Chapter 396 - Let Me Show You What True Power Looks Like!

The border tribes had always been at odds with the Empire. Typically, even when the Empire triumphed, it never bothered much with the defeated border tribes.

However, Esdeath and her subordinates, the "Three Beasts," employed brutal methods on the battlefield that Najenda could hardly ignore. Even though these border tribes were their enemies, Esdeath's tactics struck Najenda as excessively inhumane.

It was clear that Esdeath hadn't realized Najenda found her methods too extreme. Esdeath assumed Najenda was simply concerned about how the defeated tribes would be dealt with. Therefore, she led Najenda, Wood, and the others to a particular location.

"This is the coliseum built by the tribal king. It seems to be where they select their warriors each year," Esdeath explained. "I really like this place, so I thought we'd have a little game here."

As she spoke, Esdeath gestured for her subordinates to begin.

At Esdeath's signal, one of her "Three Beasts"—a young, blonde boy with an innocent face—gleefully jumped into the arena.

Moments later, the gate on the opposite side of the coliseum opened, and to Najenda and her team's confusion, a large group of border tribespeople were ushered in.

Most of these tribespeople were women and children. There were hundreds of them, crammed into the arena.

Only a few hundred had been let in, not because the tribe lacked women and children, but because the coliseum could only hold so many at once.

These displaced people—women who had lost their husbands and children who had lost their fathers—realized what lay ahead. Cries of despair echoed throughout the arena, some people trembling uncontrollably.

But their pleas fell on deaf ears. One of the "Three Beasts," a fake maiden named Nyau, had no sympathy for them. He began playing his flute-like Imperial Arm, the "March of the Dead."

The "March of the Dead"—a flute-type Imperial Arm—was known for its ability to control emotions, often used on the battlefield to boost morale. However, it could also manipulate various feelings or even control those lacking a strong will.

The fear and anxiety of the tribespeople made them easy prey for the flute. Soon, mothers who had been holding their children close were suddenly biting at their throats with crazed expressions. Mothers who had been quietly weeping were now throwing infants to the ground with twisted fury.

A horrifying scene of parents attacking their own children and siblings fighting each other played out before everyone, with Esdeath watching impassively.

Nyau, on the other hand, seemed to be enjoying himself immensely. He walked over to the bodies of some dead tribal girls and peeled their faces off—they were her collection, after all.

Najenda could barely hold back her shaking, trying to suppress her nausea. She wanted to say something, anything, but couldn't find the strength.

She was, after all, an Imperial General. The border tribes were enemies of the Empire, so there was no real reason for her to speak up for them.

Besides, this tribe had been conquered by Esdeath's troops, and technically these people were Esdeath's captives. It was up to her to decide their fate.

But even knowing all this, Najenda found it difficult to accept. These tribespeople were still human, even if they were enemies. As the vanquished, they at least deserved to die with some dignity.

Humans weren't Danger Beasts, but Esdeath and her "Three Beasts" made Najenda realize just how cruel and dark the Empire could be.

Najenda wanted to help these poor women and children, but there was nothing she could do. Helping them would mean defying the Empire—and Esdeath herself.

Najenda could barely keep herself in check, but Wood had no such reservations. Without a second's hesitation, he leaped down into the arena, placing himself directly in front of Nyau.

Seeing Wood's sudden move, Najenda and Lubbock were stunned. Lubbock even started yelling at Wood, trying to stop him from doing anything rash.

It was obvious to anyone that Esdeath wasn't someone you should mess with. And they were all still part of the Imperial military—disobeying orders would lead to severe consequences.

"Hey, you there," Wood said as he stepped towards Nyau. "Does it make you feel good to pick on the weak?

"This is a coliseum, right? Shouldn't you be fighting a real opponent instead?

"How about, instead of tormenting these helpless women and children, you have a little fun with me instead?"

Seeing Wood jump into the arena and confront Nyau, the other two members of the "Three Beasts," Liver and Daidara, were about to follow. But Esdeath held them back with a gesture.

"Interesting," Esdeath said, her tone amused. "Najenda, is this your idea, or is this kid acting on his own?"

Dressed in her pristine white military uniform, Esdeath rose from her seat, her eyes locked on Wood, her expression one of interest.

A one-sided massacre could indeed get boring. Adding a bit of entertainment would make things much more enjoyable for her.

"He's my bodyguard, so naturally, this is my idea," Najenda replied. "Esdeath, don't you think your methods are a bit too cruel? Even if these people are border tribes, even if they're our enemies, they're still unarmed women and children. Is there really a need to execute them in such a brutal manner?"

Najenda was a General of the Empire, and she understood that compassion had no place in war.

She didn't expect these women and children to survive, but at the very least, as fellow human beings, she hoped they could die swiftly and with some dignity.

"No, no, no," Wood interrupted. "I'm doing this of my own accord. It has nothing to do with General Najenda.

"I'm not acting out of some bleeding heart desire to save these tribespeople. I just can't stand someone pretending they're strong because they're bullying the weak."

At Wood's words, Nyau's innocent face twisted with fury.

The "Three Beasts" were Esdeath's right-hand warriors. In terms of strength, they ranked among the Empire's best, just below a few of the top generals.

If Esdeath called them weak, they'd accept it without question. But to have some mere bodyguard call them weak? That they couldn't tolerate.

They were the "Three Beasts!" They weren't someone a random grunt could insult.

"The 'Three Beasts,' huh? I don't really see what's so impressive about you," Wood taunted. "True strength isn't just about power. It's about what's inside.

"From the moment you felt joy in hurting these weak people, you became nothing more than a weakling in my eyes.

"So, what do you say? Want to spar a little and see what true strength looks like?"

Najenda claimed that Wood was acting on her orders only to try and save his life.

She outranked the "Three Beasts," after all. If Wood's actions were seen as following orders, the worst-case scenario would be internal conflict, which might end with a demotion or dismissal.

But Wood was different. He was just a bodyguard—a glorified soldier. Challenging the "Three Beasts" without permission wasn't just a matter of internal conflict; it was insubordination.

In the military, such behavior was punishable by death.

"I've heard for years about how Esdeath's 'Three Beasts' were among the Empire's strongest," Wood continued. "I love fighting. I've always enjoyed a good match. I've always craved an opponent who can give me an exciting fight, but I've never really found one.

"When I joined the Empire, I thought I'd have my chance, but the 'fierce' border tribes turned out to be disappointingly weak. By the time I arrived, they'd already been taken down by Esdeath and the 'Three Beasts.'

"Since there are no more warriors among the tribes, Esdeath, how about you satisfy my desire for a real fight by letting one of your 'Three Beasts' face me?"

Despite Wood's taunts and Nyau's seething rage, the "Three Beasts" were fiercely loyal to Esdeath. Until she gave the order, Nyau held himself back.

"What's your name, kid?" Esdeath called from above, her lips curving into a smile.

"Esdeath, you can just call me Wood," he replied. "I'm from some little, unremarkable place."

The coliseum was designed in a concave fashion. Wood and Nyau stood below while Esdeath watched from above.

Wood wanted to say that his position allowed him to see things he shouldn't, but he held his tongue. He had a feeling the ice-cold queen might decide to join him in the arena if he spoke up. So instead, he kept his mouth shut and looked up at Esdeath.

He wasn't staring because he was a pervert. No, it was a matter of respect—Esdeath was his superior, after all.

He wasn't sure what anyone else thought, but he believed his own reasoning.

"Wood, is it? Interesting," Esdeath mused. "If you want to call this a sparring match, that sounds boring. Why don't we add a little wager to make it more fun?

"I can overlook your interference today, but if you lose to Nyau, what then?"

As Esdeath spoke, the playful smile she had been wearing vanished, replaced by an icy, stern expression.

"If I lose, just execute me like any other spy," Wood answered with a casual grin. "I'm fighting because I crave it. For me, the defeated must die. That's my answer. That's my choice."

Seeing Wood's unbothered smile, Esdeath was visibly taken aback, as though something in her heart had been stirred. But she quickly suppressed whatever that feeling was, her face returning to its usual composed expression.

"There's no need to execute you," she said. "You've piqued my interest. If you lose, you'll come work for me instead. Najenda, do you have any objections to that?

"And if you win, I'll let you decide what happens to these tribal women and children. If you want to release them, it's up to you."

The deal struck, Najenda and Lubbock both heaved sighs of relief. They had been certain that Wood's reckless actions had sealed his fate.

But now it seemed Esdeath had another side to her.

The current situation was probably the best they could hope for. Wood had cleverly redefined his defiance as a mere sparring match, and Esdeath had accepted.

If Wood won, the women and children of the tribe would be spared.

If he lost, he wouldn't be executed; he'd just switch commanders.

There was no reason for Najenda to refuse such an offer, and she quickly agreed to Esdeath's terms.

"You got lucky, kid," Nyau sneered. "Esdeath seems to have taken an interest in you, so it looks like I can't kill you outright.

"But that doesn't mean I can't make you pay for what you said. Prepare yourself!"

With Esdeath's approval, Nyau no longer held back. Despite his youthful, girlish face, he twisted it into a deranged, sadistic grin as he pulled out a bone flute and began to play.

Nyau's Imperial Arm, the "March of the Dead," could control emotions through music, especially those with weaker wills or those knowledgeable in music.

Wood had grown up among nobles and had received a refined education, which meant he was particularly susceptible to the effects of music. Nyau's flute played a complex, erratic tune, flooding Wood's mind with a barrage of conflicting emotions.

Watching Wood's face contort in response, Nyau looked on in triumph. He approached him with a knife in hand, intending to finish the fight with a quick stab to the kidney while Wood was still under his control.

"All that boasting, and you crumble so easily. How boring."