Unknown day, Inside the confines of the mind...


Seryu struggled to wake. She was having a nightmare, or at least she thought she was having one.

One were Drake...

The man she loved, swallowed in a sudden vortex of flames.

Flames produced by the singular being that seemed assigned towards taking everyone she knew and loves as of late.

Pyro

And her hatred deepened for that man.

Yet there was something...missing...

Out of place...

Like she forgotten something...

Seryu, slowly and blinking several times, opened her eyes. "But what..?" She muttered half asleep.

Afterword, Seryu thought she was still asleep, blinking her eyes as she woke. Taking several moments to confirm that she indeed was away, she rose up before looking around. Her hands on her legs, Seryu's heart beat grew at the realization that confronted her.

Darkness was all that greeted her. Pitch black without a trace of light.

The kind where you couldn't even make out the nose right in front of you.

"Wh-where am I?" She gasped aloud.

"Seryu..." A voice as deep as it was old answered. "You have awoken...goooood."

Seryu whipped her head around. "Who's there?!" She yelled, trying to pinpoint the source of the voice.

"I?..." The voice started. "We...are the one who will show you the light inssside your darknessssss."

Seryu continued to look into the darkness around her, searching in vain for a voice the sounded like it was everywhere.

"You ssseek me out...Very well...thisssss one shall reveal the first of many illuminations we shall provide for you, Seryu..."

In that moment, Seryu's noticed a pair of yellow eyes that shone brightly in the piercing dark. She leaned forward, hands before her as her eyes narrowed to focus.

Laying perhaps 5 or 50 feet away, Seryu could not tell, was a massive snake who's color she couldn't make out.

Seryu's eyes widened as she pushed herself back.

"What...manner of evil are you!?" She screamed at the snake.

"Evil? That is a matter of prefrenssse...One constantly changing with the timesss..." The snake replied, slithering slightly closer. "Your heart issss...animated...relaxsss...this is but a dream..."

"A dream?" Seryu repeated.

"A dream...One brought on by your subconscioussssss so we may communicate..." The snake replied, moving even closer.

"I demand you release me from this dream, and banish yourself from my mind demon!" Seryu screamed.

The snake laughed at the foolish girl. "We exist together now...Two corpsesssss in one grave..."

"Impossible!"

"And yet it is TRUTH!" The snake's eyes flashed, Seryu arms rose to cover her eyes from this drastic source of light.
When she lowered her arms after the light faded to a bearable level, she nearly jumped up as the snake's head hovered directly in front of her.

"We are the ancient parasssssite, the one who takesssss on the wissshesss of dying humanssss yearning for justisssssse against those that have wrongfully taken their lives!" The snake roared.

"Serpentine is our name, and we are many...our eyes and ears spread throughout the world revealing many truthssss about this nation that you THINK you understand."

"We shall show you truth, Seryu...the true ssside of the Empire you claim allies with thisssss so called 'justissssse' you worship like a deity."

"And once we are done ssshowing you the darknessssss corrupting those you sssworn loyalty to...you ssshall realize in full how utterly hypocritical your claimsss of justisssse truly are."

"Only then...will you be bathed in light once more."


10 days after the Revolution began, Eastern Imperial Territories on route towards Kyoroch.

"Doesn't the snow surrounding us look oh so glorious? Elegant? Simply beautiful? Such inspiration for any would be artist." Said a flamboyantly dressed, high ranking member of the Imperial Empire's military.

Riding atop there horse, accompanied by their personal bodyguard of 50 hand picked soldiers, they took ever moment to admire the snowy landscape they were traveling through.

They were dressed up in their own version of the white colored Imperial Military Uniform issued to officers, with the addition of white lace sleeves worn underneath the military jacket, a fantastic multi-diamond necklace resting on top their chest, several star designed ear piercings set all along the right ear, white high-heel boots similar to Esdeath's and held a Far East folding fan in their left hand.

Their hair; parted to the side dyed in a deep purple, draped over the left side of their face. A beauty mark lay off the corner of their right eye, and both eyes were covered with dark purple maskara. Deep red lipstick brought color to their lips and makeup that bright out the color in their cheeks.

Their body is muscular, yet feminine. Strong, yet elegant. Sturdy, yet smooth.

This is General Heiscliff; a human who sometimes identifies as a man, others as a woman, and most of the time as neither or both.

"Indeed, General Heiscliff." Their female aid answered. "The winter brings much beauty to the world...as well as its fair share of dangers."

"Well said Miranda, well said." General Heiscliff praised with a nod. "With anything noteworthy of beauty, more often than not come with the company of thorns."

"Agreed, General Heiscliff." Miranda soundly replied.

The group of 51 were traveling to link up with the task force they were assigned to deal with the Path of Peace armed resurrection. The Imperial forces gathered for the task were a barely a formation worth of even a mediocre general in terms of numbers.

400 plus soldiers; 2 companies lead by some Captain Brigid with little experience beyond suppressing bandits.

A sad joke to deal with a rebellion estimated to have over 100,000 fully armed and trained fanatical soldiers accompanied by whatever civilian rebels they've folded into their ranks.

Never mind all the other towns, villages, and cities that also rose in rebellion here in the East. That wasn't their problem.

That task was assigned to a perfect fit for the job, if the job was to kill everyone and damn the consequences.

General Batto, also known by the titles "Butcher of the Frontier" and "Honest's Occupation Policy", gleefully accepted that bloody work with the sweetest, sociopathic smile that would drive anyone with even a fraction of morality sick.

Batto had the appearance of the fabled Amazons of the Deep South, with tan skin, white-blond hair, red-brown eyes, and a body sculpted straight out of the heroic epics.

She'd been allowed to wear traditional Amazon clothing; basically little more than a bikini with bare little arm and leg guards with animal skins thrown here and there, as long as she wore her Imperial Military Uniform as a cape of sorts.

As a tribute to the statement brought up earlier, General Batto had a beautiful, muscular figure and is as dangerous as a half-starved three headed lion.

In contrast, General Heiscliff styled themself to their own personal sense of perfection. Said perfection however, was limited by dull regulations when on duty.

The tactics these two employed reflected in a similar way.

It's said there are three types of general in this day and age.

Those that lead from the front, relying on brute force to spearhead their way through whatever force they've come up against while personally inspiring their troops and turning them into a near unstoppable wave of death. At least in theory.

Those that rely on clever strategy and tactics to carry the day, preformed by troops they have specially trained to carry out whatever intelligent maneuvers, plots, and so on they can fathom and practically deploy.

And those that rely solely on instinct, the ones that can seem like one of the two or both of the other types yet blessed with some sort of cognitive ability to manipulate the battlefield to their favor through whatever style they favor.

General Batto is without a doubt a might-makes-right type of general.

General Heiscliff is assumed to be an intellectual type by there peers, few they are outside of those they have worked with. In truth, they are the trickiest type to deal with: An Instinct General.

They forged a plan, as they were expected to delay the Path of Peace rather than subdue. A task that can be done with 400+ men. For how long? Well, that depends on the performance of the men and the general in charge.

On that note, Heiscliff was contacted by a particular high ranking member of the Capital just the other day.

Chairmen Fuyu, via a shinobi in his employ.

He handed the general a rather interesting letter. A letter that, should certain individuals come across it, would quickly give just cause for the Chairmen of the Senate to be executed on the spot.

However, Heiscliff wouldn't do such a thing. Despite Prime Minister Honest being their patron, Chairmen Fuyu was not only an well known acquaintance, he was an idol to an entire generation of Imperials serving in that military.

For who other than the Flash Demon could save us all?

General Esdeath's name would possibly come up, yet she lacked the will to settle things once and for all. Her form of entertainment: Let enough of the enemy live so they can fight her again later.

Back to the point, the second reason why Heiscliff wouldn't dream of betraying the man he came to respect is thanks to Fuyu truly understanding Heiscliff personality.

Fuyu knew perfectly well that he could tell Heiscliff everything and not worry about the consequences.

For Heiscliff is the type to constantly switch between the numerous political camps within the Imperial Military at a seeming infrequent rate that most write it off as a spur of the moment decision.

Publicly, like any other high ranking officer that wants to keep their position, Heiscliff was loyal to Honest.

In reality, they were loyal to whoever peeked their interest the most. Chairmen Fuyu has always been a subject of intrigue. Now, he's the brightest star in the sky illuminating the way in a sea of darkness.

General Heiscliff couldn't help but give their full support to that fabulous man and his bold plan. At least for the time being.

What better entertainment is there, then to see someone within the inner circle flip the chessboard Prime Minister Honest so carefully set up after all these decades?

Perhaps how that crafty bastard handles everything crumbling around him. That will remain to be seen, depending on how close Fuyu's plan goes accordingly.

After all, plans rarely stay intact for long.

So yes, Heiscliff will carry out both Honest's and Fuyu's wishes by delaying the Path of Peace for an ideal amount of time. From there, it would reflect the general's mood...and if they can meet with this so called god Lord Fairchild.

Will they follow Fuyu's instructions? Will they add their own flare to spice it up? Will they change their mind after Honest does some act that catches their interest?

Who could say?

For that is what it's like to deal with General Heiscliff, the Wild Card with a will of their own.

The hidden gem Prime Minster Honest despises using for how unpredictable they are.

"I wonder, how will these next few days affect my viewpoint of it all?" Heiscliff asked himself aloud. Miranda and their personal bodyguard-soldiers knew their general well enough to disregard these outburst.

Who were they to question the inner workings of a military genius?


Later that night, Umatora Theater, Imperial Capital.

Arthur Note: Yep, we're covering THAT scene from the manga. So if you wanna skip this part I don't blame you. Its pretty fucked, but not the worst thing I know exists in media out.
Read at your own discretion but do know I didn't go into much detail when THAT starts happening.

Upon a chilly, winter night, a troop of performers practiced upon a stage set with a small castle set in the center back wall.

Women dressed in matching dresses and tiaras song in chorus with men dressed in fine black suits as two muscular pretend soldiers fought one another. All the while, the troop leader and director holding a copy of this play's script in hand, stood alert to call out any critics that might form.

Thus far, the troop preformed this dress rehearsal exactly to his expectations. While this was good, he wanted these men and women to aspire for great.

After all...this play contained several touchy subjects on the current state of the Empire.

One that, should certain individuals notice, would result in their collective executions.

And for that very reason, he wanted his troop to preform to the best of their abilities. They could only keep this going for so long.

For the Revolution.

"Scuse me!" A voice called out to the theater troop. Everyone on stage turned toward the source of the voice.

Stepping forward from one of the main entry points was a tan man with an X scar over his head: Syura.

Following behind were Cosmina, Dorothea, Enshin, Champ and Raven. Mad Monk Joburo stood in the back with his massive frame blocking the door at the end of the other row.

Vile watched from the second floor seats, a hand upon her hip as she frowned at what would be another pointless massacre.

"We're the secret police; Wild Hunt." Syura stated, holding up the unit's official badge his father gave him. "Heard of us?"

The troop leader adjusted his top hat, then approached the groups while stroking his long, black beard.

Yes, he's heard of Wild Hunt.

I mean who wouldn't have?

They formed as a group set to assist Esdeath's Jagears after that police group took too many casualties.

That was the official story.

Unofficially, it is a group formed by the Prime Minister to give his son -the very man that now spoke before him- an excuse to throw his authority around while gaining experience with leadership or so the rumors say.

Any spawn of that sadistic, greedy madman is sure to be just as evil and given the unconfirmed investigations Wild Hunt have conducted up until this point...

"Yes, of course." The troop leader started, doing his best to retain his composure. "What can we do for you fine patriots of the Empire?"

Syura crossed his arms, smiling at this insignificant toy that thought it could talk big. "We've heard that your current play criticized the Empire. We've come to investigate those claims."

"That is preposterous!" The troop leader replied in shock. "We would never dare to-"

"Then by all means, preform your play." Syura cut him off with the turn of the head. "If it doesn't criticize the Empire, as we heard, then you'll have no reason to refuse."

The troop leader left a cold sweat run down his spine. If he felt these secret police view the play as they request, then they would know he lied to then and find himself and his troop arrested at best.

If he refused, then that action would confirm the reports and lead to equal if not worse punishment.

A lose-lose situation.

And thus, he decided to gamble.

If this man was anything like the usual corrupt officials he'd come across...then he had a chance.

The troop leader pulled out a bag filled to the brim with gold coins. He took Syura's hand with his free one and placed the bag in his palm.

"I...trust we have come to an understanding?" The man said with a nervous smile, hoping his gambit worked.

"Trying to bribe your way out of this?" Syura stated with distaste. He tossed the large sum behind him, landing on the floor. "Execute him."

Dorothea imminently pounced the troop leader, biting into his neck and sucking him for all he was worth. The skeleton body of the troop leader collapsed to the ground a few seconds after.

The performers on stage screamed in horror and rage, several moved to rush the members of Wild Hunt.

"You sure you want to do that?" Syura said to his would be attackers. "I'm the prime minister's son." He smiled something wicked as he continued. "Threatening me is the same as threatening him. If you think you can deal with the consequences, then by all means. Continue."

The several performers that aimed to do this arrogant asshole harm froze in place, eyes widening upon realizing the reality of the situation.

Syura let out a tisk. "Spinless cowards." He muttered.

"Just goes to show the kind of reputation your father carries, Syura." Raven commented after approaching then coming to a halt beside then forward, resting Adayusa upon his shoulder.

"Yeah..." Syura tilted his head back. "Alright you lot, investigate them thoroughly."

Enshin and Cosmina quickly approached the stage.

Many of the theater troops full number came out to witness the commotion earlier. Dozens fled from the approaching members of Wild Hunt attempting to escape through one of the various exit routes. Those that remained mostly sank to their knees in justified fear, some holding onto one another for fragile comfort.

"Just what you'd expect from a theater group. So many cute girls I don't know where to begin." The pirate stuck his tongue out. "Guess I'll just take them all~"

"Cosmina will take all the pretty boys then!" The literally insane woman stated with cheer.

As Enshin and Cosmina began to forcefully strip their chosen play things, Syura made his way on stage and grabbed one woman that caught his eye. He forced the poor young thing backstage, where he would rape the girl until she broke, then kill her as Syura always done during these so called investigations.

Champ made his way unto the stage, breathing heavy as always while bored out of his mind. This fat ass clown was mopping, eyes slowly scanning the crowd when he spotted someone that made his heart skip a beat.

A young boy.

Screaming in glee, Champ plowed his way through the crowd showing no signs of care about the men and women he shoved aside or trampled underfoot.

When he reached the young boy, Champ picked him up by the collar. "Ah, so sweat and pure! Like an angel!" He breathed out as his face formed into the creepiest of smiles. "I can't get enough of sights like this..." He finished with, then imminently hit the kid in the face with an open palm nearly snapping the boy's neck.

The kid landed near the castle backdrop, breathing heavily and letting out slight noises of agony as blood gushed out of his mouth.

"Ohh does it hurt?" Champ asked sarcastically, licking his lips. "Don't worry, I'll make it all better~"

"Please...he's just a boy!" A woman, probably the kid's mother or at least caretaker, pleaded as she tugged upon the back of Champ's clown outfit.

"Just a boy?" Champ replied, anger rising in his voice. "THAT'S THE WHOLE FUCKING POINT YOU BITCH!"

With a surprising amount of speed, the sick clown turned around and punched the woman's head clean off. Blood splattered all over his face and hand as the body fell.

Champ proceeded to repetitively kick the corpse, splattering more blood on his fat body as he cured with all the anger he felt for being interrupted. For this rotten piece of garbage to dare approach him.

"Out here is too noisy..." Champ turned, giving the child an actually friendly smile upon his face splattered with blood. "Why don't we go somewhere more private?"

As Champ forced the boy backstage to do what he always has with children, Raven spectated the rape orgy Cosmina and Enshin established, smirking at how these simple minded, murdering heathens found such pleasure in depravity.

He glanced up to where Vile was, only to notice her turning around to leave.

'She doesn't have the stomach for this...' Raven thought, looking back at the depraved show of lust before him. 'That's fine. No need for her to stoop to these fools level.'

"And to think...They get to have all this playtime thanks to Esdeath being deployed to deal with the Western Barbarians." He muttered with a smile. He smiled, for Raven counted on Syura and his Wild Hunt to make the amount of corpses skyrocket.

The more dead bodies, the more effective the Corpse Garden will be once deployed. Oh the look on these heretical fools faces when they learn their deeds helped spell their doom!

A group of half a dozen theater troop made a break for the exit the Mad Monk guarded. Many of them pleaded with the massive man to allow them to escape.

"Oh thou art poor, craven souls! Worry not, for I shall pray for thy salvation!" Joburo replied, moving the pray beads in his hand a few times, muttering words no one aside himself could hear, before taking his free hand and swatting the group before him towards the near wall.

Their bodies splattered like insects as the impact bathed the theater wall red.

Meanwhile, Dorothea helped herself to whomever Cosmina and Enshin where finished with, pilling high a mountain of skeleton corpses she drained of all life. She sat upon said pile, taking a handkerchief to wipe her mouth clean of blood.

This depravity would continue for hours still, until everyone Wild Hunt investigated were thoroughly used for their demented pleasures.

And, more often than not, murdered as "thanks".


The majority of the theater troop that chose to escape fled through the front entrance. They ran with all their worth, never once looking back.

All of a sudden, these fleeing performers stopped cold. Before them, three members of Wild Hunt blocked their path on that cold, snowy night.

Izou stood front and foremost, hand resting on his precious sword. "We have permission to kill anyone attempting to flee the investigation." He coldly stated. The swordsman for the land of Sho Sho opened his eyes, revealing his black sclera with red irides

"Kousetsu...here's another chance for you to drink your fill."

In a flash, Izou cut through his first two victims cutting them clean in two. He twirled around, advancing forward before cutting through six more. This time heads and upper bodies flew into the open air. Izou spun-advanced once more, cutting up ten more individuals.

By the time he closed his eyes, the upper bodies of his first two targets were only now hitting the ground.

"To think I'd be allowed to kill this much." Izou said, placing his hand upon his chin. "This country is amazing, I am so glad I came here with Syura."

Regin shook his head in disappointment before walking off towards the left. Like before, he saw no point in killing those that offered no resistance.

Iron Skull turned his head. "Yo Regin, where you going?"

Regin didn't even bother to turn around as he continued to walk off. "Slaying civilians like this is a waste of my time and talents." He stated, pointing to Izou whom was slaughtering more members of the theater troop trying to escape.

"Let Izou feast upon those weaklings, I have better things to do."

"I get you." Iron Skull nodded, crossing his arms. "Seems like a waste of our time, hell I'm not that keen on killing civies. That said, orders are orders. We just follow and hope our leader knows what the hell they are doing. If not, well that's something to deal with then and there."

Regin let out a sigh. "You just don't understand the heart of a true warrior. Goodnight."

Iron Skull shrugged, turned around, and decided to cover the right side encase Izou missed anyone heading off that way.

Regin continued onward, eventually hearing the wheelchair bound Undertaker approaching from out of whatever hole he was hiding in. The crippled man slowed once he came behind the elder gentlemen.

"Such a misuse of your talents...to spend on the whims of a man-child who has no sense of morality." Undertaker said, grinning at the old man. "His father gave our glorious leader a clear task, and he chooses to play while General Esdeath is away."

"I agreed to follow that, spoiled brat to fight foes worth of my blade." Regin replied. "Not spend time playing around with weaklings."

"Our main job is to destroy Night Raid, yet here we are doing everything but." Undertaker let out a laugh. "Since we're wasting out time anyway, how bout I offer you something that'll be worth your time?"

Regin stopped in his tracks. He took a deep breath before turning his body to face the wheel chaired man before him.

"I'm listening..."


Out the back entrance of the Umatora Theater, 3 members of the theater group cautiously entered the back ally. The trio; two men and a young girl, flinched at any slight noise as they made their way into the darkness.

Completely unaware of the new horror they walked into.

"T-this way..." The lead man said, waving his had for his friends to follow. They traveled a few more steps before coming to a four way intersection. The lead man turned around to face the others. "OK, so we head left to get back to the street, and right to-"

In a sudden motion, a large mechanical arm snapped down from above and closed its four "fingers" around the speaking man.
It lifted him up in the air, given the trapped soul enough time to scream in terror, banging his hands against the solid metal arm about three or four times before it crushed his head like a watermelon.

The other two performers screamed, spinning around and ran back the way they came. Barely a few steps where taken before the young girl tripped over her dress.

She called out to the other man leaving her behind. The man turned his head around, missing any hint of yet another octo-arm coming down and snatching him high above the ground.

The man let out a yell before being lifted into the darkness.

The young girl looked up, crying but holding in any screams or wailing she might have wished to voice. She balled her hands up in pray, and was rewarded with the cracking sound of bone and ripping of flesh.

There was a gurgled scream of pain easily drowned out by the noise she would never forget for the remainder of her short life. Blood rained down in globs from the darkness, some splashing upon her head.

The girl let out a cry, closing her eyes as she crouched closer to the ground. The tears pored down as she yelled in pure terror.

Minutes passed that seemed like hours, the girl, breathing heavily in panic, picked her head up. Slowly, she sat up, shacking in fear as she wrapped her arms around her for some sense of comfort.

All was silent and that stroke the girl more than anything else.

The silence in the darkness. It drove people who lingered to insanity.

Just when the young girl decided to rise to her feet, White Scorpion shot down, handing upside down and drawing his head close to the young girl's. "Nice day, huh?"

The girl screamed, landing on her rear and backing up as fast as she could. Her shoes coming off and backside of her dress ripping in a desperate attempt to flee.

She cried, heart sinking in her chest when she felt something cold bump behind her. She turned her head, noticing two mechanical octo-arms laid one atop the other to prevent her escape.

If she hadn't focused solely on White Scorpion, she may have noticed the two artificial limbs in the corners of her eyes moving to block her. For all the good that would've done.

Using his other two octo-arms as a boost, the mercenary jumped to a calculated point directly in front of the helpless girl. He gazed down at her terrified form, noticing the new smell.

She pissed herself.

Poor child.

White Scorpion bent down on one knee, resting one hand upon it as he slowly reached out with the other.

"Shuuusssshh...its ok. Its ok now..." The former Imperial spoke softly, using his hand to caress the side of the young performer's face. "Everything's gonna be fine now..."

The girl shook, whimpering despite the effort. Scorpion shrugged with a smirk: A simple oh well gesture.

"Tell me...girl...can you guess why I did all this?"

Slowly, the young performer shook her head as she shook with tear filled eyes.

"I've been practicing...eheheheee... Testing out all forms of tormenting deaths upon these people...Do you know why? DO YOU?!"

The young girl jumped at the outburst. After a moment, she shook her head again, otherwise remaining silent.

"For revenge." White Scorpion gave the girl an honest, almost fatherly smile. "For those that where killed right before my very eyes. My brothers and sisters. My family. Comrades in the Imperial Engineer Corps, specifically the 31st, betrayed by one of our own...Ever heard of that unit?"

Once more, the terrified girl shook her head.

"I see..." Scorpion gave the girl a sad smile, patting her on the head before continuing.

"We participated in the Southern Subjugation Campaign, nearly got wiped out by those damn barbarians. After that war, we were reformed and sent all over the Empire to deal with damn rebels popping up all over the place...One day we were set to destroy this entire village some idiot decided to set upon an isolated flat rock with only a single bridge connecting it to the outside world when...that man...killed everyone...everyone...but MEEEE!"

Scorpion pinched the sides of the girl's cheeks far more then one should. His voice raising in pitch as he continued despite the performer's cries to stop.

"I alone survived! I watched that bastard kill everyone we both called family! He acted like what I became! A bloodthirsty monster incapable of compassion! Devoid of reason! Broken inside!"

All four of White Scorpion's mechanical arms quickly grabbed one of the young girl's arms or legs. Letting go of her cheeks, the clearly deranged man commanded his extra arms to hoist the panicking performer up into the air, spreading her arms and legs apart as they did.

"NO! NOOOOO-!" Where the last screeching cries of the poor unfortunate performer girl before all her limbs were pulled apart.

Blood rained on White Scorpion's face as he laughed in psychotic rage and joy, screaming his very reason of living after the trauma of his past.

"For what you did to me! For what you did to all of us!"

"DRRRRRAAAAAAKKKKKEEEEEE!"


Southern Territories, Revolutionary Army HQ

Finally, after so long, the orders to mobilize were finally given.

Soldiers of the revolution match out of the base they resided in for so many years or what seemed like years for some.

A lone rider oversaw the formation, a mercenary hired by the highest ranking members of the revolution to act as general for this first wave against the might of the Imperial Army.

His name is Stinger, a former member of the North Star Shooters, and former subordinate to the infamous Walker.

A man with long, brushed, dusty dark mop head of hair wearing a loosely secured dull silver cloak with white triangle stripes along the bottom, a black shirt with matching pants black fingerless gloves, brown work boots, and a small, dull gray worn out fedora with one side folded up at a 90 degree angle atop the right side of his head.

Sitting upon his horse as the vanguard of what would be the full might of the Revolutionary Army set out to secure their smooth path towards the Imperial Capital. In his hand, a red spear Imperial Arms gifted to him by his former boss he now has standing orders to kill on sight.

A spear that was attempted to be duplicated by a former Imperial Emperor. A Shingu known as Trisula: The same spear that Natala wields.

So much went wrong so fast. What should have been a...well not happy reunion but one better than was turned south fast. All in the span of a single week one month ago...

The death of two leaders of the Council. Assassinated. The blame of which laid upon the young man Walker so desperately defended when everything went to hell.

"Goddamn it Walker..." He muttered, recalling the events a month prior as he privately expressed his regret. "Why did it come to this?"

"Why after all those years apart, you're forcing me to kill you?"

To the man known as Stinger, he would never learn the answer.

Of what really happened on that day, when Tatsumi and Walker meet the leadership of the Revolutionary Army.

And learned the truth.

The harsh, unrelenting truth of it all...


1 Month Ago...

Tatsumi and Walker could see the Revolutionary Army's HQ building in the distance.

"Bout damn time." The merc muttered under his breath.

The journey had grown stale by this point thanks to all the detours around Imperial Forts they had to make. Fortunately, the last two were more or less under total Revolutionary Army Control. That made the last few days easier than the rest.

"Almost there Walker." Tatsumi said, leaving the rest in his mind. 'Almost time to find out the true face of this Council.'

It took about a 10 minute walk before two sentries came to meet them. The quickly asked for identification, then cleared the two onward after sending in their report via radio.

Another 5 minutes and the two members of Night Raid stood before the main entrance of the HQ. Two massive door stood before them, soon rumbling apart to reveal their welcoming committee.

A single man with brown hair tied up in a long ponytail with black eyes. wearing a dark khaki military uniform with a black armband featuring red six-pointed star approached the pair.

"Greetings, and apologies for the lack of a grand welcome." He said once he grew close, his voice soft yet toned like a noble. "I trust you can understand, given this critical time, many of us are devoted to our duties in finalizing our first and final offensive against the Empire."

Walker nodded in understanding. "Course we understand. Busy bodies that you all are, I still find it surprising that even one member of the Council came out to meet us."

Tatsumi blinked a bit upon that last bit. A member of the Council? This man?

The brown haired Council member chuckled. "I'm surprised you remember me, given we only meet once. How's the assignment treating you?"

"Its nice to follow rather than lead for once." Walker answered with a shrug. "Much as I love to shoot da shit with yea, we'd rather cut to the chase." The merc extended his hand toward Tastumi.

"This young man 'ere has a few questions for the Council. I hope ya'll be accommodating given we wasted a month traveling here."

"Of course Walker, we can't exactly refuse a request from Night Raid after all they have accomplished for the Revolutionary Army." The Council member approached Tatsumi, extending his hand out for greeting.

Tatsumi took the hand in his own, giving the man a half-smile. "It's nice to meet you..uh, sir."

"The pleasure is all mine. I have heard so much about you, Tatsumi." The man stated, withdrawing his hand after a time.
"Such a young man with enormous potential. You've managed to achieve so much in so little time, not to mention that 100-Man Slayer Bulat has chosen you to be Incursio's successor. Of course, we of the Council desired to see such a promising member of our assassination unit with our own eyes."

"Ah yes, where are my manners. My name is Cesare, head of the Revolutionary Army's Dark Ops. Najenda reports directly to me." Cesare allowed himself a smirk before finishing.

"In other words, I'm your boss."


THUS ENDS ANOTHER ENTRY TO AKAME GA KILL: CLOCKWORK!

Damn this one gave me some writers block here and there haha. Mostly on the "Where should I end it" bit.

That said, we dropped some bombs on this one hahaha.

From showcasing what's going on in Seryu's subconscious, to showing General Heiscliff, other named mentioned only and some new characters, Wild Hunt's "premier" as an official group, the motivation behind some of said members, and the start of a tale that's ending is already written.

Oh boy we got a lot from this entry huh?

Aye, we covered that fucked up scene featuring Wild Hunt from the manga but like I said, this was coming and needed to showcase how twistedly fucked the group is.

And yes, I am intentionally leaving Miranda vague as she's a minor character that'll maybe pop up a handful more times at best so feel free to imagine her to your particular preference :D

As you may have caught on, we'll be having the Tatsumi bits at the very end of the entries for the time being for this BACK TO THE FUTURE'S PAST stuff we got going on haha. We'll be more or less introduced to the full Council that leads the Revolutionary Army next time, along with much more surprises.

With Wild Hunt on the rise, unchecked with General Esdeath deployed to the West, darkness falls upon the Capital in a new shade of dread. Will the Jagears step up to defend the citizens without their leader?

Two members of the Council dead, with Tatsumi bearing the blame. The question remains; what really happened 1 month ago?

The flames of Revolution spreads throughout the East, the Revolutionary Army finally mobilizes, how will the Capital react? Will Fuyu spring his own coup now or wait? And what further acts of depravity will Wild Hunt commit next?

Find out this and more next time on Akame ga Kill: Clockwork!