The storm of battle had barely subsided when a new tension filled the ruined palace grounds. The once-proud soldiers now lay scattered like autumn leaves, but at the edge of the square, General Bud stood, radiating the aura of a living thunderstorm. His golden hair shimmered with residual electricity, and the legendary imperial weapon Thunder God's Fury crackled with blue energy in his grip.
"I didn't expect that besides that woman, there is someone else who can wield this state," Bud muttered, his voice like distant thunder. He looked at Akame — now fully transformed — and then to Arata Hayashi, the figure standing at the heart of chaos, calm as a mountain amid the storm.
Arata's ruby eyes sparkled faintly. Potential, he thought, even more than I anticipated. The power of the imperial weapons was remarkable — tools of war that could bend mountains and seas if wielded correctly. And yet, compared to the devils and demons he commanded, it was merely raw material, waiting to be refined.
Bud's patience snapped. His body crackled with electricity, and with a roar that shook the square, he swung his fist toward Arata.
Boom!
The air rippled violently, like a shockwave tearing through reality. But Arata did not flinch. Bud's punch collided with an invisible barrier — a force so solid that the general's eyes widened in disbelief. His full-strength attack, capable of flattening fortresses, did nothing but spark.
"It seems fighting without magic occasionally has its merits," Arata said lightly, brushing off an imaginary speck of dust from his uniform. His calm demeanor contrasted sharply with the fury crackling around Bud.
In the distance, Najenda and Leone watched, mouths agape. Even Akame's eyes widened slightly. The empire's most powerful general, General Bud, was being toyed with like a mere child.
Bud spat blood from his mouth as he struggled to stand, glaring at the unassuming figure before him. "It seems a bit excessive," Arata mused, noting the electrical surges still dancing across Bud's body. The imperial weapon was powerful, but it belonged to him now. It could not be destroyed.
"Forget the armor," Arata said with a snap of his fingers.
Buzz!
A light blue magic circle appeared before him. Bud's eyelids twitched violently, terror coursing through him. The strange magic circle seemed to pull at his very memories, bringing back the fear he had felt when first facing real danger.
"Kill!"
Bud roared, leaping forward, lightning erupting from his fists as he tried to tear through the illusion. Crack! Brilliant thunder tore through the air, but the headless armored corpse fell with a thud, twitching unnaturally before going still.
Najenda and Leone were stunned into silence. Even opposing Bud's power, the legendary general had died just like that. The shock took time to fully process.
"Akame, put away the imperial weapon," Arata said casually, stepping forward.
"Yes, Master!"
Akame held the legendary weapon in her hands, but under Arata's command, it became harmless — a tool now in the hands of a devil.
"What's next?" Najenda asked, regaining her composure.
"Go meet the emperor," Arata replied without looking back.
"You want to kill him? But managing an empire afterward isn't easy!" Najenda protested, still stunned by his overwhelming power.
"Who said I wanted to kill him?" Arata answered calmly. Najenda blinked, confused.
Arata's gaze met hers, a small smirk curling on his lips. "It's all about control. Not destruction."
Akame tilted her head slightly, glancing at him. This devil… is more cunning than I imagined.
Najenda's lips twitched. The legendary devil is not only strong but terrifyingly strategic.
As they approached the emperor's chambers, the little emperor lay unconscious on his bed. Arata raised a hand and gently slapped him. The sudden pain forced the emperor's eyes open — only to meet Arata's piercing ruby gaze.
Control-type illusion magic, subtle and terrifying, flowed through the emperor's mind. Gradually, the young ruler's eyes dulled, respect and fear replacing confusion.
"Wait for my orders," Arata said simply, waving his hand.
Najenda and Leone exchanged glances. Even with opposing positions, the demon had shown them the terrifying breadth of his power.
Leone whispered to Najenda, "Besides being a bit… perverse, this Devil-sama seems very capable at governance."
Najenda could only shake her head. A demon's harem or not, we cannot underestimate him.
Arata turned to Akame, smiling faintly. "Low-level magic like this is only effective on weak-willed people. Nothing more."
Akame's eyes sparkled. This is truly the power of a devil…