The door to the throne room creaked as a Sky realm soldier entered and knelt before Sercy.

"My Queen, we confirmed that the bandits who attacked the civilian village wielded cultivation power. Evidence points to them being hired by someone from the Southern Kingdom."

-"The Southern Kingdom? What reason would cultivators have to attack a mere mortal village?"

"Based on information gathered from the survivors, there didn't seem to be any real reason for the attack. But after a wider investigation, residents sensed fluctuations coming from the Phoenix Crescent to the far western region of Blenheim. I have reason to believe that the attack was an attempt to mask that they were searching for something on the Mountain.

Sercy moved for the first time since the soldier entered the room. This caused him to lower his head once more averting his eyes.

"How many civilians died?"

Surprised at the question asked, the soldier nearly raised his head. This was his first time delivering news directly to the Queen. Normally he would only be a field soldier, and today, he was merely a substitute for the Queen's messenger.

The soldier was not only nervous because she was royalty, he was actually very afraid. Every person from childhood to adulthood had heard stories of the queen.

Most of the fear was as a result of the incident that happened when she first took over the kingdom of Blenheim. This happened over a hundred years ago, but the stories were still told with vivid details. They were etched in history books and recited at festivals.

'The Jade Queen soaked in blood will come get you if you're naughty.' Mothers would tease their children.

Based on stories he heard as a child, she was a cold woman who always had her features covered by a veil. She wouldn't hesitate to kill anyone who offended her. There were even stories of a soldier being killed because he saw her face. The last thing he expected was for her to ask about the civilians. He thought she would be more interested in what the Southern Kingdom was trying to find on the Phoenix Crescent Mountains.

"Uh M-My Queen, so far we've found over 300 bodies. There are many more deaths, but because not all have remains..."

"Is there solid proof that the attack was set up by the Southern Kingdom?"

"Y-yes, a few of the bandits were caught and a soul search was done. It was found in their memories that they were paid off by someone from the kingdom. The rest of the bandits have already fled."

"What rank are you?"

"I'm merely a field soldier, my Queen."

"Return to the village, I want to know the exact number of deaths. If it's possible, find out if any of them were cultivators. Talk to the survivors and families of the victims. Find out how many breadwinners were killed so we can render assistance. Announce that a mass funeral will be held at sunset and I'll be in attendance. It seems because I've been quiet for a few decades, these kids think they can start playing games."

The young soldier raised his head in shock. A young woman who looked like she was barely twenty stared back at him. She was clothed in black garments that were a contrast to her pale skin. Her long black hair extended to her hips. The lower half of her face was covered with a veil, but her big eyes were visible and just seeing them made his breath hitch. He didn't see her full face, but he knew she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen in his life. He felt as if his soul was being sucked from his body and into her eyes that looked like dark glistening orbs. Her beauty made him stare blankly like an idiot. The Woman tilted her head slightly, her eyes sharpening from a casual glance to a look that dared him to stare at her a second longer.

The room darkened as she lifted her delicate hand and pointed it at him. He could only watch as a bright light flashed towards him. He wanted to dodge but was unable to do so. His vision started to spin as he watched his own headless body falling to the ground.

GASSSSSSPPPP !!!

His vision cleared and his breathing became ragged as he grabbed at his throat in panic. Backing away he stared at the spot where he had witnessed his own beheading. Face twisted in fear and confusion, he glanced at the Queen who hadn't moved. She stared at him as if he was nothing more than an insignificant fly.

Suddenly he felt an intangible pressure weighing down on him. Beads of sweat started to pour down his face as a cold shiver ran down his spine. His face visibly paled in fear and he averted his eyes, kowtowing with a loud bang.

"Fo-forgive me My- my Queen I-I..."

"You're dismissed." The Queen said nonchalantly

"T-Thank you, my queen." The soldier failed to stand on his first attempt, his legs wobbling comically. When he was finally able to stand properly, he scampered out the door as if his life depended on it.

I can't believe I just did that.

Still shaking, he looked behind him towards the door of the throne room.

"Count, you didn't have to scare the child so badly." The Queen said while slumping on her throne.

"I've been stuck in this peaceful kingdom far too long. How else am I to entertain myself little one? " A man's voice came from a spot close to her.

The Woman's eyebrows twitched slightly. "It's been a while since you've called me that."

"Ok little one I'll let you get familiarized with the title once more." Count seemed to be in a slightly better mood as opposed to earlier.

His figure reappeared next to the throne. Barely any skin was left exposed other than the very tips of his fingers and a small portion of his face. He wore a conical rice hat and had an ancient but very expensive looking gold watch in his pocket.

"What did you show him?" Sercy asked curiously.

"You, beheading him." Count replied casually.

"That was unnecessary," Sercy stated, but her tone suggested that it didn't really matter anyway.

Count laughed playfully. "It was for my entertainment, Sercy, it was very necessary."

"Well, since you've had your fun for today, I guess I should just cancel the trip I had planned for us."

The man tilted his head. A creepy smile appeared on his face "Sercy dear, you know I can never have too much fun, as a matter of fact I feel like venting a bit, who are we going to kill?"

"About three hundred bandits from the Southern Kingdom and a thousand soldiers. I'm still in the process of tallying the numbers." Sercy said this while swinging her legs which were now dangling over the side of her Throne.

Count rolled his eyes, "You disgust me. Why not just wipe out the entire kingdom? "

"Count, the difference between you and me is that I only enjoy killing those who deserve it."

"Your one fatal flaw."

Sercy turned her gaze to the man. "If I listened to your advice no one would be alive on this continent."

"Sercy, I'm going to check on something."

-"The Blue phoenix?"

"Yes."

Count appeared on the peak of Phoenix Crescent, the lifeless bodies of an old man and two younger boys made him pause. The fingers of the youngest were slack around a farming tool that he had used to defend himself before dying. Count recognized the three of them as members of a small family that always lived in the mountains. They called themselves the protectors and were the last remaining descendants of the Blue phoenix remnant spirit that dwelled in the cave.

"If you were this weak you should have just let them take what they wanted in the first place." Count sighed before stepping over the bodies and entering the cave. He had come here countless times before, so he immediately noticed that the remnant soul had weakened.

"Old phoenix, don't tell me you shriveled up and died?"

After a few seconds, two large orange eyes appeared in the air in front of Count. The temperature rapidly rose and blue flames surrounded the eyes that glared at him.

"Are you here to make fun of me?" A booming voice sounded in the cave.

"Yes."

The remnant soul didn't get angry, "I barely have any energy left. I deserve it so I'll listen to your mocking before going into slumber."

Count sighed, "You know, if you had just given me the inheritance, the family would still be alive."

"You're right." The phoenix agreed

"You allowed them to take it?"

"I gave them two drops of my essence blood and some artifacts, and in return they spared the rest of the family."

"You idiot!" Count wanted to swear at the darn blue bird but restrained himself. He could tell that the bird regretted it so he kept quiet. He instead wrapped the bodies in white cloth and placed them in the cave in an orderly manner, all while the blue phoenix watched him.

The first time Count visited the cave, the phoenix had taken one look at him then attacked in anger. Count had asked it for the inheritance that belonged to the descendants of the blue phoenix race which naturally pissed it off. While humans with strong constitutions might be able to gain the inheritance, Count who already had a strong bloodline wouldn't be able to accept the essence blood. But now he regretted not handing over the inheritance to Count, It would have at least prevented the deaths of his descendants.

The Blue Phoenix's voice was solemn as it spoke. "The invaders are from the Southern Kingdom."

"I know." Count answered.

"Without passing my trial and strengthening their bodies, there is a 98% chance that the human who tries to fuse with the essence blood will burn to death."

"That's reassuring," Count smirked, then turned to leave, when he was some distance away he said in a soft voice. "I'll get revenge for them."

The Phoenix stared at nothing in particular for sometime, after a long sigh, its blue flames surrounded the bodies of the dead then they faded away into nothingness.