"Master, we clearly could have stopped the young emperor and the ministers just now. Why didn't you let us intervene? Wouldn't that have ended everything?"
Just as the young emperor and ministers entered the secret chamber, three figures appeared at the door—Sora, and the two girls Sayo and Spear. Using their third eye, the Almighty Five Sights [Spectator], they tracked the young emperor and ministers. The little maid Sayo looked puzzled and asked Sora.
"Hehehe, my dear Sayo, wouldn't it be too boring if it ended like that?"
"Besides, don't you want to see the legendary supreme Teigu, said to be activated only by royal bloodline generation after generation?"
Pinching Sayo's cheek, Sora smiled mischievously.
Sayo blushed slightly and exchanged a glance with Spear; both felt a bit speechless.
Their master was truly a capricious man!
"Alright, let's follow them now. This place is full of confusing traps and side paths to block outsiders. Sayo, you must remember the way clearly!"
Sora, full of interest in the legendary supreme Teigu, released Sayo with a smile.
"Yes, Master."
Having memorized the route taken by the young emperor and ministers, Sayo led the way, with Sora and Spear following into the secret passage.
…
Boom! Boom boom!! Boom boom boom!!!
Thunderclouds flashed in the sky, and from the direction of the palace came one massive explosion after another. Each blast shook the ground, making it hard to imagine what kind of fierce battle was raging!
Ordered by Esdeath to defeat Budo, Seryu, Kurome, and Aria were determined to cut down the old man no matter the cost, so as not to be "loved" painfully by the ultra-S queen!
Since sensing the powerful aura of the three girls, Budo no longer regarded them as ordinary girls. He was fully alert and activated his Teigu, Thunder God's Rage [Adramelech], to counter their attacks.
"Finishing Move: Thousand Illusions Stabbing Sword Technique!"
Seryu flashed before General Budo, shouting sharply. Her Western-style longsword transformed into thousands of sword shadows, raining down like a storm.
It was a pure stabbing technique, no flashy moves, but the girl's speed was incredible. In the blink of an eye, she had thrust hundreds or thousands of times, looking like a thousand illusions dancing, dazzling and filled with a strange violent beauty!
Clang clang clang clang clang clang!!!
Though Budo's iron-like body was comparable to a super-Danger Beasts, with strength that could split mountains and rivers, his only weakness was speed. Under such rapid attacks, Budo could only cross his arms to block in front of him. His huge body dragged a long mark on the ground as the sword strikes hit his steel gauntlets, producing a continuous series of sharp cracking sounds.
Crack! A clear breaking sound made Budo's heart skip a beat. Seeing Seryu's endlessly excited smile and no sign of stopping, Budo knew he was in real danger if this continued!
"Advent of Thunder Emperor!!!"
Activating his Teigu Advent of Thunder Emperor, a silver-white lightning pillar as thick as a bucket shot like a laser beam toward Seryu.
Caught in the middle of her attack, Seryu didn't expect the old man to suddenly explode with power. Even knowing the distance was too close, she couldn't dodge and was hit head-on. With a scream, her body and the lightning pillar shot like a cannonball into the distance, crashing through thick walls and finally stopping buried in the rubble.
"Hah… hah…"
Panting heavily, even Budo found such intense combat exhausting. After repelling one girl, just as he prepared to rest and regroup, another girl's voice came to his ear:
"Hehehe, Uncle Thunder, you're pretty good, knocking Seryu away like that!"
"Little monkey, beat him up for me!"
Holding her super Teigu, the March of the Dead [Yatsufusa], Kurome summoned one of her three puppet familiars—a Titan Giant Ape. Sitting on the ape's shoulder, she smiled bloodthirstily at Budo on the ground.
"Roar!!!"
Following Kurome's command, the Titan Giant Ape howled to the sky, pounding its chest like a house-sized drum, then charged at Budo like two meteors filled with endless power.
"Summoning such a terrifying creature—these really are a fearsome group of girls!"
"But—"
Watching Kurome controlling the giant ape puppet attacking him, Budo's eyes were full of admiration and amazement. However, when it came to strength, Budo was fearless!
Even if the opponent was a physically powerful super-Danger Beasts!!!
Boom!!! Boom!!! Boom!!!
In a bow stance with feet firmly planted, Budo stood steady and faced off against the Titan Giant Ape using only his pair of iron fists. Each collision of those two fists, wildly disproportionate in size, produced a thunderous roar that shook the heavens! The ground beneath Budo kept collapsing, and the surrounding air was directly shattered by the clash between man and beast, creating a brief vacuum!
"Little monkey, hit him hard! Smash him!!!"
Kurome-cahn, munching on her favorite little bear cookies, wobbled as she stood on the Titan Giant Ape's shoulder, cheering excitedly. The powers her master had bestowed upon her and these familiars were truly amazing. If she weren't worried about damaging the palace that was soon to belong to them, Kurome-chan would have unleashed full firepower, summoning the Twin-Winged Fire Dragon and the East Sea Divine Dragon to gang up on Budo!
"Hahaha… exhilarating! Exhilarating! Take this—Thunderstorm Divine Fist!"
Laughing heartily towards the sky, such a rare and thrilling battle hadn't happened since the fight with Sora a few years ago. The warrior's blood inside Budo boiled fiercely. Lightning flickered over his fists as he slammed them towards the Titan Giant Ape!
Boom!!! Crackle crackle crackle…
This punch was Budo's ultimate strike, unleashed with the Teigu "Thunder God's Rage." Finally, even the super-dangerous Titan Giant Ape's steel-like body could not withstand the force. Under Budo's iron fists and lightning, it shattered inch by inch!
"Hehehe… now's the time!"
Not worried at all about her puppet familiars—even if they were destroyed, they could recover soon—Kurome-chan seized the slight opening Budo exposed while attacking the Titan Giant Ape. Her petite body elegantly flipped several times in the air and then lunged down, her katana slicing cold arcs as she launched a relentless assault on Budo.
From the vanguard Seryu, Kurome-chan had already realized that although her sister was strong, compared to this perverted old man, she was still far behind. For someone as small as them to go head-to-head with him was pure masochism. So the best tactic was to outpace him!
Having finally created a perfect opportunity with her puppet familiars, Kurome-chan showed no mercy. She swung her katana with lightning-fast, dense slashes, determined to bring down this electrified old man in one fell swoop!
Clang clang clang clang clang!!!
The sharp sound of metal clashing rang out, and brilliant sparks blossomed in the air. Budo crossed his arms to guard his vital spots, his eyes flashing with a fierce light. His expression was grave—he thought to himself that these terrifying girls seemed to have seen through his weakness. This was truly troublesome…
As for Kurome-chan , her brows furrowed deeply. This old man's defense was far beyond her expectations. Not only was his body covered in thick steel armor, but he also seemed to be empowered by lightning, greatly enhancing his physical strength. He was like a lump of iron—no matter how she slashed, she couldn't break through!
However, just as Kurome was at a loss, she suddenly noticed something. Her eyes lit up, and a sinister, mischievous smile curled at the corner of her mouth.
Budo, sensing something too, was startled and muttered—
"Not good!!!"