Inside the palace,
A sudden quake shook the palace, making everyone inside stagger and panic. No one knew what was happening.
The grand hall where court was held every day suddenly rose from the ground, as if something were dragging it up by force!
A colossal object slowly stood upright. Buildings and chunks of stone tumbled down around it, smashing into the ground.
A closer look revealed a mechanical giant hundreds of meters tall, wearing a crown and a cape. It had awakened like a deity, looking down over the entire Imperial Capital!
It was none other than the Empire's very first Teigu.
The Supreme Teigu, Shikoutazer!
Sarutobi Hiruzen was naturally the first to notice something amiss at the palace. He frowned as he looked at Shikoutazer in the distance.
"So this is your trump card?"
"The Revolutionary Army's leaders..."
"And Syura!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen thought to himself.
The Little Emperor's importance to the palace was self-evident. He represented the Empire's legitimacy and held control over Shikoutazer.
That was why General Budo was stationed there, and why Sarutobi Hiruzen had also sent other Teigu Users to guard the palace.
Under these circumstances, the only one who could slip in without anyone noticing was Syura, with his Teigu, the Dimensional Formation.
It was clear that Syura had infiltrated the palace and, just as Sarutobi Hiruzen had once done, pulled off a switcheroo.
He had taken control of the Little Emperor by some means and activated Shikoutazer.
"Looks like even I got outsmarted."
Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression was calm, betraying neither anger nor joy.
"I'll head over first."
Esdeath looked at the towering Shikoutazer with interest, a hint of fighting spirit in her eyes.
"Would you like me to help?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen shook his head.
"I have a backup plan. Just focus on these