Chapter 388: [386] A Chain Reaction!
August stared coldly at the fallen Suzuka, who had been obliterated in an instant.
Gozuki, standing nearby, froze in shock before his expression contorted into one of dread. His gaze fixated on August with a mixture of awe and terror.
August's overwhelming power had shattered all Gozuki's expectations. With just one strike, Suzuka was slain—so swiftly that she had no chance to resist.
It was a chilling realization. Among the Four Demons of Rakshasa, Suzuka's strength was second only to Gozuki's, and the gap between them was marginal.
For someone capable of annihilating Suzuka in an instant, it followed that Gozuki himself wouldn't stand a chance.
Swish—Swish—Swish!
Suddenly, shadows erupted from all sides. A swarm of clawed figures converged, launching a coordinated attack on Gozuki.
Infuriated, Gozuki retaliated immediately.
The black humanoid creatures weren't particularly powerful. They vanished the moment they suffered fatal damage, proving they weren't human at all.
Even so, being surrounded by eighteen of these shadowy foes left Gozuki at a severe disadvantage. He could not eliminate them all, no matter how strong he was.
Squelch!
Gozuki misstepped while dodging, and one shadow's claws tore five deep gashes across his back.
The pain enraged him further, and he fought back with increased ferocity.
One by one, the clawed shadows fell to his attacks, but by the time only twelve remained, Gozuki was already battered and bloodied.
He realized with grim certainty that escape was no longer an option. These black humanoid monstrosities were relentless—machines of slaughter.
Squelch!
As expected, the last of the Four Demons of Rakshasa, Gozuki, was overwhelmed. The clawed figures tore him apart, leaving his body a mutilated, bloodied mess.
Through it all, August's expression remained impassive.
To him, the Four Demons of Rakshasa were nothing but cannon fodder. Any obstacle in his path was doomed to destruction.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the Empire, the Hunters had just returned to their base after completing their first mission.
Liver ran in, panic evident on his face.
"General Esdeath! Something has happened!"
"What is it?" Esdeath asked, her tone calm but commanding.
"Lord August has stormed the palace. It seems he's targeting the Prime Minister!"
The announcement stunned everyone in the room. For individuals like Kurome and Bols, who feared the Prime Minister deeply, the news was especially shocking.
The Prime Minister was no ordinary figure; he was the most powerful man in the Empire, controlling even the young Emperor as a puppet. He wielded authority greater than that of the throne itself.
And now, August had marched straight to his doorstep.
"Why would August attack the Prime Minister?" Esdeath asked, narrowing her eyes.
"According to reports, the Prime Minister sent the Four Demons of Rakshasa to assassinate Lord August. They failed, and now he's retaliating."
Esdeath's expression darkened. The audacity of the Prime Minister to target her chosen man infuriated her.
"Foolishness!" Esdeath spat. "How dare the Prime Minister try to assassinate August? He's overstepped his bounds!"
Esdeath valued strength and loyalty above all else, and August was the only man who had caught her interest. The fact that the Prime Minister had dared to threaten him enraged her.
Her soldiers hesitated. "General Esdeath, what should we do?"
Esdeath's answer was resolute.
"We head to the palace."
"To plead on Lord August's behalf?" one of them ventured cautiously.
"No," Esdeath said with a chilling smile. "To demand an explanation. August is mine. For the Prime Minister to attempt his assassination is a blatant provocation."
This unwavering loyalty to her own made Esdeath a fearsome ally—but also a terrifying adversary.
Perhaps the Prime Minister had anticipated this response. It was likely the very reason he had sought to eliminate August at any cost, knowing it might lead to conflict with Esdeath.
Esdeath, accompanied by her Three Beasts, marched toward the palace without hesitation.
Back at the Hunters' headquarters, the remaining members exchanged uneasy glances. They knew this was a conflict far beyond their pay grade.
Even Wave, usually naive and straightforward, realized he had no place meddling in this situation.
"Uh... so, uh, what do we do now that the Captain's gone?" Wave finally asked, breaking the tense silence.
"This isn't something we can involve ourselves in," Dr. Stylish said with a smug smile, raising an eyebrow at Wave.
His gaze sent a chill down Wave's spine. Dr. Stylish's unnerving demeanor made his skin crawl, but Wave didn't dare argue. Instead, he lowered his head and stayed silent.
The others, including Seryu, also refrained from speaking. This was a battle between titans. Any interference would only spell disaster.
At the palace, August had already entered the inner sanctum.
Once a sanctuary for the Empire's previous emperors, the harem was now under the Prime Minister's control. All of the late emperor's concubines had been reduced to the Prime Minister's playthings.
Boom!
Suddenly, a bolt of lightning struck the ground in front of August, cutting off his path.
August halted, his gaze shifting to the figure approaching from behind.
It was General Budo, the Empire's Supreme Commander and head of the palace guard. Clad in armor crackling with electricity, he radiated raw power.
Budo was renowned for his integrity and unwavering loyalty to the Empire. He despised corruption but adhered strictly to his belief that military leaders should not interfere in political affairs. This strict adherence to tradition had left him powerless to combat the Prime Minister's rampant corruption.
Wielding the legendary Teigu Thunder God's Wrath—Ademira, Budo was one of the Empire's most formidable warriors, rivaled only by Esdeath.
Although he and Esdeath had never faced off in battle, their reputations as the Empire's strongest fighters were unmatched.
Now, Budo stood before August, his thunderous presence a warning.
The confrontation was inevitable.
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