MTLNOVEL Chapter 28: 28
...
On the south side of the Empire, a horse-drawn carriage was traveling down the middle of the path.
At this time, the sky was gradually darkening, and the sun had not even completely set.
Inside the carriage were the ones Rivo was concerned about.
The former minister Chouri, and his daughter, Spear.
As in the original story, the two encountered an ambush by Esdeath's subordinates while en route to the Imperial Capital, accompanied by their entourage.
The Three Beasts—Esdeath's most ferocious subordinates.
All three were Imperial Arms users, and they slaughtered the entire escort in an instant.
Even the former minister and his daughter Spear were cruelly tormented just like in the original.
They were barely clinging to life until the sun completely set.
"It's a boring hobby."
Liver looked at Nyau's approach not far away and couldn't help but frown.
As a former general of the Empire, he possessed both formidable strength and a shrewd mind.
He was 100% loyal to Esdeath. Even if he disapproved of his colleague's behavior, he wouldn't say much.
But just as he was about to leave with someone, a sudden chill crept up his spine.
Bang!
There was a loud sound. Nyau, who had been crouching and peeling faces, was suddenly sent flying backward like a cannonball.
And where Nyau had just been, a man was now standing.
"...What are you?"
Liver's brows furrowed. Despite his keen senses, he hadn't noticed anyone nearby.
This made him wary of the man in front of him.
What's more, he couldn't unleash his full power in this location.
And for someone to knock out Nyau in an instant with a single blow—
That kind of strength was certainly not ordinary. Although Nyau's twisted obsession with collecting women's faces disgusted Liver,
On the surface, they were still companions.
"What a disgusting and weak guy."
"If I had arrived a little later, those two would've already died."
Akaza frowned slightly and ignored Liver, then slit his own wrist.
He fed his blood to Spear, who had lost her face and was covered in blood, and to the former minister Chouri, who was barely breathing beside her.
"Liver, why are you talking so much nonsense with him?"
"This guy must be an enemy."
"Let me do it. I haven't had my fill yet!"
Daidara, the last of the Three Beasts, raised his Imperial Arms—two massive axes—and walked step by step toward Akaza.
To him, anyone who was an enemy was to be killed. That was Daidara's nature.
Bang!
Daidara's figure turned into an afterimage as he charged forward.
The massive axe in his hand swung with a burst of wind—but Akaza didn't even turn his head.
"Destructive Death: Leg Type, Flowing Light Flash!"
Akaza's right foot suddenly stepped out, unleashing a flurry of blindingly fast kicks in place with one leg—like streaks of light.
If Daidara hadn't had his massive axe to block it,
He would have likely been killed instantly.
But even with the block, the devastating impact slammed into Daidara's body.
He coughed up a mouthful of blood and staggered back.
"Trash."
"Weaklings have no right to survive."
Akaza's figure had already appeared before Daidara, who hadn't even recovered his rhythm.
With one punch, Daidara's head was blasted apart.
If Akaza's combat power had only been one-star before, he might've taken longer to kill a member of the Three Beasts.
But now it was different. He had broken past the limits of his strength.
He was far beyond the Three Beasts now.
"How... how is that possible..."
"He killed Daidara so easily..."
Liver was visibly shocked. As a colleague, he knew the Three Beasts' strength best.
Both Nyau and Daidara had the capability to serve as generals in the Empire.
But this man—his body, his timing, everything about him was optimized for battle.
His speed, precision, and power made even Liver feel inferior.
"Ahhh!!!"
Just as Liver was processing what kind of force they were up against,
Spear and Chouri cried out in agony from not far away.
"It's begun?"
"Don't die, trash... or the master will scold me."
Akaza turned to look at the two whose vitality was slowly being restored, a smile forming on his face.
Liver, on the other hand, grew even more serious.
This clearly wasn't some random encounter. He needed to start considering who was opposing them.
"Dammit! That hurt, you bastard!"
Nyau came stumbling over from a distance, step by step.
He was barely able to stand, but even so, he stood back up in pain.
He pulled out his Imperial Arms, raised it to his lips, and began playing a slow melody.
Military Music Dream Scream—Nyau's Imperial Arms. It could manipulate the emotions of those who heard it.
It could boost morale or inflict pain on enemies.
Most importantly, even the caster could be affected.
Now, Nyau was using the secret technique of the Military Music Dream.
After the performance, Nyau's body became more muscular.
"Nyau, be careful. This guy isn't simple."
"Daidara's already been killed."
Liver understood that this battle wasn't going to be easy.
In the original, Daidara was also a two-hit kill, stronger than an average person.
His real strength came from his Imperial Arms, which made him a lethal force on the battlefield—
That was the reason he earned the title of one of the Three Beasts.
But Nyau didn't care. In his mind, using his secret technique,
He had become far stronger than Daidara ever was.
"Hey, since you're alive already, get up."
"This guy? You handle him."
Akaza had no interest in Nyau. In his eyes, a worthless insect that got bigger was still worthless.
But Liver—Liver interested him.
"Of course. Thank you for giving me this opportunity."
The voice that responded to Akaza was a woman's voice.
The sudden appearance of the female voice made Nyau instinctively tense.