Chapter 313

Chapter 313: Chapter 313

"What’s happening inside the treasury?" Great General Budo asked.

"We’ve already released a powerful sleeping gas. The rebels should soon—"

The officer had not even finished speaking when a bone-chilling wave of cold erupted from the passageway.

Many of the soldiers standing closest to the entrance had no time to react before they were frozen solid, becoming lifelike ice statues.

"What?!"

Everyone’s eyes widened in disbelief.

"One of the enemies can control ice? Are they an Imperial Arms user?"

A subordinate stared at the frozen soldiers in shock.

"Great General, if I remember correctly, the treasury contains Demon God Manifestation: Demon’s Extract."

Honest’s expression darkened.

"That Imperial Arms grants the power to control ice. But everyone who drank it in the past supposedly went insane and died. And yet now..."

"One of the intruders not only drank it, but immediately achieved perfect compatibility."

Budo’s face became grim.

"Whoever we’re dealing with possesses terrifying resilience, both physically and mentally."

His gaze fixed on the treasury entrance.

"Just who... are these people?"

"I suspect we’re about to find out."

Honest spoke quietly.

Everyone immediately tensed.

Because they could all hear the crisp sound of footsteps echoing from the passageway.

Tap.

Tap.

Tap.

Shing! Shing! Shing!

Weapons were drawn throughout the encirclement as every soldier stared nervously toward the entrance.

At last, several figures emerged from beyond the enormous door.

The instant Honest saw them, he froze.

"It’s... them?"

He never could have imagined it.

After killing his son and causing such a massive commotion that afternoon, Kiriya’s group had not fled the Imperial Capital or even bothered to hide.

Instead, they had infiltrated the Imperial Palace that very night to rob the Empire’s Imperial Arms treasury.

How could anyone possibly be this audacious?

Honest was not the only one who recognized them.

Budo and many of the others did as well.

Wanted notices had already been distributed that afternoon, complete with detailed portraits of all four fugitives.

Their appearances were difficult to forget.

"Well, this is quite the reception."

Kiriya casually looked around at the surrounding army.

"There are actually a few strong ones here."

Esdeath seemed very pleased.

"Not bad. Not bad at all."

Jeanne and Ryuu said nothing.

Under the countless gazes directed toward them—some astonished, some openly greedy—the two women remained perfectly composed.

For a moment, the entire area fell strangely silent.

Only the heavy breathing of the soldiers could be clearly heard.

"How dare you!"

Budo suddenly roared.

"Do you understand what you have done? Breaking into the Imperial Palace at night and stealing the Empire’s greatest treasures are crimes punishable by death!"

He raised one arm.

"All troops, advance with me!"

"Kill them!"

At the Great General’s command, the soldiers showed no hesitation.

Weapons raised, they surged toward Kiriya’s group from every direction.

"Don’t get in my way."

Esdeath snorted.

A violent wave of freezing air exploded from her body and spread outward at terrifying speed.

Large groups of soldiers were instantly frozen solid.

A moment later—Crack!

The frozen bodies shattered into clouds of icy dust.

BOOM!

Almost the exact instant Esdeath released her power, Budo attacked as well.

Thunder crashed from the sky and struck straight toward her.

Esdeath reacted instantly.

A massive layer of ice formed above her head.

The lightning smashed through the ice, but the barrier had already bought Esdeath enough time to move away.

’That activation speed...!’

Budo was genuinely shocked.

How long had this woman possessed that Imperial Arms?

And she was already controlling it this skillfully?

"Lightning."

Esdeath turned toward him, delight spreading across her face.

"I see."

Her eyes lit up with almost feverish excitement.

"So you’re the legendary strongest man in the Empire—Great General Budo."

"Excellent."

Esdeath leaped into an open area nearby and beckoned toward him.

"I’ve heard the stories. Everyone says you’re incredibly strong."

Her grin widened.

"Come on. Let me see whether the so-called strongest man in the Empire actually deserves the title."

Then her expression turned dangerous.

"And you’d better come willingly."

"Otherwise..."

Esdeath slowly raised one hand.

"I’ll freeze this entire palace solid."

"Arrogant brat!"

Being looked down upon by someone less than half his age was already infuriating enough.

But to threaten the Emperor—the person Budo valued above all else?

That was intolerable.

He immediately charged after her.

"All troops!"

Budo’s voice thundered across the courtyard.

"Eliminate the enemies before you!"

"Yes, sir!"

The soldiers answered as one.

More warriors continued pouring into the area, completely surrounding Kiriya, Jeanne, and Ryuu.

Among them were the Four Rakshasa Demons.

As for Honest?

He had already disappeared.

The Prime Minister was a very intelligent man, and one of his favorite principles was that a gentleman never stood beneath a collapsing wall.

The enemy had clearly become even stronger.

Why would he remain here and risk his life?

"The numbers are pretty badly against us."

Kiriya looked around casually, somehow still finding time to comment on it.

"It doesn’t matter."

Ryuu stepped forward.

"I’ll handle them."

Her chant had already begun.

"—The heavens of the forest now distant. Infinite stars adorning the endless night sky..."

"Answer the voice of this foolish one and grant me once more the blessing of starlight. Bestow luminous mercy upon those who abandoned you..."

As Ryuu continued chanting, the magical power surrounding her began to boil.

The Imperial soldiers led by the Four Rakshasa Demons had no idea what the beautiful elf was doing, but their instincts immediately warned them that something was wrong.

"Stop her!"

Ibara, leader of the Four Rakshasa Demons, charged first.

He drove a fist toward Ryuu’s head with enough force to crush bone.

Ryuu slipped aside effortlessly.

Stardust Sword swept upward in immediate retaliation, forcing Ibara to dodge.

"Hah!"

Right behind him, the heavily built Sten charged like a rampaging bear, attempting to smash Ryuu off her feet with sheer mass.

Ryuu saw the opening and kicked him squarely away.

"What?!"

The petite, dark-skinned Mez and the slender Suzuka stared in shock.

Among the Four Rakshasa Demons, Sten possessed the toughest body and greatest raw strength.

Yet the much smaller Ryuu had just kicked him away like he weighed nothing.

The visual impact was absurd.

"Idiot, watch out!"

Ibara shouted.

Mez jolted and immediately burst into motion at her highest speed.

But after all the training Ryuu had undergone, was her sword really something so easily avoided?

In the blink of an eye, Stardust Sword was already approaching Mez’s neck.

The shadow of death descended over her.

At the critical moment, Suzuka shoved Mez aside.

The blade carved deeply across Suzuka’s chest instead, leaving her badly wounded but saving her companion’s life.

The Four Rakshasa Demons—infamous elite guards of the Prime Minister—had surrounded a single young woman.

And yet they had been instantly countered and suppressed.

Everyone watching could scarcely believe their eyes.

But what happened next was even more shocking.

Ryuu’s concurrent chant reached its conclusion.

Countless spheres of light appeared overhead.

"Luminous Wind."

An enormous torrent of emerald light crashed down.

Nearly a thousand Imperial soldiers were swallowed whole.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Brilliant light erupted amid deafening explosions.

The earth shook continuously beneath the bombardment.

Soldiers were thrown through the air by powerful shockwaves, their screams completely drowned beneath the thunderous blasts.

In only a few moments, the heavily equipped Imperial Palace Guard had been completely wiped out as a fighting force.

Unlike Esdeath, however, Ryuu had deliberately controlled the spell’s range and power.

The barrage had left the soldiers severely wounded and unable to fight, but she had avoided killing them outright.

"Damn, Ryuu-san! That was awesome!"

Kiriya clapped loudly from the side, cheering with such enthusiasm that he was only a wolf whistle away from becoming obnoxious.

The tips of Ryuu’s ears immediately turned red.

She shot him an irritated glare.

"M-Monster..."

Mez stood rigidly in place, her voice trembling with fear.

Around her, the other members of the Four Rakshasa Demons had already fallen.

The enormous Sten and the physically resilient Ibara had received particular attention from Ryuu’s Luminous Wind.

No matter how desperately they tried to evade, there had simply been too many attacks to escape the bombardment.

As for Suzuka...

Although she was badly injured too, she looked strangely excited.

Her eyes burned with desire as she stared at Ryuu.

"Strong... beautiful... proud... cold..."

Her breathing became heavier.

"This is wonderful."

"Absolutely wonderful!"

Suzuka staggered back onto her feet and began walking toward Ryuu.

"Come."

Her expression was practically ecstatic.

"Let’s keep fighting."

"Give me even more pleasure."

Ryuu stared at her.

"...?"