Chapter 117: Finally Catching Up — Brand's Fall in Battle

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Trapped at the center of the ice block, they realized their retreat was completely cut off. In the cramped space, ice spikes erupted from all directions, a full 360 degrees with no blind spots.

Leona no longer had time to clear a path; she and Scarlet Eyes stood back to back, defending against the relentless barrage of ice spikes. Despite this, fresh wounds kept appearing on their bodies.

“This isn’t good. The icy walls are slowly closing in; the space is getting smaller. Before we get impaled by the spikes, we’ll suffocate to death, won’t we?” Leona forced a smile.

“No, because once you start suffocating, your body loses agility. Before that happens, we’ll be turned into a hornet’s nest,” Scarlet Eyes corrected her earnestly.

“That’s really terrible.”

“Leona, wait a moment—I’ll break through. You take Raber and run back to the base to inform the boss. Leave Esdeath to me,” Scarlet Eyes said, her breath growing a bit hurried. The constant injuries and intense concentration had worn her down.

“How can you possibly handle Esdeath alone? Let Raber go back by himself. His imperial tool is fully deployed here; until it’s recovered, he won’t have much fighting capability,” Leona shook her head in refusal.

“No, Esdeath hasn’t unleashed her full power yet. I’ll hold her off until Kyo arrives. You’ll only get in the way,” Scarlet Eyes said without mercy.

“Wow—no mercy at all. Since you insist, fine. Just don’t die; I still want to taste the dishes you cook.”

“Mm, I’m looking forward to tasting Kyo’s cooking too.”

Esdeath stood atop the ice block imprisoning Scarlet Eyes and Leona, watching them like beasts struggling in a gladiatorial arena. She had overheard their conversation. “Finally showing your real strength? The famed Scarlet Eyes isn’t so simple after all. Let me warm up a bit more.”

To her, letting a few small fry escape was of no concern. In fact, if these little pests grew stronger and returned for revenge, she’d be even happier. So she watched Scarlet Eyes without a hint of movement, curious to see what trump card she might still have.

Scarlet Eyes’ gaze was grave as she said calmly, “Leona, block the attacks for three breaths. I need that much time.”

“You sure know how to ask for favors that put others in a bind. But don’t worry, even if an ice spike pierces my heart, it won’t distract me from protecting you.” Leona smiled brightly, trusting Scarlet Eyes just as Scarlet Eyes trusted her.

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At the instant Leona blocked the attack, Scarlet Eyes drew her finishing strike—the Muramasa, a cursed demon blade. Even a single cut would inflict poison that would prove fatal unless the affected limb was immediately severed. Otherwise, death was certain.

With no mercy, Scarlet Eyes drew the blade across her own neck.

“Ding... zzzr.” The Muramasa failed to slice through Scarlet Eyes’ fair neck because a thin diamond shield had suddenly appeared there, enough to block the blade’s force.

“Oh, it’s Kyo,” Scarlet Eyes said in surprise, touching the diamond on her neck.

Meanwhile, Leona’s body was again marked with several fresh scratches in that brief moment.

“Ice-breaking secret technique: Diamond Tornado.” A white tornado came spinning rapidly from the horizon, its high-speed rotation rubbing the air until it glowed faintly red. It barreled horizontally into the massive ice block, slicing through it like soft tofu.

In the blink of an eye, the tornado entering from the north side emerged from the south, carrying three figures in its tail.

“Who is that? To break through my ice prison so easily, they must not be an ordinary imperial tool wielder. Could it be…” Esdeath thought as she watched the tornado fly a hundred yards away.

“Kyo, you finally made it back! I’ve missed you, sister!” Leona shouted excitedly.

“Got held up by something. Sorry. You guys go deal with Brand and Tazmi’s opponents first, then return to base and inform the boss to evacuate. I’ll handle the legendary General Esdeath.” With that, Kyo’s figure flew onto the huge ice block where Esdeath stood.

“So cold-hearted, still think your sister’s a burden?” Leona said indignantly.

“Let’s go, business first. I wonder how Brand, Tazmi, and the boss are doing.” Scarlet Eyes was the first to dash toward the sounds of intense battle elsewhere.

“I’m no help without my imperial tool for now,” Raber said, but still followed.

“Wait till we get back, then I’ll deal with him,” Leona said as she left.

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They weren’t too worried about Kyo’s danger—after all, he wasn’t an imperial tool wielder and thus unaffected by the iron rules. Coupled with his self-proclaimed immortality, terrifying combat power, speed, and versatile fighting style, escaping from the usually flightless Esdeath was no problem, even if he lost. They believed this firmly.

“I’ve wanted to meet you for a long time. I even sped up the campaign against the minorities because of it. That so-called hero was useless, couldn’t even last half a day before falling,” Esdeath said leisurely, ignoring the other three who had disappeared, fixing her gaze on the young man opposite her.

“Is that so? The feeling’s mutual. I’ve heard much about you and have long wanted to test myself against you,” Kyo smiled, his eyes blazing with battle fervor.

“Then let’s see who’s stronger—who hunts whom!” Esdeath curled her lips in that signature sadistic smile. With a snap of her right fingers, countless ice spikes shot from the ice blocks beneath her feet, filling the sky and leaving Kyo no room to dodge.

Kyo waved his wings calmly; the diamonds covering them shattered the incoming ice spikes. The cool night breeze carried away the drifting ice shards, sparkling brilliantly under the silver moonlight—gorgeous and surreal.

“In such a hurry?” Kyo smiled, moving swiftly behind Esdeath, delivering a diamond-clad punch.

“Not bad strength.” The highly concentrated mystic ice shield blocked Kyo’s punch, but the immense force pushed her back two steps.

“I have more than just strength,” Kyo said with a smirk as he retracted his fist.

...

“Brand, what is this? Could it be…?” Upon arriving at another battlefield, three people froze in place. A man clad in full armor, possessed by a demon, punched a blond brawny man flying through the air. The man crashed heavily into a large tree, breaking it, then was impaled in the chest by branches from a second tree, dying instantly.

Their shock wasn’t because of this, but because the blond man lying on the ground was Brand—and who was the one wearing the piloting armor?

(Today is still the third watch; hopefully tomorrow will be as well.)