Suddenly, the ground began to tremble violently, as if the earth itself was tearing apart. The earth collapsed and sank, soil churned, rocks shattered into fragments, and debris flew in all directions. The air was thick with dust and chaos.
From the upheaved earth, countless vines sprouted, growing rapidly as they were caught by the wind. In the blink of an eye, they transformed into towering trees, and the once chaotic battlefield was transformed into a lush, dense forest.
At the center of this newly-formed forest stood a massive tree, hundreds of meters tall, reaching towards the sky. Its thick canopy spread out, casting a vast shadow over the land below, resembling an enormous, sky-obscuring dome.
The soldiers on the battlefield were stunned by the surreal scene before them. They halted in their tracks, staring in disbelief at the trees that had suddenly appeared, unable to comprehend what was happening.
This was beyond anything an ordinary person could imagine—a desolate wasteland turned into a dense forest in the blink of an eye. It seemed like something only a god from legend could achieve.
As the soldiers stood there, dumbfounded, the trees seemed to come alive. Countless vines extended from the tree trunks, whipping towards the soldiers who were still frozen in place.
The soldiers at the front, caught off guard, were quickly ensnared by the vines, wrapped up like bundles. They struggled frantically, trying to free themselves, but no matter how much they thrashed and twisted, they couldn't break free. Some soldiers drew their swords and hacked desperately at the vines, but the seemingly fragile vines were as tough as iron, refusing to be cut.
"Ahhh!"
The soldiers ensnared by the vines began to wither at a visible rate, as if their life force was being drained. Their muscles shrank, their skin tightened over their bones, and in their agonized screams, they were reduced to nothing more than mummified corpses.
With a sickening thud, the desiccated bodies were casually tossed aside by the vines, landing lifelessly on the ground, their eyes still wide open in terror.
Their life force had been completely absorbed, even their flesh sucked dry, leaving behind only hollow shells.
The vines, seemingly with a mind of their own, continued to search for more victims, slithering towards the remaining soldiers like predatory snakes.
Amidst the terrified screams of the soldiers, the entire battlefield was transformed into a gruesome hunting ground, dominated by these sinister trees.
"What... What is this?" The middle-aged man was utterly shocked by the scene before him. His eyes were wide with fear, his pupils dilated, and his body was frozen in place, drenched in cold sweat.
Beside him, Bolic had already collapsed to the ground in terror, his body drained of all strength. He kept mumbling to himself, "Monster, monster..."
The soldiers had descended into a state of complete panic. They swung their swords and spears frantically, but the vines were impervious to their attacks, as if made of iron. Their weapons couldn't leave a scratch, and those who dared to strike were quickly ensnared and turned into dried-up corpses within seconds.
The army's morale collapsed almost instantly. Soldiers threw down their weapons and fled in all directions, like headless chickens. The chaos led to pushing and shoving, with many soldiers trampled underfoot and crushed into the mud as they tried to escape.
The battlefield was filled with bloodcurdling screams, piercing the sky, only to abruptly fall silent. In an instant, the battlefield had been transformed into a nightmarish hell on earth.
Kaguya stood calmly atop the tallest tree, her long, silver-white hair billowing in the cold wind like mist or a waterfall. Her autumnal eyes gleamed with a frosty light as she gazed coldly down at the scene below, like a grim reaper passing judgment.
"Your Highness," Leone said, swallowing hard as she took in the horrific battlefield. Her voice was strained with fear.
"What is it?" Kaguya asked, her expression as cold as ice as she turned to face her.
Kaguya's gaze was so piercing that it felt like a stab to Leone.
"Please, stop this," Leone said, forcing a smile. "They've already been defeated. There's no need to kill so many."
The battle below was no longer a fight; it was a massacre. The Imperial Army, along with the Revolutionary Army members mixed in, had been completely routed, with no ability to resist. Countless soldiers had been drained of their life force, their corpses piling up into mountains. Even many high-ranking officers of the Revolutionary Army, those wielding Imperial Arms and Shingu, had met their end.
This was the terrifying power of the enhanced Shin Jukai Kōtan.
Since Kaguya's ocular powers had mutated, her eye techniques had been greatly enhanced. The Shin Jukai Kōtan had expanded in range, increased its absorption speed, and even the vines had become as hard as steel. Even in the world of "Naruto," there were few who could easily cut through such vines.
"Some people are dead, yet they still live. Others are alive, but they are already dead," Kaguya said, her incomparably beautiful face as cold as ice as she turned away. "The moment these men joined the Imperial Army, they were already dead."
"But... But..." Leone stammered, unable to finish her sentence as she looked at the suddenly unfamiliar Kaguya.
Was this the true nature of Her Highness the Princess?
Cold, ruthless, and merciless?
No, it couldn't be.
Leone shook her head vigorously. The Princess she knew was kind, gentle, and understanding, with a strong sense of justice. She wasn't like this.
Leone quickly walked over and grabbed Kaguya's smooth, white wrist, speaking softly, "Please, stop this."
Kaguya frowned slightly, her gaze intense as she looked at Leone. "Are you pleading for them?"
"No," Leone shook her head, speaking earnestly. "I don't want you to become someone who kills indiscriminately."
"But do you know how many people I've killed in the past?" Kaguya's eyes were cold as she asked. "How do you know I haven't always been someone who kills without restraint?"
"I don't know what you were like before, and I don't know how many people you've killed," Leone replied, gripping Kaguya's shoulders and staring into her eyes. "But I know you're a kind, understanding, and just person."