After traveling for a few days, Kaede finally saw her destination. Was she going to fight Esdeath again this time?
However, Kaede gripped the Tachi in her hand. This time would be different from the past; she definitely wouldn't be... beaten too badly.
It wasn't that Kaede lacked ambition, but she understood that there was still a world of difference between her and Esdeath. Of course, if it were an assassination, in the past, she would have been discovered by Esdeath before the assassination even began.
As for now, Kaede would need to try it to know.
Looking at the military camp before her, Kaede's figure slowly merged into the darkness. To be honest, Esdeath's troops were the kind she least liked to infiltrate.
Everyone was diligent and dutiful, without the slightest negligence. Perhaps no one would devote their full attention, but it was already enough. No one could claim that they could keep their concentration focused throughout their entire watch.
Therefore, even if it was a bit troublesome, Kaede still managed to infiltrate easily in the end. Originally, Kaede could have infiltrated, and now it was even easier.
Following the layout, she soon arrived at the place where Esdeath was located.
At this moment, Esdeath seemed to be sunbathing, but the chilling aura radiating from her body could still be felt by Kaede even from a distance.
However, this time, Kaede could be certain that Esdeath had not yet discovered her.
Then, she would continue to advance.
The aura grew increasingly dense; Esdeath's aura gave one the feeling that taking one more step closer would mean death.
Kaede continued to advance. In fact, if this distance were against an ordinary target, it would already be within her striking range. However, Kaede understood that if the target was Esdeath, this distance was simply not enough; she would react instantaneously.
If she didn't succeed in one strike, facing Esdeath head-on could be said to be courting death.
"Hm?" Esdeath's eyes moved slightly. At this moment, she finally sensed something was wrong. However, Esdeath was Esdeath, the empires strongest. Even though she had sensed it, she didn't show the slightest hint of vigilance.
It was as if she was still enjoying the beauty of the sunshine, but her eyes were searching all around. She only had a feeling, but she hadn't discovered which direction the sense of danger was coming from.
"Hmm." Kaede wasn't sure if she had been discovered, but she had a feeling that Esdeath had sensed someone was in the shadows, though perhaps she didn't know her location.
That must be it, this feeling of lingering fear. However, Kaede didn't intend to continue; if she were discovered, even if she were killed outright, she wouldn't be able to say anything, right?
"Yo, Esdeath." Finally, no longer hiding her presence, Kaede walked straight out from the shadows.
"It's you?" Esdeath stood up, looking at Kaede who walked out from the darkness. A look of surprise flashed in her eyes, and a smile appeared on her face involuntarily. She crossed her arms over her chest. "It seems you have become stronger."
Indeed, being able to remain undetected by her from that position, Kaede had enough reason to be proud.
"Yeah." From this sentence by Esdeath, Kaede also understood that she had indeed been sensed, but Esdeath didn't know her specific location.
In this case, there was still a chance for a sneak attack. Even, Kaede should be able to injure the empires strongest before her. Relying on the sneak attack of the first strike, it was possible.
But afterwards, even if Esdeath were injured, she would be dead. At least for now, she had no other choice.
"Hehe, you've got guts~ This time you actually appeared in front of me on your own initiative, instead of acting like a mouse hiding from me?" Esdeath was also a bit surprised to see Kaede. One had to know that after being beaten by her a few times, this person in front of her had always avoided her, yet this time she actually came out on her own.
"Ah, actually, there's nothing strange about it. I almost lost to an old lady in close combat, so I just felt a bit embarrassed." As she said this, Kaede gripped the hilt of her sword.
Esdeath narrowed her eyes, a smile appearing at the corner of her mouth. "Then, can I take this as you actively seeking me out for a battle this time?"
"Yeah, as compensation, I won't steal your prey this time." Kaede said this. Although it would take a bit longer this way, Akame and Kurome were both on missions. Although she could train alone, being bored was ultimately boring, so she might as well stay here.
"Tsk, steal my prey?" A dangerous curve appeared in Esdeath's eyes. "Then that will depend on whether you have the ability!"
As she spoke, Esdeath had already rushed towards Kaede.
There was no surprise at all; one could even say she already knew Esdeath would rush up like this. But, she was just waiting for this moment.
"Draw and Slash."
If the slash that killed the coach was a prototype, then this current slash had already entered the hall of mastery.
When this sword was unsheathed, it was like a sudden flood, and the killing intent that Kaede had accumulated also erupted in that instant.
The moment the sword left its sheath, it erupted with a strong white light. It was the combination of energy and momentum, and it was the strongest slash Kaede could swing now.
"Danger!" Esdeath's heart jumped suddenly, but in the next moment, this feeling transformed into a sense of excitement. It had been a long, long time since she had felt such a sense of danger!
"Kaede!" Esdeath shouted, her voice revealing joy, the joy of finally finding an opponent.
Kaede's aura was actually not worth mentioning compared to hers, but at this moment, it actually made Esdeath pause. It wasn't because of the magnitude of the aura, but rather, the sudden eruption at this moment.
It could be said that this was also a technique, a technique that only Kaede had mastered so far, a technique she had only recently comprehended.
"Slash!"
The sword light was like a flash in the pan, but who was on the other side? Esdeath, the empires strongest!
In this name, invincible under heaven.
Even if Kaede's sword was faster, Esdeath still caught it. Although her body was made to pause by that suddenly erupting aura, she was indeed worthy of being the empires strongest. She only paused for less than a second before breaking free from that suddenly erupting aura and catching the sword.
However, whether in terms of strength or angle, the sword caught this time was not in the position Esdeath had originally intended. Esdeath, who had initially thought it was nothing, had her expression change the moment their swords clashed.
Because she finally realized that Kaede had not only added this move but also showed such a significant change in strength. If there hadn't been a pause, she could have continued to exert force, or at the very least, escaped this sword strike.
However, at this angle, it was just a hair's breadth away from being impossible.
A tiny error leads to a massive difference!
Kaede also felt her sword being struck by Esdeath's sword, but this was within her expectations; after all, it was Esdeath.
However, what surprised her slightly was that the resistance she felt didn't seem that strong. Without thinking too much, Kaede just wanted to unleash the full power of this sword strike.
Kaede knew she had to bring out all her strength; otherwise, she would have no chance. Perhaps she never had a chance from the beginning, but at least, she couldn't lose so miserably!
"Ugh! Slash!!"
Exerting force once more, this time she put every ounce of her strength into it.
The sword she was holding was knocked away, and wisps of blood danced in the air...
Reflecting a face with its head bowed, revealing a smile that could not be suppressed at the corner of the mouth!
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