Within the palace hall.
A deathly silence reigned.
The assembled ministers exchanged terrified glances, their bodies trembling uncontrollably.
Even the young emperor slumped bonelessly on his throne.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
But then... orderly footsteps echoed from afar.
A dense mass of figures surged in from all directions.
"Master, it looks like the entire palace guard has arrived."
Esdeath strode gracefully to Kaiser's side on her long legs.
"Perfect timing."
Kaiser smiled faintly. "One Honest isn't enough to scare the monkeys."
Only by making these nobles and officials grasp the inevitability...
Would they choose wisely when cornered.
Under his watchful gaze, countless guards encircled the hall.
At their forefront stood a towering, blond man in full armor.
General Budo—the Empire's mightiest.
His face burned with fury.
He scorned court intrigue, so he rarely attended assemblies.
Who could have foreseen...
This catastrophe today?
"Treasonous rebels—surrender now, and you may yet be spared!"
Budo's voice boomed.
He was cautious.
With His Majesty in their grasp, he dared not act rashly.
"The Empire's strongest? Doesn't look like much."
Kaiser shook his head at Budo, then instructed, "Esdeath, clear out the small fry first."
"Yes, Master."
Esdeath regarded the forces coldly, raising one hand toward the sky in a gentle clench.
Hum!
Extreme cold spread rapidly across the heavens.
In the next moment...
The sky darkened completely.
Before everyone's eyes...
A colossal sphere of ice plummeted like a meteor.
"Wh-what is that?"
"Run!"
The assembling guards stared at the falling mass in abject terror.
"Is that... Esdeath's Teigu?"
Only Budo retained composure.
But his face grew grim as water.
Esdeath involved in rebellion—the situation was worse than imagined.
Yet he had no time to dwell. He activated his Teigu, Adramelech.
Crackle!
Dazzling lightning erupted from his body, terrifying bolts spreading in all directions.
Then...
The electricity condensed over his armor, forming visible thunder plating.
Against Esdeath...
Even Budo had to go all out.
Boom!
The ground cratered beneath his feet.
He shot forward like lightning, meeting the falling ice with overwhelming momentum.
Boom!
The collision rippled visibly through the air.
Countless ice shards scattered like cannon fire.
"Aaahhh..."
Screams rose endlessly as countless guards were pulverized.
At the same time...
The smoke tore apart as a blinding bolt streaked forth.
Smack!
Kaiser dispersed the lightning with a casual palm.
Scattered arcs ravaged the ground, punching holes everywhere.
Whoosh!
Winds howled.
Dust gradually cleared.
Budo emerged unscathed amid the corpses, bathed in crackling thunder.
"To block a strike from Adramelech—you're no nameless nobody."
Budo fixed on Kaiser, wariness in his eyes.
One Esdeath was trouble enough.
This man was another rare powerhouse.
"Esdeath, keep an eye on them."
With that command, Kaiser stepped forward.
Budo frowned. "The rest—charge!"
The surviving guards instinctively prepared to obey.
But...
Esdeath raised her hand once more.
"Master said the small fry are mine."
As she spoke, terrifying cold surged from her palm.
"Absolute Zero."
Hum!
Invisible chill blanketed the field instantly.
Every guard felt their blood freeze as their bodies locked rigid.
"Aaah..."
They struggled frantically—to no avail.
Crack! Crack! Crack!
Thick ice encased them.
In mere breaths...
The remaining guards stood frozen in place.
"..."
Budo swallowed hard involuntarily.
Esdeath gazed at Kaiser's back, eyes filled with adoration and devotion.
This was the power her master had bestowed.
Before...
She could never have frozen so many with such precision—sparing Budo entirely.
Now...
Kaiser faced Budo directly.
As he approached, Budo drew a deep breath.
He'd hoped to probe Kaiser's Teigu with the guards.
But that was impossible now.
No choice...
End it quickly.
Then deal with Esdeath.
Crackle!
Adramelech erupted fully—countless bolts blazing around Budo like a thunder god descended.
Boom!
The ground exploded beneath him, plunging into darkness.
"Nice artifact. I'll take it."
Kaiser's eyes gleamed at Adramelech.
It unleashed power rivaling a High-Class Devil.
If researched for mass production...
It would be quite useful.
Hum!
Kaiser raised a hand—the Devil's Pistol materialized from thin air.
"That's his Teigu?"
"A ranged type, then."
Thoughts racing, Budo flashed forward in lightning.
Boom!
The earth collapsed in his wake as he charged Kaiser.
"Impressive momentum—but too slow."
Kaiser's expression turned icy as he regarded the oncoming Budo, gently pulling the trigger.
Brilliant demonic light flared.
A condensed beam of magic rippled visibly through the air.
In a blink...
It pierced the thunder armor, flashing through Budo's body.
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