With a thought, Lin Ran took human form. Zi Xing stared in surprise at Lin Ran, who had suddenly appeared.
"Zi Xing, let me introduce you. This is your big brother Divine Abyss. He's the sword spirit of this sword."
"Big brother Divine Abyss!"
"Mm, don't be afraid, Zi Xing. Your big sister Akame is the strongest woman in this world. If you follow her, you can learn the skills to protect the people you want to protect!"
"Really?"
"Of course it's true. Your big brother Divine Abyss is even stronger than I am!"
"This Emperor Heart Pill and Heavenly Heart Sword are gifts from your big brother and sister." Lin Ran patted Zi Xing's little head, popped the pill into her mouth, and had the Heavenly Heart Sword acknowledge Zi Xing as its master while he was at it.
After taking the Emperor Heart Pill, Zi Xing fell unconscious. At that moment, she was undergoing a profound transformation.
Seeing that Zi Xing had fallen asleep, Lin Ran held Akame and kissed her for a while. Only when Akame thumped him in displeasure did he release her with a broad smile.
"Pervert! It's broad daylight!"
"Hehe, by that logic, it's fine at night, then!"
"I never said that! Should we take Zi Xing back to the imperial capital first, or bring her along?"
"Bring her along. Once she wakes up, you can start teaching her. If she's willing to take you as her master, all the better."
Akame nodded, held Zi Xing in her arms, and continued on her way. That night, Akame roasted a Danger Beast. Zi Xing's little nose twitched, and she slowly opened her eyes.
While Zi Xing ate the meat, Akame took hold of Divine Abyss and slowly demonstrated the Heavenly Heart Sword Art for her.
Zi Xing stared blankly at Akame. She felt that this sword art suited her perfectly!
"There's no rush. Just practice slowly. Your big sister will always be with you." Akame patted Zi Xing's little head and held her as they went to sleep.
Three days later, Akame set foot on a barren stretch of land. Huge footprints left by a World-Destroying Beast still marked the ground.
Akame abruptly accelerated, charging ahead. More than two hours later, she caught up with the World-Destroying Beast. It looked like a crocodile from Blue Star, but a huge horn rose toward the sky from the top of its head, glowing faintly.
Bolts of lightning fell from the sky. Akame set Zi Xing down and told her to wait there. Zi Xing clenched her little fists and cheered Akame on.
Akame smiled and patted her head. As she straightened up, her figure vanished in an instant. A moment later, she was already above the World-Destroying Beast, opening with a powerful move.
Two enormous, intertwined dragons burst into existence and slammed viciously into the World-Destroying Beast's huge horn. Clearly, Akame wanted to catch it off guard and destroy the horn that could control lightning.
Bolts of lightning struck, and Akame's figure instantly vanished from the air.
"Divine-Prohibition!" Brilliant golden-red light suddenly erupted from Akame's eyes. As her words fell, the World-Destroying Beast felt as though the space and time around it had been frozen. Between heaven and earth, only that dazzling sword light remained!
The World-Destroying Beast unleashed its full power, and the space around it showed faint signs of shattering. Unfortunately, before it could fully break free of Divine Prohibition's suppression, the sword light had already torn through its body. The World-Destroying Beast collapsed helplessly to the ground, the light fading from its eyes.
"S-so amazing! Big sister, you're amazing!" Zi Xing's little mouth fell open as she stared blankly at the figure drawing closer.
"Well? Do you want to become as strong as your big sister?"
"Yes! Can I do it?"
"You can. As long as you believe in yourself, you'll definitely be able to do it!"
Akame left with Zi Xing, leaving behind a corpse whose eerie power of origin had been devoured. However, Akame had also discovered a problem: the more these World-Destroying Beasts slaughtered, the stronger they became! Fortunately, she was improving even faster!
Thirty-seven days later, as the final World-Destroying Beast slowly fell, both Akame and Divine Abyss underwent transformations. Akame's strength doubled, and she looked like a Devil God descending upon the world.
Divine Abyss's blade had turned entirely golden-red, but a closer look revealed a purplish-black pattern at its center. This was what the devoured origin had become.
As though celebrating the slaying of all the World-Destroying Beasts, this world's Heavenly Dao directly bestowed a mass of Heavenly Dao origin upon Akame.
[Host, you can merge this mass of Heavenly Dao origin into the Guardian Temple. That will establish a connection between the Guardian Temple and the Heavenly Dao, bringing many benefits!]
Lin Ran put away the Heavenly Dao origin for Akame. Then Akame set off on the journey back with Zi Xing. A short-legged little loli followed closely behind a slender figure. This loli was naturally Zi Xing, wearing a loli dress Lin Ran had bought from System.
Unexpectedly, Zi Xing's cultivation of the Heavenly Heart Sword Art soared by leaps and bounds. It seemed Lin Ran and Akame had given her a head start on her cheat-powered life.
As for the lottery draw he had earned for completing the mission, Lin Ran planned to use it in the next world, following the system's suggestion.
Sixteen days later, the outline of the imperial capital was faintly visible. Akame could not help smiling a little. Counting the days, she had been away for a full two months.
As she stepped through the gates, two young guards immediately came forward for a routine inspection. At that moment, however, both guards were staring at Akame with excitement.
"Greetings, Guardian God!"
Akame entered the imperial capital with a puzzled expression, until she saw a statue in the square. It depicted her in the pose she had struck while using Heaven Opening. There was also a brief introduction below it, stating that the Divine Dragon Empire had been founded when the Guardian Temple was established. Akame was the Guardian Temple's first temple master and the empire's first ruler, honored as the Guardian God!
Young patrol squads appeared along the streets from time to time, maintaining order in the city. Unlike the imperial capital of the past, the people on the streets now looked at ease.
A large crowd had gathered around a stone stele to learn about the new laws. Those who effectively publicized the new laws could even receive rewards! The new nation vigorously promoted farmland cultivation, aiming to ensure that every citizen had enough to eat. At the same time, it built towering city walls to keep Danger Beasts from invading.
Holding Zi Xing's hand, Akame slowly walked toward the Guardian Temple. When she reached the entrance, the grand doors opened automatically, and she stepped inside.
"Akame! You're back!" She saw Sheele as soon as she returned. Of all the Teigu users, Sheele was probably the only one with so much free time. Even Esdeath, who had always pursued battle, had gone to handle administrative work with Tatsumi.
Akame smiled and nodded. Lin Ran released the Heavenly Dao origin, and the entire Guardian Temple trembled slightly. Immediately afterward, all the Teigu users stiffened. They suddenly gained a wondrous sensation: they could read the emotions of this world!
Tatsumi looked in confusion at a man in front of him. He sensed intense resentment from him! Esdeath sensed it too.
"Stop!" The icy voice reached the man's ears. Unexpectedly, the man instead lowered his head and broke into a frantic sprint. Before Esdeath could act, several sturdy young men nearby had already swarmed him and seized him.
"It's all your fault! It's all the fault of you vermin! If it weren't for you, how would I have ended up like this?!"
The man struggled madly. Esdeath studied him closely, and gradually matched his face to one of the minister's lackeys.
"To think one of the minister's dogs is still alive. Your actions have gravely violated imperial law! You are hereby sentenced to death!"
Once Esdeath finished speaking, Tatsumi cut off the man's head with a single sword stroke. The surrounding crowd showed no fear at all. Their hatred for these nobles and powerful figures of the former empire ran even deeper.