Teigu World, Schrade Continent.
Esdeath, who still did not know that Imu had taken a new Empress.
Was riding atop Velkhana's crystalline back, facing the biting high-altitude winds as she headed east toward Flacia Snow Mountain.
Behind her.
Akame, Kurome, Tsunade, and the others stood helplessly on the airship's deck, watching their Empress's back.
Ever since taming Velkhana, Esdeath had refused to return to the ship, wishing she could stay with it day and night.
It was clear that she truly loved this Elder Dragon that, according to legend, descended upon the land with a calamitous "song."
An Elder Dragon that brought endless blizzards to the earth and froze all things in the world.
Of course, reality proved that legends always contained some exaggeration.
Although Velkhana was powerful—powerful enough to swiftly turn an entire region into a frozen wasteland in a short time.
Its actual combat ability was about on par with the Tailed Beasts of the Shinobi World, and its offensive power was even somewhat weaker.
After all, it lacked an ability like a Tailed Beast Bomb.
But Esdeath did not care. What did it matter if it was weak now? She could simply pile resources into making it stronger.
Besides that.
They had also found a Devil Fruit in the ice cave where Velkhana dwelled, along with a large number of scales it had naturally shed over several decades.
Those counted as unexpected gains from the trip.
At that moment, Esdeath was heading toward a village nestled in the snowy mountains.
Because it was the only inhabited place within a hundred kilometers.
She wanted to ask around about the Hunter's Guild.
As for the Schrade Kingdom.
Esdeath had no interest in it at all and planned to leave it to the World Government officials who would arrive later.