Kaguya was currently darting through a dense forest, moving like a swift and graceful dragon. Her steps were light but swift, her speed ghostly and elusive. Suddenly, Kaguya halted, listening intently. She thought she had just heard something in the distance, a deep and hurried sound, but now, after stopping, she could no longer hear it.
Was it just her imagination?
Kaguya furrowed her brows and peered into the distance with her clear, sharp eyes. Ahead, there was only a vast expanse of white snow and an endless stretch of dense forest. There was nothing else in sight. The forest was eerily silent, with only the howling of the northern wind to be heard.
She was still quite worried about Kurome. Although she knew Kurome was strong, the severe cold would significantly hinder her performance. Even Kaguya herself felt uncomfortable in the bone-chilling wind, let alone Kurome, who wasn't dressed warmly.
Furthermore, this was a winter of many troubles. Kaguya's territory was surrounded on three sides: to the south, there was the powerful imperial army; to the east, the formidable Revolutionary Army; and though the northern tribes had been driven back, there was no guarantee that some remnants wouldn't launch another attack.
Even within the boundaries of Kaguya's own power, there was still the possibility of unexpected dangers, particularly with the recent spate of disappearances, which had cast a shadow over Kaguya's heart.
That little rascal really doesn't know how to behave. If I catch her, I'm definitely going to spank her little butt, Kaguya thought angrily.
Just as Kaguya was about to continue on her way, her ears twitched slightly, and she frowned, turning her gaze toward a large boulder. She spoke in a low voice, "Come out, I've already noticed you."
"I didn't expect you to detect me. As expected of the princess."
From behind the boulder emerged a figure with long, luxurious silver-blue hair, deep ice-blue eyes, and exquisitely perfect features. She had a queenly, heart-shaped face, skin as white as snow, a voluptuous figure, and an overwhelmingly powerful aura full of captivating charm.
"Esdeath," Kaguya's brows furrowed as her clear eyes narrowed. "What are you doing here?"
"Why shouldn't I be here, Princess?" Esdeath's lips curved into a smile so beautiful it was almost breathtaking.
"My territory doesn't welcome the imperial army," Kaguya said coldly.
"My apologies, Princess, but what if I refuse to leave?" Esdeath's ice-blue eyes gleamed with a playful yet predatory look as she fixed her gaze on Kaguya.
"If you insist on staying, I have no choice but to drive you out myself." Kaguya snorted coldly, and in a flash, a shimmering, water-like longsword appeared in her hand.
"I'm afraid I won't let you have your way this time, Princess," Esdeath said, raising her arm. "My abilities are enhanced in the cold, and right now, this is my domain. Princess, I think you should surrender."
As soon as she finished speaking, Esdeath's figure flashed like an arrow loosed from a bowstring. She dashed toward Kaguya, and with a flash of cold light, a longsword appeared in her hand. She slashed it through the air, sending a wave of icy energy toward Kaguya.
"Sorry, but wherever I am is my domain," Kaguya replied with a cold snort. In her clear eyes, starry patterns began to swirl. With a light step, her body became a blur, darting like a ghostly apparition toward the approaching Esdeath.
With a crisp "clang," Kaguya's sword clashed fiercely with Esdeath's sharp blade. They pressed against each other with great force, the sound of metal grinding against metal echoing as sparks flew.
Neither seemed able to overpower the other. Kaguya's eyes narrowed as she pushed with her sword, using her strength to send Esdeath flying backward from the recoil.
Just as Kaguya was about to pursue her advantage, the ground suddenly heaved, and a massive pillar of ice erupted from beneath, shooting toward Kaguya, who was still mid-air.
With another sharp "clang," the ice pillar shattered into fragments under Kaguya's swift blade, the pieces scattering and falling to the ground.
But then, four more sharp ice pillars rose from the ground, coming from four different directions like a net, closing in on Kaguya with lightning speed.
Kaguya remained unfazed, her face expressionless as she gripped her sword tightly. With a wave of her arm, a sharp flash of light shot out, like a cascade of stars falling from the sky, instantly enveloping the incoming ice pillars in a shower of starlight.
In a series of crisp sounds, the sharp ice pillars were shredded into powder by the layers of sword light, turning into ice dust that scattered in the wind.
But at that moment, Esdeath's next attack arrived. Her sword gleamed with a biting cold light, each move swift and deadly, making it feel as though blades were pressing against the back of anyone who watched. Even from a distance, one could feel the illusion of pain.
Her attack style was relentless, aggressive, and unyielding, a reflection of her personality. It was a ceaseless offensive, overwhelming and relentless. For most opponents, this might have been too much, leaving them unable to defend and quickly dispatched.
Unfortunately for Esdeath, Kaguya was not an ordinary opponent. Esdeath's ferocious assault was no match for Kaguya's perception. No matter how fast Esdeath moved, she couldn't escape Kaguya's eyes—this was the terrifying power of Kaguya's ocular abilities.
The two clashed back and forth, their figures intertwining, with sparks flying from their collisions.
Suddenly, Kaguya's assault slowed, her wrist twisting slightly as she slashed upward at Esdeath's chest, her move seemingly slow but deceptively quick.
With a crisp "clang," Kaguya's sword struck something hard, unable to advance further. It was Esdeath's ice shield, which had appeared just in time to block Kaguya's seemingly inevitable strike.
This was the power of Esdeath's ability—control over ice. Her power was formidable, allowing her to summon ice even in the absence of water. In this icy wilderness, her strength was further amplified.
However, ice is still just ice, and in the next second, Kaguya's Kusanagi sword shattered it into countless shards that scattered to the ground.
The brief pause gave Esdeath a moment to catch her breath, but instead of retreating, she pressed forward, closing in on Kaguya. Her longsword, glinting with cold light, thrust straight toward Kaguya's chest.