Chapter 149

Chapter 149: The Twin Trees of Belmar

The old man in black robe was slain by Midi’s sword.

The wolf king sustained heavy injuries under Fina’s Magic Beam assault, falling unconscious before being captured.

The vampire duke fled the battlefield without leaving any trace.

With all three leaders defeated, the Pretenders’ forces completely collapsed.

Within moments, the Dawn Garden fell entirely under the Hawk Brigade’s control. Most Pretenders were mercilessly cut down by adventurers, with only a handful spared.

This mercy wasn’t born of compassion—these survivors became test samples for the Hawk Brigade’s magic research department, kept for studying future battles against their kind. Their fate would be endless suffering and imprisonment.

No sympathy existed for these Pretenders whose hands dripped with human blood.

Midi now faced the task of dealing with the traitor who’d invited these wolves into their home.

Hawk Brigade warriors soon dragged Queen Skadi from her hiding place in the tree mansion’s secret chamber.

To Belmar Duchy’s citizens, this queen never stood "above" them—she’d always been a puppet. Though normally appearing dignified as the Queen’s faction figurehead, her public image carefully crafted by the Hamilton family’s shadow governance, she now cut a pitiful figure.

Bound tightly, her gem-studded golden hair hung in disarray. Royal robes lay crumpled, dust smudging her meticulously maintained face.

Rage flashed in Skadi’s eyes upon seeing Midi and Alice, but fear quickly replaced it when spotting Fina behind them.

Every Belmar queen survived through Hamilton family support. The duchy’s crown held no inherent power—only what the Hamiltons granted.

Though Skadi schemed to escape their control by conspiring with the Scroll branch and inviting Pretenders, now facing Hamilton’s wrath made her heartbeat thunder. Born and raised under Hamilton’s dominance, their accumulated authority couldn’t be easily shaken.

Had she faced the Iron-Blood Duke instead of eighteen-year-old Fina, Skadi might’ve collapsed entirely. Against a teenage girl, she clung to shreds of composure.

"What do you want?" Skadi asked with forced calmness.

Defeated beyond recovery, she retained no bargaining power. Yet hope lingered—surely the Hamiltons would preserve royal appearances when punishing their figurehead?

Alice stayed silent, the Mist Sorceress indifferent to mortal affairs. Still, the black-haired girl glanced at Fina, concern for her rival-turned-confidante showing briefly.

Midi also kept quiet. Though he’d contributed most to this victory, Fina led both Hawk Brigade and Hamiltons. This betrayal demanded her personal judgment.

As a reincarnator, Midi simply stood guard nearby.

Hearing Skadi’s question, typically brash Fina turned fully to face the traitorous queen. Her crystalline voice carried clearly:

"I respect your refusal to remain Hamilton’s puppet—I’d likely do same in your position." The red-haired girl’s blue eyes held calm intensity. "Opposing us made grandfather a fair target. Turning Scroll branch against us showed cleverness. But allying with inhuman Pretenders crossed the line."

Skadi’s heart leapt at the approving tone, hoping for merciful reputation-building. Then came the verdict:

"Clean her, dress her, crown her. Public execution at dawn." Fina’s words struck like thunder. "Belmar needs no ruler who craves power while trampling her people."

As guards hauled away the screaming queen, Fina sighed deeply.

Killing royalty weighed heavy—no simple decision.

With the Queen present, the Hamilton family had remained behind the scenes. Though everyone knew this truth, there were no legal flaws to exploit.

Yet now, Fina’s decision wasn’t just about punishing Skadi for colluding with Pretenders – it was reform bordering on revolution. What did it mean when a Grand Duke executed the monarch she’d sworn to serve?

A coup!

From this day, the throne in Hertonmar’s royal palace wouldn’t hold Queen Skadi, but the Magic Bullet Queen – Fina Hamilton.

This signaled the Hamiltons emerging from shadows to seize power openly.

While bringing great advantages, it would also trigger crushing opposition. The Senator faction led by Sais family could now righteously rally lords against Hamiltons using "court purification" as their banner. Even some Queen’s faction nobles might defect.

After all, nobles prized self-interest. While Grand Duke Hamilton served their needs, a Hamilton monarchy might threaten their privileges. As Belmar’s established elite, they feared change – especially Fina’s complete overthrow of the existing order.

The coming difficulties were obvious even to Alice, let alone Midi.

Yet Midi understood why Fina pursued this path despite the obstacles.

The Iron-Blood Duke’s betrayal. Civilians displaced by civil war. Brother armies slaughtering each other. Even the Nibelungen Dragon Sealing Array meant to protect Belmar had become lightning of destruction.

The Queen herself turned traitor, inviting brutal Pretenders to transform Hertonmar’s citizens – people who revered her – into cattle for blood harvests.

All rooted in power lust.

Thus Fina aimed to purge all craving for power.

Midi had always known his fiery-haired love wasn’t some etiquette-obsessed lady nor compromiser. If something displeased her, she’d reshape it herself!

Typical Fina, no?

Midi’s lips curled slightly.

"Redhead killed the Queen to take her crown?" Alice’s voice whispered in his ear, the reclusive Mist Sorceress seeking confirmation.

"Exactly."

"Meaning hordes of enemies ahead?" She sighed, head tilted.

Yet Midi saw battle-hunger burning in the black-haired girl’s eyes. Alice was more impulsive than Fina – a gunpowder keg beneath icy beauty. Justified war against hypocrite nobles? She’d relish it, likely stuffing many into her lab.

But this time, her hopes would die unborn.

"Nobles will rage," Midi smiled. "But none dare challenge Hawk Brigade. Because we hold this."

He pointed downward.

Though mortal wars ended, two Trees of Life still clashed. Left unchecked, Hertonmar’s ancient tree would consume Midi’s sapling within months.

With the overall situation secured, Midi wouldn’t permit this. He’d halt Hertonmar Tree’s assault while preserving both trees’ existence!

Twin Trees of Life forming Gemini Trees would more than double Nibelungen Array’s power. Belmar’s dragon vein would cycle nourishment through both root systems, magic flowing endlessly like new springs.

A grand strategy to strengthen Belmar – best implemented now.

The key lay in the hall’s central magic array built by the Pretender leader – that black-robed elder.

Life Withering Array.

A Pretender tool for power overdraft. Its energy let Nibelungen Array summon nationwide lightning as defense weaponry – unsustainable magic draining the dragon vein’s vitality. Midi would never permit its continued use.

But if modified to draw power from Tree of Life itself…

Midi’s smile deepened.

"I know you hear. Understand. Watch." He shouted at the tree mansion’s ceiling. "Tree of Life, Yggdrasil’s Branch – you see humans as ants, their squabbles as jokes. You care only for growing stronger. Now I command: Yield!"