XXXVIII

Each dragoon fired a beam, effectively blocking off all five of them in a zone of death. Although they were more prepared this time, blocking off most of the damage.

"Hmph… relying on the same trick?" Nan Wansheng furrowed his brows as he sent forward a wave of profound energy, leading to a few explosions. "Heh… they may be invisible, but that does not make them indestruc-"

Bang. Bang. Bang.

Akatsuki raised its rifle before firing straight at Nan Wansheng. Qianye Ying'er proceeded to predict his movements and suffocate him in under constant fire. Meanwhile, the rest were preoccupied with the invisible dragoons.

"Enough!!!"

Nan Wansheng, beyond irritated, unleashed all of his strength as he called upon a domain which led to an ocean of water falling upon the Brahma Monarch God Realm. The pillars stepped forward alongside their Brahma Heaven God Emperor, suppressing the domain so that it would not spread.

"Let's see just how durable this thing is!"

Nan Wansheng charged forth and aimed to pierce straight through the Gundam. Its GN shield activated beforehand, leaving his outstretched hand between the outside and inside of the barrier. The massive surges of profound energy left his hand burning but he powered through and went straight for the cockpit.

Scarred and bruised, he attempted to punch into the cockpit but was deflected by Akatsuki's shield.

He punched into it… shockingly barely denting the shield.

He moved away, unleashing a devastating profound skill onto the back of Akatsuki's head. Clearly, it couldn't keep up with him. Nan Wansheng grinned as he kept attacking the Gundam before it could even touch him.

"..."

Akatsuki's armour suddenly took a crimson tone as it flashed away, leaving only an afterimage of particles.

Boom. Boom. Boom.

Within a split of a second, Nan Wansheng was surrounded by beams everywhere he looked. It wasn't just the remaining dragoons… but the primary rifle, too, was firing at an absurd rate. He shielded himself but couldn't force his way out…

His situation wouldn't last for long as Akatsuki drew its double-bladed saber and struck forth. Its scalding pale white blade cut straight through the Southern Sea God Emperor's clothes, burned through his skin and threatened to pierce his body right through.

CLANG. CLANG. CLANG.

Nan Wansheng was like a ping pong ball being slashed from all sides by a constantly vanishing crimson demon. Given the size of the blade, he was thoroughly scorched from head to toe.

"Im… possible."

Nan Wansheng muttered as Akatsuki dashed towards him for a final time when his defences had completely been shattered…

The colossal blade cut right through him.

"..."

There was silence as the truth settled in. Nan Wansheng, the strongest profound practitioner of the Southern Divine Region, had just fallen. Fallen was quite inaccurate, however, as there was nothing left of him. Nothing but ash…

The Four Sea Kings felt a tremor of fear as Akatsuki turned its sights to them.

With their tails between their legs, they all flew for dear life. Their state of panic led to Akatsuki dashing straight towards their backs, cutting through the Southern Hell Sea King first. The dragoons focused on the rest, blocking their way out. Using all of their level ten divine master strength, they powered through and destroyed quite a number of them while sustaining wounds. Alas, Qianye Ying'er was on their tail once again.

They prompted to split up and broke through the blockade as Qianye Ying'er's focus was divided.

She hounded one more of the now three hell sea kings, the northern one, and kicked him back down towards the Brahma Monarch God Realm. He was given the Nan Wansheng treatment, being constantly attacked, until he couldn't defend himself anymore and was cut through as well.

Finally, the Akatsuki returned to where the battle started, sheathed its saber and retrieved its rifle and shield. The remaining dragoons returned to their station and the Gundam landed on the ground.

[Qianye Ying'er (Magician I) Confidant Rank: 3 → 4]

Qianye Ying'er hopped out of the cockpit and descended, drawing the eyes of every person present.

"Today, the Southern Sea God Emperor had the courage and arrogance in him to invade our Brahma Monarch God Realm!" Qianye Ying'er stated, bending the truth ever so slightly. "While he has paid for his offence, the Southern Sea God Realm remains untouched and two of their sea dogs still live. Weakened and in disarray, would this not be the prime opportunity to counterattack?"

"They must be punished!"

An elder agreed with a thunderous cheer, leading to many others nodding. Seeing as the Brahma Heaven God Emperor himself nodded, the morale of the Brahma Monarch God Realm couldn't be higher. They had just battered the peak existences of the Southern Sea God Realm, killing half of them… or rather Qianye Ying'er had done that on her own. The Brahma Monarch Goddess' new weapon, paired with the manpower of the Brahma Monarch God Realm… how couldn't they all be excited? It was easy pickings!

"The preparations for a counter-invasion on the Southern Sea God Realm will begin shortly. For now, it is a time to gather our strength and rebuild what was destroyed in the battle."

Qianye Fantian announced, leading to more cheers.

~

Rokas was refining his profound energy control when Qianye Ying'er returned to the courtyard. There were a multitude of different armours and weapons around him, some of which resembled smaller Gundam pieces. He had been putting in that work to improve himself ever since his freedom was extended… instead of indulging in the beauty fiancée. The BMR-01 Akatsuki was the product of all of his hard work, a model created by the supreme compression of his almost endless profound energy. Its weaponry was produced using traits of pale white tribulation lightning and the profound art integration system was created through some genius and the assistance of Li Suo.

With a pilot like Qianye Ying'er, who was above most God Emperors already, the Akatsuki simply had no comparison.

"All because one guy was horny…" Rokas remarked, having seen the entire thing from a tablet connected to what was more or less a camera system.

"You don't approve of a counter-invasion?" Qianye Ying'er crossed her arms, smiling ever so slightly. "This is a perfect opportunity, as I see it. You will have the time and resources to produce more Gundams on the level of the Akatsuki, of course, as my father has witnessed first-hand what they were capable of. With these additional Gundams, a dominant Brahma Monarch God Realm victory is to be expected. The Southern Sea God Realm will be stripped bare…"

"And the resources taken from this invasion will be turned into more Gundams, solidifying the Brahma Monarch God Realm's position as the one true superpower in the east," Rokas added, turning to her. "Isn't that right?"

"Something along those lines…" Qianye Ying'er nodded as a naughty smile curled from her lips. "With this new power, conquering the Eastern Divine Region in its entirety might not be out of the question."

"Must be wonderful to see your ambitions coming to fruition." Rokas remarked, stroking his chin "Honestly, you were pretty amazing with the whole invisible dragoon tactic. Especially the way you sliced and diced the southern sea food emperor after pressing him into a corner… phenomenal. Inspirational, even."

"Since when did you give me genuine compliments…" Qianye Ying'er raised an eyebrow. "Is there something you want?"

"I'd ask for head but… well, you suck at it, '' Rokas shrugged. "Regardless, I can't give my lovely fiancee compliments without an ulterior motive? Loosen up a little."

"Hmph… I need to loosen up? You are the tight one, Long Ke." Qianye Ying'er smiled, looking up into his radiant golden eyes. "It's quite amusing that you believe that my ego is inflated when yours is much the same."

"Oh, really?" Rokas raised an eyebrow. "How so?"

"Remember that incident before you went on to build the Akatsuki? You refused to give in to your desires simply because it would mean losing… and the longer you managed to do so, the smugger you became."

"Rejecting the Brahma Monarch Goddess does sound like quite the achievement." Rokas tilted his head, smiling slightly. "Shouldn't I be a little proud of myself?*

"And what have you accomplished by doing so, other than feeling better about yourself?"

"Well, for one, I had plenty more time to work on the Akatsuki which saved the Brahma Monarch God Realm a lot of trouble. Without it, that fight would've been far more difficult and the Southern Sea God Realm's losses would've been minimal." Rokas stroked his chin. "The truth is, you take me for granted. It might seem like you have me all around your finger but that's not the case at all. Earlier, you spoke of more Gundams like it was a certainty. What if I, plainly put, refuse to make more?"

"..." She chuckled. "You want to be rebellious now?"

"I want my respect, that's all."

Rokas did not look away, staring her down with a golden glare. Qianye Ying'er frowned slightly but her cheerful mood did not seem to die down. There was something… striking about him at that moment.

"I'd understand if I was still some nobody captive, but I am the Brahma Heaven God Emperor's 'direct disciple'... which sounds like a bloody joke to me. How the hell am I your future husband yet you treat me like a caged bird? If I want to travel somewhere, I damn well should have the right to do so."

"And don't say that it's too dangerous. You're not my mother and I certainly don't need you to babysit me. Having piloted Akatsuki yourself, you should know exactly why. Before you pull some condescending retort, I'm going to say one last thing…"

"You need me more than I need you."

After finishing his piece, Rokas turned away and walked off. It was not a statement that she brushed off. Given recent events, was he even wrong to think that? As irking as it was to be put in place by someone much weaker, she began to see him in a different light. Where every other man would fold at her word, even one as great as the Southern Sea God Emperor, Rokas stood his ground.

This… presented her with a challenge. Given her proud nature, how could she accept that her own fiancé wasn't head over heels? His stubborn resistance only made her desire him, the only man worthy of her, more and more.

[System: This bruddha acting like he doesn't want to build more Gundams.]

'Of course, the more, the better.' Rokas laid down on Ying'er's bed, smiling slightly. 'Truthfully, though, I don't want to be pulled around like a slave with promises of something that I should be able to do anyway. By giving such a strong impression, I might not have to resort to breaking my out.'

'That also leaves the fact that if she has me wrapped around her finger, seducing her would damn near be impossible.'

[System: And the wifey's would think less of you.]

'I mean, everyone would think less of me if I became a tool… even myself.' He placed his hands behind his head, relaxing a little. 'The old me would've probably bent over, sucked her feet and called her mommy if it meant being together. Hell, I would've done damn near anything.'

[System: The character development is crazy fr fr ong no cappp]

'She is leng though… the mental strength it takes to say no is on another level. It's like going through passive willpower training every day. Sometimes, I do wonder, is it worthwhile? Shouldn't I bend her over and try some hentai magic? Then again, that's exactly what she wants. If she becomes too strong through me, then she can dictate everything about my life.'

'Women with her nature and power… are truly troublesome.'

[System: Hentai magic? You mean the mythical 0th ranked heavenly treasure known as the dragon rod??]

'I mean, from what I recall, Ying'er did quite enjoy it… like on some pornstar level of orgasm.'

[System: Maybe she was faking it to make you feel better.]

'Oh nah…' Rokas chuckled. 'That would be a violation. By the way, since Ying'er used her profound technique through the Akatsuki, you should have the data on it?'

[System: You want me to reverse engineer it?]

'... Why not? At its final stage, it makes you completely invisible and I should have the comprehension ability to learn that final stage.'

[System: The Great Splendorous Brahma Shadow… huh, I guess I could do that.]

'Is that a yes or no?'

[System: Hmmmm….]

'Please… with a cherry on top?'

[System: Ah, there we go. I'll do it for you.]

'Neat… that means I can eventually have every one of their profound arts and skills.'

Rokas grinned slightly.