Boom!
With a thunderous roar, a powerful shockwave swept across the area. The instant the two combatants clashed, the massive arena—spanning nearly a hundred meters—split apart, a massive fissure tearing through its center and bisecting it entirely.
Tatsumi, who had fought several matches in this arena, was among the best witnesses to its durability. Despite fierce battles with other competitors, the worst damage had been limited to a few broken tiles or small craters a meter or two in diameter.
Yet now, Wood and Esdeath had utterly destroyed the arena with a single clash of their blades. Their overwhelming power gave Tatsumi a visceral understanding of just how terrifyingly strong they both were.
Unlike the friendly sparring sessions Tatsumi had seen between Wood and the Night Raid members, this was a real fight to the death. Neither Wood nor Esdeath held anything back.
Their movements were so rapid that even Tatsumi could barely track their afterimages. And even then, Tatsumi knew this wasn't their full speed. Their pace continued to escalate, and neither had yet used their Teigu.
This meant that this ferocious battle was merely their warm-up.
"Hyakki Gokenryu: Ittoryu—Kama Itachi!"
Sidestepping Esdeath's swift roundhouse kick, Wood leaped backward, his blade steady in his grip. He focused his energy and unleashed a massive crescent-shaped slash.
The wind blade surged forward, razor-sharp and devastatingly fast, yet Esdeath did not retreat. Instead, she stepped forward, gripping her saber tightly and swinging it downward to intercept the attack.
The wind blade collided with her saber, releasing a shrill metallic screech that sent sparks flying in all directions. With a determined grunt, Esdeath deflected the wind blade, diverting it off course and sending it hurtling away.
Boom!
The crescent slash struck the audience stands, slicing through a structure several dozen meters tall. Tatsumi, watching this spectacle, was utterly stunned.
If Wood had unleashed such power during their sparring sessions, Tatsumi doubted he or his comrades could have lasted even a few moments—let alone force him to use his Teigu.
Esdeath, too, was as fearsome as their boss Najenda had described. For her to deflect such a powerful strike so effortlessly confirmed her status as a monster.
As the battle between Wood and Esdeath intensified, Tatsumi found himself engulfed in an internal conflict. Esdeath was undoubtedly the greatest obstacle Night Raid faced. The current battle seemed evenly matched, but Tatsumi was the only other person present besides the two fighters.
Esdeath assumed he was an ordinary civilian and had exposed her back to him without hesitation. If Tatsumi attacked her from behind, he might not kill her outright, but it would create an opening for Wood to capitalize on.
However, Tatsumi hesitated. Esdeath's earlier actions—choosing not to harm civilians and allowing Leone and Mine to escape—suggested she wasn't entirely heartless. Unlike the many despicable targets Night Raid had assassinated, Esdeath seemed to have a code of conduct.
This realization made Tatsumi question whether he should strike her. But his momentary hesitation proved costly.
More individuals arrived at the arena. Being in the heart of the Imperial Capital, the commotion from such a high-level battle had naturally drawn attention. The first to arrive were the Jaegers, followed by the city's security forces, and soon the area was flooded with thousands of Imperial soldiers.
Within minutes, the entire arena was surrounded. With Wood and Esdeath locked in combat, Tatsumi, appearing as a simple country boy, became the primary focus of scrutiny.
Fortunately, Tatsumi's prior interactions with Seryu worked in his favor. Recognizing him, she vouched for him as a kind-hearted boy from the countryside. This intervention saved Tatsumi from being detained for questioning.
To maintain his cover, Tatsumi recounted the events that had unfolded. At the same time, he silently berated himself for his earlier indecision. Had he acted sooner, Wood might have had a chance to escape. Now, surrounded by thousands of soldiers and six other Teigu users from the Jaegers, even someone as powerful as Wood seemed doomed.
Tatsumi's guilt weighed heavily on him. He couldn't help but feel responsible for Wood losing the best opportunity to escape.
"Is that guy on the platform battling General Esdeath a member of Night Raid?"
Will, a young and inexperienced soldier among the Jaegers, stared in awe at the duel unfolding on the shattered arena. The high-speed movements of the two combatants, coupled with the flurry of sword techniques and sheer destructive force, left him speechless.
Although he came from a rural background, Will had always been confident in his abilities. Wielding one of the Empire's legendary 48 Teigu, he had been chosen as a member of this elite unit. By all accounts, he was one of the Empire's finest soldiers.
But now, as he watched Wood battle Esdeath on equal footing, he felt an overwhelming sense of inferiority. He had never seen such raw power.
"What's his name?" Will asked, his voice tinged with disbelief.
"Wood," Seryu replied. "He's one of the Empire's most wanted criminals. A former Imperial soldier who defected with General Najenda."
Dr. Stylish, another member of the Jaegers, chimed in. "Wood is reportedly the strongest member of Night Raid. He once escaped from Esdeath herself and even defeated one of her Three Beasts barehanded."
The mention of the Three Beasts sent a ripple of recognition through the Jaegers. Though they had never seen the Three Beasts in action, their reputation as Esdeath's former right-hand team preceded them.
"So, has he been using his Teigu in this fight?" Will asked, mesmerized by the clash of sword techniques and physical prowess.
"It's hard to say," Seryu replied. "But that longsword he's using might be his Teigu. Otherwise, I can't imagine how anyone could create such destructive sword energy."
Before anyone could speculate further, Wood's stance shifted. He leaped back, raising his sword horizontally in front of him. A powerful surge of energy radiated outward, and the temperature in the arena plummeted.
"Kishin Descent: Winter Knight!"
A bone-chilling cold swept through the air. Moments later, a massive blue dragon-like figure materialized behind Wood, its icy claws reaching toward him. The creature roared, enveloping Wood in a storm of frost.
When the icy tempest subsided, Wood reappeared, clad in a gleaming blue suit of armor. The armor radiated a cold, otherworldly light, with intricate patterns resembling icy veins glowing along its surface. In his hands, he held a massive blue longsword that exuded an aura of freezing power.
Tatsumi and Esdeath had seen Wood's Teigu before, but for the Jaegers, this was a first. The sheer spectacle left them stunned.
Will, in particular, was taken aback. Wood's Teigu, the "Winter Knight," bore striking similarities to his own Teigu, the "Noble Chariot." The realization that Wood had been fighting on par with Esdeath without using his Teigu until now left Will speechless.
If Wood had been this powerful before activating his Teigu, how strong was he now?
Determined to support Esdeath, Will drew his weapon, preparing to join the fray. The other Jaegers followed suit, sensing the gravity of the situation.
Before they could act, a massive wall of ice erupted from the ground, blocking their path.
"Stay out of this," Esdeath commanded, her voice cold and imperious. "He's my prey. I won't let him escape a second time."
Her pride as a warrior refused to allow interference in a one-on-one duel. If Wood had used his Teigu, she would respond in kind.
With a flick of her wrist, massive spikes of ice erupted from the ground, hurtling toward Wood at incredible speed. Wood countered by shattering the ice with a single punch, the fragments scattering like glass.
The shattered ice was the signal that the battle had entered a new phase. In an instant, the two combatants vanished, their figures blurring as they clashed mid-air.
Clang!
Their blades collided, sending a shockwave rippling outward. The force of their strikes obliterated much of the remaining arena.
Now wielding his Teigu, Wood's strength surged. His strikes carried enough force to push Esdeath back. For the first time, she found herself on the defensive, her boots digging into the ground as she absorbed the impact.
Even as she steadied herself, Esdeath's lips curled into a smile. The fight was far from over. With a wave of her hand, spears of ice materialized in the air, encircling Wood.
As she clenched her fist, the icy spears shot toward Wood from all directions. But he was ready.
The crowd—soldiers, Jaegers, and Tatsumi alike—watched in awe as the battle raged on, each exchange more intense than the last. Both fighters pushed themselves to the limit, their Teigu unleashing destructive forces that threatened to reshape the battlefield.