Chapter III
Hello everyone! This time I return to you with An Assassin's Second Chance Chapter Three! Hopefully everyone enjoyed the previous chapter, at least a few people did it seems. Hopefully you enjoy this one as well. If you do, be sure to leave a review and let me know. That said, I would like to thank Bakuto Masaki for his help with the story so far and into the future. Nothing else to add here I would say, so on with the reviewer responses!
Travis Moon: They do. They suck hard (Bow chicka bow wow, sorry) at being assassins.
Guest: Thanks!
It's closer to millennia but centuries is close enough for government work.
I hope it's as interesting as you think.
RedBurningDragon: Anything's possible.
Fire Dragon King: Desperation and boredom.
It's not quite the same, but it is similar with our own twist.
Well... Najenda kind of is an idiot.
Bulat's gay. That's your answer. As for Lubbock, he's just a fun punching bag, plus Sergio generally doesn't like men, period.
Not many to answer here, but any at all is better than none. So on with the show!
Sergio walked through one of the hallways of the base and looked down at the courtyard, seeing Sheele and a somewhat exhausted Mein leaving it, hand-in-hand, and smiled.
"So what are you – whoa!" Lubbock began to ask before gasping at the sight in the courtyard, right before he was punched through a wall by Sergio.
"If you want to peep, go find Bulat."
Elsewhere, Najenda sighed as she sat, resting her head on her mechanical arm when Sergio suddenly appeared from a portal. "Need to borrow this," he stated plainly before swiftly detaching and taking her arm.
"Wha…?!" Najenda grunted before she fell to the side.
"I'll be back later."
"Hey! You piece of shit!"
"You'll love what I'm doing I promise. Now to disassemble this old scrap heap and salvage the important parts."
"Wh – What!?"
Sergio swiftly opened up the machine and began pulling parts out.
"Are you even listening to me, dammit!?"
"Not really, no. Ah, there," he commented as he pulled out a large, glowing blue stone and several other integral pieces. "Will definitely need this li'l beauty. Right, that should be everything I need. Be right back."
Najenda twitched an eyebrow angrily as he vanished again. "… That bastard really pisses me off sometimes…"
A few moments later, Sergio reappeared, holding what appeared to be a human arm, despite the obvious mechanical attachment at the base.
"The hell?"
"There. And now… hold still while I add this on."
"Huh?"
Without answering her, Sergio attached the false limb to where her large arm had once been attached.
After a few moments, Najenda began moving the arm in thought, surprise. "This arm is…"
"Normal. Well, normal looking. It's automail with false skin over it. It's not perfect, but it does still have the same capabilities as your other arm. That being the grappling hook and all. So don't worry."
The silver-haired woman frowned in consideration as she looked at the false limb. "It's going to take a little getting used to. I'm accustomed to compensating for the weight of that previous arm."
"Which will be the focus of my training with you."
"… I don't like that sound of that…"
"I'm going to be helping you to fight with a now well-balanced body. Well, minus an eye, lest you want me to get you one."
"You can do that?"
"Piece of cake. I can even make it a hi-tech super eye. Or I can just make it a straight up replacement of a normal eye."
"Hm… I'll consider it. But what do you want out of it?"
"Nothing at all," he answered bluntly.
Najenda huffed dismissively. "I refuse to believe that."
"Then you do that."
"Because nobody does anything without expecting something in return, even if it is just personal satisfaction."
"Then it's a good thing I'm nobody."
"Hah?"
"Long story. Anyway, so, wanna start training now or later?"
Najenda just sighed, deciding he was not going to answer her, and shrugged. "Now, I suppose."
"Fair enough," he answered before waving a hand, Najenda and himself suddenly in a large forest.
"What the…?" she muttered, looking around in shock.
"This way, you and I can spar without breaking anything or hurting anyone. Because, of all the things I can tell about you, one of them is that you fight like a beast. Though with your lover being a Jashinist I can understand."
"Sh – She wasn't…"
"She was, or you wouldn't be standing here today."
Najenda just frowned with irritation.
"Now let's get started."
Najenda nodded and raised her arms, however she raised her artificial arm too quickly, knocking her off balance, which Sergio took advantage of, charging at her. "Wha – gah!" she grunted, realizing she was on the ground with Sergio pinning her down before she knew it.
"That was a little too quick."
Najenda stared in bewilderment silently.
"Something wrong?"
"You're fast…"
Sergio raised an eyebrow as he stood, helping her stand as well. "Really? I was going slow there."
She felt a growing level of annoyance with him.
"Ready to try again?"
"Obviously."
"Good."
After several hours of sparring, the forest they were in was filled with ash and craters, the landscape almost unrecognizable.
Sergio approached one of the largest ones and looked down into it, his eyes slowly shifting from red to his normal blue and saw Najenda lying in its center. "… You alive down there?"
Najenda coughed with difficulty, her clothing in tatters, and looked up at him with annoyance. "Yes… somehow."
Sergio just smirked as he slid down the crater towards her. "I have to admit, a supposedly normal human hasn't pushed me that far in a while. I actually had to use my Sharingan. So be proud of yourself and know you have gained some of my respect."
"If that would make me able to feel my legs it'd be great."
Sergio nodded as he held something in his arms. "I'll be sure to reattach them."
"Re… attach…?"
Sergio just laughed weakly as he hid the objects behind him. "It's… best you don't look down for a bit. I… may have overdone it just a tad. Don't worry though, I'm the best doctor around and a big meal of meaty foods will help restore lost blood."
"Ah…"
Back at the base, Najenda, now perfectly able to stand, punched Sergio in the head, hard. "Next time try not to amputate my limbs during a spar you dumbass! Unlike you I don't grow shit back like some friggin' salamander!"
Sergio, mostly unfazed by the blow, retorted, "All I'd need is a sample of bone marrow to clone you a new limb if I accidently vaporize one. Besides, you survived."
Whacking him again, Najenda snarled, "That's not the point you psycho! It hurt like hell!"
"You didn't notice they were missing until I pointed it out."
"All I knew is they felt like shit, I didn't know why!"
"Well I'm not changing how I do things. Do you really think she will stop herself from removing more of your limbs if it came down to a fight? Hell, she might chop off your legs so you don't run again."
At that, Najenda just turned to the side with a hiss.
"So ideally, I need to fight you at a higher level than her. Because if you can stand equal or even beat me in that state, then you can beat her. So I want to be clear for all of our future spars, Najenda, you have to fight like you're trying to kill me, because I will be doing the same. And unlike me, you can't shrug off fatal wounds. There are some wounds even I can't heal." Demonstrating the point, he peeled back some of the flesh on his left arm, revealing a mechanical limb underneath. "Human Transmutation inflicted being one."
Najenda blinked in surprise. "Your arm is…?"
"Yes. Just like you, my arm is false. However, unlike you, I wasn't fortunate in how I lost it. I lost it because of my own stupidity. Trying to do a forbidden art to flip a middle finger at death to bring back a lover. So. With that settled, consider earlier a taste of what's in store." With a sly smirk, he added, "Though if I do end up killing you I'll be sure to bring you back in a brand-new body. Maybe even a bustier and younger one."
Najenda huffed as she folded her arms under her already sizable bosom. "If these damn things get any bigger I won't be able to fight."
He raised an intrigued eyebrow at that. "Oh? But a bigger set would look great on you, and contain lots of milk for any babies you have in the future."
She huffed again, but this time with a greater disdain in her voice. "I guarantee you that won't be happening."
"Oh? Afraid of a little girl calling you Mama?"
"No. I mean it isn't physically possible."
Sergio frowned deeply at that. "… You want me to restore it?"
She just shrugged. "There's nothing to restore. I never had it. Or rather, not one that worked."
Sergio furrowed his brow in consternation.
"Now, I'm sure the others are done with the training you've given them."
"Probably…" he remarked, wanting to keep the focus.
"Let's go."
"Right. You know, if that thought of never having children bothers you, I'll help."
"It doesn't, now let it go."
Sergio sighed in frustration.
"I… can't feel anything…" Lubbock groaned as he laid in a heap.
Sergio frowned in disappointment. "You're alive? Huh. Go figure."
"I really don't have time for your shit. Go be annoying somewhere else."
"To do Naj it is," he remarked as he turned around, only for Lubbock to hurl a stringed bolt at him.
"On second thought, sit your ass there," Lubbock snarled, Sergio then grabbing the bolt as it flew in the air and tugged on it, sending Lubbock tumbling.
"Dumbass. Don't let someone bait you so easily."
"You… suck…"
"On a lot of tits? Yes."
Lubbock flopped against the ground in exhaustion. "I give up. You're too much of an asshole."
"Right. Good day Perverted Nerd."
"Piss off…"
"Right. Better go feed Leone."
Leone greedily gulped down a large plate of food, Mein watching in disbelief.
Sergio poked the petite girl on the shoulder. "You need to eat Mein. Or do you want Sheele to feed you?"
"I'm fine," she shot back.
"Really? You haven't eaten much. Sheele, feed her."
Sheele responded by picking up a fork and turning to Mein.
"H – Huh?!" she gasped.
"Say ah…" Sheele urged with a small smile, Mein stuttering in disbelief.
"H – H – Hey!" she stammered, her face deep red, Sheele taking advantage of her gaping and stuck the fork in her mouth.
Sergio smiled as he watched, Lubbock gulping deeply before Akame swiped some of his food. "H – Hey…!"
Akame just growled at him, Lubbock lurching back and letting her have it.
Later in the day, Sergio sighed as he walked down a hall. "Geez… Bored…" He stopped when he heard voices around the corner.
Mein gasped as Sheele spoke with her. "Hah!? Are you insane!?"
The purple-eyed beauty frowned slightly in thought. "No. I don't think so."
"I am not doing that!" Mein argued vibrantly.
"Well we need to do something. And… I want us to have a baby and the best way to do that…"
"E – Even so…!" Mein argued with a hefty blush.
"He also helped us get back together. He's also kind and you seem to enjoy talking with him."
"N – No, I don't…" Mein retorted weakly, turning to the side.
"But you are so lively when you do."
"Mein," Najenda remarked as she approached the duo, shocking Mein so much that she shrieked and involuntarily leapt into Sheele's arms. She sighed in confusion. "What are you doing?"
"Uuhh…" she stammered before getting out of Sheele's grasp.
"Whatever, I need you and Sergio for a mission."
"Huh?"
"We're out of food."
"… Ah."
Sergio, next to the group without announcement, stated, "I'll start hunting."
"Kya!" Mein shrieked again. "Will you people stop that?!"
Ignoring Mein, Najenda retorted, "No. We need you to go to the markets to get food from there."
Sergio retorted, "I'll get more, better food hunting."
Najenda nodded in understanding. "I'm aware of that, but this is our only method of getting an insight to the current state of the city."
Sergio sighed in annoyance. "… I'll send a thought projection to catch us some real food while I leave with Mein."
"You don't even need to buy anything, simply look around the city."
"Right."
Sergio sighed as he and Mein walked into the Capital city, Sergio huffing in disgust. "Hm… This city reeks. You could light a match and set it ablaze." He pulled out a small stick, which Mein instantly smacked out of his hand, causing him to pout. "That's mean babe."
"There are still innocent people here," she argued.
"I see," he answered before hearing a loud ruckus nearby. Rounding the corner with Mein, he saw a large crowd of people gathered around a group of others tied to crosses, crucified above them. The woman in the center of the group strained as she tried to break the ropes.
"Please! We're not rebels!" she begged.
Sergio narrowed his eyes with a frown and created a clone that stayed invisible as it ran towards the crosses.
One of the soldiers in front of the group huffed dismissively. "Oh shut it, we found one of their jackets in your closet."
"But it's not mine!" she begged.
"These assholes…" Sergio snarled.
"That's how the Empire operates," Mein explained plainly.
"Then someone needs to do something. Now."
Nodding, Mein replied, "That's what we're trying to do."
"I mean this right now."
Suddenly a shadow leapt from the ground and landed amongst the people hanging on the crosses, one of the soldiers gasping as "Death" swiped a hand towards him, the soldier collapsing as his body split in twain.
The crowd screamed in terror and dispersed, Mein looking at Sergio in annoyed disbelief.
"What?" he asked with faux ignorance.
"You're an idiot. Now let's run so we fit in with the crowd."
"Right," he answered before they both blended into the crowd.
Breaking off into an alleyway amongst the chaos, they stopped before Mein smacked Sergio atop the head. "Are you insane!?"
"Yes," he answered bluntly.
Mein just folded her arms and hissed away. "Tch, prick. You're lucky we managed to blend in with the crowd."
Sergio smiled and tried to pat her on the head, Mein swatting his hand away. "You don't blend in anywhere cutie, not with that bubblegum hair of yours."
She raised an eyebrow in confusion. "The hell is bubblegum?"
Sergio proceeded to pull a stick of pink gum from one of his portals. "A chewy, non-edible sugary substance that you chew and chew, and then blow bubbles with."
She stared at it curiously before swiping it and popping it in her mouth and began chewing it, blinking in surprise. "It's sweet."
"Yep. When you get tired of chewing it spit it out."
"I see…" she muttered, slightly muddled from the gum in her mouth, "where?"
He just shrugged. "Just look for a waste bin. Or Lubbock's chair. Gum gets sticky after chewed."
That caused Mein to grin darkly with anticipation.
Shortly after, as the duo walked down the street, Sergio noticed Mein standing still and looking down an alley where a group of children were fighting viciously over something, though he could not tell what at first glance, he was more focused on Mein's dull expression. "Something wrong?"
"Nothing," she retorted, her expression and tone of voice uncharacteristically placid before she began walking again.
He frowned in concern as he folded his arms. "Mein, you know I can tell you're lying, right?"
"I don't care," she snapped. "Let's just do what we came to do and leave."
He sighed with a shrug before joining her as she walked. "Fine. Perhaps you can at least tell me."
She stopped and turned to him with exasperated anger. "You really want to know?"
"Yes, I do," he replied bluntly.
She sighed and looked around before turning back to him. "Fine. I was born on the western border of the Empire. My father was a foreigner and my mother an Imperial. My mother orphaned me because I was seen as trash for having foreign blood. So I lived on my own in the streets until the Revolutionary Army picked me up, seeing as my father was from a country where they're known for having incredible eyesight, which I inherited."
Sergio put a hand on his chin in thought. "I see… interesting."
Shrugging, she continued, "So that's why I was given Pumpkin. There, that's my story."
He frowned slightly before looking around the area, seeing the people in the street. "Follow me."
"Um… okay?" she wondered before following him down an alleyway, at which point he snapped his fingers, causing a dome of energy that surrounded them before dissipating, making them invisible to anyone walking past.
"I want to ask you a question, and I want you to answer honestly and bluntly. Think you can do that?"
Mein frowned in concern and inched away slightly. "It depends on what you're asking."
"Right."
"So… what's the question?"
"What have I done to your contempt?"
Mein flinched and then began looking around uncomfortably before stammering. "… It's not… I don't… that's…"
"Mein?"
She stopped her flustering before sighing and clenching her fists.
"Are you okay…?"
"… You annoy me."
"That's it?"
"No," she argued, shaking her head. "It's just…"
"Just what?"
"Everything was normal, the way it's always been. And then you showed up and changed everything."
He sighed before shrugging. "It's something I do when I see things I dislike."
That got her attention, causing her to look up at him in surprise. "Huh?"
"Let's just say I have intimate knowledge of the problems this group has, and then I saw the way Najenda was leading her subordinates. And then of course I found out about you and Sheele. I just couldn't let that fly. So I decided to uproot everything."
"I…" she trailed off, unable to gather her thoughts.
"You can't really be unhappy I did that."
"In a way, I am. Because before, I thought that Sheele made that decision on her own. I had no idea Boss bullied her into doing it. And now…"
"You can't trust her?"
"Anyone… Even Akame's different. And it all started after you showed up."
"I'm just doing what I can to help Akame and her friends stay alive and happy."
"Why?" she asked, confused and suspicious.
"She's a friend and asked for my help."
She just stared at him incredulously.
"You're not buying that, are you?"
"No," she deadpanned.
Sergio sighed as he scratched his head in thought. "Would you believe that the Akame you know is from the future and she gained immortality?"
Mein just stared at him silently for several moments, before she suddenly began laughing hysterically.
Sergio just watched in confusion as she kept cackling. "Um… Mein?"
"Y – You're supposed to be from the future!?"
"Me? I'm from everywhere."
She stopped laughing and stared blankly. "… Huh? Wait, you're being serious…?"
"I've lived since long before now and have lived long after. So technically there are two of me in this time period. I think. Or he got sucked into a black hole or somehow absorbed into me when I wasn't looking or doesn't exist right now. You're still not convinced are you?"
"How am I supposed to believe something so insane?" she rebuffed.
"Then I guess I'll show you two pieces of evidence," he explained, causing Mein to raise an eyebrow in confusion before one of his portals opened up and the original Akame's body emerged along with her blade.
Mein's eyes shot wide in horror and disbelief. "Wh – What the hell!?"
"Proof."
"T – Two Akames…?"
"Yes. She went and killed her past self during that mansion job, then left her body to be eaten by dogs if I didn't have a Thought Projection follow her."
"I – I see…" she remarked, before narrowing her eyes as her thoughts raced.
Seeing where her mind was taking her, Sergio decided to cut her off. "She's not a fake. She is Akame. Just one that lived through this before. Seeing every one of her friends die."
Mein's face went pale. "She… knows everything that's going to happen…?"
Sergio scratched his head in thought. "Somewhat. She's experienced it before, but I doubt she remembers it in detail. Unfortunately while we Immortals are around for long periods of time, we rarely remember beyond just flashes."
"What?"
"For a human, a mortal, a flash in their mind, an image, represents and sits as a moment in time, maybe an hour, a day or two. For us, that same image represents years, sometimes decades. And she is a little over one hundred years old."
She just stared as her mind processed everything. "… Ah."
"Do you still doubt me?"
"I mean… it is hard to believe… but… there should only be one Muramasa…"
"Indeed. I only made one of each of my failures."
The pink-haired girl tilted her head in confusion. "Failures?"
"The Imperial Arms as you call them. To me, each and every one of them is a failure in the task I made them for."
"What'd you make them for then?"
"To kill me, and each one failed."
She stared silently for several moments before sighing heavily.
"What?"
"You're insane."
"And what makes you say that?"
Motioning around the area, she retorted, "All of it. The time travel, you being the First Emperor, making these weapons to kill yourself, and just how you act. You do things that ultimately help people even though it makes them hate you at times."
"So?"
"That's my point!"
"Ah. I don't really follow, but okay."
She remained silent in thought for a moment before looking up at him with tinted cheeks. "Okay, I'll make you a deal."
"Sure, name it."
"I'll… I'll try and be nicer if you… if you stop aiming to die."
He nodded with a small smile. "Sure. I gave up searching for a way to kill myself, so I have no problem with that deal."
She folded her arms and turned away with a huff, her cheeks flushed. "G – Good. Because if you died… Sheele would be sad…" She then turned to him with a stern point, though her face was still red. "I – I'm only doing this for her, ya know!"
He just nodded with a smile. "Right. And don't worry. I will do everything I can to ensure she survives."
"R – Right…"
"Now let's go."
Sergio sighed as he walked back into the base with Mein, the two having picked up a few vegetables, when Lubbock noticed them and commented, "When did you two get so friendly?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about," he returned.
"Mein doesn't look pissed off when she's standing next to you."
"Mind your own business!" Mein hissed as she threw a turnip at him, smacking him right in the bonce.
Sergio picked up a tomato and suggested, "Try a tomato. They splatter."
With a small snort, she argued, "I was more interested in causing pain."
"Fair enough. Then use this," he offered, handing her a coconut.
Mein looked at it thoughtfully and then hurled it at Lubbock, causing him to buckle in pain.
After putting away the few groceries and dealing with the food his Thought Projection had caught, Sergio sighed as he sat in the main hall. "So bored…"
"Well that's about to change," Najenda remarked as she walked up to him and flicked him on the forehead with her false arm.
"Oh?" he questioned, sitting up.
"We have a new mission. The Prime Minister's cousin, a corrupt diplomat who uses his position to turn the wives and daughters of his opponents into his personal whores."
"He'll be dead soon."
"That's the goal."
"Tell me where he is and he'll die."
She shook her head in denial. "This isn't one you can do on your own."
"And why's that?"
"He is constantly surrounded by all of his forced concubines as well as his elite guardsmen, plus his palace is packed to the brim with security."
"Should be real simple then."
"How?" she asked, frowning in confusion.
Sergio just smirked. "Simple. All that normal men see in women," he began before transforming into his female disguise, "is that they are weak and in need of protection. And with my eyes I can easily slip in."
Najenda was almost agape as she stared before just slapping a hand on her forehead. "… I… whatever."
Sergia chuckled lightly. "Something the matter my dear lovely Naj?"
"You get more bizarre every day."
"If this surprises you then you might die of shock later."
"Just… do whatever weird crap you're going to do before I have an aneurysm."
"Very well," she responded before leaving the base.
Elsewhere, two guards stood, very bored, outside of the front of a massive mansion, yawning as they did.
However, they stiffened immediately as Sergia walked up to the palace with a bright smile.
"A – Are you lost?" the first man stuttered as he looked her over.
She put a finger on her cheek in thought. "I think so. I'm looking for someone. His place I think is here."
The second guard frowned incredulously. "The only one who lives here is the Duke."
Sergia blinked in surprise. "He never said that's what he was."
The two men looked at each other before turning back to Sergia. "Fine, follow us," the first urged.
Inside, Sergia maintained her smile as she followed the men through winding pathways and hallways, ending up at a large room where a heavyset man in elaborate clothing sat in a large room.
"Hm? Who's this woman?" the man asked with a huff.
For a moment, Sergia's eyes flashed red.
The duke raised an eyebrow before smirking. "Hm? Ah, I remember now, you're the beauty I saw in the lower district, the one begging for a job."
Sergia merely nodded with a smile. "Yes, that's right. And you said you had one for me here."
Licking his lips, the man offered, "Well, why don't we begin your interview right now?"
"Sure!" she answered with an excited hop. "Where do we go?"
"How about somewhere less conspicuous?"
"Okay!"
The man then led Sergia to a room at the back of the large hall, and turned to one of his guards. "Leave us be."
"B – But…" the guard muttered, only for the man to send him a stern glare. "Y – Yes, sir!"
Sergia's smile turned malicious as the door slammed shut, the duke pulling off his belt with a smirk as he had his back to her, "Now why don't we –" he began before a bandaged hand suddenly thrust through his chest, his heart in its grasp.
"Fear the reaper," Death voiced behind the man before crushing his heart and swiping his hand up then down, chopping the man in half as his corpse collapsed to the floor. "There." Dipping his fingers in the pool of blood, he scrawled another message on the wall before vanishing into a vortex.
Najenda sighed as she sat in the dining hall, before turning as Sergio walked back in.
"Done," he reported simply.
"Good. Don't want to know how."
"Right. How's the new arm?"
She sighed as she flexed her shoulder and moved her arm around. "I'm still getting used to it being lighter. I've accidentally punched Lubbock in the face twice."
"Really? You sure it wasn't on purpose?"
"Not entirely."
"Then it's working fine."
"Right…"
"Yep. Anyway, anything else need killing?"
"Well his elite guard are up in arms."
"Oh? Because of Death?"
"Because they were put on leave whilst the regular guards were there and figured this wouldn't have happened had they been there."
Sergio snorted dismissively. "Yeah right. I'd have slipped by them as well."
"I'm not disputing that. I'm simply telling you why they're pissed."
"Ah. Is that everything?"
"There is one other thing," she offered before tossing a photograph of a beheaded couple lying in a pool of blood. "This happened during the night. It's been going on for a few days."
He frowned as he looked over the image. "Any ideas on who's responsible?"
"Not yet. I'm waiting for information, there's a few possible culprits."
"Like?"
"The most likely candidate is Zank, he used to be the Empire's head executioner. Oh, no pun intended."
"None taken. So, what makes him the main suspect?"
"Because of the absolute precision of their cuts. It's a bit gruesome, but look at the wounds on their necks. Not only are they perfectly straight, but they go directly between the vertebrae, allowing for an easier cut. It takes experience to cut that precisely."
"True. Or a very sharp blade and decent sword work. Though it looks like the victims were standing still."
"So the attacker was either holding them still or snuck up on them. And looking at the physiques of some of the victims, for the first one the attacker would need to be incredibly strong."
"Say, strong enough to lift a headsman's ax. Meaning the executioner. Though another possibility is that the victims saw no reason to move."
"Meaning it'd have to be someone who looks harmless."
"Or the person appeared harmless to the victim."
"That's what I said," she retorted, somewhat annoyed.
"No. I mean just the victim. But to an outside observer the culprit is a crazed murdering psychopath with an axe to grind."
Najenda narrowed her eye in thought. "That would require an… it's Zank."
"How do you know?"
"He disappeared about a month ago and stole an Imperial Arm, Spectator."
"Ah shit."
"Do you know it?"
"It's the only one they seemed to keep the name I gave it, and yes, I do. And even I'm gonna have trouble with this shitheel. Okay, need a plan… I'm gonna need Sheele, Leone and Mein."
"Huh?"
"Someone to date, someone to play fake ambush, and someone to blow the fucker's head off."
"Fake ambush?"
"Of course. Someone needs to distract him so Mein can get the shot."
"Care to explain why you can't handle him yourself?"
"Because I made Spectator to counter the abilities of my own eyes."
Najenda sighed heavily, rubbing the bridge of her nose in frustration. "… You are a dumbass…"
"I made all of the Imperial Arms to kill me. So naturally I made some that would weaken me allowing me to be more easily killed. All failed epically but my point still stands. So since I'll be about as useful as a wart on a hippo I'll need some help. Thus the team."
"Fine. Just don't get them killed."
"I'm here to ensure they don't, remember?"
Najenda winced slightly and turned away, her cheeks warming up slightly. "Yes, I do, it's a force of habit."
He noticed this but said nothing about it. "Do you say that before every mission?"
"Normally just to myself."
"Does it help?"
She shrugged in response. "I have no idea. But it keeps me from pulling my hair out."
"I see. You should let it grow out."
She huffed dismissively at the idea. "I did once. It's partly why I wasn't able to get away with both of my arms."
He nodded in understanding. "Ah. Well, least she let you live. Shows she loves you."
"That's a fucked up way to show love."
"Jashinists never kill their lover. Even if said lover rips out their heart."
She shot a small hiss at him. "Tch. She's the crazy bitch who decided to be loyal to those psychos."
"Which is very unusual."
"It's to be expected with her. All she cares about is who's the strongest."
"Then she should have gutted those in charge by now."
"She was always like that, but she got even crazier after she got her Imperial Arm."
Sergio raised an eyebrow in confusion. "Really? I never made one that induced insanity."
Najenda just shrugged her shoulders. "She said it was a vase with the blood and soul of a dragon inside. Drinking it gave her control over ice."
Sergio's jaw dropped to the floor before he slapped himself in the face so hard his hand almost went through his head. "That's not an Imperial Arm, it's a fucking prison!"
"Huh?" she muttered, surprised by his sudden anger.
"I sealed the soul of a dragon inside of it! It's a prison, not a fucking weapon! What braindead sack of shit came up with this!? I mean come on! I even put a do not touch this you fucking moron sign on it! Your girlfriend, who is she and where is she?"
His reaction plus that information shocked her even further. "L – Last I checked, Esdeath was on a campaign to take over the northern countries…"
Sergio snarled in frustration. "Just fucking great. Guess it'll have to wait then." He then focused his attention on Najenda. "I want you to know the one who did that to you wasn't your girlfriend. There's an extremely powerful Ice Dragon that I trapped in that urn. By drinking the blood inside, it's possessed her. Magnifying the darker aspects of her to the point she'd blindly follow monsters she was sworn to butcher like pigs. All to satisfy that bastard's obsession for death and power. And attempt at once again reviving his master."
Najenda frowned in deep confusion, and decided to focus on what part of that she could understand. "Is it possible you could be more specific than that? Last I checked dragons don't exist, aside from the rare 'Dragon-Type' Danger Beast."
Sergio just huffed with insult. "We exist. And those things are just over grown lizards that dare to try and be dragons. Put two upstarts in their place and made them into weapons too."
Najenda raised an eyebrow in thought. "I'm assuming one of those is Incursio?"
"Bingo, and unlike the Imperial Arms, that jar was a prison, not a weapon, as I said. So I'll need to wait until your girlfriend gets back. And see about thawing the north later."
Later on, inside the city after night had fallen, Sheele and Sergio walked the streets quietly, Sergio just humming in thought as he looked around.
After a few moments of silence, Sheele asked timidly, "So… why'd you choose me?"
Glancing at her then back to his surroundings, he answered plainly, "Hmm? Because you are the most dateable."
She was surprised by that answer enough that she stopped in her tracks and turned red as she sputtered, "Wh – Wh – What!? B – But I'm not…!"
"But you are."
"But… I'm so clumsy…" she lamented.
Sergio turned to her with a shrug. "So? It's just part of who you are."
"Huh…?" she muttered, looking up at him in surprise.
"What?"
"You… don't mind?"
He shook his head in denial. "I'm not bothered by stuff about people they can't change. What I don't like is when they won't change."
"Ah…"
"Anyway, so, what should we do? Most of the shops are closed, since it's night."
"How about… just walking?"
Sergio blinked in thought before nodding. "Sounds good to me." As they moved, Sergio decided to change the subject. "Say, Sheele. You certainly don't seem like you fit in with the rest of the group."
"Huh?"
"You're sweet, soft, and seem to generally want to avoid killing people."
"Ah…"
"Though I suppose you did sneak up on me and snipped my head off. So that much makes you fit in just a little."
"Well, to tell you the truth this is first place I've fit in at all."
"Oh?" he wondered with interest.
"I've always been clumsy. Uselessly so. I tried to work at my family's restaurant, but I was always stumbling, tripping, and breaking things. Eventually it got so bad they kicked me out."
He started to grow a frown as he listened to her.
"So I lived on the streets doing what I had to in order to get by," she added, causing Sergio's frown to deepen. Seeing this, her face immediately turned red again. "I – I didn't do anything like that! I – I just begged, that's all!"
"Ah."
"A – Anyway, after a while, a friend I had made took me in and allowed me to live with her. I tried working in her restaurant, but it went about as well as you'd expect. However, she didn't care. She didn't mind that I was clumsy, inarticulate, and couldn't really do much of anything without messing it up."
"Sounds like a good friend."
"That's what I thought too. Then one day her ex-boyfriend showed up at her restaurant and attacked her. I simply moved on instinct and next thing I knew he was on the floor dead. She looked at me like I was a monster and kicked me out."
That got a deep frown out of him.
"Turns out her ex was part of a gang, and a few days after she kicked me out they found me. I don't quite remember everything, but they all ended up dead."
Sergio folded his arms in thought. "I see… she probably kicked you out to try and protect you from the fall out."
"I doubt that. She looked absolutely terrified of me."
"For you, maybe."
"I see…"
"Let's just enjoy our walk."
She nodded with a smile.
The two spent quite a while walking through the streets of the city talking before Sergio suddenly went stiff.
Sheele was confused and looked on ahead, seeing nothing.
Sergio, however, saw a young girl with an elaborate dress and wavy blonde hair run down an alleyway. "… N – No way…"
"Hm? Sergio?" Sheele asked before he just dashed off after the girl. "H – Hey!"
On a rooftop nearby, Mein hissed as Sergio dashed off. "What's that asshole doing?"
Leone frowned as she sat next to Mein.
The pink-haired girl then looked to Leone. "Why don't you get going? I mean he just left Sheele by herself."
"Right," the blonde replied before leaping away.
Back on the ground, Sheele rounded the corner and paled when she saw Sergio standing opposite a man with wild hair and an immensely muscular build. "Sergio! That's Zank!"
Sergio shook his head as his eyes turned red, right before they reverted to normal and he was struck with a headache that brought him to his knees. "Fuck! Dumb idea!"
Zank cackled and charged at Sergio with his blade arced.
Sergio snarled and reached out to catch it, only for Sheele to cut in with her scissors and block the strike.
"Eh?" the crazed man grumbled before the green, eye-like object atop his head glowed, giving him a view underneath Sheele's dress.
Recognizing the glow, Sergio hissed as he stood up. "You're dead." 'I can't use my Sharingan, otherwise it'll bounce off the Spectator… Guess I'll go the old fashion way.' He then stuck out a hand and held Sheele back as Zank leapt away. "Sheele, get back, I'll handle him."
She looked at him worried. "But your eyes…"
"They aren't my only means of combat, so don't worry," Sergio answered as he flexed his neck, the shadows at his feet beginning to shift and swirl as thick tendrils rose up from the ground, covered in eyes and razor-toothed mouths.
"Die!" Zank howled as he rushed at Sergio once more, Sergio raising his arm at the strike. Zank grinned, only for his eyes to widen when he saw Sergio's arm coated in black harder than diamond and leapt back.
Sergio did not give him quarter and punched him hard, sending the man slamming against a wall before extending his fingers, spear-like extensions emerging and pinning Zank to the wall. "Now then… so first you use the image of my precious Elize, and then you look through Sheele, so I've got a lot planned for you crapstain." He grinned maniacally as the mouths on the shadowy tendrils opened. "Quite a lot planned." He then put his free hand on the microphone in his ear. "Can you two hear me? Change of plans, I'm taking this guy myself. I'm going to make him suffer." The shadows began swirling and merging, rising up into the shape of a massive, bipedal dragon behind Sergio. "So don't come near."
Zank snarled and slammed his fists back, breaking the wall and freeing himself of the spears, Sergio just huffing before charging at him. Zank was about to taunt Sergio once more, only for Sergio to immediately be in front of him with blinding speed and slam a fist into his face, sending Zank crashing through several buildings.
"Wow…" Sheele muttered as she watched.
Sergio rushed to Zank's position, grabbed him up, and then slammed him into the ground.
Zank stood weakly, bleeding profusely as he snarled. "I'm going to…"
The shadowy dragon grabbed Zank up in its grasp and began crushing him.
"Shut up is what you'll do," Sergio huffed.
Zank widened his eyes as he coughed blood before smiling.
That caught Sergio's attention. "What?"
"I… don't hear them anymore…"
Sergio listened to him and just sighed, having the dragon drop him before Sergio picked up Zank's cleaver.
"Those innocent people… I don't hear their screams anymore… thank you…"
Sergio just swung the weapon down, decapitating him in a swift motion. "Just another victim…" he sighed as he pulled Spectator off Zank's corpse.
"Another victim?" Mein asked as she and the others walked up to him.
"Of this decrepit city."
"Hah?" Mein huffed, tilting her head in bewilderment.
"My best guess, he'd been driven mad by all the innocent people he was forced to kill, the people he knew were innocent, and thus he snapped and went on a rampage."
"Well all he did was add to his body count."
"Not necessarily," Sergio replied as he stuffed Spectator in his pocket.
"What?"
"I've had a few Thought Projections looking into his 'victims' from the past few days. Like that couple he killed the other night. The woman had a habit of collecting 'trophies' from the men she got with, and the man was a convicted rapist who'd just gotten out of prison. Meaning he was doing his job in his insanity. He was executing scum."
The others just stared at him in silence for several moments before Leone remarked slowly, "L – Let's get back home."
Najenda looked up from a report she was reading as Leone approached her. "Well?"
Leone shrugged before sighing heavily. "It's done. And I'm not sure what Zank showed him, but Sergio got pissed and beat him half to death."
"I see…"
"And I don't know what happened next, but the battle only lasted a few seconds. Then Sergio started going on about Zank still doing his job or something."
"Huh?"
Mein added, "He said that Zank had been going around killing evil people after having been forced to kill innocents."
"I see…"
Mein just shrugged dismissively. "Well, something like that."
Najenda pinched the bridge of her nose in exasperation. "Whatever, I'm just glad it's done. Dismissed."
Sergio looked over the mechanical eye he had ripped from Zank as Lubbock walked up to him, confused. "So what's that thing do?"
Sergio answered bluntly, "It's called Spectator. Figure it out."
Lubbock just huffed in return.
Sighing, Akame changed the direction of the conversation. "So what do you plan on doing with it?"
"See if one of the girls can use it," Sergio answered.
Akame furrowed her brow in thought. "As far as I'm aware, each person can only use one Imperial Arm at a time."
"Then let's test that, shall we?"
In the mess hall, Leone ate swiftly out of a large plate of food, seemingly unaware of Sergio sneaking up on her, whom swiftly slapped Spectator on her forehead. Leone looked up at her forehead, as best she could, in confusion. "Huh?" she mumbled before receiving a powerful shock, after which Spectator bounced off and landed on the table.
Sergio frowned in thought. "Nope. Not her."
Sergio slowly snuck up on Mein as she carried a small stack of books, sighing as she too was rejected, and subsequently zapped, by Spectator. "Not the Tsundere either." He then hummed in thought as he put a hand on his chin. "Hm…" He then noticed Sheele standing nearby, confused. "Oh hey Sheele." After looking at the bespectacled beauty in thought, he reached out the weapon. "Sheele, wanna try Spectator on?"
She tilted her head before nodding. "Okay." Without another word she strapped the strange device to her forehead.
That caused the brunette to blink in surprise. "Huh."
"So what do I – hhyyaa!" she shrieked before turning away and covering her eyes.
"See something?"
She just pointed at him. "B – B – Big!"
"Like what you see then?" he retorted with a smirk, Sheele just standing silently. "I'll take that as a yes."
"H – H – How do I turn it off!?" she stuttered, vacillating between covering her eyes and looking at Sergio.
"Just think it."
Slowly moving her hands from in front of her eyes, she sighed in relief, her face still red.
"Want another look?"
"N – N – No thanks!" she shouted before running off.
"What did you do?" Najenda grumbled, walking up to him.
"Sheele used Spectator and saw my dick," he answered flatly.
Najenda just stared at him in disbelief.
"What?"
"Good god you're insane…"
"How?"
"Nothing… forget it…" she groaned before walking off.
"Okay?"
Sitting on a bed with Sheele, Mein gaped in disbelief. "Y – You're kidding…"
"I – I'm not… really…" the bespectacled woman stuttered shyly.
Mein gulped before raising her hands some distance apart. "… D – Does that… even fit…?"
"Does what fit?" Leone asked, standing nearby, causing Mein to once again shriek in terror.
"Wh – When'd you get here?!"
"Just now," she remarked before hopping on the bed with the other two, grinning. "What are we talking about?"
"N – None of your business!" Mein stuttered, though Sheele ended up answering weakly.
"S – Sergio's… his…"
Leone gaped before grinning and patting Mein on the back. "Whoa! Really?! I didn't know you were such a grown-up Mein!"
The pinkette hissed before kicking at Leone, though the blonde dodged it.
"Nice high kick!" She was immediately distracted when she noticed a red dot on the wall and just blinked in confusion for a moment before everything in her trembled and she instantly chased after it.
Mein just stared in disbelief before Sheele sighed.
Leone walked around the common area with annoyance.
"What's wrong?" Sergio asked, walking up to her.
"I want that green eye thingy," she retorted.
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Spectator, or whatever it's called."
Sergio raised an eyebrow, confused. "Wanna shock yourself again?"
"No!" she shot back. "Sheele said she saw something really good with it."
Sergio shrugged in response. "If you want to see it just ask."
Before the blonde could say anything else, a very annoyed Najenda snapped, "Could you not do that in the common area?"
Sergio raised an eyebrow to her. "Why? Losing my pants is a common thing for me."
"Urgh…" Najenda groaned before turning to Leone. "Just go."
Leone frowned before leaving, after which Sergio turned to Najenda, curious. "So do you guys have any goal beyond just toppling the Empire?"
Najenda answered plainly, "Collecting the Imperial Arms."
Sergio folded his arms as he retorted, "Other than my failed projects which I will put in one of my vaults each time we reclaim one."
Najenda frowned before shaking her head. "I can't allow that. They are the greatest weapon we have against the Empire. Part of the agreement between us and the Revolutionary Army is that, in return for our funding, we give them any and all Imperial Arms we collect that we ourselves can't use. The more we have the better our chances of defeating the Empire decisively."
Sergio scowled with unhidden disgust. "Sounds to me like they just want power."
Najenda just shrugged. "I'm not denying that. But their power transmits to being our power. We can't take out the Empire alone."
"I've toppled plenty with a group this big. I've even toppled a few on my own."
Najenda frowned slightly, incredulous. "And you think you could do that to this one?"
"Potentially, yes. But I would simply cut off one head for two more to take its place. Which is also what it sounds like your group is doomed to do. My goal is to destroy the heart. And once the heart is destroyed, there's nothing left to pump the venom."
Najenda remained silent, though she narrowed her eye.
"What?"
"So what would you suggest?"
"Simple. We gut the nobility and the current leadership completely out of the Empire."
Najenda again remained silent, folding her arms as she remained deep in thought for several moments before looking at Sergio uncertainly. "… I'll make you a deal."
"Sure."
"You promise to keep my subordinates alive and let me handle talking with the RA, and I'll let you handle the missions from now on."
"Deal."
With a finger pointing to him, Najenda added, "But remember, if they're here, I'm still Night Raid's leader."
That elicited a mischievous grin from the man. "But of course."
Najenda narrowed her eye decisively. "What are you planning?"
"Nothing at all," he answered, just smiling innocently.
"Hah!?" Lubbock hollered in disbelief.
Akame just remained silent, smiling subtly.
"I don't have a problem with that," Bulat commented.
"I figured as much," Sergio retorted.
Najenda then addressed the rest. "Mein? Sheele? Leone?"
"Fine by me," Leone remarked with a shrug.
"I agree," Sheele added.
"Sure," Mein answered before suddenly turning her head with a huff. "Th – Though not because I like you being the new leader, I just don't care!"
Sergio just smiled in amusement. "Tsun-Tsun. So much Tsun-Tsun in this one it's adorable."
"Sh – Shut up!" the twintailed girl sputtered.
"I can see why Sheele is in love with you."
Mein had no response to that, her voice just squeaking silently.
Leone grinned in amusement and was about to tease her when she once again saw the red dot moving along the floor and growled. "There's that damn thing again!" she snarled before chasing after it.
Lubbock gaped in disbelief. "… Did that just happen…?"
Sergio quickly stuffed a small object in his pocket. "Well she is becoming a Nekomata."
Mein grinned maliciously as she snuck up behind Sergio and took the small object, a laser pointer.
Later in the day, Mein sat, reading a book about cats as Leone laid, passed out on the sofa, Sheele sitting behind Mein, brushing her hair. "What's that for?"
"Finding ways to humiliate Leone," Mein retorted plainly as she read.
Sheele pouted slightly. "That's quite mean."
"Payback's a bitch, Sheele. And I'm due to dish some out."
And thus ends the third chapter. Hopefully you enjoyed the chapter, be sure to let me know if you did with a review. If you were confused, unsure, or simply have questions on anything, leave them in a review and I will do what I can to address them in the next chapter's reviewer response. If your question involves characters that have yet to appear or future story events (I.e. spoilers) I doubt you will get a satisfactory answer this way, as I try to avoid spoilers for readers who do not want to see them, so I would recommend a PM for those types of queries. If you did not enjoy the chapter, review if you must, but please try and have a proper grasp of the English language and to have a general point beyond just picking nits, or better yet, do something you actually enjoy instead! Also, before anyone says anything, I'm aware of the Gary Stuish nature Sergio has, and that is kind of the point. Plus this story is really just set up for the stories to follow. Anyway, that nonsense aside, until next time, bye-bye!