Leone let out a pained growl as she used her Teigu's enhanced healing to stop the bleeding on her left arm, due to Kurome having severed it clean off. Once she stopped it's bleeding, she gave Kurome a deadly glare, the black-haired looking down from the cliff she was on, an impressed smile on her face.

Kurome: "Oh! You can stop the bleeding yourself. Impressive!"

Leone: "I'll show you what happens when you piss off a lion!"

Najenda: "Don't rush into things, Leone! Kurome still has that bodyguard! First, go and aid Akame. After, you and I will take on Kurome together."

The lioness was a bit surprised, but the former Imperial general was right. Kurome was essentially untouchable at the moment as she had Natala as her bodyguard. Najenda then looked to her former comrade, Rokugou, who has been reduced to nothing but a puppet corpse.

Najenda: "We're both former generals... I can manage on my own with an opponent without a Teigu."

Leone: "...All right." (looks up at Kurome) "Just you wait. I'm coming for you next!"

Kurome: "My, aren't you a tough one?~ I think I want to add you to my collection too."

---

Over with Akame, she was still struggling to get a hit on Bols, who was using his Teigu to it's maximum potential, using the wall of flames to his advantage as he was able to prevent Akame from getting in close, also adding in to the fact that Wall was there to assist him as well. Akame grits her teeth as she back flips away, landing a few feet away from the man with a flamethrower. 

Akame: (thoughts) 'I can't get close enough because of that bodyguard... But if I keep moving, they're sure to give me an opening!'

The ravenette then began to run around in circles, trying to find herself an opening to attack while also trying to prevent Bols from attack himself. However, it seemed Bols expected for Akame to circle around him, the masked man granting her the opening she was looking for. 

He fires a ball of flame towards her, Akame dashing out of the way as she skids across the ground. Having confirmed the opening, she sped off towards Bols. But Wall soon got in front of her, raising his shield for defense so she couldn't past him. But Akame easily bypasses him, ducking under as he goes between his legs and dashes through. She then thrusts Murasame's tip forward, hoping it impale the masked man. But she let out a gasp, seeing that Bols had an hand guard over his palm that prevented Murasame from piercing his skin.

Akame: (thoughts) 'More armor...! He's taken countermeasures against Murasame!'

Bols then swings Rubicante upwards, aiming his Teigu towards the red-eyed girl. He then unleashes another torrent of flames towards the raven-haired girl, but thanks to her reflexes, she easily dodges them, Akame's long hair just barely brushing over the flames.

Bols: "That's some impressive evasion!"

The bodyguard had then soon come in and swiftly lands a kick on Akame, the red-eyed girl having raised her forearm and the foot struck her leather vambraces. She was then sent back, dragging her hand along the ground to pull herself to a stop. 

Before the battle continued, Bols had decided to ask Akame a question. The two exchanged words.

Bols: "...Let me ask you something. Akame, why did you join the rebel army? It would've been so reassuring to have you still on our side."

With a determined look, Akame raised her fist and slammed it against her chest, right over her heart.

Akame: "Because my heart decided it was the right thing to do. I will walk the path I believe in."

The masked man seemed to have furrowed his brow a bit under his mask, seemingly understanding what she meant. He was satisfied with her response, but he knew he couldn't let it get in the way of his mission.

Bols: "That's an understandable reply. Thank you. But... Burning down that conviction is my job!" 

He raised up Rubicante, preparing to fire another torrent of flames towards Akame, who was ready to dodge and once more find her opening to attack. However, a booming voice then came along, a familiar yellow blur coming in.

Leone: "Not so fast!"

Landing in with a thud, the blonde lioness lands next to her best friend, an excited grin on her face. Akame was thankful for the assist, but her eyes then hovered on over to where Leone's once left arm was.

Leone: "Let me join in! That'll make it two-on-two." (notices Akame's gaze, smiling at her) "Don't worry about this. Focus on the fight!"

Akame: (nods) "They're strong. Be careful."

Leone: "Right. Let's defeat Bols and get to Kurome!"

Resuming back to Najenda's fight, the silver-haired general kept repeatedly dodging Rokugou's whip attacks. Because of her injuries from Esdeath prior to her defection, her power at most is forty percent, but she was still surprised that she could still move fast enough to dodge her former colleague's attacks. 

Rokugou raised his whip into the air before he slams it down, the ground shaking as a crater appears under from where he attacked. In doing so, Najenda leapt upwards and brought her mechanical arm back.

Najenda: "Earth Shaker!"

Rocketing herself downwards, she began to descend down at unprecedented speeds, using her body's momentum to gain more. She had trained with Rokugou so much that his techniques had been ingrained into her very brain. She then uses the grapple function of her arm to let it fire, propelling as it strikes the ground, mimicking the previous attack. Rokugou had moved his head to the side slightly to dodge, looking a bit surprised.

But this was all going to her plan.

Najenda: "Reel Assault!"

Her mechanical arm began to make a whirring sound as she reeled herself in towards her fist. Once she was close enough, Najenda brought her right leg back before she put as much energy into it, swinging it with force as it makes contact with her former colleague's head. She put so much force into her kick that it was enough to lop his head off, the head being sent flying and shortly landing on the ground.

The next thing, however, only made her mortified. Once Rokugou's body had hit the ground, it's head area bleeding and spouting out blood, it's body could still be seen twitching. Fingers, arms, and legs were trying to move, trying to get up and continue the fight.

She couldn't believe the scene she was watching. Just watching it made her remember a memory from when she was in the Imperial Palace, when her old friend had asked her if she wanted to go out for a drink.

Najenda: "What...? What blasphemy against humanity is that Teigu!?"

In anger, Najenda kicks Rokugou's body up into the air, it being propelled quite high. She kept up with it, punching the chest of Rokugou's body with her metal fist, an angered gaze being sent towards the black-haired assassin. Kurome only continued to watch, munching on her cookies as she watched the battle below, Natala by her side, ready to attack those that wish to harm her.

Over with the Destaghoul, Susanoo and the specter a great knight, Artorias, were facing it. The bony structure of the Danger Beast lunged it's fist towards Artorias, the specter knight only growling as it ready itself. Despite Artorias having a broken arm, he used it for protection, thinking it still had it's great shield. It's arm took the blow, him able to withstand the attack.

Grabbing his greatsword that was stuck in the ground with his other arm, Artorias wielded it with might, swinging it and bringing it down on the Destaghoul's hand. He had put in enough force that it dealt a well-sized crack in it. The Destaghoul then opened it's mouth, a beam beginning to appear at it's mouth as it prepared to do another beam attack. However, it was more aimed downwards, more towards Susanoo, the organic Teigu seeing this as he quickly dashes off. The dead Danger Beast lets the beam attack go, dragging it along in hopes it vaporized the organic Teigu. But the beam attack just slightly grazed him, burning some of his clothing on his arm.

Susanoo only grinned as he could see his clothes reforming once more, Artorias skidding next to him as he had taken an attack from the Destaghoul doing a kick.

Susanoo: "Looks like we're all pretty stubborn."

Najenda: (landing above Susanoo and Artorias) "Even decaying, it's still a super-class... He really is going to be a handful."

Susanoo: "You're not wrong, but... Look, Najenda."

Her one lavender colored eye panned upwards to see where Susanoo was pointing. Upon looking, she could see that one of the Destaghoul's shoulder blades was dislocated and disjointed, it making it look unsymmetrical with the other side.

Susanoo: "Something about that part seems odd with me. It's asymmetrical with the other side. I was so distracted by it, I got hit by the last attack."

Najenda: "You..." (deadpan) "After how cool you were coming off the last chapter, you'd let that happen?" (sigh) "If somebody doesn't reach Kurome soon, we'll only suffer more casualties. ...So here and now... Susanoo! As your master... I grant you permission to utilize your Trump Card!"

Susanoo: "...Understood."

With Akira, he still continued to have his duel with Henter, whom was giving him quite a bit of trouble. The dead assassin had much quicker reflexes than him and was quite flexible, making Akira's attacks much harder to land upon him. The icy blue-eyed teen clicked his tongue in annoyance as he ran up the side of a nearby wall before kicking off it, conjuring up three ice daggers in his hands before he threw them.

Henter simply took his blade and slashed them apart before he jumped and met Akira up in the air, the two engaging their duel in the air. The Ice Cold Reaper slashed and swung his scythe with grace and quick speed, it clashing with the metal blade of Henter's sword. The sounds of metal striking against each other and sparks flying as they made many efforts to kill one another, but weren't able to land a single hit against each other. However, their little skirmish soon ended when Akira spotted an opening, twisting his body and spinning to land a kick in his side.

Henter was soon sent falling to the ground, but quickly recovered. With quick footsteps, he ran off and disappeared behind a large boulder, the assassin trying to get the upper hand on the Reaper. However, he turned the corner, only to be met with a person that wore a mask. Henter seemed to have recognized it, it belonging to the same tribe as him.

Henter: "Gnh... F... Fr... Friend...?"

The undead assassin was expecting a response. But tribal man simply walked up to Henter and took out a needle, sticking it into Henter's forehead. The tribal man then turned into a puff of smoke before it cleared, revealing it to be Chelsea.

Chelsea: "Akame was right. The corpse puppets of Yatsufusa have no will of their own and don't speak clearly. All that's left is ingrained habits and strong feelings. Unfortunately, I'm not one of your fallen comrades."

Henter seemed to have let out groans, as if he was frustrated. He attempted to move, but in a split second, his head had been decapitated. A black blur had went past the two, Akira having quickly swung his scythe to sever Henter's head.

Chelsea then let the body fall to the ground, a small smile on her face as she brushed some of her hair out of her face.

Chelsea: "Nice one."

Akira: (annoyed) "I had him."

Chelsea: "Oh? It seemed to me that you were struggling with him, Ice Cold Reaper.~"

Akira: "Tch. Shut up, you damn Oarburgh. Be lucky that you're not dead yet."

Chelsea: "Anyway, I'll be leaving the rest to you."

Akira: "Yeah, yeah."

As the two turned around and began heading their separate ways, Chelsea began heading back into the forest.

Chelsea: (thoughts) '...Still, that was pretty daring strategy, even for me... I don't think I can call Sheele and Bulat failures as assassins anymore.' "Now that I've helped my teammate... It's time to go after the main course."

---

Sitting comfortably in her spot upon the cliff was Kurome. She still continued to munch on her cookies as she monitored the battle below.

Kurome: "Hmm... The time I take between snacks has gotten shorter lately..."

Kurome: (thoughts) 'Still... I wonder if Wave is still alive after having been thrown so far away.'

A brief memory of the event briefly flashed in her mind. Just thinking about the blue-haired man sparked a small red hue to appear on Kurome's cheeks.

Kurome: "...He's a stubborn one. I'm sure he's still alive. ...Huh? First Rokugou was rendered immobile, and now Henter? Oh, well."

The black-haired assassin got off her rock and prepared herself to move. Natala clenched his spear tighter as he stood next to her.

Kurome: "I think the eighth will be on the move soon. Guess I'll attack too."

In another area, Mine was still facing off Doya. The cowgirl and sniper were duking it out with a fire fight, the two unleashing bullets after bullets upon each other. Mine then ducked and planted herself onto the ground, raising Pumpkin up and raised it towards the grinning cowgirl. 

Mine then unleashes a charged blast, it being emitted from Pumpkin's barrel as it struck Doya in her chest. The blast sent the cowgirl flying, before she hit the ground and began to skid across it. Mine got up slowly, a cocky grin on her face.

Mine: "You're pretty good, but... You picked the wrong person to fight. I'm a master at shooting!"

A large shadow began to loom over the pink-haired assassin. She turned around, but her response was delayed. Mine suddenly felt something slimy wrap around her as it was a frog's tongue that went around her arm's and waist. It lifted her up in the air and presented her towards Kurome.

Kurome: "Oh. He's already attacking. He's our newest member, Kaiser Frog. He's a dangerous frog with a gastric acid in his gut that can melt anything."

(A/N): I was thinking about putting this scene in, but then I was like, "...Fuck, this looks like a hentai." Yeah, I'd rather not put in something like that. So... Bear with me on how I try to describe this scene without trying to make it sound as lewd as possible.

The Kaiser Frog's tongue began to creep back into it's mouth, drawing in Mine as well. Her lower half was now inside the frog's mouth, Mine trying to crawl her way out of it so she didn't get sucked in.

Mine: "S-Stop it!"

Kurome: "I heard from Seryu that your partner was almost eaten by Koro, is that right?" (dark, but creepy smile) "I suppose this time, it'll be you who suffers that fate."

Mine: "I... I won't let it end here! I won't let myself die... Not like this!"

Mine's screams were the muffled as the frog had fully consumed her. The grin on Kurome's face only grew wider.

Kurome: "The end always comes too soon. Bye-bye." (pets frog's mouth) "First one down. Now... Do the same with all the rest..."

However, the black-haired girl paused as apeman's body soon came flying past her. She turned her head around with a questioningly look, seeing Tatsumi rise up in Incursio. The girl then walked over to apeman's body, crouching down with a poker face as she kept poking it.

Kurome: "Come on. Don't give up, Mr. Monkey."

Despite it's face being beaten, bruised, and bloodied, apeman stood up and charged towards the Incursio user. Tatsumi narrowed his eyes under his mask.

Tatsumi: "Abusing the dead like overworked dolls... What a disgusting Teigu. Don't think I'll go easy on you just because you're Akame's little sister... Kurome."

Apeman roared as it drew closer to Tatsumi. But with dull eyes, Tatsumi only muttered, "sleep." Thrusting his fists out numerous times, apeman was met with a barrage of fists being brought upon him. Once Tatsumi finished, he reeled his arm downwards before he punched straight up, landing an uppercut on apeman's face as the monkey was sent flying, it's head blown straight off it's body.

Tatsumi: "I've got you now, Kurome."

Kurome: "Oooh... Well done. But, Natala's ten times stronger than that monkey, see?"

To prove her point, Natala readied his spear, a determined look in his eyes. Tatsumi could feel the power that was radiating off him. While Natala wasn't the strongest assassin in the Empire, he was ranked quite high as he was put in the second best team, just after the Elite Seven. 

---

Back to the fight with Destaghoul, Susanoo had been instructed and authorized to his Trump Card. With confirmation, Susanoo put his hands together.

Susanoo: "Magatama Manifestation."

Like Koro, Susanoo's Trump Card increases his strength. But unlike Koro's massive amounts of internal energy, Susanoo draws power from it's master's life force, using the magatama that's on it's chest, which amplifies it's power.

If used three times, the master's death is the inevitable cost in exchange for the immense power Susanoo receives.

The Destaghoul let out a piercing screech, enough for Najenda to cover her ears. The Destaghoul opened it's mouth again to do a beam attack, Susanoo extending his hand out. The ring that was on his back then began to hover in front of him. Using the ring, the beam attack from the Destaghoul was then reflected, being brought upon itself instead.

Susanoo: "Yata no Kagami!"

Najenda: "The perfect reflection of any projectiles. Just the kind of ability I'd expect from a Trump Card!"

The transformed Susanoo then dashed off the pillar he was standing on, using a bit of force to propel himself as the pillar began to break and shatter apart. The Destaghoul would've been able to retaliate, had it not been for Artorias, who had leaped up from the ground and landed on it's shoulder, using it's greatsword to relentlessly attack him.

Now reaching the two, Susanoo held out his hand. In his hand, a blade began to materialize out of thin air. Grasping the long sword, Susanoo then swung it down, with Artorias jumping down and stabbing it's greatsword into the Destaghoul, dragging itself down.

Susanoo: "Ame no Murakamo!"

With his slash, the organic Teigu, together with the resurrected specter of Artorias, they cut the Destaghoul in two, thus ending the Destaghoul's life. It then fell apart, both sides falling to the ground.

Najenda: "Talk about undisputed power... Just as I'd expect from the Trump Card of my Teigu."

Susanoo: "I can finish them off so long as there are no interruptions."

Najenda: "I wouldn't worry about that. We should be able to continue undisturbed."

---

Resuming back to the fight with Tatsumi and Kurome, the Incursio user was locked into a clash with Natala, the two spear men fighting against each other.

Tatsumi: (thoughts) 'He's on par with me and I've got the Incursio Teigu on...! He may actually be stronger than me... I can see how he'd be with the assassin unit Akame and Akira used to be apart of...! He's the real deal!'

Kurome: (smiles) "Natala is in good form."

Her amused face then turned to curiosity, the black-eyed girl turning around as she heard gurgling noises behind her. Something was wrong with the Kaiser Frog.

Kurome: "Guh... Gah... Goh? What's the matter?"

Kurome then got the message when she saw the top of the frog beginning to bulge.

Kurome: "You're being attacked from the inside!? But the acid in your stomach should be powerful enough to... Oh." (rubs head) "Since you're new, I didn't notice it was leaking out of your wound. That renders it pretty useless, huh?"

A blast of spiritual energy was then shot out from the top of the frog, Kurome covering her head in surprise. Coming out of the wound was Mine. Her clothes had rips and tears, much of her skin exposed due to the acid having dematerialized her clothing.

Mine: "That was the worse experience of my life!"

Tatsumi: (confused) "Huh!? What are you doing in there!?"

Mine: "Grrr! That was such a pain! Help me out already!"

From behind, Doya had recovered from Mine's previous attack. Readying her two revolvers, she cocked the hammer back as she prepared to fire. Before she could, a white blur soon appeared next to the cowgirl, it being Susanoo as he punches her away.

Tatsumi: "Whoa, what was that!? Su-san, you're incredible!"

Just as Kurome was about to run away from the fight, she felt a presence behind her. She sees the towering specter of Artorias looming over her, the Abysswalker raising his greatsword over his head before he brought it down, slamming it onto the ground.

However, due to there being less puppets on the battlefield, Kurome had regained her strength, making her dodge Artorias's attack with ease. 

Some blood was dripping down her mouth, the black-eyed assassin licking some of it as she brandished Yatsufusa in front of them.

Kurome: "Focus your energy if you want to bring me down. Otherwise, I'll turn you into my newest skeleton puppet!"

---

Leone: "Here I come!"

Both Leone and Akame charged forward towards Bols, who fired a blast of fire from Rubicante. The two Night Raid assassins then jumped into the air, Bols thinking he got them now. But he wasn't expecting for Leone to throw Akame towards him, the ravenette rocketing towards Bols at high speeds. 

Wall moved in front of Bols to protect him, but Akame knew she had to cut him down, which she did, cutting the corpse puppet's legs off. She then went to the nearby wall to regain her footing, quickly stepping off it as Bols fired another pillar of flames using Rubicante. Wall, on the other hand, was still moving, him crawling as his legs were rendered immobile.

Leone: (thoughts) 'You're too focused on Akame! Your bodyguard can't do anything now!' "You're mine!"

The blonde lioness had pounced off the wall, heading towards Bols to finish him off. But Wall had quickly turned around, aiming his shield towards Leone. From his shield was a small compartment, which fired something and it struck Leone's right arm.

Leone: "Wha...!? A hidden harpoon!?" (grunts) "Shit! My arm...!"

Bols then turned around himself, aiming Rubicante as he had the upper hand, preparing to fire so he could incinerate her. But Leone didn't stop there, she kept going, crashing down as her mouth grabs the end of Rubicante's barrel. However, Bols was shocked when Leone bit down on it, shattering the Teigu's end before she skidded away.

Leone then spits the metal pieces of the Teigu out of her mouth, a small scowl on her face.

Leone: "I can't eat that."

Bols: "You bit off my Teigu..."

In the meantime, Akame had finished Wall, taking him out of commission. Leone then slowly stood up, the two standing in front of Bols, ready to attack at a moments notice.

Leone: "Now your Teigu... Is unusable, right?"

Bols: (thoughts) 'She's right. My Teigu's busted now. In that case!' "I'm going to invoke my Trump Card!" 

Akame and Leone then stiffen up, but they remained on guard. Bols took notice of it, but remained calm. 

Bols: (thoughts) 'My Trump Card is Magma Drive, so it's just a bluff. But while they're on guard...' "I'll destroy you."

Taking the large tank off his back, he heaves it and throws it upwards. Leone's eyes widen as he realizes what was about to occur.

Bols quickly ducked to the ground, going into his pocket as he takes out a detonator. A wolf and a cloaked figure quickly appeared, Akira and Fenrir appearing next to their two comrades. He quickly instructs his wolf to stand by Leone, the icy blue-eyed teen picking up Akame bridal style and heading over to her.

He quickly stomped his foot onto the ground as a ice pillar appears below them, the pillar propelling them upwards so they could get onto the cliff. After setting them down, Akira then slams his hand down as he places an ice barrier between them. Bols then hits the button on the detonator, the tank that had flew high in the sky turning into a large explosion that was felt by everyone.

A loud ringing noise could be heard in Akame's ears, her eyes had been closed tightly. The ringing began to die down as she heard heavy breathing, the red-eyed girl slowly opening her eyes.

She was then met with Akira looking around, his barrier having been completely shattered as ice shards were all over the floor. He then panned his gaze downwards and smiled down at her.

Akira: "Hey... You okay?"

Akame: "Akira..."

Akira: "Just sit tight here for a minute, okay? Fenrir, take care of these two."

Akame: "Wh-Where are you going?"

Akira: "Me?"

A loud thud could be heard as the towering knight from before had landed behind Akira. The black-haired teen props himself up on Artorias's shoulder as he looks out towards the forest.

Akira: "Let's just say... I've got some stragglers to hunt down."