Chapter 48
The Realm of Plagues resembled the Realm of Demons in more ways than one. While the skies of the Demon Realm were perpetually stained a deep, bloody red, the heavens of the Plague Realm were splotched with dark, swirling hues of purple.
The realm seemed to exist in a state of eternal twilight, with the clouds overhead rolling ominously every few miles, as if the very air was perpetually in motion.
Surprisingly, the ground was the very opposite, with lush swaths of vast land upon which unknown foliage grew. The rest was mostly made of desert like sands.
Kaede and Cinnamon trailed behind Queresha, who stood at the edge of a cliff that overlooked her domain. Her sharp eyes scanned the desolate expanse, and she exhaled slowly.
Her lips twitched as she spoke, her voice a blend of exasperation and amusement. "You and your friend really did a number on this place."
Kaede laughed nervously, rubbing the back of her head as she and Cinnamon stood beside her. “Hehehe… Hosha really didn’t hold back. My bad.”
The Plague Realm had always been a place of unrelenting toxicity, a world teeming with poisons, disease and venom, each carried by the deceitful beauty in the land, from the lovely critters to the mesmerising plants and flowers. But there was something Queresha couldn’t ignore, something foreign.
Back when Hosha was Becquerel, when he had chased after Kaede and Nila, he had brought a storm of unbridled radiation with him, a powerful, unpredictable force that had torn through everything in its path.
The Realm of Plagues was no stranger to poison, but this was different. Pure Radiation was a force unknown, of unnatural contamination, a sort poison even the Plague Monarch was not aware of during her reign.
The radioactive storm that had appeared here had only intensified the usual chaos of her realm. The poisonous air, the deceitful landscapes, all of it had become infused with a new, dangerous element. The land was slowly changing, evolving in ways that made even Queresha uneasy, and slightly excited.
As Queresha's gaze shifted, she could feel the subtle weight of radiation still lingering in the air, a faint but unmistakable haze. It would take time, but she knew this storm would leave lasting marks on her realm. Changes, one that could provide the evolution her army would need to contend with higher powers. (A certain shadow monarch comes to mind.)
Below her was a flat, circular basin. The ground here was smoother, darker, and unnaturally still. Everything in the area bent away from it instinctively, the grass ended in a perfect ring, insects skittered around the perimeter, and even the wind chose not to blow across it.
Kaede tilted her head as she caught up, eyes scanning the wide, ominous basin. “So this is where you hid them?” she asked, a crooked grin tugging at her lips. “I should really teach you a thing or two about hiding stuff. This place practically screams ‘There’s something buried here, keep out.’” She gestured around casually. “Which, you know, is just code for ‘Come explore at your own peril.’”
Queresha said nothing at first. She knelt, placing a gloved hand on the soil. A quiet click resonated from her fingertips, followed by a faint green pulse that rippled out like a heartbeat.
"This is going to take a while," she murmured, more to herself than Kaede. “The seal has grown too large. Too volatile.”
Cinnamon huffed softly, his ears twitching. "How does that work?" Kaede asked as she passed her hand through his fur.
The ground quivered.
Tiny cracks etched themselves outward from beneath Queresha's palm, glowing with a sickly emerald hue. A low, reverberating hum began to rise from below.
Queresha rose to her full height, her eyes glowing a dim viridian as she surveyed the churning basin below.
“Not unlike the Shadow Army commanded by Ashborn, the Monarch of Shadows,” she began, her tone measured and proud, “the Plagueful, my army, is also unique in that it grows stronger with every battle.”
Kaede listened intently, arms crossed, while Cinnamon lay in the background, tail flicking lazily through the toxin-laced air.
“Where Ashborn strengthens his legions by raising the dead,” Queresha continued, “my forces expand by multiplying at an accelerated rate. With the Warrior Queens I personally engineered, combined with select breeds that reproduce by devouring ambient mana, my army sustains and expands entirely on its own.”
Her gaze lingered on the shifting landscape as the pulse in the ground intensified.
“Then there’s the adaptability of insects. With every new generation born in the field, they evolve. Stronger carapaces, faster reflexes, deadlier venom.”
A small smirk tugged at the corner of her lips.
“I don’t mean to brag, but I’m very proud of my army.” She tilted her head thoughtfully. “That said, I still wouldn’t pick a fight with Ashborn.”
The pulse below reached a crescendo, and the basin began to glow. The very center rippled like disturbed water, warping into a translucent membrane. Within moments, the ground resembled the entrance of a massive dungeon gate, mist curling out of its edges, faintly green and sickly sweet.
Queresha’s smirk faded, replaced with cautious wariness. “There are significantly more of them now than when I sealed them away. They’ve had millions of years to reproduce and evolve in complete isolation. The seal didn’t just trap them, it wove a complete ecosystem perfectly to assist their growth. I will have to undo it, and then undo some of the effects on the Insects.”
Kaede’s eyes gleamed with interest. “How long will it take to undo the seal?”
Queresha glanced back over her shoulder. “This seal? Approximately thirty minutes,” she replied, stepping closer to the gate as her hands glowed with thin strands of green energy.
"This seal?" Kaede raised an eyebrow, arms crossed. "How many of them are we talking about?"
Queresha smirked, eyes gleaming. "Six... hundred."
Kaede’s mouth fell open. "Six... Hundred? Six hundred!? How many soldiers did you even have!?"
Queresha shrugged casually, her expression far too calm for the weight of the number she'd just dropped. "When your army multiplies as fast as mine, you stop counting eventually. Numbers become irrelevant."
Kaede groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose. “That’s gonna take forever! Maple might’ve been the patient type, but I’m not that patient.”
Queresha let out a soft chuckle. “In that case, you’re free to return to Earth if you’d like. I won’t stop you. As long as you come get me in a few days, I should be finished by then.”
Kaede lit up. “Sweet! I’ll be back tomorrow! Bye, Queresha!”
With a grin, she turned, a black portal spiraling into existence behind her. Cinnamon perked up, his mane rippling with anticipation as Kaede leapt onto his back in one fluid motion.
“Oh! Kanae’s got a raid tomorrow,” Kaede added, already halfway through the swirling gate. “Something about an insect dungeon. It’s supposed to be broadcast live. I kinda wanna see what an S-Rank dungeon looks like in action.”
Queresha arched an unimpressed brow. “They call anything S-Rank these days. Those so-called hunters are still pitifully weak.”
Kaede shrugged. “Still might be fun. Let’s go, Cinnamon!”
The lion gave a soft, rumbling purr before bounding into the portal, vanishing in a flash of voidlight.
Silence returned to the Realm of Plagues, thick and heavy. The purple sky pulsed faintly above the basin, casting long, crooked shadows over the land.
Queresha exhaled slowly, the atmosphere easing slightly now that Kaede had left.
“I can’t believe the air got lighter once she disappeared,” she muttered to herself. “I wonder... Who’s stronger? That girl… or Antares? And then there’s Ashborn.”
She extended a hand, as she summoned a panel in front of her.
---
NAME: Queresha
LEVEL: 1
TITLE: Monarch of Plagues
RACE: High Insectoid Sovereign (Monarch-Class)
REALM: Plague Domain
Pantheon: Chaos
HP: 107,700 / 107,700 MP: 59,420 / 59,420
---
STATUS
STR: 420 VIT: 770 AGI: 520
DEX: 770 INT: 590
Poison Resistance: Immune
Plague Resistance: Immune
Magic Resistance: 80%
Physical Resistance: 100%
Environmental Immunity: Active
Command Radius (Swarm): 90 km
---
EQUIPMENT
None
None
None
None
---
SKILLS
Monarch Core: Plague Sovereign: Grants command over all disease- and insect-type entities in her domain. Allows for instant creation of new sub-species adapted to threat level. Automatically reproduces army using mana-absorbing spore queens.
Brood Ascension Protocol: Evolve entire broods through generational memory. Each new wave inherits immunity to previous threats.
The Womb Of Ten Million Stingers(Passive): Grants battlefield-wide buffs to all summoned or loyal insects. Increases AGI, DEX, and reproduction speed during prolonged engagements.
Toxic Reign (Active): Converts ambient mana into tailored biological warfare toxins. Bypasses most magical resistances. Effective against both living and undead targets.
Adaptation Engine. Mahoraga (Blessing Of the Chaos Pantheon) (Passive): Queresha permanently adapts to any status effect, magic type, or elemental damage that affects her more than once. Immunity gained in 3–5 exposures. •New•
Spore Nexus (Field Skill): Covers up to 10 km with plague-infused mycelium, allowing her to control the battlefield, spawn new creatures, and harvest mana from fallen enemies.
---
Queresha read through the glowing panel before her, her viridian eyes narrowing slightly.
“These skills…” she murmured, one brow arching. “So they represent my capabilities now? Interesting. This one, ‘Mahoraga’, is new. Looks like my induction into her Pantheon comes with… rewards.”
She hummed softly, thoughtful. “And these numbers. Statistics. They remind me of those video games this body’s former host used to dabble in. Strength, Intelligence, Vitality… Fascinating. Though without comparison, I can’t properly gauge what they mean.”
Then, another panel blinked into view.
---
Open Starter Pack? || Y / N ||
---
“Starter Pack?” Queresha repeated, blinking slowly. “And what, exactly, is that supposed to be?” She asked aloud, but the system remained silent.
She stared for a moment longer before shrugging. “Very well. Yes.”
The screen pulsed.
---
Starter Pack Opened
Rewards:
Crown of Vermin Insight (+3,000 INT)
Mantle of the Virulent Empress (+2,000 VIT, aura poisons non-allies)
Carapace of the Black Brood (Auto-regeneration, +60% DEF)
---
Queresha’s eyes widened as the items materialized midair, floating before her in a soft pulse of sickly green light.
“What!?” she exclaimed, startled. “What nonsense is this? These numbers… they far exceed my own. I don’t even have a thousand in any single stat! How are mere trinkets supposed to...”
She stopped abruptly as the items descended into her arms, the weight of their presence nearly staggering.
She blinked.
The Crown of Vermin Insight thrummed faintly, lined with chitin and adorned with tiny gem-like insect eyes that shimmered with stored mana.
The Mantle of the Virulent Empress shimmered like woven fog, embroidered with spiraling black silk threads that left a faint, poisonous trail in the air. And the Carapace of the Black Brood… was alive. It pulsed gently with familiar energy, whispering quietly.
Queresha's expression shifted from confusion to awe.
“…How can they hold this much mana?” she whispered.
She turned each item over slowly in her hands, feeling the dense energy running through them. Not wild like Chaos… but just as untamed, powerful.
Her voice dropped to a hush. “Where have I felt this kind of resonance before…?”
---
NAME: Queresha
LEVEL: 1
TITLE: Monarch of Plagues
RACE: High Insectoid Sovereign (Monarch-Class)
REALM: Plague Domain
Pantheon: Chaos
HP: 107,700 / 107,700 MP: 59,420 / 59,420
---
STATUS
STR: 420 VIT: 770 (+2000) AGI: 520
DEX: 770 INT: 590 (+3000)
Poison Resistance: Immune
Plague Resistance: Immune
Magic Resistance: 80%
Physical Resistance: 160%
Environmental Immunity: Active
Command Radius (Swarm): 90 km
---
Queresha felt the surge of energy ripple through her body the moment she equipped the items. Mana flooded her limbs, her senses sharpened, and every inch of her form pulsed with unnatural vitality.
She gasped.
“This power…” she whispered, her voice trembling with restrained exhilaration. “I feel… invincible.”
Her expression twisted into a slow, delighted smile as she basked in the sensation.
“Like I could face the Rulers themselves… and win,” she said, her voice low, awed. “How intoxicating.”
For a moment, the high gripped her entirely, every breath filled with more than just air, but power, dominion, purpose. It felt beyond divine.
But then, slowly, the euphoria faded, settling into a steady hum beneath her skin. She exhaled deeply, grounding herself.
Queresha flexed her fingers, watching the dark, silken Mantle of the Virulent Empress shift with her movements, its faint poison mist curling around her like smoke. “Hmm,” she mused.
Her gaze drifted toward the horizon, thoughtful. “I wonder what her stats are,” she murmured, referring to Kaede. “With that kind of power… she’s probably sitting somewhere in the one-thousands.”
She frowned slightly, a twinge of uncertainty flickering across her face. “Perhaps two thousand.”
But deep down, she wasn’t so sure anymore. Something about Kaede felt… boundless. Like whatever her stats were, they were only a fragment of the truth.
---
Kaede stepped through the swirling black portal atop Cinnamon’s back, only for his paws to land on scorched red earth. Her eyes widened in confusion as she scanned the jagged obsidian cliffs and blood-hued skies above. The oppressive heat and faint scent of sulfur left little room for doubt.
“…I’m in the Demon Realm again?” she muttered, frowning.
She dismounted swiftly, her boots crunching against the cracked ground. With a soft shimmer, Cinnamon vanished into her shadow like a wisp of smoke. Kaede tapped her chin.
“Oh, right. Predator always opens a portal straight to the Demon Realm…” she trailed off, realization dawning.
Then she froze.
“Wait... if it just drops me here, how am I supposed to get home!?”
A moment of silence passed, followed by a soft mechanical chime as a system panel appeared before her.
---
As Temporary Ruler of the Demon Realm, activate Dimensional Gateway?
|| Y / N ||
---
Kaede blinked. “Wait, what? I can do that?”
A grin crept across her face as she jabbed her finger forward. “Yes!”
At once, a deep crimson portal bloomed into existence before her, radiating a strange warmth that tugged at the edges of reality. She let out a relieved sigh, brushing back her bangs.
“Thank goodness,” she mumbled, stepping into the red vortex without hesitation.
---
Kaede landed softly in front of the large, ornate double doors of the Maple Tree Guild Hall. The familiar wood grain and golden handles were just as she remembered.
She let out a breath of relief. “Hah... Home sweet home. Well, guild,” she corrected herself with a small smile.
Pushing open the doors, she stepped inside, only to pause immediately.
The atmosphere was heavy. Every guild member present turned toward her, eyes wide and uncertain. The room was silent, the tension thick enough to taste.
“Hey guys, I’m back!” Kaede called out cheerfully, lifting a hand in greeting. Then she paused. “Ah... Right. You guys probably have no idea where I went.”
Still, no one responded.
Her smile twitched slightly as she added, “W-Well, if you must know… Maple Tree now has a sponsor!”
More silence.
Kaede’s expression slowly shifted to unease. “Okay… what’s going on?” she asked, her voice quieter now.
From the group, a green-haired girl with a cautious expression stepped forward. Kaede recognized her, Hinata.
“Uhm… Guild Master?” Hinata began hesitantly. “Where have you been? No one’s been able to reach you. We thought something happened.”
Kaede shrugged, still trying to piece things together. “I’ve been out handling some things. Why? Is there an issue?”
Hinata gave her a pointed look. “Have you not been watching the Jeju Island Raid?”
Kaede blinked. “Jeju Island? Isn’t that scheduled for tomorrow?”
Hinata winced. “Ah… Yeah, about that. You might wanna see this.”
She held out her phone.
Kaede leaned in, eyes narrowing. Then she froze.
“The raid… is already happening?” Her voice wavered. “Wait, is that…?”
Her pupils dilated. The figure on the screen, was unmistakable.
Hinata quickly raised her arms in a placating gesture. “I know you’re mad, Captain, but there’s nothing we can do except hope for the...”
BOOM!
A shockwave rocked the room as Kaede’s form launched skyward in a streak of force and light, leaving a deep crack in the guild hall’s floor where she had stood.
Hinata flew backwards and hit the wall with a grunt. “Ack!”
She coughed, blinking rapidly. “What just...? Ah… The Guild Master’s gone!”
Around her, the others simply stared at the now-empty doorway, wind still rustling through the room from Kaede’s exit.
No one said a word.
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