A Journey That Changed The World.

Chapter 1465: You’ve Faced Worse Than This

After Elara took the beach, more Alliance reinforcements arrived from the north, causing the battle to become bogged down as they couldn’t move up the cliff path to get to the enemy castle that stopped them from moving forward.

Months dragged on and a year nearly passed, the war ground into a tense stalemate, marked by relentless skirmishes and ambushed all across the frontline as the Pseudo Gods kept their distance from the fighting.

The Draconian Empire dominated the maritime theater, its navy cutting off vital supply lines and blockading key coastal strongholds all across Avidia. Meanwhile, the Alliance forces tightened their encirclement around Elara’s position.

Converging from multiple fronts, they pinned down her army in a grueling siege, their coordinated assaults and fortified positions leaving little room for escape, but the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Legions held strong.

The once fast-moving conflict had hardened into a brutal test of endurance, with both sides locked in a precarious balance, each waiting for the other to falter under the mounting pressure.

Far from the war-torn fronts, in the grand, echoing halls of the Draconian palace, Sia paced through the corridors. The weight of her pregnancy slowed her stride, her hands occasionally cradling her swollen belly.

Behind her trailed Archer’s maid wives, their expressions a mix of concern and gentle exasperation, their dresses swishing softly as they struggled to keep up with their resolute queen.

Edith, her white hair catching the flickering light of the crystal chandeliers, reached out a hand, her tone soft but firm. ’’Come on, Sia, you need to rest. Brooke said the baby will be here soon, any day now. You’re exhausting yourself.’’

Sia paused mid-step, turning to face her friend with a breathless, defiant huff. ’’No, Edith!’’ she exclaimed, replying in frustration and a spark of humor. ’’I need to move. This child, she’s been in there far too long, and I’m ready for her to make her entrance.’’

A faint smile tugged at her lips, though her eyes betrayed the weariness, her body fed up with the strain of the long wait. Sia pressed on, her hands braced against her lower back as she moved with determination.

The two women trailed closely, exchanging worried glances as her breath grew heavier, her face etched with discomfort. ’’Sia, please,’’ Edith urged again. ’’You’re pushing yourself too hard. Let’s sit for a moment.’’

Sia shook her head, a bead of sweat tracing her temple. ’’I can’t, Edith. I feel she’s ready, I know it.’’

The Dragonkin woman’s decision carried a mix of defiance and instinct, as if each step might coax the baby closer to arrival. Meredith, ever practical, adjusted her pace to match, her eyes scanning her face for signs of distress.

’’At least slow down,’’ she said softly. ’’You don’t want to—’’

A sudden gasp cut her off. Sia froze, her bright blue eyes widening as a sharp sensation coursed through her. A warm rush followed, and she looked down, startled, as water pooled at her feet, soaking the hem of her gown.

For a moment, the corridor fell silent, the weight of the moment suspending time. ’’Oh, bless the goddess!’’ Edith exclaimed, her hands flying to her mouth as panic flared in her eyes. ’’It’s happening!’’

Meredith, quicker to react, steadied Sia with a firm grip on her arm. ’’Alright, alright, let’s get you to the bedroom, now!’’

She turned to Edith, who was already moving to her other side. ’’Help me, let’s move!’’

Together, they guided the Dragonkin woman, who clutched their arms tightly, her breaths coming in short, sharp bursts. The corridor seemed to stretch endlessly as they half-supported, half-urged her toward the royal chambers.

Meredith, glancing back, shouted. ’’Sound the alarm! Get the midwives!’’

Her warning echoed through the palace, and within moments, a bell tolled, its chime sounding through the stone walls. Maids paused, guards snapped to attention, and the palace stirred into a flurry of activity.

Sia gritted her teeth as pain flashed across her face. ’’She’s not waiting,’’ she muttered, almost to herself, as another contraction gripped her.

Minutes later, the heavy oak doors of the royal chambers burst open, and a small crowd of familiar faces rushed in. Ella, her short blonde hair bouncing as she hurried forward, carried a stack of linens, her face a mix of excitement and worry.

’’Sia, we’re here! You’re going to be fine!’’ she called, already directing servants to prepare the room.

Teuila followed as she knelt beside her, now settled on the edge of the bed. ’’Breathe, my friend,’’ she said, placing a reassuring hand on Sia’s shoulder. ’’We’ve got you.’’

Nefertiti swept into the room with an air of calm authority. She carried a small satchel of herbs and oils. ’’The midwives are on their way,’’ she said. ’’We’ll keep you comfortable until they arrive.’’

Last came Mia, her face barely concealing anxiety. She pushed past the others to reach her daughter. ’’My brave girl,’’ she whispered, brushing a damp strand of hair from her forehead. ’’You’re almost there.’’

Sia managed a weak smile through the pain, gripping her mother’s hand as another contraction hit her. The room buzzed, Edith and Meredith directing the maids, Ella arranging pillows, Teuila murmuring encouragement, and Nefertiti preparing a calming infusion.

Outside, the palace hummed with anticipation, the tolling bell signaling the imminent arrival of the first Draconian Princess, sending all the citizens into a world fury as celebrations were being planned.

The royal chambers pulsed with energy as Sia gripped the edge of the bed, her knuckles whitening with each contraction. She quickly noticed the air was thick with the scent of Nefertiti’s herbal infusion, its calming aroma doing little to ease the tension.

Mia knelt beside her, whispering words of encouragement, her voice a steady anchor amidst the storm.

’’You’re strong. You’ve faced worse than this,’’ she said, her eyes gleaming with fierce pride. ’’And you got the man you’ve loved for years, and now giving birth to his daughter. Who would have thought that?’’

Ella bustled about, arranging linens and ensuring a basin of warm water was within reach, her quick movements betraying her nervous excitement. ’’Everything’s ready. You just focus on you,’’ she said, flashing a reassuring smile.

Edith and Meredith, now coordinating with the maids, directed them to fetch more supplies, clean clothes, boiled water, and tools. The older woman’s earlier panic had settled into a determined focus, though her eyes darted to Sia with every groan.

’’The midwives should be here any moment,’’ the white haired woman said, half to herself, as she glanced toward the door.

Nefertiti, kneeling by a small table, mixed oils into the infusion, her hands steady despite the urgency. ’’This will help with the pain,’’ she said, passing a small cup to Mia, who gently urged her to sip it.

Sia grimaced but complied, her breaths ragged as she fought through another contraction. The tolling bell outside had faded. Maids whispered in the halls, their voices carrying rumors of the imminent birth.

The weight of the moment, the arrival of the first Draconian heir, pressed heavily on everyone, amplifying the stakes of each passing second. Sia, her face flushed and damp with sweat, managed a strained laugh between contractions.

’’This child... already as stubborn as her father,’’ she gasped, drawing a ripple of nervous chuckles from the women around her.

Suddenly, the heavy oak doors slammed open, their hinges groaning as they swung open. All eyes turned as a figure stepped into the threshold, Archer, his silhouette tall and commanding everyone’s attention.

’’Arch!’’ Sia beamed through the pain.

***

(An hour before Sia’s waters broke)

While the women kept up with the war, Archer was tearing his way across the Terravian realm, killing any of the creepy humanoids he came across. The realm he was in wasn’t as big as the Domain.

Faced with the enemy commander, whose trembling form betrayed his fear as he gripped the commander’s wife by the throat, her eyes wide with terror. ’’Tell me,’’ he snarled, his voice a low, menacing rumble. ’’How many of these places exist? Speak, or she dies.’’

’’Over a hundred, White Devil!’’ the Terravian lord spat, his voice quaking. ’’Each controlled by lords like me.’’

Archer’s violet eyes flared with cold fury when he heard this, and in one swift motion, he snapped the woman’s neck, her body crumpling to the ground, shocking the other living Terravian.

’’Now die! None of your kind will be allowed to live,’’ he declared.

Turning to the lord, he unleashed a mana-charged dragon’s breath, a roaring torrent of flame that consumed the man, reducing him to ashes that scattered on the wind. As this happened, every Terravian sensed this.

Archer, brimming with power, unleashed his mana in a dazzling surge, taking flight with breathtaking speed. He soared through the dark skies of the realm, killing the last of the humanoids and their creatures with skill.

Following that, he continued flying around the strange realm until he sensed a cluster of powerful Terravians lurking behind a shield woven from their eerie mana.