"My Teigu..." Daidara muttered, his eyes lifeless as his body went limp, collapsing to his knees with a blank expression.
The Teigu, with which he had spent countless days and nights, had been destroyed just like that—crushed effortlessly by someone as if it were nothing. He found it hard to accept.
For many who had fought numerous battles, their Teigu was not just a weapon or a tool. Sometimes, it felt more like a life-long companion or even a family member with whom they shared their honor and disgrace.
But unfortunately, his companion and family had already been broken—reduced to a useless heap of metal by the silver-haired girl standing before him.
"I'm really sorry," Kaguya said with a completely insincere smile, tossing the broken pieces of the Teigu in her hand. "But you can't blame me; it's just that this axe wasn't very durable."
"I'm going to kill you!" Daidara suddenly looked up, his voice full of malice. His eyes were bloodshot, and his fists clenched tightly, veins bulging on his arms. His teeth ground together with an audible clench, like a fierce beast ready to tear its prey apart.
As soon as the words left his mouth, Daidara roared in fury, stomping hard on the ground, which cracked under the pressure. Using the force of the recoil, he shot forward like a cannonball, breaking the sound barrier with his speed. With a powerful gust of wind, he swung his massive fist toward Kaguya with a speed and force that seemed unstoppable.
"If you like it so much, I'll give it back to you," Kaguya said with a slight smile, her delicate hand flicking the axe fragments like bolts of lightning.
"Thwip, thwip, thwip!"
Blood sprayed everywhere.
The fragments of the axe shot through Daidara's body like bullets, causing crimson blood to spurt from his wounds, forming a mist of blood in the air.
Daidara staggered a few steps, looked down at his body, now riddled with bloody holes, swayed a bit, and then collapsed to the ground with a heavy thud, lifeless.
"Can't people these days at least have the decency to accept when they're just fodder?" Kaguya shrugged, turning to face the Imperial soldiers, a faint smile on her beautiful face. "So, what now? Are you just going to stand there and wait to die?"
Kaguya's voice was not loud, but to the Imperial soldiers, it was like a thunderclap on a clear day, making their ears ring. Their faces were filled with terror, and they instinctively took a step back. A chill ran down their spines, spreading throughout their bodies, and they couldn't help but shiver.
The atmosphere grew tense, as if frozen, the pressure causing their hearts to pound in fear. The soldiers' throats bobbed as they gulped nervously, cold sweat beading on their foreheads and trickling down their cheeks.
"It looks like you all have a death wish," Kaguya said with a half-smile, fixing her gaze on them. "If you're so eager to serve the Empire, I'll gladly oblige."
Just then, chaos erupted among the Imperial soldiers. At first, one or two soldiers turned to flee, then three or four, and soon after, it became a full-scale rout. The soldiers fled in every direction, desperately trying to escape, terrified of being left behind. At that moment, they wished they had more than two legs to run with.
Their captain had been killed in an instant by this silver-haired girl—what chance did they, mere soldiers, have? Moreover, they had heard rumors that this breathtakingly beautiful girl was once the Imperial Princess, possessing terrifying power. It was even said that an army of tens of thousands of northern tribesmen had been wiped out under her command.
To pit ordinary soldiers like them against such a formidable foe was nothing short of suicidal.
As Kaguya watched the Imperial soldiers flee in panic, she turned around, clapping her hands, and said with a smile, "Alright, the nuisances have run off."
"Yes," Kurome nodded softly. She took Kaguya's hand and obediently followed behind her, like a dutiful wife.
Come to think of it, they hadn't even finished their meal because of those uninvited guests.
"Wait," a voice called from behind.
"What is it? Do you need something?" Kaguya asked, turning around.
"I didn't expect you to still be here; I thought you would have already run away," Kurome remarked, glancing at her.
Mine ignored Kurome's jab and, with a hint of urgency in her voice, said, "Can I ask you for a favor?"
"What kind of favor?" Kaguya asked, puzzled.
"Could you help me save Leone?" Mine asked anxiously.
"What happened? Wasn't she with you?" Kaguya asked, confused.
"She was, but we encountered the Imperial Army along the way. Leone lured them away, heading north, but that's the Empire's territory, and I don't know what happened to her. Please, I'm begging you to help me save her," Mine pleaded.
"I see," Kaguya tilted her head, looking with interest at the pink twin-tailed girl before her. "But why should I save you? After all, Night Raid is my enemy."
"But aren't you friends?" Mine said urgently. "You've known each other for so long—aren't you close?"
"Close?" Hearing this, Kurome's previously indifferent ears perked up. She walked over to Kaguya, took her hand, and began pulling her toward the room, saying, "Let's go eat. I'm hungry."
"What's wrong?" Kaguya asked, puzzled.
"Nothing. I'm just hungry," Kurome replied, holding Kaguya's hand tightly with a small smile. "Let's go eat, alright?"
Mine, clutching her injured right shoulder, staggered after them, pleading desperately, "Please, save Leone! You're the only one who can help her. It's just a small thing for you, but if you wait any longer, it'll be too late."
"Why should I save my enemy?" Kaguya asked, turning to stare at her.
Kaguya was about to say more when she suddenly froze, her face showing surprise.
Mine, the proud and strong-willed girl, had dropped to her knees with a thud.
Kneeling on the ground, Mine bit her lip and said sorrowfully, "Please, save Leone."
At the same time, Kaguya felt a tug on her hand. She turned to find Kurome pulling at her.
"Let's go eat, alright?" Kurome said softly, holding her hand.
Kaguya was momentarily stunned, noticing an unexpected hint of pleading in Kurome's gaze.