The Heavenly Martial Empress Returns Chapter 337: The Slumbering Queen

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BOOOMMM!!!

The strange, otherworldly beast summoned out of nowhere was no more, my techniques swiftly taking it down as the Frost Ant siblings watched in silence. They seemed utterly flabbergasted by what I’d done, especially since the creature had appeared invincible, its very presence giving them headaches. 

“Are you two alright?” I asked, waving my hand as the crack in space vanished and the monster disappeared. “I tried to take it down as quickly as possible. It had an ability that could affect the mind, so I hope you weren’t too affected. I did my best to protect you.” 

“I’m fine…” Coldpincers said. 

“I’m okay too… I-It was just surprising,” Icebloom said. “You’re really strong, Bing Xue… How is it possible for someone so powerful to come from a lower floor than ours?” 

“Well! This world… or universe, is just full of wonders, right?” I giggled. “Don’t sweat the small details. My power doesn’t originate from the Tower to begin with, but from another world, one separate from the Tower.” 

“Incredible…” Icebloom said. “Wait, doesn’t that mean you’re an Alien God too?” 

“Haha… no…” I said, looking elsewhere. “Not at all. I’m a human! We’re common all over the Tower, right?” 

“I guess so…” Icebloom muttered, nodding. 

“Wow, wait, is that formation breaking down?” Coldpincers asked. 

“Yes, it is…” Icebloom murmured. 

I looked into the distance, quickly noticing what they were talking about. The formation protecting the palace had indeed crumbled to pieces.

With the monster’s defeat, we were finally allowed to enter… and end this. 

“Let’s go.” 

We flew down, landing in front of the palace’s door, and I turned to the two. 

“Okay, I can either knock it down, or do you need a special key to enter?” I asked. “Is the palace full of magic formations too? No, wait, let me assume it is. There’s no way it doesn’t have more security.” 

“We’ll have to see. This emblem should work,” said Icebloom. “Let me try, Bing Xue.” 

She stepped forward and touched the gate with the emblem. A bright blue light spread through the entire gate and then the palace, shaking the massive building.

And then… 

RUMBLE! 

The palace trembled, and the gate opened, revealing the interior of the gigantic structure—a work of art composed entirely of divine ice. The interior was almost entirely divine ice as well, from furniture to walls and ceilings.

There were also paintings—not made of ice, though—depicting the queen’s face, and only hers, everywhere. 

“Incredible. This woman was sure full of herself, huh?” I commented. “I… don’t detect any security either? What’s going on?” 

We walked through the corridors, drawing closer to the presence of their queen and goddess.

And lo and behold, once we reached the depths of the palace and its innermost chamber, there she was, inside a large room.

No guards, no nothing. 

“The Queen is slumbering…” Icebloom said. 

“S-She’s really there with no protection?!” Coldpincers asked. 

Her body and appearance were the same as when I’d fought her: a giant ant queen with a slightly humanoid form, large abdomen, massive claws and legs, a big head with two large red eyes, long antennae, wings, and a hard, ice-like exoskeleton.

A crown rested on her head, made of blue steel and embedded with blue jewels. A magic scepter lay on the floor, seemingly dropped as she slumbered. 

“Her Majesty…” Icebloom sighed. “She looks so vulnerable now, despite having caused so much suffering…” 

“It’s weird, right?” Coldpincers wondered. “I don’t even know what to think anymore, honestly…” 

“She’s a vegetable. Most of her soul was destroyed and consumed by my sword,” I explained. “Only a divine body remains, with a fragment of her soul—not enough to keep her awake.” 

I approached her, noting the absence of wards or any protective formations… She must have been confident that the outer formation would suffice. She was also inside a realm only her generals could enter, making it quite secure.

Until I arrived. 

“Is your previous queen still active?” I asked Icebloom and Coldpincers before proceeding. “Is she alive somewhere, or dead?” 

“She’s been encased in a divine ice statue for eons,” Icebloom explained. “We don’t know… if she could ever be saved.” 

“I see…” I nodded. “First, I can sense a powerful connection to the Alien God. She’s not only its vessel but something akin to an ‘anchor’ for its powers. Once she’s gone, the connection will be severed, the ‘anchor’ will vanish, and the Alien God will be forced to leave immediately.” 

“S-So you can do it, Bing Xue? You can free us?” Icebloom asked, her eyes brimming with hope. 

“Yes. Hold my hand,” I said, extending the palm of my right hand. 

“Eh?” She suddenly looked embarrassed. “Your hand? Why?” 

“Just do it, please,” I insisted. 

“O-Okay…” She slowly reached out, grasping my hand tightly. 

Her hand was hard and cold, her exoskeleton like crystal.

Yet, I could feel the warmth within—her heart, her blood flowing through her.

Her power was decent, and her unique psychic abilities could evolve further.

The frozen queen was unreliable, but if she returned later, the more the merrier, right? 

“I honestly don’t need the queen’s power,” I said. “I’ve already consumed much of her, so I’ll let you take it.” 

“W-What? Her powers?!” Icebloom gasped. “That’s not what— Aaahhh?!” 

FLAAASH!

The process had already begun. I stabbed the queen in the chest, causing her unconscious body to spew purple blood. White flames erupted, consuming her entire form, and her lifeforce faded.

My powers activated, instinctively devouring her divinity… but then, I redirected it all to her.

To Icebloom. 

Why?

Every world in the Tower needs a God. Without one, we risk another tyrant stepping in.

Their original Red Ant Queen hadn’t quite reached that level, so this was for the best. 

“I’m sorry, Icebloom, but you’ll need to become the goddess for now.” 

“Eeeeeh?!” 

She cried out as the divine power enveloped her body.

Her small form transformed dramatically, doubling in height. She sprouted an additional pair of legs, a larger, fuller abdomen, wings, and an even cuter, more delicate face. 

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