The night was hazy, with stars scattered across the sky.
It was early winter, and the air was suddenly cold. A crescent moon hung quietly in the sky, its cold light like an autumn stream, pouring down like threads, illuminating the fallen leaves and adding to the chill.
Under the cold moonlight, two figures were locked in fierce combat, their weapons clashing with a metallic ring that shattered the night's silence.
The two figures were none other than Her Highness Kaguya and General Esdeath.
Kaguya moved with grace, like a startled swan or a eastern dragon dancing in the moonlight. Her garments fluttered as she danced through the night, her attacks sharp and dangerous, like a long rainbow cutting through the sky. Her elegance concealed deadly intent.
In contrast, Esdeath's movements were clean and precise, without a hint of wasted effort. Her strikes were fierce, each aimed at a vital spot. These were skills honed through countless battles, a true technique for killing. A moment's lapse in vigilance could result in a fatal blow.
Kaguya frowned slightly, realizing that the opponent before her was no easy match. She had fought countless battles and faced many formidable foes, but Esdeath's mastery of the blade was unparalleled. If not for her own extensive battle experience and training, she might have struggled to keep up.
On the other hand, Esdeath was equally surprised. Though she had heard of Kaguya's formidable power, she hadn't taken it seriously. She had witnessed Kaguya's Heavenly Obstacle Quaking Star technique recently and had assumed it was an Imperial Arm or a personal ability.
But now, she discovered that the silver-haired girl before her possessed combat skills rivaling her own, capable of standing toe-to-toe with her. This revelation both surprised and thrilled her.
Esdeath had long been without a worthy opponent; no one could withstand her fierce attacks, and none had ever made her break a sweat. This brought her both glory and a sense of loneliness.
Now, finally finding someone who could match her in battle made her overjoyed, her heart beating faster.
Kaguya, however, was less thrilled. She didn't wish to be entangled with Esdeath, as she had much to do, the foremost being dealing with the northern tribes. The longer the fight dragged on, the deeper the northern tribes would penetrate her territory. Knowing the tribes' locust-like ways, they would leave her lands devastated, and the thought filled her with anxiety.
Kaguya bit her lip, realizing she couldn't let this continue. She needed to end the fight quickly.
A flash of cold light appeared in Kaguya's clear eyes as she suddenly relaxed her hand, letting the Kusanagi Sword slip from her grasp and clatter to the ground.
Seeing Kaguya's action, Esdeath paused in surprise and curiously asked, "Are you conceding?"
"Of course not," Kaguya replied with a light laugh.
"Then why did you drop your weapon?" Esdeath blinked her light blue eyes, her curiosity piqued.
"You might not know," Kaguya smiled, "but my specialty isn't swordsmanship or bladework; it's ninjutsu."
As she spoke, Kaguya's body suddenly vanished without a trace, as if she had evaporated.
"Yomotsu Hirasaka."
This was Kaguya's long-unused Yomotsu Hirasaka, a technique she rarely employed due to its high chakra consumption. However, since her eyes mutated, it seemed Yomotsu Hirasaka had also changed.
Previously, Yomotsu Hirasaka required entering and exiting through a spatial portal, akin to a black hole, which took time.
After its mutation, Yomotsu Hirasaka allowed instantaneous spatial movement, similar to Sasuke's Amenotejikara. However, unlike Amenotejikara, which required a target object, Yomotsu Hirasaka didn't, allowing for teleportation—albeit over a short distance.
Esdeath's pupils contracted as she realized Kaguya's presence had vanished, leaving no trace. This revelation startled her.
Was this the ninjutsu Kaguya spoke of?
Suddenly, Kaguya reappeared behind Esdeath, raising her alabaster arm as chakra surged in her palm, unleashing a powerful force.
"Eighty Gods Vacuum Attack."
Countless punches filled the air, crashing down like a tsunami on Esdeath's back.
As the punches closed in, Esdeath turned, a blue light flashing in her eyes as she swung her arm, her sharp blade clashing with the Eighty Gods Vacuum Attack.
Boom!
A deafening explosion echoed to the heavens, and the shockwave surged like a violent hurricane, tearing through the area. Trees were uprooted, rocks shattered and flew skyward, and debris scattered in all directions, raising clouds of dust.
As the dust settled, the two combatants' silhouettes emerged.
Kaguya's lips parted as she breathed heavily, her chest heaving. She wiped the sweat from her brow with her white hand. The technique had been exhausting, leaving her slightly fatigued, though still within manageable limits.
Esdeath, however, looked rather disheveled, lying on the ground. Her hat was gone, and her clothes were dusty and torn in several places, exposing large swathes of fair skin. The cuts across her chest revealed her creamy, jade-like skin, adding an alluring touch.
"Your Highness is stronger than I imagined. I made a mistake," Esdeath admitted softly as she got up, her head bowed, her expression hidden.
"It's nothing," Kaguya said as she approached, smiling slightly. "General Esdeath is very strong. I was just lucky."
"No," Esdeath replied, suddenly raising her head, her light blue eyes flashing with cold light. "The battle isn't over yet."
As she spoke, Esdeath's figure shot forward like a bolt of blue lightning, charging at Kaguya.