Whoosh... On the bustling street, a sports car hovering half a meter above the ground roared past.
The crowd by the roadside watched the taillights disappear into the distance, and couldn't help but start discussing.
"Wow! A hovering sports car, so cool! Is it the latest product from some research institute?"
"I don't know, but if it's for sale anywhere, I'm definitely buying one."
"You're really rich..."
At this moment, the two people in the car were both wearing sunglasses, humming along to music, and swaying their heads.
"Teacher Zhong Chen, where are we going?"
Saten Ruiko, sitting in the passenger seat, took off her sunglasses and asked, looking puzzled.
"To find your good friend, Haruue."
"Haruue? Then we should be going back to the dorm, but this doesn't look like the way back to the dorm."
Hearing Ruiko's question, Zhong Chen said casually:
"Oh... Haruue was kidnapped. She should be unconscious right now."
"What!!! Haruue was kidnapped!"
Hearing that her good friend had been kidnapped and was unconscious, Saten Ruiko immediately cried out in alarm.
"Then why are you still so slow? No... I have to go first."
"Do you know where she is?"
Zhong Chen looked at Saten Ruiko, who had already spread her angel wings, and glanced at her indifferently, saying.
After hearing Zhong Chen's words, Saten Ruiko's movement, just about to take off, involuntarily paused. Then, she asked anxiously:
"This... Then what should we do, Teacher Zhong Chen!"
"Don't worry, Misaka Mikoto has already rescued her."
"Misaka-senpai? Is Haruue okay, then?"
Upon hearing that Haruue had been rescued, Saten Ruiko's worried heart finally settled down.
Through their interactions during this time, she trusted Misaka-senpai very much.
"She's fine, a good night's sleep will do her good."
"Phew... That's good."
"Look how scared you were."
"Mmm mmm mmm..."
..."Tell me, what exactly happened? Why did less than fifty thousand return from an army of three million?"
Rudra, seated on the main throne, swept his gaze over Granite and the others, and asked calmly.
Hearing the Emperor's question, Granite and the others hurriedly knelt on one knee, while Granite lowered his head and explained:
"Your Majesty, the failure of this war was entirely due to my command errors. Your humble servant is willing to atone for his sins with death!"
Hearing Granite's plea, Rudra's expression remained unchanged, and he simply uttered two words.
"The process..."
"Yes, this is what happened..."
Granite meticulously recounted the entire process, from their departure with the army to the collapse of the battlefield, and finally to the devastating blow they suffered.
And as Rudra listened to Granite's account, he also pondered what kind of attack could directly annihilate over a million people.
In fact, for the current Rudra, the loss of the army was not something he cared about, and he even disregarded the entire Eastern Empire.
As long as there was a chance to revive the Star King Dragon, he could sacrifice anyone or anything without hesitation.
"Granite, go organize the army. The Monster Country Federation's army has already begun marching towards us."
"This humble servant fears he cannot bear such a heavy responsibility. I implore Your Majesty to punish me!"
Hearing that the Emperor not only didn't punish him but continued to let him command the army, Granite was deeply moved.
However, thinking of the three million strong army lost under his command, he truly had no face to continue leading the army.
"It's fine. This time, not only did you suffer a defeat, but the Imperial Knights were also almost completely annihilated."
Rudra rested his right hand on his cheek and said calmly.
"What! Even the Imperial Knights..."
"How is that possible? Damrada-dono personally led them this time."
"This was spoken by His Majesty himself; how could it be false news?"
Gasta and the other Legion Commanders, kneeling before Rudra, looked at each other in dismay upon hearing Rudra's words.
"Kondo Tatsuya, you will take the remaining members of the Imperial Knights and assist Granite in integrating the army."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
"Mm, you may go."
"Yes, your humble servants take their leave."
As Granite and the others all exited the hall, the entire hall was left with only Rudra sitting quietly on the throne.
"Are you going to betray me...?"
Just then, Rudra on the throne suddenly said softly.
"Heh heh, whom have I betrayed?"
A female figure in a cheongsam with blue hair slowly emerged from the shadows in the corner of the hall.
And Rudra glanced indifferently at the figure who walked out, and his voice, still emotionless, asked:
"Why betray the Empire...?"
A sneer appeared at the corner of the blue figure's mouth, and she replied disdainfully:
"Betray the Empire? Whose Empire, yours?"
Rudra did not answer the question, but continued to ask:
"Why betray the Empire...?"
"What do you think?"
Hearing the blue figure's rhetorical question, a cold glint flashed in Rudra's eyes, and he slowly asked:
"Betraying me is not a good choice."
"Where did Rudra's soul go!"
"I am Rudra! Velgrynd!"
Velgrynd, the Scorch Dragon, heard Rudra on the throne say this, and the smile on her face finally vanished.
A strong killing intent surged in her eyes, and she asked loudly:
"I asked you where Rudra's soul went, King of Justice! No, now I should call you Michael, the Manas, shouldn't I?"
Suddenly having his identity exposed by Velgrynd, Rudra — no, it should be Michael, the Manas — still had no change in his expression.
"I don't know, I am Rudra now."
"No, you are not worthy!!!"
As soon as Velgrynd finished speaking, a raging stream of dragon's breath erupted from her throat.
Michael calmly watched the terrifying dragon's breath sweep towards him.
There was no trace of fear on his face; he merely shook his head gently.
Just as the dragon's breath was about to strike Michael, he suddenly extended his right hand and casually waved it in the air.
A emerald green light shot out from his hand.
This green light rapidly spread in the air, forming a huge barrier.
Boom... The dragon's breath crashed against the green barrier, emitting a tremendous sound.
However, no matter how fiercely the dragon's breath struck, the green barrier stood firmly in place, not wavering in the slightest.
Michael, behind the barrier, watched the dragon's breath gradually disappear and quietly said to Velgrynd in front of him:
"Velgrynd, our battle is meaningless. My goal is also a good thing for you."
"Hmph! My elder brother probably wouldn't approve of your methods!"
After hearing Velgrynd's words, Michael, who had been expressionless, finally changed his demeanor.
"What did you say!"
"I said my elder brother wouldn't approve of your methods! Can't you understand human speech!"
"Impossible! You can't influence me. No one can stop me from reviving my master, not even you!"
As soon as the words fell, a deep red glow flashed in Rudra's eyes.
And Velgrynd, noticing the red glow in his eyes, immediately felt a surge of unease and quickly distanced herself from Michael.
"Since you want to stop me, then don't blame me..."
Just as Michael was about to do something, several figures suddenly appeared between him and Velgrynd.
"What, do you intend to do something to my second sister?"
"Yes, what do you intend to do to my second sister?"
"So my long-time opponent had already been replaced. That truly surprises me."
"Hehe, Teacher Ciel, the opponent is also a Manas! Just like you."
"Please forgive my impoliteness, Rimuru-sama! How can this scum be compared to you?"
"My gaze is already impatient! Wahahaha!"
Michael looked at the several figures that suddenly appeared, a solemn look flashing in his eyes.
"To deploy such a large formation to deal with me, I am truly flattered..."