23 Let's Dance

Days passed like a breeze, without any significant incidents. Yet, I couldn't help but notice the growing distance between me and Hinata. She had grown colder toward me, spending more and more time immersed in studying holy magic or visiting the nearby church. I'd be lying if I said it didn't sting a little. We weren't particularly close, but the change in her behavior was noticeable. Still, what could I do? I wasn't exactly someone she confided in.

Yuuki, on the other hand, seemed to lose interest in me. Once he discovered that my power stemmed from an artifact likely learning this tidbit from Hinata he turned his focus elsewhere. He had been deeply engrossed in studying the inner workings of the Western Nations, no doubt as part of his grander schemes. I couldn't fault him for it, though. He was just being Yuuki, always looking for an angle.

As for me? I had been busy sharpening my abilities. Thanks to constant practice with True Dragon Magic (TDM) in my dimension, my strength has grown significantly. I had developed several new tricks, such as manifesting avatar wings that allowed me to fly. While gravity flight was practical, these wings made me faster and more versatile, especially in air combat. Inspired by something Sasuke did, I even incorporated Black Flame into my avatar, an upgrade that turned out to be far more effective than I had imagined.

Veldora's affinity with space had also come in handy. I upgraded my Void spell into something I now call [Ultimate Void]. Though it wasn't as potent as Unlimited Imprisonment the spell that confined Veldora it was still leagues better than before. With it, I could easily incapacitate someone of Clayman's caliber, and even someone like Luminous Valentine would have difficulty escaping unscathed.

However, my system was going through a temporary reboot or upgrade. The Gacha and Store functions were disabled, not that I particularly needed them at the moment. Quests and Achievements were still active, though I wasn't receiving any prompts since I wasn't in my territory.

Now, I was en route to the Puppet Nation of Jistav and the Eastern Empire, where my wood clone had discovered the Spectre Village. The clone had even met the "Spectre Village Mistress," the mother of the yet-to-be-named Kumara. This village/kingdom was an opportunity I couldn't ignore. Gaining powerful subordinates like these specters could bolster my strength without drastically altering the world's future trajectory.

I made sure no barriers or prying eyes could detect me. Once certain, I teleported to a spot near the small kingdom. Spreading my divine senses, I quickly noticed a large force of soldiers marching toward the village the Eastern Empire's army. Just like in the events of Tensura, it seemed they planned to wipe out the village. My wood clone, still in the village, sensed the army as well. He was currently in a guest room offered by the Spectre Mistress.

(Clone POV)

The boss had arrived, and not a moment late trouble was brewing.

I made my way to the Mistress's residence. Her aura was calm but heavy with concern. She was cradling her daughter, the young "Kumara" when I reached her room.

"You may enter, Lord Leo," she said softly, her voice as gentle as ever. She must have sensed me approaching.

Stepping inside, I took in the sight of her seated gracefully, her daughter nestled in her arms. Despite her serene demeanor, there was a flicker of worry in her eyes.

"Mistress, my boss has arrived," I informed her, keeping my tone light. "It seems trouble is headed our way."

Her eyes darkened slightly. "The Imperial Army," she murmured, her lips pressing into a thin line. "They've come for us but why?" She was confused likely due to the treaty.

Despite the danger, her first concern wasn't for herself or her village. "But should your lord risk his life for us monsters?" she asked softly, her worry evident. "We are grateful for his help, but I do not wish to see him in danger on our behalf."

Her kindness caught me off guard. Even now, with death looming over her village, she thought about the well-being of someone she barely knew. She was truly remarkable.

I gave her a reassuring smile. "The boss can handle it. He's not someone you need to worry about."

With that, I dispelled myself, leaving the situation in the capable hands of the original.

(Leo POV)

Standing near the village outskirts, I observed the Imperial Army from a distance. They moved with military precision, their numbers formidable. But against me? Numbers didn't mean much.

The Spectre Village was nothing short of a hidden gem. Situated on top of hills in the valleys between the Eastern Empire and the Puppet Nation of Jistav. Unlike the dreary, barren lands often associated with monster settlements, this village thrived with a natural charm. Pale blue wisteria-like vines adorned the stone and wood structures, glowing faintly at night to create an otherworldly aura. It was a quiet yet enchanting place, a haven for the specters who lived here a species of spectral monsters with deep ties to magic and the spiritual realm.

From the moment I entered, I could sense the latent magical energy that saturated the area. The entire village seemed to be one giant magical field, likely maintained by the Spectre Mistress herself. This energy wasn't just decorative; it served as a protective barrier, keeping most low-tier threats at bay. Yet, against the overwhelming force of the Eastern Empire's military, this sanctuary would soon face annihilation...just as it had in the story of Tensura.

The village population hovered around 500 to 600 inhabitants, a relatively small community. Despite their modest numbers, these specters were highly disciplined and structured. Most of the villagers were either farmers or craftsmen. However, they also had a small but dedicated warrior trained to defend their home.

The warriors were surprisingly capable of their numbers. I assessed their strength to be around Rank C, a decent level for monsters of theirs without being named. They could hold their own against small groups of human soldiers, but against the elite forces of the Eastern Empire, their strength wouldn't be enough.

Despite their strengths, the Spectre Village was isolated, both geographically and politically. This isolation had kept them safe from human incursions for years, but it also meant they lacked allies and external support given their fertile lands. It wasn't hard to see why the Eastern Empire targeted them.

From my knowledge of the story, the Empire had likely deemed the specters a potential threat not because they were aggressors, but simply because they wanted to. Specters were rare and possessed unique abilities. The Empire's approach was always the same: eliminate anything that could challenge their supremacy or be harnessed for power, conquering any neighboring territory.

The attack on the Spectre Village in the original timeline had been swift and brutal. The Imperial Army, led by one of their Commander Kanzis, had marched in with overwhelming force. The village's warriors fought valiantly, but they were outnumbered and outclassed. The Spectre Mistress herself had been gravely injured trying to protect her people. Ultimately, the village had been wiped out, with Kumara as its only survivor sold to Clayman.

As I stood in the village square, the Mistress approached me, her young daughter Kumara nestled in her arms. Her presence was both commanding and soothing, a rare combination. She was tall and graceful,

Her eyes were piercing silver, she had blonde hair with a tint of silver in it, fox ears, she had five thicks and four thinner tails with silver and black color.

Despite her serene demeanor, I could feel the sheer depth of her power. She was a Special A-ranked being maybe S, capable of holding her own against most human armies or even weaker Demon Lords. But even her strength had limits. The Empire's forces, with their elites and tactics, would likely overwhelm her if she fought alone.

"Lord Leo," she said, her voice calm yet tinged with worry. "I sense the Imperial Army is approaching. We will do what we can to defend our home, but…" She trailed off, her gaze lowering to her daughter.

(Clone has explained everything to her)

She didn't need to finish the sentence. The thought of her people being slaughtered, her daughter growing up in chains, or worse it was written all over her face.

"You don't need to do this," she continued, looking back at me. "We are grateful for your kindness, but we cannot ask you to risk your life for us."

Her selflessness struck me again. Here was a leader who would willingly sacrifice herself for her people, yet she was more concerned about me a stranger than her safety. I couldn't help but respect her even more, it was foolishness in a sense but it can be admired.

Hearing her words, I felt a pang of determination. The Spectre Village didn't deserve this fate. They were a peaceful, isolated people, just trying to live their lives. The Empire's attack wasn't just unjust; it was a clear display of their arrogance and greed.

I smiled, keeping my tone light but firm. "You don't have to worry about me, Mistress. I've decided to help you, and that's not going to change. I won't stand by and let the Empire destroy this village, and it is not like I am doing it for free." He gave her a knowing smile as he unleashed his aura this time not hiding his strength.

Her eyes widened slightly, and for the first time, a flicker of hope crossed her face. She bowed her head, her voice trembling slightly. "Thank you, Lord Leo. Truly." She understood with my strength there was no need to worry.

As the Imperial Army drew closer, I turned my attention toward the horizon. It was time to act and time to show the Eastern Empire what happens when meeting another protagonist early. This village, and its people, would not share the same fate they did in the original timeline. Not while I was here.

As the Imperial Army drew closer, I stepped forward, preparing to make my move. This would be the perfect opportunity to demonstrate my strength and to make the Eastern Empire think twice before fucking up again.

I used the transformation technique of [Wood Clone] to transform into a very peace-loving uncle, his hair grew to waist-length with shoulder-length bangs framing the sides of his face, covering most of his right eye, and he equipped a red samurai armor.

The Spectre mistress looked at him in awe as she could not see past his transformation at all, she had put Kumara under the care of a friend of hers.

Her nine-tails glowing in an eerie light.

Commander Kanzis, a dark and menacing figure, stood at the forefront. His black hair framed his pale face, and his crimson eyes burned with ambition and malice. His sleek black armor radiated an oppressive aura—a manifestation of his Unique Skill [Looter].

I remained calm, my crimson samurai armor radiating an aura of unmatched confidence. The Spectre Mistress stood behind me, her expression a mixture of worry but she remained confident in my strength.

I gave her a reassuring glance. "Do worry. I don't plan to risk anything. This… this is just a warm-up."

Stay behind the barrier, I said, stepping forward with my clones. "This won't take long."

The Imperial Army, a disciplined force of 4,000 soldiers, advanced steadily toward the Spectre Village. The clinking of armor and synchronized march echoed across the battlefield. Kanzis, the Special A-rank Commander, led them, his aura exuding dominance. As an Enlightened human, he stood at the pinnacle of strength among others (he thinks), wielding the Unique Skill [Looter], due to which when he kills a living being, an equivalent dark being formed from darkness with the same power is created and can be summoned at any time. The dark copy bears the same appearance and skills as the target.

As the army drew closer, Kanzis stopped abruptly, raising his hand to signal a halt.

"Commander Kanzis, why are we stopping?" one of his officers asked, confusion evident on his face.

Kanzis didn't answer immediately. His sharp senses had caught something of a powerful presence likely the Spectre Village Mistress, whose aura he had initially deemed the greatest threat.

"Hold your ground," he ordered. "I'll handle this personally."

Though he asked three of his men to come with him.

Kanzis strode ahead, passing through the village's outskirts until he reached the clearing at its edge. Standing there, over a hill was a lone man.

The man's presence was overwhelming. His long black hair flowed down his back, swaying slightly in the wind. Crimson samurai armor adorned his figure, and his haunting gaze seemed to pierce through Kanzis.

Kanzis froze momentarily, his instincts screaming at him. This wasn't an ordinary monsterbut he also wasn't an ordinary Enlightened human.

The figure slowly opened his eyes, a subtle smirk playing on his lips.

"You must be Kanzis," Leo said, his tone calm yet dripping with disdain. "I expected someone more... impressive."

And it was true Leo can't believe that this man could have defeated the mistress.

~~~~~~

Well, well, while relationship between Kurama and Madara wasn't good but here it is different.

Well I could gave written it all as monster kingdom but I didn't believe that even imperial army would be able to completely wipe out Spectres Kumara being the only exception.

Leo has got some serious power boost he only lacks a Unique skill that is combat oriented and then he would be a beast easily surpassing most of the individuals without an ultimate skill.

No he will not become a True Demon Lord, that is why I also kept the numbers low.