The Dried Miracle and the Iron Blood Empress
Empress Lea, she who formed the earth with her power, established the world with her wisdom, and stretched out the heavens with her understanding—may the miracle spring water and the elixir of immortality, and all things of the world, be in her storehouse (excerpted) Lian Gi 12:13, 35
At the same time
The miracle spring located on the opposite side of the forest
"Ah... no......"
Emperor Ryan of the current Empire couldn't believe his own eyes.
Just moments ago, the spring had been full to the brim, but now its water level was dropping. The miracle water that had filled it was beginning to vanish.
"Wh-why... why is this happening?!"
The emperor hurriedly jumped into the spring, trying to scoop up the water.
His clothes and body were completely soaked, but he couldn't have cared less.
This miracle had filled his empty future—his "growth"—with abundance.
His last hope, the Empire's bright future, was disappearing.
"Please... please stop... stop right here!!!!"
He scraped and scooped desperately to preserve the spring water, but...
"......Please."
Not only the water in the spring but even the water he had managed to gather evaporated entirely and vanished.
Thud
"......It's over."
The emperor collapsed powerlessly to his knees.
The miracle was gone.
His confidence, his golden hair, everything that made him a man... it would all disappear.
Why had it come to this?
The emperor recalled the message that had appeared before his eyes moments ago.
Labyrinth Tower Floor 4: Miracle Great Forest has been cleared by player 'Lea' and 0 others.
Due to player 'Lea''s choice, all maps in the Miracle Great Forest will be closed to players except for a portion.
Deportation measures for currently connected players are beginning.
Because the previous emperor had conquered the layer?
To make this spring the Empire's, he had asked Empress Lea to demolish the massive tower in the heart of the forest.
He thought the fourth layer would become the empress's, and this spring would belong to the Empire—but who knew the spring itself would vanish.
Was his greed to monopolize the miracle what brought this disaster?
The miracle spring water was a support consumable item and gimmick for removing debuffs to clear the Miracle Great Forest. With the layer cleared, there was no reason for it to persist.
That was why the spring had disappeared, but the emperor had no way of knowing.
"How am I supposed to face the previous emperors......"
The emperor collapsed face-down on the ground in a daze.
Ding
Labyrinth Tower Floor 4 has been cleared, unlocking the Labyrinth Shop for all players.
"......Labyrinth Shop?"
The emperor rose to his feet at the sudden alert window before his eyes.
Labyrinth Shop.
From the name, it seemed like a shop selling items related to the Labyrinth.
"......No way."
A single ray of hope flashed through the emperor's mind.
What if he could buy the miracle spring water from this shop?
The emperor hurriedly opened the Luddera interface.
He rummaged through it and pressed the button he found.
"Enter Labyrinth Shop."
Fwoosh
As the light briefly obscuring his vision faded...
"This is......"
A vast, infinite warehouse larger and more expansive than the imperial palace unfolded before the emperor's eyes.
"......God's... storehouse?"
"I ask thee. Art thou Albus?"
Albus stepped back slightly, appraising the woman before him.
She wore an ornate, antique dress adorned with countless accessories covering her body.
Her appearance was that of a beauty in her late twenties.
Her haughty speech and demeanor suggested someone of considerable status.
Albus called up the status window for the woman before him.
Ding
'......Lea? Is this the player who solo-cleared floor 4?'
It was the name that had appeared in the global clear announcement moments ago.
LV 357
A level in the 300s, proof of a transcendent being who had surpassed countless walls.
A powerhouse on the verge of rivaling the founding emperor before his awakening—just a bit more, and she'd reach that realm.
It made sense how she'd cleared the fourth floor.
'More than that...... Iron Blood Empress? The one who ruled the Empire during its most aggressive era long ago?'
To encounter yet another figure from the history books.
Were all the Empire's emperors just playing dead and living somewhere?
They kept popping up one by one.
"Dost thou not answer this one's question?"
Lea slowly descended from the throne.
"Art thou Albus?"
"Ugh......!"
Lea reached Albus and lifted his chin with her finger.
A chill ran down Albus's spine.
How does this woman know my name? Even after I changed my appearance.
Even if Lea was a level 300+ transcendent and the Iron Blood Empress, to Albus—who held all of GM's authority—she was just another player.
If he wanted, he could eject her from Luddera with a single word.
But this behavior suggested she knew him and had sought him out.
Albus decided to observe her first and gather information.
"Hmph...... So shy. Adorably so."
Tap
Lea placed one hand atop Albus's head.
"This one can peer into thy memories at will."
'......What!'
A memory-reading spell.
It was her unique magic, developed by her own hand.
With it, she had punished all the Empire's treacherous ministers and forged the continent's strongest hegemon.
She had often used it on later emperors, her closest loyal retainers, even her own family—her younger sibling.
"Yet for some reason, this one does not wish to use it on thee. Thou art far too precious for that. A truly mysterious feeling."
Stroke, stroke
Lea petted Albus's head before lowering her hand.
'......'
Albus quickly closed the removal command window he'd opened at the mention of memory reading.
'I don't know why, but she seems to have a favorable impression of me......'
At the very least, she wasn't hostile.
If she'd tried to read his memories, he would have deleted her from Luddera entirely to prevent it—but since she'd stopped, he'd watch a bit longer.
"Who are you?"
"......!"
Lea's eyes widened at Albus's retort.
"Such a... rapturous voice. How can even thy voice be so beautiful?"
After subtly casting a spell to remove the moisture from her undergarments, Lea continued.
"This one is the Empire's great empress. Lea Ahenobarbus."
"Empress...?"
"I know it is hard to believe. Centuries have passed since this one's death. Yet this one has been resurrected. By the power of a special forbidden art this one created."
'Resurrected? Is that even possible...?'
"Of course, 'tis an abnormal resurrection mediated by the soul itself, so this one should have dissipated mere hours after revival. But that did not happen. Thanks to the uniqueness of this world."
Only then did Albus understand the situation.
How the Iron Blood Empress, known to have died centuries ago, was here.
Why her status said "Spiritual Body."
'I don't get the principle, but basically, she temporarily revived at the cost of her soul, but due to Luddera's virtual reality nature, she's permanently revived inside here. Something like that?'
Guess not all Empire emperors were immortals.
He'd wondered if they were all secretly alive somewhere after meeting so many past ones in a row, but it seemed the founding emperor and this woman were special cases.
'I get why she's here. But.'
Why does she know my name?
And why does she think I'm Albus even after I changed my face?
Albus pondered.
Should he admit he's Albus?
There was a risk of his real-world identity being exposed.
Seeing Albus deep in thought, Lea spoke.
"Forgive me."
"......?"
"This one has unwittingly intimidated thee."
Lea took Albus's hands in hers and clasped them neatly.
"Fear not. This one is on thy side."
......Huh?
Didn't we just meet?
Lea smiled warmly.
If her former subjects saw that expression, they would be stunned.
Why was she called the Iron Blood Empress?
Because she never showed emotion on her face, no matter the situation.
Even when physically seizing the throne from her father,
Even when personally ripping out her rebelling brother's throat,
Her expression had never changed—yet now it beamed with a motherly benevolence.
"This world's god desires that this one be with thee. And this one finds thee most pleasing as well."
Lea pulled Albus's hand—still clasped in hers—to her bosom.
Squish
His hand slipped between two round, ample mounds.
Albus felt their warm, soft touch.
"Dost thou hear it? The pounding of this one's heart."
Lea brought her lips to Albus's ear and whispered.
"......!"
"'Tis all because of thee. This one's heart, unmoved by any battlefield, now trembles."
Lea's lips slowly approached Albus's ear.
The moment the empress's mouth was about to bite his ear—
KABOOOOM
An overwhelming surge of destructive energy poured down from the sky.
The moment a dragon's breath crashed down—
"......Hm. I surely selected the option to deport all interlopers......"
The shield enveloping the empress's body flickered.
Tap
On the opposite side, a red-haired woman glared at Lea while holding Albus in her arms.
Dozens of magic circles drew themselves behind Lea.
"Didst thou mistake?"
"To try stealing my precious treasure. A lowly beast like thee......"
Gritting her teeth, Kartesia thrust one hand forward.
A dragon's head formed around her hand.
In the heart of the great forest—
KABOOOOOM
The clash of two titans' powers erupted.