"Ice Cavalry"—one of Esdeath's self-created army-level techniques, first used in the Capital's decisive battle.
Channeling the Teigu Demon's Extract, Esdeath forges a staggering host of centaur-like ice warriors.
Each Ice Cavalryman wields power far beyond ordinary soldiers; even shattered, they can reassemble, and even without Esdeath's direct control they move on their own with lethal intent.
In the original timeline, after resting up before the final battle for the Capital, Esdeath created tens of thousands of Ice Cavalry to partially offset the Empire's severe manpower disadvantage.
But now—without any charge-up at all—she still conjures enough Ice Cavalry to carpet the entire arena!
"With Esdeath's fighting spirit burning this high, her command of the Teigu has climbed a whole tier—surpassing even her former self. No wonder she's the most dangerous existence in the world of Akame ga Kill."
That said, Akuto didn't put Esdeath too highly in his mind.
Once he triggers his Forbidden Hand, Akuto stands at the very peak of the Demon-King tier! Unless Esdeath erupts with power beyond Demon-King level, she can only end as Akuto's defeated foe.
[Welsh Dragon — Balance Breaker!]
[Forbidden Hand! "Boosted Gear Scale Mail"!]
BOOM!!!
Just the surge of aura from donning the crimson armor blasts apart several thousand Ice Cavalry on the spot!
"So that's your Teigu? A relic this potent never showed up in any dossier—how exhilarating."
"Akuto-sōtoku, I've heard you once had a clash of giants with General Budo…"
"How about having one of those—with me?"
At Esdeath's command, the Ice Cavalry dissolve into pure frost and stream to her back.
[Secret Art — Ice Storm Commander-in-Chief!]
Taking cues from Akuto and Budo, Esdeath unleashes a newly forged ultimate!
Seconds later, a towering ice colossus—over a hundred meters tall—looms before Akuto.
WHOOOOM!
The ice giant cocks a fist; air shrieks. At several times the speed of sound, the blow hurtles toward Akuto!
"Oh? Is piloting mega-frames the fashion now?"
As the fist descends, Akuto simply lifts one foot… and lightly sets it down.
A heartbeat later, a titanic foot wrapped in pale radiance tears the clouds and stamps from above!
Before the giant's punch can land, the "local state" is already overwritten.
Crk-crk-crk—
Under the Vāmana Avatar's colossal sole, the winter general shatters into a million sparkling shards!
"What!? Weren't the reports that Akuto-sōtoku and General Budo fought to a draw?"
"Did he… just not go all out then?"
Esdeath trusted her intel; their bare-knuckle exchanges had been witnessed by half the bureaucracy. If the facts were true, the only answer left was: Akuto didn't use his full strength last time.
Correct. In his duel with Budo, Akuto hadn't gone all in.
But this time—if he wanted to conquer Esdeath by strength—he'd show her everything.
Shff!
Akuto blurred—vanishing from Esdeath's sight.
"Danger!"
Her combat intuition detonated; the instant she sensed mortal peril, she reacted—
[Secret Art — Mahapadma!]
A brutal flood of ice-element force blasted from Esdeath's palm, freezing the entire world.
The next moment—
Esdeath whipped around, suddenly realizing—
A familiar silhouette stood there.
Akuto.
That he'd appear behind her? Fine—she'd half expected that.
What truly shocked her was the smile spreading across Akuto's lips.
He was moving after she'd triggered Mahapadma?!
"Surprised, Esdeath? Before me, you should already have met someone who can move in your Mahapadma," Akuto said mildly.
"Hm? Someone else who can move in Mahapadma?"
[He means that Night Raid girl…? But—how does Akuto-sōtoku know she can move in stopped time!?]
Esdeath blinked—then couldn't help a wry smile.
So that's it.
No wonder Night Raid punched above what she'd estimated—someone extraordinary had been meddling.
Someone who could make that unflappable Najenda look at a man like that...
As expected of the man she'd set her sights on.
Every flicker on Esdeath's face was clear to Akuto.
(Down-bad girl. Who said I want to be your "man"? I just intend to rule you.)
Akuto rubbed his brow. Esdeath truly wasn't a normal person.
If Mahapadma didn't have such a short window, he'd worry she might try to start something right here.
Under his gaze, Esdeath stepped toward him. A faint blush spread over the proud general's cheeks—
A maiden's shyness.
Esdeath is a woman who—once she meets the one she likes—goes into heat on the spot. In other words… a female animal.
"Akuto-sōtoku, I'm surprised—and delighted. I didn't expect you to move within my Mahapadma."
"Same ice element. If it's just freezing space, it won't affect me," Akuto explained.
"Akuto-sōtoku, may I ask you a question?"
Esdeath twined a strand of ice-blue hair around her finger; her eyes drifted.
This was her first time feeling her heart pound like this.
"Go ahead." Akuto could already guess the shape of it.
Esdeath hesitated—not merely from shyness. She wanted to savor this new, heady flavor of romance.
"My question is—do you have a lover?"
"If not… what do you think of me?"
"I think you're excellent, Esdeath. If it's just about having children, you might bear the strongest child in this world," Akuto answered honestly.
"So Akuto-sōtoku does want to have children with me?" Esdeath lit up, suddenly like an excited schoolgirl.
"You could say that. But—if it's only about children, then before that, there's something I want to settle."
"Hah? Only children? Do you not think we can be lovers?" Esdeath frowned.
"No—I mean that's my current stance."
"With your temperament, Esdeath, you wouldn't allow me to have other women. Right?"
"That's true." Esdeath's lips colored deeper. She caught his meaning.
"And there's the rub."
"I already have many close partners—women I intend to marry."
"Clearly, unless you completely submit, you won't accept that."
"So… I'm saying I only want to have a child with you. Your physique and bloodline are top-tier in this world."
"And that goal—'a child'—can only be achieved after you admit defeat. Am I wrong?"
Akuto finished.
Unexpectedly, Esdeath wasn't angry; her blush only deepened.
Because—what he'd just said sounded, to her, very much like a confession.
Her brain runs on different rails. To Esdeath, Akuto recognizing her body and bloodline meant he fully acknowledged her feminine charm.
"Eh?"
"I-I see… If it's children, then yes, I clearly have the edge."
"And for a man of your stature, having many partners is… normal."
"As for you 'completely conquering me'…"
A breathtaking smile unfolded across Esdeath's face.
"While I love the feeling of conquering others… I also love being conquered." (Most dom-girls have latent sub-tendencies.)
"Spoken like that—but the premise is that I need strength that makes you submit willingly… yes?" Akuto's eyes thinned.
"Exactly."
"To grasp my mindset so quickly—no wonder you're the man I chose." Esdeath looked pleased.
"If this time—and the next time—I lose to you twice in a row, my household won't object."
"When that happens, whether you want me to shed my rank and go home to bear your child, or accept your other close partners—I'll comply."
"Oh? Beat you twice and you'll lay down your arms?"
"Esdeath, you realize saying that means you admit you want to give me a child," Akuto chuckled.
"For Akuto-sōtoku to dare say that… means you think you can defeat me twice with ease?" A dangerous light danced in Esdeath's eyes.
"That's the idea," Akuto said plainly.
"Ah-ha-ha!"
"Good!"
"Then let's witness it together—will I conquer you, or will you conquer me?" Esdeath laughed in delight.
"Esdeath."
"If I told you that being countered—and being conquered by me—is your fate, would you believe it?" Behind Akuto, several icy devil-shadows rose.
"Hmph! Conquered by you?"
"Little man, I'm very curious how you plan to conquer me!"
With that, Esdeath turned with an elegant fling.
Time resumed.
She raised one hand to the sky and one to the earth—unleashing her strongest attack:
[Heaven-Hindering Ice Star]!
"Fall—Heaven-Hindering Ice Star!"
In the heavens, a titanic ice sphere, hundreds of li across—vast enough to blanket most of the Capital—plunged down like a frozen moon!
(End of Chapter)
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