A black slash tore through the air as I moved like a shadow, taking down two hooded attackers with a single swing of my blade. Their bodies collapsed to the ground with a dull thud, and I turned to face the rest of them, the edges of my lips curling into a taunting smirk.

    "Is that all you''ve got? You damn bandits!" I said, my voice sharp and mocking, echoing through the arena.

    The Queen, locked in combat with several hooded figures, snapped her head toward me as the words came. Her eyes narrowed. "Bandits?" she muttered, her sword slicing through the air as she blocked an attack.

    One of her knights, struggling against a particularly aggressive opponent, shouted back, "They''re bandits? Why the hell are they attacking here?"

    "Focus!" the Queen bellowed, her tone commanding. "If they''re bandits, they''re after something! Take them down before they get it!"

    The knights, felt a new energy by the revelation, fought with renewed determination. But just as the tide seemed to turn in our favor, a chilling sight brought the battle to a standstill.

    The hooded attackers, as if coordinated, ripped off their hoods in unison, revealing faces and physiques eerily similar to Orcas and Braun. Their veins bulged unnaturally, their eyes glowing with the same intensity, and their bodies pulsated with raw, drug-induced energy.

    "W-What is this...?" one of the knights stammered, his grip on his weapon faltering.

    "They''re not human..." another whispered, panic lacing his voice.

    Their auras flared violently, a chaotic energy that sent ripples of fear through the crowd. The spectators, sensing the escalating danger, screamed and scrambled for the exits, leaving the arena in chaos.

    The Queen''s eyes widened as she took in the sight of the monstrous figures before her. "What kind of monsters are these?" she demanded, her voice tinged with both anger and disbelief.

    I, standing on the edge of one of the arena''s seats, smirked as I surveyed the scene.

    "So, you came prepared, huh?" I said, my gaze locking onto Darius, who was still standing at the arena, frozen like a statue.

    Darius''s face was pale, his legs trembling as the chaos unfolded around him. Beads of sweat rolled down his forehead, and he fell to his knees, overwhelmed by the situation spiraling out of his control.

    The Queen, noticing his pathetic state, glared at him with unrestrained fury. "The fuck did you do, Darius?!" she shouted, her voice cutting through the noise like a blade.

    Seraphine, standing nearby, had tears streaming down her cheeks as she stared at Darius. Her expression was a mix of heartbreak and disgust as she saw the man she once trusted reduced to a cowardly heap.

    "GRRRRRR...."

    Before anyone could respond, a loud explosion echoed through the arena, shaking the ground beneath our feet.

    *THUD*

    The massive gate at the far end of the arena crumbled under the force of a devastating blow, and from the wreckage emerged a hulking figure.

    "RRRRRAAAWWWW!!!" Braun''s roar shook the very air as he stepped into the light, his massive body shadowing over everyone. His eyes burned with unrelenting rage, and veins bulged across his muscled body.

    His cowardly form remained frozen, half-hidden in the shadows, as the battle between Braun and Seraphine raged on, the chaos around them continuing to spiral.

    The battlefield crackled with tension, the air thick with the scent of blood and the clash of steel.

    I stood in between of the chaos, my smirk unwavering as I glanced at the Queen. Her eyes blazed like wildfire, her grip on her sword firm and unrelenting. I couldn''t resist the urge to tease her pride.

    "What about you, Miss Queen?" I called out, my voice laced with mockery. "Shall we take down the bandits together?"

    Her jaw tightened, and she shot me a glare so sharp it could have cut through steel. "As soon as they''re gone," she growled, her teeth gritted, "it''s your head that''s going down, Zero!"

    I let out a low chuckle, brushing the blood from my blade with the edge of my coat. "Ohhoo... that''s some anger. I don''t hate such girls," I said with a teasing tone, meeting her fury with my smile.

    "Tch..." she hissed, averting her gaze. Her eyes fell back on the bandits, their auras flaring menacingly.

    "Ignoring your love isn''t good," I added with a sly grin, leaping forward to meet the approaching enemies. "It''ll hurt me, you know."

    "Shut the fuck up!" she barked, crouching low before springing into the battle herself, her blade slicing through the air.

    The battlefield became a storm of chaos as the Queen and I charged into the crowd of bandits. Each of her strikes was precise and ruthless, her anger fueling her movements as she fought while trying to stay away from me. I couldn''t help but find it cute. Discover stories at My Virtual Library Empire

    Amidst the chaos of the battlefield, screams and cries echoed in the arena. Among the seats, a few innocent civilians still remained, trapped in fear as the hooded bandits'' reckless attacks tore through the stands.

    One bandit swung his weapon wildly, sending shattered stone and debris flying in every direction. A young man, trembling with fear, stumbled backward, his legs unable to carry him any farther. The bandit''s blade came down toward him in a deadly arc, a blow that was about to end his life.

    In an instant, the Queen moved. Her figure was a blur of speed and grace as she intercepted the attack, her sword clashing against the bandit''s weapon. The sheer force of her block sent the bandit stumbling backward.

    "Stay behind me!" she commanded, her voice sharp and unwavering. The young man, still trembling, looked up at her with wide, tear-filled eyes.

    "T-Thank you... my majesty..." he stammered.

    "Shhh, relax," the Queen replied, her tone calm but firm, her eyes never leaving the enemies before her. She stepped forward, shielding the young man with her presence.

    Turning her head slightly, she shouted, her voice cutting through the battlefield like a blade. "Knights! Take the remaining civilians to a safe area. Prioritize their lives over anything else!"

    The knights, already engaged in combat, straightened at her command. In unison, they replied, "Yes, Majesty!" Without hesitation, they broke formation, moving swiftly to guide the scattered civilians to safety.

    The arena became a chaotic mix of battle and evacuation, the Queen standing tall in the middle of it all. Her blade shone in the dim light. "What a mess just happened in front of me."

    The young man was led away by the knights. The Queen, undeterred, returned her focus to the battle ahead, her resolve unshaken as she takes a pose to strike.

    In that moment, she wasn''t just a warrior. She was a leader, a protector, and a symbol of hope.