The Abyssal Nest did not remain hidden for long.

Three days after its awakening, the watch bells echoed through the sanctuary.

Once.

Twice.

Then continuously.

Vespera looked up from the ancient map spread across the Council Hall.

The sound wasn't one of panic.

It was a warning.

The western border had been breached.

Darius entered first.

"The patrols have returned."

"They're not alone."

Behind him hurried two goblin scouts, both covered in dust and shallow cuts.

One of them dropped to a knee.

"My Queen..."

"There are orcs."

Lirael frowned.

"How many?"

The goblin swallowed.

"Hundreds."

Silence settled over the room.

Seraphine studied the map.

"There aren't supposed to be any orc settlements this close."

Darius crossed his arms.

"They're nomadic."

"They follow food."

"They follow war."

"And sometimes..."

"They follow rumors."

Vespera looked up.

"Rumors?"

"The return of an Abyss Queen."

The System appeared.

────────────────────────

New Regional Event

Orc Incursion

Objective:

Discover the Orcs' Intentions.

Reward:

Relationship Opportunity Detected.

────────────────────────

Outside the Nest, activity erupted.

Kobolds reinforced barricades.

Ogres rolled heavy stone blocks toward the gate.

Goblin scouts vanished into hidden tunnels overlooking the valley.

Nobody questioned their orders.

The sanctuary had become a home worth defending.

Vespera climbed the western watchtower.

In the distance...

Dust rose above the crystal plains.

Then she saw them.

A sea of banners.

Red cloth bearing the image of a broken axe.

Orcs.

Dozens became hundreds.

Hundreds became what looked like an entire migrating tribe.

At their front walked a towering warrior.

Unlike the others, she wore no helmet.

Her braided black hair reached her waist.

A massive greataxe rested across one shoulder as though it weighed nothing.

A long scar crossed one amber eye.

She radiated confidence.

And strength.

The System reacted immediately.

────────────────────────

Name:

Kragga

Race:

Orc

Title:

War Chief of the Broken Axe Clan

Threat Level:

High

Recommendation:

Extreme Caution.

────────────────────────

"So..."

Vespera whispered.

"That's their leader."

The orc army stopped several hundred meters from the Nest.

Neither side moved.

Then Kragga stepped forward alone.

Her voice rolled across the valley like thunder.

"ABYSS QUEEN!"

Vespera stepped onto the battlements.

"I can hear you."

A grin spread across Kragga's face.

"Good."

"I dislike repeating myself."

A few nervous laughs escaped the goblin guards.

Even Darius hid the hint of a smile.

Kragga planted the head of her greataxe into the ground.

"My scouts tell me monsters kneel to you."

"They do so by choice."

"My scouts also tell me humans walk freely inside your walls."

"They do."

"And they say you call this place a kingdom."

Vespera answered calmly.

"A beginning."

The orc chief studied her for several long moments.

Finally...

She laughed.

A loud, genuine laugh.

"You don't sound like a tyrant."

"No."

"You sound like a dreamer."

The laughter faded.

Kragga's expression hardened.

"But dreams die."

"My people have buried too many."

She pointed her axe toward the Nest.

"If you're another ruler promising peace while preparing chains..."

"I'll tear these walls down myself."

A tense silence followed.

Vespera descended from the wall.

"My Queen!" the elderly ogre protested.

"It could be a trap."

"If it is," Darius said quietly, "she has already decided."

The gates opened.

Vespera walked alone into the valley.

She stopped halfway between the two armies.

Kragga did the same.

For several heartbeats...

Neither spoke.

Then Kragga circled her slowly.

"You're smaller than I expected."

"I get that a lot."

"You smell strange."

Vespera blinked.

"That's... a new one."

"You smell like the Abyss."

Kragga leaned closer.

"But underneath..."

"...something else."

Vespera's heartbeat quickened.

Could the orc sense Priya?

Before she could ask, Kragga stepped back.

"I challenge you."

The valley fell silent.

"To war?" Vespera asked.

"No."

"To single combat."

Kragga lifted her axe.

"If you defeat me..."

"My clan leaves peacefully."

"If I defeat you..."

"You answer my questions."

"No armies."

"No slaughter."

"Just leaders."

Darius nodded approvingly from the walls.

"An old custom."

Lirael looked toward Vespera.

"You don't have to accept."

Vespera smiled.

"If I refuse..."

"They'll believe I'm afraid."

She looked back at Kragga.

"I accept."

The orcs erupted into cheers.

Goblins and kobolds watched nervously from the walls.

The battlefield was cleared.

No soldiers.

No interference.

Only two leaders.

Kragga rolled her shoulders before gripping her greataxe with both hands.

"I hope the stories are true."

Vespera's body shimmered with dark mist.

Her human form dissolved as gleaming black scales spread across her skin.

Her serpentine tail coiled across the crystal ground.

Golden eyes met amber ones.

"I was about to say the same."

The System flashed one final notification.

────────────────────────

Duel Initiated

Victory Conditions:

Opponent Surrenders

—or—

Opponent Can No Longer Fight

Outside Interference Will Result in Failure.

────────────────────────

Kragga smiled.

Then vanished in a blur of impossible speed.

Her greataxe descended toward Vespera like a falling mountain.

End of Chapter 21