The Vision on Aka's waist glowed softly, enveloping her figure in a luminous film. Facing Death Tagool's descending claw, she made no attempt to dodge.
This was the power granted by her Vision—Phasing. It allowed her to briefly turn her body and anything she touched into a phantom-like state.
Not only that, but the Vision had enhanced her physical senses, speed, strength, and reflexes to several tis what they were before.
Additionally, she had already learned about all her sister's trump cards from Lord Heavenly Principle. It wouldn't take more than ten moves to subdue Kuro.
Subduing soone was ten tis harder than killing them.
Kuro's expression changed as she scread, "You're charging straight in? Sister, are you crazy?" She wanted to turn Aka into a corpse puppet to stay with her forever, not crush her into a pulp!
As she watched Death Tagool's claw co down, Kuro was sure her sister would be reduced to at paste. But to her astonishnt, Aka passed through the skeletal claw like a phantom, dashing up the creature's arm toward her.
Kuro quickly gripped her blade with both hands and t Aka head-on. "You never cease to surprise , Sister. It's always the sa; you're no fool after all."
Their Teigu clashed, sparks flying as their blades collided.
In her enhanced and phased state, Aka could strike Kuro while remaining untouchable. Kuro's strikes passed through her sister as if slicing through mist.
The mont their blades t, Kuro was flung backward, her pupils shrinking.
Such overwhelming strength! Sister had grown so much stronger than before!
Before Kuro could regain her footing, Aka's blade was already slicing toward her again.
Kuro smiled faintly. So this was it? Dying at her sister's hands didn't sound so bad.
The blade swept across Kuro—not her body, but her pouch, shattering the vials and pills inside.
These pills could enhance her combat abilities by draining her life force. They numbed pain, bolstered resistance to toxins, and kept her conscious through severe injuries.
Aka wasn't about to let her sister gain such an advantage—she had to knock her out before Kuro could use them.
Realizing what her sister had done, Kuro blinked in shock. She hadn't attacked —she went for my pouch?
Finally understanding, Kuro's smile turned manic. "Sister, you're as naive as ever. You've given an opening and exposed a weakness!"
Kuro adjusted her stance, her blade poised to strike. Aka's overreach had left her left shoulder exposed. With both hands gripping her blade, Kuro swung hard, aiming to disable her sister by severing her shoulder.
But as her blade connected with Aka's shoulder, it passed through like a mirage.
A phantom image?
Before Kuro could react, Aka's hand delivered a swift chop to her neck.
"Urgh!"
Kuro's body went limp as the blow knocked her unconscious.
Even as darkness claid her vision, Kuro whispered a command. "Desutagūru… roar…"
Even if she died, taking her sister with her felt like a dream fulfilled.
Death Tagool had spent the entirety of their fight charging its devastating roar. That brief exchange between the sisters had given it more than enough ti.
"ROAR—"
Death Tagool unleashed its attack, a ten-ter-wide beam of blue energy erupting from its maw and hurtling toward Aka.
Without hesitation, Aka grabbed Kuro and activated her phasing ability.
Boom!
The colossal blue beam struck the ground, digging deep into the earth. Rocks and soil exploded into the air, as if a teor had collided with the surface.
The area of destruction rapidly expanded in a fan shape.
The team had already anticipated this outco. After defeating the Imperial Fist's Four Executioners in just a few exchanges, they quickly moved behind Death Tagool to avoid its devastating attack.
Only Bulat, clad in his armored Teigu, continued to press Bols in battle, the fight conveniently taking place within Death Tagool's attack range.
Bols, whose flathrower Teigu had been destroyed in just a few strikes, struggled to fend off Bulat's relentless spear attacks. He thought for sure that the next thrust would pierce him. Resigned to his fate, he prepared to detonate his Teigu to take Bulat down with him.
"Am I going to die? I'm sorry… I won't make it back… My daughter!"
But to his shock, Bulat withdrew his weapon and ran off.
Monts later, a blinding light surged from behind him. As he turned his head, the light engulfed him before he could react or scream.
BOOM!
A massive swath of forest was obliterated, leaving behind a thousand-ter fan-shaped wasteland. Trees were uprooted, and the deeper layers of soil and stone were unearthed and scattered.
The air filled with acrid smoke from the scorched remains.
In sheer destructive power, the Super-Class Danger Beast Death Tagool rivaled the divine abilities of the Seven Archons, capable of altering kiloters of terrain in an instant.
...
Aka erged from the smoke, carrying her unconscious sister, Kuro, in her arms. She looked toward her teammates, who had already regrouped and were waiting for her. "The mission is complete, everyone."
Najenda, supporting herself with one hand on her hip, nodded and smiled. "This marks Marechaussee Phantom's first successful mission."
Bulat retracted the armor of his Teigu with a hearty laugh. "Haha, I didn't expect things to go so smoothly this ti. It was a bit surprising."
Lubbock glanced up at Run, who was still hovering in the sky, and waved. "Hey, thanks for taking care of the biggest headache. Why don't you co down and introduce yourself?"
Run smiled and descended gracefully to the ground. "Hello, everyone. My na is Run. I was forrly part of the Imperial Police Force, but for certain reasons, I am now in pursuit of justice."
As he spoke, his gaze fell on the glowing Visions at the waists of the others.
"It seems you're all blessed by the heavens. Are you part of a specific departnt in the Nation of Justice? May I join you?"
Najenda paused, then smiled warmly. "Of course, you can join us. We welco anyone who pursues justice. But first, we'll need to report to Lord Neuvillette or Lady Furina."
"For now, co back with us."
"That's exactly what I was hoping for," Run replied with a nod.
…
At the sa ti, in the Imperial Capital.
A young man who had responded to the Empire's summons stood gazing at the Vision in his hand. The mysterious words of a bard still echoed in his ears:
"What is true justice? Is it the order that allows this old Empire to persist? Or is it the order that brings fairness, happiness, and freedom to the people, free from the oppression and exploitation of the nobility?"
"Blessed by the heavens as you are, I trust you'll find your own answer."
The young man had traveled from his rural fishing village to the Imperial Capital. Back then, the expanding borders of the Nation of Justice had just reached his town and city, and he had witnessed the trials conducted in the grand opera halls against criminals.
He knew that this newly ergent nation embodied justice and fairness in absolute terms.
"Even though I was once part of the Empire's navy, I will defend the people—not serve as a blade for the corrupt nobles or the incompetent Emperor."
With those words, he resolutely hung the Vision at his waist, his eyes fixing on the distant, magnificent palace of the capital.
…
At the sa ti, Furina and Neuvillette had fully secured control over the southern province.
The Maison Gardiennage and Special Security and Surveillance Patrol had mobilized a million-strong army, now advancing toward their final destination: the Imperial Capital.
Floating in the sky, Furina radiated divine energy as she raised her hand high.
A massive, thousand-ter-long scale appeared in the heavens, glowing with a radiant blue light.
"People of justice, I, Furina de Fontaine, Queen of All Waters, Kindreds, Peoples and Laws, hereby declare the final bastion of evil shall now face the judgnt of justice."
Her resounding voice traveled an unfathomable distance.
The soldiers advancing toward the capital brimd with determination and fervor in their eyes.
Furina glanced toward the Imperial Capital and clenched her small fist.
"At last, only the capital remains."
Wherever the Maison Gardiennage and Special Security and Surveillance Patrol passed, trials were conducted. Even the Revolutionary Army in the eastern provinces had surrendered days prior, willingly facing justice.
The Revolutionary Army had been built on the grievances of people unable to endure the Empire's corruption. Now, with the people no longer on their side, the movent was all but dead, reduced to a shell of ambitious leaders.
Those sa leaders were condemned to death by the people's anger during the trials.
Now, the Imperial Capital stood alone—the ultimate bastion of sin.
Neuvillette approached from behind Furina, speaking with calm authority. "Esdeath, who has ascended to godhood, has completed her conquest of the northern province."
"Next, we rendezvous with her. It's the final step. Are you ready?"
Furina placed her hand on her chest and replied, "What is a war machine compared to Khaenri'ah's creations? I can handle it without a problem now."
Neuvillette nodded solemnly. "To build the foundation of the Nation of Justice, the God of Justice herself must personally end the source of the old regi's rule."
Furina extended her hand, summoning a scale imbued with the faith of countless followers of the God of Justice.
Though small in size, the scale contained a power so vast that even gods would find it terrifying—surpassing even the energy amassed over five centuries within the Oratrice canique d'Analyse Cardinale in Fontaine.
This power stemd from the fervent devotion of 95% of the Empire's population toward the God of Justice.
Furina smiled confidently.
"One strike will suffice."
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