Esdeath burst into wild laughter as she looked at the flames in the sky. "This is what makes it interesting!"
Ice Storm Commander-In-Chief!
Using the Ice Cavalry as a link, the energy within their bodies completely erupted. A blizzard, similarly covering the city, was unleashed.
The Fire of Condemnation and the Ice Storm collided, the energy fluctuations spreading outwards.
The Northern lands turned into scorched earth, and the soldiers within a five kilometers radius, turned into charcoal and vanished from the world.
In the middle of this scorched earth, Esdeath leaned on Abel's shoulder. She looked at Abel, wanting to reach out and caress his face, but she had no strength left, so she could only give up.
She whispered, "What... what power, I lost."
After speaking, she fainted.
Looking at the unconscious Esdeath, Abel gently picked her up.
At this moment, the Empire's soldiers who had left returned. Seeing Abel holding their General, they all raised their weapons.
"Release our General!"
Seeing this group of soldiers, Abel walked past them, holding Esdeath.
Seeing Abel approach, the soldiers trembled slightly.
"Where are your tents?"
"Over... over there."
"Thank you."
Abel carried Esdeath towards the tents. Though the soldiers were unwilling, they dared not stop him.
...
Inside the tent, Abel placed Esdeath on the bed ans began to ponder how to proceed next.
According to the timeline, Esdeath returned to the Empire a year after annihilating the Northern lands.
It was less than ten days after Esdeath returned that Tatsumi joined Night Raid. So, Tatsumi has not yet left his village. Therefore, there is still more than a year until the plot begins.
This world is divided into four countries. The Northern lands have been wiped out, leaving the Empire, the Western, and the Southern regions.
There are also the Revolutionary Army and Night Raid.
So, the next step is to subdue Night Raid, eliminate the nobles, and redistribute land?
Then, conquer the West and move South.
Finally, achieve a unification.
Thinking this, Abel couldn't help but feel a little excited.
But for now...
He looked at the unconscious Esdeath and activated the Horse Talisman.
After a while, Esdeath opened her eyes, and seeing Abel before her, the corners of her lips curved slightly upwards.
"In the end, I lost. Then... what should I call you? Should I call you Master?"
Abel was amused by her appearance. "Call me whatever you like. But let's collect some interest first."
He leaned in.
Esdeath's eyes widened, her face turning crimson.
This was her first time doing something like this with a man, the feeling was quite good.
But she was Esdeath.
She wrapped her arms around Abel's neck, taking the initiative and deepening the kiss.
— — —
"So is Master really a Devil?"
"That's right."
During this time, Abel revealed his full identity.
Esdeath was slightly surprised when she learned that Abel was a Devil.
"Then Esdeath, join my Peerage."
Gazing into Abel's crimson eyes, Esdeath smiled. "Of course, my Master."
Becoming a Devil, isn't that interesting?
Moreover, the weak obey and serve the strong. This was a principle she had learned since childhood.
Since she was defeated, she must obey orders.
Furthermore, becoming a Devil could make her stronger, and she had witnessed Abel's power firsthand. In another sense, she was the one who profited.
She found her other half, someone she could follow for her entire life.
Isn't this a gain?
Esdeath looked at Abel. "Master, what should I do?"
"You don't need to do anything."
The Devil Reincarnation Disk reappeared behind Abel.
Scan, rotate, fix.
The pointer landed on the Queen's position, and a drop of blood condensed on Abel's fingertip.
"Drink it."
Esdeath unhesitatingly took the blood from Abel's finger into her mouth.
An unfamiliar energy surged through her body ans her eyes shimmered with excitement.
This is power!
Esdeath felt her body being reforged, as if an even stronger power than before was continuously gushing forth.
A pair of Devil Wings appeared on Esdeath's back.
"Is this the power of a Devil? It's truly captivating."
Feeling the Devil power within her, Esdeath's face showed intoxication and obsession.
[Peerage Pack +1]
Listening to the system prompt and looking at Esdeath, who had completed her reincarnation, Abel nodded with satisfaction.
Esdeath retracted her wings, knelt on one knee, her eyes firm: "This life, I will always follow by Master's side."
Abel raised his hand, signaling Esdeath to stand up. "From now on, with your assistance, things will go much smoother."
...
After a while, Abel and Esdeath walked out of the tent.
Through their conversation, Esdeath knew that her Master wanted to destroy all the countries on this land and establish a new one.
"General, are you alright?"
"General..."
The soldiers, seeing Esdeath walk out, asked with concern.
"Everyone, assemble!"
With Esdeath's command, the soldiers all assembled in an orderly manner.
Soon, tens of thousands of troops were assembled.
"Soldiers! Are you willing to follow me!!"
"We swear to follow General to the death!"
Esdeath nodded with satisfaction, a hint of contentment flashing in her eyes as she looked at the soldiers below.
Then she looked at Abel. "I, Esdeath, hereby swear that I will support my Lord to become the New King! I will become my Lord's sharpest blade, clearing all thorns for my Lord!"
The soldiers were slightly stunned but quickly reacted.
"We pay respects to the new King!"
Under Esdeath's expectant gaze, Abel cleared his throat helplessly, then loudly declared, "Soldiers, the thousand-year-old Empire has already decayed! Since that is the case, I will lead you to create a brand new nation, so that this land will be free from war and suffering!"
"Everyone! Are you willing to follow me and overthrow this decaying Empire!!"
The soldiers's eyes were filled with fervent passion, and soon, earth-shattering shouts erupted from the crowd.
"Overthrow the Empire's rule!"
They all knew the Empire had already decayed. They were all people living in the border regions, and it was Esdeath who had gathered them together.
Now that someone dared to think this way, then...
Follow him!
Abel looked at the scorched earth behind him, preparing to display his power.
Then next is...
He raised his hand, activating the power of space-time, and time flowed backward, quickly restoring the scorched earth to its original state.
At this moment, the soldiers's emotions soared and Abel felt an invisible something enter his body.
Since that was the case, it wasn't impossible to give it a try.
"Numa."
"King!"
The Prince of the Northern Tribe, transformed into an Undead, appeared behind Abel and knelt on one knee.
"Go gather the warriors and people of your tribe, we shall re-establish the nation."
"As you command, King."
Numa responded respectfully, then vanished from everyone's sight.
Next was to govern the entire northern region.