Budo had just wiped out thousands of allied soldiers in a single strike. While it didn't sound as shocking as when Haruki slaughtered 30,000 elite troops, in reality, this scene was just as astonishing.
His attack wasn't just a blow to their numbers—it was a direct hit to their morale. It had been said all along that these troops weren't exactly well-trained, so it was only natural their spirits would falter in the face of such a display.
In contrast, Budo had long commanded immense respect among the Imperial Guard. With him leading, the soldiers' confidence surged. After witnessing his overwhelming might, their morale soared to its peak, and they managed to hold off hundreds of thousands of allied troops right outside the palace gates.
"Budo, you're too stubborn. If that's how you want it, don't blame us. Everyone—attack!"
Najenda, once a general of the Empire herself, fully understood the weight of Budo's display. To rally her own side, she ordered her Teigu, Susanoo, and all Night Raid members to launch a full assault on Budo, aiming to bring him down.
A battle between Teigu users erupted—ordinary soldiers didn't stand a chance. Surrounded and besieged by multiple Teigu users, Budo had no room to pay attention to anything else on the battlefield.
And yet, he stood his ground. Despite the odds, he wasn't defeated quickly. In fact, he didn't even show signs of faltering. The clash remained evenly matched for a time.
Meanwhile, anxiety grew among the allied generals. They had been storming the Imperial Capital for so long, and now they were stuck at the palace gates, held back by Budo and a mere ten or twenty thousand soldiers. The longer this dragged on, the greater the chance for something unexpected to happen. If Prime Minister Honest or the young emperor escaped, none of them could bear the consequences.
Besides, many of them were hoping to seize key targets in the palace to earn military accolades. The more time passed, the more competition would arrive to snatch the credit—something they were desperate to avoid.
Najenda wasn't chasing merit, but she understood all too well that delay could bring disaster.
"We can't drag this out any longer. Susanoo, we'll use that move!"
She spoke to Susanoo, her words somewhat vague, but everyone in Night Raid immediately understood what she meant.
"That move" referred to Susanoo's hidden technique—"Magatama Manifestation." By channeling his master's life force through the tomoe on his chest, Susanoo could enter a berserk state, dramatically increasing his power. However, using it three times would completely drain his master's life force. Even so, the strength it unleashed was unparalleled.
In his berserk form, Susanoo gained three abilities: Ame no Murakumo (devastating attack), Yata no Kagami (deflective defense), and Yasakani no Magatama (incredible speed).
"No, boss. Let me do it. You're more important than I am."
At that moment, Tatsumi stopped Najenda and spoke firmly.
Then, with a low shout—"Incursio!"—a set of armor instantly materialized, enveloping him entirely. It was the very Teigu, Incursio, that Bulat had entrusted to him before his death.
Previously, Tatsumi had been using the Teigu Cross Tail, known for its versatility. But now, he had switched back to Incursio.
And unlike Najenda, who had used separate Teigu at different times, Tatsumi was using them simultaneously—an astonishing feat.
It's important to understand that Teigu can only be used by those whose wavelengths are compatible with them—and no one can wield more than one at a time.
Someone like Najenda finding two compatible Teigu in succession is already incredibly rare. But Tatsumi not only stumbled upon two, he can actually use them simultaneously. Should we just chalk it up to him being the protagonist?
Still, using two Teigu at once puts a tremendous strain on the body. Demon Armor: Incursio alone already demands an incredible amount from its user, let alone adding another one into the mix. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that dual-wielding Teigu drains your very life force.
That's why Tatsumi had never fought this way before.
Getting utterly crushed by Haruki on the Ryuusen, along with the death of his brother Bulat, left a deep mark on Tatsumi. After returning to Night Raid, he threw himself into intense training. With guidance from Susanoo on various combat techniques, his strength grew by leaps and bounds—surpassing even Bulat at his peak.
Once Tatsumi started wielding both Teigu at once, the tide of battle shifted dramatically. It was already exhausting to face several opponents alone, and now one of them had suddenly become overwhelmingly stronger.
"Ha! Go down already!"
After another intense clash, Budo momentarily diverted his attention toward the others. Seizing the chance, Tatsumi unleashed a white spear formed from the Teigu Infinite Uses: Cross Tail. Enhanced by Incursio, the spear's speed and power were monstrous.
It shot clean through Budo's thick armor, piercing his back and bursting out of his chest. Just like that, Great General Budo stood frozen—pinned to the ground by the white spear skewering him.
"Your general is down! Surrender now, fools!"
Seeing how the clash between Teigu users had ended, one of the allied commanders shouted with excitement across the battlefield.
The saying goes that a general is the soul of the army, and this couldn't have been truer. After Budo fell, his Imperial Guard crumbled shortly after, and the allied forces surged into the Royal Palace.
"Heh... I told you... You rebels will never be the ones to win in the end. As long as that man still stands... cough... it's just a shame... I won't be around to see it."
Watching the allied forces flood into the palace, Budo spoke those final words. And with that, the last great general of his era closed his eyes forever.
But the Royal Palace was far from the easy victory the allied army had expected—it was more likely a slaughterhouse.
Not long after they stepped inside, the ground began to quake. Then, towering over everything, a massive figure rose from within the palace. It was so colossal that it could be seen clearly from nearly every corner of the capital.
It was the Supreme Teigu, the Imperial Guardian: Shikoutazer...