Blood splattered everywhere.
With a loud "clang," the giant axe fell to the ground, and Ted's muscular right arm flew into the air, with blood instantly gushing out like a mist.
"Ahhh!"
The intense pain made Ted scream uncontrollably. He clutched his shoulder tightly with his left hand where his right arm was missing. His face no longer showed the arrogance it once did, and his eyes were filled with fear.
Is she even human? Does she not know fatigue at all?
Ted had not held back until the end for no reason. Though Ted appeared burly and stout, he was meticulous, not just some brawn-without-brains guy. He wanted his army to wear down Kaguya's strength, then ambush her when she was exhausted.
After waiting so long, Ted estimated that Kaguya's stamina was mostly drained, which was why he engaged her. After all, Kaguya appeared to be only in her teens, so how powerful could she be? Even if her strength was formidable, her endurance couldn't surpass someone like him, seasoned and battle-hardened.
Unexpectedly, Kaguya was not as he imagined; she showed no sign of fatigue, not even a drop of sweat on her face.
Seeing the silver-haired girl smiling as she approached, terror appeared on Ted's pale face. He had been in countless battles but never had been so embarrassed. He used to think that the only person who could make him fear was that one, and he never thought there could be anyone as powerful.
"Why not stay peacefully in the north?" Kaguya asked as she walked up to him, looking down at him. "Why do you like sending yourself to death?"
"Please, please spare me," Ted stammered. "I promise never to return here again."
To save his life, Ted had completely abandoned his dignity. Indeed, it was hard to say if the Northern Tribes, willing to do anything for gain, had such a thing as dignity.
"And what else?" Kaguya played with her hair and asked playfully.
Ted was startled, hearing a hint of opportunity, and said quickly, "We will compensate you and your troops for the losses, and I guarantee we will never return here."
"And what else?" Kaguya asked.
"What else?" Ted was taken aback, then quickly added, "If you agree, we can join your command and help you conquer the land."
"Is that all?" Kaguya chuckled softly.
Ted was puzzled by what Kaguya meant, and just as he was about to speak, a cold light flashed before him. Suddenly, Ted's world spun, and the last thing he saw was his headless body and the mist of blood.
"Do you think I'm stupid?" Kaguya scoffed disdainfully. "Compensation? If you had money, would you need to raid my territory?"
As for joining Kaguya's army, sorry, her army wasn't open to just any riff-raff. These worthless pieces of trash weren't even worth feeding.
Seeing their leader beheaded by Kaguya with one slash, the already low morale collapsed entirely. The foreign soldiers scattered in panic, fleeing like dogs without homes, and the encirclement of the Imperial Guard naturally opened.
The blood-stained commander of the guards rushed to Kaguya's side, knelt on one knee, and said with a guilty face, "Your Highness, I failed in my duty; please punish me."
"No problem," Kaguya smiled slightly, "You faced enemies several times your number, yet you fought bravely without fear. I am already very satisfied. Remember, when we return, properly settle the injured soldiers, and those who died in battle must be taken back and given a proper burial. Additionally, each soldier who participated in this battle should be given thirty gold coins, with double for those killed, ensuring it reaches their families."
"Thank you, Your Highness," the commander said gratefully.
Most officials treated them like tools, speaking softly when using them but discarding them harshly, even killing them when unnecessary. Such a considerate superior as the princess was exceedingly rare in these times.
"Your Highness, these are brutal barbarians who may endanger the territory's security," the commander said. "Now that the Northern Tribes have been routed and their morale is low, it's an excellent opportunity to wipe them out. I am willing to lead the Imperial Guard to eliminate them and prevent future troubles."
Still burning with anger from being ambushed by some northern savages, the commander wanted to teach those barbarians a good lesson.
"Yes, that's true," Kaguya nodded lightly, "But there's no need for you; I can handle it myself."
"Your Highness?" The commander was taken aback, thinking he had misheard.
"Just watch," Kaguya said with a smile.
Having spoken, Kaguya raised her hand, as smooth and white as jade, spreading her delicate fingers. Her eyes shone like autumn water, glimmering like stars in the night sky.
The commander curiously watched Kaguya, unsure what she was doing. Suddenly, as if he noticed something, he quickly looked up, and his pupils shrank.
In the dark night sky, a faint light shone, illuminating the clouds, as if something were hidden among them.
Suddenly, the clouds parted, and a gigantic meteor appeared in the sky.
It was enormous, blocking out the sky, with a diameter of a hundred meters. Surrounding it was a blazing fire caused by friction with the air, making it look like a giant fireball, strikingly visible in the dark night sky.
"What is that?" The commander was stunned as if frozen in place, utterly shocked by what he saw.
Could it be...
The commander was startled, turning his head quickly to look at Kaguya beside him, who appeared calm and undisturbed. Yet, for some reason, he felt an eerie aura emanating from her that sent shivers down his spine.
How could this be possible?
Is this the power a human could possess? Perhaps only a legendary god could do this.
While lost in thought, the colossal meteor in the sky, blazing brightly and trailing a long tail of flame, plummeted toward the ground.