The Heavenly Martial Empress Returns Chapter 318: A Battle Breaks Out

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“I have come to find someone. A white-haired woman, a human apparently, a player. Where is she?!”

“A-A player? Human? White… hair?”

The young receptionist was confused, glancing at the general and then at the registration papers, finding no such description.

“I-I’m sorry, I think nobody like that has registered yet, sir…!”

“She has! Why wouldn’t she come here?! Where is she?! Speak!”

Frostpierce was quickly losing the little patience he had left.

“I really don’t know, sir…! Please spare me!”

The Winter General roared angrily, hissing at her as he pointed his sharp spear at the Red Ant woman, his cold aura overflowing.

“Spare you?! You’re useless! Perish!”

“No, please! I have a family! I have to protect my brothers…!”

“SILENCE!”

“Gyaaaaah!”

The girl cried as the spear rushed down. 

CLAAASH!

An explosion of cold mist erupted from the impact, but Frostpierce glanced at the girl, realizing his spear had pierced… nothing.

“Hm?!”

He looked down, noticing a large frost staff had stopped his spear—Coldwind’s.

“What do you think you’re doing?!”

“I simply believe your ways are too barbaric, Frostpierce.”

“L-Lady Coldwind?!”

The young Red Ant woman smiled with hope in her eyes, only for Coldwind to smile back, patting her head.

“Everything will be alright now, dear.”

As she patted her and gave her hope, the girl’s body froze instantly, still smiling. Coldwind smiled delightfully, grabbing the statue and analyzing it.

“Yes, yes, this is perfect! It captured all her beauty! It’s rare to see statues like these. She was so full of hope, hahahaha!”

As the woman laughed, Frostpierce scoffed at her.

“Hmph! You and your weird collection… Well, whatever, that doesn’t matter now! Who here knows about a white-haired human woman, a player?!”

Frostpierce roared angrily at the crowd, and the players among them looked at one another, confused and afraid. 

Among them, the group with the children was agitated.

“Stop, Orion, don’t go!”

“But, Mom, she killed that innocent ant girl!”

“And Bing Xue told us not to interfere!”

“B-But… Mom always says to help those in need!”

Mother and son continued discussing, drawing the attention of Frostpierce and Coldwind, who quickly approached them.

“You’re players, aren’t you? Tell us everything you know about this woman, now!” roared the man. “…Wait a second, two of you have her hair!”

“But they aren’t humans,” Coldwind said. “Look, they have wolf ears and tails.”

“Tch!” Frostpierce clicked his tongue in frustration.

The group exchanged glances; they knew the generals were looking for Bing Xue. Somehow, important figures were already after her, and they had barely arrived.

“You’re all evil! How could you freeze that girl?!” Orion said angrily. “Grrrr!”

“Aw, the cute little puppy is angry! Hahahah!” Coldwind laughed, pointing her staff at the boy. “Bark another time, and I’ll turn you into a frozen statue just like her, little brat.” 

At the same time, Frostpierce was speaking with a group of Red Ants who worked there, until one revealed that the Old Receptionist had gone with a woman matching his description to the second floor, to his office.

“What?! So she’s here! Damn it! Coldwind, I’m going after her!”

The General leaped to the second floor, while Coldwind remained behind, teasing the little players she found so amusing.

“You’re a merry bunch, aren’t you? Quite the diverse group—that’s a rare thing to see. Especially… all of your species are missing from my collection,” she smiled. “Hmm! Okay, I’ve decided, I’ll bring you along.”

“Wait, what?!” Urbosa asked. “We haven’t even bothered you! Why are you deciding these things?! Who gives you the right?”

“The right? I obtained it when I became the Queen’s General! Now know your place, beast, in my collection!” Coldwind laughed viciously, unleashing her frost magic. 

“RAAAH!”

However, an explosion of flames stopped her magic, as Fiery Hair and her son Rainbow Eyes stepped into the battle, punching her spell away and blasting the giant ant into the walls with a double punch. 

BOOOM!

“Gah?!”

Coldwind gasped in disbelief, smashing into the walls and shattering them. Her eyes widened as she saw her barrier break into pieces.

“Y-You dare…?!”

The Ants in the Hunter Center immediately fled the scene, as Coldwind groaned in pain, disbelief, and fury!

She stood up, her surroundings instantly freezing as icicles were summoned, spiraling rapidly and pointing at her foes.

Fiery Hair and Rainbow Eyes stood before her, releasing their blazing auras, ready for battle.

“You people are abusive! You cannot harm little ones! You use strength to protect little ones!” Fiery Hair said angrily, in disbelief at how figures of authority abused their power to kill innocents indiscriminately.

“As Mom said! You’re evil! Your food is nice, though!” Rainbow Eyes added. “But if you’re going to continue harming others, then we aren’t going to let you take another step forward!”

“Hmph, insolent little…!”

Coldwind quickly unleashed her rain of icicles, attacking them both—no, everyone around them.

“Let’s see if you can protect those ‘little ones’ now, you bastards!” 

As she laughed viciously, the attacks reached everyone at once!

And yet…

BOOOM!

An explosion of flames erupted—golden flames imbued with the power of Holy Light itself.

Rainbow Eyes released his power, merging both of his mothers’ abilities into one, his true mastery over Flames that had ascended to the level of Venerables…

“{Holy Blazing Domain}!” 

FLUOOOSH!

The domain of blazing holy flames encompassed everyone, covering them, healing them, and protecting them, while melting any ice that reached them instantly.

“W-What?!”

Coldwind gasped in disbelief, glaring at the scene as she gritted her sharp mandibles, preparing for another attack.

“You haven’t seen anything! I’ll freeze this entire—”

“BONGAGA GONGAAAAH!”

With a furious, caveman-like scream, Fiery Hair roared, unleashing her “technique,” which she simply called “Bongaga Gongah.” She swung her massive fists against her foe, smashing Coldwind’s entire body. Explosions of flames erupted with each punch, pummeling her into the ground and breaking her arms and legs into pieces. 

CLASH! CLASH! CLASH! CLASH!

“Aaaaaiiiieeeehhh!”

Coldwind screamed in agony, barely alive as Fiery Hair made sure not to target vital areas, keeping her just alive out of mercy. 

Meanwhile, on the second floor, as Bing Xue talked with the Old Receptionist, a powerful presence rapidly approached, beginning to freeze the walls and ceiling. 

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