The princess also had her own territory. Kaguya's territory was located in the northern part of the Empire, a dense primordial jungle. The population was relatively sparse, and there were no major cities, only scattered small villages. The largest city had no more than ten thousand people.
"A plague?" Kaguya asked in surprise.
"Yes," the guard replied solemnly. "It is a highly contagious and virulent virus. Within a week, thousands have been infected, and..." At this point, the guard's face showed a look of fear.
"And what?" Kaguya inquired.
"They have all turned into monsters," the guard said.
"Monsters?"
"Yes, they have become large, hideous creatures with great strength. They are bloodthirsty and enjoy eating people." The guard seemed unable to shake off the horror of his memory.
Kaguya furrowed her brows, pinching her chin as she pondered.
Could it be...?
A cold glint flashed in Kaguya's autumn-water-like eyes.
"It seems there's work to do," Kaguya said, wiping her mouth with a napkin. "Prepare the carriage."
"Princess, do you need us to deploy the army?" the guard asked.
"No need," Kaguya stood up and waved her hand. "I can take some guards with me."
Kurome, who had been eating her steak, stood up quickly and said urgently, "I want to go too, please let me come with you."
"No," Kaguya smiled and rejected her outright. "Your body isn't ready yet. We'll talk about it once you've fully recovered."
"But..." Kurome said anxiously.
Kaguya walked over to Kurome, gently ruffling her hair, and said softly, "Don't worry, there will be a time for you to shine, but not now. You need to stay home and train well until I return."
Home? Kurome was slightly dazed by Kaguya's use of the word.
"When I come back, I'll test you. If you don't pass..." Kaguya winked and gave a meaningful smile. "I'll have to punish you properly."
Kurome blushed slightly, turned her head away, and appeared a little uneasy.
Kaguya smiled and left.
Kaguya did not bring the army, only taking a guard troop of a few hundred. Her army was still in training, with many new recruits just beginning to gain combat strength, and they hadn't yet been tested by the fire and iron of battle. They were far from ready for actual combat.
Bringing an unfinished army would be of little use, and given the situation's complexity and the virus's high contagiousness, deploying the army would only add to casualties.
After traveling for about five or six days, Kaguya and her group reached the border of the territory. It was a lush forest; since it was autumn, the leaves had started falling, covering the ground with a thick layer, soft underfoot.
Kaguya, however, was not in the mood to appreciate the autumn scenery. She was preoccupied and wore a worried expression.
At the border of her territory, she saw a large number of civilians fleeing with their families. In a short time, she saw hundreds of people running past in panic. Cries, screams, and sobs echoed continuously.
"Be on guard!" the guards immediately sensed something was wrong and shouted.
The guards, wielding spears, marched in formation to the front of the carriage, forming a defensive line, vigilantly watching the chaotic area.
Suddenly, several humanoid danger beasts emerged from the distant forest, rushing toward the carriage.
They were tall and muscular, with hairless heads, sharp teeth, and fierce eyes, appearing ferocious and terrifying.
These danger beasts moved swiftly, striding forward and quickly reaching the guards, engaging them in battle. Their strength was immense, and with a single punch, they sent guards flying with blood spewing, landing heavily on the ground with fractured bones and few signs of life.
The danger beasts charged into the crowd like wolves among sheep, scattering the guards. Fortunately, the guards were well-trained veterans, and after a brief moment of chaos, they regained their composure and held back the beasts. They coordinated and supported each other, eventually defeating the attacking danger beasts.
Just as the guards breathed a sigh of relief, a continuous thundering sound came from the bushes, as if an earthquake was occurring.
The guards tightened their grip on their spears, their expressions tense, eyes fixed on the distance, swallowing nervously.
With a loud "boom," countless large trees in the distance were severed and fell to the ground, sawdust flying, and dust swirling.
When the dust cleared, the scene before them left the guards stunned. Some were so panicked that they dropped their spears, which hit the ground with a dull thud.
Before them appeared countless danger beasts, seemingly covering the sky as they charged toward them, numbering at least several hundred. With bared fangs and fierce eyes, they marched toward the guards.
Even the most optimistic captain couldn't help but feel a sense of despair. The brutality of these danger beasts was beyond imagination, and their sheer number overwhelmed them. Were they destined to perish here?
Just as despair gripped the group, a figure flew out of the carriage, and like a streak of light, rushed into the midst of the beasts.
She wore a fox mask, her figure graceful as she danced through the air. Her jade-like arm waved the long sword, a flash of cold light slicing through the danger beasts before her. The sword's chilling energy didn't stop there, slicing through four or five more beasts behind them.
It was Kaguya.
Kaguya wielded the Kusanagi sword, sending out waves of sword light, like moonlight pouring down, killing intent overflowing as the cold gleamed. Like a reaper's scythe, she harvested the lives before her.
In the face of Kaguya's assault, the danger beasts fell without resistance. In a short time, she slaughtered all the beasts before her.
"It's Princess Kaguya!"
The guards immediately showed joy, their spirits lifted. They hadn't expected the legendary most beautiful woman in the Empire, the princess, to possess such formidable strength. Cheers erupted from the crowd, and their morale soared, temporarily holding back the assault of the hundreds of danger beasts.