"Your meaning?" Luchia asked.
"Tear it open!"
Yes, rip apart the dimensional space rather than rely on the hawk faction Tengu to open it from within.
Frey was one of the rare Demon Lords with spatial unique skills.
[Transcender]
[Description: Immune to negative status effects, able to break limits and surpass oneself in adversity.]
[Sky Sovereign]
[Description: Grants dominion over the skies, control of the atmosphere, and the power to tear space.]
Two unique skills.
Transcender's meaning was vague, but it had fueled Frey's growth over the years.
Sky Sovereign, a gift from the Voice of the World upon reaching Special A-rank, was her reward for unifying the Harpy, cementing her as the queen of the skies.
Undoubtedly, Frey was formidable.
With over 400,000 magicules, only Snow Empress and Artoria under Damien's command could match her.
Even Ogerpon, due to compatibility issues, struggled against the highly mobile Sky Queen.
"Shatter!"
Without hesitation, Frey raised her hand toward the twin stone pillars atop the mountain.
Instantly, the sky fractured, cracks surging toward the dimensional space's entrance at astonishing speed.
Boom!
The barrier held for a mere moment before crumbling under her overwhelming force, revealing the idyllic hidden Tengu village beyond.
"That power!"
Back in the village, Momiji and Kaede's expressions shifted.
The mother and daughter rose to investigate, but Hakurou stopped them.
"Sword Savant?"
"Father?"
"Calm yourselves." Hakurou said, his face steady. "Lord Damien ordered us to stay and observe."
"This…"
Momiji hesitated, glancing at Damien.
Kaede reacted swiftly.
Indeed, if Damien wasn't panicking, they shouldn't either.
Bypassing their lord's orders would be a grave disrespect.
"My apologies, my lord." Kaede said.
"No matter." Damien replied, sitting calmly in the courtyard with a clear view of the distant scene. "You're just worried."
"The dimensional space was forcibly breached from outside." Ice Empress said, shading her eyes to observe. "This Frey Queen's got some skill, smashing the door open without the traitors' help."
"Unique skill, Sky Sovereign." Damien noted. "A strong ability."
"Tch, shame I can't fight her." Ice Empress said.
She and Ogerpon would stay by Damien's side as his guards.
Shuna, Shion, and Benimaru were tasked with protecting the Tengu from the battle's fallout.
"The skill's refinement is on another level." Momiji said, sensing countless majin auras through the breached entrance, the strongest of which made her heart race.
Frey's attack, even this glimpse, was a lesson for her and her mother.
"Frey's skill mastery is impressive." Damien remarked. 'Perfect to test the limits of my Capturer skill.'
Yes, Damien's plan to have Snow Empress and Artoria capture Frey was for this.
He intended to forcibly capture her, turning her into his follower.
Some might argue this could prevent her loyalty.
Damien didn't care.
Testing his skill was inevitable, and Frey was a prime target.
If she held a grudge, he'd keep his distance.
Followers couldn't harm their master... an iron rule. Even if Frey resented him, she couldn't change that.
Beyond that, Damien was indifferent.
'Frey's magicules range from 400,000 to 500,000,' he calculated.
His Capturer skill required him to have more magicules than his target for a forced capture.
Unfortunately, limited by the true Demon Lord threshold, he couldn't boost his magicules to 8 million.
At best, he could draw from Violet to reach 990,000.
'If Frey works, the next is Treyni…'
Of course, Damien held affection for her and wouldn't force her.
If Treyni refused, he wouldn't press.
'But…'
'At this point, Treyni's likely to agree.'
Treyni hadn't yet met the Fairy Queen, and as a free spirit, she might join Damien's ranks.
As Damien pondered, the Tengu at the entrance stood ready, faces grim with tension.
Facing a legendary Demon Lord, any majin would feel awe.
Outsiders didn't grasp the distinction between Demon Lord Seeds and true Demon Lords.
On this continent, "Demon Lord" often meant the ruler of a majin nation.
By that measure, Frey was undeniably a Demon Lord.
"Lady Frey!"
Before the lead Tengu could challenge the Harpy army, a group of hawk faction Tengu soared upward.
"Your Majesty, you've finally come!"
"Quickly crush these rebels!"
The hawk faction elder, oblivious to the situation, passionately urged Frey to conquer the clan.
He didn't realize Frey's forceful entry spoke volumes.
Without her, the Harpy would've needed the hawk faction's aid.
But with Frey here?
What use were they?
True, the hawk faction wanted to serve.
But why would Frey accept them?
To manage the Tengu?
She could send her own people... safer, more reliable.
"Such foolishness." Frey said, echoing Damien's sentiment. "Are all Tengu this blind to their own limits?"
"What?!"
The hawk elder, catching her mockery, realized something. "Are you going back on our deal?"
True, they hadn't opened the passage, wasting Frey's magic.
But that was her choice, not their fault.
Besides, with their help, couldn't Frey rule the Tengu faster?
***
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