"You, a being like this!"
"You'd willingly degrade yourself to serve as someone's subordinate?!"
Frey was nearly livid at her own thoughts.
Unbelievable! The very breakthrough to True Demon Lord status that she desperately sought but couldn't attain... this woman had it handed to her by fate.
Not only did she possess talent, but she also cast it aside without a care.
Yes, cast it aside!
Once a majin swore allegiance to another, awakening as a True Demon Lord became impossible.
Unless Damien was generous enough to share pure soul energy with the Snow Empress, her potential was capped for life.
For the Snow Empress to willingly place herself beneath another... what was that if not self-degradation?
"What a waste!"
"You! What do you think your talent is?!"
Frey rarely envied anyone, but now she was consumed with jealousy toward the Snow Empress.
'Such beautiful power…'
The grandeur of Great Nature was etched deeply in Frey's mind. 'If this power were fully unleashed, how mighty would it be?'
She could even imagine the Lord of Nature's ultimate potential: transforming the entire cardinal world, or even the cosmos, into her domain.
The future of this Ultimate Skill was to rule the world!
Yet such a promising talent…
Was, unbelievably, a lovesick fool!
'Voice of the World!'
Frey's soul screamed in protest. 'Are you blind?!'
"I don't understand."
The Snow Empress grasped Frey's meaning but didn't comprehend the true value of her own nature as a spirit cherished by the Douluoverse.
Besides, was the Snow Empress truly a soul beast?
Damien believed she was more like an innate spirit.
Born in the far north, her attributes manifested as ice.
Yet, with Great Nature's display, her powers clearly transcended mere ice and snow.
No, more accurately, she had reclaimed her true strength.
She wasn't just ice... she commanded all attributes!
Anything existing in nature, she could create and control.
Gulp.
Standing amidst the shifting seasons, the Tengu were dumbstruck by the three figures facing off, their overwhelming magicules making their souls tremble.
And now, three of them at once!
Each more monstrous than the last!
The Tengu began to wonder where their elders had found such formidable allies.
To think they could suppress the Sky Queen Frey like this.
"Stay back, or you'll get caught in the crossfire."
Kaede, Hakurou, and Momiji, following Damien's orders, positioned themselves at three points.
They protected the Tengu swept into the Reality Marble · Great Nature while also getting a better view of the impending battle.
"As expected of Lady Snow Empress."
Hakurou stroked his beard, communicating with Kaede via telepathy. "I knew she had deep mastery in developing her Unique Skill."
"But seeing it now, it's truly eye-opening!"
"So incredible…"
Kaede's insight wasn't as sharp as her husband's, but she could sense the Snow Empress's immense power.
She was on a level Kaede couldn't hope to match.
Even if Kaede and Momiji raised their magicules to a million, they'd likely never attain an Ultimate Skill.
By contrast, if the Snow Empress hadn't met Damien and had arrived in the cardinal world alone, her future might have rivaled Guy Crimson's.
"Lady Snow Empress is so cool!"
Of course, the one least aware of the Snow Empress's true worth was Momiji.
"Snow!!!"
As if hearing Momiji's praise, the Ice Empress's alarm bells rang. "Go for it!! Crush her!!!"
"Show her the might of us soul beasts!!!"
"Boop boop!!"
Egorpon didn't understand but raised her two dazzling Tera Crystals, cheering for the Snow Empress alongside the Ice Empress.
"Ahem!"
"Boop?"
"Uh, give me one too."
"Boop!"
Egorpon blinked, giving Damien a knowing look.
Somewhat embarrassed, Damien took the Tera Crystal from Egorpon and handed two to the Ice Empress.
Of course, he didn't forget Artoria, cheering for her alongside the Snow Empress.
"That guy…"
Inside the Reality Marble, Frey could sense what was happening with Damien.
The Sky Queen's lips twitched, itching to tear that infuriating jerk apart.
He was treating her like a circus act!
That damned bastard!!
"This move is pretty impressive. It's a bit like Iskandar's Ionioi Hetairoi."
Artoria surveyed her surroundings, catching the scent of flowers in the air.
Clearly, everything here was real, not an illusion.
"Mm."
The Snow Empress nodded. "I drew inspiration from him."
"As expected of you."
Since joining Damien, the Snow Empress was the only one who could match Artoria in direct combat.
Egorpon didn't count... her methods were too wild.
Artoria had nearly been overwhelmed by her once.
The Snow Empress was better.
Their sparring allowed Artoria to gain insights and fully master her skills.
"Shall we try it?"
"Is that okay?"
Artoria was eager, and the Snow Empress nodded. "Consider it a test of this Reality Marble's stability."
Since this was her first battle within Great Nature, the Snow Empress planned to let Artoria take the lead while she supported from behind.
She also wanted Artoria to shine in front of Damien.
As a newcomer, she needed to prove her worth.
No choice... Shion and Shuna's pressure was too much.
Since the Ice Empress wasn't reliable, the Snow Empress had to step up.
And she brought along Artoria, another otherworldly follower, to share Damien's attention.
Unaware of the Snow Empress's cunning intentions, Artoria was brimming with anticipation for the fight.
"Then I won't hold back."
Taking a step forward, Artoria raised her holy sword before her.
She released the Invisible Air around it.
Frey's mastery of wind surpassed Artoria's.
Such tricks were useless against her, so Artoria opted for a direct approach.
***
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