No one's POV

The attack on the Oarburgh is finally underway. Ryu and the others rush onwards towards where the Oarburgh's hideout is. As they did so, they all saw Merraid's maids make their way outside of their compound. The maids themselves had already sensed the attack coming from miles away. So once making their way outside, all they see is Gozuki, the Elite Seven, and the Four Rakashasas Demons running towards them at full speed, killing intent leaking out of them.

Gozuki: Don't even try to capture them alive! There's no telling what they might do if we let them live! Just focus on killing them!

Then they noticed explosions coming out from the building. It turns out, the Oarburghs responded by throwing explosive smoke bombs onto the floor, causing puffs of smoke to explode every where.

Gozuki: Hm?!

Gozuki halts to examine them, but his daughter, Mez, goes to attempt in charging right in.

Mez: Ha! They're trying to slip away under the cover of smoke! Well, not on my watch!

Gozuki intercepted her by punching her in the head as the girl wince in pain.

Gozuki: Hold it, you idiot daughter. My skin's prickling. That smoke is toxic. If you rush into the smoke, you'll die. Use your head for once!

Instead of being disappointed for Gozuki reprimanding her; Mez only smiled as she held her head. In her youth, Gozuki wasn't around much, so Mez didn't necessarily have a father figure around when Gozuki was off training the Elite Seven. The tan girl then begins to laugh hysterically while slapping her old man.

Mez: Ahahahahaha!!!

Gozuki: What're you so happy about? I'm reprimanding you!

Shuten: A smokescreen's nothing to us.

Ibara and Shuten stood side by side, the two inhaling as much air as possible as their stomachs expanded like some sort of balloons. The two then let out a large gust of wind, as if a bullet had shot through the smokescreen, clearing the area of smoke.

Green and Poney:...!!

Ryu(mind): So this is the infamous Rakshasa Demon. Their abilities are indeed fearsome.

Mez: Yeah! Go senpais!

Two maids then came out from the side doors, both carrying assault rifles. The two maids of Oarburgh then unload the bullets onto their attackers, causing them to scatter. but with Ryu's quick wits, he easily dodge each and every individual bullet that was shot at him, by returning a favor of his own. He drew his Shingu Prometheus, he flicked his wrist as he fired two quick shots, curving them as they entered the two maids heads, killing them.

Mez: Ohh! Good job, juniors, too!

Suzuka: Now let's get going! But..

Suzuka started breathing heavily with a blush.

Suzuka: Who knows what traps await us in the entrance into the building. I'll go investigate first!

Ryu(mind): -_- A pervert. Oh... Whatever. I need to find Akame in order to gain some information on Merraid.

Ibara: (kicks Suzuka's back) Fine! Then get in there already!

The reason why Ibara kicked Suzuka into the building first is to investigate traps. However, the reasoning is, Suzuka is a masochist. Meanwhile Ryu himself had decided to follow Suzuka on her infiltration.

Suzuka: Ryu my boy. Why did you decided to come with me?

Ryu: I need to find Akame of course.

Then they did. Suzuka, Ryu and Ibara all made their way inside the compound following Suzuka's trail since she had already infiltrated the compound in search of Akame, Kurome, and Natala. During their way inside, they were ambushed by multiple Oarburghs, but Suzuka and Ibara dealt with them so Ryu could make his way forward. And once he did, he saw Akame rushing towards him with her Kiriimonji.

Akame: Ryu!

Ryu: Akame...! Are you alright?

Akame: I'll manage. But Merraid had escaped, so I'm going after her. I managed to injure her, so the odds are in my favor.

Ryu: Wait Akame...

Akame: Hm...?

Ryu: If it's alright with you, I want to be the one to take her on.

Akame: Eh...? But...

Akame was taken back by this. But before she could complain, Ryu gave out his reasoning first.

Ryu: Just like you, I have my own personal grudge on her. So if it's alright with you, will you tell me everything you know about her while we chase after her.

Seeing his determined face, Akame didn't argue any further. She nod her head and the two of them made went out in chase of Merraid. While on their way, Akame told Ryu everything she knew about Merraid. Her fighting style, her abilities with her bugs, but most importantly...

Akame: Merraid was trying to get me to fight against the Empire. And I saw everything you told me Ryu...

Ryu:...

Akame told her partner about what she had saw during her travels to other villages with Merraid. The Empire soldiers mistreating the civilians, their complains about how corrupted the Empire. Ryu could only swallow his breath.

Akame: Ryu... Are we seriously fighting for the sake of the people?

Akame told him her most inner doubt. Asking for advice from her number one partner like she used to, but this time Ryu didn't give her any. But instead...

Ryu: To answer your questions, I need to have my duel with Merraid first. I need to clear my own doubt first.

Akame:...

Akame didn't voice any further and nod. By now, the rest had gotten inside. Shuten came in from the ceiling, bursting through as he lands a powerful punch on one of Merraid's maids.

Poney had came in alongside Gozuki and Green, the auburn haired girl using her superior leg strength as she lops the enemy's head off with a single kick. And with Gozuki's Teigu, Murasame, any cut will inflict the opponent with a poison in a matter of seconds, the older man swiftly cutting those that got in his way.

In a hallway, Gilberda was peering over in the great hall, seeing her comrades get slaughtered.

Gilberda: Uh-oh. Dora was right. We should've abandoned the hideout when we could. I didn't think my suggestion through.

Days ago, Gilberda's teammate, Cassandra had suggested they leave while they still could, but Gilberda denied it her suggestion. The blonde Oarburgh member now wishes they had left.

Gilberda: Lady Mera... Dora... Everyone... I'm sorry.

Then she noticed a presence looming over her. Her eyes darken, seeing Shuten's shadow hover over her.

Shuten: You seem to be suffering, but don't worry. I'm going to free your soul!

Reeling his fist back, Shuten lunges it forward and a loud crash was heard. But Shuten was surprised and shocked, Gilberda able to take his punch as she had blocked it with her own arm. She had received no broken bones, a large crater underneath her.

Shuten: Hrm?!

Gilberda(mind): I'll pay for my carelessness with my life! Canceling all Limiters!!

Like most Oarburgh members, she had cancelled her limiters, giving an insurmountable amount of strength.

Gilberda: RaaaaarG!!

Shuten: Gah!!

With a yell, Gilberda brings her leg back and did side kicks on Shuten in his left stomach, him letting out a cough as he was sent crashing through several pillars and walls. Gilberda started going on a rampage by destroying another pillar sending them towards Poney and Green. However, the pillars was destroyed by Mez who was aiding those two. Meanwhile, Gozuki had sneaked behind Gilberda while she had her rampage.

Gozuki: What do you think you're doing, going berserk? Go to hell.

Gilberda:...!!!

Before she could react to the threat, a small cut had appeared on her left tense shoulder. Gozuki had managed to land a swift cut on her despite having tough muscles. Gilberda lets out a small grunt of pain. With her life seems to be reaching to an end, her life flash before her eyes.. Gilberda was born with superhuman strength and a bigger appetite than most, so she was feared as a monster and sold by her parents to a circus. That's where she met Cassandra. It wasn't until Merraid Oarburgh had came into their lives and saved them.

And despite the things that made her a monster, Merraid had told Gilberda three words. I love you. If anything, she owed everything to Merraid, so Gilberda decided to go down fighting. Before her body succumbed to the deadly poison of Gozuki's Murasame, she crouched down before she came back up, jumping as she does a back flipping axe kick, striking Gozuki in his chest.

Gozuki: What the...?! How can she still move after being sliced by Murasame?

Gilberda then jumps into the air as she tries to kick Gozuki's chest again, but a whip wraps around Gozuki's body, the former Rakashasas being pulled away by Green.

Green: You okay?!

Gozuki: Yeah. Watch out. She's not normal.

Landing back on the ground, Gilberda jumps up once more, heading up a pillar as she reels her fist back. Putting all of her strength into her fist, she punches the pillar, the building beginning to collapse all around them. The dust then settles, revealing Gozuki sitting on a wall with Green standing next to it. The rest of the group began rising up from the rubble.

Gozuki: Everyone okay?

Mez: Yep.

Poney: Why did the whole building collapse around us..?

It was then Green noticed Gilberda standing between the smoke.

Green: She's still standing...

Gozuki: Not quite. She's dead. She held out long enough to let her friends get away...

Standing in the center of what was once the great hall of the building was Gilberda, Murasame's poison marking was now all over her body. Her eyes were now dull, without life. She held out on willpower alone to make the whole building collapse so she could buy time to let her allies get away.

Shuten: What a freak. She sacrificed her life for that finishing move.

Gozuki: You're alive too.

Shuten: A lesser man would've been torn apart and killed. That was the power of someone who'd push herself past her limit and pulled out all the stops. Even if we'd done nothing, she'd have fallen apart on her own in a few minutes.

Gozuki: So she held on through sheer tenacity even after being cut by Murasame. That's a first for me.

Shuten: She's an impressive woman.

Gozuki: Tch. The Oarburghs are ruined. Society's faith in them's as good as gone...who knows how many of them fled.

Mez: But the only one we have to take out is the leader.

Gozuki: It's too late to go after her now...

Kurome: My sister said she'll dispose of their leader herself...

Kurome along with an injured Natala emerged from behind the rubble.

Poney: Kurome! Natala!

Green: Akame's tracking down the enemy's boss?

Kurome: Yeah.

Shuten: Ibara and Suzuka are missing. Along with that other kid you have, Gozuki.

Green: Ryu?

Shuten: They're probably on the trail too.

Gozuki: Then they might be fighting as we speak. Maybe we can catch up to them. We'll go after them too!

Ignoring the pain in their body, The Elite Seven and the Rakshasa Demon all head out.

Green: Yeah!

Mez(mind): Still...my old man and Shuten are a wreck after taking a hit from her before...and they know it.

Mez: Now's the great Mez-sama's time to shine!

(Elsewhere)

The remnants of the group begin to chase after the trail left by Ryu, Akame, Ibara, and Suzuka. The 4 of them went after Merraid herself only to be intercepted by the 4 hand maid Cassandra.

Cassandra had a pissed look mostly Akame. She felt betrayed by Akame after the things they did when Akame was their captive, and Cassandra genuinely love the time she spent with Akame.

Cassandra: Akame... How could you... How ungrateful. I didn't want to fight you...

Akame: I will lay my enemy to rest in peace.

Cassandra(Mind): I can't shake them off. Especially the boy that Mera-sama was so worried of is with them.

Still Cassandra remain calmed.

Suzuka: Are you here to hold us up?

Ibara: Heh-Heh! Good work being a disposal pawn for your Master! At least that's what I want to say. You seem a little different. I'm onto you.

Cassandra: Why don't you come at me?

Snapping her second right hand, multiple wrigglers appear surrounding Cassandra like some sort of spiral barrier. This surprises Akame.

Akame:...!

Cassandra: Mera-sama left some insects for me...

Akame(mind): If Merraid gets away she'll just make more insect for herself.

Ryu: That means she hardly had any left for herself. That's a golden opportunity!

Cassandra: I won't let you pass. And the two of us have some unfinished business together, boy.

Ryu: Unfortunately, my unfinished business here is with Merraid, not you.

Cassandra: Tch!

Cassandra sent the wrigglers forwards. Akame, Ibara, and Suzuka all rush forwards while Ryu himself stayed at the rear. Akame did multiple strikes to cut down the wrigglers that was coming from her on the left, while Ibara on the right and Suzuka at the center. Then Cassandra went towards Ryu.

Cassandra: I'll crush you first boy!

Ryu: Your confidence will be your downfall!

Cassandra with dual wielding two giant sword clash with Ryu and his katana. It was a rematch during their first assault. At the meantime, her second right hand was holding onto strings and it wrapped themselves around Suzuka and Ibara. It turned out it was to restricted their movements. However, the bugs aren't reacting to her and Ibara just tense his muscle in order to repel himself from the bugs poison. Then Akame went towards Cassandra to behead her, only for Cassandra to duck and jump backwards.

Suzuka: That weapons has more hidden attack than we know. I guess that's why she's an Oarburgh...

Ibara: But she can't beat us when it comes to toughness and physical manipulation.

Cassandra: In that case... I'll just cut you down until you can't move anymore.

Ibara: But at this rate, their leader is going to escape.

Suzuka: Somebody has to go after her.

Akame:...!

Ryu:...

Cassandra: I will let none pass.

Suzuka: Too bad! I'm coming through!!

Suzuka rush forwards.

Cassa: A suicide attack? How foolish.

Cassandra sent a horde of wrigglers towards Suzuka, however the bugs aren't reacting to her. The reason was because when Suzuka gave Akame and Kurome the insecticide, she was also doused with bug repellent.

Cassandra: Then I'll just slice you up directly!

Cassandra prepare her quadruple blade and rushes on. However Ibara's fingernails on left hands had grew out into claws. The thumb and index nails latch itself to a tree, while the middle, ring, and pinky nails latch itself to a boulder.those fingernails was a strong as metal since it shows no sign of breaking after Ibara brought them up.

Cassandra: !

Ibara slammed the two object towards Cassandra whom noticed them. So retreating for a bit, she jumped backwards to avoid them. Then Ibara sent his right fingernails towards Cassandra to chipped her down. But as usual, Cassandra was quick witted and cut those nails apart.

Cassandra: Akame...!

Akame: Rest in peace!

Akame had sneaked in behind Cassandra to behead her, however Cassandra had used her extra hands to cross block them. It was only then she realized that Ryu was gone.

Cassandra: The boy...?! Shit...

It turns out, Akame, Ibara, and Suzuka were making sure that Cassandra's attention was on them. With his calm demeanor Ryu knew what course he need to make. All Akame could do was held her faith in her partner.

(Elsewhere)

Merraid Oarburgh currently stood by a calming lake, the moonlight being reflected off of it.

Merraid: I should be safe this far out. It's such a beautiful spot. Barbara was right...I wonder how many of the others are okay...

She then heard a cracking noise, turning her head around. She expected it to be Akame, but instead, it was Ryu instead. The amethyst-eyed boy had come to deliver judgement on her instead.

Ryu: Hello there.

Merraid: You...

Ryu: Were you expecting Akame? Sorry to say, but she let me come instead.

Merraid: That seems unexpected for Akame. She doesn't seem the type to let her prey get away.

Ryu: True that. But the reason is I'm here instead was because I have some questions for you.

Merraid: Oh...? A Lycanthrope like you?

Ryu: Lycanthrope eh... That's the question I want you to answer. And what you said about me as a Half-Vampire truly piqued my interest. And one more...

Merraid: Let me make a guess. On why I said you should be fighting against the Empire instead of working for them.

Ryu: Correct. Because of what you said, I have been having visions about my forgotten past. So if you'll be so kindly...

Ryu drew his katana that was given to him by his leader. He pointed them towards Merraid eyes filled with full killing intent.

Ryu: Let's settle this. To the death.

Merraid: With you as my opponent, guess I have no choice. Let's see if you can awaken your power.