The Forbidden Mountains range has many branching ranges, some resembling basins, while others are gently rolling like plateaus...
This kind of terrain offers numerous suitable places for habitation, especially in the kingdoms ravaged by the 'Wrath of the Ice and Snow Goddess.' Those who have fled and relocated include some who have settled in a tribal manner.
"Stop right there, who are you?"
"Snap…"
The sound of a dry branch snapping underfoot echoed as Freya stopped and turned to face the group of Bull beastkins blocking her path.
"Go tell your leader that Freya of the Wolf Clan has arrived." Freya said coldly.
"Is it… is it Lord Freya?? Ah.. Please wait a moment." The gatekeeping Bull beastkins hurriedly ran inside to report.
Freya now reeked of blood and decayed flesh of her enemy; a slight jostle of her armor would cause chunks of congealed blood to fall off.
After a month in the Forbidden Mountains, she had lost count of how many people she had killed. She was feeling a bit weary and needed to find a place to rest before continuing her search for the princess.
The place for resting was this very mountain stronghold in front of Freya— a stronghold made up of beastkins, or more accurately, a bandit hideout composed of beastkins.
The leader of this bandit stronghold was an old acquaintance of Freya, which is why she came here to rest for the night. She planned to set out again the next day to infiltrate a human city and gather information about the princess.
"Lord Freya, the leader invites you inside." The gatekeeping Bull beastkin said respectfully as he ran out.
"Mm." Freya, with a massive greatsword slung diagonally across her back, her sharp orange eyes daring anyone to meet her gaze, stepped into the stronghold.
"Huff, huff…"
After Freya had walked away, the gatekeepers finally dared to breathe freely. The murderous aura she carried had left them all feeling uneasy.
"Hey, who was it that stopped Lord Freya just now? I was really afraid she'd cleave me in half with one swing."
"Uh… I just didn't recognize her at first. The filth on Lord Freya must be all coagulated blood, right?"
"I really don't know how many people Lord Freya has killed this time. The ones who run into her must be those unlucky slave traders."
"I wonder if Lord Freya will be leaving with the leader. If she does, our chances of success will be a bit higher, right?"
At the entrance, the gatekeeping Bull beastkins were chatting away, exchanging gossip about Freya.
Freya was unaware of the admiration some had for her, and even if she knew, it would hardly affect her. Compliments and praise had long ceased to stir any emotion in her.
Having visited this stronghold five or six times, Freya was familiar with some of the layout. Arriving at the center of the stronghold, she approached a wooden house that served as the residence of the stronghold's leader. This place was essentially a restricted area, accessible only to a few.
"Creeeak."
Freya pushed open the door and saw a green-haired woman standing in the center of the room, each hand gripping a single-handed sword.
"Ha."
The green-haired woman charged at Freya with both swords in hand and said in a deep voice, "Freya, come. Let's have a sparring match."
"Clang."
Freya drew her greatsword with one hand and engaged in combat with the green-haired woman. The wooden house resonated with the sounds of clashing metal as their skills proved evenly matched.
After a while, the two women stopped their sparring.
"Clang."
The green-haired woman tossed her two single-handed swords aside and exhaled with satisfaction. "That was amazing. Freya, you're the only one who can go toe-to-toe with me."
"Miss Bella, you're still as energetic as ever." Freya responded coldly.
"Hee hee hee…"
Bella laughed, tossing her green hair and glancing at the bloodstains on Freya's clothes. Her long, forked tongue flicked out and then retracted back into her mouth as she chuckled softly. "It looks like you haven't made much progress and have come here to rest again?"
"…." Freya was silent for a moment before speaking slowly, "Miss Bella, are you leaving?"
"Yeah. Freya, this will be your last time resting here," Bella's forked tongue flicked out again, and she smiled lightly. "Do you want to come with us?"
"No," Freya replied firmly, her tone cold. "Do you really intend to go through with that plan?"
"Ha. Of course. As long as we can establish a foothold in that chaotic land, everything will have a chance." Bella's deep brown slit pupils glinted.
"If you fail?" Freya asked calmly.
"Hahaha… If we fail, then we'll just come back and be bandits again, raiding those human merchant caravans. We can still survive." Bella said with a wry smile.
"With the few beastkins in your stronghold, how will you compete with those human knights in that territory?" Freya narrowed her eyes.
"How would we know without trying?" Bella tugged at her green hair, her deep brown slit pupils gleaming with a cold edge. "I've heard that several of the human kingdoms over there are in chaos. That's our chance. If we can seize some territory, the Valtoria beastkins might have a chance to start over."
"You'll be attacked and killed by humans." Freya cut straight to the point.
"I won't immediately join the conflict. I plan to become an outlaw there first, then act as a bandit and build up my strength before making a move." Bella's crimson forked tongue flicked out again.
"Let's hope so." Freya blinked rapidly twice. She knew how stubborn the woman in front of her could be and decided not to press further.
"Freya, you should stop clinging to that. That flat-chested woman should have…"
"Clang."
Before Bella could finish her sentence, Freya's greatsword was already pointed at her throat. Freya's orange eyes were filled with icy coldness. "Miss Bella, I don't want to hear any more."
"Uh… Really." Bella raised her hands in resignation. "It's not like this is a responsibility you must bear."
"My sword exists for the princess." Freya said coldly.
"Truly…" Bella's brown eyes flickered, adding a silent note of pity in her heart.
"Clang."
"What about Ayesha? I haven't seen her around," Freya scanned the room and asked. "Did you hit her again?"
"I don't have time for that." Bella rolled her eyes, adjusting her green hair. "She's gone off to the life she chose for herself."
"What do you mean?" Freya frowned.
"Anyway, that silly girl is doing fine now. At least she won't starve," Bella said, recalling the reports from her subordinates. That different city might be a good place for the girl, where she wouldn't have to endure hardship alongside Bella.
"I don't understand what you're saying. I'm going to rest now," Freya said as she turned to leave. Since her own sister wasn't worried, she didn't feel it was her place to argue.
Bella clenched her delicate hands into fists, thinking about the amusing reports from her subordinates who were tracking Ayesha and the girl's various mishaps. It brought a smile to her face.
"Lucas, I hope the silly girl made the right choice. Otherwise…"
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