Nyssara was in her office, as always, reviewing daily reports and signing some documents a servant had just delivered.
"Thank you for everything, you may leave," she said with a kind smile.
The servant bowed and left with a smile on his face.
"Fools..." Nyssara muttered under her breath once he was gone.
She knew exactly how the game was played. City lords were constantly competing for resources, influence, and prestige. And she had her own way of fighting.
A simple, yet effective one.
Most lords were replaced due to complaints from their own people. Not for oppressing them or imposing high taxes, but for something subtler, failing to connect with them.
During her studies, Nyssara had noticed a pattern. Many of those lords were simply serious. Not cruel or unjust. Just... distant. They governed efficiently, but without humanity.
And in difficult times, that was enough for the people to grow suspicious.
A people who don't trust their leader will interpret any sacrifice as betrayal, even if it's for the greater good.
Nyssara understood. After all, all lords were nobles. Even if they were educated to rule over commoners, that upbringing always left a trace of arrogance. Most of them still viewed others, consciously or not, as inferior.
Was she any different?
Of course not. In fact, she was worse.
To her, commoners were mere pieces. Humble beings meant to serve her.
But she had learned how to act. As long as she pretended to be kind, the people would adore her. Just by meeting the bare minimum, her city would thrive. And thanks to her sister, this place was the second safest in the entire Forest, after the capital.
As she thought about that and silently thanked Sonya, her expression darkened when she sensed a magical disturbance.
Just then, a group of soldiers burst through the door.
"Nyssara-sama, we have intruders," announced the lead guard.
"How many?"
"Only two."
The guard braced for a reprimand, but to his surprise, her voice was calm and firm.
"Gather everyone. I'm coming too."
"You too? That's not necessary..."
A single glance from Nyssara was enough to shut him up.
They sometimes forgot who she was. She wasn't just the leader of Nareth. She was the strongest person in the entire city.
If she took something seriously, there was a reason.
Minutes later, they arrived at the city gates. The gathered guards knelt upon seeing her.
"Who are they?" she asked sharply.
"Two individuals. A beast girl... and a man who claims to be a 'Lord'."
"A Lord?" Nyssara repeated with a whisper.
"Let me see them," she ordered.
The guards obeyed, stepping aside.
"You must be Nyssara," said Kaito as he sensed her arrival.
"And you must be the Lord. May I ask what you're doing here?" she replied with a kind smile... that didn't reach her eyes.
"Lord Lucifer. I came to conquer Nareth."
As soon as he finished the sentence, the soldiers raised their weapons, tense and ready to fight.
"Stop!" Nyssara ordered, raising a hand.
"You've got guts coming here with just one other person. Do you know this is one of the most well-protected cities in the forest?"
"I do. I already took care of that, don't worry."
His reply shook her confidence inside. Where was Sonya? She would never have allowed an enemy of this level to approach the city...
Even so, Nyssara kept her face composed.
"Ha, you're dreaming. You don't know who you're facing."
"Isn't it a dark elf who can turn into shadow and control the terrain... with two beautiful younger sisters?"
Kaito's smile threw her off for a second. Her eyes widened in disbelief.
No one should know Sonya was her sister.
Still, she quickly hid her surprise.
"I don't know what you're talking about..."
"Well, are we going to fight or not?"
Kaito cut her off, earning a resentful glare from Nyssara.
Then, he turned to his right.
"Take care of the small fry. I'll handle the leader."
Koneko nodded and charged directly at the guards, passing Nyssara without even glancing at her.
When she reached them, she didn't attack head-on. Instead, she jumped.
A jump so high they could barely see her figure in the sky... until she crashed into the center of the group with a devastating punch.
The shockwave knocked out several soldiers, creating a five-meter crater around her.
The others hesitated for a second, stunned... then reacted.
"Attack from all sides!"
They followed common logic: strong fighters are usually slow.
But Koneko wasn't.
She moved like lightning, dodging and countering at the same time. Her strength and agility left them paralyzed.
"From range! Spears!" the captain shouted.
Weapons flew at her. But instead of dodging, Koneko caught the first one... and threw it back.
With such force that it created a massive crater and killed several soldiers in its path.
"This can't be..."
In just a few minutes, a hundred soldiers lay dead or unconscious.
The captain, trembling, pulled a square stone from his pocket. When he touched it, runes lit up and a voice came through.
"Oh! Look who's calling. We were betting how long you'd last. Done already?"
"This isn't the time for jokes. Are all nine of you there? Get over here, now!"
"What? Even the lady...?"
"Everyone! Quickly!"
The stone went dark.
But it was already too late.
In the few seconds the call lasted, the remaining soldiers had died.
Koneko was sitting on a rock, watching him.
"Finished your call?" she asked.
"Finished," the captain replied, then attacked.
His fist clashed with Koneko's...
And he was the one sent flying, his arm shattered, coughing blood in the air.
Koneko took a step, but stopped.
She looked to her side.
"Magic circles..."
Around the wall, dozens of green circles glowed. Summoning portals.
From them came soldiers. Nine more squads. A hundred soldiers each.
One approached the injured captain and asked urgently,
"Where's the lady?"
He got no answer.
Just a punch that knocked him out instantly.
Koneko looked at the new captains and their troops.
"I am your enemy."
And she attacked.
Meanwhile, in the sky...
"What kind of monster is that girl...?" Nyssara muttered, watching the massacre from above.
As a wind magic expert, she had used her spells to fly and gain distance. She attacked from the air with precision.
Seeing what was happening below, she conjured wind spears, ready to throw them.
But she never got the chance.
An overwhelming pressure stopped her.
It came from straight ahead.
"You shouldn't get distracted in a fight," said Kaito with disdain.
Two massive black wings spread behind him, floating in the air as if they'd always been there.
Nyssara stared at him, confused.
"I'm a demon. Of course I can fly," Kaito said with an arrogant smile.
And he flew straight at her.
Nyssara reacted instantly. She formed wind spears again... and launched them directly at him.
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