Your Emperor Has Returned

"Go, go out?"

Isabella froze, a rare flicker of hesitation passing through her eyes.

"Yes. The Prince has already assembled the army, Castel's arms production lines have been readied, and they can begin full-scale production at any time. Besides, judging by how you look now, you've almost fully recovered."

Indeed, at first Isabella had needed Bazel's body to manifest in the physical world, and even the flesh covering her bones had been incomplete.

But now...

Theus carefully looked Isabella up and down.

The forge was filled with blazing fire. There were even flames clinging to the Empress's body, as though they were scorching her flesh—or as though her entire body was burning.

Her pale skin bloomed beneath the firelight like a flower in full blossom.

Where was there even a trace of weakness left?

Isabella stroked her chin in thought for a while before finally sighing. "Fine. Then let's go out sooner rather than later."

"What, you don't want to leave?"

"I really don't." Isabella actually admitted it outright. "The tempering inside your forge seems to make my body more stable. Do you remember the royal secret technique I told you about?"

"The one for becoming a god?"

"Yes. It happens to be highly compatible with this forge. Every day I spend in here, my strength grows. I have a feeling that if I stay a little longer, even Galahad might not be able to beat me."

Theus raised an eyebrow. Galahad was a bona fide Transcendent. Did that mean Isabella would become a Transcendent herself if she stayed a while longer?

"Then I'm curious. Since you can keep growing stronger, why leave? Isn't it better to stay here?"

"Hm? Are you testing me?" Isabella curled her lip. "What's the use of becoming stronger? Individual strength can't withstand the tide