The Queen Who Fights Back (by Lily Hastings) novel Chapter 198

**A Symphony of Shadows by Evelyn Hart**
**Chapter 198**

Bold and unapologetic.

And yet, here she was, placing herself right at the epicenter of danger, revealing her true self in a place fraught with peril.

Every burden that was originally meant for Maxwell and Hannah now rested squarely on her shoulders.

“Who is Lionel? And seriously, who’s after you, Nova?”

“Hannie, just take a good look at your sister. A moment ago, she was ready to throw punches at us, and now she’s out here barking like a wild animal. Is she losing it or what?”

Claire winced, tending to her hands that were marred by sharp fragments from the explosion, blowing gently on them as she voiced her complaints.

“Look at me, I’m injured! Waaah.”

From the perspectives of Zane, Jessica, Ethan, Claire, and Hannah, the identity of this Lionel remained shrouded in mystery, as did the threat Nova felt looming over her.

It had never crossed their minds that the infamous Bloodforge, the mercenary queen, could possibly have any connection to Nova.

At best, they were merely intrigued by Nova’s sudden shift into frantic behavior.

“Crazy? You’re the one who’s lost it!” Nova retorted sharply.

In the earlier days, Hannah would have jumped to Claire’s defense, ready to unleash her fury upon Nova.

But witnessing Nova, who had dashed back without a moment’s hesitation upon realizing they were in peril, had genuinely touched Hannah’s heart.

Though she kept her emotions hidden, she refused to let Claire insult Nova, so she shot back with a fierce glare.

“Hannie? Are you really calling me crazy right now?”

“You’re siding with her over me?” Claire stammered in disbelief, completely rattled.

It was unfathomable for Claire—after years of being inseparable best friends, Hannah had chosen to stand by Nova’s side against her?

In contrast to the oblivious college students, who would never have linked Nova to Bloodforge,

Fierce Python and his Grasshopper Mercenary Squad, alongside Eder and a handful of mercenaries who had trailed Nova back into the dense jungle,

and the hundred or so machine gunners nestled within the attack helicopters that loomed ominously overhead…

These were not naive youths; they understood the nuances and could discern the deeper implications behind Nova’s declarations.

When Nova boldly proclaimed her identity, every single one of them gaped at her in utter shock, their eyes wide with disbelief.

A sudden flurry of footsteps echoed around them.

Perhaps it was the sheer weight of Bloodforge’s fearsome reputation that sent shivers down their spines.

As soon as Nova spoke, the hundred machine gunners instinctively recoiled, their fear palpable.

“Our boss…” one of them stammered, his voice quivering with trepidation.

“She… she… she…” another mercenary faltered, utterly floored by the revelation.

Inside the attack helicopters, Eder and the Blood Dolls Mercenary Squad were engulfed by a chill that seeped deep into their bones, as if something had reached into the very essence of their being.

They couldn’t shake the feeling that they had just struck gold.

Reflecting back, before their arrival at the training grounds, they had merely been a fledgling mercenary squad, barely operational for a few months.

Yet, their fearless leader had the audacity to aim for a top-three ranking among the elite.

Thinking back on it now…

They had once dismissed her ambitions as far-fetched dreams, but in reality, it was they who had been utterly clueless!

A sharp click echoed through the air.

Fierce Python methodically chambered a round in his rifle, casting Nova a long, piercing glance.

Unlike the rest of his Grasshopper Mercenary Squad, who stood frozen in astonishment, Fierce Python maintained his composure.

After all, he was the one who had managed to take down Yellowcat. While surprise flickered in his eyes, he kept it hidden behind a stoic facade.

Turning to his squad, he commanded, “Prepare for a fight.”

His sun-kissed skin made him stand out distinctly, coupled with his robust physique and commanding presence that radiated alpha energy.

With a hundred machine gunners and a fleet of attack helicopters surrounding them, it was evident that a fierce confrontation was on the horizon.

Yet, amidst the brewing storm, Nova remained composed, patiently awaiting whatever was to unfold.

While others braced themselves for an impending clash, Claire and the other university students from Zoria remained blissfully unaware of the chaos that loomed ahead.

Then, the loudspeaker crackled to life once more, Lionel’s voice slicing through the tension like a knife.

“Heh heh heh, we’ve finally located Bloodforge, the mercenary queen,” Lionel proclaimed, his tone oozing with satisfaction.

“A huge thank you to everyone for playing along—it made it quite simple for me to identify an old student who has been hiding among you all these years.”

“The massacre is called off,” Lionel declared, his voice echoing through the air.

“To honor one of our former students’ return, we’ll be suspending the training exercises temporarily.

“I’ll be hosting a welcome event at the training grounds’ headquarters, and I hope to see each of you there.

“Especially…” Lionel’s voice dropped, heightening the suspense.

“Bloodforge—the top graduate from five years ago!”

Lionel’s announcement over the loudspeaker was precisely what Nova had anticipated.

Having invested years into the training grounds, Lionel could not afford to confront her.

Once the broadcast concluded, murmurs of confusion rippled through the ranks of mercenaries.

“What on earth is happening? Wasn’t the purpose of this training to identify the strongest rookie squads and foster their growth? Now it feels like the training grounds and Bloodforge are engaged in some twisted game of chess,” one mercenary voiced his frustration.

“We’re just pawns in the hands of the higher-ups. Whatever, we’ll just roll with it,” another rookie mercenary sighed, resigned.

“Honestly, it looks like the training grounds are deliberately trying to provoke Bloodforge,” someone else chimed in.

Not every mercenary could connect the dots regarding Nova’s true identity simply from her words.

Even those who harbored suspicions—whether they were mercenaries or shady underworld figures—still remained unconvinced.

Yet, no one was foolish enough to openly question, “Hey, are you Bloodforge?”

They kept their doubts buried deep within.

Suddenly, a whirlwind of activity ensued.

Upon hearing Lionel’s announcement, the hundred machine gunners lowered their weapons and relaxed their stances.

The battle-ready atmosphere dissipated in an instant. Dozens of attack helicopters descended into the nearest forest clearings.

In the blink of an eye, they transitioned from preparing for a massacre to escorting everyone toward the training grounds’ headquarters.

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