He looked at the dragon before him.
Raising his hand, he began pumping it full of Honkai energy.
In mere moments, the dragon's body began to shift. Its scales and fur turned light purple. When it opened its eyes again, it was no longer the same beast.
It had become Takumi's pet.
Roar~!
An Emperor-class Honkai beast.
Takumi stared at it for a moment, then conjured a core and embedded it into the creature's body.
A pseudo-Herrscher core.
Specifically, the Herrscher of Wind's.
He also granted it the power to read human hearts.
"Go. Cleanse this world of those filled with cruelty and darkness."
"If the empire is rotten, then let it vanish."
There was no point in letting a decayed empire continue to exist.
With that, Takumi released a number of other flying Honkai beasts. Then, he left the area.
His next goal: convert every super-class Danger Beast in the world into Honkai beasts. With the fusion approaching, these creatures would inevitably cause chaos. Might as well take them now.
In addition, Takumi began spreading Honkai corruption throughout the world. He intended to saturate the world with Honkai energy and transform potential dangers into his own forces.
Takumi: [If you guys see Honkai beasts later, don't freak out.] [They're mine.]
As he continued working, Takumi dropped a friendly reminder in the chat.
Don't accidentally kill his Honkai beasts.
Bronya: [You're releasing Honkai over there?]
Seeing the message, Bronya was a bit surprised.
Was he really doing that?
Fujiwara Chika: [Can't handle the trouble? Then eliminate the troublemakersand become one yourself!] [The empire has rotted. People are being oppressed.] [Right now, Honkai's arrival is divine will!]
Fujiwara Chika solemnly made her declaration in the chat.
Chapter 258: Do You Want to Understand the Meaning of Life?
Takumi saw Fujiwara Chika's message and instantly responded with a string of "666s."
She was absolutely right. No flaws in that logic.
He was here to save the world.
With the world about to undergo fusion, Takumi's job was to eliminate all threats before they took root.
Sima Weizhi: [Remember to capture Esdeath!] [Wouldn't it be great to turn her into a Herrscher and make her your general?]
At this moment, Sima Weizhi chimed in. She figured Takumi might as well capture Esdeath, maybe even convert her into a subordinate.
Wouldn't it be nice to have Esdeath fight on their side?
Although Takumi's world already had a magical girl army, it lacked a proper military force.
Now was the perfect opportunity, wasn't it?
Start with a general, and the members of Night Raid could be absorbed too.
Even though robots were useful, some things were just better handled by humans.
Takumi: [That's actually a great idea!] [Yeah, let's make her my Ice Herrscher!]
If Takumi ever ventured into Little Garden, it would be a bit embarrassing to bring only a few followers.
Look at how many subordinates other gods had.
Sure, Takumi had some, but still not enough.
He hadn't even deployed many Herrscher abilities yet.
Now that he had the chance, it was time to build his forces.
Esdeath would be perfect as the Ice Herrscher.
Let her become his great general.
With this in mind, Takumi went back to work.
First, he focused on turning all the super-dangerous species into Honkai Beasts.
For Takumi, spreading Honkai energy across an entire world was a matter of minutes.
Tracking down these super-dangerous creatures was no challenge.
In just a short ten minutes, the world saw a massive shift in its dangerous species.
Even if Takumi did nothing, once those species merged into another world, they would probably become magic beasts anyway.
Now capable of absorbing mana, dangerous species had a natural edge.
Some of their parts could even be turned into Teigu weapons.
Wasn't this basically alchemizing magic beasts?
Crafting all kinds of unique gear.
But this world lacked magic entirely.
If these creatures fused with the Konosuba world and absorbed enough mana, their power would transform drastically.
Their strength could become terrifying.
Combined with their innate talents
Unimaginable.
They might not reach Emperor-level strength, but they'd be close.
These dangerous species were definitely valuable.
But now, they all belonged to Takumi.
After converting them, he gave them a simple order: attack the Empire.
The rotten nobility? Time to sweep them into the trash.
Takumi even chose to recover the residual Honkai energy.
Through the energy he had released, he established a mental link with them.
Issuing commands became a matter of thought.
Honkai Beasts were absolutely loyal to the Honkai Will.
So once Takumi gave the order, they acted.
Very quickly, the world noticed.
Those super-dangerous species began attacking humans.
Some nobles' territories were devastated.
Even the Revolutionary Army was targeted.
The Honkai Beasts attacked specific people with intention.
That's when panic erupted worldwide.
What was happening?
Why was this happening?
The same confusion struck the Imperial Capital.
Esdeath had just returned and was about to set out on her Night Raid hunting mission.
Suddenly, she received news that dangerous species were attacking cities.
When she heard this, she was clearly stunned.
"Those beasts are attacking humans?"
Esdeath's voice was tinged with curiosity.
Was someone commanding them?
Or were they acting on their own?
Esdeath found herself intrigued.
But at that moment, a massive figure loomed over the Imperial Capital.
A super-dangerous species descended.
It was the very dragon Takumi had released.
When she saw it, Esdeath's face changed instantly.
One of the legendary dangerous species?
This beast had existed for thousands of years.
Back when the founding emperor discovered it, countless resources were spent just to pluck a few hairs.
Those few hairs were turned into a Teigu.
Now the actual beast had appeared?
Esdeath lost her composure.
Panic spread through the Imperial Capital.
Citizens ran in all directions.
Stampedes broke out.
Just the dragon's appearance plunged the city into chaos.
From high above, the dragon gazed down at the humans like ants.
Then, under its control, powerful winds whipped up over the capital.
Esdeath acted quickly.
She summoned a massive block of ice beneath her feet and launched herself skyward.
She aimed her attack at the dragon.
Countless ice lances flew upward.
The dragon glanced at her coldly.
A storm of wind blades rained down, overwhelming her.
Her ice lances were shattered instantly.
Even the ice beneath her feet was destroyed.
Esdeath's pupils widened in disbelief.
"This... how is this possible?!"
She couldn't believe it.
Her strength was so insignificant before this beast?
Just one clash, and she lost?
She fell from the sky, crashing hard onto her own ice platform.
Her body was covered in wounds.
Wind blades had carved deep gashes into her skin.
The beast's power was absurd.
The pain made her question everything.
Why? Why was this dangerous species so strong?
Though its appearance had changed slightly, its strength shouldn't have grown so dramatically!
She couldn't figure it out.
Then, a playful male voice rang out beside her:
"Do you want to understand the meaning of life?"
Hearing this, the wounded Esdeath froze.
Takumi had arrived beside her, tossing a coat over her exposed body.
Chapter 259: Go Deal With Those People
Esdeath furrowed her brows as she looked at the handsome man in front of her.
Who is this?
The sudden appearance of Takumi puzzled her.
"Who are you?"
Even though Esdeath was severely injured, her will remained steadfast.
"I'm Takumi."
"Nice to meet you, General Esdeath."
Hearing Takumi's introduction, Esdeath frowned.
She didn't recognize the name.
"Do you see it?"
"That dragon in the sky."
"It's currently hunting down the corrupted nobles of this world."
"A decaying empire, and a revolutionary army that seeks to replace it."
"Heh~!"
"This world is really interesting."
"But all of it will soon turn to dust."
"With multiple worlds merging together, if no one intervenes..."
"Will the people of this world even survive?"
Esdeath was stunned upon hearing Takumi's words.
"What do you mean?"
She couldn't understand what he was talking about.
"Exactly what I said."
"To introduce myself againI'm from another world."
"Your world is currently merging with others."
"And each of the merging worlds is stronger than the last."
"In the two worlds already known, there are gods."
"More will soon merge in."
"Some of them might have gods as well."
"Guess what will happen when your world merges with those?"
Takumi smiled as he looked at her.
A world without gods and such feeble strength.
Once it merges with other worlds, what do you think will happen?
Wouldn't those gods treat them like crops?
Gods who need faith might initiate holy wars just to seize their worshippers.
Or worse, enslave them.
Some gods are far more abhorrent than corrupt nobles.
They possess overwhelming power.
Even if humans wish to resist, they can't.
Esdeath was dumbfounded by Takumi's words.
"Other worlds?"
She found it hard to believe.
Could that dragon in the sky be from another world?
Her expression turned grim.
"That's right!"
"So, General Esdeath."
"Would you like to become mine?"
"In this coming age of upheaval."
"Without power, you won't survive."
Takumi extended his invitation.
Everything had been said.
What would her decision be?
Esdeath lifted her gaze toward the sky, where threads and wind blades continued to rain down.
Those attacks relentlessly struck the capital.
Nobles who once stood high above were now squashed like ants.
Even the little emperor in the palace had been easily pierced.
Unbeknownst to her, the empire's last resortthe National Guardian Divine Mechanismhad already been deployed.
But now, it was riddled with holes.
How did things escalate so quickly?
Did she miss something?
Lying on the ground, Esdeath was confused.
Then she suddenly realizedwhy hadn't the dragon attacked her?
"What's your relationship with that dragon?"
Her eyes locked onto Takumi.
The dragon had neither finished her off nor attacked him.
Given the dragon's strength, it could have killed her with ease.
Just then, a bolt of lightning burst from the palace.
But in the next moment, it was snuffed out.
That was General Budo.
The empire's other general.
Wielder of the Teigu "Wrath of the Thunder God."
But now... he was eliminated the instant he emerged.
Which meant, if she had also charged forward like that, she'd be dead too.
Esdeath fell silent.
She survived because the dragon held back?
That meant the man in front of her must be connected to it.
"I merely gave it power."
"So, what's your answer?"
"Will you follow me from now on?"
Takumi smiled at her.
Hearing this, Esdeath took a deep breath.
"Alright."
She didn't refuse.
This time, she realized how weak she truly was.
She had always been so weak.
World fusion? Gods from other worlds?
She was just a frog at the bottom of a well.
Esdeath couldn't help but mock herself.
But soon, a fire lit in her heart.
What a magnificent world.
Her blood began to boil.
"Then, from now on, I'll be counting on youmy General."
Seeing her agreement, Takumi smiled.
The next moment, a core condensed in his hand.
He gently tossed it.
When it appeared, Esdeath froze.
From it, she felt a terrifying power.
And Takumi... casually threw it down?
When the core touched her, it immediately fused into her body.
Her injuries healed instantly.
She realized her Demon's Extract had been absorbed.
And a far more terrifying power erupted from within her.
A dreadful chill surged outward in all directions.
Ice walls rose.
The area was instantly frozen.
The cold even threatened to spread farther.
Seeing this, Takumi quickly restrained the chill.
If it continued spreading, the entire capital would be frozen solid.
Esdeath's body floated in mid-air.
Her outfit transformed.
It still resembled her original uniform but had enhanced aesthetic details.
Her pupils now bore a unique mark.
The sign of a Herrscher.
Esdeath slowly descended.
Feeling the overwhelming power within her.
She was shocked.
Now a Herrscher, she finally understood how powerful Takumi truly was.
"Not bad!"
"Since everything's fine now."
"Here's your first mission."
"Go deal with the Revolutionary Army."
"I need a stable, obedient worldnot a chaotic one."
With those words, Takumi opened a space portal.
Esdeath looked at it and nodded.
She said nothing, walking through it without hesitation.
Chapter 260: What the Hell, Didnt He Have Plot Armor?
Esdeath had directly transformed into a Herrscher.
Although she was quite eager to go confront that dragon in the sky, since Takumi had given her a task, she decided to fulfill it first.
After realizing the gap between her strength and Takumi's, she had become extremely obedient. From now on, she would be Takumi's most loyal subordinate!
She was also quite curious about him. As for the Empire? What use did a doomed empire have? Her relationship with the Empire had always been mutually exploitativeshe gained power from it and helped the Empire conquer.
Now that she had obtained Takumi's power, she was completely bound to him. The Empire? She didn't know it anymore. Don't mention it again, thanks!
...
After sending Esdeath off, Takumi resumed his movements. He decided to check on Night Raid.
The fusion of worlds was accelerating rapidly now. Many locations had already started merging, and many areas had disappeared into thin air. It wouldn't be long before complete fusion occurred.
He needed to quickly finish dealing with matters in this world.
Kaguya Houraisan: [Image] [@Takumi, showing up at Night Raid HQ!]
Just as Takumi was preparing to move, Kaguya suddenly sent a message in the group chat.
