Chapter 133: Task Completed

Esdeath's voice suddenly rang out, then she fiercely pressed her palm against the ground, and a pale blue aura instantly spread out.

"Hum!"

In an instant, the entire world seemed to have been paused.

Water vapor in the air condensed at a speed visible to the naked eye, turning into countless tiny ice crystals suspended in mid-air.

Esdeath slowly stood up; the wound on her abdomen no longer bled, the bright red blood having already condensed into dark red ice crystals.

"Truly worthy of an opponent who can excite me this much."

She walked toward Sakazuki, who had fallen into a stagnant state; at this moment Sakazuki maintained a vigilant posture, but his body could not move an inch, not even his eyes could blink.

"Do you know? This Space has already approached Absolute Zero; ordinary Creatures here don't even have the chance to think before instantly freezing into ice statues, and even you, in this state, should be unable to move, right?"

Esdeath reached out, lightly brushing across Sakazuki's rigid face; the moment her Fingertip made contact, it left a fine trace of ice on Sakazuki's Skin.

"What a pity; if you could Submit, perhaps we could have had more fun."

Esdeath lightly waved her right hand, and a crystalline ice blade condensed out of thin air. She coldly watched the motionless Sakazuki.

"Puchi!"

The ice blade precisely pierced Sakazuki's chest, and Cold Air instantly Spread out. The corner of Esdeath's mouth hooked up, revealing a victorious smile.

She leaned close to Sakazuki's ear and whispered: "This game, I won."

Esdeath's hand was just preparing to withdraw when she suddenly felt a powerful force clamp onto her wrist. She was violently startled, lowered her head to look, and saw a hand covered in pitch-black Armament Haki firmly gripping her.

"What?!"

Esdeath widened her eyes, Disbelief Watching Sakazuki. The originally stagnant Sakazuki — the frozen Magma on his body actually began to regain fluidity.

"How is this possible?!" Esdeath exclaimed, her voice full of Shock and bewilderment, "How can you still move? This is impossible!"

She Struggled with all her might, wanting to break free of Sakazuki's clamp, yet discovered her wrist was firmly fixed, not moving a fraction.

Next Second, Sakazuki's body suddenly emitted a piercing red light; temperature sharply rose, that scorching heat producing visible hot air in this Space approaching Absolute Zero.

"I see." Esdeath murmured to herself, a flash of realization crossing her eyes, "You're using your Magma ability to forcibly raise your body temperature."

"Although this Space approaches Absolute Zero, it is not true time stop; you're relying on extremely high body temperature to resist my ability!"

Esdeath's Expression gradually shifted from Shock to excitement, the corner of her mouth hooking a manic smile: "Worthy Of you, to actually find such a Countermeasure — wonderful! This is a true powerhouse!"

At this moment, Sakazuki had already completely thawed; he slowly raised his head, coldly watching Esdeath: "There is no invincible ability in the world."

Voice Not Fall, Sakazuki's right arm suddenly turned into scorching Magma. Esdeath's Pupil violently contracted; instinctively she wanted to break free, but Sakazuki dead-clamped her wrist.

Esdeath in that Instant she Grit Teeth, forcibly enduring the severe pain in her abdomen, her left hand rapidly condensing a layer of heavy ice armor.

"Boom!"

The two's Fists violently Collided in mid-air; ice and fire Collided once more, erupting in a Deafening roar.

However, Esdeath's abdominal wound suddenly burst open, fresh blood gushing out; her offensive instantly collapsed, the ice armor rapidly melting under the high temperature.

"Damn it. Injured too heavily."

A cold light flashed in Sakazuki's eyes; he instantly seized the opportunity, his right fist once more turning into scorching Magma, blasting out like a fired Shell. "Inugami Bone Blade!"

The scorching Magma instantly pierced through her body, exploding behind her; Esdeath widened her eyes, Disbelief looking down at the large hole in her chest, fresh blood continuously welling out.

"Cough cough." Esdeath coughed violently, blood overflowing from the corner of her mouth; she staggered back a few steps, finally heavily collapsing to the ground.

Sakazuki walked over unhurriedly, looking down from above at the fallen Esdeath. Esdeath's massive chest wound continuously gushed blood, but the corner of her mouth hooked an excited smile.

"Truly... a wonderful battle." Esdeath spoke with difficulty; her voice was weak yet still full of passion. She raised her eyes, staring straight at Sakazuki, her eyes Shining with fanatical light.

"Your power... is amazing. I've never felt such a powerful opponent."

She suddenly coughed violently again, vomiting another large mouthful of blood. But even so, the smile on her face not only did not disappear, but grew even more brilliant.

"How I wish this battle could continue forever."

Esdeath's voice grew weaker and weaker, but the Battle Intent in her eyes did not diminish in the slightest; Voice Not Fall, her hand powerlessly dropped, her head also tilting to one side.

With Esdeath's death, Moko Hahazushi's effect instantly vanished. The surrounding air abruptly warmed; the suspended ice crystals fell one after another, like a sudden ice rain.

Not far away, the Night Raid members stared dumbfounded at this scene. Tatsumi rubbed his eyes, murmuring: "Th-this... what's going on? How could Esdeath..."

"It's over." Najenda said in a low voice, her tone carrying a hint of Disbelief, "That man... he Defeated Esdeath."

Sakazuki stood in place, head lowered looking at Esdeath's corpse. His chest had a wound reaching straight to his heart, blood continuously seeping out. He raised a hand to press on the wound, brows slightly furrowed.

"Indeed a powerful opponent," Sakazuki said softly, "Pity, you were limited by this world."

He paused a moment, his Tone carrying a trace of regret: "In a broader world, you might have been able to Grow even stronger."

Sakazuki raised a hand to press on his chest wound; this battle, he was also not unscathed. Esdeath's strength was truly astonishing.

Not far away, the Night Raid members tensely Watched Sakazuki. Leone clenched her fists, her whole body Muscles Tense, ready at any moment to respond to a possible attack. Akame quietly moved in front of Tatsumi, hand resting on her sword hilt.

"What will he do?" Najenda asked quietly, eyes not leaving Sakazuki's figure for a moment.

Tatsumi shook his head, his voice somewhat trembling: "Don't know... but someone who can Defeat Esdeath, I'm afraid we..."

Just at this moment, a cold System Voice suddenly rang out in Sakazuki's mind.

【Main Quest completed, return?】

Sakazuki was slightly stunned, then Decisively answered: "Return."

Voice just fell, Sakazuki's consciousness seemed to be pulled by an invisible force, instantly plunging into darkness; in the blink of an eye, Sakazuki's figure completely vanished, leaving only a messy Battlefield.

"He... he disappeared?" Leone exclaimed, her voice full of Disbelief.

The Night Raid members looked at each other in dismay, falling into silence for a time; they didn't know how to explain everything that had just happened.

At this moment Akame slowly walked forward, crouched down to examine Esdeath's corpse. She raised her head to look at the others, Expression serious: "No matter who that person was, he indeed Defeated Esdeath; now, we should Consider what to do next."

Tatsumi nodded, took a Deep Breath: "Right, Esdeath has already fallen. We must seize this opportunity to completely overthrow this corrupt Empire!"

(Chapter End)