Chapter 180: Freedom

"Rise, my children, it is time."

"YES, MOTHER! ... For the family."

All it took for the battle to shift from a decently held siege into total chaos and slaughter was a single phrase from a mother to her children. For some, it was the second, and for others, it was the first time they heard their mother's voice. It was a lifetime wish for all of them to hear the kind and gentle voice, and the moment they did, the effect was massive.

ROAAAAAR!!

The sound of war was a terrifying symphony: the roar of the demons, the clashing swords, and the screams of the dying. The entire city was drenched in blood as a considerable portion of the defenders' numbers just turned and began slaughtering their own people.

Morgana's army was a special one. Each and every one of her children was bred to serve one purpose: kill, slaughter, destroy, and conquer. The desire and hunger for battle and the death of others were embedded into the very core of their beings, as well as their unnatural bond and family love.

Demons in general don't care about their families. Other than the royal family and the nobles, the rest are too busy chasing their goals and selfish desires. But Morgana's children were different. They had a special bond with each other, a connection that made them stronger, faster, and better than any other demon, with a loyalty unheard of in the demon world.

In her campaign, the demon general Morgana was never stabbed in the back by one of her soldiers. The love and loyalty they felt toward her were strong and pure, a feeling only their family was capable of feeling, which is understandable since all of her soldiers were her sisters and their children. She never allowed a demon outside of the family to join her army. She didn't trust them, she didn't want them, and they were a hindrance and a weak point.

"Report!" Morgana commanded, standing tall on the wall and staring at the burning city.

"Yes, General," a young demon, a boy of fourteen—in human years—came running. He has a small body, but a giant sword on his back. "The eastern side is taken, the central part is currently under attack, and the western side is almost taken. However—"

"However?" The General raised a brow, glancing at the boy.

"There is a problem with the south, General," the demon boy replied, pointing at the large building located in the southern area of the city. "The Black Castle is heavily guarded, and the gate is sealed. Our sisters are unable to break the seal."

"..."

"Hiss… What do you suggest, General?" the white naga standing to her left hissed, a worried look evident on her face.

"Mother," Morgana called, ignoring the question and focusing on the mental link. "Do you hear me?"

"Yes, my child," the reply was instant, warm, and gentle.

"What should we do about the castle?" the General asked, glancing at the Black Castle, the seat of power and where her mother was being held.

"Don't worry, my daughter," the gentle voice spoke. "I'll be safe. Just make sure to take full control of the city, and don't forget about the mines."

"Understood, Mother," the General bowed her head, quickly turning to one of her commanders and ordering, "Take three thousand men and siege the castle."

"Yes, General," the commander, a big muscular demon male, bowed and took his leave.

"The rest, follow me to the mines."

"Understood, General." The demons bowed before following their General.

…

The bloodstone mines were massive to the point they could be considered a separate underground city. With tens of thousands of slaves and a strong defensive structure, it was the strongest location in the city. After all, the bloodstone was a valuable resource, crucial for the demon queen's army, and if she didn't get her shipments on time, everyone in the mining city—demons and slaves—would die and be replaced by others.

Fortunately for General Morgana, the demons inside the mine were no real warriors. They possessed the numbers, yes, but their comfortable life here made them weak and rusty. Even the strongest demon was no match for a regular soldier in her army, an army that jumped from one hellish battle to another, never resting.

"Let's move," the general gave the command, and the army moved, jumping from the walls to the ground. The moment they were down, they split up: three thousand troops to the south, besieging the black castle, while General Morgana and the rest of the army headed directly to the bloodstone mine.

The plan was simple: block the mine exits, prevent reinforcements from heading to the castle, and force the demons to fight to the last breath. It was a win-win situation, and no matter how you looked at it, the mining city had already fallen into Morgana's hands.

"All that remained," the general whispered, glancing back at the black castle, "was the governor."

....

"I... must... go."

"My lord?"

"Must... go."

"My lord, the enemy is closing in," the demon following the governor from behind shouted for the millionth time, yet the demon governor had no interest in listening.

"I... said... ugh... go," the demon governor growled, shaking his head. His eyes were dull, and his mind was clouded. His entire body was moving on its own like a puppet being controlled by a master.

"Go away," the demon governor waved his hands, slapping away the guard who tried to stop him. The demon fell down, a confused look on his face, as he watched his lord walking away toward his special room. The other guard tried to stop the governor again, but before he could, the bodyguards of the governor intervened, punching the guard in the face.

"Do you dare question the governor?" the demon bodyguard growled. The fury was evident on his face; his hand was squeezing the guard's neck, a little more pressure, and his neck would break.

"S-Stop," the governor ordered, stopping for a brief moment and glancing at the two demons. "Stop and... come."

"Yes, my lord," the bodyguards bowed, dropping the guard and running after the governor with small smiles on their red faces.

Soon the governor reached the giant steel black door of his favorite room. His hands moved on their own and pushed the door open, allowing him and the two bodyguards to enter. The moment the door opened, a strong smell of sex and blood filled the air, a smell that was extremely familiar to the governor.

"Ahhh," the demon governor groaned, closing his eyes and enjoying the smell. His body kept moving on its own, taking the steps one by one until he was standing before a familiar object: the iron maiden.

"Hahahahaha..."

A laugh echoed from the inside, a laugh filled with madness, pain, and sorrow. A sound that could bring tears to the ears of a normal person, yet the demon governor only smiled and placed his hands on the cover, pulling it open, and revealing a beautiful woman—a naked, silver-haired woman.

"My... love," the demon governor whispered, reaching with his hand, trying to touch her cheek. However, one of his bodyguards intervened, slapping his hand away.

"You can't touch her," the demon said, standing between the two.

"I-I must," the demon governor gritted his teeth, shaking his head, trying his best to push the guard away, but his body refused.

"She's mine!" the governor growled, attempting to punch the bodyguard. Sadly for him, there were two demons with him inside the room.

"Don't," the second demon raised his hand, summoning blood chains that wrapped themselves around the governor's body, immobilizing him.

"UGHH!" the governor screamed, a wave of pain surging from his body as the chains started digging into his flesh. "W-what are you doing?"

The two bodyguards ignored him and approached the silver-haired woman. Their eyes were locked on her, filled with love and loyalty.

"Release me," the woman whispered. Her voice was weak but sweet and gentle, yet it held an edge—a command that must be obeyed.

"Yes, Mother," the demons bowed their heads, releasing their mother from the torture device. Pushing it behind, they quickly began to work on the hooks that were buried in her arms and shoulders. Making sure not to hurt their mother, the two bodyguards slowly pulled the hooks out. A sickening sound filled the air as the hooks were removed. The blood dripped from the holes and covered her body, but the mother didn't mind.

"Thank you," Morgana said, thanking the two for releasing her. The moment the last hook was pulled out, she dropped down, falling to her knees. The fatigue was evident on her pale face; her arms and legs were too weak, and she was unable to stand. After all, she had been imprisoned for ten years. Hell, even her bones and rib cage could be seen through her pale skin.

"Mother!" the two demons cried, kneeling down and supporting their mother.

"I'm fine," Morgana smiled, placing her hand on the heads of her two grandsons. Then she turned, glaring at the governor.

"Remove this," she said, pointing at the slave collar around her neck. The two demons glanced at each other, nodding. They quickly got up and moved toward the governor. They picked him up like a sack and carried him toward their grandmother.

"Remove it," the demons dropped the governor at their mother's feet.

"Y-Yes," the governor replied. Placing both hands on the collar, he chanted a spell, and the collar opened with a loud click, falling from Morgana's neck to the cold floor.

"Ahh... freedom," Morgana sighed, rubbing her neck and stretching her body as it began to rejuvenate quickly. A smile formed on her lips—the first in over ten years. Then she turned and placed a hand on the governor's head.

"I'll deal with you later."

In an instant, a crimson portal opened up beneath him and swallowed the governor.

"Let's clear the city first."

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