The Heavenly Martial Empress Returns Chapter 324: Traitor

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“S-So you think you’re some kind of hero?!” he asked me angrily. “Don’t make me laugh…! The weak must serve the strongest! This was a law of this world even before our queen appeared. She simply made it clearer and enforced it!” 

TRUUUM!

A shockwave of psychic energy hit me directly, pushing me back, but I waved my hand angrily, tearing it apart and stopping it from expanding or sending me flying. 

RUMBLE!

“H-How?! How can you stop my psychic powers?!” the Winter General roared. “Nobody else could, other than the Queen!” 

“Your Psychic Power exerts physical force to move objects; therefore, it is a physical force itself. I can easily destroy it or push it away,” I explained. “It’s not that special once you learn how it works, did you know?” 

“T-That’s…!” His eyes widened in disbelief, realizing there was such a weakness. 

“You’re unique among the other Winter Generals. Your powers are special, and your size is quite small. I’m sure you’ve been bullied, right?” I asked. “Do you truly want to give up your life for a queen who will no longer wake up? I will kill her no matter what, and you already know how strong I am… Your friend over there is being burned alive and might become my pet’s dinner in a few minutes… but I can offer you one last chance for redemption.” 

“T-That’s…!” He glanced at the other Winter General struggling. Vulcan constantly struck his body, burning him. Even his blows and ice magic weren’t working well, as the Baby Fire Dragon’s Blazing Eggshell ability granted him great protection. 

“What’s your name?” I asked him. 

“I am… Icebloom…” he muttered shyly. “That’s my name… And he’s my friend, Coldpincers.” 

“Those names are really bad, you know?” I sighed. 

“We don’t get to choose our names! The Queen gives us new names when she baptizes us with her powers and lets us evolve into Frost Ants…” Icebloom said. “The name my mother gave me was Eshkerie.” 

“I see… It seems you’ve finally calmed down,” I said. “Vulcan! Stop!” 

“Raaarrr?” 

Vulcan looked back at me in confusion, stopping his assault on Coldpincers, who was agonizing but still barely alive. These ants were durable. 

“See? I’ve made him stop,” I said. “And…” 

I snapped my fingers, and a ray of holy light reached the giant ant, healing him fully. His body returned to normal, and even his pincers regenerated. 

“I killed Frostpierce because he was trying to kill people indiscriminately,” I said. “But he was a dumbass, and you two don’t give me the same vibe. For one, you became upset when he died—something he likely wouldn’t have done if you had died instead.” 

“That’s… not wrong…” Icebloom sighed. “Coldpincers and I are the newest members of the Ten Winter Generals because the last two died. The Queen ate them to satiate her hunger.” 

“So you’re not just her puppets, but she eats you if she feels like it? Wow, and you were angry about that?” I asked. 

“It’s not like we had any other choice! This world… it’s just cruel. We had to survive however we could!” Icebloom said. “But your strength… and if what you said is true, then… you… Would you really save our world?” 

“I intend to do that,” I nodded. “But I doubt the other Winter Generals will easily let me. And I don’t think they’re all like you and Coldpincers.” 

“No… they’re all much older than us, accustomed to this world, ruthless… much more,” sighed Icebloom. “We try not to abuse our strength if possible…” 

“Uuhh… W-What’s going on, Icebloom?” Coldpincers asked, walking toward us. “Why did she heal me? Weren’t we going to beat her?” 

“Not anymore. It’s pointless; she far surpasses us both. But I think there’s hope for this world, brother. She’s not bad,” Icebloom smiled, looking at me. “You’ve spared our lives despite how easily you could have killed us… We owe you a lot, but our loyalty to our queen is also great. We cannot simply betray her directly, not as we are right now.” 

“I understand. How about we kill her other generals and then go after her? Is that acceptable?” I asked him. 

“Yes… if there are no obstacles or meals for her…” Icebloom mused. “Maybe that could work… but I must warn you.” 

“What is it?” I wondered, looking back at the city I had just left, feeling something strange in the air. 

A weird presence was coming to this world…

No, rather, it had always been there. 

“The Queen… her powers aren’t of this world,” he said. “We’ve learned the truth of why she rose to power out of nowhere.” 

Yes, he wasn’t wrong. I’d just now realized this presence—this coldness, this winter…

It wasn’t just their queen’s doing. There was a greater power at play. 

“What do you mean?” I asked him. 

“The Queen’s… her powers originate from outside the Tower. She was given this power by a group of people…!” Coldpincers said. “And they—” 

SLASH!

“Ugh?!” 

However, out of nowhere, a slashing wave of crimson light surged, cutting through Coldpincers’ entire body. Both of his halves fell to the ground… 

“W-Wha…?!” Icebloom’s eyes widened. “Cold… Coldpincers!” 

He ran toward his friend, but he was already dead. The clean slash had cut through his head as well, dividing it in two… 

“This is what traitors get… You thought I wouldn’t notice you were speaking about the Queen’s secrets?” 

There was another Frost Ant, unlike any of the others I had fought before. He was tall yet not too slender, with a strong and agile physique, holding a single long black katana. His eyes weren’t blue but red.

His Aura… much, much stronger. 

“I-Iceblade?! Why did you…! We weren’t trying to…!” Icebloom muttered, as tears fell from his big eyes. “How could you…! No…! Bastard…! BASTARD!!!” 

He screamed in anger and fury, his psychic power surging tremendously, flattening the surroundings and shaking the entire land. 

RUMBLE! 

“Hmph, damn brat. I never liked you anyway,” Iceblade sneered. “I’ll kill you right now, traitor! And then, I’ll take my sweet time with that Player.” 

He unsheathed his sword once more, rushing toward Icebloom. 

BOOOM!

Their Auras clashed, sending shockwaves everywhere. 

Well, things became more complicated than I imagined.

His power is certainly not like the other Winter Generals’ either.

And this strange presence—what is it? 

[The Alien God {Eternal Coldness} has manifested. With her Apostle now in a state of unending slumber, she has decided to bless a new candidate with her eternal frost.] 

What?

Alien God? 

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