[372] Dig Their Own Grave

The war to pacify the northern tribes had finally come to an end.

When Esdeath returned to the battlefield, her sharp eyes immediately caught sight of the decapitated body of Numa Seika and the shattered remains of a teigu scattered across the ground. It didn't take her long to piece together what had transpired.

"I always knew you weren't weak, but I never imagined you were this powerful."

"Powerful? This is nothing but a fragment of my strength," August replied calmly.

Despite his composed demeanor, August was far from his peak. His magical energy hadn't recovered, his abilities were restricted, and even the fabled Gate of Babylon was inaccessible to him.

For now, all he could rely on was the raw strength of his demonic physique and the triple-layered Haki. Compared to his full potential, this was a shadow of his true might.

Esdeath, of course, wasn't aware of this and assumed his remark was just modesty in the face of his incomplete recovery.

The battle may have ended quickly, but it left a massive logistical problem: what to do with the 400,000 prisoners.

This detail mirrored the original story, suggesting that even without August's intervention, the outcome of the war would have been largely the same.

"So, August, what do you think we should do with the prisoners?" Esdeath asked casually.

"What's your suggestion?"

"Kill them all—it's faster and prevents rebellion. But letting them go? That's far too many to manage."

"In that case," August replied, his tone chilling, "bury them alive. All 400,000. Keep only the strongest and healthiest among them."

Esdeath's face broke into a sinister smile. "That's a brilliant idea."

Burying the enemy alive would leave a legacy of hatred that could only grow. By sparing a few of the strongest, they would plant seeds of vengeance, ensuring a new war would erupt in the future. To Esdeath, this was perfection—violence feeding her insatiable love for conquest.

For a moment, she looked at August with even greater admiration. In her eyes, he was now the perfect companion.

What Esdeath didn't realize was that August had an ulterior motive. He sought to harvest the despair and rage of 400,000 souls as they faced their impending doom.

At that moment, Liver arrived to report on the casualties of the war. Hearing the tail end of their conversation, he froze in shock.

Bury 400,000 people alive? Such a decision was utterly inhuman.

On the battlefield, Liver had no qualms about killing. But this—this was something else entirely. These were living prisoners, not combatants. Such an act wasn't just ruthless; it was the work of a demon.

"Liver," Esdeath commanded, snapping him out of his thoughts, "Spread the word. Start digging a massive pit to bury 400,000 northerners."

"Yes, General Esdeath." Liver replied reluctantly.

As he turned to leave, August's voice rang out.

"Wait."

"Yes, Lord August? Do you have additional instructions?" Liver asked, lowering his tone in respect.

"Don't make our men dig. Have the prisoners dig their own graves."

"…Understood."

Liver nodded, though an uncontrollable shiver ran down his spine. This man was no ordinary being. He wasn't just powerful—he was a devil incarnate. Forcing defeated enemies to dig their own mass grave was a cruelty beyond words.

By the time Liver departed, he had placed August second only to Esdeath in terms of authority.

"This man must never be crossed," Liver thought. "He's a true monster."

Esdeath turned to August with a playful grin. "You know, I have some excellent interrogation techniques. Care to learn a few?"

"Interrogation?"

"Yes," she replied enthusiastically. "I love breaking people down until they're nothing but obedient dogs."

"Sorry, Esdeath. That's not really my style."

Esdeath's excitement deflated instantly, her disappointment evident.

Still, she quickly composed herself. After all, how likely was it to find someone who shared her every interest? If someone like that did exist, they would surely have ulterior motives.

Meanwhile, August's thoughts were elsewhere. Despite absorbing the negativity of an entire war, his magical energy remained locked. The void-like energy within his body was far more formidable than he anticipated.

Even in the captured northern capital, chaos reigned. Fires burned, soldiers looted, and screams echoed as women were dragged into dark corners, victims of the victors' cruelty.

This was the fate of the defeated—everything lost to the spoils of war.

August observed the carnage for only a moment before losing interest. His focus remained on absorbing the overwhelming waves of despair and malice saturating the air.

Outside the city, under Liver's supervision, the prisoners began their grim task: digging a massive pit to accommodate 400,000 bodies.

The freezing climate made the work grueling and deadly. Many prisoners perished from the cold, while the survivors were forced to continue digging.

Day after day, the prisoners toiled, their numbers dwindling under the unforgiving conditions.

Throughout it all, August watched in silence, his gaze unyielding.

Esdeath, meanwhile, reveled in her own pleasures, spending her days torturing captives and finding time to bond with August.

To her, August was more than just an ally—he was a potential partner. And for August, the feeling was mutual.

Though Esdeath's power was limited by the constraints of this world, August saw her potential. He intended to elevate her, turning her into his second queen.

Strength? August could give her that. Bloodline? He could provide that too. Resources? He had them in abundance.

Esdeath's ruthlessness and ambition were assets he couldn't ignore. Once she became one of his kin, she would transcend humanity, joining the ranks of the Demon Race.

And when they returned to DxD, he would gift her a sacred gear, further amplifying her power.

For August, it wasn't a question of whether Esdeath deserved his investment—she absolutely did.

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