"Who are you?"
The Bug Mistress spun around sharply, directing her attention toward the source of the voice. With a gesture, a cloud of black insects shot toward the sound.
To her shock, her trump card—the blood-corruption insects capable of effortlessly devouring a sixth-rank knight—was effortlessly stopped midair by the person before her.
From the information the insects transmitted, all the Bug Mistress could sense was an overwhelming pressure emanating from the other's bloodline.
Feeling this bloodline dominance again, she couldn't help but exclaim in astonishment:
"You… you are the Fish-Insect Witch."
"So, just a little bug?"
Morrigan, standing nearby, casually observed the hovering insects and raised an eyebrow at the Bug Mistress.
She could sense that the woman possessed half of an insectoid bloodline. With a single command, Morrigan could easily control her.
A slight smirk formed on her lips as she coldly commanded:
"Cease resistance. Sit."
At Morrigan's order, the Bug Mistress trembled uncontrollably. She tried to resist the instinctive compulsion with her willpower, but all efforts were futile.
With a plop, she sat down in a duck-like posture, a pair of water-blue butterfly wings uncontrollably unfurling behind her.
"So, a little butterfly," Morrigan remarked, stepping calmly in front of her. She gently lifted the Bug Mistress's chin, her piercing blue eyes locking onto hers as she commanded coldly:
"Stop channeling energy within your body."
Instantly, the Bug Mistress felt her magic completely stagnate, her body rendered immobile.
"Good."
"Y-You let go of the Bug Mistress!"
Suddenly, Nikki struggled up from the nearby carriage. Her furious eyes locked onto Hel like a protective dog confronting a threat.
"Heh, you didn't speak up. I almost forgot about you, little dog."
"Who are you calling a dog?"
Nikki's fur bristled instantly at the remark. She bared her fangs and let out a low growl, her tail snapping upright in anger.
"You claim you're not a dog, yet your anger makes you look just like one."
Morrigan reached out instinctively, touching the wolf ears atop Nikki's head.
Nikki snapped—her sharp fangs aimed straight for Morrigan's hand.
Before she could bite, dark black tendrils wrapped around her body, immobilizing her completely.
[High-Level Death Magic: Touch of Death]
"Death magic? Aren't you the Fish-Insect Witch?"
Nikki's eyes widened as she stared at the magic she felt so familiar with, as though confronting a primordial beast.
"Fish-Insect Witch?"
Morrigan shook her head, denying the claim.
"Weren't you bragging in front of me before, saying you'd take my head? And now, just a few months later, you've completely forgotten me."
"It's… it's you?!"
Nikki felt as if a giant hand had crushed her throat, making it impossible even to scream. Her teeth chattered uncontrollably, and her words trembled.
"You… you're supposed to be a newly born witch. How could you possibly be this strong…"
Before she could finish speaking, the soldiers witnessing their commander being restrained had already rushed forward.
"Don't come any closer! Run!"
But it was too late. Two sixth-rank warriors charged with weapons in hand, followed by a horde behind them.
Among the Beastmen, there was no concept of retreat—only one principle: kill or be killed.
Witnessing this, Morrigan's smile grew wider.
[Top-Tier Death Magic: …]
"N-No!"
[…Realm of the Dead]
Immediately, a deathly aura erupted from Morrigan's feet, spreading wildly around her.
In moments, it covered an area with a radius of a kilometer, engulfing the 80,000 troops under the Bug Mistress's command.
Tendrils formed from the deathly energy shot out, indiscriminately devouring every living being within range—except for Nicky and the Bug Mistress, who were under Hel's careful control.
In moments, all life within the 80,000-strong army was extinguished.
With a wave of her hand, Morrigan commanded the tendrils to gather the corpses, stacking them into a towering mound.
Once this was done, she finally turned to face Nikki.
"Alright, the pesky bug is gone. Now it's your turn, both of you."
At that moment, a breeze parted the clouds above, revealing the pale moon behind them. A cold beam of moonlight spilled down, illuminating Morrigan's stern face.
"I-I…"
Nikki stammered nervously as Morrigan approached step by step. Though she usually acted defiant and scornful, deep down, she was the most timid of all.
"Please… don't… come closer."
Nikki collapsed onto the ground, trembling. Her pitiful appearance, entwined with black tendrils, made Morrigan look like a villain teasing a helpless little girl.
"Please spare Nikki-sama," the Bug Mistress pleaded, crawling to Morrigan's feet and clutching them tightly.
"I'll do anything you want, just don't harm Nikki-sama."
"Bug Mistress…"
Nikki's gaze softened as she watched the Bug Mistress bow so humbly, something she had never seen before.
"You… you should just come for me directly. Please, spare the Bug Mistress. I admit I've lost this battle for the throne—I'll be your servant."
"Do you think I would so easily spare someone who poses a threat to me?"
Morrigan studied Nikkis panicked expression with amusement, like a wicked older sister teasing a child.
"Then… what do you want? If you spare the Bug Mistress, I'll do anything."
"Anything?"
Nikki swallowed hard. Her eyes flicked subtly to the Bug Mistress. Taking a deep breath, she put on a brave facade, kneeling humbly before Hel:
"Yes… anything. I'll do anything."
In that moment, Nikki, like the Bug Mistress before her, knelt submissively before Hel.