears ttening against her head. Isabe snapped awake instantly, already reaching for her weapon.


    Hana appeared at Valentina''s side, her eyes narrowing as she scanned the distant darkness. "Something''sing."


    From the direction of the ry spire, faint, glowing shapes emerged—twisting and writhing in unnatural patterns. Dozens of monstrous figures with jagged armor and glowing runes burned into their flesh marched toward them.


    The vanguard had arrived.


    "Looks like we''re skipping breakfast," Valentina muttered, drawing her sword as blue lightning crackled along its edge.


    Elena grinned fiercely, her sword ring to life in her hands. "Good. I was getting bored."


    Isabe mounted Sk?ll in a single fluid motion, her bow gleaming with mana. "Stay close. We hit fast and hard."


    Hana unsheathed her crystalline daggers, her gaze icy and calcting as she looked at the approaching monsters.


    The air buzzed as the vanguard closed in, their distorted shapes casting long, jagged shadows under the spire''s malignant glow. The ground cracked and hissed beneath their feet.


    Isabe''s eyes tracked their formation from her position on a rocky ledge. She nocked an arrow made of condensed moonlit wind, her bow humming with stored energy. Sk?ll crouched at her side, a low, dangerous growl rumbling in her chest.


    "They''re spreading wide," Isabe reported, her voice steady. "They are trying to surround us with cheer numbers."


    Valentina''s sword burned with molten fire as she readied herself. "Then we should kill them before they can do so."


    Elena stepped forward, her de crackling with molten energy as searingva dripped from its edge. Her crimson eyes gleamed with anticipation. "Burn them down before they can regroup."


    Hana''s crystalline daggers glowed faintly in her grasp. Ready to dirty it with the blood of those monsters.


    The monsters howled as they surged forward.


    Valentina lunged forward first, the ground cracking beneath her as she charged with speed. Her de erupted into a sweeping arc of molten fire, cleaving through the first rank of abominations. Scorched remains copsed in her path, writhing and twisting into ash.


    Elena followed close behind, plunging her sword deep into the ground. Lava exploded upward in a deadly wave, consuming an entire cluster of creatures. Their bodies twisted and melted as molten rock swallowed them whole.


    Above, Isabe loosed her first arrow. The wind howled as the arrow split into a dozen shimmering projectiles mid-flight, raining destruction from above. Sk?ll darted ahead, her massive form a blur of silvery moonlight. She pounced on arger beast, fangs crackling with celestial energy as she tore through its neck with lethal precision.


    Hana vanished in a sh of light as she appeared behind an elite monster preparing to nk them. Her daggers shed like falling stars, slicing through its thick armor with surgical precision. The beast crumpled with a wet gurgle.


    Suddenly, the ground trembled violently. The battlefield shifted as a colossal monstrosity emerged from the corrupted earth. It towered over the field, its four arms ending in jagged des glowing with cursed mana.


    "We''ve got a big one!" Elena shouted, heat intensifying around her as streams of molten rock coiled protectively around her feet.


    Valentina cursed under her breath as the monster''s massive arm swept toward her, cleaving through the earth. She narrowly dodged the blow, responding with a vertical sh of blinding sunfire that seared across its thick, armored torso.


    "It''s regenerating!" Isabe yelled out, loosening another flurry of arrows that exploded into radiant bursts, slowing the monster''s advance. Read exclusive chapters at My Virtual Library Empire


    "We need more firepower," Valentina hissed, sweat beading on her forehead from exertion.


    Without a word, Elena thrust her de skyward, channeling her mana into the sky. Her voice rang with fiercemand:


    "Ashen! Come forth!"


    A thunderous roar echoed across the ins as the sky itself split apart. A massive, obsidian-scaled dragon wreathed in moltenva tore through the rift, wings zing like a living inferno. Apollivex, smaller but equally ferocious, perched on Ashen''s back, mes dripping from her beak like liquid sunlight.


    The monstrous beast hesitated for the first time, its corrupted instincts overwhelmed by primal fear.


    "BURN IT DOWN!" Elena roared.


    Ashen flew forward, releasing a torrent of molten me that collided with the towering monstrosity in a deafening explosion. Apollivex soared overhead, raining down deadly beams of concentrated sunfire that seared through even the toughest armor.


    The beast howled in agony, its form splintering and disintegrating under the relentless assault.