Dominance of Veiled Heart

Chapter 11 (Part 1)

After what felt like an eternity of trudging through dense forest, the trees abruptly gave way to an endless expanse of ice and snow. The stark contrast made my head spin. One moment, we were surrounded by towering trees and damp earth, the next, we were standing in a frozen wasteland. The sun glared down harshly, yet the wind cut through my cloak like a blade.

Wait—why is it snowing now?

The thought barely had time to settle before the commander’s voice rang through the cold air, sharp and commanding.

"Heads up, warriors! Any moment now, the battle begins. Keep your spirits high and show them the strength of the empire!"

"FOR THE EMPIRE!" The warriors' roar shook the icy ground, their voices thunderous with conviction.

I couldn’t bring myself to join them.

All I could think of was the end.

Please, just let this end.

"WE ARE BEING ATTACKED!"

The warning split the air, and chaos erupted around me. My heart pounded against my ribs, each beat a drum of rising panic. My throat went dry. My breaths came short and uneven. The fear wasn’t new—I’d glimpsed war’s horrors from a distance when I first arrived in this world.

But now, there was no distance. Now, I was standing at its threshold, and it was swallowing me whole.

"GET READY FOR BATTLE!"

Before I could react, the sky darkened. Arrows rained down in deadly waves, slicing through the air with a chilling hiss. The pristine snow turned red as bodies collapsed around me. The metallic tang of blood filled my lungs, mingling with the agonized screams of the wounded.

I hate this world. I hate Isekai!

Then came the sound that drowned everything else—the unmistakable clash of steel.

The warriors surged forward, moving with terrifying precision. At the front of it all was him. That prince. Cutting through the battlefield like a storm made flesh. Every swing of his blade sent enemies crumbling, his presence a force of destruction and command.

The ground trembled with each collision of metal. The battle had begun in full.

I had always admired strong women in stories, fascinated by their courage. But I am not Mulan or Merida. I never wanted to be. What good was bravery here? I wasn’t a warrior. I wasn’t a hero. If I could trade places with some delicate noblewoman far from this nightmare, I would do it without hesitation.

"ARROWS COMING!"

The warning jolted me. I threw myself to the ground, pressing into the freezing snow as another volley soared overhead. Thuds followed—the sickening sound of bodies being pierced.

I cracked one eye open and saw them—the warriors forming a shield wall, unwavering even as arrows clattered against their defenses. They protected those behind them without hesitation.

Shame coiled in my chest. I crawled toward their formation, slipping into the center like a child hiding behind adults. My gaze darted around, taking in the bloodied swords, the splintered shields, the warriors barely holding themselves together.

What am I even doing here?

The battle raged on, suffocating, inescapable. Everywhere I turned, there was violence—bodies falling, warriors pressing forward, swords clashing. My legs trembled beneath me, barely able to support my weight as the warriors shifted formation.

I should be grateful I was still standing—

Clang!

"Or maybe not," I muttered weakly as a knight in tattered armor rushed toward me, sword raised.

"I'm not your enemy!" My voice cracked as I stumbled backward, but my red armor screamed otherwise.

He didn’t hesitate. He struck fast, forcing me into a clumsy block. The impact rattled my arms, nearly knocking me off my feet. He came at me harder, relentless, each blow chipping away at what little defense I had.

A man’s strength is no joke.

My arms ached, trembling violently under the pressure. Just when I thought I was finished, a blur of red slashed into my vision.

With a swift, brutal motion, my attacker crumpled, blood blooming across the ice.

The warrior who saved me—red-capped and sharp-eyed—spared me a brief glance before vanishing back into the chaos.

I didn’t even get a chance to say thanks.

My legs moved before my mind could catch up, carrying me away from the worst of the fighting. I ducked behind a mound of snow, heart hammering so hard it drowned out the world. My body shook uncontrollably, adrenaline surging through me in waves.

What was all that training for if all I can do is hide? Call me a coward, but I am not your everyday war girl!

Peering from my makeshift shelter, I took in the battlefield.

It was worse than I imagined. Blood pooled across the snow, dismembered limbs scattered like broken dolls. The cries of the dying wove through the clash of steel, creating a twisted symphony of agony and triumph.

Bile rose in my throat, a suffocating sickness clawing at my insides.

I wanted to run. But where? Death was everywhere. One wrong step, one mistake, and I’d be next.

My only hope—the Homonhon Empire, the myths and histories buried in scrolls—had better be worth this nightmare. If I survived this war and it turned out to be nothing but stories and lies, I swear, I would burn those scrolls to ash.

Clang!

Something heavy flew past me, landing with a sickening thud just inches from where I crouched.

I knew what it was before I even looked. My body froze, heart stalling mid-beat. Dread clawed up my spine, wrapping tight around my throat. I didn't want to see it. I didn’t want to confirm what my gut already knew.

Something heavy flew past me, landing with a sickening thud just inches from where I crouched.

I knew what it was before I even looked.

My body froze. My heart stalled mid-beat. Dread clawed up my spine, wrapping tight around my throat. I didn’t want to see it. I didn’t want to confirm what my gut already knew.

Please don’t be a head. Please, not a head.