Chapter 273

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Esdeath didn't inform the Capital, and Abel had no intention of involving 'Night Raid.' They stood facing each other, a few meters apart, in an atmosphere heavy with killing intent.

In an instant, Abel unleashed a powerful Conqueror's Haki, clashing with the murderous aura. Esdeath, initially not very serious, suddenly widened her eyes, a somewhat deranged smile appearing on her face.

"Great, I'm getting excited by this incredible aura. You're worthy of me remembering your name."

"Then remember it well, the one who will kill you is Abel."

"Come then, Abel, fight to your heart's content!"

Esdeath drew her sword and lightly flicked it, sending a series of ice spikes towards Abel.

Ice attacks? Abel didn't even bother to dodge, simply walking forward. As the sharp ice spikes approached, they shattered as if encountering a natural predator.

Esdeath raised an eyebrow, mistaking Abel's immunity for physical strength that crushed her attack. She then slammed the ground, sending a huge ice spear towards Abel, which also shattered upon impact.

Truly surprised, Esdeath abandoned ice attacks and slashed at Abel's neck with her sword. Abel raised his arm, blocking the attack with Armament Haki, creating a metallic clash.

"Didn't eat enough? Or is this the true strength of the 'Empire's Strongest'? I'm starting to get disappointed."

Esdeath's expression turned icy at Abel's casual remark. She despised weakness more than anything. Shouting, she sprung ice spikes from all directions towards Abel, but they all shattered uselessly.

But this was just a cover for Esdeath's real attack. She successfully touched Abel, hoping to freeze him into a fragile ice sculpture. No one had ever survived this move.

Yet, Abel merely smirked as the ice encasing him shattered instantly into sparkling fragments.

"Quite refreshing for a hot summer day."

Unharmed, Abel suddenly launched a punch. Esdeath barely managed to block with her sword and multiple ice walls, but was sent flying, her sword shattered by the combined force of Abel's Beast Strength and Armament Haki.

As Esdeath struggled to stand, she couldn't help but spit out several mouthfuls of blood. She had never encountered such brutal strength before! If not for the ice walls and her weapon blocking the attack, she had no doubt she would have been pierced through by Abel's punch. Whether it was his own strength or the power of an Imperial Arms, she wasn't sure. All she knew was that she had met the strongest opponent of her life.

"Is this a gift from the heavens, hiding someone as strong as you in the Capital?" Esdeath asked. "Abel, I acknowledge your strength. If you agree to be my man, I'll forgive your crimes and allow you to serve by my side."

Abel shook his head, "Not interested."

"Then it's a pity. I'll have to kill you myself," Esdeath declared, still confident despite being beaten.

Abel, like a cannonball, appeared in front of Esdeath and threw a simple but powerful punch. Esdeath calmly uttered a chant, "Mahapadma," freezing time around them. "You forced me to use this move," she said. "I don't believe you have no weaknesses."

As she thrust her ice sword towards Abel's eye, it shattered. To her shock, Abel moved within the frozen time, embracing her in his powerful arms. When time resumed, Esdeath was bewildered.

"Surprised?" Abel asked.

"Why?" Esdeath struggled to understand.

"It's simple. Freezing a millennium-old ice block with ice powers makes no sense, does it?"

"You have... the same power as me? No, a higher level of ice power?"

Esdeath finally believed. She had never heard of another ice Imperial Arms like hers. Realizing Abel was a super-enhanced version of herself, possessing not only her powers but also greater strength, she stopped resisting. She preferred a dignified end over a desperate struggle.

When Najenda and the others found them, they were shocked. The Empire's strongest general had fallen in a fair battle with no outside intervention.