Boom!
A thunderous explosion reverberated through the air, shaking the ground as rocks and debris shot out like shrapnel. The shockwave, like a tidal wave, surged forward, sweeping up clouds of dust and dirt that blotted out the sky.
The force of the wind was so strong that Najenda was sent flying. Fortunately, she was prepared, using her mechanical arm to grab hold of a sturdy tree, preventing further injury.
As the dust gradually settled, a massive trench became visible on the once-flat ground. The trench was several meters wide, over ten meters deep, and stretched for hundreds of meters, disappearing into the distance.
This was the sheer power of Susanoo's Totsuka no Tsurugi.
Even Kaguya would have taken some damage from an attack like that, Najenda thought.
However, as the dust fully cleared, Kaguya's figure was nowhere to be seen. It was as if she had vanished into thin air, causing a sinking feeling in Najenda's heart—a sense of impending doom.
"So, it did get stronger. But still, not enough to hurt me," a clear, melodious voice echoed.
Najenda's eyes widened in shock as she looked up towards the sky.
There, floating gracefully in midair, was the silver-haired beauty, her robes billowing gently as her silvery locks swayed with the breeze.
"Even that couldn't defeat her?" Najenda's heart sank even further, a sense of helplessness welling up within her.
The gap in their power was simply too vast.
"Hah!" Susanoo didn't give Kaguya a chance to speak further. He launched himself like an arrow from a bow, gripping the Totsuka no Tsurugi tightly as he charged at her.
"If you won't give up, I'll give you a reason to," Kaguya's clear eyes flashed with a cold light.
Raising her arm, Kaguya's body was suddenly enveloped in a pale blue aura, resembling flickering flames. Simultaneously, nine magatama materialized around her, orbiting her figure as a powerful energy surged from within her.
"This... what is this power?" Najenda's eyes widened in horror as she felt an invisible hand gripping her heart, making it difficult to breathe.
On the battlefield, everyone paused, their eyes drawn to the silver-haired girl in the sky, their expressions filled with terror. The sheer intensity of Kaguya's energy was so overwhelming that many were paralyzed with fear, some even losing control of their bladders.
Even seasoned warriors like Akame, Leone, and Kurome stood in stunned silence, their faces reflecting their disbelief. The stronger the individual, the more they could sense the terrifying extent of Kaguya's power. This was a level of strength that seemed beyond human, something only a god might possess.
Had the silver-haired girl been holding back all this time?
Akame bit her lip, her eyes filled with frustration and despair.
Meanwhile, members of Kaguya's Imperial Guard, like Ieyasu, Kurome, and Sayo, were less surprised. They had seen Kaguya's formidable power before. To them, Kaguya's strength was undeniable, her overwhelming abilities a fact of life. Especially Kurome, who had never doubted Kaguya's might.
As Susanoo's Totsuka no Tsurugi neared Kaguya's head, Kaguya's lips curled into a faint smile. She raised her hand and gently reached into the void.
Banshō Ten'in (Universal Pull).
Susanoo's body froze in mid-air, as if caught by an invisible force. No matter how hard he struggled, he couldn't move a muscle—not even a finger.
Kaguya's beautiful face lit up with a serene smile. Her delicate hand clenched slightly, and a brilliant golden light burst forth, turning the ground below into a blinding white expanse. Even the sun above seemed to pale in comparison.
The people on the battlefield couldn't withstand the intense, burning light, shutting their eyes tightly as if witnessing the end of the world.
Kaguya raised her hand, glanced at the immobilized Susanoo, and brought it down.
"Goodbye, Susanoo."
Golden Wheel Reincarnation Explosion!
Time seemed to stop for a moment.
Boom!
The earth shook violently, as if it were about to split apart.
A dazzling flash of light erupted, followed by a thunderous roar that echoed across the heavens.
The ground trembled violently as a massive shockwave swept across the battlefield, reducing rocks to dust and scattering debris and leaves in all directions. A towering mushroom cloud rose into the sky, blocking out the sun and casting the world into shadow, with dust and stones flying everywhere.
"Cough, cough."
Najenda struggled to rise from the pile of rubble, her body covered in cuts and bruises, her clothes stained with blood from the shards of rock that had been caught up in the blast. But she ignored her injuries, her eyes focused on the distance, where her pupils contracted in shock.
Where there had once been a mountain, there was now nothing. The ancient trees, the massive rocks—all of it had been leveled, replaced by a massive canyon that stretched endlessly across the battlefield.
"This..."
The survivors on the battlefield, those who had managed to crawl out from beneath the rubble, stood frozen, staring in stunned disbelief at the scene before them. It was as if they had been turned to stone.
Could this truly be the work of a human?
Najenda struggled to keep her balance, her pale face drained of all color. For a moment, she couldn't think, couldn't comprehend what had just happened.
If there had been even a glimmer of hope before, it had now been extinguished. Against such overwhelming power, any effort seemed futile.
"Give up," the silver-haired girl said softly as she approached, her voice calm and gentle. "You can't win."
Najenda snapped out of her daze, quickly leaping back to put distance between them, her eyes filled with determination. She bit her lip and said, "No, I won't give up."
She had used such a powerful ability; surely it had drained her of energy. If she could just—
Before Najenda could finish her thought, Kaguya suddenly vanished from sight.
At the same time, a gust of wind brushed past Najenda's neck.
Najenda's eyes widened in shock, but it was too late to react.
"Time to rest."
The last thing Najenda heard was a sweet, melodic voice whispering in her ear before a sharp pain shot through the back of her head, and she plunged into darkness.