Throne Of Supreme

Chapter 276: Esdeath's Solution

________

"Such incredible power!"

Kurome clutched her chest, muttering as she gazed at Aoki's transformed form.

Though Aoki hadn't directed his aura at her, its overwhelming presence pressed down on her like a massive weight.

Esdeath, bearing the brunt of the momentum head-on, felt it even more acutely. Her sharp eyes scanned Aoki with curiosity.

"What kind of ability is this? A transformation-type Teigu? No, it doesn't look like one."

She mentally reviewed the forty-eight Teigu she knew. Having studied their abilities extensively, she was certain none matched what she was witnessing.

The thought flickered briefly in her mind before she dismissed it.

It doesn't matter.

Aoki had already displayed abilities far beyond the scope of Teigu. One or two more were inconsequential.

Esdeath unsheathed her sword, its blade gleaming under the moonlight.

"Are you ready?" she asked, her voice filled with excitement.

"I should be asking you that," Aoki replied calmly.

"Then let's begin!"

Without hesitation, Esdeath swung her sword, sending two sharp icy blades hurtling toward Aoki.

Aoki raised his hand.

Snap!

A thick bolt of blue lightning erupted, tearing through the air and obliterating the ice blades in its path.

"Adramelech? No, Adramelech's power isn't this strong!" Esdeath muttered, her expression turning serious.

She waved her hand, summoning an enormous wall of ice before her.

Boom!

The ice wall shattered instantly as the lightning dispersed.

Blue lightning flickered in Aoki's eyes.

Crack! Crack! Crack!

Bolts of lightning as thick as tree trunks descended from the sky, enveloping Esdeath in a deadly storm.

Her gaze hardened.

"So, this is his true strength."

Without hesitation, Esdeath dodged to the side, narrowly evading the strikes.

Suddenly, Aoki appeared before her, his speed blinding.

Esdeath remained composed. With a swift motion, she conjured a shield of ice in front of her and froze the ground beneath her feet.

Aoki extended his hand, clenching his fingers into a fist. A cherry-red glow emanated from his arms as his Haki surged, radiating destructive energy.

Boom!

His fist struck, and the ice shield crumbled before the punch even made contact, shattering into countless fragments.

The ice, once impervious to Aoki's attacks, now broke like fragile glass.

Esdeath's eyes widened in shock. She hadn't anticipated her defense to fail so utterly. Before she could react, Aoki's fist, wrapped in Haki, smashed into her chest, breaking her sternum and leaving a deep imprint. Blood sprayed from her lips as she was sent flying backward.

"Not only does he control lightning, but his fists are equally devastating!"

Despite the pain, Esdeath's eyes showed neither fear nor hesitation.

Boom!

A massive pillar of ice shot up from the ground, and Esdeath used it to stabilize herself. Compressing the ice beneath her feet like a spring, she launched herself toward Aoki like a cannonball, her sword slicing through the air in a blur of movement.

Aoki met her head-on, his arms still wrapped in Haki. Each of her strikes was countered with precision.

For a brief moment, the two were locked in a stalemate.

Esdeath's eyes gleamed as she spotted an opening. She lunged, her sword aiming for Aoki's chest.

Clang!

The sound of metal striking metal echoed through the battlefield. Her sword had been stopped.

Esdeath's expression shifted. "So that power isn't limited to just your fists."

Aoki's fist, charged with Haki and crackling with blue lightning, radiated destructive energy as it came crashing down.

Boom!

The lightning exploded in a dazzling display, sending shockwaves rippling outward.

Esdeath was thrown back, her body hitting the ground with a heavy thud. Her disheveled hair framed her face, and her torn clothes revealed patches of pale skin. Despite her battered state, her eyes burned with unrestrained excitement.

"Hahaha! You're even stronger than I imagined!"

Snap!

A bolt of lightning struck down, its brilliance lighting up the night.

Esdeath paid no attention to her disheveled appearance. She rolled over and leaped to her feet, her movements swift and resolute.

Crack! Crack! Crack!

Lightning bolts rained down relentlessly, forcing her to retreat again and again.

Suddenly, one of the blue bolts halted midair and transformed into Aoki's form. His fist, glowing with Haki, exuded a lethal intent.

A chill ran down Esdeath's spine as the warning of death echoed in her mind. She took a deep breath and shouted,

"Mahapadma!"

Buzz!

A blue field expanded around her, freezing everything within its radius.

Esdeath exhaled in relief, her eyes fixed on the man who had come so dangerously close.

This was a sensation she hadn't felt since her childhood—utter powerlessness. Against Aoki, she could barely hold her ground and had been forced to use Mokopatmo to avoid certain death.

But then, her eyes narrowed in shock.

Mahapadma was collapsing.

"The time isn't up yet!" she thought, panic flashing across her face.

She glanced at Aoki, realization dawning.

"He's too strong. His sheer power disrupted Mahapadma!"

Normally, Mahapadma would last for several seconds, but this time it shattered in less than one.

Without hesitation, Esdeath lunged forward, closing the distance between them. Pressing her palm against Aoki's chest, she condensed a sphere of intense blue energy.

"Absolute Zero!"

The ultimate technique—capable of freezing and destroying everything, even preventing regeneration by obliterating the body entirely.

Snap!

Before the attack could fully activate, a brilliant burst of lightning exploded. Esdeath's right hand turned to charcoal, and she was sent flying backward, crashing heavily to the ground.

Mahapadma had completely collapsed.

Aoki glanced down at his chest, then back at Esdeath.

"So, that was your new move?"

"Yes," Esdeath rasped, her voice strained. "It's called Absolute Zero."

Using her left hand to prop herself up against a rock, she coughed blood. Crimson droplets trickled down her snow-white skin, staining it with a strange scarlet hue.

Electricity coursed through her body, tiny arcs crackling on her skin, leaving her unable to muster any strength.

Aoki nodded. "Impressive. If I had taken it head-on, it might have been troublesome."

Esdeath chuckled weakly, murmuring, "Just a little trouble?"

Aoki shook his head. "No, it's genuinely powerful."

By his current standards, his strength ranked among the top-tier of four-star beings. Esdeath, while unmatched in her world, would only be considered mid-tier among three-star beings in his realm.

Esdeath's gaze sharpened. "What about that lightning earlier? The one that stopped my attack?"

Aoki replied, "I've woven a layer of lightning across my body. Anyone who touches me will be struck by it. And here's another thing: your Mahapadma can no longer completely freeze my mind."

"This is the difference in levels," he added.

Esdeath nodded slowly. "I see."

After a moment, she asked, "One last question—how much of your strength did you use?"

"In some aspects, I went all out," Aoki admitted.

However, he had held back in certain areas. For instance, he hadn't used his spatial abilities even once.

Esdeath leaned against the rock, her expression calm. "I've lived my life following my own desires. Meeting someone as strong as you at the end… I have no regrets."

A faint smile graced her lips as she closed her eyes.

"Go ahead. Finish it."

Aoki reverted to his human form and walked over to her.

"I'm not going to kill you," he said.

Esdeath's eyes snapped open. "Not killing me? Then what do you plan to do?"

"I'm going to turn you into a being like me," Aoki replied, his tone steady. "And you'll work for me."

"A being like you?" Esdeath echoed, her thoughts racing. After a pause, she asked, "Will I become stronger?"

"Yes," Aoki confirmed. "You'll gain power far beyond what you have now. But I'll erase your memories."

Esdeath leaned back, a sly smile playing on her lips. "Fine. But remember this—one day, I'll regain my memories. And when I do, I'll conquer you and make you lick my boots."

Aoki laughed. "If you can manage that, I'll look forward to it."

He pressed his palm against the wound on her chest, and his blood began to flow into her.