Bro, I'm not an Undead!

At the sight of another one of them combusting inwardly, losing their soul to the odd fire, morale fluctuated, adrenaline rushing in different courses.

There was no greater insult to a nation's military might than having to hesitate when they had the numerical advantage of 1000 to 0.001. 

What added salt to the wound was that the Queen was being disrespected in front of said military, but rushing in without a thought to protect Her Majesty's honor would serve no purpose whatsoever.

What was more terrifying than death, was a futile death.

Many among the Sif soldiers had begun to develop thoughts along the lines of:

'Even if I die trying to attack the Ode… it won't mean anything. It will not save the Queen and even past my death, her name will still be besmirched by that man.'

It was a valid thought to have.

But then, if an impulsive attack was a stupid thing to do, what about the options the Ode laid forward. 

Continuing the war as it was until one side inevitably demolished the other, was too frightening. 

After all, what was even worse than a futile death, was a collection of them.

As it stood, shocking as it was, no one aside from the Queen and King could even hope to contend against the Ode. Even though, as everyone could sense, he was just an Incandescent Stager, he seemed to have extremely vicious attainments where his class was concerned.

What was worse was the fact that it wasn't just the Ode here. There was the Shamanic Mage beside him. No one even needed an essay to understand just how fruitless a clash with the old woman would be. It was unclear what made her so strong, but everyone could feel it. Perhaps it was her age. Perhaps it was her very rare class whose definition were developed and practiced only in Maqi.

Besides even her, there was still the Maqian combatants.

For them to become active again, the Emeradis Summoners simply had to recall their summons, which was going to happen eventually.

Speaking of which, the Summoners were a threat too. Their individual threat level was currently masked because they were reaping easy gains, but that could easily change if need be.

Every Sif expert around the Ode and Umbett shook.

This was looking hopeless.

The first option was simply a death sentence. A brutal one.

Well…

 Maybe…

Perhaps…

If THEY were brought forth, the battle could be won, perhaps with excruciating difficulty.

But that ceremony was only done yearly, and it would take a long time to complete.

That left only the second option the Ode presented.

Everyone looked to the Queen.

Darwel clutched her mother's arm tightly, her eyes livid with desperation.

No. Not her mother.

Her mother was powerful. Terribly so, but against… THAT…

Her eyes bulged as she pulled and stared at the beautiful El Sif's face.

"No! Mother you can't!" Darwel discarded all the formality in her speech like she had been struggling to do before the invasion. She turned pale. Unlike everyone else, she was completely aware, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that her mother would choose to fight herself.

That was tradition.

It was what she had told Skullius back then, that royalty to the Sif meant being on the frontlines. While those who were loyal insisted on treating the Queen with the respect she deserved, offering their lives, and even Cycles to her service, constantly guarding her and always executing her every whim, it was in such a trying time when the value of the royalty transcended all this.

"Darwel…" Queen Embrell said, a small smile on her face. 

"No!" the young El Sif screamed.

"Do you lack that much faith in me…" 

Darwel squeezed her mother's wrist and buried her head in the baggy fabric of her robe. She was unafraid to confess that she did lack the faith that her mother could win.

Queen Embrell felt the heavy tones of doubt coming from all around her. She sighed. She couldn't blame everyone for fearing for her life.

Before the Maqians came, she was the one who gathered all the troops and emphasized to them how strong the forces of Maqi were, their brand of Mages, their relentless, cruel training regiments, their Ode and the First Horn.

Records from the Grand Wars from their ancestors documented how consistent Maqi's overwhelming strength was. 

The First Horn and his Ode were always formidable monsters at the top of the chart, and it always defied logic how powerful they were. As if there was a formula to it.

As such… it wasn't strange that everyone else seemed to be urging her with desperate eyes to take the first option instead.

"Will you keep your word?" Queen Embrell looked at the Ode with a cold blaze in her eyes as she asked.

The crimson-haired young man smiled.

"Of course. If you're strong enough to beat me, that'll just defeat the purpose of this excursion. My father sees it the same way, rest assured," he said. "And by the way, if you do manage to defeat me, make sure to crush my head. I wouldn't want to live long enough to endure my father's wrath."

Umbett chortled, amused.

"Very well," Queen Embrell said.

 Darwel pulled on mother's arm viciously, but she couldn't move it an inch.

The Queen then suddenly wore a radiant smile as she faced the duo.

"Before we begin, however, please excuse my people," she said coolly.

The Ode raised a brow, unsure of what she meant. Did she expect him to wait until she evacuated everyone here? Well, that was dumb.

He was about to question her sensibility when…

GRUUUK!

The ground suddenly shook dreadfully, as though some titan that had been laying peacefully below had decided to awaken and rise to the surface.

What was more unsettling was how the centre of the phenomenon was not even close to this Aurora. It came from several kilometers east of here, opposite the radiant 'tree' that shone from the distance, and still it felt cataclysmic.

GRRRUK! BOOOM!

As everyone watched, a great bundle of huge daffodils with luminous, multi-colored petals exploded out of the ground with the same grace as a gorgeous fashion model rising out of a clean pool.

The great bundle rose and rose further until it drew all the attention of all who saw it all around Opungale, eclipsing the height of even the Preeminent Attegoth, albeit losing in a contest of radiance.

All the Sif who saw, except for the Queen, were beyond astounded.

This…

It was the Deathly Ruse!

But how…

It shouldn't have been the time to awaken it yet, not according to tradition at least.

But many of the combatants were beyond pleased!

The Queen had had enough forethought to have the Deathly Ruse awakened beforehand!

Praise Listafelle!

With this perhaps they could bring…

"My children…" Queen Embrell looked at the Sif experts and then at Darwel. A sweet smile formed on her face. "I will plant you back, when all this is over."

…!!!

Just as perturbing realization struck all who heard, an unseen chord attached all the Sif in the Aurora, save for Her Majesty the Queen.

In the next moment. Every Sif alive, twisted inward, as though imploding, and became a seed…