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In the heart of the Imperial Capital, Bude stepped out from the rubble of a shattered wall, grinning with satisfaction.
From the way his opponent fought, there was no doubt they were strong. If someone like that joined the Empire, its power would skyrocket.
"This guy's been punched stupid, huh?"
Venom narrowed his eyes at Bude, who was smiling even after being blasted through a wall. Instead of anger, the man looked almost… happy. Venom seriously wondered if the hit had scrambled his brains.
"No idea."
Saeko Busujima shook her head. She didn't understand either—why Bude looked like he'd just found a treasure.
"If you two can fight me to a standstill, I'll personally recommend you to His Majesty. How about it?"
Bude didn't even acknowledge their chatter. He just gave them a look of genuine appreciation, as if he couldn't bear to waste such talent.
"It's been a while since I had a real fight. Just don't die too quickly."
Venom smirked. His left hand melted into liquid, wrapping itself around Saeko's body like living armor.
The moment he fully bonded with her, the black suit shimmered with streaks of crackling lightning. When the sparks finally faded, his body wasn't just black anymore—golden patterns pulsed across his frame like glowing veins.
Venom flexed his arms, admiring the golden lines. This time, after copying Saeko's genes and abilities, his form had evolved again—stronger, more dangerous.
"Teigu?!"
Bude's eyes widened. The way the two had fused together, it reminded him of the Empire's legendary Imperial Arms. Could it be that his enemies had their own?
"Let's see how long you can last," Venom said, smiling as he raised his hand.
"What arrogance! Don't think having a Teigu makes you untouchable!"
Bude barked back, activating the weapon built into his arm. Massive bolts of lightning crackled and gathered between his hands.
"Lightning?" Venom chuckled, unimpressed. "You dare use that against me? You've already lost."
"Take this!"
Bude thrust his hands forward, unleashing a storm of thunderbolts.
Venom didn't dodge. He just took a few steps forward, letting the lightning slam straight into him.
"You actually blocked it head-on? Your courage—wait… what?!"
Bude froze. Instead of frying, Venom was absorbing the lightning, drinking it in like water.
"Now that hits the spot," Venom exhaled a white mist, his body humming with raw energy.
"You can absorb lightning?" Bude grit his teeth. "Fine, then let's see how you do in close combat!"
With a burst of speed, he lunged, swinging his arm like a hammer.
"In close combat, I'm stronger than you."
Venom vanished from sight, then reappeared right in front of him. With one hand, he caught Bude's strike and twisted, lifting the man clean off the ground before slamming him hard into the stone floor.
The general groaned, pain shooting through his body, but he tore free and staggered back.
Venom didn't give him the chance to recover. He lunged again, fists and feet flying in a relentless assault.
Bude barely managed to guard, arms raised against the onslaught, until a final blow sent him crashing across the courtyard.
Venom leapt back and spread his arms. Dozens of kunai materialized from his system space, scattering into the sky before falling in a ring around Bude.
The general looked around at the weapons surrounding him, confused at first.
That's when Venom appeared before him in a blink, driving a fist into his chest and blasting him backward.
As Bude flew, Venom flashed ahead again and caught him with a brutal kick, sending him crashing to the ground in a cloud of dust.
Landing lightly outside the circle of kunai, Venom slammed both hands to the ground. Lightning surged outward, racing through the embedded blades.
The kunai lit up, channeling electricity into the sky. Then, with a deafening crack, bolts of lightning rained down in a barrage right where Bude stood.
The general was still trying to get his bearings when the storm engulfed him, hammering him with strike after strike.
Venom dusted his hands off, admiring his handiwork.
The kunai served as conduits, feeding power into the storm, striking again and again. Each bolt recycled through the array, creating an endless loop of destruction.
"Goodbye, then."
With a smile, Venom turned his back on the thrashing lightning storm and strolled toward the palace.
Inside, the first thing he saw was the frail old emperor slumped on the throne. The man looked like he didn't have much longer to live.
"How dare you, traitor! You stand before His Majesty and don't kneel?!"
A fat official standing beside the emperor puffed up with indignation. From his position, he was clearly an important minister.
"Shut up, you pig. Careful, or I'll rip you in half."
Venom vaulted forward, towering over the trembling man. With his bulk, it wouldn't take much effort to tear him apart.
Minister Honest's jowls quivered as he stumbled backward, nearly losing his footing.
Venom ignored him and turned his attention to the emperor. Planting one foot on the base of the throne, he leaned in with a grin.
"Old man, you don't look like you've got much time left. Why don't you lend me the throne for a few days?"
The emperor coughed violently, wheezing as he tried to speak. "Who… who are you? What do you want?"
"Fine, fine," Venom said with mock patience. "I won't joke with a dying man. How about letting me play with your Grand General for a while?"
He could sense it clearly: the emperor's body was riddled with poison, eating away at him faster every day.
As for who wanted the emperor dead? That was obvious. You only had to ask one question—who stood to gain the most once the old man was gone?
"....."