"Master, my strength really has improved."
Esdeath was intimately familiar with her own power.
Even after becoming a Devil, she still had a keen sense of her abilities.
And now...
Not only was her body becoming stronger, but even the Demonic Power flowing within her had increased significantly.
At this moment, she deeply understood her Master's greatness.
"Esdeath, if you want to improve faster, you absolutely must not waste anything."
"Oh my, my Master is really naughty..."
Esdeath rolled her eyes at Arlen with a charming look.
Then, she began to honestly "clean up," collecting every drop of the potent fluid.
Gulp!
As she swallowed, her level, which was close to the limit, finally advanced.
For the next few days...
In order to become stronger, Esdeath worked tirelessly, barely stopping to eat or sleep.
In the end, she even ignored her military duties, serving by Arlen's side the entire time.
[Esdeath]
[Race: Devil]
[Master: Arlen Lucifuge]
[Level: LV41]
[Skill: Absolute Zero]
[Absolute Zero: Perfect control over the power of ice.]
"Why do I feel like my effect on my Servants is getting better and better?"
Compared to Shiho and the others, Esdeath's strength improved significantly faster.
After all, the current Esdeath was already an Ultimate-Class Devil.
The difficulty of raising one level at this stage was probably harder than a Middle-Class Devil raising ten levels.
And yet...
How many days had it been?
She had already risen two levels in a row.
"Could it be because my own strength increased?"
Arlen muttered to himself, feeling somewhat conflicted.
Because compared to his own Servants, his own leveling speed was a bit slower.
However...
Thinking that he had more than one Servant leveling up for him, he felt better about it.
"Since that is the case, you have to work even harder."
Arlen's eyes flickered, and he flipped her over onto her back.
Feeling Arlen's movements, a trace of panic flashed through Esdeath's eyes.
"N-no, I can't do it... I can't take anymore."
Arlen held her down, not giving her any chance to escape.
"No way. Who was the one who said she would pay any price to become stronger?"
Right at this moment.
The earth-shaking sound of war horses neighing resounded outside.
"The Northern Tribes are attacking?"
Hearing the sound, Esdeath felt relieved, like she was saved by the bell.
"Alright, let's handle business first."
"Okay, Master."
Esdeath stretched her waist. Very quickly, she got dressed and ran out of the tent, looking a bit flustered.
Looking at Esdeath's retreating back, Arlen spread his senses outward.
"So this is the army of the Northern Tribes? Their strength is just passable."
After sensing them, Arlen stroked his chin and began to think.
The strength of these people didn't impress him much.
But they all far surpassed ordinary humans.
"Logically, they should be able to provide me with some experience."
Arlen put on his clothes, and his figure floated into the air.
...
"Kill! Kill! Kill!"
The two armies confronted each other. Although the battle had not formally started yet, the killing intent already filled the air.
To anyone, war was cruel.
At this time, anyone who dared to step into it was definitely suicidal.
However.
For Arlen, it felt like coming home.
His figure floated over the heads of countless Imperial soldiers, yet everyone pretended not to see him.
Are you kidding?
That is General Esdeath's man.
Who would dare have an opinion unless they had a death wish?
Esdeath, who was riding on a war horse, saw Arlen's arrival and looked slightly puzzled.
"What, you don't welcome my arrival?"
"No, I just thought Master wouldn't be interested in a war of this level."
Esdeath dismounted and prepared to give her war horse to Arlen.
"No need."
Arlen waved his hand. "I just came over to crush a group of ants."
As he spoke, Arlen landed on the ground and simply walked toward the Northern Tribe's army.
Seeing this, Esdeath raised her hand, signaling the entire army to hold their ground.
As a Servant, she would carry out all of her Master's orders without hesitation.
---
In front of the Northern Army.
"What is the meaning of this from the Imperial Army?"
The person who spoke was a man with a heroic face, wearing full body armor.
The Northern Hero, Prince Numa Seika.
He was the pillar of the tribes. It was because of his existence that the Northern Tribes dared to invade the Empire's territory.
"What, does the Empire have no one left? Sending you alone to die?"
Numa whipped his horse and arrived in front of Arlen.
As the number one warrior of the North, he dared to face any enemy alone. This was his confidence.
"I am not a person of the Empire."
Arlen shook his head gently.
"Hmm?"
Numa frowned. He didn't hear clearly and asked, "What did you say?"
"Nothing. I just came over to harvest some experience points, that's all."
Arlen's eyes were calm and indifferent.
"What are you talking about?"
A flash of fierceness passed through Numa's eyes. "Forget it. No matter who you are."
"As long as you appear here, you are my enemy. Die..."
His words were not yet finished when Arlen made his move.
Under everyone's gaze, Arlen pressed his index and middle fingers together and simply pointed from a distance.
"Absolute Zero."
The instant his voice fell.
A wave of chilling aura, cold to the extreme, spread out instantly, forcibly freezing Numa's body inside a block of ice.
Then!
The chilling cold continued to spread.
Starting from Arlen, the battlefield ahead became a frozen wasteland of death.
In a split second.
The army of hundreds of thousands of tribesmen all revealed looks of terror.
Cold!
Extreme cold.
It seemed to be a chill that froze not just the flesh, but even the soul.
They didn't even have time to move.
In just an instant.
Everyone's bodies turned into ice sculptures.
At this moment.
The entire battlefield was dead silent.
The minds of countless Imperial soldiers went blank.
It was as if they, like the enemy army, had been frozen in place by shock.
Esdeath's pupils contracted, realizing the true power of her skill.
Absolute Zero in Arlen's hands was different.
It was not just a chill in the physical sense; it touched the domain of the soul.
The term "low temperature" was no longer enough to describe this skill.
This was a devastating power that thoroughly froze existence itself.
Those soldiers had already died even before they were frozen solid.
[Experience +1] [Experience +3] [Experience +10]
Notifications constantly appeared before his eyes, and Arlen felt his strength begin to climb steadily.
[Arlen Lucifuge]
[Race: Progenitor Devil]
[Level: LV56]
[Authority: Progenitor Devil Transformation]
[Servants: Grayfia, Shiho, Akemi, Esdeath]
[Skills: Devil Contract, Devil Summoning, Infinite Demonic Power, Magic Heart, Magic Gunner, Devil Spear, Demon Mask, Absolute Zero]
...
"Rose two levels. That is not bad."
Arlen looked at the panel and nodded with satisfaction.