In an instant, all of space-time froze, and everything came to a halt!
One of the Secret Techniques Esdeath had comprehended through the Imperial Arm, Demon God Manifestation: Essence of the Demon, was "Mahapadma," which could freeze space-time and bring it into a suspended state.
Unlike in the original story, where she had prepared it to prevent Tatsumi from escaping again, she had comprehended it under Durandal's iron fists.
When sparring with Durandal, she had more or less served as a punching bag. Though the beatings had hurt terribly... the increase in her strength had been equally terrifying.
"Ha ha ha ha! You actually... actually forced out the secret technique I prepared for Durandal! I had originally planned to let Durandal experience it first, but now I'm using it on you two instead! Ha ha ha..."
Esdeath looked at everything frozen around her. Neither Akame nor Kurotama could move before her, and she suddenly laughed. It was impossible to tell whether that laughter came from anger or something else...
She had comprehended Mahapadma long ago, but she worried Durandal might overcome the effects of frozen space-time, so she had continued strengthening its power.
Mahapadma could freeze space-time, but she still did not dare guarantee that it would work on Durandal. Durandal was simply too terrifying! It had to be continuously refined and strengthened.
Not only its duration, but also its intensity.
And Esdeath had truly succeeded. The current Mahapadma was far stronger than it had been at the beginning, both in duration and intensity.
However... she had prepared this for Durandal, yet now she was using it on these two unfamiliar girls. It gave her an indescribable feeling.
Sure enough, she was still too weak!
She should keep training for another two years before challenging Durandal again.
But for now!