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

"shallow!"

Bud was as stubborn as a rock: "I've already figured it out. You and the Revolutionary Army are not on the same path, otherwise you wouldn't have stood by and watched them suffer such heavy casualties without doing anything about it."

Even if you cooperate now because of a common enemy, you will eventually break apart, and the country will fall into chaos again... Then Your Majesty can return in triumph!

"With such insight, I don't know whether to call you smart or stupid." Iori shook her head and looked at Bud with amusement. "What you said makes a lot of sense, but the premise for the breakdown of cooperation is that the two sides are evenly matched. If the difference in strength is too great, it will only be a 'annexation' - you don't actually think that their strength can compare with mine, do you?"

“That’s why…” General Bud stared grimly at Iori and Esdeath, “I will eliminate both of you today, even if it costs me my life!”

"what!"

Before Iori could speak, Esdeath burst out laughing.

It was an undisguised emotional outburst, an involuntary reaction to seeing something comical.

"Just you?!"

As they spoke, the temperature of the air dropped lower and lower, and pure white frost gradually condensed on Bud's armor.

"Justice will prevail!"

Bud's expression was so resolute, like that of a pilgrim or a martyr, that Iori couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion.

"Why would you risk your life for an emperor who has long been a figurehead? He has done you no favors whatsoever, has he?"

"Your Majesty was born supreme," Bud said solemnly. "My allegiance is to the heir to the empire's thousand-year imperial power—the greater good is on my side!"

"Born to be supreme... Ha!"

Iori scoffed, "Was the first emperor also born supreme?"

Bud: "..."

"The emperor shall be the one with the strongest army and the most powerful horses!"

Iori sneered dismissively, then pointed and said, "Go, Esdeath, slap him twice, don't let him go crazy here!"

"Ice Lotus Blossoms!"

Esdeath formed a hand seal in front of her chest, and a snowflake materialized in her palms—

Click! Click! Click! Click!

Temperatures plummeted!

During the previous fierce battle, the frost marks left on the steel giant's body rapidly expanded, and thick blocks of solid ice emerged and quickly merged together, freezing the [Supreme Throne] from bottom to top in just two or three seconds!

'She's improved again. She really is a genius in real combat.' Iori looked at Esdeath with admiration.

"Thor, summon him!"

General Bud would certainly not allow Esdeath to imprison the Supreme Throne. He crossed his arms and raised them to the sky, the steel handguards colliding with each other, sparking a series of dazzling electric sparks.

This echoed the clouds gathering in the sky, and after the ground was shrouded in shadow, a thick bolt of lightning crashed down from the depths of the clouds!

"Duan Kong!"

Buzz - boom! ! !

As Iori's lips moved slightly, an invisible, transparent wall suddenly unfolded above their heads. Angry lightning crashed into the barrier and scattered violently, turning the world white.

"The power is really quite good."

Sensing the pressure on "Severing the Void," Iori judged that this lightning bolt already possessed the power of the Eightyth Kido, and it was fully chanted without any reduction.

In fact, it is difficult to completely block the "Danku" that breaks the chant. Although Iori's spiritual pressure is strong, it is not yet at the captain level.

"What a pity... Thunder is the power that rules the sky. No matter how well it is used, without the corresponding majesty and power, it is just an empty shell!"

boom!

This time, General Budo himself, wreathed in intense lightning, transformed into an enraged beast and charged towards Iori!

Iori drew the Kusanagi Sword, and pure white light burst forth from the precious gem, transforming into a crescent moon arc that shot straight into the sky and collided with lightning—

"Ahhh!"

General Bude let out an indomitable roar, and the lightning on his body became so dense that it almost solidified, as if he were wearing a layer of armor, which forcefully dissipated the pressure of the sword, and his momentum did not diminish!

The Supreme Throne, which was covered by ice, also lit up with a dangerous red light on its head. A powerful force burst forth, emitting a howl like a wild beast, and forcefully shattered the ice layer on its body.

The Empire's two strongest forces have joined forces to launch an unstoppable and powerful attack!

Seeing this, Iori remained calm, her eyes lowered as she called out, "Esdeath."

"..."

There was no response, but there was an unspoken understanding between the Ice Queen and Iori. As Esdeath thought, the pure white ice layer quickly spread along the ground, and the atmosphere seemed to be frozen at this moment, becoming harder than steel!

And the movements of General Budo and the Imperial Arms were inevitably slowed down countless times!

Let's bring this thousand-year-old monarchy to a close with a 'heroic charge'...

"Unite, like a clear mirror and still water!"

Crystal-clear dewdrops dripped from the silvery longsword, instantly transforming the icy surface into a smooth, polished realm that reflected the true nature of all things.

You can see... everything is clearly visible.

In a world where everything is slowed down, the effect of the Mirror Realm is even more terrifying, with every minute detail reflected in the boy's eyes.

Therefore, he knew that Bud, who seemed brave and fearless yet blindly loyal and dull, actually had a relieved look in his eyes, as if he had already known his fate.

Another seemingly invincible steel giant, however, was left with a vulnerability somewhere because its pilot failed to activate its true combat state.

It's incredibly easy, even uninteresting, but the fall of an empire (the dragon) deserves a dragon-slaying blade!

"Clear and still water, crystal clear!"

——Zheng! ! !

Chapter 83: You will surely lift up that throne!

boom--! ! !

The invisible blade pierced through the center of the body, and the massive steel giant suddenly lost its ability to move due to this inconspicuous wound. It fell heavily like a toppled mountain, completely destroying the palace that was now just ruins.

General Bud dispelled his battle stance, which was now enveloped in lightning, and calmly landed on the ground. He glanced back at the fallen giant, a mixture of relief and desolation flashing across his face.

Fresh blood slowly flowed from his body, pooling at his feet into a basin-sized pool. A surge of cold air instantly froze the hot blood, enveloping his entire body in solid ice.

Esdeath approached her former colleague, and although she felt utterly disdain for his foolish actions, she still closed her eyes and paused for three seconds—

Then a flash of cold light, and the military knife severed the ice sculpture's head!

"Such a powerful man, yet bound by so-called family reputation and loyalty, he never lived for himself in his entire life. What a tragic figure!"

After glancing at General Bud's peaceful death, Esdeath looked up at the approaching BOSS.

"In this way, the country will fall into your hands."

"It's just a big, dilapidated ship; patching the holes and pumping out the water is a huge hassle."

Iori, on the other hand, was quite calm. He had been planning for this moment for a long time, traveling back and forth between Hueco Mundo and the Empire dozens of times, and even forcing himself to get involved in the political field, which he was not interested in, despite the boredom.

Now that he has finally firmly grasped the empire, he is not as excited as he had imagined. Instead, he feels a sense of "it's finally over."

Yes, he's had enough of all this red tape and tedious formalities...

"The palace has been destroyed, and the throne and the king's seal inside must be gone too... Hmm!"

Esdeath, it is you who will lift the throne high into the sky.

"Ok?"

Iori's words seemed cryptic, but Esdeath wasn't stupid. Following his gaze, she immediately understood what he meant.

Without saying much, she waved her hand, and a large amount of cold air condensed out of thin air, surrounding the huge steel Imperial Arm.

Wow~~~

Ice pillars rose from beneath the Supreme Throne, their fine, varying lengths forming a tiered, ladder-like slope that perfectly cradled the steel giant's upper body, much like a sofa perfectly fitted to his body.

Then, covered in ice, a steep and narrow staircase actually appeared.

Faced with that dangerous curve that has no protection whatsoever, I doubt anyone would dare to try it.

But Iori calmly walked up, steadily and orderly climbing the lonely path under the symbol of royal power.

At the same time, a faint light and shadow appeared on the Kusanagi Sword, like ripples on the surface of water. Then, a large amount of water vapor condensed from the air, leaving horizontal and vertical stripes on Iori's left arm that looked like cracks.

"The Black and White Net!"

Twenty-two bridges, sixty-six crowns, footprints, distant thunder, peaks, return to earth, night slumber, sea of ​​clouds, azure sequence, filling the cosmos, heading straight for the heavens!

Iori chanted the entire incantation, a rare occurrence, and then waved his arm, releasing spiritual pressure that formed a giant "回" (hui) character pattern that flew out and was fixed in mid-air. Then, fine black lines spread out along the plane.

【Binding Spell Seventy-Seven: Heavenly Void Net】!

This was originally a Kido technique that used spiritual pressure to search for the locations of multiple targets, thereby locking onto and transmitting information; it required extremely precise spiritual pressure manipulation.

But now, Iori wasn't distracted by searching for a specific target. Instead, she released her spiritual pressure completely, capturing all objects within her perception range that possessed soul fluctuations.

To give an analogy, the normal 77th Binding Path is used for sending mass text messages, while Iori uses it for public chat announcements.

The little emperor, sitting in the cockpit of the mecha, had most of his body frozen, but perhaps because the Imperial Arms paid special attention to protecting the safety of its host, he managed to survive the violent commotion just now. He was still able to barely stay conscious and looked up to see Iori walking down the white steps four or five meters above his head, his expression ferocious and angry.

He wanted to shout, to struggle, and even more, to kill this traitor who dared to put himself above him!

But no matter how hard he tried, his small body couldn't move. Iori wasn't far away from him, but she was someone he couldn't reach no matter what.

Suddenly, he seemed to understand something, and dejectedly lowered his head...

It was at this moment that Iori's voice reached the ears of many lives through the invisible death line.

"The emperor and his ministers have been defeated; the war is over!"

These words stunned the entire imperial army. Already demoralized, they were now completely devoid of fighting spirit, staring blankly in the direction that was originally the imperial palace, only to be met with a strange mountain peak composed of solid ice and giants.

There is also a slender and beautiful ice bridge... As for the figures on it, they are just small black dots when viewed from a distance.

However, this very "black mark" was spoken in a tone full of authority, compelling one to believe it:

"Mutual hatred, mutual plunder, mutual devouring—there is no hope, no redemption, only endless darkness and despair."

These days will end today!

I am the Faceless One, the Masked Reaper:

"Aizen Iori, I hereby declare that the thousand-year-long reign of the Empire has come to an end. This country, this land, and its inhabitants, you shall usher in a new dawn!"

At that moment, everyone who heard the "proclamation"—whether they were members of the Revolutionary Army or the Imperial Army, ordinary citizens or seasoned Teigu users, enemies who stood against Iori or subordinates who had pledged their loyalty to him—felt a pang of anxiety.

Not everyone has enough wisdom and a broad perspective to understand what is happening, but even the lowest-ranking soldier can vaguely sense that something is about to happen.

It's as if the sky and the earth, things that were taken for granted, have suddenly disappeared!

"O you who fought against injustice and evil, the war that destroyed all good things is over, the long and thorny road has come to an end, and there is no longer any obstacle before the gate of peace!"

Lay down your weapons, regardless of your stance. Now is the time to bury your ugly past and rediscover your reverence for life.

Iori slowly walked onto the top of the [Supreme Throne], calmly turning around amidst the broken steel crown. Seated high above, she looked down upon the imperial capital, her expressionless black and gold mask gleaming like flames in the setting sun...

The surviving revolutionary soldiers around them watched this scene with awe.

"The dark ages are over!"

Chapter 84: The Value of Guaranteed Hit and Invincible Penetration!

Virtual Circle —

In the desolate white desert, a group of soldiers dressed in black death suits, almost all of them wounded, were staggering and hurrying along, or to be more precise:

run away!

They had only taken on a regular patrol mission, intending to explore the surrounding area for any signs of Void Swarm activity, but unexpectedly encountered the quicksand phenomenon in the desert and were sucked into a nest.

It was an underground cavern occupied by numerous Void creatures and giant Gillian, with as many as six or seven of those mass-produced "Faceless Men" alone, far beyond the capabilities of their patrol team.

Fortunately, this did not seem to be a trap set by the Voidfolk. Their sudden arrival startled many of the miscellaneous Voidfolk, who thought they had been approached by a large force of the punitive expedition.

This moment of surprise and doubt gave the Grim Reapers time to successfully unleash Kido techniques such as "Red Smoke Release," creating chaos before escaping.

Of course, the virtual group wasn't stupid either. After the initial shock subsided, they quickly realized what was going on and chased after them without stopping!