Chapter 3 First battle

"Your Majesty, please allow me to recount a tale from nearly a thousand years ago," the Centaur began, bowing in deference to Catharina.

"And what is your name?"

"You may refer to me as Heruz."

"Very well, continue, Heruz."

Catharina glanced at the Centaur chieftain, a brave and gallant warrior who was rumored to be a descendant of the gods.

**Flashback**

A few days before the total lunar eclipse of a thousand years ago, the kingdom of the Eternal race, lived peacefully and joyfully. There was no discord or bloodshed among them; they savored each day without thoughts of war.

Living under a just and wise leader, a figure often referred to as the Great Sovereign, the possessor of the mightiest power that shielded them from all forms of threat.

However, the night of the total lunar eclipse marked a drastic change that transpired overnight. The forces of darkness ambushed them from all sides, aided by the demon king.

"Your Majesty, what must we do?" Beta, representing the Alpha, inquired with a sword in hand.

"War is inevitable. Assume your positions for the attack!" commanded the majestic figure.

He was the mightiest, a king who could transform into a formidable Wolf. Yet, ill fate befell the Eternal nation. The arrival of the demon king led the reigning ruler to sacrifice himself to protect his people.

Arkh

Argh

Bruk

Trang

Crash

krek

Arkh

Shouts, clashes of swords, arrows piercing the air, and roars filled the area, mingling with the gruesome sounds of battle. Puddles of fallen soldiers' blood painted the ground, and the deaths of countless children and families added to the tragedy. They were attacked without warning, and the eclipse weakened their strength cunningly.

"No time to lose, all of you remaining Eternal beings, seek refuge in the Evergon Forest. Stay there until the time calls for your return to this land," the King instructed.

His followers might disagree, but the King's orders were absolute. Only he and his loyal personal guards remained in the region, ready to live and die for him.

"Bold move, Medusa," he growled, glaring angrily at the woman who arrived astride a Chimera.

"Hahahaha... You're the foolish one here. ATTACK THEM!" she commanded with a thunderous voice.

Inevitably, the battle commenced. They all tried their best to hold their ground, at least until their descendants could enter the shelter of the Evergon Forest.

Meanwhile, the King, witnessing the chaos, reluctantly used half of his power to protect the others.

"Hold on just a bit longer," he yelled.

"Surrender, oh King. You have lost, relinquish all that is yours."

The King's eyes glared with anger toward Medusa and the demon king. This turmoil was brought about by the greed of those two creatures. They were indeed misguided lusts!

"Argh..." the King's cry of pain added to the tense atmosphere, his agony echoing.

A dazzling light radiated from the King's body, causing fear among the dark creatures, some of whom even perished upon contact with the light.

"Damn it, stop that foolish King, Medusa!" the demon king ordered.

He knew well what would happen if that power wasn't stopped. This war could potentially bring trouble for him.

Wush

Medusa swiftly dashed towards the King, who was now emitting light from his body. Their movements were lightning-fast, and their sword clashes resounded through the air.

Crash

Ting

Srek

Apparently, the demon king had joined the battle too, and now the King found himself caught in a perilous position. His loud cries halted everyone in their tracks.

"Argh...argh..."

The area was filled with blinding light, and those exposed to it instantly cried out in pain. The demon king and Medusa were no exception; their agony was heightened due to their proximity to the intense light.

The Eternal King sacrificed half of his power to quell the chaos, and eventually, he disappeared without a trace. Meanwhile, the demon king met his end while protecting his beloved Medusa. And it was over.

"That's how it ended, and so we, the remaining Eternal beings, chose to await in this forest without making any movements. We await your arrival, the descendant of the great ruler, the grand Alpha King," he explained, his gaze fixed firmly upon Catarina.

Catharina was left stunned by the tale. Would she meet the same fate as the great ruler, or would her destiny take a different turn? She wasn't sure, but one thing was certain: her heart felt heavy as she faced the intense gazes and even tears of those who were reminded of that bloody event.

"Help me lead all of you to victory," she declared firmly.

"With heart and soul, we are willing, Your Majesty," they responded in unison.

"For Eternal."

"For the mighty Alpha King Peter."

"Long live Your Majesty Catharina."

"For Eternal."

The enthusiastic cheers from the crowd ignited Catarina's spirit. Her determination to defeat the Medusa woman seemed to burn even brighter.

"We don't have much time. Let's formulate a plan to trap them," she urged.

Head nods from each leader of the creature groups were met with warm smiles from Catharina.

"We'll conduct guerrilla tactics underground and encircle them from all sides. One of you will need to lure them to the designated location," she explained, while marking and scribbling on a map in front of them.

"But Your Majesty, isn't that too risky?" Heruz interjected.

"Indeed, Your Majesty, our numbers are limited, and that's our current weakness," Zard responded.

The plan seemed too risky, especially given their small numbers, but there was no other choice.

"I understand that our numbers are limited, and that's why I want all of you to follow my plan," Catharina asserted. Her expression was resolute, showing no hint of doubt, even though it seemed implausible to her own ears.

"We possess a great power through magic energy, and my intuition tells me that victory awaits for the Eternal people," she said confidently.

They all began to devise a plan for war preparation; there was no time to wait. The next total lunar eclipse was approaching, and they couldn't afford to delay any longer. During the eclipse, their strength would weaken, while the forces of darkness would grow stronger.

"Before the total lunar eclipse arrives, we must have succeeded in defeating them all. That's the perfect timing for this war," Catharina emphasized.

"Let's obliterate the forces of darkness together," she declared, gazing at each leader of the groups one by one. Their enthusiastic response showed their agreement and determination.

There was no time to hesitate at every opportunity. As long as they could, they had to fight and strive to achieve their goals.

That night passed with a strategic war discussion for the Eternal people. Meanwhile, for the forces of darkness, they were once again left baffled, trying to locate the whereabouts of the Eternal beings. Their vigilance heightened, especially since the light signaling the return of the descendant of the great ruler had emerged.

It seemed that a war was imminent, and they needed to prepare themselves. Frustration and anger boiled within them. Their mission wasn't complete, yet a significant threat loomed on the horizon.

"Damn it."

"No... there must not be victory for the Eternal people! Damn it, where are they, really? Argh..."

The angry shouts filled Medusa's chamber. The queen of darkness was currently frustrated, unable to find what she was seeking. And the night passed with an even more tense atmosphere.

It had been a week since she arrived in this world. During that time, she had been trying to adapt to all the new things she experienced. No electricity, cell phones, or other electronic devices that made life easier in her time.

Knock

Knock

Knock

The sound of a knock broke her reverie. Who could be visiting her room this early in the morning, she wondered.

"Come in!" she called out.

A young elven girl entered, bowing respectfully. The girl often referred to as Brill, an elf with a captivating face. If she were in her world, she might have shattered the confidence of other women with her beauty alone.

"Your Majesty, we will be holding a meeting to assess the progress of our plans and preparations to fight against the forces of darkness," she explained. Catharina simply nodded in response.

"You can go ahead, I'll prepare shortly."

"Of course, Your Majesty."

Brill left Catharina's room. Rising from her seat, Catharina readied herself to attend the meeting. She chose a simple yet elegant gown, a shade of purple that revealed her smooth shoulders. Not forgetting the crown that graced her head.

"Her Majesty the Queen is entering the hall," announced a guard stationed at the door.

Step by step, with a resolute expression, she looked at all the creatures gathered in the meeting room.

"Greetings, Your Majesty," they all said in unison.

"Yes, so how far have we progressed?" she asked.

"At the moment, Your Majesty, our plans are nearing the final stages," replied Zard. Meanwhile, Raph, the leader of the Griffins, gazed at the map of the territory spread out on the meeting table.

"It seems, Your Majesty, that our first move will take place tonight."

"Yes, the sooner, the better. Tonight, we will make our first move. Remember, nothing should be overlooked, or we might all face our end," explained Catarina.

"Prepare the troops for tonight's operation, and they must be adept at concealing themselves. We can't afford any slip-ups," Heruz ordered.

They resumed discussing various tactics to be employed once the success of this initial move was achieved. After nearly half an hour of deliberation, the meeting was adjourned as they reached a consensus.

Sigh... I never thought I would experience war, let alone lead one. I, who have never harmed anyone, am now compelled to take lives to expedite the resolution of this crisis.

"Come on, you can do it, Catharina," she told herself, taking a deep breath to calm her nerves.

Donning their armor, they all set off for the Deadwood territory. Catharina, mounted on Zard as her war steed, stood ten meters high and shouted,

"Let's move, for the sake of the Eternal people!" her voice resonating loudly.

Hearing her call, they all advanced towards the Deadwood territory. As the leader, Catharina took the front, flying over the ranks with an expressionless face and piercing gaze. There was no room for doubt or fear; only a burning desire for vengeance.

As they left the confines of the Evergon Forest, their entire forms became visible. This was the risk they had to take, as the invisibility spell only applied within the bounds of the Evergon Forest.

On Zard's back, Catharina concentrated to channel a protective spell to shield her entire troop. She did this to minimize the casualties that might occur.

Swoosh...

Catharina raised her hand in the air as a signal to halt and then spoke,

"Each unit, move towards all cardinal directions. Do not initiate any movement without orders from your respective generals," she instructed.

"Understood, Your Majesty," they replied in unison.

"NOW!" she exclaimed.

The entire army spread out in every compass direction. Catharina flew high, observing ahead where the Dark Palace stood. Tonight, she needed to weaken the power of the Medusa.

Swoosh...

Screech...

"Excellent landing, Zard," she praised.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Before Catharina stepped into the palace, she sent a signal to each general to commence their movements.

"That's the signal from Her Majesty. Prepare to attack," they relayed.

"ATTACK!"

Simultaneously, the generals cried out loudly, launching an assault on the forces of darkness from all sides.

Meanwhile, the enemy was taken aback by this covert attack. They never anticipated that tonight they would be struck by the very Eternal people they once slaughtered.

"Damn it... Attack them!" the enemies yelled.

Sounds of sword clashing, axe impacts, arrow whizzes, and magic filled the air in the Deadwood Forest. The Eternal forces attacked with unwavering determination, pushing back the enemy relentlessly.

Some enemies attempted to run towards the Dark Palace to report this surprise attack.

"Don't let the enemies reach the palace!" the generals commanded.

"Argh... Argh..." echoed the cries of pain from those trying to reach the Dark Palace.

Slash...

"No one will escape from this place until all of you are dead," she declared.

"For the Eternal Nation!"

"For King Alpha Piter!"

They all fought valiantly, and while some of them were wounded, it didn't deter their determination to raise their weapons once more.

Leaving the battle behind, let's shift our focus to the Eternal Queen, Catharina. She masked her aura, as did Zard, as they entered a room they believed to be Medusa's resting place.

Creak...

"It seems this repulsive creature is sound asleep in its dream," she muttered while approaching Medusa.

Lifting her sword high, then...

"Perish along with your nightmares, you wretched being," she whispered, swinging her sword toward the sleeping Medusa.

The tip of the sword came close to piercing Medusa's heart. Suddenly, the creature's eyes snapped open, its face contorted in anger as it yelled and jolted awake.

"WHO THE HELL ARE YOU?!"