Chapter Eighty-Six: Her Aura Falls Short of the Queen’s

The scorching wind roared through the sky, tearing apart the last dark cloud. Everyone’s bodies had reached their limits; Bard gasped loudly, as if the thunder of his heartbeat echoed in his chest. The Twin Moon Wheel circled him, its power granting Bard astonishing healing from wounds, yet unable to replenish his stamina.

“If I take care of that one, victory will be mine.”

Bard’s eyes fixed on Lin Wen, the crown prince of the forest elves, whose archery was so elusive that Bard could not spare the focus to deal with Lin Lei.

Yet Lin Wen’s speed had slowed as well. Though his young body brimmed with energy, prolonged flight had drained his magic, and in this vast azure sky, lacking magic was more dangerous than Bard’s exhaustion.

Lin Lei’s true energy was nearly spent. Shielded by the queen, he provided Lin Wen with ammunition, tirelessly crafting arrows of holy light from the rear. After half an hour, his reserves were nearly depleted.

“If we don’t break through the Twin Moon Wheel’s defense soon, we’ll have to retreat,” Lin Lei looked down at the palace, wondering why Hera was so slow.

If the soul gem didn’t arrive soon, he would have to consider retreat. On the surface, three against two seemed advantageous, but with the Twin Moon Wheel empowered by absorbed souls, arrows of holy light could not penetrate it, and the Boundless Sea was blocked as well. Bard could attack or defend at will, holding an undefeated position.

“Master, use one more rune. Let me finish them off in a single blow,” the Twin Moon Wheel said to Bard.

Bard replied coldly, “No, it’s unnecessary.”

He felt deceived. The rune he’d just used had made the Twin Moon Wheel so strong it needed no shield to withstand arrows of holy light, which contradicted its earlier claims.

The rune on Bard’s hand was meant to limit the Twin Moon Wheel’s power. If all were used, it could unleash its strength freely. No matter how much Bard trusted it, the final rune could not be used lightly.

“But Master, your stamina is nearly gone,” the Twin Moon Wheel persisted. “With one more rune, I could swiftly defeat them. Then you would be the true king of the night elves.”

“I am already the king of the night elves,” Bard declared, but suddenly his face changed drastically as something dreadful soared up from the ground.

“Soul Gem!” the Twin Moon Wheel shrieked in terror. “Master, catch it!”

Bard rushed downward; this gem must not fall into their hands.

Yet Lin Lei was faster. Ever vigilant, he activated the spatial shift the instant he spotted the gem.

Snap! He grasped it, and the soul of the old elf inside froze in surprise: “Aren’t you the boy who dug me out?”

“Good thing you did, kid, or I would have been devoured by my own body.”

Before the gem could finish speaking, Lin Lei turned, clutching it, and struck at the charging Bard.

“Damn!” the Twin Moon Wheel cried out, and to avoid harming the gem, its aura vanished instantly. Lin Lei’s fist broke through the defense, smashing into Bard and sending him flying: “Brother, shoot!”

Lin Wen reacted instantly, drawing his bow and unleashing a thunderous arrow.

The Twin Moon Wheel had no time to respond before Bard’s body shattered—the battle that had lasted hours ended abruptly. Everyone stared wide-eyed, disbelief flooding their faces.

“How is this possible!”

The Twin Moon Wheel let out a mournful scream, tumbling uncontrollably toward the palace.

Lin Lei and Lin Wen watched in surprise: “What’s wrong with it?”

“The duel is over,” the queen’s joyful voice rang out. “Without a master, the Twin Moon Wheel must await orders in the palace. Such is the contract between night elves and the Wheel—and soon, it will have a new master.”

The Moon Wheel transformed into the queen’s form, smiling at Lin Lei: “This victory is mine. I will become the new king.”

“But before that…” the queen looked at the red gem in Lin Lei’s hand. “Would you give that to me?”

Lin Wen eyed the gem in Lin Lei’s hand. “Lin Lei, what is that? Why did the Twin Moon Wheel drop its defenses?”

“It’s the soul of that monster from Grand City,” Lin Lei replied, gripping the gem. The soul could not control the monster, but it was its only weakness—the Twin Moon Wheel dared not harm it. If the gem vanished, the monster would be utterly invulnerable.

Within that monster, Lin Lei had seen boundless resentment—not against others, but against the Twin Moon Wheel.

“The Twin Moon Wheel treats night elves as food, but that monster seeks to destroy it—am I right?” Lin Lei asked the gem.

The old elf inside the red gem snorted. “Of course. If I die, the blood fiend will become a creature of pure hatred, beyond anyone’s control. As long as the night elves’ resentment for the Twin Moon Wheel persists, it can revive endlessly.”

The Twin Moon Wheel’s urgency to restore power was for the day it faced that monster.

The queen smiled, reaching toward Lin Lei. “Give me the gem. I will handle the monster.”

“You’re overthinking it,” Lin Lei slipped the red gem into his pocket. “I came for this myself, and I don’t intend to hand it over.”

The queen’s smile faded. “What are you planning?”

“I want to negotiate with the queen,” Lin Lei said. “With the monster in my grasp, the fate of the night elves and the Twin Moon Wheel is in my hands. I can ask for whatever I want.”

The queen frowned. “Then let us discuss…”

“But I cannot negotiate with you,” Lin Lei suddenly soared away. “You’re not the queen.”

The queen’s expression changed dramatically. “What are you saying?”

“You’re not the night elf queen,” Lin Wen gripped the Star-chasing Bow, and the other laughed, “Ready to kill again? I like it!”

The queen sensed that Lin Lei and Lin Wen had both conserved their strength. She frowned slightly, then smiled. “How did you see through my disguise?”

She admitted it, though her disguise was flawless—no one should have been able to see through it.

“Her bearing,” Lin Wen stared at the queen. “I’ve met the night elf queen once. Her appearance matches yours, but her aura is different.”

Lin Lei’s reasoning was simpler: “You’re too pleasant—much kinder than the queen.”

He saw no evil artifact on her; she wasn’t a villain. Yet the elder sister he knew was far less amiable.

“I see…” the queen shook her head with a rueful smile. White wings slowly unfurled from her back.

“What a pity. Though I was born a night elf, I could have taken the Twin Moon Wheel.”

“But once discovered, I can no longer remain here.”

A white halo appeared above her head, turning her golden hair and eyes silver.

“I am Valkyrie Leia. By the rules, I must not reveal myself to mortals. The Twin Moon Wheel and the monster are yours to deal with.”

The woman, enveloped in silver light, vanished.

Lin Wen and Lin Lei exchanged glances. She was a Valkyrie.

“Fortunately, you held back, brother.”

“…You too.”

Both were secretly relieved. Valkyries, an all-female order that protected the world from the shadows, were composed of various races. Each was powerful and principled, but famously proud. If not for their wit, they would have brought trouble upon the forest elves.

“Her aura didn’t suit a queen…”

“I bet she was a bookworm before becoming a Valkyrie.”

Lin Wen and Lin Lei spoke honestly.

The invisible Valkyrie, preparing to depart ahead of them, turned back, her face flushed with anger.