Seeing the silver-haired girl about to perish under the giant claws, she suddenly raised her smooth, jade-like arm, spreading her fingers wide. The beast behind her froze in place, as if caught in a binding spell, unable to move.
This was Kaguya's ocular technique, the ability to manipulate gravity.
"I've had enough fun, and now I'm bored," Kaguya turned around, her eyes like crescent moons as she smiled faintly. "It's time to end this."
Sensing imminent danger, Koro started to thrash violently, panting heavily, its blood-red eyes wide open. Muscles bulged and veins stood out, yet no matter how it struggled, it couldn't break free—not even a claw could move.
With a slight squeeze of her delicate fingers...
With an ear-splitting bang, Koro's massive body exploded into a rain of blood and gore.
Seryu's pupils shrank in disbelief at the gruesome scene before her. Koro, whom she thought invincible, had been instantly killed by the silver-haired girl without any resistance.
At that moment, a thought suddenly crossed her mind—had this person been toying with them all along?
As the silver-haired girl walked toward her with a serene smile, a chill ran down Seryu's spine, the autumn breeze biting through her.
This person didn't even consider this a battle.
"Scared speechless?" Kaguya asked, her beautiful eyes curiously observing the stunned Seryu, her smile widening. "Then I won't hold back."
Kaguya extended her arm, grabbing Seryu by her orange ponytail and dragging her along the ground as if hauling a sack, heading toward the palace.
Suddenly, a thought occurred to Kaguya—was she looting the spoils?
The rough treatment jolted Seryu back to reality. She struggled violently, like a fish out of water, twisting her body desperately. However, with her arms gone, she couldn't escape Kaguya's grip.
For the first time, fear shone in Seryu's eyes, and a long-forgotten palace rumor surfaced in her mind.
Legend had it that the princess in the palace was ruthless, and anyone who defied her met a torturous death. Behind the palace lay a mass grave for those executed by the princess.
She had no idea how this mysterious princess would torment her.
She had felt no fear before because she believed she would win. How could a mere ornamental princess be her match? But now, things were spiraling out of her control.
An overwhelming fear gripped her heart. She didn't want to die. There was so much left to do, so much evil in the world to eradicate. She couldn't die yet.
Kaguya felt a sudden stillness in the girl she was dragging. Alarmed, she turned to check—could the girl have died?
To her surprise, the girl was crying, tears welling in her large eyes, streaming down her pretty face as she sobbed softly.
Kaguya's lips twitched, speechless. Why did she feel like the villain here?
Clearly, Seryu was the real culprit.
But why did it feel like she was the bad guy?
Just then, someone came running toward Kaguya from a distance.
"Your Highness, please show mercy!"
Kaguya paused, glancing up to see who approached.
The man wore a yellow-brown suit under a white lab coat, appearing in his thirties, tall and well-built, with black hair and glasses, exuding an air of refinement. The most striking feature was a lock of white hair on his head.
"Who are you?" Kaguya asked, turning to face him with a slight frown.
"Greetings, Your Highness. I am Dr. Stylish." The man placed his right hand over his chest and bowed.
Dr. Stylish? That name was rather peculiar.
Kaguya paused, recalling someone by that name. Was he that dead gay scientist Dr. Stylish?
Dr. Stylish, a member of the Imperial Army, was a genius scientist with many secret projects, particularly skilled in creating and modifying equipment, dreaming of making gear akin to Imperial Arms. The equipment on Seryu was his invention, a gift to her.
However, his character was deplorable, resorting to any means for his research, with a penchant for human experimentation. He had modified many private soldiers and was deeply involved in dangerous creatures and pharmaceuticals.
Kaguya had long suspected him of being behind the strange plague outbreak in her territory.
"What do you want?" Kaguya asked impatiently.
"I sincerely apologize. Seryu is still a child and unintentionally offended you," Dr. Stylish said respectfully. "I hope you can forgive her."
"A child? Forgive her?" Kaguya tightened her grip on Seryu, lifting her effortlessly. Holding her by the chin, Kaguya's face wore a playful smile. "Is there such a big child?"
"Well," Dr. Stylish coughed awkwardly, "she's only thirteen."
Thirteen?
Kaguya's face darkened as she stared at Seryu, who didn't look thirteen, especially with her chest so developed. What could she have eaten to grow like this?
"So, Your Highness, could you find it in your heart to forgive her ignorance?" Dr. Stylish pleaded.
"No way," Sayo interjected angrily before Kaguya could respond. "She offended Her Highness! She must face punishment!"
"I see," Dr. Stylish mused, then smiled, "What if she atoned for her offense?"
"Atoned for her offense?" Kaguya asked, raising an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
"I've heard of Your Highness's generosity, distributing food to the poor to help them through winter. Admirable," Dr. Stylish said, shifting his tone. "But with such actions, Your Highness's food supplies might be..."
"What exactly are you implying?" Kaguya's tone grew cold.
"If possible, I'd like to offer Your Highness some food supplies in exchange for Seryu's forgiveness." Dr. Stylish smiled.