The diplomatic ministers huddled together, trembling like wheat stalks in the wind, desperately wishing they could grow hard shells to instantly retreat into.
The demi-human guards took urgent positions near each window, their heightened senses catching the scent of danger. They drew their swords with practiced efficiency, their gazes sharp as arrows nocked on bowstrings, ready to strike at a moment's notice.
What exactly was happening? Why had the guards suddenly become so vigilant?
Though these questions burned in their minds, the ministers dared not voice them - whether from fear of the bottomless abyss outside the carriage, or terror of Gwen standing in the center.
Gwen remained expressionless, seemingly unconcerned with the crisis. Her silver armor radiated like a northern storm, her frost-like authority sweeping over all who dared glance her way. The ministers could only steal quick glances, her overwhelming presence making coherent thought impossible. They might well collapse from this crushing authority before the train could either crash or reach the Kingdom of Kante.
Had Lady Gwen always been this intimidating? How Viktor managed to endure her presence was beyond comprehension. These thoughts sent waves of newfound respect for Viktor surging through the ministers' hearts.
The knights also sensed the train's irregularity, hurriedly crossing paths with heavy metallic clanks from their armor as they moved through the carriages in formation, rushing toward the princess's location. They had never encountered such a situation before.
The magic train suddenly shaking? An earthquake? Impossible. How could a train suspended in mid-air be affected by earthly tremors? Yet the violent shaking genuinely sparked terror. Since its invention and implementation, the magic train had never malfunctioned. If there were truly hidden defects, that dwarven councilor who invented it would surely lose his composure.
CLANG!
Another violent impact struck the carriage roof. The intense vibration destabilized everyone, instinctively grabbing for any solid support within reach. Countless knights nearly lost their grip in the impact, feeling the carriage tilt - for an instant, death seemed terrifyingly close. Their hearts pounded as blood rushed to their heads.
Meanwhile, the demi-human guards maintained their balance through natural agility, steadily perched on the seat backs.
Suddenly, the train stopped shaking. As if forced to halt, the trembling ceased and the train stopped with it. Everyone froze, watching clouds roll past while they remained suspended in mid-air, able only to stare helplessly.
How could the train simply stop in mid-air?
The ministers descended into confusion, peering through the tilted windows at the chilling abyss below. After two impacts, the train had inevitably lost stability. The entire carriage hung slightly tilted in mid-air, finding an unsettling balance above the magical tracks, stubbornly standing like a leaning tower.
What could possibly stop a train at this altitude?
Yet Gwen spoke calmly, as if having anticipated this: "Viktor said this would inevitably happen when leaving the Empire."
What did she mean?
Her words shocked everyone present. The diplomatic ministers had no prior warning about facing such dangers during the journey. Hearing this sudden revelation left them with extremely complicated feelings.
So Viktor and the others knew the train would encounter danger, yet didn't inform them, instead letting them face this peril together? No wonder there were so many guards on this train. Even Viktor himself had joined the journey.
Right - Viktor! Where was Viktor?
Thinking of him gave the ministers a slight sense of security. But now with the train suspended in mid-air, in such a crisis, what was Viktor doing? Why hadn't he appeared?
Suddenly, Gwen drew her blazing sword. Instantly, sword intent flooded outward, the surrounding air growing scorching hot. The dry air began to distort as sword flames coiled like a fire dragon. The blazing light cast her frost-like face in crimson, as if two forces were merging to unleash even greater power.
Her cold voice reached every ear: "Now, please remain quietly in your seats. Whatever happens next, do not be alarmed."
The demi-human guards gripped their sword hilts tightly, ready for battle.
At that moment, a soul-shaking roar erupted from the front of the train, like a giant beast's cry that made even the clouds outside tremble. The deafening roar pained the ministers' ears as they covered them, faces twisted in agony.
What was happening?
The sound came from... the first-class carriage.
The knights, covering their ears against the sound, instantly realized: That was where Princess Aurelianne was!
Was the princess in danger!?
The knights swallowed hard at this thought, unsure how to proceed.
The ministers had no time to think. What did Aurelianne's safety matter to them!? With their own lives at stake, how could they worry about losing their heads if something happened to Aurelianne?
Suddenly, accompanying the roar, the train's windows and doors exploded with a thunderous crash. Black tentacles extended from outside, quickly coiling around the entire carriage like giant snakes and beginning to constrict violently. The carriage twisted and deformed under the pressure, its sides bulging open to create two gaping rifts.
The ministers, numb with horror, could only stare silently as the tentacles wrapped around tighter and tighter, making the distorted carriage emit sharp creaking sounds.
Yet Gwen remained calm. She stood with one foot on the twisted seat, her crimson sword like a beam of light piercing darkness, its flames still illuminating her ice-cold face.
Finally, some ministers overcame their fear enough to look at the black shell revealing its true form.
In that instant, terror filled their hearts.
The formless body writhed constantly, tentacles extending from its filthy mass. Within that chaos-like black shell, a yellow eyeball was vaguely visible, like a lump of flesh. It opened its eye, carefully examining the panicked crowd in the carriage. Until that disgusted gaze gradually focused on one figure.
The ministers followed the abomination's line of sight, also landing on Gwen.
"Goddess... Goddess..."
A complex chant like an ancient language came from all directions, confused and incomprehensible, causing intense unease.
However, Gwen showed no mercy, stomping her foot powerfully enough to make the entire carriage tremble. With her flame sword cutting through the air, she arrived before the monster in an instant, wrapped in scarlet flames.
One slash sent out crimson light as if cutting through the scorching space itself, flames quickly spreading as a terrible explosion suddenly rang out in mid-air, blasting away a large section of the carriage.
The violent winds from the explosion kept compressing before finally bursting outward. Air howled continuously, filling the azure sky dotted with white clouds, rushing into the narrow twisted carriage and unleashing a storm of savage pressure.
The ministers quickly grabbed the nearest handholds, terrified of being swept away by the violent tempest.
The towering black tentacles burst apart after receiving this terrifying flame strike, transforming into countless drops of ink-like pollution falling onto the carriage. Black liquid seeped into the carriage through narrow cracks.
Soon, these dark droplets flowed from the floor, gathering into numerous filthy monsters. Slender tentacles dragged nauseating bodies as they slowly surged toward the ministers.
The instant the ministers glimpsed these creatures, they fell into ice-cold terror. The tentacles Gwen had severed had transformed into countless filthy monsters.
But the demi-humans were already prepared - seeing these creatures, their tail fur and ears stood on end as if their beast nature erupted, fiercely pouncing on the demon horde.
These filthy tentacles proved surprisingly weak, quickly eliminated by the demi-humans in mere moments.
Gwen stood like a snow cedar facing the wind, her gaze fixed on the twisted monster. Fierce cold winds whipped her hair as she held her flame sword, heart like ice and sword like fire, directly facing fear.
The tentacle-covered monster burned with seemingly unquenchable flames. Even its yellow eyeball appeared touched by ghost fire. Its flesh-merged eyeball stared intently at Gwen, mumbling incomprehensible ancient words:
"God...dess?"
"Why..."
In that instant, it seemed to fall into overwhelming rage, its tentacles seizing the train in a death grip. After arcing through the air, it hurled the train violently toward the deep valley below.
Whoosh—!
The carriage could no longer withstand such force, plunging through howling cold winds toward the chasm.
In that moment, everyone in the carriage felt the terrifying sensation of free fall. Even the demi-humans lost their balance, crashing into the walls. The horrifying weightlessness left the ministers speechless, their minds ceased functioning. Only the surrounding howling winds continuously filled their ears.
Hum—
Suddenly, a vast sea of magical power completely enveloped the carriage. The distorted magic seemed to lift the entire carriage, forcefully suspending it in mid-air. The knights and ministers also floated within the carriage.
As if having survived a catastrophe, they stared dumbfounded outside the carriage. Then they all saw the black figure beyond.
Outside, Viktor stood with hands in pockets, his black coat fluttering. Standing straight, floating in mid-air. Behind his coat, five different-colored streaks lit up, forming five giant elemental hands. Magical power extended from his five palms, firmly gripping and seemingly ethereal, supporting the suspended train.
He raised his head to look at the goddess follower that had revealed its true form, burning with flames, his expression cold.
"As expected, you who didn't dare show yourselves in the Empire," he said, "How could you pass up this opportunity?"
"""
# Translation Summary
"""
Key Improvements Made:
1. Enhanced Dramatic Flow:
- Improved pacing of action sequences
- Strengthened tension build-up
- Better transition between scenes
2. Refined Character Portrayal:
- Enhanced Gwen's intimidating presence
- Better conveyed ministers' fear and confusion
- Strengthened Viktor's dramatic entrance
3. Technical Improvements:
- Polished sentence structures
- Enhanced descriptive language
- Better paragraph transitions
- Added dialogue attribution tags where needed
4. Atmospheric Elements:
- Enhanced description of magical effects
- Improved portrayal of horror elements
- Better conveyed sense of danger
5. Consistency Verification:
- Maintained consistent character names
- Preserved magical terminology
- Ensured consistent tone throughout
The final version achieves a more polished, professional quality while maintaining the original's dramatic impact and atmospheric elements.
New names/terms introduced in this chapter:
- No new character names introduced
- Special terms: Magical tracks, first-class carriage
- Location: Kingdom of Kante, The Empire
"""
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