The thunderstorm clouds covering the sky above the arena gradually dissipated.
This historic arena had been destroyed in the terrifying battle. Amid the broken walls and ruins.
The two armored figures had returned to the most primitive method of fighting.
A brutal fistfight where every punch landed solidly.
"Ah!"
Tatsumi shouted as he threw a straight punch.
Budo crossed both arms in front of himself, and his heavy gauntlets blocked the strike.
The crisp clang of metal collision rang out together with flying sparks.
A trace of blood spilled from the corner of Budo's mouth. After enduring one battle after another, his stamina had already reached its limit.
As the Grand General, facing Tatsumi who was using Demon Armor for the first time.
Even in poor condition, he should not have been pushed into such a miserable state.
No one knew whether it was the protagonist's plot armor or Tatsumi's own accumulated foundation.
But Demon Armor had directly begun fusing with Tatsumi.
Even Budo was deeply shocked upon seeing this.
Gritting his teeth, he shook both arms and forced Tatsumi's attack aside.
Crackling lightning wrapped around his elbows as he swung them toward Tatsumi.
Tatsumi raised an arm and firmly blocked the strike.
Lightning surged across his entire body.
Yet Tatsumi looked completely relaxed as he stared at Budo and said in a deep voice.
"Old man! I told you already, your lightning doesn't work on me anymore!"
Whether it was bluffing or not.
Budo's hair and eyebrows rose high as he roared.
"Stop talking big, brat!"
Crackle crackle crackle.
Thunder exploded as Tatsumi became wrapped in lightning.
Inside the armor, his left eye constantly shifted.
It alternated between a normal human pupil and a cross-shaped beast pupil.
Black smoke continuously rose from Tatsumi's body as he lowered his head and collapsed to one side.
He looked completely defeated.
Just as Budo thought he had finally brought Tatsumi down.
A fierce gust of wind swept by, scattering sand and stones.
Tatsumi's figure instantly vanished and suddenly appeared behind Budo.
"It's over."
The cold voice of the young man echoed beside his ear, bringing with it a deadly sense of danger.
By the time Budo tried to dodge, it was already too late.
Tatsumi formed his fingers into a blade, twisting his waist to gather strength as he thrust toward Budo's heart.
"That's enough."
Uesugi Ryu's figure suddenly appeared in the sky above.
Both hands in his pockets, he lightly descended and stepped directly onto Tatsumi's thrusting left arm.
An overwhelming force like a tsunami came crashing down through the arm.
"Uesugi Ryu?"
Hearing that familiar voice beside him, Tatsumi's pupils contracted sharply.
His arm smashed into the ground while his body staggered forward.
Uesugi Ryu raised his leg and kicked Tatsumi in the abdomen.
An invisible shockwave burst through his body and spread outward in a fan shape.
Tatsumi opened his mouth and spat out a large mouthful of saliva as his body flew backward like a cannonball.
Whoosh! A piercing screech echoed through the air.
Tatsumi smashed through wall after wall before crashing into the ruins.
Uesugi Ryu lightly stomped his foot, shaking the dust from his shoe.
He glanced sideways at the sweat-covered Budo and softly said.
"General Budo, long time no see."
Budo might have been a warrior, but that did not mean he was stupid.
He understood Esdeath's personality very well. If there was anyone capable of causing the Jaegers to betray the Empire, it could only be the man before him.
"The Jaegers' betrayal was your doing, wasn't it?"
Uesugi Ryu waved his hand, and Budo's Teigu was instantly removed.
"I'll be borrowing your Teigu. Yes, it was my doing."
Budo showed no intention of resisting. With the little stamina he had left, there was no way he could defeat Uesugi Ryu.
Besides, no matter what, the other man had just saved his life.
Uesugi Ryu stored away the Teigu and raised his head to look at Budo.
"His Majesty is still waiting for the Grand General at the palace."
As he spoke, Uesugi Ryu narrowed his eyes and said meaningfully.
"You'd best not do anything unnecessary. His Majesty's safety is... depending on you."
"I'll handle the rest."
Budo frowned. For a moment, he could not figure out what exactly Uesugi Ryu was trying to accomplish.
"Escort the Grand General back to the palace."
Suzuka and Mez stepped forward from both sides and made a gesture inviting him to proceed.
Budo wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and left with the two women.
Amid the ruins, large chunks of rubble were blasted away.
Tatsumi shook his head and climbed out of the debris.
Using his X-ray vision, Uesugi Ryu searched for the locations of the Night Raid members.
He sneered and thought to himself.
"Chelsea isn't here. She really is restless. But it doesn't matter anymore."
.............
On the city walls, large numbers of Imperial Guards stood ready to resist the rebel army that could arrive at any moment.
Budo's deputy, Pawat, was directing operations there.
Looking at the disappearing thunderstorm in the distance, concern could not help appearing on his face.
Although he had absolute confidence in his Grand General's strength, the Empire's situation was currently dire.
Even among the elite Imperial Guards, panic had inevitably begun to spread.
The sound of hurried footsteps rang out as several officers rushed up.
The lead officer looked anxious as he stepped forward and said.
"Lord Pawat, General Budo..."
Seeing this, Pawat immediately felt a sense of foreboding. But before he could ask further.
The officers all moved aside at once, revealing the blood-covered Budo being carried over by four soldiers.
Chouri followed behind while leaning on his cane. Sweat covered his forehead, and he looked deeply troubled as well.
Pawat was instantly stunned and rushed over to Budo in just a few steps.
He hurriedly demanded.
"What happened? How was the Grand General injured this badly?!"
Everyone remained silent. Chouri took two breaths before speaking with a gloomy expression.
"The Jaegers and Wild Hunt fought among themselves."
"Night Raid took advantage of the chaos to intercept the execution grounds. General Budo was injured by the rebels."
Pawat's heart sank into panic, though he did not show it on his face.
Budo was temporarily unconscious, which meant command of the Imperial Guards now fell to him.
As a military commander, he naturally could not show weakness.
After a brief silence, Pawat stood up.
He pulled Chouri aside and quietly asked.
"Mr. Chouri, did the Grand General leave any instructions before losing consciousness?"
Chouri steadied himself and replied seriously.
"His Majesty has already been escorted to the nearest northern capital. With the rebels approaching, losing the capital is inevitable."
"The Imperial Guards are the final military force remaining in His Majesty's hands. All troops are to retreat with His Majesty to the northern capital and temporarily hold there."
Shock appeared on Pawat's face as if he could hardly believe it.
"Abandoning the Imperial Capital?? How is that possible? Isn't this..."
In the corner of his eye was the barely conscious General Budo. The rebel army outside the city could arrive at any moment.
Defending the so-called Imperial Capital to the death truly did not seem like a wise choice.
Although Pawat was Budo's deputy, he was not as stubborn as the man himself.
Furthermore, Pawat and Chouri had a good relationship in private. Both desired to change the Empire.
Pawat pressed a hand against the hilt of his sword and took a deep breath before nodding.
"I understand, Mr. Chouri."
Chouri's grip on his cane loosened slightly as he spoke reassuringly.
"The governor of the northern capital was once my student. They are all loyal to the Empire."
"General Pawat need not worry."