Chapter 24: Zeboiim-Zoar


Zeboiim-Zoar- New Capital of the Center Evil Beings

Murasaki's group immediately hid behind one of the pillars of the newly terraformed locale. They had also felt the brief but sudden rumblings of the land but there were more pressing issues at hand. They saw two soldiers walking around.

"What is this place gonna be called?" asked an anonymous soldier dressed in white segmented armor with skull motifs.

"His Lordship doesn't want it to be Gomorrah Sodom. Too many bad memories, he says.," said a fellow white armored soldier.

"It's gonna be called Zeboiim-Zoar, the capital of evil. Rings off the tongue.," the first soldier replied.

"Did you feel the rumbling?," asked the second being.

"Oh, that's the Great One decided to unite the continents into one supermass. He says when dinos ruled the earth, it was Pancakia or something.," the first answered as he scratched the top of his head.

"Pangaea.," the second corrected before the first slapped him.

"I don't like being corrected, jackass!," the first screamed, the affability from before had vanished into hostility as they drew out sabers made of what seemed to be invisible energy.

Using Energy of the Soul, I see., thought Tsusrarahime.

Suddenly, a random civilian bumped into one of them, which got Wave's attention.

"W-what's going on? I was shopping, but now it's all gone. My house! What is this place?! It looks so weird! What's with the ground shaking?! Police! Where's the police? These people are fighting outside," asked this dull-red-haired man darting around and looking around to make sense of things.

"Looks like we've got ourselves a confused soul," the first soldier sneered, his voice echoing the menace in his eyes as he sheathed his saber, the glow dimming. "What's your business here, human?"

"Human? You're crazy, you look like people to me!" the civilian replied as the first soldier sighed.

"So ignorant. 1000 years ago, they'd recognize exactly what we are.," the first soldier spoke as he removed his helmet to reveal a Jackaleo's head- a leonine creature with ig horns that grow from the side of their heads and curve onward and three red eyes- one in the middle of the forehead.

The civilian was puzzled and gritted his teeth.

"What's with the second mask? Trying to make fun of me?! I need to talk to a real authority figure, not some Freak!"' yelled the civilian.

This irked the Evil Being as he drew his saber, the invisible blade impaling the citizen through the head.

"It's so much better than having to kill from the shadows. I miss when we could just kill one of these civ gnats when we felt like it.," the leonine creature said as he put his helmet back on.

"I sense some bastards. And is that?!," remarked the second.

The two then approached the pillar and the second yelled-

"Whoever you are! Get out! You're trespassing on our land! And the punishment is death!"

Wave lunged out and kicked the second individual away.

"You killed an innocent man just because you felt like it. And you changed our land by doing something. You should be the ones to leave!" Wave shouted as he activated his Teigu.

"Eek! It's the Grand Chariot! Wait, Lord Marli and Lord Ignis just left a little while ago and didn't come back. Could it be.," noted the second as they got to their feet.

"That overgrown marlin? I killed him and Ignis' flames fizzled out.," the dark-clad warrior explained.

"O-oi. Don't be a comedian, your material is very tacky. Like humans could take out those two. They're two of our 14 leaders. If Solar-Flor didn't use his tricks, they'd easily squash him!," shouted the first soldier.

"I already killed him.," Murasaki, the indigo-haired woman explained as she appeared behind them.

"O-oh. I'll take your word on THAT!," the first said as he flung his sword at her.

I don't see it, but I feel like its a weapon., thought Murasaki in Akame's voice.

The soldiers then noticed Tsurarahime emerge with Kurome, Poney, Yomihime, and Najasho.

"Eek! It's lady Tsurarahime! We can't handle her!," shouted the second as the two scampered away into the distance.

The blue-haired woman proceeded to walk to Wave and give him a scolding glare. Najasho took the dead man and buried him in the ground.

"It's strange to hear, but here's the basics. We're in enemy territory and it's better if we play it safe.," she said to the young man.

"So ignore when they go on a killing spree on a whim?," asked Wave.

"I'm saying that you need to keep your guard up. The walls, air, the city, other people, and even the ground itself along with even the most mundane things- can be where the enemy can strike.," she said as the buried ground rumbled as the dead man emerged as a mindless zombie.

Yomihime slashed at the creature purifying its essence. Najasho looked very guilt-ridden.

"What can be done to change this?," asked Poney.

Murasaki looked around at the cityscape, which was a blend of human bones and obsidian demonic strucutres "We need to find the source of their power and dismantle it," she said firmly.

"Better said than done. It's Nefarious who's doing it and he's too much for anyone even back when he was unpowered. And he's now much more powerful than before. It's better if we leave this city.," Tsurarahime spoke.

Wave looked at the ground where the man was now a lifeless corpse again, "We can't just ignore this. He was innocent. This can't be how we operate. There are other people who were suddenly warped here. Are we supposed to ignore them?"

Tsurarahime nodded reluctantly.

"What was that thing the soldier used? It felt like a weapon.," Murasaki noted.

Tsurarahime looked at her half-daughter.

"It's called Energy of the Soul. All beings are divided into three categories- Evil, Good, and Neutral. Evil is about destruction and distortion. Good is is about healing and purification. And Neutral is about balance and avoidance. Solar-Flor, Ignis, and Marli used their more basal traits as a False Sunflower, Fire-Mancer, and a Marlin Shark respectively, using their biological traits to generate the sin arts. Fiend was the same. They ignored using Energy of the Soul out of hubris that it was a waste of time. You managed to kill 3 of the 14 White Kings. They're going to be using Energy of the Soul from now on.," she explained.

"Would that make a difference if they did?," asked Murasaki.

Tsurarahime nodded.

"They would've won easier if they did. But what's important now is that you need to learn how to see these attacks. We need to escape the city and go to a locale I know. They can teach you how to fight these monsters.," Tsurarahime explained.

"So we have to leave people to die. Some were just brought back from...," Poney noted.

Before the conversation could continue, they saw a familiar face- Viper and his cronies accompanying the soldiers.

"It's those guys!," yelled the first soldier, his Jackaleo face exposed and his associate, a Marg Don- over-sized lizards that have horns sticking out of their heads backward. They are dark gray with amber eyes and black, oval-shaped gemstones embedded in their foreheads. This one based on an alpha, had a red orb. Both were heavily implied to be beaten heavily for their failures by Viper.

"Heh. I finally get to rape that bitch. And since she's gotten quite the rep. It'll be-," the snake said before Murasaki nonchalantly used Sañjīva on them before they could even react.

The soldiers then dashed away to get more aid.

"If we strike first before they can attack, then we can get as many people as we can and then go.," Murasaki said confidently, gaining Tatsumi's optimism temporarily as she spoke.

This reassured her colleagues but worried Tsurarahime.


Outskirts of Zeboiim Zoar

A caravan with thieves trailing behind looked in confusion as the capital had morphed into a demonic citadel and the short, intense rumbling afterward.

"W-what's going on? Where's the Capital?," asked one of the passengers.

"It don't matter. What ja says don't matter. We just take what we want 'cause weece strong y'know! Survival of the fittest.," said one of the thieves.

"That's not how Evolution works. It's not about strength.," said a young girl's voice as it made the bandits turn around.

"It's a game in which organisms are the players and strategies are behaviors encoded in their genes. The goal of the game is to get the most genes into the next generation by having a lot of offspring. The success of a strategy is determined by how well it performs against other strategies, and how often those strategies are used. Adaptabiltiy to one's alteration in the environment also plays a factor. You can be the mightiest in raw strength, but if your body isn't able to handle the changing of temperatures, the induction of new diseases without the proper antibodies, or if your adaptations work against you in comparison to competing predators. Then you lose.," said this gray-haired girl with two braids in front with a long braid in the back. She wore a black tube top with baggy pants. She had a pair of eight spider legs emerging from her back that did the walking for her and a set of four green spider eyes in the middle of her large forehead.

Weava- Insectoid Heiress of the Black Faction/Royal Guard of Nefarious' 1st Son.

"What's that, you little brat? You trying to sound smarter than us? What's with those weird legs of yours? Did you steal them from a spider or something? Hehe, what a strange accessory," one of the bandits chuckled, nudging his companion.

She then stomped on him like an ant, which made the other bandits' expression change from amusement to anger.

"Just like a naked ape to not have the knowledge of Energy of the Soul. If you did, you'd realize how deep our power gaps are.," she sneered, her voice as cold as the steel that made up the bandits' weapons.

"What the hell is Energy of the Soul?! In any case, we're no longer gonna rape you loli till you're dead!," yelled another as he fired arrows at her. She generates webbing from one of her spider legs, which catches each arrow. She then spat a webbing from her mouth, which compressed the attacker till he was a white ball.

The sphere then levitated towards Weava as she bit into it.

"Even if a spider bites you, you don't die instantly. The bite will paralyze you. Once paralyzed, the spider will inject you with digestive juices and venom melting your contents to that of a liquid for the spider to suck up. You're conscious the whole time.," she explained as she bit into the ball and sucked it dry.

The remaining bandits were horrified by what they had just witnessed.

"That's the spider side of my parentage. My father's side is that of a beetle. It's said in Wakoku that they pit insects against each other. There are weight classes like in boxing and martial arts. Only two bugs participate in a fight at a time, and most fights end with one bug killing its opponent. In some cases, the fights end in a draw if neither bug is able to kill its opponent.

"What does that have to do with anything?!," yelled another thief as he pulled a hand-held cannon as he fired it at her but she caught it with her human arms and crushed it.

"Everything. You see, in that arena, the strong survive. The weak are discarded, but they at least died with dignity having died a good death. It's the same way here. The only difference is that the arena is life and death," Weava said calmly, a hint of excitement in her voice.

The bandits, a mix of confusion and fear, looked at each other. They had never encountered someone so...different. So cold. So accepting of the brutal nature of the world.

"These villagers in these wagons. Why don't we work together, you get to fight strong guys while we reap the rewards.," the leader of the bandits, a balding man requested.

Weava tilted her head, before saying "I'm not interested in rape, pillaging, and plunder. I'm only interested in testing my powers."

The thieves exchanged glances, unsure of how to respond to this bizarre declaration from a young girl. They had seen a lot of things in their lives, but nothing had prepared them for someone who talked about death and survival with such a casual air.

"You're not gonna get anywhere with these guys. They're cowards through and through- attacking the weak.," said a voice from above.

A beam of pink light split into strands as they skewered the bandits, vaporizing them. The caravan proceeded to leave in a hurry.

Weava looked up to see a familiar face-

An attractive woman in odd attire that seemed organic yet mechanical, but had the basic shape of a crop top and baggish pants. having dark magenta hair tied in a braid reaching to her ankle, bespectacled, and having pink arcane markings on her stomach, arms, and face. She opened her eyes to reveal odd star-shaped pupils within her dark pupils.

Dorina- Sorcerer Heiress of the Black Faction/Royal Guard of Nefarious' 1st Son.

She glomped the now bláse Weava as she hugged her.

"Weava-pie. How are you doing?," asked the witch.

"I'm jealous. You got to fight in the Kodoku.," the spider girl admitted.

"Well, you played a big part in ensuring our liege would be born. So you're a lot more important than me.," Dorina replied.

"So what's going on?," asked Weava.

"Well, the new capital's got some uninvited guests. They're from the good guys' side," Dorina said, rolling her eyes.

"That's a shame. That means the grown-ups will have dibs.," Weava remarks.

Dorina then changes the subject.

"We kinda have a problem too.," the witch remarks.

"What kinda problem?," asked Weava.

"You see when we brought our capital, here. When we came, so did the damned. And they escaped.," Dorina remarks.

"What do we care? We intend to usurp God.," Weava notes.

"Yeah, you're right.," the witch replies, casually.


Zeboiim-Zoar

As Murasaki and co. go forward, they encounter a bizarre sight-

White-clad soldiers being tossed with ease by obscured figures.

Wave clenched his teeth.

Their leader was a young man toned with tan skin, golden-amber iris eyes, and pale lilac hair that had two strands that framed his face. He had a noticeable X-shaped scar on his face and a crown-like headgear similar to his father's. He wore a white, skintight shirt that revealed his stomach and white pants.

Syura- Leader of Wild Hunt.

Murasaki and her group watched from the shadows as Syura and his men strutted through the streets of the newly formed Zeboiim-Zoar. His aura of sadism was palpable, continuing to be vile even after being sent to Hell. As they approached a group of huddled civilians, Syura's eyes lit up with a twisted glee.

"Look at these pitiful creatures," he sneered, licking his lips as he eyed a particularly terrified young woman. "The perfect playthings for the new era of chaos."

"Aren't you the dead son of the former Minister, the obese pig who got a horrific death?," asked one of the civilians.

Syura's expression twisted into a snarl as he grabbed the man by the neck.

"How dare you speak of my father with such disrespect?!" he bellowed, his grip tightening. "You're nothing but a maggot, unworthy to even breathe the same air as me!"

Suddenly, they all felt intense pressure as Murasaki saw Elm, the Tree-Beast-based humanoid she faced in the Kodoku.

"I wouldn't kill him. He'd just go to Heaven. He's not a damned soul like yourself.," Elm remarks.

Syura's eyes narrowed at the mention of his father's grisly demise, but his curiosity was piqued by the intervention.

"What kind of mutant freak are you?!" he spat, his grip on the civilian's neck tightening even more.

Elm's singular eye flashed with annoyance at the insult. In a display of their immense power, they grew massive branches from his back, the wood thick and gnarled, the leaves a sickly shade of black. They shot out like whips, wrapping around Syura's arms and restraining him before he could react. The sound of a cracking bone filled the air as the branches tightened, but Syura's face gritted in agony as the man was dropped.

The branches were then sliced off by a blade Teigu resembling a curved saber that is capable of creating aerial blades from the slashes wielded by one of Syura's allies.

Shamshir had been among the Teigu that had been destroyed by the enemy Evil Beings.

So the Teigu will always exist to fulfill their purpose., thought Elm, remarking how they somehow always come back for some reason.

The wielder was a lean, muscular man with black hair styled in a triangular bob-like cut and small, light-colored eyes. He wore a black outfit that revealed his chest and light-colored pants with a sash. He also had a habit of sticking out his long tongue.

Enshin- Wild Hunt.

"You dare interrupt our fun, tree-freak?!" the black-haired man snarled, stepping forward with his weapon at the ready.

A rather short young man of effeminate looks with short blond hair emerged from behind Elm. He was dressed in Revolutionary Army attire, but was clearly on the side of the Evil Beings.

Seaweed- Member of the White Plant Army/Former Vice Commander of the Revolutionary Army.

He was crying, much to the confusion of the others.

"Waah. Waah. Solar-Flor is GOONNNNE! I wanted to be his lover. Fuck it all!," the youth shouted as he activates his Gula Form and turns into a sea-weed monster.

The transformation was shocking to behold. His human body stretched and contorted, limbs extending into thick, sinewy strands of kelp-like seaweed that whipped around him like living tentacles. His face grew elongated and fish-like, his eyes bulging with a mix of pain and rage. His voice, once soothing and gentle, now echoed with the haunting sounds of the deep ocean.

"Yuck, he's now ugly. He used to be so girly enough to-," Enshin remarked before his associate walked ahead of him.

An overweight, dark-skinned man with puffs of dark curly hair above his ears; he was always seen wearing clown makeup and clothing, as well as a small baseball hat with a smiley face on it.

Champ- Wild Hunt.

The air grew thick with tension as Champ stepped forward, his eyes scanning the area with a disturbing hunger. The sight of the children hiding among the terrified adults sent a shiver down his spine.

"Look at all these little angels," he cooed, his smile growing wider as his eyes gleamed with a sickening excitement. "So innocent, so pure. It's such a shame they have to grow up to be just like the rest of you disgusting animals."

Seaweed lunges at him with his seaweed tentacles.

"You're first, fatass!," the creature screeched.

Champ's clown-like smile grew even more sinister as he pulled out his Teigu, Big Leaguer. It was a simple-looking metal bat adorned with six different colored orbs along the length of the bat- normally floating but had been modified by a certain person. Each orb was the size of a baseball and had a distinct elemental glow to it.

"Oh, you think you can take on the likes of us with your pitiful tentacles? Let me show you what a real monster looks like," Champ taunted, raising Big Leaguer over his head.

The first orb, a swirling maelstrom of dark clouds, shot from the bat with a deafening roar, hurtling towards the rampaging seaweed creature. The air around it grew thick with electricity, the hairs on everyone's necks standing on end as the Storm Orb grew larger and more ominous. Upon impact, a massive tornado erupted, swirling Seaweed into a cocoon of wind and debris, tearing through the streets and leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.

Murasaki and her group watched in horror as the creature howled in pain, the winds ripping at his plant-like form. As the dust began to settle, they saw the tentacles struggling to break free, but the power of the storm was too much.

"You think you're something special?!" Champ jeered as he approached the downed Seaweed, his malicious intent clear. He raised Big Leaguer once more, the second orb pulsing with a fiery glow.

The flaming orb shot out and slammed into Seaweed's side, enveloping him in a raging inferno. The creature's agonized screams filled the air as his plant-like body was set alight, the flames licking and crackling as they consumed him.

But amidst the horror, something unexpected happened. As the fire danced across his form, a look of ecstasy washed over Seaweed's face, and he let out a high-pitched, orgasmic squeal that echoed through the streets. The sound was so jarringly out of place that even the sadistic Champ was caught off-guard, his grin faltering for a brief moment.

"What the hell are you?!" he roared, stumbling back a step.

"Harder Mister!," Seaweed squealed.

Champ then pins him down and starts to rape him to death as the Teigu orb of rot, eroded the demon away.

Seaweed's masochistic cries grew louder and more intense, his body contorting in ways that would make any sane person cringe. The sight of the creature's twisted pleasure was almost too much for the onlookers to bear.

"Solar-Flor's antics are too much for many people, but not for me! I'm coming Lover!," he cried as he faded away.

Champ was utterly confused by the masochistic display. He had seen and done many twisted things in his time with the Wild Hunt, but this was something new. He had never encountered a creature that not only enjoyed pain but seemed to find sexual pleasure in it. The sight was both repulsive and fascinating, and he couldn't help but feel a little unnerved. He had to admit, though, that Seaweed's reaction had thrown him off his game.

"And they call us monsters.," the clown remarks.

"So where are we? I last remember being tortured by demonic women.," Enshin notes.

"This is the former capital of the Revolutionary Army. Now it's our playground," Syura says, his eyes gleaming with malice. "But enough about this dump. I've got grander plans."

Elm proceeded to generate a tree-based cannon from their right arm at the mention of the word "dump"

"Calling the Great One's fortress, a dump is heresy.," the tree creature declared.

Suddenly, there was a subtle pressure for the humans, but for Evil Beings, it was an intense wave of mass.

The remaining Evil Beings bowed to the arriving individual-

A figure descended from the sky, its presence unmistakable. It was an androgynous teenager with a slender frame and purple lipstick, their black eyes piercing through the chaos. Their curly blonde hair cascading down to their chest was like a halo of golden fire against the stark black and white striped gown they wore. The gown billowed around them, giving off an aura of regal grace, yet the power that radiated from them was anything but serene. They had red horns that were bull-like, a third eye in the middle of their forehead, and a long tail ending in a barb.

Insidious- 3rd Child of the Great One.

"Insidious, your Grace.," Elm said as they kneeled.

Insidious looked around to see the other humans.

"Now why are these damned souls still here? Weren't they supposed to be looked up in their cells," Insidious inquired with a tone that was almost sugary sweet, yet had a hint of the bitter venom beneath it.

"It was the terraforming and unification of the land. It was a reckless decision that unleashed them to-," Elm said before they were zapped in the knees by Insidious.

"I don't need excuses, I need results. If you can't manage simple tasks, I'll find someone who can," Insidious said, their voice as sharp as a serpent's fang.

"Understood, your Grace.," Elm said.

"Damn kid. I understand why Solar-Flor didn't want them born-," said a soldier before suddenly they were tossed around telekinetically, banging against the building due to Insidious' powers.

"I won't tolerate insubordination, Phil.," Insidious explained as the soldier, battered plummeted to his feet, barely alive.

Phil gasped for air, his eyes bulging out.

Murasaki looked at the sight in horror.

"I was capable of things, but this is an entire level about it.," Murasaki talking her experiences back when she was just Esdeath.

Champ's eyes grew wide as he watched Insidious in action. He had always had a thing for those who looked innocent yet held immense power. The androgynous teenager's presence was like a siren's call to him, and he couldn't help but feel a strange attraction. His thoughts were racing, and before he knew it, he was taking a step towards Insidious, his Teigu gripped tightly in his hand.

"The commoners do not know their place.," Insidious said as he generated a faint red aura.

"The commoners do not know their place.," Insidious said as he generated a faint red aura.

"Your Grace, may I have the honor of serving directly under you? I can be quite... persuasive," Champ leered, his tongue flicking out to taste the air.

Insidious raised an eyebrow, amused by the audacity of the creature before them.

"I see," they said with a smirk. "You wish to serve under me, do you? I suppose I could use someone with your... particular set of skills."

With a flick of his wrist, Insidious sent a burst of red energy towards Champ. It enveloped him, and for a moment, the clown was enveloped in a cocoon of pure agony as he was forced to relive every moment of his existence, from the moment of his birth to the present. His mind screamed in torment as every pain, every humiliation, every failure was amplified and replayed in an endless loop within the confines of the Samjiva. His body contorted, his screams echoing through the streets as he was made to face the darkest corners of his soul.

"As a guinea pig for my 16 Great Hell arts.," Insidious explains as Champ suffers.

But something unexpected occurs.

As Champ writhes in agony, a soundwave manages to break the cocoon and free Champ.

The young woman with a pink bob-style haircut and bunny ears accessory steps forward, the microphone-type Teigu in her hand vibrating with power. She wore a light purple mini dress, a collar and matching wristbands, boots, and a pair of glasses that gleamed with an unusual light.

Cosmina- Wild Hunt.

Elm tries to comfort Insidious.

"You are still young. You can always im-," they said before the youth elbows them in the gut with a callous experience, causing Elm to vomit salvia.

"You're supposed to prostrate before me when you say it.," the younger remarks before dodging a sword slash with ease.

The tall, slim middle-aged man with black hair in a top ponytail, eyes closed, and a twig in his mouth stepped into the fray. His green kimono fluttered as he moved with an unnerving grace, his blade slicing through the air with the precision of a master swordsman. The weapon he wielded was unlike any other, a blade named Kousetsu.

Izou- Wild Hunt.

"Izou...," Murasaki says in Akame's voice. While he had been killed in the Empire by Akame- the original identity of Murasaki, he had been revived by his peers via an unholy ritual before Akame killed him again.

The man's eyes snapped open, his stoic expression shattering into a grin as he recognized the voice as he looked in her general direction.

"Ah, Akame. It's been too long," he said, his voice a low purr that seemed to resonate with the very air around them.

This proved to be a vital mistake as Insidious suddenly teleported into the vicinity of Murasaki's group. Tsurarahime grimaced as this was the worst outcome.

With a wave of their hands, Kurome and Murasaki glowed.

They then dimmed as it was now just Akame, Esdeath, Tatsumi, Kurome, and Leone. All of them looked at each other in confusion.

"You will be coming with me, the son of the Emperor Dragon's heir.," Insidious declared, pointing a finger at him.

But before the red aura could envelop Tatsumi, the air around Insidious shimmered and took on a deep blue hue. A barrier had formed around them, and the caster stepped into view.

A young obscured figure hiding in the alleys of the devilish city, with a deceptively innocent appearance, smiled wickedly. Her eyes, a piercing yellow, gleamed with ancient wisdom as she held out her hand, her advanced tech activated.

She was a young woman of small height with blonde hair and yellow eyes. She wore a turquoise dress with a white apron and a turquoise ribbon on her head, giving her an innocent appearance.

Dorothea- Wild Hunt.

She drew a flash bomb, obscuring the Evil Beings' vision.

The civilians had scampered and the Wild Hunt/Murasaki's group were gone.

The barrier collapsed around Insidious as they scowled.


Later

They had entered a private spot the the Evil Beings had somehow ignored.

Esdeath, Akame, and Tatsumi looked confused at what Insidious had done as did Leone and Kurome.

"He's able to manipulate your souls via his Energy of the Soul. It's only a matter of time before an Evil Being capable of invisibility, one that can meld into the environment, one that can phase into the environment, or be an actual wall, appears," Tsurarahime explains.

She then turned to the Wild Hunt, a group of degenerates that made the worst of the Jaegers seem like saints.

Wave was shaking angrily.

He then noticed a familiar figure-

A fellow Jaeger and Wave's friend, emerged from the shadows, his fair blond hair and golden eyes a stark contrast to the twisted expressions of the Wild Hunt. His attire was a stark departure from his usual combat gear, donned in a white robe that flowed over his black shirt and pants, with a brown belt cinched around his waist. The feather pin behind his left ear fluttered slightly in the breeze, and the collar-like accessory around his neck glinted with an eerie light.

Run- Jaegers.

He then noticed another familiar figure-

The man was instantly recognizable with the beige mask with its round metallic eyeholes, the X-shaped opening framing a pair of piercing gazes. His lean, muscular form was draped in cloth that matched the hue of his mask, which was adorned with black markings that looked like veins under the eyeholes. The mask had two long straps that tied at the back of his head, keeping it securely in place. He wore beige pants with black straps crisscrossing his legs, allowing for maximum mobility and flexibility. Despite the lack of armor, the three scars that marred his chest spoke volumes of the battles he had endured. He also wore grey boots.

Bols- Jaegers.

Kurome recognized another figure- a young woman with auburn hair tied in a shoulder-length ponytail, her eyes a piercing shade of reddish amber that seemed to see through the very fabric of justice. Her green military outfit was a stark contrast to the hellish surroundings, the mini-skirt fluttering in the breeze and revealing her metallic lower arms. The white leggings and green boots she wore were functional yet stylish, a testament to her adaptability in battle. At her side, a cartoonish white dog with black floppy ears and a black nose trotted along, its beady eyes alert and watchful.

Seryu Ubiquitous and Koro-Jaegers.

And lastly, a tall and slim adult man with black hair a small, white streak or patch of hair on the left side, and blue eyes. He wore glasses, a yellow suit with a blue shirt, a tie, and a white lab coat.

Dr. Stylish- Jaegers.

The tension in the air was thick, a palpable force that made even the most stoic of the group shift uncomfortably. The Wild Hunt had harmed Run and Bols while the Jaegers had harmed Night Raid's members.

"What're you guys doing here?", Leone's voice, usually filled with mirth, was now laced with a deadly seriousness that made the very air crackle with the potential for violence.

"Because everything we knew was a lie set up by those bastards that used us and we want payback. This isn't about our squabbles, but humanity's survival.," said a familiar voice.

Akame and Leone turned around-

Najenda stood on the other end. Her short, silver hair was tied back in a severe bun, and her purple eye gleamed with a determination that had only grown stronger with the loss of its counterpart. The eyepatch she wore over her right eye socket was a stark reminder of the battles she had survived. Her attire was a sleek black suit that hugged her curves, hinting at the power and authority she wielded. Her right arm was now a marvel of technology, a gleaming green and black mechanical limb that ended in a hand with four fingers and a thumb. The mechanical hand flexed, the joints clicking and whirring as if eager for a fight.

Najenda- Night Raid.

More familiar figures were in the shadows.

Akame threw her the Rongo-Rongo book without hesitation, which opened to a certain passage.

"We're gonna divide into 16 groups and then those trios are gonna combine.," she said to the group.


Next Chapter: 8 Yin and 8 Yang- Murasaki and her 15 colleagues explore the city of Zeboiim-Zoar to deal justice to their enemies.

Author Notes: The name of the Great One's city is a subtler nod to Sodom and Gomorrah- a city of sin, being cities affiliated with them, appropriate since it's a place of demons.

Insidious is a great hint of the power of the heirs and the Great One by proxy.

Wild Hunt are monsters, but they're mere beasts compared to the villainy of the Evil Beings. More of their members are explored here in this chapter.

Seaweed was Solar-Flor's assistant and just as depraved as him.

In any case, the Wild Hunt, Jaegers, and Night Raid had more than enough time to realize how badly the enemy screwed their lives over, they're an alliance of necessity against a greater evil, much like the 16 nations over 1000 years ago.