"Esdeath is here?"
Najenda froze for a moment—then her eyes widened as several sharp ice spears shot past her, smashing into the marble pillars of the palace.
Those spears weren't just ice—they were guards, frozen solid.
A tall woman with waist-length blue hair stepped into the hall, her slender figure commanding instant attention. Her expression was calm yet sharp, and in her icy blue eyes danced a faint, ambiguous light. Three Beast Warriors followed behind her, trembling under the pressure of her aura.
"I heard you're the one who killed General Budo," Esdeath said, her voice cold but tinged with an almost feverish excitement. Her cheeks flushed faintly—she was thrilled.
At last, a man worthy of her strength.
"Long time no see, Esdeath," Najenda said, taking the initiative to greet her old comrade.
"Indeed… it's been a long time." Esdeath's tone softened slightly. "It seems you've found yourself a powerful master this time."
Najenda only smiled. "I'm glad we're on the same side again."
"We'll talk about that later," Esdeath said curtly, her eyes locking onto the man standing at the throne. "Right now, I have a battle to fight."
Najenda sighed inwardly. Still the same battle maniac.
Arata Hayashi smiled faintly. "A fight is fine… but on one condition."
"Oh?" Esdeath tilted her head, intrigued. "And what would that be?"
Arata stepped forward, his voice steady. "Swear loyalty to me. Turn into a devil, serve me, and from that day onward—your life will belong only to me."
"Devil? Serve?" Esdeath blinked, momentarily confused. But then her lips curled upward.
Serve, huh?
Her gaze swept across Arata. Handsome, powerful, composed. He fit perfectly into her tastes.
And the one who defeated General Budo? Even better.
"It is natural," she said softly, "that the strong should dominate the weak. But conversely, if you lose… you'll belong to me."
Arata's grin deepened. "Deal."
The instant the words left his mouth—
Boom!
Esdeath's heel shattered the marble floor. In a blink, the two figures clashed in the center of the palace.
"As expected of you," Arata said lightly, blocking her first strike. "You're far stronger than Budo."
"You're still so casual while fighting me?" Esdeath's eyes gleamed with bloodlust. "If you're not careful… you'll die."
Her saber flashed like lightning, slicing for his neck.
Bang!
Sword and fist collided, sending shockwaves through the entire hall. Ripples of power spread outward, shattering tiles and making the walls tremble.
The Three Beasts in the distance covered their ears, their minds buzzing as if thunder had struck inside their skulls.
Crack!
The blade snapped.
Esdeath's eyes widened as she was hurled backward, her body smashing into the floor and leaving a three-meter crater.
"Impossible…" one of the Beast Warriors whispered in terror.
Their commander—Lady Esdeath—had never been defeated so easily. Was this man really human? Or was he some kind of monstrous being disguised as one?
Esdeath stood, breathing hard, but smiling. "You're strong… incredibly strong."
It had been years since she'd felt this thrill—this rush of being overpowered.
A deep silence followed. Frost crept across the ground, spreading outward from Esdeath's feet. Within seconds, the entire palace was coated in ice, the air turning razor-sharp and frigid.
In the middle of summer, it felt like the dead of winter.
"You all, fall back," Arata said without looking behind him.
Akame, Leona, and Najenda obeyed immediately, retreating from the hall. The Three Beasts exchanged nervous glances and did the same—they knew what it meant when Esdeath fought seriously.
[Origin + 10]
Arata smiled faintly. "So this is the essence of your power, Esdeath? Come then—show me more."
"Don't worry," she replied coldly. "You'll see."
They vanished again.
Their collision filled the palace with snow and ice. Esdeath waved her hand and thousands of razor-sharp icicles erupted, engulfing Arata like a frozen storm.
But the man didn't even raise a defense. He simply walked forward through the barrage as if strolling through a garden.
The spears that could pierce steel shattered harmlessly against him.
What kind of defense is this? Esdeath thought, frowning. Is this some unknown imperial weapon?
"If that's the case…" she murmured, raising both hands.
Outside, Najenda and the others felt the world darken. Looking up, their pupils constricted in horror.
A colossal block of ice—larger than a mountain—was descending from the sky.
Crash!
The palace collapsed beneath its weight. Ice tore through stone, crushing everything.
And yet—
When the dust settled, Arata stood unmoved beneath the falling glacier, one hand raised.
He had stopped the massive ice block as if it were weightless.
Esdeath's eyes widened.
That attack could annihilate a giant-class Danger Beast. And he blocked it—with one hand.
"Where is your Mahapadma?" Arata asked with mild amusement. "Go on, use it."
He clenched his fingers. Cracks webbed through the iceberg—and it exploded into glittering shards with a thunderous boom.
He knew. To truly subdue Esdeath, he needed to make her go all out—then crush her completely.
Even her ultimate ability to freeze time and space wouldn't matter to him. His power surpassed it entirely.
But Esdeath only blinked, puzzled. "What are you talking about? I don't know any move by that name. Where did you hear that?"
Arata froze for a second, then chuckled.
"Ah… right."
He had forgotten—this Esdeath hadn't developed that technique yet.