Chapter 33 — The Mysterious Invasion of the Qin Dynasty's Black Armor Legion
Brünnhilde was certain she had set the correct time and location. So why had they arrived here?
A glitch in the Akasha system? Could such a thing even happen?
She studied the clashing armies. Judging by their armor and weapons, this was clearly the Qin Dynasty era.
No—wait. This was before Qin Shi Huang's unification. The Warring States period?
But something felt off.
"No, that's not right!"
"Hm? What's wrong, Sister?"
"The banners—they're wrong. These weren't used during the Warring States!"
The army with the most soldiers bore flags Brünnhilde didn't recognize from any known Warring States faction.
"Hàn…"
She murmured the word.
Now she understood. This wasn't the Warring States period. Nor was it the Qin Dynasty.
The Qin Dynasty had already collapsed.
They were in the midst of the Chu–Han Contention—the final struggle between Liu Bang and Xiang Yu.
The sounds of battle—screams, clashing steel, pounding hooves—filled the air.
Though one side had superior numbers and comparable equipment, they were being pushed back.
The larger force belonged to King of Han, while the smaller, fiercer army was Xiang Yu's.
Xiang Yu's soldiers fought like demons—fearless, blood-soaked, relentless.
Even when disarmed, they used fists.
Even when maimed, they kicked, bit, headbutted.
As long as they drew breath, they killed.
It was this savagery that overwhelmed the Han forces.
To kill one of Xiang Yu's warriors, the Han army paid with ten lives.
But the disparity in numbers was too great.
Xiang Yu's force numbered fewer than a thousand. The Han army had fifty thousand.
Under this tidal wave, Xiang Yu's troops were nearing their limit. Annihilation was inevitable.
This wasn't a random skirmish—it was the final chapter of the Chu–Han war.
Xiang Yu's end was near.
Brünnhilde scanned the battlefield, following the shrinking circle of cavalry.
She felt it—a murderous aura radiating from the center.
Suddenly, the formation parted.
A lone figure stepped forward, exuding overwhelming pressure.
From afar, he looked like a rugged warrior. But up close—he was strikingly handsome.
This was Xiang Yu, the Conqueror of Western Chu.
Clad in armor, wielding a mighty halberd, he walked forward with eyes closed.
With each step, the surrounding Han soldiers retreated in fear, sweating profusely.
"Charge!"
"Don't be afraid! There's only a few left!"
"Kill Xiang Yu and you'll be made a lord!"
The promise of nobility lit a fire in their eyes. They salivated like wolves.
Greed overcame fear.
"Kill!"
"Kill!"
They surged forward, blades raised.
But Xiang Yu's troops didn't move to defend him.
Were they abandoning their king?
No. They had received no such order.
It was unspoken understanding—a glance was enough.
Though exhausted, their eyes remained sharp. They believed in their king's invincibility.
The enemy was nearly upon him.
Just as the blades fell, Xiang Yu's eyes snapped open—revealing double pupils.
A wave of killing intent froze the attackers mid-strike.
He twisted his body, halberd drawn back like a bowstring.
Then—release.
The halberd swept forward with explosive force, tearing through air like thunder.
Everyone within range was cleaved in half.
Even those outside the arc were sliced open by compressed air—blade-like shockwaves.
Screams of agony echoed across the battlefield.
Brünnhilde was stunned.
This wasn't magic—it was pure, terrifying physical force.
He had compressed all momentum into the halberd's tip, unleashing a razor-thin shockwave.
"A monster!"
"I don't want nobility—I want to live!"
"We can't win!"
The Han soldiers panicked and fled.
Their commanders had no choice but to retreat and regroup.
Then—a sharp whistle.
Xiang Yu hurled a spear that pierced ten men and struck down a Han general.
Brünnhilde's eyes gleamed.
This man… was a perfect candidate.
Chapter 34 — The Qin Dynasty's Black Armor Legion Appears
Brünnhilde had originally considered Lü Bu, the legendary general of the late Eastern Han.
He was widely regarded as the strongest warrior in Chinese history.
She had reviewed his records and was impressed—his reputation was well-earned.
He was one of her top picks for the thirteen champions.
She had hoped he'd secure humanity's first victory in Ragnarok.
But now, after witnessing Xiang Yu, she realized her mistake.
She had judged based on fame.
Xiang Yu, the man who ended the Qin Dynasty, radiated a presence even more intense than Lü Bu.
In terms of raw power, he was equal if not superior.
And his status? Far beyond Lü Bu's.
Xiang Yu was a king among kings, a leader of lords.
Lü Bu, at best, was a regional warlord.
In military strategy, Xiang Yu also surpassed him.
Lü Bu had few notable victories—his focus was personal combat.
Xiang Yu, on the other hand, led legendary campaigns:
Battle of Julu: With tens of thousands of Chu troops, he crushed 400,000 Qin soldiers. Battle of Pengcheng: With 30,000 men, he routed Liu Bang's 500,000 strong army.
His record was filled with victories.
Politically, both were lacking.
Xiang Yu's brutality—massacring cities and prisoners—led to betrayal and isolation.
He died at Wu River, choosing suicide over shame.
Brünnhilde and Lantigris had arrived during the Battle of Gaixia—Xiang Yu's final stand.
Though cornered, he remained a force of nature.
With fewer than a thousand riders, he fought tens of thousands—and made them flee.
The battlefield was littered with Han corpses. Brünnhilde estimated ten thousand casualties.
Xiang Yu's losses? Barely a hundred.
A one-to-a-hundred kill ratio.
She no longer doubted the legends of Julu and Pengcheng.
"This… this is Xiang Yu?"
The awestruck voice came from Lantigris.
She was mesmerized by his aura.
After repelling the Han army, Xiang Yu and his eight hundred riders didn't flee.
They moved slowly, deliberately.
Soon, five thousand elite Han cavalry arrived.
Another clash. More blood. More corpses.
Half the cavalry fell before retreating.
Then came tens of thousands of infantry.
Again, they were repelled.
Brünnhilde saw through the strategy.
The Han commander was using attrition tactics—waves of attacks to exhaust Xiang Yu's forces.
They were being pushed toward a river—the site of Xiang Yu's death.
At the riverbank, Xiang Yu suddenly twisted his halberd and planted it into the ground.
Its tip began to glow—like a signal beacon.
What was happening?
Brünnhilde was confused.
Suddenly, the air around the halberd twisted.
No—space twisted, shattering the weapon.
Then—a flash of white light.
"Sister!"
Lantigris gasped, eyes wide.
From the light, a mysterious gate appeared—out of thin air.