EP - 5 - THE QUEEN OF NATURE

EPISODE - 5 : the queen of nature

Episode 5 — The Queen of Nature

[Level: 13 | Setting: Plains to Cottage | Tone: Raw, Tense, Surprising]

The last of the Royal Wolves collapsed.

The Master’s level surged from 3 to 13 instantly. His body didn’t glow, but his calm smile gave it away. The demons stood nearby — silent, leaning toward him like satellites around a sun.

Above them, the view zoomed out — away from the plains, into the sky, up from the world — as if something far bigger had begun watching.

Then, the scene shifted.

They kept walking. The journey didn’t slow. Monsters kept coming, and the team kept killing. Beasts, predators, and enemies fell like wind-blown leaves.

But something started to boil quietly in the group.

Love wasn’t happy.

Rage noticed Love’s anger bubbling as they walked. Dissatisfied, tense, annoyed. He didn’t speak out loud, but the fire in his eyes said enough. He wasn’t okay with Joy choosing Rage as leader.

Rage didn’t wait. He walked up to Happy, who also looked conflicted, and pulled him aside. He whispered something to him, short and direct.

A moment later, Happy walked back silently and nodded. Whatever Rage said… it worked.

Happy still looked unsure. But his loyalty won over personal feelings. For now, he accepted Rage as leader too.

The Master didn’t say much. He was exhausted but strangely satisfied. He glanced at the horizon and then pointed.

“There,” he said. “A place to rest.”

It was a small cottage, sitting alone at the edge of the forest. Smoke curled out of the chimney. The smell of cooked food drifted in the air.

The Master felt something stir in his stomach — hunger.

As they approached the door, the demons stayed alert. They didn’t expect trouble, but something about this place felt different.

They stopped.

An old woman stepped out. She wore simple clothes, her posture straight, her face full of calm.

The Master stepped forward, politely.

“Namaste, Dadiji,” he said softly. “We don’t have a place to sleep. We’re adventurers… lost on our way to the palace. Can we stay here tonight?”

She looked at him. Not surprised. Not afraid.

Just smiling.

Then she said:

“No need to lie, Demon Lord. I know who you are.”

The demons stiffened. Even Joy tilted his head slightly.

The Master looked at her again, trying to read her aura, trying to see her floating tag. But there was nothing. No title. No class. No rank. Just blank air.

She continued, “You can stay. But this place isn’t fancy. I have no furniture… and no special food. Just what nature gave me.”

The Master bowed lightly. “We’ll get our own food from the forest then. You’ve already helped us.”

She shook her head gently. “No. Please don’t disturb nature. I’ve already cooked food. You’re welcome to have it.”

That’s when Anger stepped forward.

“Hey. That was an order from the Master. Not a request.”

The old lady didn’t flinch. She simply looked at him and replied, “I was just explaining, not refusing.”

Anger clenched his fists.

“That’s it. You’re done, old hag.”

He rushed forward.

Joy suddenly yelled: “You foolish little demon!”

But it was too late.

Anger’s fist flew straight toward the old woman.

She didn’t move until the last second — and then, she calmly raised her hand and caught his punch mid-air, her expression unchanged.

She held his wrist tight.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” she asked softly.

Anger tried to pull back — but her grip didn’t loosen. She didn’t even strain.

“Fine,” she said. “Let’s fight.”

Before anyone could react, she swung Anger over her shoulder and slammed him down.

Rage reacted immediately, summoning his sword and shield, rushing toward her. But as soon as he got close—

She grabbed his neck.

Now both Rage and Anger were in her hands, completely overpowered.

Everyone froze.

No one expected this.

The Master’s expression changed.

She looked at him with calm eyes.

“Send your strongest,” she said. “Then I’ll go for you.”

Rage and Anger both desummoned, their bodies breaking into aura particles and fading.

The Master quietly turned to Joy. “Your turn.”

Joy stepped forward without hesitation.

But before the fight even began—

The old woman blurred across the field, and in one instant, Strength and Pitty fell, lifeless.

She didn’t even look back at their bodies.

She walked toward the Master slowly.

“You’ve overcome Guilt,” she said. “Pretty impressive.”

She smiled, a little cruel now.

“But you’re not even close.”

Joy cracked his neck. “That’s enough.”

He dashed forward, fast.

She reached to grab him like she did the others—

But it didn’t work.

Joy broke free of her hold and sent her flying 20 meters across the field.

She stood back up, brushing dust from her hands. “Oh… I really have gotten old.”

They rushed toward each other again. This time fists clashed. Their auras collided, and the Master’s system flashed red.

Joy summoned his long, elegant sword.

The old woman summoned two green, glowing knives, burning like leaves on fire.

Their weapons clashed.

Over and over.

Fast. Too fast to track.

The forest shook. Sparks flew.

Their battle went on for two hours, non-stop.

At one point, the Master tried to summon the other demons, but stopped them.

“Let it stay fair,” he said.

Eventually — the battle turned.

Joy began to gain ground. He landed a brutal kick, and the old woman collapsed to the ground. She didn’t move for a second.

Joy walked up to her slowly, tired but standing tall.

“You fight well, lady,” he said.

Then — another voice from behind the Master:

“You fight well, too.”

The Master turned.

It was Joy — standing untouched.

The Joy who had been fighting… shimmered.

It was Happy in disguise.

Scene shift.

A fire cracked softly outside the cottage.

Everyone was there — eating soup, resting, recovering.

Even the old woman sat peacefully with them now, her eyes glowing faintly.

Only Happy rested inside the cottage, exhausted.

The woman stirred the pot gently and looked up at the Master.

“I’m not human. Not beast. Not royal.”

“I am the Queen of Nature. And I will protect it — no matter the cost.”

Far away, in a grand chamber—

A furious king slammed his hands on the table.

“Where are the reports of the troops I sent to the wall? Sixteen thousand soldiers. I want answers. Now!”

The room went silent.

Something was shifting