It was a battle King Chengdui never wanted to remember for the rest of his life.
During one of his reckless expeditions, he had entered that world, and the very first enemy he encountered was the man now standing before him. Given King Chengdui's personality, there was zero chance he would try to get along peacefully with anyone.
The result was an utter defeat.
More than a dozen Venerables were crushed and left gravely injured. Before this man, Venerable-level experts were as powerless as ordinary citizens. Even King Chengdui himself had been knocked to the ground in only three moves. Then, that sword had been pointed at his throat. The man had looked down calmly and spoken in an indifferent tone.
"I'll make it quick."
The overwhelming killing intent that washed over him had been ice-cold. For the first time in his life, King Chengdui truly felt death standing right before him. He couldn't understand what kind of power the man possessed, nor could he understand why the gap between them was so impossibly vast. That was the first time King Chengdui had ever known fear, just like now. Facing this man again made every hair on his body stand on end.
In the end, he had activated his King's Talent: Imprisonment. After sealing away the man's Heroic Power, he and the Venerables had finally managed to overwhelm him through a bitter struggle.
Only today, after Qin Yi had placed him under tremendous pressure, had King Chengdui finally decided to release this terrifying monster once more.
Now the two stood face to face again. For a brief moment, King Chengdui froze, the commanding confidence that always belonged to a king completely vanishing. Yet no one present found that strange. The Venerables and every high-ranking official who knew Yasuo all wore solemn expressions and quietly prepared themselves.
"Who is this man?" Aizen wondered behind his glasses. "He actually made even Chengdui react like that... And those arrogant Venerables don't look normal either."
Then another thought crossed his mind. "And... he doesn't seem to be on good terms with the Nie Kingdom."
So Aizen remained silent, continuing to observe.
The office fell into an eerie silence after Yasuo entered. King Chengdui said nothing, and no one else dared to speak either. Instead, Yasuo raised an eyebrow. A cold smile appeared on his lips as he casually walked forward.
"Still... since I've already agreed to your request... I won't attack. After all... my honor exists in my heart... not in appearances."
King Chengdui's eyes flickered, and his expression quickly returned to normal. "Take a seat. I'll naturally keep the promise I made to you. But... if you cause trouble before then... don't blame me for showing no mercy."
His bearing as a king returned, and so did his confidence. The fear he once felt belonged to the past. Since that battle, they had conquered several more worlds, and both he and the Venerables had become much stronger. Although he still dreaded the day Yasuo regained all of his power, he wasn't afraid of the current Yasuo, whose Heroic Power remained sealed.
"Is that so?" Yasuo smiled faintly. "Death is like the wind... it is always by my side. I've long since stopped fearing death. So... what exactly can you threaten me with... King from another world?"
He casually pulled out a chair, sat down, and spoke words that made everyone present change expression.
Aizen's pupils contracted. He finally understood. This man wasn't from the Nie Kingdom. Like himself, he came from another world that these Kings had invaded. The universe truly was vast; even across different worlds, there existed people unlike any he had ever imagined.
"Freedom," King Chengdui replied calmly. "I've already promised to set you free. I'll send you back to your homeland. If I remember correctly... you're still fighting a war over there. That should matter a great deal to you... shouldn't it, Yasuo?"
His tone was steady once more. At this moment, he again carried the air of a king who held complete control over the situation. Threats, temptation, and authority, King Chengdui was thoroughly accustomed to using all three.
"So... who do you want me to fight?" Yasuo asked. Returning home meant everything to him, and just as King Chengdui had said, there were still things he had to do.
"The King of another world... and his army," King Chengdui replied in a deep voice.
Yasuo's eyes narrowed, and he looked at King Chengdui for a long moment. He understood these Kings from other worlds very well. Although their personal strength was far below his own, the strange abilities they possessed, and the vast forces backing them, were both astonishing and unpredictable. If even the man before him was willing to take such a huge risk to deal with this opponent, then that other King must be even more terrifying, whether because of his own strength or something else.
---
At the same time...
Inside Las Noches.
The enormous palace hall was packed with Qin's Nation's experts. Only after seeing everyone gathered together did Qin Yi truly realize just how many powerful people his nation had accumulated without him noticing.
There were Uchiha Madara, Senju Hashirama, the various Kage-level experts, and the younger generation, including the Second, Third, and Fourth Kage of the different villages, Uchiha Itachi, Hatake Sakumo, Namikaze Minato, and many others. All of them had become famous powerhouses within Qin's Nation.
And that was only the Naruto World. After years of development, the One Piece World had also produced countless experts from the Whitebeard Pirates, Ace's forces, Luffy's crew, and the Marines. From the Sword and Fairy World, Jiang Qing and the others had likewise grown into top-tier experts. The remaining worlds had also produced countless talented fighters after years of integration.
Starlight Level 5 had practically become the standard for Qin's Nation's elite. Looking across the hall, there were simply too many of them to count. Even people who had originally come from relatively ordinary worlds, such as the Dragon Emperor World or the Slam Dunk World, had now become formidable experts in their own right.
Thanks to Qin's Nation's enormous population, new experts continued to emerge at an incredible rate. There was no doubt about it: the current Qin's Nation finally possessed the strength to wage a true, large-scale war.
After calming his thoughts, Qin Yi couldn't help but feel both surprised and proud. He recalled the early days. Back then, he had started with nothing more than a broken city and a population of only tens of thousands. The nation had nearly been destroyed. Yet now, it had grown into a Divine Nation. Only those who had lived through the journey could understand the hardships it had taken to reach this point.
Taking a deep breath, Qin Yi looked toward Gandalf. "Chief Gandalf, I've already shared most of this world's information with all of you. How should we fight this war? The Parliamentary Institute should already have a battle plan prepared, right?"
Gandalf smiled faintly. "Please rest assured, Your Majesty. The generals and strategists from the Three Kingdoms World are all veterans who have fought countless wars. Madara, Senju Hashirama, and Whitebeard are also seasoned commanders. The Parliamentary Institute finalized its operational plans long ago."
Qin Yi nodded. "This is our first full-scale war against another kingdom from another world. We must proceed carefully."
"Naturally," Gandalf narrowed his eyes. "The Parliamentary Institute has already decided to issue the opening campaign orders through the Military Department. Our first objective... will be the Human World."
"The Human World?" Qin Yi paused for a moment before quickly understanding.
"At present, the Nie Kingdom has concentrated most of its elite forces in the Soul Society. The Human World is being defended only by the Crimson Flow Army. If we strike now, destroy the Crimson Flow Army, and seize the Human World... it will be the best possible opening move," Gandalf explained.
Qin Yi smiled. "Then carry it out. The reason I established the Parliamentary Institute was so I wouldn't have to handle every detail myself."
He then issued his order. "By my decree, the Parliamentary Institute is authorized to issue all wartime orders and take full responsibility for directing this campaign. I will oversee the war as a whole."
(End of Chapter)
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