The girl regained her composure and looked ahead.

This was the capital of the empire, notorious for its infamy.

As she advanced, destroying everything that stood in her way with her Heavenly Collapse Strike, it suddenly seemed to hit an invisible barrier, bouncing back into the air.

KWAANG—

“...”

Yes. The empire, which unified the continent, surely wouldn’t end so easily.

On the other side of the hundreds of meters deep pit created by her strike, a golden palace stood majestically, and in front of it, an elderly knight stared at her with icy eyes.

Berdel drew the sword from the sheath hanging at Clay's waist.

[Remaining Power 10.8%]

The last strike had consumed 2% of her power in an instant. The girl nodded as she checked the remaining power.

She walked steadily along the path she had created herself.

The elderly knight with a sword.

His face seemed familiar. They had never met, but he was so famous within the empire that she recognized him by sight.

One of the swordmasters of the empire.

The knight’s name was likely Duke Einhart.

He was the captain of the imperial guard, residing in the palace, known as the shield of the empire and the iron wall swordmaster.

Considering the overwhelming presence that radiated even through her suit, it could only be Einhart.

As she approached the old knight, who blocked the palace with a cold glare, the girl gripped the sword sheath in her left hand and held the sword's hilt in her right.

The grip fit perfectly in her palm. Despite the suit, which had transformed into an armor that dulled her senses, it felt as if she was holding it barehanded, with no resistance at all.

The girl took a deep breath, feeling the grip.

“Haah...”

The girl took in the whole palace. Her retina displayed vivid movements within the palace as if captured by a thermal camera.

She lowered her gaze to the old knight. His lips slowly parted.

“Who are you? No, are you really human?”

The girl found the situation somewhat amusing. Just yesterday, she had been spitting and getting stones thrown at her as she crawled in the gutter among the lower classes of the empire.

Now, a person of such high status, someone she would never have dared to glance at, was on guard, asking who she was. It felt strange.

However, she couldn't underestimate the strength of the knight blocking her way.

The girl extended her right leg, firmly planting her foot on the ground.

“Haah.”

Pududk—

A sound akin to metal bending rang out from the tightly gripped sword sheath.

‘Bend.’

The girl’s sword, clad in a red suit, emerged from its sheath, slicing through the air like a beam of light. In that moment, Einhart’s eyes widened in shock.

Einhart faced a life-or-death crisis, gathering all his strength.

The trajectory of her sword tore through the space she had just created.

The enormous strike, far beyond the previous one, surged toward the swordmaster.

**Vacuum Slash.**

The technique taught by the mysterious master who used the nickname “Blade Addiction” in the community.

- Blade? There is no swordsmanship superior to the Blade Art. The mechanism that converts friction into kinetic energy is more scientific and philosophical than any sword technique....
- What? You think that’s impossible? Have you swung your sword a hundred billion times? If not, don’t speak!
- It’s not just about swinging a sword. With the single-minded intention to cut everything in front of you...

It was said to be the culmination of a hundred billion swings. The “Blade Addiction” who generously passed down the technique to her could unfortunately not be listed in the unofficial rankings of the Blade Art community.

- Slash the front to create a vacuum for a counter.
- Use the Blade Art to cleave the opponent’s weapon in half.
- Cut down the opponent while drawing the sword. This is limited to the Blade Art.
- Observe the attack with your eyes. Unleash the Blade Art. Cut the opponent along with their attack. Why do you think this is impossible?

His ridiculous assertions garnered the public’s outrage in the community.

- I can’t comprehend it.
- The secret of a hundred billion swings? It doesn’t have to be about swinging the sword. It can be done in your mind...

When he seriously listened to those words, he unexpectedly passed on the technique.

The Vacuum Slash of the “Blade Addiction” unfolded at the girl’s fingertips.

Though it might not reach the level of power that the “Blade Addiction” had claimed, the enhanced suit named “Hydra” managed to reproduce part of the grand technique of “Vacuum Slash.”

A cut that exceeded thirty meters tore through the air.

A strike fueled by 10% of her power.

***

Can that even be called a sword strike?

Duke Einhart was struck with dread as the enormous slash filled his vision. He had surrounded his own sword with an aura, but—

‘This… is not something to face head-on!’

Incredible as it was, this was neither an aura nor any magical force. It was merely a strike powerful enough to be called the manifestation of a god of destruction.

Could he block an attack that tore through space itself with just an aura blade?

Overwhelming violence.

Incomprehensible power.

Just looking at it took his breath away, sent shivers down his spine, and rang alarm bells in his mind.

This was what it meant to cut through space.

The swordmaster, the shield of the empire, could not think of trying to block it. It was a matter of survival, to twist his body as much as possible and avoid the direct hit.

Einhart's aura exploded within him, filling his body with immense strength.

“Haah!”

Einhart swung his sword with all his might, pouring everything he had into that single strike.

The swordmaster, who could be called the pinnacle of the empire's protective sword techniques.

Einhart twisted his body to deflect the edge of the slash with his aura blade, barely escaping the direct hit.

“Cough! Madwoman.”

The knight immediately prepared for the follow-up attack, raising his sword to shield his torso.

Fortunately, the opponent did not seem to be an expert, and despite the overwhelming speed of the slash, he could manage to evade it.

Einhart stared at the mysterious opponent, trying to think of his next move.

“…?”

But the opponent was not lowering their sword.

‘What? Is she just being careless?’

If the opponent was approaching to land a follow-up attack, it might have been a challenging battle. After all, momentum and breath play significant roles in combat.

But the opponent stood still, waiting.

Einhart couldn’t hide his tension as he examined them closely.

The strange sheen of the red armor, like an insect's carapace. It had a sleek yet alien appearance. Yet, he could not afford to be impressed. The fierce aura radiating from her eyes indicated that she was far from at ease.

“...”

‘What’s going on? Could it be that she cannot attack as easily as before? If so, this could be my chance?’

Einhart’s mind began to race.

He tried to move slowly, not taking his eyes off his opponent.

“...”

‘As long as I can stall for time.’

There could be no audacious figures who would dare to assault the palace in the capital, so the swordmaster, residing in the palace, was the only one.

However, thinking that he was the entirety of the power here would be a grave mistake.

Even if he wasn’t a swordmaster, excellent knights were all around. Moreover, within the palace, there was that one person.

The great magician Pilaf.

Though his behavior wasn’t to his liking, he was undoubtedly a magician of the palace. Given the commotion, he would surely arrive soon!

He just had to hold out until then!

But Einhart felt a strange sense of unease looking at his opponent. It seemed as though she was smiling beneath her visor.

What was this? Why was she so relaxed? What was she hiding?

Einhart's confusion was swiftly resolved—in the worst possible way.

“Duke!! It’s bad! The palace…! The emperor!!”

Einhart’s heart sank.

He couldn’t tear his gaze away from the enigmatic adversary as he shouted.

“What do you mean?!”

The knight under Einhart, spitting blood, shouted with all his strength.

“The Emperor and the Crown Prince who were in the office… Cough! Moreover, great magician Pilaf and other ministers are in grave danger...!”

KWAANG!

A powerful aura exploded from Einhart's body.

“What are you saying?! Can’t you speak clearly?!” 

“Cough! The Emperor and the Crown Prince have passed away from unknown attacks!! Other ministers are gravely injured and may lose their lives!”

“T-That can’t be…”

Einhart found himself involuntarily turning his head to the assailant. The figure clad in crimson armor, appearing as calm as ever.

And Einhart realized.

The strike he had just barely evaded hadn’t even been aimed at him. His opponent was not some inexperienced novice after all.

The attack that had narrowly missed him had gone straight for the palace, intending to cleave the very sun of the empire.

Despair filled Einhart’s eyes.

“Th-This can’t be…”

What could he do? Could he hold off the assailant without Pilaf?

No, with the Emperor dead now...

Just then, the crimson assailant slowly turned their body.

Leaving behind just a single phrase.

“Watch from there. It’s going to get very interesting.”

Einhart felt he could

 not chase after the crimson devil.

***

In a dark, secret room.

“Hah…”

William, a member of the Empire’s special operations unit, was writing a report with a serious expression. As he penned the report, the grim future of the empire unfolded before his eyes, causing his hands and feet to tremble.

“What are we going to do…?”

The future of the empire was not the only concern; they had to worry about the present.

The report he was writing contained the following:

**Subject:** Berdel  
**Threat Level:** Special Class (++)  
**Estimated Combat Power:** Grand Master (-)