It was time for one of the most important missions Night Raid have ever done; the assassination of Borick.

Sticking to the plan, the team have separated into two groups, Ground and Air. Around 1am, two guards were patrolling around the cathedral grounds before they heard a sound from the woods. Immediately turning to it, they were met by some form of force, knocking them both out effortlessly. From their bodies, the shape of Incursio appeared as Tatsumi was the first offender. Giving the signal to the others, Najenda, Susanoo, Saber and Leone, the Ground Team quickly made their presence known as they scaled up the wall and were encountered by multiple of the cathedral's guards.

Guard: "I-It's an emergency!"  He barraged into the room that Borick, the Jaegers and Lieselotte were, with panic expressed on his face.  "Bandits have appeared in the courtyard out of nowhere...!"  However, the icy genera just grinned.

Esdeath: "I knew you'd choose tonight, Night Raid. Just as planned."

Borick: "Courtyard!? They're right outside!!"

Esdeath: "Kurome, Akaruime, don't leave Borick's side."

Kurome and Akaruime: "Roger!"

Borick: "G-General!"  He held onto her leg, like a child holding onto their parent's leg when they don't want them to leave them.  "Please protect me yourself!"

Esdeath: "Hold your head up, and act high and mighty like you always do! How pathetic. I won't leave the cathedral no matter how much you worry."  She kicked him in the face, breaking his grip before she prepared herself while grinning.  *thoughts* "No matter how much commotion you cause, it's your loss if you can't assassinate Borick. Now... COME!"

Meanwhile while the Ground Team provides the diversion, high in the skies on top of an Air Manta, the Air Team, consisting of Akame, Dairoku, Mine, Levi, Lubbock and Kuraime were quickly approaching the Cathedral.

Lubbock: "Alright! We'll charge in through the roof of the cathedral! Mine, once we're almost there, use Pumpkin to blast a good-sized hole!"

Mine: "I know! I'm ready to go!"

Levi: "Though you gotta admit that Pumpkin and Absolute Zero are tough little bastards. They managed to escape that blast without any damage at all."

Mine: "That's true, but that was nothing compared to what Pumpkin went through while the Boss was using it."

Lubbock: "It won't recoil or anything, right?"

Mine: "No way. Leave it to me and my partner, you wimp."  The faint roar of Pridwen caused the Pink haired sniper to smile a bit before a memory of Tatsumi calling her a Genius sniper went through her mind, causing her to blush a bit.  "Besides, I'm a genius sniper."

Akame, who was sitting next to them was smiling at how much more happier Mine seemed to be. However when the glanced back at Dairoku, she was concerned to see him looking at his sister, Kuraime who was just staring at Ketsuekime which laid before her, with an expression that seemed void of emotion and drive. Dairoku had told Akame about what happened concerning Kuraime, Tatsumi and Mine. She never really knew the feeling of rejection in a relationship-type way so she couldn't relate to her, but she could just imagine how hard it was for her, to have a broken heart. The Scarlet-Eyed assassin, looked to her boyfriend, who looked back at her.

As the violet-eyed reaper stared down in complete hopelessness, the warmth of two people caused her to look up in surprise. Both Akame and Dairoku had moved to her side, the latter with his arm around her shoulder as they both provided her with some well needed comfort. She wanted to cry again, but being on a mission, she had to suppress her emotions as much as she could. So she just closed her eyes and relaxed against them.

Unfortunately, this moment was soon ruined by a white and gold blur speeding past them, catching them all by surprise; it was Run and Lauren respectively, the latter with her Bale Zodiac-armor activated.

Akame: "What!?"

Dairoku: "Tch..."

Run: "As expected, a second team from the skies. Looks like we had the better strategy this time."

Lauren (Bale): "But the disappointing thing was, they knew that the two of us were still alive and controlled the sky as it was our territory."

Run: "This is what I would call, 'Poor Strategy.' This is a textbook example."

With the perfect opportunity, Run stabbed the underside of the Air Manta with one of Mastema's wings while Lauren threw one of her Rerumukattā boomerang blade, slashing off the Danger Beast's left wing. Now damaged heavily, the Air Manta began to lose altitude rapidly with the riding assassins holding on for dear life.

Meanwhile from the Cathedral, Wave, with Grand Chariot's key rested on his shoulder, watched them as they fell before he clenched the handle tightly.

Wave: "So you're here, Night Raid. Revenge for Bols, Seryu and Koro... And for Akaruime's injury... I'll settle them all here!!"

CHAPTER 32: KILL THE EVIL

The Ground Team had already taken out the majority of the resistance in front of them, leaving the Jaegers, Lieselotte. Now, they planned to push forwards into the Cathedral to provide a diversion for the Air Team, so they could assassinate Notice without the trouble of having Esdeath there.

Najenda: "She's not coming out, even after we've made this much of a commotion..."

Susanoo: "Could she have fled?"

Leone: *sweat drops* "No.. She's still here... I feel a repulsive, murderous aura coming from the Cathedral.."

Najenda: *sweat drops* "It's definitely Esdeath.. She's eager to hunt us down."

Susanoo: "It's almost time for Akame's Group's aerial assault, Najenda."

Saber: "Could she have anticipated this and is waiting for us..?"  She looked towards the silver haired ex-general who had a bit of a worried expression as she looked at the situation closer. They were unsuccessful on luring Esdeath away from Borick and now Akame, Dairoku and the others on the Air Team were just short of arriving to perform the assassinations.

Najenda: "Change of plans! We'll charge into the Cathedral instead!"

Tatsumi (Incursio): "Roger!!"

Najenda: "Susanoo, is the Trump Card ready?"

Susanoo: *smirks* "Yeah. It'll activate as soon as you say the keyword."  Night Raid's leader then turned to the Zodiac-Spirit

Najenda: "How about you, Saber? Can you use your Trump Card?"

Saber: "I can, though I will need Dairoku's word."

She nodded at her. Now with their new plan in motion, the Ground Team charges into the Cathedral, ready to take on Esdeath head on... or so they thought.

Meanwhile with the Air Team, they were still rapidly losing altitude due to the combine attacks of Run and Lauren of the Masters and were now holding onto dear life while defending themselves.

Lubbock: "Those attacks killed the Air Manta!!! We're gonna crash!!"

Kuraime (Ajax): "Tch.. Way to state the obvious, Sherlock..!"  She rolled her eyes under her helmet in annoyance at him. In the meanwhile, Run made a dash towards them, seeing a perfect opportunity to wipe them all out at once.

Run: "I won't let this chance slip by."  He said, smiling as he launched feathers from Mastema, which were all striking the Air Manta and were close to hitting the Assassins. Mine however, wasn't having any of it as she turned to face him, the eyes of her Pridwen armor glowing brightly.

Mine (Pridwen): "And we won't let this danger slip by!!"  Pridwen roared as the pink haired assassin unleashed a blast of pink spiritual energy from Pumpkin, directly at Run who's eyes widened. The blast barely missed him, but grazed his side, and took him out of the sky.

Lauren (Bale): "Run!! Why you..!! Bale Blaster!!"  Two large cannons appeared on her back before unleashing a large golden beam at them. Mine's eyes widened from the fact that she had such range capabilities as well.

"Vengeful Dragon: Balance Breaker!"

A female voice announced as everyone turned their attention to Dairoku, who was now cladded his Barbatos armor and stood in front of them, with his fists clenched.

Dairoku: (Barbatos): "Leave her to me! Vengeful Blaster Bishop!"

"Change Fang Blast!"

Just like Lauren's Bale, Barbatos converted as its tail retracted into the helmet and large cannons appeared on the back before charging.

Dairoku: (Barbatos): "Blast away, Barbatos Blaster!"  Similarly to Lauren, Dairoku unleashed a large beam, this time in a blood red that clashed with Laurens, entering a beam struggle. However as it seemed that no one was going to win, a distinctive sound caught everyone's attention.

"BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST!"

Barbatos' power kept raising and rising before Dairoku eventually overpowered Lauren, cancelling out her beam and knocking her out of the sky. Dairoku's armor returned to normal as he panted lightly.

Lubbock: "Since when could you do that!?"

Dairoku (Barbatos): "That's your concern now!? May I remind you, we're on a falling Air Manta!"

Lubbock: *realizes* "Ahh!! Shit, shit, shit, shit!!!"

Levi (Srivatsa): "Don't worry, I have a super awesome Ninja Technique that WILL cushion the fall!"  She said with a grin under her helmet before she made a classic ninja gesture and...  "Secret Ninja Technique; Cocoon of Silk!"

Her Ninja Technique created a protective cocoon of a silky like substance around the group and the Air Manta. Soon enough, they crashed into the ground, but as the cocoon dissolved, the assassins and the deceased Air Manta were both completely intact.

Lubbock: *eternally grateful* That was too awesome, Levi-Chan!!"  He praised her as the proud ninja laughed with her hands on her hips.

Levi (Srivatsa): "I am a super awesome ninja after all!"

Kuraime (Ajax): "Mmm... The Air Manta's body even managed to absorb the shockwave of the impact."  She said as Mine crouched down to the deceased Danger Beast and gently pets its head.

Akame: "Thanks for everything. You saved us in the end."

Dairoku (Barbatos): "You're sacrifice will not be in vein. Alright, let's move out."

Akame: "We fell before we reached our target. Let's hurry to the Cathedral."  The others nodded in agreement, however, footsteps approaching them caught their attention. They all turned their heads, to be met by a certain armored Jaeger; Wave.

Wave: "I won't let you. You're opponent is me."

Lubbock: "A Jaeger!?"

Dairoku (Barbatos): "... Wave..."

Mine (Pridwen): "Are you sure about this? Even if you're not our target, the five of us will show you no mercy!"

Levi (Srivatsa): Yeah, I wouldn't smack talk him if I were you. I sense a burning power inside of him."  The blue haired soldier just stared at them before slowly unsheathing Grand Chariot's key from its scabbard.

Wave: "Come assassins... You even injured Lauren and Run... I'm not going to lose any more comrades...! I won't let you hurt anyone else...!!"  Stabbing the Key into the ground, he yelled out with determination and vengeance  "GRAND CHARIOT!!!!!!"

The Successor of Incursio, Grand Chariot in Danger Beast form, erupted from the ground behind him, forcing the assassins to shield their eyes as he transformed gloriously. Now fully clad in his dark blue armor, Mine fired an empowered shockwave beam at him, but he easily side stepped out of the way before chasing towards her. Akame intercepted him quickly, leaping into the air before striking down with Murasame. However, Wave managed to easily block the attack with the Phantasmagoric Film on his back.

Akame's thoughts: "This armor won't let the blade penetrate to the skin.. The armor doesn't have any openings..!"

Wave (Grand Chariot): "It doesn't matter how many of you there are!!" 

He punched Akame right into her stomach, sending her flying through multiple trees before settling on one sturdier one, causing her to gag out blood.

With Levi using her camouflage, she sneaked behind him and leaped to make a strike, only for her eyes to widen under her helmet as a heavy impact hits her stomach, breaking her camouflage; Wave had sent a kick right to her stomach.

Wave (Grand Chariot): "Your camouflage is useless against me!" 

He sent her flying back and rolling along the ground, with the armored ninja spitting blood out from her helmet. Immediately after however, a few of Lubbock's threads wrapped around the armored soldier's chest and arms, restraining him.

Lubbock: "Alright! Got hi-"  Unfortunately, Wave broke out of it easily and made a break towards him. The green haired assassin only smirked as he was leading the armored foe into a trap, where a single tripwire thread was waiting for him, however to his surprise, Wave simply hopped over it.  "He knew about them already!?"

Wave (Grand Chariot): "I'll destroy every single one of you!"

He dove down with a drop kick as the green haired assassin panicked and formed a protective net in front of him. However, Wave's kick easily punched through it and struck Lubbock, sending him flying back.

Mine (Pridwen): "Why you!!"  She fired a spiritual beam from Pumpkin at him, only for him to simply leap above the shot, causing her to sweat drop under her helmet.  *thoughts* "What the hell...? Was he always this strong?"   The Crimson-eyed assassin slowly got back up, holding her shoulder

As Wave slowly looked at them, dropping down in front of him was the Barbatos clad, Dairoku, gripping Yoake in its bladed tonfa form as he made a strike which Wave managed to block.

Dairoku (Barbatos): "You... First you guys shoot us down, kill our Air Manta... And now, you punched my Akame in the gut... Now you've crossed the line, Wave!!"

"BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST!"

His power kept raising higher and higher as Wave struggled to hold his ground.

Wave's thoughts: "G-Guh... This is the power... of the infamous Death's Harbinger..?" 

He thought, however as he was occupied with the Vampiric Assassin, from the corner of his eye, he spotted Kuraime blitzing towards him, ready to strike. Seeing his situation, Wave backed away, and managed to get Dairoku off of him and punched his chest, sending him skidding back. Just then, he narrowly leaned out of the way of Kuraime slashing down with Ketsuekime, before he grabbed the cloak of the armored assassin and slammed her into the ground before throwing her next to Akame and Mine.

Akame's thoughts: "He's like a force of nature... If we don't hurry, the distraction team will be annihilated..."

Meanwhile, with the Ground Team, Najenda, Susanoo, Saber and Leone came face to face with the icy blue General, Esdeath, along with Kurome and Akaruime who had activated Yatsufusa and Himitsume respectively, summoning Natala and Pyro to help defend Borick, who sat in his chair with a smirk. However, Lieselotte was suspiciously missing from the roster.

Esdeath: "Long time no see, Najenda."

Najenda: "Esdeath.."  They entered a stare down as Borick was eyeing Leone, mostly her rather large and exposed chest before he smirked with a slight blush.

Esdeath: "You went though all the trouble of coming here, so I'll treat you with my Teigu! And let's catch up afterwards, in the torture chamber."  She grinned maliciously as she unsheathed her rapier from its scabbard.

Najenda: "I'll pass. I don't really wanna talk to you."

Esdeath: "You're so cold. I even prepared a Trump Card for you."  This caused the silver haired ex-general to sweat drop a bit.

Najenda: "...I thought that Demon Extract had no such thing as a Trump Card."

Esdeath: "That's right. That's why I invented it on my own. Isn't it amazing?"

Saber: *sweat drops* "Creating your own Trump Card for your Teigu..? Preposterous..."

Susanoo: *sweat drops* "Did she just want to brag?"

Leone: *sweat drops* "A Trump Card isn't something you can invent on your own, isn't it?"

Najenda: "That's just like Esdeath, breaking limits."

Esdeath: "But then again, it's a technique that uses a significant amount of energy."  She said, pointing her rapier towards them.  "I won't use it unless I have to. I look forward to the fight that forces me to use it."  Najenda just remained silent as she slightly glanced up at the roof, while clenching her fists.

Najenda's thoughts: "Akame's group still isn't here... Then we'll go on the offensive, and divert Esdeath's attention.

Esdeath: "Kurome, Akaruime, focus on guarding him. We never know where their other members will strike from."

Kurome and Akaruime: "Roger."  They answered firmly, though the black eyed assassin took a glance to her green-eyed partner, who was slightly sweating due to the injury she sustained from Chelsea. However from behind a pillar, hidden by his camouflage, Tatsumi clad in Incursio waited for the moment to assassinate Borick behind their backs.

Tatsumi's thoughts: "I have to be patient. My role is to strike down Borick in the midst of the commotion. I have to focus on that!"

Soon after, Esdeath slowly rose her hand into the air, before snapping her fingers together, creating a massive ice meteor above their heads.

Esdeath: "Let's go, Night Raid!" 

The group looked up at the icy meteor, dawning shocked expressions aside from Susanoo and Saber of course. Speaking off, the latter got in front of them and gripped onto Excalibur tightly.

Saber: "I will handle this!" 

With a golden aura coating Excalibur, Saber leaped up to the icy meteor before making a single slash, completely splitting it into two, then shattering it into tiny pieces.

Esdeath: "Then how about this?" 

She manipulated the shards of ice formed from the Icy Meteor and launched them at the group. This time however, the blades from Susanoo's Wolf Fang Mace popped out  and started rotating as he deflected the majority of the shards, with only a few striking him and Saber, making noticeable wounds in their stomach and shoulders respectively.

Borick: "Oh!! Well done!!"  However, his excited expression soon turned to frightened shock as he spotted the wounds on Susanoo and Saber, rapidly healing.  "What!?"

Esdeath: "Are you two the Bionic Teigus from the reports?"

Saber: "Hmph. For your knowledge, I am NOT a Teigu. I am the one and only Zodiac-Spirit. And this is my Zodiac, Excalibur."  She exclaimed with a serious expression as she pointed the holy Zodiac to the General, who only grinned in excitement.

Esdeath: "This is getting more interesting by the second!"  She launched more ice shards towards them.

Susanoo: "Now it's my turn!"

Leone: "Bring it!!!"

With Susanoo and Saber leading the charge by deflecting the Ice Shards, the ground team charged forwards towards Esdeath. Once up close, the Blue Haired Teigu prepared to strike, however, Esdeath only grinned.

Esdeath: "I'll skewer you." 

She slammed her hand on the ground, causing a stalagmite of ice to shoot up from the ground and pierce Susanoo through his abdomen. Soon after however, Saber flanked from her left, only for the icy general to create an ice wall from her hand and slammed it into the Knight, sending her flying back with a grunt. From behind Leone attempted to strike, however, Esdeath's reaction was far greater as she turned the tables on the lioness and stabbed her right underneath her bosom.

Leone's thoughts: "What reaction speed! She's even faster than a beast...!"

Soon after, Najenda attempted to at least get Esdeath away from Leone by launching her arm at her, which she was successful at since the general easily dodged the attack. The group regrouped with each other as Esdeath took the time to analyze the members in front of her, mainly Leone who peeked her interest by the fact that the pierce wound was regenerating quickly.

Esdeath: "Oho. The woman is a human, yet she has such a high recovery rate. Must be the Teigu's ability."  During this time, Tatsumi managed to sneak up closer towards Borick, now hiding behind another pillar that was right the target's right.

Tatsumi's thoughts: "I was able to move this much closer during that exchange. After one or two more like that, I'll strike him down!!!"

Saber: "Tch... This is quite bothersome.."

Najenda's thoughts: "They're still not here...? Something must have happened to Akame's group. Are they being held up by the Jaegers that aren't here...? Or did Lieselotte get to them first?"

Esdeath: "I've found some interesting specimens. I'll capture you all."  She placed her hand on the ground, sending an ice wave towards the group, who all leaped out of the way, however, Najenda soon found Esdeath on her tail. 

Esdeath: "There are many things I want to ask you."

She quickly karate chopped the back of Najenda's neck, knocking her completely unconscious. Enraged, Leone leaped off of a wall and towards her, only to be dealt an axe kick to her spine, sending her crashing down into the floor. Soon after, familiar magic-like bindings wrapped tightly around her, keeping her in place.

Esdeath: "I could have handled her, Lieselotte."

Lieselotte: "Oh I know~"  She said as she appeared next to the ice General, with a slight playful grin.  "But I wanted in on the fun~" 

Her attention was soon turned to Saber, who was sending endless strikes towards her, but she easily dodged the strikes before catching Excalibur's blade in between her palms.

Lieselotte: "Oho, you're a cutie~"

Saber: "Tch... Gah!"  She gagged a bit as Lieselotte dealt a powerful knee to her abdomen before throwing her into the wall. Then using her magic to restrain her.

Susanoo had leaped up to Esdeath and thrusts his Wolf Fang Mace towards her, only for her to gracefully dodge out of the before grabbing his face.

Esdeath: "Freeze..."  She completely froze him solid with ease as she grinned once more.  "Capture complete." 

She turned her attention to Leone, who was slowly starting to get up, though due to being restrain by Lieselotte's magic restraints, she barely could. The Icy General slashed the restraints to ashes before stabbing the lioness in her right hand causing her to groan in pain and flip around onto her back.

Esdeath: "You're recovery powers are very interesting. Does the recovery rate differ depending on what part of the body? Let's test it out."  Then aiming her rapier at Leone, Esdeath proceeded to slash of the respective body parts.  "Gouge one eye. Open a hole in the cheek. Rip the nails off the hand. Slice the right breast off. Cut off an arm. Stab the tail as well. Cut off the foot. Chop off the toes."

With each slice, Leone would let out a scream of pain. Once it was all over, she laid there, panting heavily before falling unconscious from her major wounds. All the while Lieselotte watched, with a major sweat drop, honestly feeling bad for the Lioness.

Esdeath: "Oho, still alive huh? Impressive vitality. Then I'll keep giving you what should be fatal wounds. Just how long will you survive...?"  She rose her rapier once more, only to feel an intense murderous aura rapidly charging at her. She narrowly dodged an invisible force, that was from Tatsumi sending a drop kick her way.  "As I thought, there was another Assassin. How naïve, getting baited by something like this."

As he slowly came out of his camouflage, Tatsumi glared daggers at Esdeath, his rage fueling him from the torture he just witnessed.

Tatsumi's thoughts: "How can I stay quiet while Neesan is getting mangled...!?"  Esdeath's eyes however widened in delight upon seeing the attacker; The Demon Armor...

Esdeath: "Incursio...! I've always wanted to try fighting you, right next to the infamous Barbatos!"

END
————————————————
Finally a chapter out!!! Whooo!!!