Any fanart used in this book are not owned by me. The art above belongs to croissantlune on Devianart.

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In the Capital, Imperial Palace

Imperial Soldier: "Reporting, sir. General Nakakaido and General Hemi... Have  both deserted us and joined sides with the Rebel Army!"

Murmurs in the Royal Hall of the Imperial Palace began to run amok. The various political figures and advisors of the king began to discuss among themselves.

Political Figure 1: "General Nakakaido was a pro at war..."

Political Figure 2: "The Rebel Army is amassing a frightening strenght..."

Political Figure 3: "If we don't act fast, the Capital..."

King: "Order!"

Everyone in the room looked to the sudden booming voice, which came from their king. But their king was nothing but a child on the throne, the real person controlling everything was the person beside him. Prime Minister Honest.

King: "They're far down south from us... We can deal with them any time! Let the Rebels gather. That'll make it all easier to wipe them out in one go!" (looks to Honest with a smile) "That should do, right, Minister?"

Honest: "Heh heh heh. Very good, your Majesty. You always keep calm. Rather than some far off Rebel Army... We have a bigger problem at hand." (munching on meat) "The Captain of the guard is dead. My distant relative, Iokal, got killed! The Executioner was also defeated by Night Raid and seized his Teigu! They're getting away with everything! It's so unsettling, I've put on weight...!"

King: "What about that one tribe? The experts sniffing out their hideout?"

Honest: "I lost contact with them. I think they were wiped out back in Chapter 2."

King: (confused) "Chapter 2?"

(A/N): No, this was actually in the manga. No joke.

Honest: (continues to munch on meat) "Even a mild-tempered man like me can't hold back his anger over this! Contact General Esdeath who subjugated the North... And bring her to the Capital."

The crowd erupted into a gasp. 

Political Figure 1: "B-But the Capital already has Commander-In-Chief Budo!"

Honest: "The Commander-In-Chief has too much pride to go on some rat-hunt."

King: "Esdeath, huh... She's as great a hero as Budo. It should be fine! She's a woman of ice who buried 400,000 tribe members alive!"

Honest: "Before she arrives, tell our pathetic excuse for a garrison to buck up! I don't even care if they captured them alive or dead!" (crazed look) "We're going to hunt down that gang... And finish every last one of them!"

---

Imperial Capital, Night, Red-light District...

Akira: (deadpan) "You two are late."

Leone: (laughs) "Sorry!~ We ran into a bit of trouble!"

Akira sighed as he looked back into the streets of the red-light district of the Capital. Close to the slums, this area was a haven for brothels, drug dealings, and sort of shady things.

At the current moment, Leone and Tatsumi had met up with Akira at the meeting place for their assignment. The three of them were staring across into the night sky, overlooking the district's streets.

Tatsumi: (amazed) "So this is the Capital's red-light district...pretty exciting."

Leone: (chuckles) "Your unconstrained reaction is so cute. Now then, I've got to work and pay back those debts!"

Akira: "Hmm..."

Leone: "What's that look for?"

Akira: "The way you act... It reminds me of someone I know, I think. They were real annoying. In fact, they had a similar problem like you, involving debts."

Flashback

Akira and a raven-haired girl were currently staring up a burly young man, who was hanging upside down. The two were about to head back to their base on Mount Rousei.

Akira: "Guy? The hell you get up there for?"

Guy: "Ooh, *****, Akira! I got too carried away gambling and didn't have the money to pay, so this is what they did to me. Sorry, but could you guys lend me some money? I want to be freed."

Furthermore into memories...

Guy: "Seriously, when's Pops gonna come back? I wanna go into Toushi Town already."

Spectacled-wearing boy: "We get to stay in an inn that serves great local food as reward for our recent work, right?"

Guy: "Right. And the hot spring has a brothel, too."

Blonde Boy: (sigh) "Predictable, shrimp."

Akira: "Maybe it's best if we left you tied to that tree for the whole trip."

Flashback End

Akira: (sigh) "Yeah. That guy was real fucking annoying."

Leone: "Hey! You make it sound like I'm just as bad as the guy you're talking about!"

Akira: "Whatever. Let's get this job done."

Leone nodded as she slammed her fists together. She began to transform, thanks to her Teigu, Lionel. This belt Teigu allows the user to change into beast-like traits. In this case, it gave the user the appearance of a lion, giving her enhanced strength, speed, and the likes. She also receives enhanced healing.

After transforming, Tatsumi clapped in awe while Akira rose an eyebrow. This was the first time he's ever seen a Teigu like that.

Leone: "There!~ I always feel so pumped when I'm like this!"

Tatsumi: "Oooohhh!"

Leone: "Now. We're going to sneak in and kill the target, Tatsumi, Akira."

Tatsumi: "...Huh?"

The brown-haired teen was suddenly picked up by the blonde lioness, Leone soon dashing and blasting off the roofs. Shingles and tiles fell onto the streets as Leone dashed off with great force as she traversed the area.

Akira sighed and shook his head. These were the types of people he were dealing with, though he shouldn't be surprised as he felt he's dealt with these types of people in the past. Nonetheless, he put on the hood of his tattered and ripped up cloak as he followed behind.

Soon after, Leone crashes through a wall, letting Tatsumi go as he lands on his hands and knees, panting heavily as he processes what had happened. Seconds later, Akira comes following in, landing into a roll as he stops short next to them.

Leone: "Phew!~ Made it!"

Tatsumi: (panting) "You call that sneaking in?"

Akira: "Oi. Numbnutts. This way."

Both Leone and Akira remove a panel from the ceiling as they peered in below. The distinct smell of drugs began to fill the room as many women sat in the room. They were all high, due to the drugs they were smelling, happy and content smiles on their faces.

Tatsumi went to move in, but Leone put a hand over his mouth to stop him from making any sounds. Akira closed his eyes and honed in his senses, sensing two people walking into the room below. In fact, the two people that walked in seemed to be the head drug dealer they were assigned to kill, along with one of his henchmen.

Drug Dealer: "Oooh. Very nice. Very nice. If you girls earn good money, we'll send around more medicine for you!"

Girls: "Yes, sir!~"

Henchman: "Hmm? Boss... Look at this one."

The two looked in front of them. Lying on the floor was a young woman, completely lost in her own world. She was giggling like a maniac, having no self control of herself.

Drug Dealer: "Ah, she's no use. Smells like rotten fish. She's broken."

Girl: "Aww.~ Gimme more...!~"

Drug Dealer: "Scrap her. We'll get a new one in her place."

The henchman did as he was ordered, punching the girl in the face as it snapped her neck in the process. Akira was the only one to notice that Leone's face had darkened.

Henchman: (laughs) "Let's make a call to the dumb broads in the slums."

Drug Dealer: "Yeah. Those good-for-nothings will do anything for money."

Tatsumi: "Those monsters are just as the client said... Unforgivable!"

Leone: "...The girl he just hit...was a friend of mine growing up..." (cracks knuckles) "Now I'm mad... Let's take 'em out, pronto!"

Tatsumi: "Roger that..."

Akira: (summons Harvester) "Understood."

Elsewhere in the building, the head drug dealer was in another separate room with his henchmen. Along with some girls, they all seemed to be having a good time. However, they were unaware of the demons that were watching them, waiting for their chances to strike.

Henchman: "Boss, let's expand our drug circulation routes!"

Drug Dealer: "Good idea. I'll go talk to Sir Chibul."

As the head drug dealer was about to take a sip of his wine from his chalice, the ceiling of the room then collapsed, three figures crashing in. All of them were confused as to what happened, but a cloaked figure dashed out of the smokescreen the debris had created, him grabbing the neck of one of them. He had one of the henchmen's faces to his level, a green aura leaving his mouth as it enter's the cloaked figure's, the scythe in his hand glowing a sinister green. They could all see the crazed grin on his face.

Soon, the rest of the smoke cleared, revealing Leone and Tatsumi standing there, both of them in battle stances.

Leone/Tatsumi: "The only place you're going... Is hell!"

Henchman: "In-Intruders! Get them!"

The rest of the henchmen do as they were ordered by the head of security, rushing at the three. But two of them were quickly dropped by Tatsumi as he had rushed forward, slicing their necks as they bled to death and dropped to the floor. Two guards tried to run away, knowing they wouldn't win, but Akira stopped them by cutting the back of their heels. They pleaded for mercy, but Akira wasn't having it, swiftly lopping their heads off with his scythe.

Leone had her arms crossed, a grin bearing her face as some of her hair was covering one of her eyes. She was completely surrounded, but it wasn't any problem for her.

Leone: "Our target is the whole drug trafficking ring... You guys are equally as guilty...so I'll send you off all in one go."

And she made off with that promise. Thanks to her Teigu granting her enhanced strength, just one strike with her fist was enough to kill them all, leaving only the head drug dealer and his head of security, who was aiming a gun at Tatsumi.

Henchman: "You... You gotta be kidding me! You ain't killing me that easily...!"

Tatsumi: "If you wanna beg, do it to the devil himself!"

The brown-haired teen then slices the head guard in half, the drug dealer looking on in disbelief. Not even able to remotely do anything, as he was still in shock from his whole crew being killed easily, Leone had ran up to him and gripped his neck tightly. He struggled to break free of her grip, him now squirming as he spoke with a strained voice.

Drug Dealer: "What are you after...? Money...? Drugs...? I'll give you anything, just get your hands off of me!"

Leone: "...I don't need any of that. All I want is your life."

Drug Dealer: "Wha... What are you...?"

Leone: (grin) "A good-for-nothing!"

She reeled her arm back before palm striking him in the chest. The force was too much that he was launched backwards, striking the wall as he broke through it, the drug dealer slumping forward as his blood was splattered all over the wall.

Leone: "That's why... I'm just the one cleaning up the trash."

Later...

With their mission finished, the three of them were now walking the dimly lit streets of the Capital. Rarely anyone was out right now, so it was a bit safe for Akira to walk around. Still, he remained cautious.

Tatsumi: "Hey. What's going to happen to all those girls now?"

Leone: "That's not our business, is it?"

Akira: "I suppose not. They aren't my concern, only my payment."

Tatsumi: "But..."

The blonde could tell that Tatsumi was quite worried for them. She then sighed as she told them where the girls went afterwards.

Leone: "There's a former doctor in the slums... He's old, but still pretty good. I'll explain to him and have him check them out. He loves young girls, so he'll probably be thrilled."

Akira: (sigh) "That honestly doesn't sound like the brightest idea."

Tatsumi: "Leone..."

Leone: "I haven't completely ruled out that there's no saving them..."

Tatsumi: (chuckles) "You're such a softie."

Leone: (scratches head) "It's only because I knew some of them as kids."

Tatsumi: "I don't care what your reason. So long as there's a little hope for them."

Hearing the brown-haired teen's words caused Leone to blush and Akira to look at him. With a thinking like that, Akira only thought that would cost Tatsumi his life. But even then, it was something he could never be.

To be a human being that cares for the well being of others. The icy blue-eyed teen turned the other way, letting out a small scoff, his comrades unaware of the fact that he was hiding a small grin. Leone looked at Tatsumi with a small smile before she leaned down to his ear.

Leone: "Tatsumi. I've thought this for a while, but... That face you make... Is so cute..."

Leone grabbed his face, the blonde girl licking his ear as if she was marking him, which she was. Akira looked at them with a blank stare while Tatsumi blushed and backed away with embarrassment and shock.

Tatsumi: "Wha...! Wha...!"

Leone: "Heh, heh... I've marked you. When you're fully grown, you'll be all mine." (looks to sky) "Now, then. I wonder how the others are doing?"

Akira let out a small hum in reply. It wasn't until he perked up a bit. He felt two presences, him recognizing them. He then sensed another.

One that was unfamiliar.

He quickly dashes off towards it, Leone and Tatsumi calling out towards him. They were confused as to why he charged off in the direction of Mine's and Sheele's mission.

With Mine and Sheele...

Currently, the two assassins of Night Raid were fleeing their mission area, having accomplished it. They were crossing through a small park area, their Teigus with them as they were running in the direction of their home base.

Mine: (grits teeth) "Our target, Chibul, had way too much protection."

Sheele: "I'm glad we at least settled the matter safely."

Just as they reached the square of the park, something landed in between them, causing the two of them to jump back as they surrounded whatever landed in front of them.

It was an auburn-haired girl with auburn eyes, her hair being put into a long ponytail. She wore metallic body armor, signifying her allegiance with the Imperial Army. At her side was a dog-like creature. 

Mine: (thoughts) 'Who is she... I didn't pick up on her at all...'

Sheele: (thoughts) 'She's nothing like the guards who make their presence completely known...'

The auburn-haired girl pulled out a paper from her armor, eyeing Sheele. Her grip on the paper then tightened as she had a wicked and twisted grin on her face.

???: "...I knew it. You look just like the picture in the wanted posters... I know you're Sheele from Night Raid! And judging by that Teigu in your hand...your friend is also with Night Raid! I knew waiting under the cover of night would be worth it... At last... At long last, I've found you, Night Raid! I am with the Capital Garrison! Seryu Ubiquitous! In the name of absolute justice, I sentence this evil to death here and now!"

The nearby clock tower rung, signifying it was now midnight. The atmosphere was tense, the two Night Raid members staring at their opponent, nervous.

Mine: "Now that you've seen our faces... You can either join us or die..."

Seryu: "You don't need to be taken alive... So I will dispose of you! My father died fighting villains like you. And you killed my master and captain...! I will not forgive you!"

Mine: "Then you're willing to fight. In that case... Victory to he who makes the first move!"

The pink-haired assassin had taken Pumpkin off her back, quickly firing as many shots towards the Imperial soldier. Seryu simply stood there with her arms crossed, a cold hardened glare set onto the two.

It wasn't until the dog-like creature that came with her quickly dashed in front of her, using it's body to shield the energy bullets coming it's way. The creature had expanded it's body, blocking all of Pumpkin's shots as it had an angered look on it's face.

Sheele: "Mine, that's a Teigu!"

Mine: "Looks like it. And it's a biological type..."

Seryu: "Tonfa guns!"

The auburn-haired girl had reached down to her waist, grabbing her tonfa guns off her waist and began to unload bullets towards the two assassins. The two were quick to respond, the two dashing off to the side as they dodged Seyru's shots. Seryu knew that if she kept firing with her weapons, they wouldn't do anything. They would be ineffective, so she turned to her Teigu.

Seryu: "Koro! Prey!"

The organic Teigu roared, it rushing for Sheele as it opened it's mouth to reveal it's jagged and razor sharp teeth. However, Sheele didn't waver whatsoever, a cold gaze on her face as she calmly walks path the organic Teigu.

Sheele: "Sorry."

Using her scissor Teigu, Extase, she swiftly cuts the beast on it's chest, causing it to fall onto the ground. The glasses wearing assassin flicked the blood off of Extase's blade, walking towards Seryu.

But Seryu's grin only widened. Behind Sheele, the Teigu had quickly gotten up, having regenerated from the wound she had inflicted upon it. Sheele was shocked, awaiting a blow from the organic Teigu. But she didn't receive one, looking to her left as she sees a blast of ice spikes erupting from the ground, stabbing into the beast as it yelled into pain. A cloaked figure quickly whizzed past her, the figure's weapon tearing right through the beast's flesh as it lops it's head off.

The figure then lands a few feet away from them, a chilling breath leaving his mouth as he rests his scythe onto his shoulder.

Akira: "You two should always be aware of your surroundings more. You were lucky enough you weren't killed."

Sheele: "Akira!"

Seryu: "Another one...!?"

Akira: (points to Seryu) "You there. You have two choices. Either leave and forget this ever happened, or get onto your knees and offer your soul like the piece of fodder you are."

Seryu: "Scum like you have no right to speak! I will unleash absolute justice upon you three!"

Akira: "...It seems you've made your choice. Very well. Death's advocate shall collect your soul as payment and offer it to the dead as tribute. Don't bother praying for mercy."

Mine: "Hey, idiot! It said so in the records. Until you destroy the core that's hidden somewhere within a biological Teigu's body, they can keep regenerating themselves."

Akira: "I know that, dumbass. That's why you're gonna help me take down this mutt."

Mine: "It doesn't have a heart, so Akame's Murasame is useless against it, too."

Sheele: "What a problematic adversary." 

By now, the organic Teigu had already regenerated, it's gaze focused on Akira. Seryu stood in front of the three with a straight face, arms crossed.

Seryu: "Koro. Arms."

And from that single command, the organic Teigu, Koro as it's nickname, the arms of the Teigu suddenly grew massive, it being more muscular. Mine reeled her face back in disgust.

Mine: "Yuck..."

Akira: "You two, this may be our only chance."

Sheele: "Understood."

Seryu: "Crush!"

Koro then rushes forward, growling with rage. It charged straight for Mine, the pink-haired girl screaming, but Sheele had gotten in front of her just in time. The glasses girl clenched her teeth, feeling the full force of the organic Teigu's punches as they struck her own Teigu.

Seryu then had a crazed grin on her face as she blew into her whistle, signaling them that she called for reinforcements. However, her face morphed to shock as she jumped back, Akira having dashed for her as his ice cold glare was set on her. He swung his scythe below, aiming to get rid of her mobility by taking out her legs, but Seryu had reacted just in time. She once more took her tonfa guns and began firing upon him, Akira spinning his scythe in a circle as he deflected and cut them down.

He then created an ice pillar below him, being launched into the air as Koro had now brought his attention to him. Koro had punched the ice pillar, destroying it as Akira hopped off it's arm, slicing it's face as he regroups with the other two assassins.

Mine: "First a whirlwind attack... And now she's calling for back up. We're even more... In a pinch! So let's do this!"

Due to the special abilities of Pumpkin, it increasing it's firepower the more danger the user is in, Mine pulled it's trigger. A large blast of spiritual energy was fired off from Pumpkin's barrel.

Both Akira and Sheele jump out of the way, the blast of yellow energy traveling over their heads as it strikes against the organic Teigu.

Seryu: (shocked) "Her firepower increased!? But...!"

The energy shot had created a smokescreen, it soon clearing away as it revealed Koro to be severely damaged. However, it already begun to restore itself, Mine clicking her tongue in annoyance.

Mine: "He's already starting to restore. That's some vitality..."

Seryu: "Don't underestimate the durability of a Teigu..."

Her sentence was cut short. Emerging from the smokescreen next to her were the other two assassins, both of them having a glint in their eyes showing their killing intent. Seryu was shocked.

Sheele: "Teigus are tools. If we just dispose of it's user, it'll stop!"

Akira: "It's over."

Seryu: (thoughts) 'They've been after me since the start!'

Sheele: (thoughts) 'We'll finish this one with my hidden skill...' "Extase!"

A bright light then emitted from Sheele's Teigu. It caused Seryu to shield her eyes with her arms, both Sheele and Akira readying their Teigus to deliver the final blow to her. But the clumsy assassin sent a signal to Akira, telling him to go assist Mine, to which he reluctantly agreed.

And so Sheele and Seryu were left to fight each other, the Imperial girl blocking each and every thrust that came from Sheele's Teigu. Sheele noted how strong Seryu was taking her strikes, the two now heading into the woods nearby. Koro went to chase after, but Akira had swiftly come in and severed it's arm, Mine taking a shot into it's chest.

Mine: "Nuh-uh! You're dealing with us! We're not letting you go anywhere!"

Akira: "Think you can keep up, Pinky?"

Mine: "Heh. You're talking a to a genius sniper, loser!"

Akira: "Then show me what you got... 'Genius sniper.'"

Over in the woods, Sheele and Seryu were still fighting, the auburn-haired girl trying to back up and avoid Sheele's strikes. It wasn't until she backed up enough that Sheele was close enough to get a clean hit in, using Extase to cut off Seryu's arms as blood flew in the air, the severed limbs falling to the ground as Seryu screamed in pain.

Sheele: (thoughts) 'She sacrificed her arms to avoid a fatal wounding!? But in the next attack...!'

Seryu: (crazed grin) "Justice... Will always win!"

Guns had sprouted from her severed arms. Body modifications.

Seryu: "It's a trick the Captain taught me! Take this!"

A loud bang rang through the air, Seryu thinking she won the day. Thinking she had granted justice upon the Night Raid assassin. But then her victorious and crazed grin then faltered, Sheele keeping a straight face as she had blocked the bullet, leaving her shocked once more. She tried to retaliate, but Sheele had walked up to her and sliced her arms once more, cutting off the body modifications off her arms.

Seryu screamed in pain once more as Sheele turned around and flicked the blood off her scissor's.

Seryu: "I'm not done!" (thoughts) 'When he uses it, he overheats and can't move for a couple of months, but... I've got no choice...!' "Koro! Berserk!"

As Mine and Akira were fighting the organic Teigu, they paused. They noticed that Koro's fur had turned a dark red, it's teeth growing to be even more menacing. It let out a loud scream, causing the three to cover their ears as Seryu cackled.

Koro began to charge them, Akira didn't have time to react as the Teigu smacked him away, causing him to skid across the street as he slams into a tree. Before Mine could react as well, Koro grabbed her, Sheele looking back with worry. Seryu then screamed to the top of her lungs.

Seryu: "Crush her!"

Doing as it's master ordered, Koro began to tighten it's grip on Mine. The girl initially let out grunts of pain before they went to screams, Akira watching with wide eyes. Flashes and different memories began to appear in his mind. The people he was seeing, the blonde girl, a glasses boy, a burly young man, a blonde boy, and many others. 

He remembered hearing them scream in pain when he witnessed them. The sense of regret... The feeling of being weak.

He forced himself and grabbed his scythe preparing to, him preparing to go charge in and take down Koro himself. But he saw Sheele jump in and sever the arms, freeing Mine from Koro's clutches, causing him to sigh in relief. But it was short lived.

The loud bang they had heard from before echoed the air once more, both Mine's and Akira's eyes widened. Pierced from her back, a hole was right below her chest. Behind her, just from the treeline was Seryu, a grazed smile on her face as her mouth was open, a gun sticking out of it.

Sheele: "My body... Won't move..."

Seryu: "Just... Execution!"

The clumsy assassin began to fall over, her upper body being grabbed by Koro's mouth as she was severed. Mine cried out, screaming her name in horror.

Akira's eyes then went dull, him falling to his knees as the grip on his scythe began to falter. Voices began to increase as the reinforcements Seryu had called in began to pour into the park, Mine struggling to walk over to Sheele, her still being hung in Koro's mouth.

It was happening again. The death of his comrades, the many scenes of them began to circle around in his head. The sight of Cornelia's body, the death of Guy being reported to him, the sword he wielded being brought to him one night, the previous wielder reported dead to him. He felt...lifeless. Weak.

A low voice began to speak to him in his mind.

"Kill. Kill. Kill them all."

And like a mindless, and unshackled beast, he obeyed. Several reinforcements that were coming from one side soon dropped to the floor, heads missing from the top of their bodies. Pools of blood covered the ground as the rest of the people looked on with shock.

Standing in the middle of the pool of blood and bodies, the falling heads from the sky was none other than Akira. His cold, dull glare was set onto the rest of the Imperial soldiers, readying his scythe behind him as he dash forward with insane speeds. Some tried to raise their blades for protection, but it was futile. Akira had rushed up to one of them and grabbed their face, letting his ice free as his whole head was completely covered, slamming the head onto the ground as it was shattered into shards, brains and blood being scattered.

At this point, what people saw right now wasn't a human being. It was a devil... A monster... A demon wearing the skin of a human.

But they still held onto the hope of them having the advantage in numbers. So they charged into their unaware inevitable deaths. Akira stood there, facing the crowd as a crazed grin began to make it's way to his face, him laughing manically as he stomps his foot, a blast of ice making it's way towards them. With their legs frozen, they couldn't move, the Imperial soldiers and recruits desperately trying free themselves as they hacked away at the ice. But it was useless, Akira speeding past them as blood flew into the air once more, him cutting off their heads with ease, blood splattering onto his face, the smile of his showing clear enjoyment of the carnage he was creating.

What Seryu was witnessing wasn't just a battle. No, it wasn't even a battle to begin with. It was just carnage...hell... A massacre. The blue-eyed teen was dashing left and right, cutting down and brutally murdering any that stand in his way. And she couldn't do anything, but sit there and watch.

As Mine stood there, unsure of what to do, a bright light caused her to cover her eyes. She looked to the source, it coming from the mouth of Koro. It caused everyone else to halt as well.

Sheele was still alive, holding out on what sliver of life she had left to activate her Teigu's Trump Card. Tears began to stream down Mine's face.

Sheele: (weakly) "Ex...tase..."

Mine: "Sheele!"

Sheele: "Please run while you still can... Mine."

Seryu: (shocked) "She... Can still move...!?"

Mine: "But..."

The pink-haired assassin then gasped, seeing a smile on Sheele's face. She had already accepted her fate. Mine clenched her teeth in anger, turning around as she clutched her injured arm. When she turned to look at Akira, the black-haired teen was still trying to cause as much carnage and bloodshed as he could, cutting down anything that stood in his way and Mine's escape.

And so she left, Mine taking off in the direction of Night Raid's base while everyone was distracted by Sheele and Akira. Sheele watched as Mine went, softly smiling to herself.

Sheele: (thoughts) 'I'm glad that at the end... I could be of some use...'

Seryu: "Koro! Hurry up and finish her off!"

Akira: "...All of you shall die... Your souls serve as tribute for the dead! Perish! All of you!"

Sheele looked up at the sky, then closing her eyes as she thought back to her time with Night Raid. In her thoughts, everyone was smiling at her, albeit Akira had his back facing towards her with a small grin on his face as his wolf companion was sitting next to him, wagging it's tail with it's tongue hanging out.

Night Raid was where she belonged, and she had fun. 

She then waited for the organic Teigu to consume her as she could feel herself being lifted up. But a few seconds later, she felt nothing. She slowly started to open her eyes, her vision hazy, but she could see she was being carried by Akira. The icy blue-eyed teen was covered in blood, him panting as he was running through a wooded area, presumably headed for Night Raid's base.

Sheele: "A-Akira...?"

Akira: "Save your breath. You'll live."

Sheele: "Akira... Just put me down... You know the rules between two Teigu--"

Akira: "Just shut up! Just shut up!"

Sheele: "Look at me... Akira..."

The icy blue-eyed teen stopped in his tracks and looked down at her. He let out a sharp gasp, a small smile gracing the girl's features. Her skin was nearly pale, the light nearly leaving her eyes.

Sheele: "I may have never gotten to know you too well... But what I do know is this... Thank you... Akira... For being a...precious... Comrade..."

Her voice trailed off after she said her last word, her arm going limp. Akira frantically put a finger too her neck to check her pulse. There was nothing.

He thought he would feel nothing for the people of Night Raid, no matter how long he spent with them. He didn't know them. They were simply colleagues, or his employers to him. And yet...

Akira: (quietly) "...Dammit... It's raining... Right, guys? Right, Corey... Guy... Najasho... Green... Gin."

Something wet began to go down his face. Tears. The emotion of sadness is what he felt, something he'd thought he'd never know again. Like before, he cradled the dead girl's body in his arms as he wailed into the night sky, bringing her head close to his chest.

When two Teigu wielders fight with the intent to kill, only one may survive, the other shall die. There cannot be two survivors from the battle. It was the Iron Clad Rule.

---

It was raining. The rest of Night Raid's members were standing outside their base, looks of sadness and disbelief on their faces as Mine stood in front of them, clutching her broken arm. Bulat was doing his best to keep his tears in while some, like Lubbock, were letting their tears out.

Tatsumi slowly walked up to Mine with his fists clenched.

Tatsumi: "...Where... Where's the one who did it...? Mine!"

Mine said nothing. Only keeping her gaze down as she had a dull look in her eyes. Tatsumi then began to march for the woods, only to be stopped by Najenda.

Najenda: "Wait. What are you thinking, Tatsumi?"

Tatsumi: (turns around with angered look) "What else? I'm going to get revenge!"

Najenda: "Knock it off. If we rush in without a plan, there will only be more casualties."

Tatsumi: "Our friend's just been killed! I'm not going to sit quietly about it!"

The brown-haired teen then felt pain on the side of his face. Bulat had walked up to him and punched him in the face, causing him to be sent tumbling across the field before he looked up at him with disbelief.

Bulat: "Shame on you, Tatsumi! Keep it together! We told you any of us could die at any moment! Didn't you join knowing that full well!?"

Even then, the pain still hurt for all of them. It affected all of them, even if they didn't show it.

Everyone could then hear wet footsteps coming towards them. They readied themselves for a moment before they relaxed, the sadness adorned on their faces only growing.

He didn't bother to cover his head with his hood of his cloak, his hair wet as they covered his icy blue eyes. Slowly, Akira walked up to the rest of Night Raid with the corpse of their fallen comrade, Sheele keeping a small smile on her face.

Najenda then faced everyone, clenching her metal fist.

Najenda: "Sheele's death...will not be in vain. Now the Empire too should know... It takes a Teigu to fight a Teigu. There will come more battles against those wielding Teigus. So, to look at it another way... Those are more chances to collect them!"

Everyone knew the risks when joining. That one of these days, the bloodshed they spilled would then be payed with their own life.

What they were doing wasn't justice at all. But it was all for the betterment of the country.

Akame looked back at former partner to see the faint tear marks on his face, his eyes red from crying. She recognized that look on his face. It was the very same look when they began to lose comrades in the beginning.