You Are Strong, Sir, but My Art Style Is Above Yours!

Simplicity and rugged solidity were the basic tones here. Though the master of this residence stood beyond reach in both prestige and power, there were surprisingly few lavish decorations. Famous paintings and artworks were even rarer. Instead, rows upon rows of knight armor lined the corridors and halls, lending the place an air of solemnity.

There were no trees planted outside either, only perfectly level lawns, making the towering residence look like a solitary mountain standing here.

Rather than a noble estate, it was more like a military fortress...

But once one learned the name of its master, everything became understandable:

Imperial General Budoh!

Within the Empire's military system, senior commanders were collectively called "generals." They were divided into different ranks according to seniority and merit, but there was no substantive superior-subordinate relationship between them.

Only the title of "Grand General" was different. It was a special official post that nominally stood above all generals and commanded the troops of the entire nation!

This position was not permanent. It was only temporarily assigned in times of emergency, generally to a member of the imperial family or an imperial relative by marriage, and was immediately revoked once the war ended.

Budoh was an extremely rare exception: someone without blood ties to the imperial family who had nevertheless been granted the title of "Grand General."

There were three reasons for this:

First, the Budoh family had served the emperors faithfully for generations without ever making a mistake. They had always maintained the bearing of soldiers and had not been corrupted by a thousand years of prosperity. As dependable as a boulder, they had earned the trust of every generation of emperors.

Second, before Esdeath emerged, Budoh himself had always been the true "strongest." Demons and monsters both within and beyond the Empire deeply feared his mighty reputation.

Third, and most importantly, the Previous Emperor trusted him greatly, even appointing him Commander of the Imperial Guard.

—This position could practically determine the Emperor's life or death, and had always been entrusted only to the most loyal confidants.

When the Previous Emperor was plagued by illness and sensed that certain conspiracies were brewing, he elevated Budoh to "Grand General," the highest commander among Military Officers, and tasked him with supporting his son's ascension to the throne.

In truth, Budoh had done an excellent job. If not for the unfavorable fighting at the border, which had forced him to lead troops on a distant expedition... the minister would not have found it so easy to murder the previous Emperor.

By the time Budoh returned, everything had changed. Not only had the Previous Emperor already "died of illness," but the Empress had also died from excessive grief. Even the original heir to the throne had died for no apparent reason...

Honest had moved far too quickly!

Though outwardly bloated, that man had struck in politics with the force of fire, not even giving Budoh a chance to retaliate:

The Previous Emperor had only this one son left. Whether you accepted him or not, you had no choice!

Budoh knew full well that there was something suspicious about the Previous Emperor's death. The struggle for the throne had also been full of bloodshed and slaughter, and as the greatest beneficiary, Honest must have had a hand in the conspiracies behind it all.

But there was nothing he could do!

Budoh could have removed the villainous elements from the Emperor's side. At the very least, he had the qualifications to try. However, his family's ancestral teachings held that military commanders could not interfere in politics, and the Previous Emperor had not left him anything like a secret imperial decree, preventing him from moving directly against Honest.

What was more, if he became enemies with Honest, the Young Emperor might even see him as a treacherous minister and powerful official persecuting the loyal and good...

The current Young Emperor was the Previous Emperor's sole legitimate bloodline. As a subject, Budoh could not defy the authority symbolized by that bloodline.

Thus, although he knew of Honest and the others' corrupt deeds, he did not intervene directly. He merely used his authority to shelter officials with a conscience.

It was precisely because of his rigid refusal to adapt that the minister had become so unscrupulous... after all, Honest had no need to obey any Rules.

Of course, Budoh was a living man, not a machine. His patience had limits, and as the situation continued to deteriorate, the Grand General had steeled himself:

He would make a decision that defied his ancestors!

He would personally eliminate the minister and his faction. Even if the Young Emperor had him beheaded afterward, he would have no regrets!

However, before dealing with external threats, one had to stabilize the interior. Even if he intended to deal with Honest, it would have to wait until the rebellions throughout the land had been pacified. Otherwise, it would only give the Revolutionary Army an opportunity to exploit.

The letter he had received today came from the former minister. He had assisted the Previous Emperor for decades and held great prestige within the civil official system, before retiring at the peak of his career due to old age.

After Honest rose to power, he purged dissidents, and the court became filled with petty schemers and scoundrels. Yet the former minister still retained some latent influence.

Since Budoh planned to eliminate Honest, he had to consider how the central government would function after removing the minister's faction. As a soldier, he naturally could not manage such matters himself—and the Young Emperor was very likely to have him killed.

The task of rebuilding the central government could only fall upon this former minister. With such a loyal old minister offering assistance, General Budoh could truly rest easy.

Everything was for His Majesty and the Empire's future. So long as the Previous Emperor's bloodline could continue, even if he had to become an asura, he would—

"Hmm?"

As he reached the study door, Budoh paused slightly and narrowed his eyes, but quickly twisted the handle and entered the room.

Incredibly, there was now a strangely dressed man sitting in this study reserved exclusively for General Budoh, a room no one in the residence dared enter without permission. He was engrossed in reading something, with his legs crossed most impolitely atop the desk.

"How interesting. I don't recall arranging to receive guests today, yet there is a stranger sitting in my chair."

The man walked step by step to the desk and looked down at the uninvited guest. Gleaming arcs of electricity emerged from the wide cuffs of his loose indoor clothes, filling the enclosed room with a faint smell of burning.

"Please do not misunderstand. I am indeed your guest, merely one who was not invited."

"I know who you are."

General Budoh remained calm as he looked at Iori. Although this was their first meeting, he had heard of the Imperial rising star who had recently made a name for himself. No, he should call him a shameless rebel now—

"So, have you prepared yourself, General Izou?"

—Bang!

In the instant he moved, his right sleeve burst apart. Heavy, sturdy dark armor covered the powerful lines of his muscles, and General Budoh's fierce punch shot straight for Iori's head—only to be blocked by an ordinary, unarmored palm.

Smack!

Fine arcs of electricity scattered, illuminating the black mask and Budoh's resolute face.

He had actually caught it with his bare body—The Grand General's gaze shifted slightly.

Iori nodded to himself as well. Not bad power.

"Izou... I don't like that name. Call me Iori instead."

"Uninvited guests have a universal name. That is, 'thieves'!"

Budoh increased his strength. Powerful currents burst from every part of his body, and the gale they stirred alone threw the entire study into disarray.

"No, I am different from that ordinary rabble. Though I did not receive an invitation, I had long since made an appointment... one reserved for every infant from the moment they are born, absolutely guaranteed."

Iori rose to his feet and smiled slightly. "That is, I am—Bleach!"

"You wish to become my Bleach?"

A rare smile appeared on General Budoh's rigid face, but it quickly hardened into stone and turned as cold as steel. "Outrageous arrogance!"

Boom!

Without the slightest concern that this was his own room, when General Budoh unleashed the electricity throughout his body, the enclosed environment instead became a perfect execution ground. No one here could possibly evade Budoh's judgment!

...In truth, Iori, enveloped by layer upon layer of lightning, had never intended to flee.

Splitting Void!

—Zheng!

An invisible barrier appeared before Iori. Countless bolts of lightning struck it and were mercilessly rebounded, rapidly detonating the entire room!

Whoosh!

General Budoh shot out from the smoke. While still in midair, he tore off his casual clothes, revealing that he wore only an ordinary shirt beneath them, with metal bracers wreathed in lightning on his arms.

But as he swung his hands and the bracers collided, a thick bolt of lightning shot into the smoke. At the same time, armor began appearing over different parts of General Budoh's body in succession.

By the time he landed on the grass outside, a suit of armor providing all-around defense had fully assembled, making him look like an iron tower standing tall.

"I see. You can directly summon the other parts... This type of Imperial Arms seems to use subspace technology, doesn't it?"

A question came from the distance. General Budoh, cautious and rigorous by nature, did not answer. Besides, he did not know much about it himself.

When the First Emperor created the Imperial Arms, the Empire was at the height of its national power and had inherited many miraculous technologies from the previous era. As a result, the abilities of many Imperial Arms seemed utterly inconceivable today.

For example, the "core" of biological Imperial Arms. So long as that thing was not destroyed, the biological Imperial Arms could regenerate endlessly, becoming almost immortal and indestructible... something even Super Dangerous Species themselves could not achieve!

There was also the automatic summoning and equipping function of armor-type Imperial Arms. No matter how one looked at it, it did not seem like an ability possessed by Dangerous Species themselves. It was surely a feature deliberately added during their design for the user's convenience.

However, black technologies like these had all been lost, with not even the Far East Island Nation preserving them... Still, at least the finished products remained. There was hope yet.

Iori emerged unscathed from the thick smoke. Looking at Wrath of the Thunder God - Admire on General Budoh's body, he narrowed his eyes with interest.

Possession of the Evil Spirit, Noble Chariot, Wrath of the Thunder God... If I gather all three armor sets for comparison and study, could I reverse-engineer this spatial technology?

Right Here in the Palace of Heavenly Purity!

Budoh did not know what Iori was thinking. Otherwise, he would certainly have been enraged, for no one had ever dared to lose focus while fighting him.

At the same time, the explosion had attracted the guards' attention. The well-trained warriors swarmed in from every corner of the residence and surrounded the area.

"Stop."

To their surprise, the Grand General raised a hand to stop his subordinates. "All of you, stand farther back. This man is not someone you can handle. I must personally punish him. Staying within Admire's range will be extremely dangerous."

"A wise judgment."

Iori, trapped within enemy territory, was not the least bit flustered. His tone was as natural as though he were meeting an old friend.

"But it is meaningless, because I bear no ill will toward you, sir. I came today merely to offer the Grand General a suggestion."

"You secretly infiltrated my residence and stole my private letter, yet you claim you bear me no ill will?"

Budoh clearly did not believe Iori. "Wait until I throw you into prison. Then you can explain yourself slowly."

The heavily armored man stepped forward. That ordinary movement alone made the surrounding air grow "restless," and a strange sensation crawled over everyone's bodies, causing every hair to stand on end.

The guards who understood his power hurriedly retreated. They knew this was the prelude to the Grand General fighting seriously. Once he unleashed his full power, the surrounding area would become a sea of lightning, leaving no room for anyone else to approach!

"As expected, it is impossible to persuade a warrior with words alone."

Iori drew Heavenly Cloud, looking as though he had expected this all along. "Fortunately, I know a little about fists, feet, and swords as well."

—

"Pant... pant..."

The vast lawn had become scorched earth, and everything within several hundred meters had turned into a dead zone. Even soldiers utterly loyal to Budoh only dared watch from the very edge.

Yet the source of all this destruction, General Budoh, whose prestige within the military was exceptional, was now standing in a defensive stance. He watched his enemy nervously while gasping for breath, clearly having expended considerable stamina.

In contrast, Iori, standing at the other end, showed no injuries or fatigue whatsoever. Aside from his cloak being slightly damaged, he did not look like someone who had just gone through a fierce battle.

"As expected of someone spoken of in the same breath as Esdeath. In terms of sheer destructive power, you may even surpass Esdeath, and your skill in wielding Imperial Arms is flawless... You merely lack a little boldness and adaptability.

Such straightforward techniques are well suited to charging across a battlefield, but they are somewhat clumsy when used against me."

"...You fought Esdeath?" Budoh asked with interest. "She is not a woman who shows mercy. To her, battle is beasts devouring one another. A hunter would never let its prey go, yet you are standing here unharmed... Does that mean she lost?"

"She lost." Iori did not hide it, and was almost excessively candid. "In my view, your two Imperial Arms are evenly matched in performance. Lightning has a slight edge in destructive power and speed, but if the two of you fought to the death... barring any surprises, you would not be Esdeath's match."

"So that little girl is stronger than me?" Budoh was somewhat unconvinced, but he also knew Iori had no reason to deceive him.

In fact, he had already known. Admire and Demon God Manifestation were Imperial Arms of the same grade, both elemental manipulation types. Strictly speaking, Admire's practical value was even greater than Demon God Manifestation's.

Every Imperial Arms had hidden requirements for use. No matter how excellent a weapon was, if no one could wield it, or if it caused tremendous harm to its user... its value would naturally be greatly reduced.

—Just as Noble Chariot was theoretically an upgraded version of Possession of the Evil Spirit, free from the erosion of Dangerous Species cells and battle spirit, yet Possession of the Evil Spirit clearly had a far higher upper limit.

Among the many Imperial Arms, Admire's requirements for use were relatively high, but they could still be met, and once mastered, it had no obvious drawbacks.

Demon God Manifestation, on the other hand, was something on an entirely different level. Its negative effects were extreme... Before Esdeath appeared, no one had ever successfully mastered it. Ordinary people would be driven insane alive by the mad will inside it the moment they touched it!

And taming Demon God Manifestation and perfectly merging with it meant that Esdeath had become a humanoid Super Dangerous Species. The potential within her could rival, or even surpass, the original specimen!

As the heir of a great family with a long legacy, how could Budoh not understand what this meant? He had long been mentally prepared to be surpassed by Esdeath.

Now that Iori had confirmed it, he merely sighed that it had happened "too quickly."

The Ice Queen was only twenty years old. Even by the growth stages of ordinary humans, her physical abilities had yet to reach their peak. In other words, she was still improving... What a formidable younger generation!

But then again, while Esdeath was terrifying, she still fell within Budoh's "range of understanding." Iori, however, completely defied Budoh's common sense.

The various wondrous abilities were one thing, but how had this man managed to cultivate both swordsmanship and martial arts, possessing immense strength while remaining unbelievably agile?

Generally speaking, true powerhouses did not have glaring weaknesses, but they usually had areas of specialization. After all, a person's energy was limited, while the path of martial arts was endless. Only by investing time and effort into the field in which one was most talented could one increase one's strength most efficiently.

Yet through their brief exchange just now, Budoh had discovered to his astonishment that Iori had no "specialization," much less any weakness!

What was despairing was that in every single aspect, Iori could steadily suppress him... This was an overall gap that tactics or techniques could not erase.

If someone said Iori could defeat Esdeath—General Budoh would choose to believe it.

"I never expected... I never expected the Revolutionary Army to have such an expert." Budoh looked at Iori in disbelief. "How could someone like you have remained unknown until now?"

No!

The man's expression changed. He furrowed his brow and pondered for a moment before suddenly understanding. "If Izou is merely an alias, then you are actually... the Faceless One? The wanted criminal who assassinated numerous high-ranking officials?"