Chapter 57 CHAPTER 57

Chapter 57 CHAPTER 57

"WHAT happened?!!" Morgana’s powerful scream echoed when Aurora escaped the nightmare created by one of her followers. "How did the Hybrid get free?! I thought no one survives the nightmare you create, Atang!"

Atang stood up to explain everything to Morgana, but before she could utter a word, Morgana gestured with her hand and the old woman was sent flying against the wall.

The creatures guarding the outside of Morgana’s room rushed in due to the commotion. When they saw their queen's eyes practically ablaze, they bowed before the sorceress.

"T-the Hybrid's mind is strong, Your Majesty, she woke up before she could truly die in her dream..." The old woman’s body trembled from the terror she felt toward Morgana.

Everyone who knows Morgana fears the immortal because she is heartless and incapable of mercy. She detests weak allies because she refuses to let them fail. And whenever the weak find their way into her stronghold, there is only one outcome.

Morgana moved her hand over her own body, and her clothes instantly changed. Her current green attire reached down to her ankles. Wrapped around her waist was a five-headed serpent. When the snake moved, the old woman knelt to beg, knowing what was about to happen to her.

"Your Majesty, it won't happen again..." she pleaded. She approached Morgana on her knees and kissed her feet. "I will do my job right next time, Your Majesty, just please don't kill me... It won't happen again."

"It truly won't happen again, Atang, because you are no longer needed in this world. Failures like you have no reason to stay in your territory." Morgana released the serpent from her body. It crawled down from her waist to the floor. Morgana’s guards rushed out of the room, knowing that once the five-headed serpent returned to its true form, they would be caught in the crossfire.

As the serpent’s belly touched the floor, it slowly transformed. Its previously long, snake-like body grew four legs. Its five heads, which were once held close to its body, extended as each grew a neck. Its scales thickened, and Atang knew it was impervious to any weapon—but she had already prepared for that.

Meanwhile, Morgana sat in her favorite chair and manifested a cluster of grapes using her magic. She crossed her legs and leaned back. She waited for the result of the battle between her pet and the sorceress.

"Will you really not forgive me, Morgana?" The previously pitiful old woman stood up straight. She looked at Morgana with a defiant face. "I helped you to the best of my ability for five thousand years, yet you were only waiting for this one small mistake of mine to kill me."

Atang started chanting a spell. The wind grew violent, blowing the window curtains aside as a loud drone of approaching insects filled the air.

Morgana remained watching the scene while eating grapes in her chair. No fear could be seen on her face, causing Atang to smirk.

You don't truly know me yet, Morgana... It’s a good thing I didn't show you all of my capabilities, she said to herself.

Atang stepped toward the serpent. As daggers appeared in both her hands, she lunged toward the beast. Her opponent breathed fire from its multiple heads simultaneously, forcing her to run and hide behind a pillar to avoid the flames.

She was intimately familiar with the serpent’s abilities, so she knew it would take ten seconds before it could breathe fire again. That was the moment she was waiting for. She charged again, but this time, she called upon her minions.

The UANG insects!

These insects had the bodies of beetles and the wings of dragonflies. They had no heads; instead, their bodies were topped with mouths full of sharp teeth. They swarmed the monster, and in just half a minute, only the serpent’s bones remained.

"Your pet is gone, Morgana, so it’s best if you surrender as well," Atang taunted the former Queen. "Your loyal followers will also vanish the moment they make a move my pets dislike. Surrender now, because I am the new ruler of this kingdom, Morgana."

Morgana stood up and stepped toward the old woman. Atang may look old, but she was still a skilled fighter. However, in terms of time spent on earth, Morgana was thrice her age.

While aging leads to poor outcomes for mortals, for immortals, age is an advantage—especially after surviving many battles, as they grow stronger. Their power also increases because the magic of those they slay is transferred to them.

"Do you really think you can defeat me, Atang?" The beautiful woman smirked at the old woman.

"You’ve already lost, Morgana, so just give up. Your followers will be wiped out just like what happened to your serpent."

Morgana stepped toward the window and saw what was happening outside. The entire kingdom was turning black because of the sheer number of insects in the air. The bones of those she assumed were her followers were scattered everywhere.

"I admit, I didn't expect you to be hiding such talent, Atang. I think I can use that skill of yours when facing the leader of the Credendum."

"Why? Did you think I would let myself be enslaved by you again, Morgana? You’re mistaken. Don't act as if you’re the only one with power in this world! I will never be your slave again!"

Sorceress like her were experts in magic. They could control animals at will. They could also resurrect ancient beasts as long as they possessed their bones, and Atang knew the queen before her kept the bones of ancient creatures. If there was one ability she wanted for herself, it was the sharpened senses of a wolf—and that was about to happen once she killed the Hybrid woman.

Morgana knew the weakness of Atang’s senses. While she couldn't deny the sorceress was skilled in magic, Morgana knew she had to deceive her. In a strategic battle, intelligence is more vital than strength. In her case, Morgana had both.

She needed time to execute her plan. She stepped to the right, and Atang’s eyes followed her.

"I never said I would accept you as my follower again, Atang. Don't think too highly of yourself. Remember that you aren't even at my pinky's level when it comes to magic, especially since I am the ancestor your race originated from."

"And now, your death shall be written in the Book of Old!"

Atang whispered to the wind again and pointed her hand at Morgana, causing the Uang to fly toward her.

The sorceress blinked, and the lead insects were incinerated by a fire she created. Morgana tore a small piece of cloth from her dress. Using magic, she set the cloth ablaze and threw it out the window. The Uang outside—which were guarding Morgana’s followers and were as numerous as grains of sand—simultaneously caught fire and were consumed by the flames.

As Morgana focused her attention back on her elderly opponent, she smirked privately. The battle between her and the Sorceress was over. All she had to do was ensure the old woman’s life ended by her own hand so she could claim her abilities.

Atang, meanwhile, could not believe what she had witnessed. She didn't expect her opponent to defeat her pets so easily. She had rushed everything, so her resurrection of the flesh-eating insects hadn't been perfect.

Right!

If there was one thing she excelled at, it was resurrecting creatures even if they had been dead for decades.

She could resurrect Morgana’s pet and use the serpent against its own creator!