Beyond the Apocalypse
Chapter 265: Viking princess vs Emperor

Chapter 265: Viking princess vs Emperor

After shattering the gates, a solemn expression crossed Freya’s face as she stepped inside the imperial castle. No enemy awaited her. No ambush lay in wait—just an empty, vast hall that stretched before her like a silent sentinel.

Her eyes narrowed, scanning the area with sharp precision. The viking princess would have preferred facing hundreds of enemies rather than this eerie silence. The lack of opposition made her uneasy, as she understood that hidden dangers likely awaited her.

She glanced at the four Bloodline Soldiers accompanying her. Each one gave a firm nod in response, sensing the danger. They raised their guards, hands resting on their weapons, energy primed and ready, prepared for anything.

With the group on alert, Freya guided them deeper into the castle, moving cautiously. Their senses were heightened, scanning every corner for potential threats. The air felt heavy with anticipation, and Freya couldn’t shake the feeling that they were being watched.

Her mind raced as she considered the possibilities. It was no secret to her that structures like this were often filled with traps and enchantments. The Emperor could easily be monitoring their movements at that very moment, waiting for the right moment to spring his defenses on them.

The group pressed forward, but still, no danger emerged as they reached the end of the hall. There, they were met with a new obstacle: four separate paths, each cloaked in shadow and stretching endlessly into the unknown.

Freya’s gaze sharpened as she studied the options before them. There was no indication of which path led to the throne room, where the Emperor awaited. It was a clichéd trial designed to divide and conquer any force brave—or foolish—enough to enter.

A frown deepened on Freya’s face. It seemed that if they wanted to reach the Emperor, they would have to split up and face whatever lay ahead on their own.

For a brief moment, her thoughts wandered. She asked herself how Vlad or Jormungandr would approach this. The young man and the small yellow cat were incredibly strategic, their perceptive abilities unmatched. No matter the trap set before them, they always seemed to turn the tables.

’They would likely use their scanning force fields to decipher the correct path, easily overcoming this trial with precision.’ Freya smiled as she thought about how easily those two would handle the situation.

Although neither had revealed the existence of their A.I. Chips to her, they had told the Viking princess their souls were capable of unleashing powerful scanning force fields. Freya had already suspected something—their ability to perceive danger and navigate through traps was simply too extraordinary to be natural.

’However, I am not them.’ A small smile tugged at the corners of her lips as she acknowledged this. "I carve my own path!" she shouted, her words meant to bolster her confidence as she resolved to follow her instincts.

Instead of standing there, agonizing over which path to choose, Freya did what she always did best: she took action. Her energy surged, her aura flaring to life with wild and untamed intensity. She channeled all her Force and totemic power into her mace, the weapon glowing with raw energy.

"BREAK!" With a fierce battle cry, Freya brought the mace down on the wall in front of her, striking it with all her might.

"BOOOOOOM!"

The wall trembled under the force of her blow, cracks forming on its surface but remaining firm. The walls seemed several meters thick, and an average Champion would have taken days to break through them.

Freya only smiled and struck the wall repeatedly, shattering pieces as she advanced.

The four Bloodline Soldiers following the viking princess couldn’t help but smile at their leader’s bold approach. They were not surprised—Freya often took this direct path, as she had during their battles in Santana City, facing all manner of monsters and dangers.

This was the Viking way, and they had come to trust it, as it had saved their lives on more than one occasion.

Meter by meter, Freya carved a path through the wall. Dust and debris filled the air until a massive hole finally appeared before her, revealing a radiant, expansive room.

The Throne Room!

Freya’s smile widened, a thrill of excitement surging through her veins as she stood before the grand Throne Room. She had reached her destination—the very heart of the Azarin Empire—and her target sat right in front of her.

Her eyes immediately locked on the regal yet cold man seated on his majestic throne. It was none other than Emperor Dimitry, the political leader of the Azarin Empire. The air around him crackled with power, but it did nothing to intimidate the Viking princess.

Despite the thrill coursing through her, Freya did not let her guard down for even a moment. Her instincts screamed danger, and the eerie stillness of the room only heightened her suspicion. She knew this was no ordinary fight. The Emperor wouldn’t be foolish enough to sit here defenseless, so she guided the four Bloodline Soldiers into the room with precision, every sense on high alert.

Dimitry’s cold eyes watched their entry, his expression one of disdain. He sneered at them, his voice dripping with contempt. "You really are nothing more than barbaric monkeys, smashing your way through walls like savages. You have no place in the world of Goddess Lucia."

Freya said nothing in response, her face showing no emotion to his taunts. She had no time for the religious zealotry of a leader of a corrupt and diseased empire. Her sharp gaze moved around the room, scanning for any sign of imperial guards or hidden enemies. Yet, strangely, there was no one—no sign of life other than the Emperor himself.

The room was adorned with grand tapestries, ancient weapons, and strange, ornate statues. The scene was one of luxury and power, meant to intimidate and awe anyone who stepped foot inside.

’Wait!’ Freya’s eyes grew sharp, and her instincts flared as she focused on the statues and felt something was wrong. They were placed too strategically as if they had a purpose far beyond decoration. If she and her Bloodline Soldiers dashed toward Dimitry, the statues could easily attack them from all directions, making a pincer movement.

Her eyes narrowed as she realized the truth. Those statues weren’t mere art pieces—they were threats. She immediately signaled to the Bloodline Soldiers with a quick gesture, her voice a low command. "Statues. Stay sharp. Something’s coming."

The Bloodline Soldiers’ eyes widened as they heard the words of the Viking princess. Their gazes turned toward the statues in the throne room, and they raised their weapons, ready to counter any attack.

Dimitry’s eyes widened in surprise as he saw their focus, then flared with rage. He sneered, his voice rising with anger. "Clever, but it won’t matter. Even if you saw through my ruse, you, a bunch of monkeys, are still nothing but fools marching toward your death!"

With a sharp wave of his hand, the six statues began to stir. They creaked to life, stone cracking as they shifted from their immobile forms into living weapons. Some had human shapes, towering and armored, with glowing eyes that radiated a deadly aura. Others were more monstrous—beasts carved from stone, their animal forms twisted and unnatural, claws and fangs gleaming in the low light.

Freya’s eyes remained calm but focused as the six statues moved toward her and her soldiers. Each unleashed a great burst of power, energy waves nearing the High Champion tier. As lifeless artifacts, they felt no pain, making them extremely dangerous.

As the statues came to life, Dimitry stood from his throne, a glowing white sword materializing in his hand and a crown of energy shimmering above his head. His aura exploded outward, filling the room with an oppressive force so intense it felt like the very air was suffocating.

"You will understand the price of angering an Emperor!" Dimitry roared, his power flooding the room as if he intended to drown them in his overwhelming might. His eyes were wild with fury and zealotry, convinced that this moment would be their downfall.

Freya’s face remained as stone-cold as ever, her grip tightening around her mace as she unleashed her own aura, clashing directly with that of Emperor Dimitry, causing sparks of energy to flood the room as their pressure canceled each other out.

The Viking princess was impressed by the man’s power but refused to lose focus. She exchanged a glance with the Bloodline Soldiers, their eyes reflecting the same deadly resolve.

"Watch the statues. Keep them away from me," Freya commanded, her voice steady. "I’ll handle Dimitry."

Without wasting another moment, Freya burst forward, her Force and totemic energy surging through her body as she charged toward Dimitry. The Emperor of the Azarin Empire did not stay still, dashing forward as well, his sword swinging in a vicious arc.

"BOOOOOMMMMM!"

An explosion reverberated through the throne room as the mace and sword clashed. The viking princess and Emperor locked gazes, their killing intent surging from their souls in an explosive standoff.