"Huhu... I didn't expect your strength to have reached this level; I underestimated you."
Budo looked at the bright moon in the sky, the emotions in his eyes extremely complex. He didn't expect that Najenda, who had just been promoted to general a few months ago, already possessed strength approaching his own.
Looking at Najenda, she didn't seem to have had such a growth rate before, which meant...
"Was it that Cerydra? What method did she use to improve your strength?"
"..."
Although Budo was once her superior, their positions were now completely different, so Najenda naturally could not tell him about the Golden Blood.
"Even if you don't say it, I know, is it that so-called... 'Power of God'? I thought it was just a rumor at first, but I didn't expect it to be true?"
"No comment."
—
Half a day passed in a flash. To prevent Budo from continuing to use lightning to attack the city walls, Najenda finally made up her mind to let everyone leave the city to meet the enemy.
The sturdiness of the city walls was certainly not something that could be broken by ordinary means, but Budo's Teigu "adramelech" clearly possessed such ability. Najenda could indeed use the pumpkin to offset the opponent's attacks, but this could not bring victory at all.
Defend and do not fight.
As long as Najenda did this, it would be difficult for Budo to find a way to break through the city walls, but if this kind of turtle-like battle spread, it would easily be used against them.
Furthermore, this was an order issued by Empress Cerydra in front of everyone, letting Najenda take over all the armies of the Royal Capital to prevent attacks from the Empire or other organizations.
Although Cerydra did not require Najenda to perfectly defeat the opponent, this was the first order issued to her since the Empress ascended the throne.
It could not be done messily, it could not be done averagely, it must be done to the best!
Although Najenda was young, she understood the rules within the Empire.
Otherwise, she didn't even want to imagine what fate awaited her!
Therefore, once the Empire launched an attack, Najenda had to find a way to crush them in one fell swoop, preferably by killing or capturing the enemy leader alive.
When she saw Budo, Najenda was indeed very nervous, worried that she might not be his match.
But as the intensity of the battle increased, Najenda suddenly realized...
Budo didn't seem like all that much?
Since becoming a Golden Descendants, Najenda discovered that her mental strength had increased, and pumpkin could unleash even greater power.
"adramelech" could manipulate lightning and even harness lightning from the sky, so Najenda was not surprised that it was trading blows evenly with pumpkin.
However, when Najenda opened the city gates to engage in close-quarters combat, she suddenly discovered...
Her physical constitution, which hadn't been considered strong before, was actually able to take out enemy soldiers with a single punch on the battlefield.
Even a Teigu User who intended to ambush her had their head exploded by a single punch from Najenda.
Is this the power of a Golden Descendants?
It was truly exaggeratedly powerful. If more and more Golden Descendantss were born in the world, Empress Cerydra would definitely be able to rule the entire world, right?
Najenda knew deeply that after possessing the Golden Blood, she often felt an elusive sense of oppression from Her Majesty the Empress, which made it impossible for her to harbor any thoughts of rebellion.
Although Hysilens also possessed it, it was completely incomparable to Cerydra.
In other words... she would have to remain this "Kindness Duke" until she died!
If she didn't find a way to survive, she would very likely be eliminated!
Consequently, in her battle against Budo, Najenda unleashed her full strength, even charging through countless lightning bolts to engage Budo in an unprecedented hand-to-hand fight.
Although she sustained significant injuries, fortunately, she had landed a fatal blow; pumpkin's laser successfully pierced Budo's abdomen, shattering half of "adramelech" and leaving Budo lying helplessly on the ground.
The Empire's strongest Great General, Budo, had actually been defeated in a one-on-one duel by the obscure Najenda. If this news spread, it would surely shake the entire Empire and raise Najenda's reputation to unprecedented heights.
Despite this being a favorable outcome for her, there was no expression of excitement on Najenda's face; instead, it was exceptionally grave.
Because Najenda had also served as a general for several years, she knew full well that until the battle was truly over, the outcome was still uncertain.
Especially when the opponent was severely injured! A wounded beast is the most dangerous!
Budo looked at the bright moon in the sky, his eyes filled with complexity.
"Since you are unwilling to tell me, then so be it."
A smile appeared on Budo's face, and he slowly closed his eyes. This was not giving up, but rather an intention to pour out everything he had...
Boom! Lightning, more violent than ever before, surrounded Budo. The blue lightning gradually changed until Budo spat out a mouthful of blood... and scarlet blood-lightning was born!
"I know that I am no longer your match; if I continue to fight, I will undoubtedly die."
"But I am Budo! The Great General of the Empire personally appointed by the Sovereign!"
"I cannot surrender, nor can I retreat!"
The crimson lightning spread outwards with Budo as the center. Even a single thread of that scarlet lightning could turn ordinary soldiers of the Northern Country into ash.
"Not good! Everyone, retreat quickly!"
Najenda sensed the abnormality and immediately gave the order, but how could human speed outpace lightning?
Some soldiers had only just turned to run when they were overtaken by the scarlet lightning, which pierced their hearts directly, and then they dissipated into thin air...
"Budo!"
The death of the surrounding soldiers clearly made Najenda's expression grim. She had been trying to control the number of casualties as much as possible, but Budo's actions had directly multiplied the casualties of the Northern Country several times over.
Therefore, Najenda hesitated no longer and pulled pumpkin's trigger, intending to eliminate him from a distance.
After all, even as a Golden Descendants, she felt a fatal threat from that scarlet lightning... Budo was prepared to risk his life, and the upcoming attack would be extremely dangerous!
Because of the crisis, pumpkin's power was significantly enhanced, but it was still blocked by the scarlet lightning.
"Najenda, I have to admit that you have caught up to me in terms of strength, so I absolutely cannot let you live!"
"This body will only remain loyal to the Emperor, so even if I die, I will take you with me!"
"The Empire is eternal, may it last for ten thousand generations!"
With Great General Budo's final shout, his robust body and the remaining half of his Teigu were completely submerged by the scarlet lightning.
In an instant, everyone seemed to see a sea of scarlet lightning surging towards them, with no time to defend...
The Empire's strongest, Great General Budo, had died right there!
pumpkin's laser continued, but it was being pushed back bit by bit by that terrifying sea of lightning.
Najenda's expression was fierce; the Northern Country soldiers had already suffered countless casualties, and those behind her were the ones who had luckily escaped the attack range.
If Najenda stopped resisting the lightning, tens of thousands of surrounding soldiers might be buried in the sea of lightning!
"Are we... going to die?"
"Of course not!"
A beautiful voice reached her ears at that moment, allowing Najenda's exhausted body to gradually relax.
"You've worked hard, little white fish..."
"Leave the rest to me!"
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