You are very strong, but my painting style is better than yours!

This was none other than his deputy, the minister's nominal ally, and Berlik, the second-in-command of the Way of Tranquility!

Although this man was foolish, he was definitely powerful and notoriously afraid of death. He even recruited a Teigu user to protect him around the clock... Yet, this very man had his head chopped off in the blink of an eye!

Even the cult leader couldn't help but feel a chill run down his spine: if this person wanted to kill him, it would probably only take a moment, right?

No matter if you are the emperor, the prime minister, the leader of a religion, or the leader of a rebel army, no matter how much territory you control or how many troops you have, once your head is cut off, everything is for naught. A thousand schemes are no match for a single blow!

—This is the unique intimidation of powerful figures in the world of high-level martial arts!

"Alright, now you don't have to worry about it or put in the effort to maintain a balance."

Iori said to him kindly, "Look, I've chosen one for you, aren't you going to thank me?"

"……Thanks."

The cult leader's eyes twitched violently, and he said in a dry voice, "I really have no choice... What does the Revolutionary Army intend for Anning Dao to do? If they want us to rebel on our own initiative, we are not prepared in any way. I will not send my followers to their deaths."

"Who said you were allowed to join the revolutionary army?"

"But now that Berlick is dead, the minister certainly no longer has the resolve to maintain control of Anning Road; he will—"

“He will go and keep Berlik company,” Iori thought for a moment, “depending on my mood.”

Cult Leader: "..."

The handsome man's mind was somewhat sluggish. Reason told him that the man in front of him was a bit crazy, but biological instinct made him unable to help but believe him.

Rumors circulated that he could read minds, which, while not quite that far-fetched, did indeed allow him to distinguish between truth and falsehood... And Iori was honest and straightforward to an absurd degree from beginning to end.

"So... could it be that you only belong to one faction?"

The cult leader murmured, "Do you intend to fight against an empire with a thousand-year history and a revolutionary army that has drawn upon the anger of the people?"

"No way?

"I'll single-handedly defeat the whole world!"

Chapter 61: The Hunting Target - Esdeath!

Killing Beric not only left the leader with no other choice, but also allowed Iori to obtain an Imperial Arm:

【The Strange and Unusual Adaius】

This is a long-handled scythe-shaped Imperial Arm. The curved blade, which is over a meter long, looks imposing, but it is difficult to handle in actual combat. To be honest, it is not as convenient as a spear or a greatsword.

Its ability is also a mystery, because the Teigu user who was protecting Beric was instantly killed by Iori before he could even unleash his attack... However, interestingly, Iori discovered that there were many free spirit particles gathered on this scythe, far exceeding those of other Teigu.

Then he tested it on a dangerous species and found that it had average physical destructive power, but came with a very subtle "curse" effect.

The reason it is described as subtle is that this curse is extremely unstable. Sometimes it slows down the opponent's movements, sometimes it causes wounds to bleed uncontrollably, and sometimes it causes panic in the enemy. Although there are many types, only one curse takes effect at a time, and it is completely random and cannot be controlled at all.

In addition, Iori also noticed that individuals with strong vitality have high resistance to curses, so this Imperial Arm has basically no special effect on Dangerous Species of level two or above.

If that's all there is to it, then [Adayas] is just a useless item for Iori.

However, Iori intuitively felt that it wasn't that simple. Perhaps it was the unusual amount of spiritual particles that piqued his interest, leading him to conduct a serious and in-depth study.

He then discovered a very interesting phenomenon, one that perhaps only he could see in the entire world:

This scythe absorbs a certain amount of spiritual energy after slaying a creature!

In a fantasy world, it would be similar to a demonic artifact that captures souls, only not as extreme as directly absorbing the entire soul; it can only bind a small number of fragments and wandering spirits that lack self-awareness.

It is these spiritual particles that make the scythe's properties extremely complex, and it will randomly imbue the object it cuts with a curse.

However, this scythe does not have the effect of nourishing the soul; it merely stores energy and cannot allow the internal spiritual energy to grow on its own. Therefore, the spiritual particles will continuously dissipate over time.

When a type of spirit particle completely dissipates, the corresponding type of curse will also disappear. Theoretically, if no new soul fragments are harvested for a long time, it will turn into a relatively hard ordinary scythe.

In the world of "Akatsuki no Akame ga Kill!", there are basically no methods of cultivation on the soul or spiritual level. From ancient times to the present, probably no one knows what the true power of this sword is. They only think that its attributes are unpredictable, which is why it has been given a "strange and mysterious" name.

Although it wasn't of much use, it was a pleasant surprise and was kept by Iori. She planned to either give it to her subordinates or use it as a "dry battery" in an emergency.

He had considered further developing the scythe's abilities, since the performance of an Imperial Arms depends on the user, and he was definitely the most suitable person in the world for [Adayas].

But thinking about it carefully, Iori already has a Zanpakuto, so isn't it more promising than this beggar's scythe?

Instead of focusing on developing Imperial Arms, it would be better to chat with the Zanpakuto's spirit often and explore its potential.

After all, Iori has only recently begun to unleash her power and has only mastered three techniques. Perhaps she can go even further.

-

During his trip to Anning Road, Iori nominally subdued the cult leader, but he knew that forcing someone like the cult leader to follow him was not enough, and he was willing to put more effort into winning him over.

Unlike Imperial Arms users like Will and Seryu, the leader, while lacking combat prowess, is an excellent managerial talent. Moreover, among the power holders in this worldview, few truly care about people's livelihoods and future development.

Compared to ministers who are capable but use all their abilities to satisfy their personal desires, and revolutionary armies that borrow troops from foreign tribes, the leader's thinking can definitely be described as "far-sighted".

Even if Iori could pacify the world like the first emperor of the past, he was destined not to be able to devote a lot of energy and time to governing the country. Therefore, he needed people like Najenda and the leader to share the pressure.

If Esdeath's personality weren't so strong and difficult to subdue, having her lead troops to intimidate the surrounding areas would actually be a good choice.

After returning from Anning Road, Iori continued his mission of "killing corrupt officials and fighting local tyrants" in various places. In the process, he used both kindness and severity, and the "Rakshasa Two Demons" and the five Teigu users became more and more convinced of him. In particular, passionate young people like Will realized that Iori was working for the benefit of the people and admired him from the bottom of their hearts.

Polus, who was initially uneasy, discovered that Iori was just assertive in his style, but had a very good character and personality, far better than his previous boss. With his wife and daughter now in a safe place, he put aside his concerns and wholeheartedly followed Iori.

Needless to say, Sai Liu and Lan were fine, but only the fashionista still had reservations. However, Iori had never had any hope of winning over this kind of research fanatic, so she didn't pay much attention to it—this kind of person was destined to be able to cooperate but not be subdued.

During this process, the samurai also deeply felt the vastness of the territory and the strength accumulated by the empire over thousands of years... Iori did not feel that he had taught them anything so that he could make them obey him unconditionally. Every time he confiscated their property, he would give them a portion of the wealth as a reward.

The ronin from the island nation had never seen anything like this before, and they were all extremely grateful to Iori. Many of them were originally homeless and jobless, so they thought they might as well not return to the island nation and settle down in the empire with Iori.

After several rounds of this, the Iori unit, which had been forcibly brought together, became more and more united and looked quite presentable. However, they still lacked a proper battle to test their combat capabilities.

However, they soon had their chance, because the four demons of Rakshasa had not returned for a long time. Minister Ernest had realized that the assassination plan had failed. Iori and Sheila were not as easy to deal with as he thought, and were clearly beyond his control.

Iori's actions have caused panic among many governors and lords. During this period, no fewer than ten powerful local figures, all of whom are high-ranking officials, have written to inquire about his situation. When they launch a collective attack, even Ernest will have to consider their opinions.

If we let Iori continue causing trouble, these people will definitely think that it was Ernest's doing to use this weapon to eliminate them one by one—in fact, Ernest did benefit from it.

The ministers were guilty, and the regional officials were also somewhat apprehensive.

They did indeed communicate with the revolutionary army in secret, and there was a certain tacit understanding between the high-ranking officials of both sides!

It's not that we should fully support the revolutionary army, but it's still possible to remain inactive at crucial moments and observe how the situation develops.

There was a great deal of suspicion between the ministers and the local power brokers. If Ernest could not "sacrifice his own family for the greater good" and kill Sheila and Iori, he would lose the support of many people, which was very important to him.

Adding to the recent chaos caused by the Night Raid in the capital, and with his own bodyguards, the Four Demon Rakshasa, gone, the minister, feeling utterly insecure, made a decision:

Summon Esdeath, who is currently fighting against foreign tribes in the north!

"Okay!"

Unbeknownst to the minister, while he was contacting Esdeath, someone brazenly entered his study, skillfully opened a hidden compartment, and found the secret letter. After reading its contents, the person couldn't help but applaud.

Whatever you think comes true!

He quickly returned to his troops, summoned his three loyal followers—Polus, Lan, and Serio—to join him, and then ordered Will to temporarily lead the troops to garrison the area while waiting for their return.

Where did he take his men next?

The answer is the [Night Raid] headquarters!

A rising star in the Imperial military, accompanied by his Imperial Arms users, visited one of the most elite forces among the rebels, and not a single person raised any objections.

"What are you doing so late at night? Are these people your men?"

Startled awake by the signal in the middle of the night, Najenda led her beloved generals out to meet the enemy, only to find that it was an old acquaintance. She was surprised and a little grumpy when she woke up.

"I hope you have a valid reason."

"The weather has been fine lately, perfect for hunting. I've come to invite the general to a hunt in the northern border."

"hunt?"

Najeta was a little confused, but she could guess that this was a hint.

"What is the prey?"

"The Northern Wall of the Empire, the Strongest Imperial Arms User—"

Iori grinned: "The Ice Queen Esdeath!"

"But she's commanding an army in the field... Do you have intelligence that tells you when she's alone?"

Najenda gasped: "If the entire Night Raid team were combined with your elite troops, then indeed—"

"Not enough. No matter how many ordinary Imperial Arms users you have, it won't be enough. Although you have a few good ones, you can't be the main characters in this battle."

"...Then why did you invite us?" Najenda frowned.

Iori smiled and said, "Because even the most wonderful story needs an audience to become a legend!"

Chapter 62: Have you witnessed my true strength? (Third update)

Esdeath, born into a northern warrior race, became a general at the age of sixteen or seventeen, despite being a barbarian with no foundation. Now only twenty years old, she holds a position in the military system second only to General Budo, and commands one of the most elite border troops.

There is no other reason why she was able to achieve such success; it was simply because she was incredibly powerful!

Esdeath possesses top-tier physical attributes, fighting skills, and combat intuition. She is a first-rate fighter even without relying on her Imperial Arms, and can tame theoretically untamable dangerous species simply through her aura (physical).

As a user of Imperial Arms, she is also one of the few heroes who have completely mastered Imperial Arms, broken through its shackles, and evolved to a new level!

They firmly believe in the law of the jungle, where the strong prey on the weak, so they take every battle very seriously and are difficult to outmaneuver.

The combination of these factors created the pinnacle of combat power in this world.

If there's one downside, it's that he gets too caught up in battle and can easily lose his temper when facing a strong opponent—that's how battle maniacs are.

Although theoretically, Imperial General Budo and she are of the same level as Teigu users, there is indeed a difference in their settings and sense of oppression.

However, Esdeath, though strong, is not beyond all limits and can still be defeated; otherwise, Najenda wouldn't have seriously considered how to assassinate her.

Her Imperial Arms, Demon Manifestation, is extremely adept at large-scale damage. When used at full power, it can even affect the weather, making it incredibly powerful. It can be said that it completely ignores human wave tactics and can crush even an army of 100,000 people!

Ordinary Teigu users are no different from ordinary soldiers to her.

However, she cannot completely overwhelm a true powerhouse in a duel. If surrounded by multiple top-tier Imperial Arms users, they could defeat her if the tactics were right.

For example, characters like Bright and Akame from "Night Raid," the biological Teigu Susanoo from the Revolutionary Army Headquarters, and General Budo from the Empire—these are not people Esdeath can defeat quickly; some require her to exert all her strength to win.

When Najenda fled the Empire, she was pursued by Esdeath, who easily defeated her and two of her subordinates—a total of three Teigu users. Even with her subordinates' desperate cover, the already formidable Najenda had to sacrifice an arm to survive, significantly reducing her fighting power.

She had a very direct impression of Esdeath's strength. In her original plan, the Revolutionary Army would need to gather tens of thousands of troops plus elite Imperial Arms users like Night Raid to defeat Esdeath—and that was a conservative estimate.

Considering that Esdeath herself is also a military commander, controlling what is possibly the most elite Imperial army still in existence, the difficulty of killing her on the battlefield is unimaginable...

When Iori proposed this "hunt," Najenda's first reaction was to seize the opportunity and prepare to go all in!

If Iori's intelligence is accurate and they can intercept Esdeath after she leaves the army, then the Revolutionary Army must not let this opportunity slip by.

With enough skilled fighters prepared, and with a calculated attack on an unsuspecting opponent, even Esdeath...

But Iori's challenge to a one-on-one duel with Esdeath surprised her greatly, even shocking her.

"Are you out of your mind?" The female general's eyes were full of suspicion.

"I never knew you were such an innocent... passionate person."

Although she was puzzled, Najenda agreed to Iori's request in order to seize the opportunity and joined the hunt with Night Raid.

In her opinion, although Iori is very strong, he is definitely no match for Esdeath. Once he realizes the difference in strength, he will naturally abandon his warrior pride and choose to "gang up on her for justice"!

With the three Teigu users on Iori's side, plus the entire Night Raid crew, along with the Far East Samurai and elites sent by the Revolutionary Army, such a powerful force has a good chance of defeating Esdeath, who is alone or only has a few subordinates.

Currently, all of these people have been transferred to the Northern Territory by Iori using Shangri-La. Everyone is dressed in thick clothes and has set up camp on Esdeath's inevitable route, waiting for the arrival of the Ice Queen.

During the days of waiting, Najenda tried to persuade Iori to change her mind.

"The Hundred-Armed Giant (Seru's dog) and Bright will lead the attack, Leone will cover the gaps, Mine and Borus will provide long-range fire support, Ran will scout from the sky, the others will assist in holding the line, and you and Akame will be responsible for delivering the fatal blow at the crucial moment!"

Najenda, as expected of a veteran, quickly figured out the abilities of Polus and his men and made tactical arrangements accordingly.

It has to be admitted that if she uses this strategy, the chances of winning are really high. I'm afraid no one in the entire Akatsuki world can fight against such a powerful and targeted lineup.

"With your uncanny movement techniques and the red-eyed Murasame, we definitely have a great chance!"

“Indeed,” Iori nodded, “but I have a plan that has a better chance of success.”

"...You still don't want to give up."

Najenda expressed her incomprehension: "They deliberately set up an ambush when she left the army, just to surround and attack her. If you wanted a one-on-one fight, you could have just come to her door to challenge her from the start; she definitely wouldn't have refused!"