The reinforcement the Capital had sent to the Elite Seven was one of the Empire's well known generals. Her icy blue hair was very recognizable and her power was something to be feared.

Holding the title as the Empire's Strongest. Her name is Esdeath.

Gravekeeper: "So I'm the only one left...and here I'm supposed to be retired. Not only will I battle you, I'll tear you to shreds, Empire wench."

Esdeath: "So it's a bear this time, is it? I hunted a lot of those when I was a little girl."

Gravekeeper: "In close combat, I have never been bested. Will you still challenge me?"

Esdeath: "Sounds fun. I'm in."

Gravekeeper: "You'll regret it!"

The Gravekeeper lunged forward with a loud roar, Esdeath grinning in response. She hoped that her opponent before her was quite strong. Because so far, she was enjoying slaughtering them all.

Esdeath simply raises her foot, her heel hitting the Gravekeeper's forehead. The Gravekeeper himself was shocked by Esdeath's strength, him being sent backwards. Quickly, Esdeath had gotten in front of him, putting her index finger on his chest.

Esdeath: "Everything freezes before me."

And before he could react or respond, the Gravekeeper's lower body was encased in ice. He now wiggled and squirmed, trying to free himself.

Esdeath: "What happened to you being undefeated in close combat? That was too easy."

Gravekeeper: (shivering) "I...I'll break out of this ice."

Esdeath: (begins walking away) "Looks like a futile struggle to me. A Teigu that controls ice...what a marvelous power I've come into."

Gravekeeper: "Y-You Imperial wretch...! What did we ever do to you!?"

Esdeath: "You were targeted because you're weak and wealthy. That's all. You should have recognized your own weakness sooner and paid yearly tribute to the Empire as insurance."

Gravekeeper: (thoughts) 'Us...weak...? It...can't be...'

The Gravekeeper's body was then fully encased in ice, now shattering into smaller pieces. All while this happened, Esdeath had a bored look, her amusement now unsatiated.

Esdeath: "...For the last man standing, that was awfully quick." (turns head to female Gravekeeper) "Hey. Aren't there any stronger guys here?"

Female Gravekeeper: "Eeh!? Th-There's the boss...b-but I don't think he's as strong as you..."

The girl was cut off, Esdeath walking over to her encased body, the icy blue-haired general kicking it. The ice shatters, causing the female Gravekeeper to split into smaller parts. She then stomps her foot, shattering some of the ice fragments below her before she looked around the room, looking at her handiwork.

Esdeath: "Those with fragile hearts are now fun. They surrender so quickly." (sigh) "I suppose I'll return to the battlefield. I'll leave the tasty part to the lackeys."

Back with the Elite Seven...

Weneg: "The Gravekeepers have been wiped out...we lost..."

Akira: "It seems the Capital sent in more reinforcements."

Green: "Now we can go home."

Weneg: "Fools...I won't let you leave here...alive...and I won't give you our treasure. If I...if the boss dies...then this mausoleum...will..."

Green: "What's he talking about...?"

Akira: (realization) "Shit...! We gotta get outta here!"

Before they had time to comprehend what Akira said, the whole tomb began to crumble and shake. That's when it clicked in their heads. Since Weneg was down to his last legs, he's was going to attempt to take them all down with him. Some of the debris from above begins to fall, some of the falling on Weneg, crushing him to death.

Now, the Elite Seven were now high-tailing it out. Should they stay, they would be buried alive with the enemy.

Green: "So this is what you meant, Akira! When the general falls, the whole place does too!?"

Akira: "If you have the time to talk, you have the time to start running faster, you big idiot!"

Akame: "We're getting out of here!" (thoughts) 'I'd always thought I could die after I'd been reunited with Kurome, but...now that we're together again, I really can't die now. No matter what, we will survive and get home!'

Elsewhere...

With the whole tomb coming down, the other members that were split up were doing their best to escape. Currently, Najasho was carrying an injured Poney on his back, the girl having a bandage wrapped around her head.

She held onto Najasho's neck tightly as the No. 1 Elite Seven member was running at full speed, Najasho dodging the falling debris.

Najasho: "The Gravekeepers must have triggered a self-destruct mechanism now that their leader's been defeated...did Guy beat him?"

The blonde looked up slightly, grunting as he jumps to the side, a large block of stone falling down next to him.

Najasho: "We've got to get out of here--fast. I'm sure the other shrimps doing the same."

Poney: (guilty smile) "...Hey, chief...you should leave me behind. I'm only slowing you down."

Najasho: "Quiet. Just hauling you doesn't affect my speed."

Poney: "Thank you. ...Gosh, all I've been doing this mission is thanking you, chief!"

Najasho: "It's not just this mission. You're always like that. If you really want to thank me, then you can pay me back with better results next mission."

Poney: "I will."

Najasho grunts with annoyance as he kept his focus ahead. In front of him were two Gravekeepers, one in the form of a jellyfish and the other having crab pincers.

Jellyfish Gravekeeper: "You won't get away!"

Crab Gravekeeper: "For the honor of the Gravekeepers, we will take you to hell with us!"

Najasho: (unsheathes Water Dragon Sword) "Keep holding tight. We're gonna break through them."

Poney nods as Najasho continues to run at full speed. He then jumps into the air, kicking off the crab Gravekeeper's back, which had him shocked. The Gravekeeper's strategy was simple. Guard with the crab and use the jellyfish to strike.

The jellyfish Gravekeeper uses it's tentacles in an attempt to stop the two from getting through. But Najasho uses his blade to spin through the them, slashing his way through. The crab Gravekeeper uses it's pincer, shooting it off their arm. However, this was easily avoidable as Najasho dodges it with ease, using his Water Dragon Sword to cut him in half.

Najasho: "When you're that weak, chopping you up is all I can do. Blame your own pathetic defense."

Soon, more Gravekeepers appear.

Gravekeeper: "It's the intruders who ruined everything! We'll send you straight to hell!"

Najasho: "Damn Gravekeepers. So they're all gathering here. Fine. That'll make it easier for the other shrimps to get away."

Poney: "Chief, I can help a little too!"

Najasho: (deadpan) "That grasshopper made a mess out of you. Just hold on. I'd like to avoid having to use it in succession, but it's do-or-die. I'll have to use the Water Dragon Sword's ability again. There's no other route. We'll have to carve one ourselves out."

Back with Akame and the others...

Natala: "Another fork in the road. And there's so many options."

Kurome: (worried) "I just hope no enemies come..."

Gin: "Which path should we take?"

Akira: "Crap. It's a little bit different from the layout I recognize."

Akame: "There's no time! But if we take the wrong path, we're done for. We can't rush this, but we do have to hurry!"

Green: (pushes up glasses) "I know what you're saying. Let's figure it out together."

Akira, Green, and Akame begin to bicker between each other, Kurome began to ponder to herself. She wanted to help somehow, without relying on the Elite Seven.

Natala: "Kurome! Watch out!

She had glanced upwards, seeing some falling rubble coming towards her. Kurome goes to cover her head, but she felt nothing. Instead, Natala had taken the blow for her.

Natala: (rubbing head) "The place is falling apart, so watch out from above."

Kurome: "Th-Thank you. And I'm sorry, Natala."

Akame: "Kurome, are you alright!?" (looks to Natala) "And you? Are you all right? Thank you for protecting Kurome."

Natala: "My name's Natala."

Kurome: "I just want to help out, but I'm always the one getting saved."

Natala: (smiles) "You just have that air about you, Kurome. Like a damsel in distress."

Kurome: (tilts head) "Damsel...?"

Akira: "Hey, numbnutts. Let's go."

Green: "We've figured out the path. Let's hurry."

With their path found, Akame and the others begin to flee, hopefully able to escape the crumbling tomb in time. However, they couldn't help but wonder and worry about their other two members. Poney and Najasho.

With Poney and Najasho

Having found their own path, Najasho continued to carry Poney. His hair had been extended, now longer as he used the Water Dragon Sword's ability. Currently, he was running up steps with Poney on his back.

Najasho: "That took some time, but we should be outside soon. We'll just barely make it."

Poney: "I hope my wounds fully heal. I wouldn't want to be burden on the others."

Najasho: "I'll pick up the slack until you're better. Keeping up with the other shrimps will be easy."

Poney: "Oh, chief..."

Najasho then comes to halt. Poney looks up to see what stopped him. Across was a huge gap, it being their only obstacle from being home free. The entrance behind him was soon covered as falling debris covers it.

Poney: "N-No...after we got so far!"

Najasho: "...Brace yourself. We're gonna jump it."

Poney: "I don't care how effective the Water Dragon Sword is. You really think it can get us that far?"

Najasho: "It's our only shot."

Poney: "...I think you could make it if you were on your own, chief..."

Najasho: "Say something like that again, and I'll smack you. ...Here goes."

Taking a few steps back, he took a running start. Running at full speed, Najasho jumps from the edge, soaring through the air as they head for the other side.

But he begins to falter, knowing he knew that the both of them wouldn't make it. Clicking his tongue in annoyance, Najasho grabs Poney off his back and throws her to the other side. Poney skids across the ground before she crawls to the edge, looking back to Najasho, who was now beginning to fall into the dark abyss.

Poney: "Why...!?"

Najasho didn't respond, only giving Poney a small smile. It was something rare for her to see. If anything, it was rare for any of the other members to see. Poney screams his name as she watches Najasho fall into the black abyss, never to be seen again.

Outside, the whole tomb had been completely destroyed. Rising out from some of the rubble were Akame and the others. Akira had Kurome on his back, the girl out of breath. The icy blue-eyed teen extends his hand out to Akame, the raven haired girl gratefully taking it. From the rubble, Gin got out fine with Green being supported by Natala.

Akira looked around, searching for the last two members. Akame looks to her partner and could see the desperate look in his eyes. It was quite obvious, as it was with everyone else...they didn't want to lose anyone else, no matter what. But now, they were two people down on the select team, but gained three more allies. But was it worth it?