Chapter 13: Torn as She

Situated in the continent’s center, the Tianlu Mountain Range, which halted the Empire’s westward advance, loomed with despairing height.

Of course, mere height couldn’t thwart the Emperor’s ambition to dominate the world.

The true challenge, even for the Empire, was the world’s mightiest beings dwelling in the Tianlu Range—the dragons.

The proud, powerful dragons despised the Empire’s gaze, just as they feared the great monarch on the royal throne.

Thus, the Empire’s outposts near the Tianlu Range retreated time and again after repeated destruction.

This record proved the dragons’ might, for no one, save them, had ever attacked the Empire without facing utter annihilation—not even the sea tribes of the Lost Sea, who once capsized a royal fleet only to suffer the Emperor’s brutally bloody slaughter.

Yet, in this sky-piercing mountain range, the sacred home of these sky-conquering legendary creatures, an uninvited guest… arrived.

“Hmph, dragons… just slightly stronger beasts, after all.”

A mature woman’s voice, laced with a sultry, feverish allure, carried an overwhelming will and arrogant confidence that overshadowed its charm, compelling submission to her sheer dominance.

“Roar!!!”

Boom—!

At the peak of the Tianlu Range’s main summit, Aling Peak, a dragon’s roar was drowned by a louder explosion.

Amid scattering stones and rising dust, a tall figure gradually emerged.

“Shut up, you’re too loud!”

Another deafening boom rang out, this time silencing the roar.

As the dust settled, the madwoman standing in this forbidden land revealed herself.

She wore a pale gray cloak, its open folds billowing in the fierce wind.

Beneath, dark armor clung to her skin, encasing her perfectly shaped, ample chest while accentuating her taut, slender waist.

In stark contrast to her heavily armored torso, her lower half wore only thigh-high black shorts, outlining curves even more striking than her chest—slightly wider than her shoulders, a peach-like silhouette.

This exaggerated form, set against her tight waist, was breathtaking.

Her long, toned legs, thanks to her eight-head proportions, appeared exceptionally sleek, their muscular lines the envy of any woman, flawlessly beautiful.

The woman looked down at the dragon, its head stomped into the mountain rock, sneering, “And even if you’re a bit stronger, it’s just by a hair.”

She raised her head, her snow-white short hair dancing wildly in the wind.

Her face, no longer youthful or innocent, was now captivatingly alluring, its sharply defined features the kind a master sculptor might exhaust their imagination to craft.

Yet, just as her voice’s mature allure was overshadowed by its domineering confidence, her spirited expression and all-seeing gaze made her beauty intimidating to mere mortals.

She was Hitana Lansmarlos—not the obscure hunter from Chishuang Territory’s fringes.

—But the continent’s most genius warrior, the Valkyrie who single-handedly crushed the Empire’s Magic Corps, the unparalleled powerhouse who clashed with the Emperor and retreated unscathed!

“Disappointing.”

She looked skyward. “Is this all you’ve got? It’s a miracle the Emperor hasn’t wiped you out.”

As her words fell, a colossal shadow blotted out the sun, soaring upward!

At Aling Peak’s summit, the relentless winds bowed to the gales stirred by the shadow’s wings.

Hovering in the sky, its molten-gold eyes burned brighter than the sun!

“Hahahahaha, now that’s more like it!”

The woman stomped the ground, shattering the indestructible peak in an instant.

Her figure shot skyward, carrying the ferocious momentum of a mountain-crushing storm, charging straight at the sun-blocking shadow.

“To stalemate the Empire this long, you must have a worthy leader!”

“Come! Fight me, Dragon King!”

Amid her wild, unrestrained laughter—

Anselm awoke from a shallow sleep.

“…”

He touched his forehead, chuckling softly.

“Heh, Heavenly Wolf Empress.”

In the destined future he saw, that battle was the legendary clash that cemented Hitana’s title.

She fought the Dragon King, Audruankasa, atop Aling Peak for three days and nights, earning the dragon’s respect and the dragons’ alliance—a crucial asset in destroying the Empire.

Thereafter, she was revered as the Heavenly Wolf Empress, one of the continent’s most feared powerhouses.

“But that won’t be the future you’ll face, dear Miss Hitana.”

Anselm rose from bed, washing and dressing leisurely, standing before a full-length mirror for simple grooming.

The young Hydra gazed at his reflection, whispering gleefully, “Because I’ve prepared something better for you.”

***

Hitana, laden with spoils, was utterly satisfied.

This outing, she’d snagged a longbow, two hunting knives, two dresses, four sets of jewelry, six gourmet dishes, eight bottles of wine… and a pile of miscellaneous goods.

She couldn’t be happier.

“Man, all this stuff’s gonna be a pain to bring back.”

She polished a hunting knife lovingly. “Mom and Dad are gonna be floored when we get home!”

“…Hit,” Marina, beside her, took a deep breath. “I need to talk to you.”

“Talk away. Why so serious?” Hitana tilted her head.

Marina met her sister’s eyes, deadly serious. “I want you to keep working for Lord Hydra.”

“…Huh?”

Hitana rubbed her ears. “Did I hear that right, Lina? What’d you say?”

“Hit, you can’t waste this chance.” Marina’s tone grew even graver. “I don’t agree, and neither would Mom or Dad, with you leaving like this.”

“What?!” Hitana wailed, aggrieved. “What about what I want? I don’t wanna stick with him!”

“It’s because we’re thinking of you—” Marina’s voice rose in frustration, but seeing her sister’s expression, she softened, sighing and speaking gently, “Hit, have you thought about why those merchants and nobles are fawning over you?”

“Obviously ‘cause I’m awesome,” Hitana replied without hesitation.

“It’s… partly that, but don’t you think it has a lot to do with Lord Hydra?”

Marina kept her tone tactful.

“What’s he got to do with it? He’s the one causing trouble,” Hitana said, baffled. “Lina, what are you getting at?”

“I… I mean…”

Marina hesitated. “Because of Lord Hydra, you have this… opportunity.”

She touched her sister’s head. “Because of him, you can touch a wider world.”

“Think about it, Hit. If you stayed a hunter in the village, no one would know you. If you hadn’t been expelled from Tianlu Tower, you might’ve found a decent job in Chishuang Territory.”

“But that’s it.”

Marina placed her hand over Hitana’s, speaking earnestly, “You have the talent to make the Northlands, even the Empire, remember your name, but your personality… makes it easy for you to be overlooked or buried.”

“And Lord Hydra is that chance—an opportunity you can’t miss. Just think, Hit, one banquet got you noticed by Chishuang’s nobles, earned you respect from merchants. If you keep working for Lord Hydra, how high could you climb?”

“…”

Hitana opened her mouth, her face showing clear signs of wavering.

Compared to her haul, Anselm’s two hundred coins were a drizzle—though she saw it as her own prowess, she couldn’t deny that without Anselm, she wouldn’t have had this chance.

A few more events like this, and her name would echo across the Northlands.

That Hydra… might actually have that kind of pull.

“But I…” Hitana, slightly swayed, still hesitated. “I really can’t stand him, Lina. I don’t know why… I just hate him so much and I’m terrible at being a guard.”

“What’s that matter? Will Lord Hydra make you stay a guard? Someone like him will place you where you fit.”

Seeing her persuasion working, Marina exhaled, pressing on, “If you keep working for Lord Hydra, it won’t just be you who benefits. Me, Mom, Dad, even the whole village could thrive!”

“Ugh…” Hitana bit her nail, Marina’s words striking the wild girl’s softest spot.

Her brows knit, she mumbled, “But… but he doesn’t need me anymore. I also, uh… messed up before…”

“We’ll beg him, with the utmost sincerity.”

Marina stood, offering her hand. “If Lord Hydra refuses, we’ll go home. But if he accepts… Hit, promise me, no matter how he tests you next, you won’t let him down. Understand?”

“…Fine, I’ll listen to you this time, Lina.” Hitana grumbled, taking her hand.

Hitana wasn’t sure whether to be happy or upset.

On one hand, she was sure Hydra wouldn’t take her back, and she’d be glad for that; on the other, Marina’s words made her realize leaving him might be a huge loss.

So, dragged by Marina, Hitana went to find Hydra, guided by a new musician named Yura to the courtyard where Anselm was playing chess with Saville.

“Good morning, ladies.”

Anselm smiled, greeting them. “Ready to leave?”

“…No, Lord Hydra.” Marina, holding Hitana’s hand, bowed deeply, tugging Hitana to reluctantly follow.

“Please forgive our audacity, but I—Hitana—has a request for you.”

“…” Hitana, tugged twice, stayed silent for a moment, then spoke, trying to soften her tone but stumbling uncomfortably, “Uh, Lord… Hydra, can I, uh… keep working for you?”

Saville lowered his eyes, silent.

Anselm propped his chin, studying the snow-haired girls, chuckling.

“Let’s discuss in my study, Hitana.”

“No good? Alright, then—” Hitana, assuming rejection, stopped mid-sentence, then looked up in shock, meeting his sea-blue eyes.

That unbearable chill enveloped her again, urging her to retreat, but in that moment… she felt Marina’s hopeful gaze.

“…Fine, I get it.”

Hitana bit her lip.

For some reason, she felt… she’d deeply regret this choice.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep