"Though these Danger Beasts remain unidentified, they seem devoid of toxins. They serve well enough as rations for the time being... Imperator, do you care to eat?"
Handling the carcasses with practiced efficiency, Hysilens swiftly partitioned the meat using her blade.
"I shall eat whatever you prepare."
Cerydra didn't spare the beasts a single glance. Her eyes remained fixed on a specific direction as she answered Hysilens directly.
Despite her status as the exalted Monarch of Okhema, she grasped the gravity of their current plight. Aside from the Dux Gladiorium—who shared her very soul—she possessed no other subordinates. In essence, Cerydra was currently a "lone commander." What room was there for fastidiousness?
Whether as the transmigrator Nameless or the actor portraying Cerydra, she was no stranger to hardship. On the contrary, having endured much, she viewed such trivial matters with total indifference. As the saying goes: those destined for greatness do not fret over trifles. To build a grand legacy, Cerydra must navigate this period of adversity by any means necessary.
"Understood." Hysilens nodded slightly, then shifted her gaze toward the point of Cerydra's focus. "It seems a small fish watches us in secret. Shall I dispose of it?"
"No. Your task is to secure our food for the coming days. As for that peeping rat... I shall handle it personally!"
Though a Monarch, Cerydra looked after her subordinates, especially one with a connection as unique as Hysilens. Furthermore, she harbored her own designs. She knew the extent of the Dux Gladiorium's power, but what of her own?
As a Demigod of Law, Cerydra possessed formidable combat capabilities, yet a gap clearly existed between her and top-tier warriors. Even so, she wished to test her current limits—to see if she could vanquish a common thief.
"Feel honored. Not everyone enjoys the privilege of my personal crusade."
Small in stature and lacking in height she might be, but Cerydra lacked nothing in regal majesty. With a mere narrowing of her eyes, a terrifying pressure swept forth. The surrounding snowfields within a hundred meters trembled as if a desperate avalanche might trigger at any moment.
Under such crushing weight, the intruder hiding in the snow seemed to lose all breath, vanishing into the white expanse.
"Oh? Quite the sophisticated concealment. You are no simple thief, it seems!"
Cerydra raised an eyebrow, a flicker of surprise crossing her features. Without living in the wastes or undergoing rigorous training, one rarely attains such stealth.
"However, such tricks might fool the masses, but they are beneath notice in my presence!"
The opponent appeared to have lost their life signature, yet in Cerydra's eyes, that flame of life never flickered out. The blue-and-white Monarch lightly waved her scepter as if commanding a brave army—or perhaps as if casually placing a piece on a board.
This single movement made the hair on the blue-shadowed figure's neck stand on end.
Danger!
I'm going to die!
Senses honed by years of hunting kicked in. The blue figure instinctively leaped upward, narrowly evading a fatal blow. The movement left her completely exposed to the sight of Cerydra and Hysilens.
However, just as the blue figure prepared to flee at maximum speed, the sight before her forced her to halt. The two women in the distance... were actually frozen in place?
"It's you?" [x2]
Under the template of one soul in two bodies, Cerydra and Hysilens could act independently. Yet, in extreme circumstances or during unexpected revelations, both bodies performed identical actions and spoke in perfect unison.
Now was one such unexpected moment!
Cerydra initially assumed some Northern Tribesman lay in ambush. In the world of Akame ga Kill!, such vast snowfields could only exist in the North. This frozen territory housed countless tribes; no one knew their true capabilities or their hostility toward outsiders.
Cerydra's first instinct involved total elimination. She didn't know if the observer acted as a scout; letting them go might invite a localized war. As Demigods of Law and Sea, Cerydra and Hysilens feared no tribesmen, but being bogged down in the tundra would hinder the System's mission.
Empress Cerydra intended to establish a flourishing Northern Empire!
But even the Monarch found her expression shifting minutely upon seeing the petite intruder.
She recognized this assailant!
More accurately, anyone who had watched Akame ga Kill! couldn't possibly fail to recognize the person before them, regardless of her young age.
For her name was Esdeath!
★ ★ ★
In the original plot, she was the Empire's youngest and strongest General, even revered by audiences as the "Queen." Of course, that "Queen" title held a very different connotation.
None of that applied to the current Esdeath. In Cerydra's eyes, the girl was still young, lacking the form-fitting military uniform of the original work. Instead, she wore the rugged garb of the Northern Tribes.
What did this signify?
Esdeath had yet to join the decaying Empire. The story hadn't truly begun.
'This leaves a massive margin for manipulation!'
Therefore...
"I cannot let you run away!"
Mere seconds ago, Cerydra harbored killing intent. Now, her face flushed with excitement. As a future ruler of a nation, how could she not desire a subordinate like Esdeath?
This was the golden opportunity to recruit her!
The scepter waved again. Blue energy coalesced into chess pieces. This time, they didn't strike. Instead, they formed a visible, towering wall, cutting off Esdeath's retreat.
Seeing this, Esdeath's face hardened with resolve.
The young girl drew a dagger from her waist, abandoning all thoughts of retreat. She poured every ounce of her focus into the attack. She understood the enemy had her locked down; flight was meaningless.
Only one path remained: A fight to the death!
In the blink of an eye, the two girls collided in a brief bout of white-knuckle combat. Compared to a relaxed Cerydra, Esdeath struggled immensely. Without the power of a Frost Teigu, how could she contend with a Demigod?
Even if she possessed one, the victor would remain uncertain!
As the two girls tangled, Hysilens—having finished with the food—began to admire their martial grace. Only...
'The Imperator... seems to be shorter than the young Esdeath?'
★ ★ ★
P.S. I'm gonna keep shilling my discord so please join: discord(dot)gg/sNGda5cp