[369] Later

It had taken nearly an entire month—twenty days, to be exact—before they finally reached the outskirts of the Northern Kingdom. The pace of their march could only be described as "slow."

During this time, August's injuries had mostly healed. The external wounds were no longer a concern, but the Void energy within his body remained, rendering him unable to use magic. However, his physical prowess was more than enough to ensure his survival in this chaotic world, not to mention that August had influential connections.

"It should be enough time now," said Esdeath, standing atop a snow-capped peak, her gaze fixed on the distant Northern King's city.

Inside the city, nearly half a million soldiers had gathered, while Esdeath's army was still only a hundred thousand strong.

The odds—five to one—were daunting, and for most, such a disparity would seem insurmountable. Yet, the commander of this force was Esdeath, a true monster whose strength stood unparalleled in this world.

Moreover, the three Beast Warriors under her command were seasoned Teigus users, all with extraordinary combat abilities. As for the soldiers, while the Northern tribes had numerical superiority, most of them were hunters or ordinary civilians, not trained warriors. Esdeath's army, on the other hand, was made up of the Empire's finest soldiers.

The difference in quality was just as significant as the difference in numbers.

Step… step…

Footsteps echoed in the snow, and Esdeath turned to see August approaching. Despite the freezing cold, he wore only a single layer of clothing, yet showed no signs of discomfort, a testament to his remarkable strength.

"It seems you've recovered quite a bit," Esdeath remarked.

"It's been almost a month; of course, I've healed," August replied casually.

"What do you think of this battle? According to the latest intelligence, there are nearly 500,000 soldiers stationed in the Northern Kingdom."

"A mob, nothing more," August said dismissively.

Esdeath smiled at his confidence, finding his opinion perfectly aligned with her own. To her, the number of soldiers didn't matter. Whether it was 500,000 or a million, it was of no consequence.

Teigus users were monsters in human form, and her "Demon Manifestation" could turn her into a natural disaster. A mere Northern tribe? She alone could crush them.

"Do you need my help?" August asked, a slight smile tugging at his lips.

"Oh? You're interested in joining the fight?"

"Although I haven't fully recovered, I've regained a little of my strength," he replied, his voice calm but edged with a hint of challenge.

"Just a little?" Esdeath observed, noting the shift in his presence. Gone was the fragile, porcelain doll of the past, replaced by someone who exuded strength, enough to give even her a sense of subtle danger. And yet, he claimed it was "just a little."

August wasn't exaggerating. He had indeed only recovered a fraction of his former strength. His physical wounds had healed, but the Void energy still lingered within him, preventing him from accessing his magic. What had recovered was his mastery over the three-colored aura, a manifestation of the life force within him—not magic, but raw power.

In this world, August had hoped to trigger system quests, but he found none, meaning he could only rely on himself to heal, little by little.

Still, from his experience before, he suspected that conquering the Northern tribes might yield hidden rewards. Even if not, he still owed Esdeath a considerable debt of gratitude, so it wouldn't hurt to take a gamble.

"When do you plan to attack?" August asked, breaking the silence.

"According to scouts, most of the Northern forces have gathered in the king's city, so the time is now," Esdeath replied slowly. She wasn't one to wipe out an entire race without purpose. Even if her ultimate goal was annihilation, she preferred to let her enemies live, for their suffering brought her entertainment. She needed the Northern tribes alive to perpetuate the cycle of war—and to continue enjoying the spoils.

"I've heard that there is a prince in the city, known as the 'Northern Hero,' Numa Seika. He wields a Teigu and is said to have never lost in battle. He must be quite formidable."

"Hmph, a mere fool," Esdeath scoffed. "He's just a pawn wielding a Teigu, flexing his strength among a group of weaklings."

"You're quite confident, Esdeath," August remarked with a wry smile.

"Of course, I'm the strongest, and there's no one else who even comes close," she said proudly, her voice brimming with self-assurance.

It was this arrogance, this confidence, that August admired. In this world, a world of chaos and bloodshed, only someone like Esdeath could stand at the top—and she had earned that right.

"By the way, Esdeath, I'm curious about Teigus. Could I examine the one belonging to the 'Northern Hero'?"

"Teigus, huh? If you're interested, Liver, Daidara, and Nyau all wield Teigus," she offered.

"No, I want the Northern Hero's weapon. I wouldn't dream of taking one of your subordinates' weapons," August replied.

"Fine. I'll bring it to you tomorrow," Esdeath agreed, her tone nonchalant.

"Thank you," August nodded.

The battle had yet to begin, but both Esdeath and August had already begun discussing the spoils as if they were certain of their victory. In their minds, tomorrow's battle was already decided.

That night, both the Northern tribes within the king's city and the Empire's approaching forces braced for what was to come. For a month, the Northern tribes had lived in fear of Esdeath's approach, terrified of the devastation she would bring.

The snow-streaked path they had followed was marked by the destruction of dozens of Northern villages, and thousands of Northern warriors had already fallen to the Empire's army.

Inside the Northern King's city, the tribal leaders, led by Numa Seika, were gathered, all shaken by the news that Esdeath's army was almost upon them.

"The Empire's forces will arrive tomorrow," Numa Seika said slowly, his voice laced with tension. He had expected some trick, some deception from Esdeath. But after a month, he had learned that Esdeath's arrogance was not a strategy—it was simply her nature.

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