Night Raid Base – Five Days Later
The atmosphere in Night Raid's meeting room was heavy.
All members were present, seated around the roughly carved table that served as their headquarters. Their faces were serious, attentive. Najenda leaned against the table, observing each of them with a grave expression. The door suddenly burst open as Lubbock rushed in, out of breath, slamming it shut behind him.
Najenda sighed."Good. Now that everyone is here…"She deliberately paused."I have good news. And very bad news."
Tatsumi straightened up immediately, fists clenched.
"The good news," Najenda continued, "is that the Revolutionary Army has finally begun its march toward the Capital."
"Yosh!" Tatsumi exclaimed. "We can finally put an end to this mess!"
Leone crossed her arms, a faint smirk on her lips."Not surprising. The Jaegers have taken heavy losses recently. The Empire is bleeding."
Akame, silent until now, lifted her gaze."What's the bad news?"
Najenda gave a joyless smile."Still as direct as ever, Akame…"She took a deep breath."General Anárion has been recalled to the Imperial Capital. He will arrive today, with two legions."
Silence fell like a blade.
The tension that had been lingering suddenly exploded, smothering any trace of enthusiasm.
"T-Two legions?!" Lubbock stammered. "That's at least twenty thousand soldiers! How are we supposed to deal with that?!"
Mine clenched her teeth."Forget the soldiers." She stared at the table, eyes burning."The real problem is their commander. On top of the Ice Queen… we'll have to face the Ashen Phoenix."
Tatsumi blinked."Uh… excuse me… who exactly is the Ashen Phoenix?"
All eyes turned toward him, heavy with judgment.
Mine let out an exaggerated sigh."Seriously? You really are some idiot farmer straight out of the countryside!"
"Shut it, flat chest!"
"REPEAT THAT IF YOU DARE!"
"ENOUGH. BOTH OF YOU."
Najenda's shout cracked like a gunshot. Mine and Tatsumi froze instantly.
"Tatsumi," she continued coldly, "Anárion is one of the most powerful commanders in the Empire. His Teigu is the only one—alongside General Budo's—that can stand up to Esdeath."
She locked eyes with the young man."His strategic abilities are terrifying. If you ever have to face him… make sure he is alone, that you have at least four Teigu users… and that you are ready to die to take his life."
A heavy silence followed.
"If those conditions are not met… run."
Imperial Capital – The Same Day
The Capital was celebrating.
The grand avenues were packed, adorned with imperial banners proudly fluttering in the wind. After months of fear and assassinations, the population was finally smiling again.
When the first units of the vanguard entered the city, cheers erupted. Flower petals were thrown from balconies. Children laughed, young men shouted their admiration.
The soldiers marched in perfect synchronization, indifferent to the crowd. They were hardened veterans—disciplined, seasoned by war.
"This general and his army are really making a flashy entrance," Tatsumi murmured.
"It's the protocol reserved for frontier generals recalled to the Capital," Leone replied quietly."Esdeath didn't care. She left her army in the North."
Among the legions, some battalions stood out clearly: spearmen, swordsmen, marksmen, war beasts…But it was the cavalry in black armor that truly drew attention.
Two hundred soldiers, fully encased in heavy dark armor—men and mounts alike. Only their eyes were visible behind their visors. Each carried a lance, a scaled shield, and a two-handed sword.
The Black Númenóreans.
The crowd watched them with admiration and pride.
Hidden among the civilians, the members of Night Raid felt a crushing pressure emanating from these warriors.
The procession advanced slowly along the imperial avenue, paced by the rhythmic pounding of boots and the snapping of banners. Yet more than the splendor of the armor or the perfect order of the legions, it was a single name the crowd chanted with fervor.
Anárion.
Elderly men bowed their heads as he passed. Artisans lifted their children so they could catch a glimpse of him. Even veterans, usually reluctant to show public emotion, placed a hand over their chest in respect.
This was not love born of propaganda.
The people remembered.
They remembered that for more than twenty years, the western frontier had never fallen. Where other generals had lost entire fortresses to barbarian incursions and creatures from the Grey Lands, his legions had held their ground. Always.
Thanks to him, trade routes had never been cut. Border villages had prospered instead of burning. Crops had circulated, markets had grown wealthy, and the entire region had enjoyed years of rare stability in an age of chaos.
But that wasn't all.
Anárion was not merely the Empire's shield. The people saw him as their guardian.
The crowd still whispered the tales that had become almost legendary—those moments when he had stood, in the very heart of the imperial court, against corrupt noble houses. Aristocrats who extorted peasants, embezzled funds meant for defenses, or condemned entire villages to preserve their privileges.
The Ashen Phoenix did not negotiate with such threats.
He had noble stewards arrested. He had their crimes exposed publicly. He had even, in one famous incident, refused to obey an imperial decree ordering him to abandon a fortress, stating that he had acted to allow the population to evacuate.
And he had prevailed.
Because the Empire needed him.
Because without this general, the frontier would have fallen. Yet above all, no noble dared admit the fear they felt at the thought of the Ashen Phoenix becoming uncontrollable.
Then, at the heart of the procession, he appeared.
Mounted atop a massive white wolf, General Anárion saluted the crowd. Though the creature was a special-class Danger Beast, it remained perfectly calm.
A faint smile rested on the general's face. His eyes, however, were ringed with fire.
This man is dangerous, Akame thought.
Imperial Palace – Throne Room
"General Anárion, I am pleased to see you back in the Capital," declared the Emperor."As a reward for your effectiveness, you will be granted five thousand gold coins."
Anárion knelt respectfully."I am honored, Your Majesty. To serve you is a blessing."
At his side, Prime Minister Honest continued to eat without restraint."Defend the Empire against all who seek to destroy it," the Emperor continued.
"Rest assured, Your Majesty," Anárion replied."I will personally ensure that no enemy enters the imperial palace."
Honest studied the general closely.
Something bothered him.
Budo was loyal.Esdeath was a conqueror.But Anárion…
He couldn't quite grasp him.
"You may focus on the defense of the outer walls," Honest declared."My son Shura will handle the palace's security."
"It is reassuring to know Your Majesty is safe," Anárion replied with his ever-present smile."I will attend to my new duties at once."
He rose and left the chamber, accompanied by four of his faithful Black Númenórean knights.
"He seems likable, don't you think?" the Emperor asked.
Honest did not answer.
He continued staring at the door through which the general had vanished, the unease growing in his chest.
Something had entered the Capital.
And it was not merely a hero of the Empire.