Angel Monarch
Chapter 440: Merciful Princess

Chapter 440: Merciful Princess

Just before the impact, Vicky let go of Xinya, and manipulated her gravity to slow her fall.

The fast change of direction gave her whiplash and ruptured multiple organs. At least she looked much better than the Asian woman’s broken form.

Most of Xinya’s bones broke, piercing her muscles, skin and organs. She couldn’t move for a few seconds, during which Vicky could’ve killed her with no effort.

However, the Princess had no such intentions. She continued draining her essence, further slowing her regeneration.

With careful steps, Vicky walked before Xinya. A long dagger, resembling the night sky, appeared in the Princess’s hand as she knelt before Xinya’s head.

Xinya closed her eyes awaiting her inevitable death. She felt the dagger moving towards her face, and soon a small stinging pain on her left cheek marked where the blade pierced her skin.

She wanted to feel sad about death. She wanted to feel angry about losing the battle. She wanted to feel ashamed for another failure... Yet all Xinya felt was relief. Her life, her suffering, her endless fight against losing herself... Everything finally ended!

A small smile appeared on her face as she waited for death’s sweet embrace. However, the stinging pain soon ended and never returned.

Her dark blue eyes gradually opened, revealing the Princess sitting beside her. The dagger was nowhere to be seen, and Vicky smiled kindly down at Xinya.

A gentle breeze played with her shoulder-length white hair. The Tree of Light’s glow made her look like a living saint. The embodiment of tranquility and hope, that’s the feeling Xinya got from the strange picture before her.

The Asian woman’s bones mended. With a trembling hand, she reached up and touched her left cheek. There was nothing but an insignificant cut there, which even her Transcended constitution couldn’t heal.

"Why?... Why haven’t you killed me? Why did you spare my life?... I deserve death! I want to die!"

Tears welled in Xinya’s eyes as the words left her mouth. For years she lied to herself, but after reaching death’s door she couldn’t hide from the truth anymore... She hated her life so much, death felt like a blessing! free.w e bn.ov(e)l(.)com

However, while Xinya swam in self-hatred and melancholy, Vicky’s smile stayed intact. The young girl reached out and patted Xinya’s silvery-white hair.

"I believe in second chances. You had done nothing irredeemable yet, so I prefer saving you. As my teacher said once: ’Only kill when necessary!’... I live by this quote every day, and you, Xinya, don’t deserve the finality of death!" free.webn\ove(l)(.)c(o)m

Xinya couldn’t even react to Vicky’s words. Her heart stayed consumed by darkness, but through the locked-away pain and suffering, she saw a glimpse of hope shining down at her.

Each of the Princess’s pats felt like someone physically removed one burden after another until her soul felt light. Her mind became clear after years of confusion and trauma.

"Thank you, Princess... Whatever you did, thank you... I can finally think straight, like I woke up from a long nightmare..."

She slowly sat up while gazing into Vicky’s white eyes. The Princess’s smile seemed to widen, overjoyed with Xinya’s betterment.

"No need to thank me... You’re not alright. I can see it in your eyes. You’re still struggling with whatever trauma you’ve suffered, but accepting the problem is the first step on an arduous road of self-improvement!"

Xinya just nodded while gazing around the battlefield. With all her portals closed, the Asian forces began dying down. Without reinforcements, victory wasn’t an option anymore, and surrendering became the only way for survival.

Many thoughts flew through Xinya’s mind, but after a while, only one question remained unanswered.

"I... I know I have no right to ask, but... How’s Lin doing?"

Vicky’s eyes widened for a moment, but upon realizing the implication of Xinya’s words, she smiled even more brightly.

"You’ve every right to ask! You’re his mother after all!"

Xinya couldn’t help but tear up at the Princess’s words. However, she still felt ashamed of how she treated the boy... Her own son...

"He’s doing extremely well. My two friends—... Two of my most trusted people are watching over him, and it seems his mental capacity is quickly improving. They’re all about the same age, so communication isn’t an issue..."

The Princess laid her palm on Xinya’s trembling hand. With a reassuring smile, she spoke in a low voice, which was nearly drowned out by the turbulent battlefield.

"You don’t have to worry about him. Lin’s doing great! However, there was but one thing he’s missing... A loving mother, who can help him through life!"

With that, Vicky climbed to her feet and looked over the battlefield. Under the shields, the fighting neared its end, while the storm clouds above continued to thunder.

The fight between the Stellars also seemed close to its end, but Vicky wasn’t certain. Even she couldn’t perceive through so many obstructions.

Xinya stayed kneeling behind the Princess, her thoughts consumed by Vicky’s words. She recalled her awful treatment of Lin. The shame set her heart aflame with the desire to do better.

She decided to leave her mistakes in the past and look into the future with hope. She would beg her son for forgiveness, and help to make his life easier!

The pollen continued falling from the blood-red flowers above, but with the lack of wind it took a few minutes to reach the ground. The battle will hopefully end by then!

Vicky glanced back at Xinya’s kneeling form. She still smiled, but her eyes also reflected sadness.

Only now did Xinya realize how much the Princess disliked killing. Vicky didn’t just spare her life, but millions of others’. People who never wanted to fight and die on an unknown continent while battling fellow humans.

She was truly a merciful person. A young leader who struggles for humanity. Someone who carries her people’s burden without complain, no matter how heavy it is!

Xinya smiled while staring into the Princess’s white eyes. She imagined herself following such an honorable person. Even the thought made her happy, but her fantasy was short-lived.

The battle stopped all around them, but a weird feeling appeared. A coldness grew in the air, as if some predator was stalking them.

Above, lightning struck the shields, bringing the Princess’s attention away from her surroundings.

Multiple forms fell out of the storm clouds. Vicky’s eyes widened as she recognized the broken bodies hitting the shields. All of Antarctica’s Stellars, Lucy, Astrid, Leslie, and Yannick... They all died!

Vicky’s body froze. She couldn’t even cry or scream. Nothing but emptiness remained in her heart.

"T-they... They lost?... B-but... How?"

The answer came soon. Through the layer of storm clouds, millions upon millions of ravens flew down. They all landed on the Aegis shield, covering its entirety until nothing but darkness surrounded them!

"He’s here..." Whispered Xinya with despair, but soon her vision moved towards Vicky. Her dark blue eyes widened, and she shouted... "NO STOP!"

It was too late...

The world slowed down. Vicky turned towards Xinya, confused at the scrambling woman’s horrified expression.

Her vision then moved to the side, where both her mother and her fiancé appeared above a small mountain of rubble. Their eyes also widened, and they shouted something that never reached Vicky’s ears.

The gentle breeze continued playing with her white hair, but the frigid atmosphere made the feeling less tranquil and more disturbing.

The ravens moved above the shields, pecking away until the Aegis System overloaded. It took them less than a second to bypass their strongest defensive measure.

’We need to evacuate the city!’ was Vicky’s last thought before the piercing pain appeared in her neck.

She glanced down while her face contorted in pain and fear. However, everything happened too fast, and before Vicky realized it, the world began spinning.

Somewhere far away, shouts and screams echoed, yet the Princess’s mind stayed free of thought. Her eyes caught glimpses, pictures of the world.

Vicky saw Xinya sobbing on the ground, as if all her hopes were crushed at once... ’Why does she look sad? She’ll reunite with her son soon! She should feel happy!’

After another spin, she saw a glimpse of Henry. Tears ran down the stoic boy’s face. His eyes showing hopelessness and pure terror... ’He survived the battle! But why is he sad? Shouldn’t he be happy to see me alive and well!’

She spun once again, and just when the sound of swords clashing reached her ears, Vicky saw her mother fighting against that scary man.

He carried a curved white bone sword, which was covered in blood... ’Blood? Did my mom get hurt? Or is it someone else’s?’

Her eyes moved along, landing on Bea’s face. Her mom’s greenish-gold eyes burned with rightous fury, as she gradually dismantled the scary man’s defenses... ’Why does she look so angry? Did something happen?’

The spinning continued, and Vicky’s vision gradually darkened. Her mind also became fuzzy. She tried raising her right hand to hold her head, yet no matter how hard she commanded, nothing happened.

She couldn’t feel anything below her neck. Even the pain disappeared as the world continued spinning.

The ground got closer, as if she was falling. Finally, before landing, Vicky saw one last picture... She saw a body... A young girl’s body... Lying motionless... Lying headless... Wearing a flowing dress resembling the night sky...

’That body—it looks familiar... It looks just like me...’

These were the Princess’s last thoughts as darkness enveloped her vision. The moment ended, and Vicky fell asleep for the last time in her life...