The Heavenly Martial Empress Returns: An OP Xianxia Returnee LitRPG

Chapter 108: The War Games Begin!

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As Mursha suddenly started to cry after the plans I told her about, I ended up hugging her to comfort her. She had asked me to help her get her revenge, and she had gone through all the suffering this world could have offered her.

And she wasn’t wrong; without her permission, I took a glimpse at her memories when she hugged me. My hand gently touched her head, and a wave of images passed through my mind instantly. They were only fragments; I dared not look at her complete memories.

But I did see what she went through and the horrendous things the Cult of the Barbarian God had done to her and the Bloodfang Tribe.

These people... they’re truly scoundrels, criminals, and evil demonic cultivators beyond salvation!

This cult is full of monstrous people; they do not deserve to live anymore.

No, they don’t even deserve a swift death, but a painful and agonizing one.

They must go through all the pain and suffering they inflicted on others to finally realize the damage their actions do to others.

The damage they did to Mursha, whose entire family was massacred in front of her...

“Mursha… I will help you,” I said. “Do you wish to take revenge on your own hands against that cult?”

“I… But they’re too strong and too many, their bishops and-”

“There’s nothing impossible as long as I am here,” I said. “I will take care of that god, and you will take care of the filthy mortals down here who dared to do such horrendous things while thinking they would never have repercussions. Unfortunately, karma is real, and it will always come back to bite your tail when you continue doing horrendous things. And I am the Agent of Karma, the Judge.”

“J-Judge…?” She felt confused but could clearly understand the meaning behind my words.

Since I awakened in Murim, I’ve strived forward through a path of righteousness. Even as I struggled, even as I was forced to kill and slaughter others, I never dared touch an innocent life.

I protected those in need. Even when I was much weaker than those hunting them, I sacrificed my all for those in need.

And in exchange, over time, the world also changed.

When I fully ascended into the new Venerable and the other Venerables, even the Father of all humanity came after me.

All of the world of Murim was by my side, as were the spirits of the people and their hope.

Perhaps the big sects still opposed me and allied their Venerables, but not even the Primordial Father of Humanity could change people’s minds.

They knew the world was unjust and full of unfairness, and they wanted me to win.

They waited all their lives—all these generations—for someone like me to finally appear in their world.

And I did not disappoint them; I took justice upon my hands, and I slayed all evil and all wickedness.

In the process, though, I slowly felt like I had lost myself, becoming nothing but a shell of my former self.

Emotions themselves had faded away, and I became bleak and silent, expressionless.

Until I came back home, and everything I thought I had forgotten and lost slowly started coming back.

Although this madness within me remains, I have slowly begun to remember many things, including my humanity.

But when things like these occur in every world I’ve visited...

Can I truly say I won’t do anything?

Can I truly stand still and simply watch?

I can’t.

I simply cannot do that.

Some might call me a hypocrite.

Others may think I am just a selfish woman.

But I do not care.

When I see those less than me in pain, I must act and save them.

Because what other purpose has the strength I’ve attained?

If I do not embrace this kindness surging within my heart, won’t I just become another monster, just like that God?

With so much power, all for their own selfish reasons. 

I would only become what I hate the most.

“Mursha alright?” Fiery Hair wondered. "Cry, do not! Mursha warrior, right? Bing Bing will help! She’s strong and will help you! I will too! Fiery Hair likes Mursha. Mursha is a warrior and strong of heart. Mursha hesitated, but that’s because Mursha is a good person!”

“Fiery Hair…” Mursha finally let go of me, as she nodded and smiled after cleaning her tears. “I apologize for what you saw... We’ve only met for a day, yet I act like we’ve known each other for so long. There’s something about you that is so warm; it somewhat reminds me of my mother.” She looked at me.

“Is that so?” I giggled. “Perhaps I am quite motherly, yes.”

Mursha blushed a bit, but then quickly tried to calm herself down.

“I’m fine…” she walked away, trying to act cool. “But... thanks for giving me this chance. I have fought you, and I know firsthand that your strength is near bottomless. You have barely shown me what you can do, right, Bing Xue?”

“Yeah,” I smiled. “I did an honorable fight and only used swordsmanship, but indeed, there are... There are many things I can do.”

“Then when do we begin?” Mursha asked.

“Once the War Games begin,” I said. “It shall begin as normal… And then…”

I told her my plans, which I also shared with my beloved girlfriends, Urbosa and Merkite, and then with Seth and Peperina, and of course, the rest of the cavemen. 

I also got to meet the leader of the Hawk Eyes, a very tall man with long emerald-colored hair and sharp golden eyes. His brown-skinned body was covered with many tattoos representing mountains, winds, and birds.

“Name is… Storm Eye…” he said. “Storm Eye is the chief of Hawk Eye people. We are grateful for your… help. We serve… Bing Bing!”

“Wait, Bing Bing?!” I wondered. “I appreciate you’re trying to speak now; after all, Fiery Hair is the only one that can speak the best among you all, but my real name is not Bing Bing; I’m known as Bing Xue! But actually, my truest name is Katherine.”

“Not… Bing Bing? Has Fiery Hair lied to us?!” Storm Eye was shocked. “Lie is... great crime! Betrayal of trust!”

“…Okay, fine, it’s Bing Bing…”

I wouldn’t want them to begin doubting her or not trusting her anymore, so let’s leave it be for now.

“Oh, so joke?” He laughed a bit. “Hahahaha! Funny! Bing Bing has a good sense of humor! We... people appreciate... funny people!”

“O-Okay… yeah,” I sighed. “Sure…”

I suppose I’ll have to swallow my pride for now. Fiery Hair and the rest of the cavemen are going to help a lot, so I suppose it cannot be helped.

After all of that, we waited, sparring with my friends and allies, while Seth told me about his plan and what he planned for the upcoming fight.

And then the War Games were finally about to begin, and the three other factions finally gathered, each under a flag.

The Orc Flag, the Thrall Flag, and the Beast-kin Flag.

Aside from the Players, there were also many of the world’s greatest warriors here.

Some looked excited about the bloodshed, while others were very sad and afraid and clearly didn’t want to do this.

There were even... children here.

Although children aren’t allowed to climb the tower, those born in this world are being forced to fight.

There were chains around their necks; they probably belonged to lesser, nomadic tribes they captured to fight.

And act as “offerings” for their mad, barbaric god.

They have gone too far now.

This is unforgivable!

The cult members were mostly gathered outside of the large territory used for the war, a gigantic area within the endless grasslands that covered several thousands of kilometers.

The people fighting were roughly… over a thousand. Approximately 1252 people. At least 150 of them were children below 15 years of age.

They looked afraid and were not ready to face their deaths. The other participants had all their eyes on them, looking at the children as nothing but bags of points.

“So this is your little army now, huh? Mursha, you’ve finally found some worthy fighters, it seems!” A huge, red-skinned orc laughed with a long gray beard, holding two giant axes. “It has been a couple of years since you’ve participated… I can’t wait to tear you to shreds and burn your corpse, hahahaha! Don’t worry, you got plenty of points, right? You’ll just revive later! So let me do whatever I want with you, okay, little Miss Bloodfang?”

“Infernos…” muttered Mursha, gritting her teeth.

“Who is he?” asked Urbosa.

“He’s the general of the Orc Faction,” said Mursha. “A monstrous barbarian man, and a high-ranking member of the cult. He’s… been always stronger than me. But I won’t let that happen; things will be different now.”

“I’m planning to spare most people, but yes, there are a few that deserve death.” I nodded. “Hmm?”

I noticed another general of the beast-kin faction, a tall Lion Beast man of almost the same size as the orcs, muscular, covered in golden brown fur, with sharp crimson eyes.

He was covered in black armor and holding onto a huge silver-colored sword, which seemed to be shaped like a giant fang.

“Hmph… It seems some of our deserters have come back with their tails between their legs?” he muttered with a serious and tyrannical voice.

“Leos is here?!” Urbosa muttered.

“Why did he join?! I thought he had retired?!” Merkite cried.

They both looked upset and even slightly afraid.

So this bastard is part of the reason why their village escaped their world, most likely.

“I suppose you barely have points, yes?” he said, smirking. “I’ll make sure to kill you for your treason to your world. And it won’t be an easy kill! You will pay greatly for your offenses! Your heads shall be impaled and placed outside the camp as an example to all deserters that dare come back!”

“OOOOHHHH!”

The rest of the beasts and players in his faction roared in unison, his aura surging with a golden light. His words were pitiful, but they still made me mad. I wanted to go there and rip his head off.

But there was a plan, and I was going to follow it this time.

Even more because my girls were not truly afraid, but furious.

They groaned, showing him their sharp fangs.

“Grrhhh… You’ll see! We’ll avenge those you killed!” Urbosa roared.

“Gggrrrhhh…! Don’t you think we’ve forgotten those you hunted down as we escaped, monster!” Merkite screamed.

“Hahah! You are just weaklings! But sure, so be it! I like your attitude…” Leos laughed. “I shall tear down that pride of yours, you filthy women!”

He’s going too far…

“Make sure to fuck him over and sideways, girls,” I said.

“Sure thing, this is our battle after all!” Urbosa groaned; she looked furious.

“We’ll avenge our tribe!” Merkite said. “Leave this to us... Our strength is sufficient!”

“Okay then… I won’t insult your pride, and I will leave this to you then.” I nodded. “Now, who’s the third general here?”

I looked at the third appearance—someone silent who didn’t say a single word but only watched his surroundings; he led the Thralls and other Players.

His appearance wasn’t completely Thrall-like, though; he seemed like a half-red orc and a half-Thrall with a lanky, muscular body.

He wore a black cloak, and his sharp crimson eyes glowed with fiery flames. His Aura was full of complete shadows, surrounding him as it waved around menacingly.

“It’s him…”

Mursha immediately recognized him.

“Another member of the cult too?”

I had seen him, actually. In the memories I saw of Mursha, I remember that he was the one who found her when she was trying to hide and brought her to the cult.

It was the event that caused her entire tribe to sacrifice themselves for her sake, so they wouldn’t push her into the War Games as a child.

“Yeah, another bastard I must take care of…” Mursha groaned. “But I can’t fight two at the same time.”

“Leave the red orc to me,” Peperina suddenly stepped in. “I remember my mother once talking to me about a red-skinned orc that terrorized her tribe once. I want to ask him a few questions.”

“Are you sure?” I asked her.

“Yes, don’t worry,” Peperina smiled. “I am not the same as before either!”

“…Very well,” I nodded. “I shall assist everyone as well. And you, Seth, help me out taking care of the trash.”

“I know,” he said. “I won’t harm anybody else but those that deserve it. We think alike in that regard, Bing Xue.”

“Good.” I nodded. “So, when do the War Games end?”

“There are three conditions in which they can end,” Mursha said. “If all factions lose fifty percent of their soldiers, if at least all generals die, or if the four hours a War Game lasts come to an end.”

“Understood,” I nodded. “Then let’s begin.”

Ding!

[The Floor 2 {War Games} are about to begin!]

[Slay your foes to gain War Points and rise to the top of the War Games!]

[The Tower God {Battle-Loving Barbarian King} has high expectations of this great bloodshed now that you’re here! He is looking forward to your feats!]

Yes, I hope you're looking forward to it.

I'm sure you’ll love it.

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