Creating flames between his hands, a ghoul transformed them into a ball of fire. Seeing it coming towards them, the Night Raid members jumped to the sides to avoid it.

"AHHHHH! What are those monsters?" Lubbock was startled, seeing the group of skeletons in front of them. "Where do they come from?"

"Jaldabaoth's army." Mine growled, grabbing Pumpkin.

"Are these elite warriors?" Tatsumi asked.

"Not at all." Aura retorted. "Remember the huge zombie knight you fought the other day? Next to him, those skeletons aren't strong! Nevertheless, there are a lot of them! And watch out for the three ghouls! They're users of magic spells."

"Magic?" Lubbock wondered. "Are you serious? Are these monsters like wizards?"

As if to answer his question, one of the ghouls created a lightning spell and let his attack go towards Lubbock.

"Huh?" The boy wondered.

However, before the attack could touch him, a tall figure stepped in and got hit by the attack. Yet, having donned Incursio, Bulat still stood upright. Grabbing his battle spear, he pointed it at the group of monsters, before roaring.

"No matter what they are or their powers, don't forget what's behind us! This is Night Raid's secret base! If we lose or decide to flee, these monsters could destroy our HQ! It's out of the question! Guys, no matter what, we have to beat these guys."

"AYE!" Shouted his companions.

Seeing them prepare their weapons, one of the ghouls pointed at them, before ordering.

"Kill them! I don't want any prisoners."

Raising their axes or swords, the skeletons behind the ghouls eventually made their way to Night Raid. Deciding to attack first, Leone transformed into a female lioness and rushed towards the skeletons. Seeing her running, the creatures aimed their weapons at her. However, they hit the void, while she made a formidable leap. Then, closing her fist, she struck a skull with such force that she pulverized it. She continued her performance, pulverizing a ribcage with a powerful kick. And she ended by grabbing a skeleton that she threw at three other monsters, who fell to the ground.

Showing a confident smile, she slapped her fist in her palm, before asking.

"Who's next?"

However, she saw the first skeleton, which she had attacked, get back up. Despite the fact that his skull was pulverized, he was still able to stand and fight.

"Huh? Is that a joke?"

Aiming his sword at her, the skeleton attempted to attack her. Nevertheless, Bulat leapt over Leone, before dropping his battle spear on the skeleton. Before he could understand, the skeleton was cut in half. And the next second, both parts of his body fell to the ground, before turning into two piles of bones. This time he wasn't going to get up.

"There's nothing human about these monsters! To kill them, you have to pulverize them completely."

"That's my domain for that." Mine assured, targeting a group of skeletons.

Then, firing, she created a flurry of fire, who bombarded the bodies of the skeletons. Within seconds, the shots damaged their bodies so much that they fell to the ground. Gaining confidence, Mine then targeted a ghoul and fired a laser beam.

"You're next."

Seeing the attack bearing down on him, the undead extended his hand in its direction. However, before he could make any attack, he got hit by Mine's laser beam.

"TOO LATE." She assured.

However, she saw her attack scatter in various directions, as if her shot ricocheted off the wall of a transparent dome, which looked like a magic shield.

" What ? "

"Do you really believe that a pathetic human like you could defeat me?" The ghoul questioned. "I believe it is necessary to show you the difference between you and me."

Raising his arm in the air, he created a magic circle that placed itself above Mine. Then, as she felt the air cool, she finally saw a shower of stalactites falling towards her. Frightened, she jumped to the side to avoid being skewered. However, as soon as she found herself on the ground she saw several skeletons surrounding her and aiming their weapons at her. Positioning Pumpkin in front of her, she took advantage of its resistance to parry the attacks. However, one of the swords struck her in an area not protected by Pumpkin, and Mine cried out in pain, feeling the blade pierce her leg.

Falling to her knee, she lowered Pumpkin, which allowed the other skeletons to target her face, which was now completely unprotected. Yet, just as they seemed to have the upper hand, several skeletons felt their arms cut off and knocked to the ground, along with their weapons. Having positioned himself in front of Mine, Tatsumi aimed his sword at the skeletons. Amazed, he looks at the weapon he had taken from the Death Knight's corpse.

" It's very heavy! But its sharpness is exceptional! It's a very high quality weapon . If I manage to handle it correctly, it could help me become more powerful. "

Looking frustrated, other skeletons moved towards Tatsumi. Nonetheless, simply blocking their swords with his weapon, Tatsumi parried their attacks, not seeing a single scratch on his blade. Nothing seemed to be strong enough to damage his new weapon. Then, stooping he targeted the legs of the skeletons, and cut their bones. Falling to the ground, they found themselves unable to get up, and Tatsumi took the opportunity to cut off their arms, rendering them harmless.

" Tatsumi ? "

"Don't worry! I'm here to protect you, Mine." The boy assured her.

However, instead of feeling gratitude, Mine found herself ashamed of having been saved by the boy.

"Asshole! Who asked you to come save me?"

" Huh ? "

Then, suddenly, Tatsumi spun around to parry a powerful attack that knocked him into the air. Eventually landing hard on the ground, he got up with difficulty, while seeing a huge silhouette stand in front of him.

"Human warrior! I too have come to destroy Night Raid." An animal asserted.

Staring at him, Tatsumi was surprised to find that his opponent was a huge rodent.

" Un rat ? "

"Hey, who are you calling a rat?" Hamsuke huffed. "I am a giant hamster! A member of a noble race, though I am surely the last of my kind! But that's not important! What matters to me is to destroy you, in order to satisfy Jaldo ...Jolba...huh...daoth?"

Seeming undecided, the hamster thought for a few seconds, before asking Tatsumi.

"What is my master's name?"

"You don't have to ask me that, jerk." Tatsumi roared.

Then, aiming his sword at her, he targeted her huge abdomen, which couldn't be shielded by her short arms.

" I don't know who exactly this monster is, but her arms must be a handicap, since they don't allow him to protect her belly properly! I must take advantage of this weak point. "

Immediately, he let out a cry, before rushing towards the hamster. Standing still, the animal even spread her arms out, as if to invite Tatsumi to attack her imposing belly. Finding this suspicious, Tatsumi suddenly braked and this allowed him to sense movement. Positioning, in extremis, his sword to protect the left side of his face, he managed to parry the hamster's tail, which looked like a huge metal whip.

However, the force of the impact caused the boy to recoil, as he felt his arms tingle with the power of the attack.

"You have good reflexes." Hamsuke congratulated him. "A normal human would have been hit by this attack! This shows that you have potential."

Getting on her four legs, she affirmed.

"I think it is necessary for me to be serious! Since you are a worthy adversary, will you tell me your name before I kill you?"

Growling, Tatsumi raised his sword, before getting back into a fighting stance.

"I'm Tatsumi, from Night Raid! However, no tombstone will have this name engraved on it, for several decades! And do you know why? Because I don't intend to die fighting against you."

"Huh? Would you feel ashamed of losing to me?"

At first surprised by her question, Tatsumi hesitated a few moments, before affirming.

"Before I joined Night Raid, my arrogance would surely have prevented me from losing to a rodent! However, since joining the ranks of Nigt Raid, I have only encountered beings hundreds of times more mighty than me ! In truth, I may be a fighter who might be considered weak."

Staring at Hamsuke, he declared.

"I don't care if my opponent is a man or an animal! I would fight him with all my strength, while refusing to be killed! And to show you that I respect you as an opponent, you can also tell me your name."

A little surprised, Hamsuke confessed.

"You're the first human to ask my name! Usually when they see me they want to kill me or claim they are superior beings and listening to me will just be a waste of time."

Lifting her ass in the air, to show that she was going to sprint towards Tatsumi, she declared.

"I am Hamsuke."

Then, hurtling like a torpedo, she found herself in front of Tatsumi. Positioning his sword in front of him, the boy felt the hamster's skull hit his weapon. Immediately ejected backwards, his body ended up banging against a tree, the bark of which cracked. Grinning in pain, he finally opened his eyes, seeing the end of Hamsuke's tail moving towards him.

Jumping to the side, he avoided getting hit and heard the impact of the hamster's tail, hitting the tree. Its simple strike force had managed to pierce the trunk, where Tatsumi's head was. Rising to his feet, the boy felt a trickle of blood flow from his mouth, as the previous attack had damaged his body.

"Damn it! You may look like just a big rodent, but, in the end, you're really powerful."

In response, the hamster stood on her hind legs, before creating an intense light.

" BLINDNESS ! "

Startled, Tatsumi felt the light hit his eyes and burn his retinas.

"AHHHHHHHHHH!" He cried, closing his eyes.

Seeing him unable to use his eyesight, Hamsuke swung her tail towards him and slapped his sides. Not even being able to scream, Tatsumi opened his mouth only to spit blood. Then, flying through the air, he finally collapsed on the ground, and remained lying down.

"Is it over already?" Hamsuke questioned.

Sensing a source of energy behind her, she turned around so quickly that she lost her balance. Falling on her back, she saw a cloud of projectiles pass over her.

"Tsss!" Said Mine, who didn't expect the clumsiness of the animal to save her life.

"Phew! That was really right." The hamster remarked as he stood up.

"This time I'll get you." Mine assured her, pulling again.

Seeing more projectiles hurtling towards her, Hamsuke whipped her tail and let it crash into the projectiles, to stop them. Not having said her last word, Mine concentrated the power of her weapon and produced a laser beam. This time, not thinking he could parry the attack, Hamsuke got back on her four legs. Then, her rushed at full speed towards the attack, before forking slightly to the left. Moving out of the path of the attack, she then continued to rush towards Mine.

However, she suddenly stopped.

"What…?" She wondered, feeling something holding her still.

"Surprised?" Lubbock asked.

Looking around, Hamsuke was surprised to see several skeletons floating around her, while threads were wrapping around their necks.

"My power doesn't allow me to defeat these creatures! However, if I immobilize them, it's the same thing! Bulat or Leone can easily defeat them. "

"Threads?" Hamsuke wondered, while a ray of sunlight shone the threads that prevented her from moving.

Taking advantage, Mine targeted her again. However, she was forced to turn around to target a fireball that headed towards the duo. Creating an explosion, the two attacks caused smoke in front of Mine and Lubbock. Growling, they saw the silhouette of a ghoul, hovering towards them.

"Stupid humans! Do you really think you have a chance against us?"

"Tsss! These monsters are starting to annoy me." Lubbock asserted.

Suddenly, he saw the ghoul create a new ball of fire in his left hand, before forming a sphere of ice, in his right hand. Then, displaying a sinister smile, he struck his two attacks together, and this produced a thick mist, which enveloped the area.

" What ... ? "

Finding themselves trapped in the mist, Mine and Lubbock huddled together, trying to catch a glimpse of something around them. Turning her gaze to the left, Mine thought she saw a figure moving through the mist. However, looking behind them, Lubbock thought he saw this same figure, approaching them, before disappearing.

"Where is he?" The boy frightened.

"Where am I?" The ghoul's voice mocked. "I'm everywhere! And no matter where you try to run, I'll always be there to chase you! Even in your worst nightmares."

"That asshole..." Mine roared, unable to aim.

Having the same problem as her, Lubbock clutched his teigu in his hand. Then, deciding to bet on his speed, he waited for the first opportunity to attack. Thus, seeing a silhouette through the mist, he directed his teigu towards it, before creating several dozen threads, which crisscrossed the entire area. If the ghoul was there, his threads would prevent it from moving.

"Mine...he's here."

However, the air cooled in an instant and the man noticed his threads freezing, rendering them unusable.

" What ? "

A bolt of lightning struck him, electrocuting him.

"AHHHHHHHHHH!" He cried, before dropping to one knee.

"Did you really think your stupid plan was going to work?" the ghoul questioned, appearing in front of him.

Being attacked, the undead felt several projectiles pass through his body. Not having touched, Mine saw that her teigu had finally done some damage to him. However, her hope was short-lived as she saw the ghoul's body vanish like a mirage. Appearing behind Mine, the ghoul put his hand on her head.

" LAST NIGHTMARE ! "

Stilling, Mine's body made no move, while her mind found itself imprisoned in an entirely dark area.

"What…?" she wondered, seeing only darkness around her.

Then, she saw dozens of ghouls appear around her, as they laughed mockingly.

"HAHAHA! Look who we have here."

"She's a weakling."

"A stupid human."

Then, Mine saw Seryu, Rubedo and Sebas appear in her mind and be surrounded by dark aura, causing the sniper to tremble. She felt like she was in the middle of a nightmare.

Rising with difficulty, Lubbock saw Mine's body remain motionless, while the ghoul still had his hand resting on her skull. Seeing the monster's hand turn purple, the boy understood that it was doing something to Mine.

"Hey, motherfucker." Lubbock roared, trying to get up.

However, he stopped, hearing cracking noises behind him. Turning around, he saw the threads, which surrounded Hamsuke, freezing, because of the mist. Noticing this, the animal was not afraid to use her imposing figure to break them.

"FREEEEE!" she cried, pushing herself to her hind legs.

"Damn it. " Rugit Lubbock.

Turning around, Hamsuke aimed her tail at him and the boy didn't even have time to move.

"Damn it." He thought, the instant he was about to get hit.

However, a sword thwarted the hamster's tail and produced sparks upon impact.

"Huh?" Hamsuke wondered.

"Tatsumi?" Lubbock wondered, seeing the boy in front of him.

Still having his eyes closed, the boy was still unable to see and had only used his hearing to know the positions of Lubbock and Hamsuke. Pointing his weapon at the animal, he declared.

"Hamsuke...I'm your opponent.

"I'm surprised to see you still able to fight." The hamster confessed, seeing blood on his chin. "Still, I had hit you hard."

"Tsss, I assure you it's the truth! I think you cracked a rib or two! Nevertheless, if I just stay on the ground, only death will await me! So much worse, if I die, at least I want to tire you enough so that my friends can defeat you."

"Sorry, but you can't give me a single scratch." Hamsuke retorted, while wagging her tail behind her.

"Tatsumi..." Lubbock said.

"Go help the others." Tatsumi ordered him. "Help them and then come back to help me! I'll hold off that monster long enough! I promise."

Hesitant at first, Lubbock eventually rushed towards the ghoul attacking Mine, while belaying.

"As soon as I save Mine, I'll be back to help you! I promise."

Seeing him leave, Hamsuke scratched her head, while staring at Tatsumi.

"It bothers me a little to have to fight you in this state! If it can reassure you, you will regain your sight in a few minutes."

"Don't pity me." Tatsumi ordered her. "No matter the conditions or the handicap, I will fight my opponent again and again! Don't worry about me! In your place, I would be afraid of getting killed and destined to be our dinner tonight . "

For answer, Hamsuke jumped in the air, before dropping to the ground. jumping up so as not to get crushed, Tatsumi heard her smash the ground, cracking it. Then, hearing a hiss, he positioned his sword in front of him to parry Hamsuke's tail. Seeing it being blocked, Hamsuke made it move in all directions, but Tatsumi, concentrating on his hearing, managed to hear the noise it was making approaching him.

" That's exactly what Akame told me! A good assassin should not only trust his eyesight! In a fight, he must be able to use his five senses! My hearing is as important as my view. "

Then, thinking back to her 'fight' against Sebas, Tatsumi focused more. During their confrontation, the butler had shown Tatsumi that every powerful warrior could develop an aura that could be felt. If that was true, Tatsumi wanted to be able to sense Hamsuke's, which might allow him to locate her with certainty.

Suddenly, ceasing to shake her tail, the hamster rushed forward, like a bull, and tried to give him a new headbutt. Hearing her stomping on the ground, Tatsumi rushed towards her, before sliding down on the ground.

" What? " Hamsuke wondered, seeing him pass between her front paws.

Finding himself under her stomach, Tatsumi targeted it. Unfortunately, using her tail again, Hamsuke rammed him and ejected him to the side. a somersault that allowed him to land on his feet.

Feeling his legs shaking, the boy now had a wound on his forehead where blood was flowing. Nevertheless, giving him no respite, Hamsuke's tail swung towards him again. Hearing it coming, Tatsumi was forced to get back into a fighting stance. Concentrating again to guess in which direction it was going to attack him, Tatsumi suddenly saw a light. It was not produced by light. In fact, he had the impression of having seen the silhouette of Hamsuke, about fifty meters from him. He had managed to make out her aura.

"HERE !" he shouted.

Immediately, jumping to avoid Hamsuke's tail, he then ran over it, heading towards the hamster.

" What? " Hamsuke wondered, seeing him find himself in front of her.

Then, feeling the pain in his eyes becoming bearable, Tatsumi managed to half-open his right eye, to stare at the silhouette of the hamster, just in front of him.

" Change the way you fight if you want me to see you as a true fighter! If you want Galadriel-sama to see you as an ally, be worthy ." Sebas had told him.

"AHHHHHHH!" He cried, aiming his sword at her abdomen.

His attack was quick and powerful. Having no time to react, Hamsuke felt the edge of the sword slash her stomach, almost gushing blood. Screaming in pain, she took a step back, feeling herself fall.

However, as Tatsumi believed in his victory, he saw the hamster kicking the ground under one of her feet to maintain her balance. Despite Tatsumi's powerful attack, the hamster's strong coat and thick muscle layer had managed to cushion the shock, lessening the damage.

"It's not over." Hamsuke affirmed. " SLASHING STRIKE! "

Eyes widening, Tatsumi saw her make a quick movement. Then, as time seemed to freeze, he saw his arms get cut in half. Frightened, he saw them flying through the air, while ground flowed from what was left of his forearms.

"Im ... Impossible. "

"I didn't have anything personal against you." Hamsuke assured him, raising her hand to give him the finishing blow.

At that moment, a figure rushed towards the hamster and hit her.

"What...?" Hamsuke wondered.

Having hit him at full speed, Akame took advantage of the wound caused by Tatsumi to drive her saber into the hamster's abdomen. Startled at first, Hamsuke ends up seeing symbols appear all over her body, before surrounding her heart.

"What? What? WHATIIIIII?"

Then, suddenly, her eyes turned, before the animal fell on her back and collapsed backwards.