"Akame, are you sure you're alright? You're still injured. Wouldn't it be better to stay and rest for a while?" said Cornelia, the eldest of the Imperial Assassination Unit's 'Elite Seven.' Her tone was filled with concern.
"Yeah, Akame, maybe you should go back," added Green, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose.
"Ah? I... I'm fine. Just hungry... I wanna eat some meat..." Akame mumbled as she rubbed her stomach, her expression adorably blank.
"Fine, do as you like." Cornelia sighed, parting the bushes in front of her. Across the river, a sturdy-looking wild boar was digging up tree roots.
"Green, get ready—"
Suddenly, gurgle gurgle~
"..." The air instantly grew awkward.
"Akame, you..."
Hearing the sound, the boar, which had been on high alert, froze and turned its head toward the three lurking figures across the river. The murderous intent directed at its plump body was almost tangible—especially from that red-eyed one!
It immediately stopped eating, turned around, and let out a low growl, warning its enemies before quickly backing away.
Just as the boar was about to flee, Green shouted, "Rattlesnake!"
The black whip in his hand shot forward, extending rapidly and coiling around the boar's hind leg.
A metallic clang—followed by a hiss of air.
In a burst of speed, Akame leaped across the river, her Shingu Kiriichimonji flashing through the air as the blade sliced cleanly across the boar's body. The beast collapsed instantly, blood pouring freely from the wound.
"Alright, Akame. This one should be enough to restore our strength for now. Take it back. Green and I will clean up the tracks and gather some wild vegetables to go with it," Cornelia instructed.
Just as Akame was about to leave, Cornelia added sternly, "And remember—no snacking!"
"Ugh... fine," Akame puffed her cheeks in frustration, slinging the boar over her shoulder before trudging back toward their temporary hideout.
"...Green, deal with the blood and footprints," Cornelia said, waving him off before heading into the forest to collect some greens.
Then—
BOOM!
"Ah! Cornelia, behind you! It's a Earth Dragon!" Green shouted, pointing frantically at the massive creature erupting from the ground behind her.
A Class 1 Danger Beast—its emergence shattered the silence, the earth shaking as the creature's enormous, ten-meter-tall body burst through the soil.
Cornelia knew instantly—they were exposed.
Such noise would draw the attention of every rebel soldier nearby.
"Damn it! A Danger Beast!? Fine then—activate, Crushing King!"
A silver-gray gauntlet materialized around Cornelia's right hand. She spun, driving her fist straight into the Earth Dragon's abdomen.
Unable to withstand the sudden force, the beast spewed blood, splattering it all over her.
"Die!"
With a roar, Cornelia's Teigu pulsed again. Another strike landed dead center in the beast's gut, punching through its abdomen and spraying crimson blood across the forest floor.
"Green! Grab some of its meat—we're leaving! The rebels must've heard that!" she shouted urgently, tearing several chunks of flesh free with her bare hands.
"Cornelia, got it! Let's move!" Ignoring the blood and gore, Green ripped off a few more pieces and followed her.
"Go!"
...
"Akame, where are Cornelia and Green?" Poney asked, watching as Akame quietly skinned the wild boar with a serious look on her face.
"Meat, meat, meat... huh? Oh, Cornelia and Green are probably still picking vegetables."
Suddenly—
BOOM!
"What was that?" The others rushed out of the hut in alarm.
"It's from Cornelia's direction..." Akame's eyes sharpened. Without hesitation, she grabbed her assigned Shingu, Kiriichimonji, and dashed toward the sound.
At the same time—
"Najasho! We have to move! They've found our location!"
...
Meanwhile, on the opposite side—a large rebel encampment bustled with activity. Nearly a hundred soldiers moved efficiently among the tents.
"Hey, where the hell are those Imperial dogs hiding? We've been searching for hours and haven't found a single one. This damn wilderness doesn't even have a living soul."
"Hah! Guess it's payback time. Those Imperial dogs used to drive us into hiding—now it's their turn to run!"
"Hahaha... You know what? This might just mean the Empire's finally collapsing—and the Revolutionary Army will soon become the new rulers of this land!"
...
At the center of the camp, Chelsea sat beside a roaring bonfire, holding a document obtained from the Imperial Defense Army—a report containing fragments of intelligence she used to track the location of the Imperial Assassination Unit's hideout.
Her legs swung idly as she toyed with a lollipop in her mouth. Wearing headphones and a British-style school uniform, her long chestnut-red hair cascaded freely down her back.
"Chelsea, any new intel?"
Standing beside her was another young woman—charming yet sharp, dressed neatly in a practical combat outfit with a single-handed sword strapped to her waist. Her movements carried both discipline and grace.
This was Taeko—a rare swordsmanship prodigy with exceptional natural talent, personally trained by Babara Oarburgh herself. Ruthless and efficient, she was every bit the ideal assassin.
Her teacher, Babara Oarburgh, was known to have once claimed that no one of the younger generation could surpass her in skill. (And then Akame killed her.)
Unfastening her large cloak, Taeko sat beside Chelsea. Despite her smaller frame, the girl's ample curves surpassed even Esdeath's. If one were to describe her, the phrase "loli with giant breasts" would've been all too fitting.
Waving the report in her hand, Chelsea grinned with confidence. "Relax. You know my abilities. With the credentials Najenda provided, slipping in and out of these Defense Army camps is child's play."
"But honestly, who would've thought... someone like Najenda, an Imperial General, would defect to your side. Too bad I was on another mission that day—missed the chance to witness the Empire's two most famous female generals in action."
"Don't worry, Chelsea-chan, you'll get your chance soon enough—hm? You—wah!"
Chelsea suddenly smirked mischievously, tossed the document aside, and tackled Taeko, burying her face in the latter's chest.
"Mmm, truly magnificent... seriously, how do you even fight like this?!" Squeeze. "They're so huge, it's a miracle they don't throw off your balance."
"Uuuuh... I-I don't know..." Taeko whimpered helplessly.
Just as the two girls wrestled playfully, a sharp, aged voice rang out behind them. "Taeko! Chelsea! What do you two think you're doing?! This is a battlefield!"
"Master! You're back!" Taeko exclaimed, quickly escaping Chelsea's "grasp" and changing the subject. "How did it go?"
"Hmph! Don't ask. That old snake Gozuki slipped away again. I landed a heavy blow, but he managed to flee north. The Imperial Guard Legion is stationed there, so we couldn't pursue. A shame..."