The mission to assassinate Bolic of the Path of Peace had commenced. The current time was 1 AM, two Imperial guards were patrolling the palace grounds. 

They seemed to have heard a noise coming from the nearby woods, the two guards aiming their guns towards it. However, they let out grunts as they fell to the ground, unconscious, an armored figure looming over them. Swiftly, Tatsumi had knocked them out. Tatsumi then looked to the whole that was in the ground, giving a thumbs up.

From the hole was Leone, Susanoo, and Najenda, the three of them bearing grins as their plan was going well so far. Getting out of it, the brown-haired teen launched a rope up to the top of the building, the four of them using it to scale and climb upwards.

The plan was that the diversion team would use the underground tunnel, Tatsumi using Incursio's invisibility to take out the two guards. Then they enter the cathedral's inner courtyard without being detected and enter the building. There, they'll cause a commotion, drawing the attention of the guards and Esdeath towards them. 

In fact, a guard had burst through the cathedral's doors. A look of fear and concern was on his face as he ran towards the icy blue-haired general.

Soldier: "W-We have a situation! A number of intruders have made it to the central courtyard...!"

Esdeath: (grin) "I knew Night Raid would choose tonight. Just as I predicted."

Bolic: "Th-The courtyard!? That's not far from here!"

Esdeath: "Kurome, you keep an eye on Bolic and don't leave his side!"

Kurome: "Roger!"

Getting off his throne, Bolic then moved to Esdeath's lower body. He got onto his knees and began to beg, clawing at her feet.

Bolic: "G-General! I want you to protect me yourself!"

Esdeath: (clicks tongue in annoyance) "You always give the appearance of being in control. Try acting like it. You're pathetic. Don't worry. I won't leave the cathedral."

The blue-haired general then shook his grasp off her leg and lifted it, lunging it down and stabbing her heel onto his forehead, but not enough to puncture his head. She then looks to the entrance with an excited grin.

Esdeath: (thoughts) 'No matter how much chaos they cause, unless you take out Bolic, you lose. Now... Hurry and come at me!'

---

Outside the cathedral, in the air was Night Raid's Air Manta. Atop it was the sent to assassinate Bolic, the members consisting of Akame, Mine, Lubbock, and Akira. 

Lubbock: "All right! We'll charge right through the cathedral roof! Mine, just before we get in, open a huge hole for us with Pumpkin!"

Mine: "Got it. I'm all ready to go!"

Lubbock: "Pumpkin's a tough Teigu. It was fine, even after getting caught in an explosion."

Mine: "That's true, but... When I hear stories of when the boss used it, I wonder how it managed not to get damaged."

Lubbock: "And it never recoils?"

Mine: "Never. You scaredy-cat, just leave it to me. Besides..." (blushes with a smug grin) "After all, I'm a genius shot."

Lubbock: "On another note, hey, Akira? You doing okay?"

The only thing the two heard was a retching noise, turning their heads as they see the Ice Cold Reaper throwing up near the back. And as usual, Akame was rubbing his back to soothe him. Still, they were quite surprised that his weakness was motion sickness.

While everything seemed calm for a moment, a white blur went past them, the figure having wings. Akame let out a gasp in surprise. Run was patrolling the skies and he had found them.

Run: "I knew they'd have a separate aerial unit. Looks like we managed to predict the situation perfectly this time. But I'm surprised that you'd launch an attack from the air... When you know full well it's my territory. 'Poor work' is the only thing I can call it."

The blonde man then sent a barrage of feathers, the projectiles flying through the air with quick speed as they strike Night Raid's Air Manta. Unfortunately for them, it had caused enough damage to the Danger Beast that it began to lose altitude, drifting downwards into the city.

From one of the cathedral's balcony was a certain blue-haired man.

Wave: "There you are. ...Night Raid. As payback for Bols, Seryu, and Koro... And for hurting Kurome... I'm going to settle the score... Once and for all!"

Back in the air.

Lubbock: "The Air Manta's dead as a door nail! We're gonna crash!"

Akira: (muttering to himself) "IhatethisIhatethisIhatethisIhatethis... I fucking hate this!"

Lubbock: "Stop screaming and create a damn ice wall to break our fall, idiot!"

Akira: "Fuck you!"

Run: "I won't let this chance go to waste."

The winged man sent more feathers towards the four of them, the projectiles homing in on them. Mine quickly turned around and aimed Pumpkin, the sniper Teigu beginning to charge up.

Mine: "I won't let this wreck go to waste!"

A beam of spiritual energy then left it's barrel, aiming straight for the blonde man. Run let out a grunt of pain as he narrowly dodged the attack, the beam grazing his side as it ripped and tore pieces of his clothing off. 

Run: (thoughts) 'That Teigu... Is far more troubling than I thought.'

Mine: (thoughts) 'I just grazed him. If only I could use the mow-down technique all the time!'

What was left of Run's arrows were soon cut down by Akame, who reacted as quick as ever and sliced them down with Murasame.

Akame: "Good marksmanship, Mine. You chased him off."

Mine: "Hmph. You're the one with the nice follow-up!"

Lubbock: "This is no time for compliments!"

Akira: "We're going to fucking crash! We're all going to die!"

Lubbock: "I thought I told you to create a barrier so we could break our fall!? Had you not done it sooner, then we wouldn't die faster!"

Akira: "You try dealing with motion sickness, Lubbo! ...Ah, fuck!"

Lubbock: "You ass, you got your puke all over me!"

Mine: "Will you both stop arguing!? And one of you save us already!"

The green-haired teen clicked his tongue, using Cross Tail's wires to wrap themselves and the corpse of the Air Manta in a sack of wires. He called an "impromptu cushion," Mine holding onto his leg and bracing for impact. As for Akira and Akame, she gently held his head in her bosom, Akira's face green as he tried to contain more of his puke.

Soon, the sack landed and crashed into the ground, Lubbock releasing his wires. Akira soon tumbled off the Air Manta corpse and let out his puke onto the ground for a full minute, then wobbily standing up as he wiped his mouth.

Akira: (panting heavily) "Never again... Never again am I riding a damn Air Manta... Fuck that."

Lubbock: "I knew it. The Air Manta took all the impact with it's body."

Akame: (bows) "Thank you for everything."

Mine: (petting it's head) "You helped us up to the very end."

Akame: "How are you doing, love?"

Akira: "...Just remind me to never fly on something that's in the air. Anyway, we're out the front. Let's hurry onto the cathedral."

Wave: "You're not going anywhere."

The four collectively look behind them, the sound of boots walking onto the dirt ground was heard. Walking up to them was Wave, a stern glare on his face as he rested Grand Chariot onto his shoulder. 

Wave: "The one you'll be taking on... Is me."

Akama: "A Jaeger!"

Lubbock: "Are we really doing this?"

Akira: "Looks like we are."

Mine: "Even if he's not a target, we'll take him on four to one! Without mercy!"

Wave: (unsheathes Grand Chariot's blade) "Come at me. You dirty assassins... You even damaged Run... I won't lose anymore comrades...! I won't let anyone else get hurt...! Grand Chariot!"

The blue-haired man yelled to the top of his lungs as he stabs his Teigu into the ground. Erupting from behind him as a large creature, similar to when Tatsumi summons Incursio. His armor then encases him, covering Wave from head to toe. 

In response to this, Mine quickly aimed Pumpkin and pulled it's trigger, firing a beam of spiritual energy towards him. But Wave was quicker, side-stepping and dodging the laser and dashes off towards the pink-haired assassin. However, the two black-haired assassins met him head on, Akira and Akame taking their respective blades and leaping into the air. They swung it down, only for their blades to be deflected off his armor, Wave kicking them away.

Akame: (thoughts) 'His armor is so tough... Our blades can't cut through to his flesh... He has... No chinks in his armor...!'

Wave: "I don't care how many of you there are!"

He then rockets towards Akame, appearing in front of her before she could react fast enough. Wave then punches her in her stomach, sending her back and striking a tree. This made Akame cough up blood, an unshackled anger fueling the icy blue-eyed teen. He then dashes towards him, creating an ice rod and began to swing it down towards his legs. Wave was confident in his defense, thinking his armor would shatter the ice upon impact.

However, he wasn't expecting for Lubbock's wires to wrap around him and render him immobile temporarily. Quickly, Lubbock yanked on his wires to make Wave tilt backwards a little bit, but his wires weren't strong enough to hold him. Once free, Wave attempted to dash towards the the green-haired assassin, but he quickly forgot about Akira. Using his ice rod, he swung it, the rod shattering upon impact of Wave's legs, but it was enough for the armored man to trip.

And without looking at him, Akira touched Wave's armor, encasing him in ice completely. In his other hand, he creates a large ice mallet, swinging it and striking Wave in the middle of his armor. The ice shattered, along with his mallet, and Wave was sent flying crashing into the opposite of the woods, breaking a few trees along the way. Akira then runs over to Akame to check up on her, Wave quickly recovering and running over to the black-haired teen to give him payback.

But Lubbock's wires then wrap around him once again, Wave breaking free of them once again and turning his attention towards him. Lubbock only grinned, having a thread trap prepared.

Lubbock: (thoughts) 'Come at me! Fall right into my thread trap!'

Despite the wire being considerably thin, Wave was able to see it, a sliver of moonlight shining on it that allowed it to be visible. But just barely. Wave hopped over it and continued to make his way towards Lubbock, who was shocked that Wave was able to dodge his plan. Wave then jumped and lunged his leg forward, aiming to kick the green-haired teen and blow him away.

Lubbock formed a grid of wires, using them as a defensive barrier. While it did try and stop Wave, it wasn't enough to actually halt him, Wave continuing onward and landing his kick, sending Lubbock flying into the woods. Mine once again aims Pumpkin in Wave's direction, firing another blast towards him. But Wave was quick enough to dodge, jumping into the air as the beam strikes the ground, debris picking up and flying all around. Soon enough, Akira arrives near Akame and helps her up.

Akira: "You okay?"

Akame: "Yes, I am. Thank you, Akira. He has impressive spirit, but..."

Akira: "Yeah. If we don't take Wave out soon, the entire diversion team will be taken out."

---

Inside the cathedral, the diversion team had decided to enter themselves, considering their strategy of drawing out Esdeath wasn't working. Now, Najenda her other three members stood face to face with Esdeath, Kurome, and Bolic. While their stare exchange happened, Bolic looked at Leone's voluptuous figure with delight, making Leone look at him with disgust.

Esdeath: "Long time no see... Najenda."

Najenda: "Esdeath."

Esdeath: (unsheathing sword) "Since you went through all the trouble to get here... I'll treat you to me Teigu! And then we have so much catching up to do. In the torture chamber."

Najenda: "No, thanks. I don't have anything to say to you."

Esdeath: "So cold. I even prepared a Trump Card."

Najenda: (confused) "I heard that your Teigu, Demon's Extract, didn't have a Trump Card. What do you mean?"

Esdeath: "That's right. So I invented one myself. Pretty neat, huh?"

Susanoo: (sweat drops) "She just wanted to brag..."

Leone: "A Trump Card isn't usually something you can come up with yourself."

Najenda: "Breaking limits is so typical of Esdeath."

Esdeath: "Either way, it's a technique that consumes a large amount of energy. I can only use it once. And I'm expecting a battle that will force me to use it."

Najenda: (thoughts) 'Akame and the others still aren't here... Then Tatsumi and I will have to go ahead and keep Esdeath's attention on us.'

Esdeath: "Kurome. Concentrate on guarding Bolic. There's no telling where the others will pop out from."

Kurome: "Understood." (thoughts) 'Knowing my sister and Akira... I'm sure they'll come here.'

Tatsumi had concealed his presence and was invisible, hiding nearby. He had to wait for his chance to strike, his goal was to get to Bolic and kill him, considering the others weren't here. He could only assume they were compromised, so the duty fell to him. He just couldn't rush it.

Esdeath then walked slowly towards the three Night Raid members, snapping her fingers as she creates a large ice object above her.

Esdeath: "Here I come... Night Raid!"

The battle then started, Esdeath sending the ice boulder down towards the three. Susanoo quickly dashes in front of Leone and Najenda, using his weapon and aimed for the ice boulder's weak spot. He then shatters it all in one strike, a stern expression on his face as he focused his attention on Esdeath. 

She then creates numerous ice spikes and sends them flying like they were arrows traveling through the air. The rotary spikes on his mace appear, Susanoo using them to cut the ice spikes into small ice shards, however a few got through. Bolic cheered, thinking Esdeath got them. But his cheery face soon morphed to shock and worry, seeing Susanoo heal his wounds instantly.

Now, Esdeath was interested, as she heard the reports. She had been wanting to fight the living Teigu for quite a while now. Susanoo and Leone then dash off, meeting Esdeath head on.

Swiftly, Najenda follows the two, Leone using her enhanced abilities to dodge the spikes and Susanoo continuing to his his weapon to cut them down. Once Susanoo drew close enough, Esdeath slammed her hand onto the ground, an ice spike appearing in front of her and it impales the organic Teigu. From behind, Leone appeared, aiming to get a kick in as she thought she had the drop on her. But Esdeath reacted quickly and turned around, maneuvering around the blonde lioness and then thrusting her blade through her chest, making Leone grit her teeth.

She should've known. This battle wouldn't be an easy one to win. 

Esdeath would soon separate when Najenda launches her grapple arm forward, Esdeath dodging the metal fist. Soon, Najenda and Leone regroup with Susanoo, who had just finished taking out the ice spike that impaled him.

Esdeath: "Well, well. For a human, the girl has incredible healing powers. Must be the power of her Teigu. I've found some interesting specimens here. I think I'll capture you all."

Like how she taught Akira, Esdeath stomped her foot and an explosion of ice occurs, making it's way towards the three assassins, causing them to disperse. However, she quickly appeared behind Najenda, the silver-haired leader of Night Raid surprised at how fast she moved.

Esdeath: "There's so much I want to ask you."

Najenda: "Guuh!"

The blue-haired general quickly chopped Najenda's neck, knocking her unconscious. She then sent Najenda flying to the ground, the silver-haired general crashing onto the floor. Leaping off some one of the pillars, Leone let out an angered yell and barreled herself towards Esdeath. But she anticipated this, Esdeath lifting her leg and bringing it down on Leone's back, causing her to fall.

Susanoo was next to follow up, dashing off the floor and leaping into the air to meet the blue-haired general head on. However, Esdeath simply grinned, letting Susanoo flying past her and touching his shoulder. Susanoo was then encased in ice, Esdeath sliding onto the floor.

Esdeath: "Capture complete."

Leone: "Nh... Guh..."

Esdeath: (walking towards Leone) "That healing ability... I'm curious about it."

The blue-haired woman then stabs her sword into Leone's hand, making her yelp in pain. She then uses her strength to flip Leone over, making the blonde look at her. Esdeath was closely examining her.

Esdeath: "Does the rate of your healing differ from body part to body part? I'll just have to test it out. I'll take out an eye. Open an air hole in your cheek. Tear off your fingernails. Cut off your right breast. Chop off your arm. Stab your tail. Slice off your leg. Dig out your toes."

And she did just that. Leone kept yelling and screaming in pain as Esdeath hacked away at her, cutting off the various body parts she had listed. By now, Leone was panting in exhaustion and pain, left in a mess as blood was pooling out of her wounds. 

Esdeath only grinned with excitement and interest.

Esdeath: "Huh. You're still alive... That's some regenerative ability. Next, I'll give you a fatal wound. Let's see how much you can take."

Before she could do anything else, Esdeath felt something, or rather, someone coming towards her. Instinctively, she leaned her body back to dodge something.

Esdeath: "I knew there was another assassin. You're so gullible to have fallen for my ploy to get you to show yourself."

The person came to a halt and deactivated their invisibility, Tatsumi in his Incursio armor now showing. He could've went for Bolic and ended it all there, but he couldn't stand at the sight of Leone being hacked away into pieces. 

Esdeath eyes lit up in amusement upon seeing the Incursio armor. She wasn't aware that Bulat was dead, thinking it was him. All she knew was that whoever was in Incursio was sure going to give her a well-fought battle. The fierce battle was just getting started.