Kurome and her team had lost one of their members, Balluck, to the Gravekeepers. The current number was Kurome herself, Natala, and Gin. 

At the moment, the three of them were looking for a way to escape the Gravekeepers and possibly make it back to their base camp. 

Gin: "Well this isn't a big problem, it's just like any other day."

Natala: "We should immediately return to base."

Kurome goes into her pocket, pulling out a map for the three of them to see. They continued to walk along their current path as they tried to figure out which way they should go.

Kurome: "But which path should we take?"

Natala: "We just have to choose the shortest path, this is the enemy's territory after all."

Gin: "Yeah, rather than just go in circles, going with the most straightforward path is best."

Natala: "First, we just have to get out of this area..."

???: "None of you are going anywhere, all of you will become my spoils of war!"

The three were alarmed at the sudden voice. They turned around, weapons at the ready. Behind them was one of the Gravekeepers, Arathi.

Arathi: "No matter where you hide, I'll find ya and your relatives through your scent!"

Natala: "Oh no, we've been found!"

Kurome: "Call reinforcements, we'll quickly take him down!"

Arathi: "Call reinforcements, eh..." (pulls out skulls) "You don't have to do that, you guys are all I need. Once I'm done with you guys, I'll have enough to collect 7 skulls and I'll be able to climb the ranks."

Natala: (pops pill into mouth) "This guy is alone. He'll be easy to deal with, just taking this drug will allow us to continually fight."

By now, both Kurome and Gin had taken their drugs as well. Arathi let out an amused scoff before he himself readied for battle.

Arathi: "Taking performance enhancing drugs...what nonsense. With this secret technique passed on throughout the Gravekeepers, there's no way I'll lose!"

The three watch as his body started to change form. Parts of his limbs resembled that to of wolves, his nails now sharper and able to make slashes at their soft flesh. Though they were nervous, they still dashed head on, thinking they could take him down.

Arathi grinned and dashed himself, the three launching their attacks at him. Arathi was able to parry the attacks, but he was impressed with the strength they displayed.

Arathi: "Oho! You're all pretty good compared to the guys I met earlier."

Kurome: (thoughts) 'This is...! The power of a beast! This type of beast power enhances the body!?'

The Gravekeepers all had some kind of beast power that enhances them. In the case of Arathi, the beast power enhances his body, changing into a body parts that resembled beasts, further enhancing their strength.

Of course, there were artifacts that gave similar abilities that the Gravekeepers had. Najasho's Shingu, the Water Dragon Sword, enhances his strength for three minutes. With this buff, his hair is extended. After the effects, the user of the Shingu is put in extraordinary pain. Arathi had a sadistic grin on his face, the man doing a handstand as he twists his body around. As he does so, he was able to lunge his feet forward and attack Gin and Natala, who were the ones closer towards him.

The two skid back as Kurome had jumped back as well. The three had shocked looks.

Natala: "So strong..."

Kurome: "I'm giving it all I've got too. We just need to work together cautiously...and we'll have the advantage to win!"

Arathi: "Dream on kid!"

The three rush forward again, trying to overwhelm the Gravekeeper with a flurry of blows and slashes with their weapons. Gin grinned to herself, thinking they had cornered him, but she was surprised when something struck her leg. It looked to be a small pin needle, it going through her leg.

Gin: (thoughts) 'This assassin technique...is this how Balluck was killed?'

Natala: "Damn...!"

Arathi: "Just seeing your friends get hit and you get distracted, how inexperienced."

The Gravekeeper then twists his body, landing a kick into Natala's chest. The spear wielding boy was sent into the wall, crashing into it. Arathi then focuses his glare on Kurome, a grin widening on his face.

Arathi: "You're next."

Thinking she was distracted, he swiftly sent another needle towards her, hoping it would kill her. But the girl knew it was coming, Kurome taking her katana and slashing it down, cutting the needle in half. This surprises the Gravekeeper, him lowering his guard down slightly.

Kurome: "I've seen your attacks twice already."

Arathi: "Oh, really...? Then I'll just rush you head on to take you down!"

Kurome: "Your style is just to use brute force to fight. I've already figured you out."

Just as Arathi drew closer, Kurome puts her blade to the side. And in one quick motion, she drew it, slashing as blood was sprayed into her air. Her eyes were dull, Arathi's arm having been cut off as he turned his head to the black haired girl. He soon coughs up blood.

Arathi: "I should have killed you...first..."

The Gravekeeper then drops to the ground, not moving a muscle. Kurome then flicks the blood off her katana, turning her head to Arathi as she slowly makes her way to him.

Arathi's plan was to wait for Kurome, Natala, and Gin to retreat and return to their base camp. And at that time, he'd heal up and go after them, hoping to eliminate all of them. But his thoughts were cut off quickly as his eyes widened. Kurome had drove her blade into his back, causing him to jolt in shock while Kurome looked surprised.

Kurome: "I was right, you were still alive. Not anymore, though."

Despite having killed Arathi, Kurome paused in slight fear. Someone was behind her, his voice right up to her ear.

???1: "Oh? You've already taken care of Arathi, huh?"

She quickly backed off and sped to her friends. The other two were equally as shocked as her, Kurome holding her breath as she sees three more Gravekeepers in front of her. One of them was a female and the other two were male.

???2: "He always wanted to enjoy everything by himself, that's why he's always been trash."

???3: "He's dead now, lucky for us!"

Kurome: (thoughts) 'Reinforcements? There's still that many left?'

???1: "Let's capture them alive. They look like lots of fun."

Fearing that she may be killed here, Kurome begins to let tears out of her eyes. She wishes for her older sister to come save her.

At the assassin's base camp, Gozuki was inside a tent with Bill. The two men had their arms crossed as Gozuki looks at his colleague, leaning back in his chair.

Bill: "Out of the assassins I've trained, 18 have been killed. If the missing 7 haven't been killed, they have at least been caught."

Even Gozuki seemed shocked at this. His eyebrows raised upwards as he perked up.

Bill: "Due to these recent events, there have been a lot of sacrifices. These losses were expected in our plans. But this most recent mission has been a complete failure. I've never had a victory where I had to waste this many soldiers."

Gozuki: (sips drink) "Is that why you contacted me?"

Bill: "Since you arrived so quickly, I have to extend my gratitude. To be frank, I do not want to lose this big opportunity and I have little time to make new plans. You will assist us on this mission."

Gozuki: "If we fight such an unforgiving enemy, more sacrifices will be inevitable and we'll only see more loses each day. You understand that, don't you?"

Bill: "Indeed...but what is started must be finished. These enemies we provoked may come back for us."

Gozuki: (sigh) "Unbelievable."

Bill: "I've also heard that the higher-ups have sent 'reinforcements' over there. If you were to arrive on time to meet them, then it would be very opportune."

Gozuki: "Looking at this place, it seems to contain something big, huh..."

Bill: "Now, I'll give you some information about our competitor..."

Outside the tent, near a cliff side, Akame, Green, and Poney stood there. The red-eyed girl held a solemn look, concerned for a single person.

Akame: "Kurome, I don't know if you're still alive or not..."

Green: "Well..."

Poney: "It means there's still a chance!"

The girl had turned her head around, looking to Poney with a hopeful smile. She could only hope for her sister, hoping she was safe.

In another tent, Najasho was reading his usual book, and Guy was throwing air punches. The two looked up slightly, looking at Akira. The icy-blue eyed teen was sharpening his knife, a dull and emotionless look on his face. Ever since Cornelia's death, he never once smiled. It honestly concerned them, but they didn't show it.

Finishing up his handiwork on his knife, Akira held it up slightly. He stared at his emotionless reflection, glancing at his eyes. They gave off an icy chill, a brief icy mist emitting from it. He then sheathes it and takes out Prometheus, spinning the gun's cylinder before he cocks the gun and puts it in his holster. He had already made his mind. No matter the cost, he won't let anyone die. He'll bring them all back.