The power inside me surged. My whole body, from my toes until my neck was covered in shadows, its flames bursting like it was alive. My face and hair were still exposed, but my eyes were glistening in a golden slit, same eyes like the Black Dragon. I can see it… Its weak points. Not every part of the Black Dragon is made of tough scales. Some of them are exposed.
The Black Dragon opened its mouth to release another wave of breath attack towards me. The attack came, unleashing its powerful magic. Before the attack could reach me, I sunk into the ground, becoming one with the shadows around us. The ground that I stood on a few seconds ago has been destroyed by its attack.
I reappeared behind the Black Dragon's gigantic figure, my hands turning into claws. I spotted one of its soft spots and left a gaping wound on its area, causing the Black Dragon to roar in pain. Its tail moved, trying to whip me again. But before it could hit me, I sunk to the depths of the shadows once more.
I reappeared close to another soft spot. My claw is ready to leave another wound. I left another gaping wound on its body, the Black Dragon roaring louder than before. Finally, the beast flew in the air, but due to its height, it couldn't fly high. The shadows beneath me burst like they were alive. Soon, thousands of shadow hands appeared beneath me and grabbed hold of the Black Dragon's figure. The Black Dragon tried to beat its wings, but my shadows were more powerful. I summoned a huge, sharp sword from the abyss, then hurled the sword towards my huge prey. Its tough scales are weak when it comes to my shadows, the sword piercing through the other side of its body. A huge flow of green blood fell from my sword, down to the ground where I stood. I hate being looked down and looking up, so I dragged the Black Dragon's flying body on the ground, pinning it until its full body was touching the floor. I flew high enough to look down on the ancient beast.
"The pain that you gave to me earlier… I'll return them back double fold." I said, my golden eyes glaring at the pinned down monster. The shadows around us came alive, bursting like fire. They slowly spread on the Black Dragon's body until its whole body was covered in shadows. I smirked, a thought occurred to me. I can control the shadows. That means whoever is in my shadow, I can give them one hell of a torture. With a snap of my finger, I began to torture the Black Dragon in a slow and excruciating pain that made the dragon roar and somber in pain. It tried to stand up and use its wings to fly away, but I didn't let the poor bastard fly. I kept torturing the dragon, healing its wounds and reviving it when it was dead. Finally, after an hour or torture, I released my shadows, leaving the Black Dragon on its current state.
I sighed. Who would've thought that the Black Dragon would succumb onto my hands. I had fun, but it became boring afterwards. The poor creature cried, its purple eyes that were once glaring at me turned into sorrow, drowning in tears. I smiled. Imagine if this was Cecilia… Oh, how wonderful my day would be!
The shadows came alive again and I summoned the sword once more. I held it tight, perfectly fitting in my grip.
"Be glad that your pain is gone. I shall send you in the afterlife." I said, chopping off its head. I knew that everyone from the top was watching me. Soon, the place was filled with journalists, surrounding the portal as I got out. Flashes of cameras began to blind me, but they were soon covered by someone's back.
"Hazmuth." I said, my voice coming out cold.
"Princess, let's get away for now." Hazmuth said.
I shook my head and pulled him aside from me. "No, let them."
"Why?" Hazmuth asked, confused about my decision.
I stared at each of their cameras. Are you taking a clear picture of me? Are you seeing the blood of the ancient beast around my body? I spread my arms in front of them. "Take a look at me! I am the first person in this damn world to kill that Black Dragon that you all feared." More flashes appeared, blinding me with their lights and making my ears deaf from the flashing sounds of the camera. Yes… Take a look at me. Show the whole world who I am. Let my name and face spread out.
I always tell myself that I would never tell everyone who I am. I will never expose myself not until I get my vengeance. But a thought occurred to me. At this point, I don't care anymore. Cecilia knows me and she'll surely tell Vivian and Nashia who I am and that I am hunting for them. She will also tell them that Alexis died by my hands and I am coming for them. Let them know… I don't care. I am confident in my power. I am confident that I can take on the whole world now. The world abandoned my mother, now I have come to destroy and abandon the world.
"I am Princess Ashe, the daughter of Queen Ashe of the kingdom of Borne. I have come to take what I lost!" More flashes surrounded me. But I don't care. Let the whole world learn of me.
I turned around and grabbed Hazmuth. We both sank in the shadows and in a split second, we were at the other side of this continent, far from the place that we were just now. Hazmuth was looking at me surprised.
"Why did you do that, princess?" He asked. I'm sure he has a lot of questions to ask me as his mind was fighting which questions to ask first.
"To let my enemies know that I am alive, Hazmuth. You were my mother's right hand man." I said to him, "Join me in my journey." Ever since the death of my mother, I never liked travelling with someone in fear of being betrayed. But I know Hazmuth and his loyalty to us, especially to my mother. He is the only person that I am willing to invite in my journey.
"What kind of journey, princess?" He asked. He is confused, but no doubts were displayed on him.
"Journey to find the four keys. To unlock the door between physical and spiritual realm and claiming the spirit of Light and Strength." I said.
Hazmuth's eyes widened. He was about to ask another question, but instead, he kept his mouth closed. He knelt down in front of me, face bowing down to show respect. "Then, I shall assist you just like how I assisted your mother, your majesty." He said.
I smiled. "You are still the same as ever."
Three years have passed after the death of Black Dragon and my rose. Within that time frame, the whole world has learned about me. Everywhere I go, I either meet with allies or enemies. Of course, the whole world has gotten into a power shift. After the Black Dragon's death, the balance of power between humanity and monsters have been shifted. The Monster Allegiance made war against humanity for killing their 'god' while humanity fought back for their own personal reasons. One of the reasons is because of the territory. Monsters tend to steal and make human's territory their own. But rulers, emperors, leaders, couldn't do anything about it because of the Monster Allegiance. But now that they made war against them, humanity teamed up against monsters.
Within three years, the whole world is at war. "Ragnarok" is the right word for this war, I believe.
"You have gone crazy, powerful, princess." King Gia, the king of Giants said as we were walking side by side in the hallways that led to the chambers.
"Why do you say that?" I asked.
"You killed the Black Dragon that no one, not even I, could kill. You declared yourself into the world as well. Not only that, you have acquired such crazy power. At first I thought you lost your mana, but you gained something else." He said.
I laughed. "To gain something, you must lose something."
"You are learning well too." King Gia said. "What will you do now? The world is in Ragnarok."
"I have to find the keys." I said. "I have to acquire the Four Spirit Kings and the Spirit of Light and Strength."
King Gia chuckled. "Just like your mother… You two are one hell of a greedy when it comes to power." He said. "Do you need help?"
I shook my head. "No. But are you gonna be participating in the war?"
"Not really. I'd rather just stay aside for now." King Gia said.
"Good. Because I will be doing the same thing as well. Humans or monsters… They are both the same to me." I shrugged.
"Do you know where to go first at least? Any clues to where you can find them? I don't want you to just be roaming around the whole world like an idiot and achieving nothing." King Gia added.
I smiled and looked in the direction where Cecilia's scent was lingering. "Yeah. I know where to go first."