Well, greetings everyone and hope you guys probably enjoyed the story I've made. I might have expected you guys to say something like 'Dude, this isn't like the source material' or something.
Yes, well, just leave me alone with my own ideas, okay? This is an idea that I've made and I just to give the story a certain spice in the story.
Well, anyway, on with the story.
Disclaimer: I do not own Akame ga Kill and 'Akame Ga kill: Return of Red Dragon emperor' by 'animemaster212'. They belong to their respective owners.
Enjoy.
PS: By the way, if you want your headcanon voice actor, try imagining what he speaks in Vergil's voice from the Devil May Cry series or Infinite from Sonic Forces and Grimoire Weiss from Nier.
Unless you have a far better idea, let me know what you think is a good voice actor for Ylith, then.
The sun is shining as Tatsumi, Sayo and Ieyasu are all looking into the horizon of the cliff of where their new home is and honestly, they have no idea how to feel about their new situation.
"So... Uh... this is where we're at, right?" Tatsumi said in a disbelieving tone.
"I think so... Why are we here again?" Ieyasu said in a tone that showcase how he has no idea how to react.
"Must have something to do with that woman who swindled our money got us here?" Sayo stated as the boys gets a realization.
"Oh, yeah. I think Tatsumi say something when he meets her. What was it again, Tatsumi? Heh? Heh?" Ieyasu grinned as he playfully nudged him, making Tatsumi blush.
"S-shut up, Ieyasu. It's just..." Tatsumi then muttered the last part and said, "They're really big, okay?"
"If you three are done with your conversation..." Tatsumi, Sayo and Ieyasu all turned around to see Ylith is standing before them, still carrying his spear and still looking as ominously as possible, "I believe that the woman, Leone as her name suggests, wants to give a tour of her base."
"Oh, right. Her." Sayo said in an annoyed tone as she crossed her arms at the mention of her name.
"Hey, what's that tone for?" Leone interjected as she stands with Ylith who noticed her as he stares at her in slight annoyance, "If it's about the gold I swindled from the kid, well it's not my fault that he can't resist this." She said as she showed off her 'assets, which she displayed by jiggling it.
Sayo fumed at the sight before looking at Ieyasu and Tatsumi who can only look away fearfully, not wanting incur Sayo's wrath upon them.
"And besides, if you want your gold back, then you should thank this guy for it." Leone said, pointing at Ylith.
"What?" The trio asked in confusion as Ylith fished out something from his robes to reveal the three their bags of gold in his hand
"Is that... Is that..." Tatsumi said in absolute disbelief at the sight of the gold they had swindled from.
"Your bags of gold? That's right. I got it when I confronted Leone of what she did. And I am rather persuasive in telling Leone to give me the gold she has stolen from you three." Ylith explained it all to him.
"Don't you mean, 'threaten me'?" Leone described it more.
"That is from a different perspective. Regardless, here you go." Ylith said as he throws the bag of gold at the kids as Tatsumi grabbed it, open it and see it's contents.
"You didn't buy anything with our gold, didn't you?" Tatsumi asked which Leone tried to look away, chuckling in an innocent manner.
"Maybe..." Leone stated, "I might have buy some sake with your gold. Hehehe..." She giggled at that before saying, "Now come on. Let me give you guys a grand tour of our headquarters. Trust me. You'll like it here." She said as she urged the newcomers to follow her to base.
Tatsumi, Sayo and Ieyasu can only look at each other in uncertainty as Tatsumi said, "Should we, guys?"
"Hell no. Let's get out here after we finally got a chance." Sayo stated to him.
"And then what? When we're finally get out, what then? Even with this gold, we wouldn't be helping our village with their money problem. And after all we've seen in the Empire, how can we win big in such a horrid place like that?" Ieyasu stated, gritting his teeth in frustration as their predicament.
"I suggest we shall see what we shall see to what Leone showed us. Maybe in this organisation they are in, it maybe the salvation you children need with your predicament." Ylith stated to them as Tatsumi and his friends heard what Ylith said, still unsure of the fact.
"You sure these guys can be trusted?" Sayo said in her continued tone of uncertainty.
"That remains to be seen. We wouldn't know if we continue to dawdle outside of their base of operation..." Ylith said as he approach the entrance to the base, still holding his spear before looking at the kids and said, "Now, come. We must not dally." He said as he proceed to get into Night Raid.
The three look at each other in uncertainty before with a heavy sigh, they followed Ylith into Night Raid.
Ylith, alongside Tatsumi and his friends have followed Leone into the secret headquarters of Night Raid as the three youths can only watch in either awe or being nervous or, in the case of Ylith, just walk with them without any emotion to show although considering what he is is wearing, there is little to indicate the physical or any kind of emotional display behind his mask and robes.
Then Ylith noticed Leone is now walking alongside him, giving him a cheeky grin as she said, "Yes, Leone?"
"So..." Leone drawled out to Ylith, "What do you think of our secret base? Pretty awesome, right?"
Ylith, in his deadpan tone, can only respond with, "I've seen better."
"Oh, really..." Leone said in a challenging tone, "What kind of place that's far better than our home then, hmmm?"
Ylith then stares at her as he said, "All that you know is that a tree is more habitable then whatever this place is."
Leone can only look in confusion at his answer, 'A tree is more than habitable than our home? What kind of living place is he to make some giant wood coming out from the ground with a lot of green stuff his home?' Leone thought on his answer, "Anyway..." She said, wanting to change the subject, "Here we have the living room." She explained about her living room, seeing the long tables and chairs neatly put alongside Sheele herself who is sitting on the chair as she reads a book.
"Hey, Sheele." Leone said, calling out to Sheele, "Uh, Sheele? You there?" She said as she waved her hand at Sheele's face yet, there are no response from her.
Had enough, Leone then started to throw the book Sheele and throw it behind her, flying towards Ylith who caught effortlessly at that.
"Wah!? Leone!? What was that all about?" Sheele complained to Leone.
"Sorry, Sheele..." Leone apologize, "But just because you're an airhead, doesn't mean you would ignore me."
'Airhead?' Tatsumi and his two friends thought as they look at the book that Ylith had caught, titled, '101 Ways to Cure Airheadedness'.
"Ah... So she's dumb, huh?" Ieyasu blurted out, making Sayo slapped him for his comment.
"Ieyasu!? That's uncalled for. And besides, she's not dumb... just a little slow..." Sayo explained, not wanting to sound mean.
"Isn't that the same thing?" Ieyasu stated again before he was slapped by Sayo, also again.
Before Tatsumi could break their potential fight, he heard what Leone said to Sheele, "And that's why they're here. So, anything you want to encourage the kids to join us up?"
Tatsumi, Sayo and Ieyasu look at Sheele who's glasses hide her gaze beneath the light in such an intimidating manner as she, "If you know our location, then we wouldn't hesitate to kill you all."
This, however, made Tatsumi and his friends shudder in terror at her threat, saying, "What kind of encouragement was that?"
Then, Ylith comes in as he give the book to Sheele, who noticed it as she said, "Oh, there it is..." She said as she grabbed the book, looking at Ylith as she smiled, "Thank you, Ylith."
"No problem." Ylith said in an aloof manner as he crossed his arm at that.
Sheele just giggled and said, "Well, did you read it? I know that it isn't anything interesting but-"
"I don't read." Ylith answered, making Sheele look crestfallen.
"Oh..." Sheele said sadly, "Well, I did that it isn't interesting but it is the only to cure-"
"No, Sheele..." Ylith interjected again, "I said that I don't read. Not because I don't want to but because I can't."
This made everyone look at Ylith in shock as Sheele said, "Ylith, are you-"
"Illiterate? No." Ylith denied that part, "I just don't understand the language in that book."
This made Sheele look in understanding at that, "Oh, okay. I understand..." Then she gives a beaming smile and said, "Well, don't worry, Ylith. At least you're not the only one that can't read..." She then pointed at Leone and said, "Leone can't read as well so, at least you're not alone, right?"
Leone can only splutter out at what Sheele just said, "Sheele! I thought I told you not to mention that!?" She whined at her which made Sheele giggle.
As Ylith watched Sheele and Leone are at their conversation, Tatsumi and his friends can only watch in confusion and bewilderment as he said, "Are these guys really the assassins of Night Raid?"
"If it is, I do hope that this is some joke or something." Ieyasu stated to him.
"Well, if it is, I'm not laughing." Sayo said, sounding rather annoyed at that.
"HEY!"
Everyone stopped when they heard someone yelling, looking behind to see Mine is looking at them with an angry expression.
"Oh, hey, Mine..." Leone waved at her, cheerfully and nonchalantly, "So, how's it going?"
"DON'T JUST ACT LIKE YOU DIDN'T BRING THEM HERE FOR NOTHING!" Mine said in frustrated anger, "I swear, of all the things that you did that piss me off, this one crosses the line."
"Pfft..." Leone just shrugged and said, "Now, you're just being dramatic. Come on, trust me on this. And besides, these kids have potential." Leone said as she pushed the three towards Mine.
"I'll be the judge of that." Mine criticize as she looked at the three kids, starting with Ieyasu who Mine shows no hesitation in saying, "Fail."
"What, what are you talking about?" Ieyasu said incredulously.
"Your face says it all. You don't look like you can handle working besides professionals like us." Mine mocked him, making Ieyasu look at her angrily.
She then look at Sayo who look nervous at her staring as Mine said, "This one's okay."
"Wait, what?" Sayo said in surprise and so is Leone.
"Wow, Mine. What's with the change in opinion?" Leone said in regards towards Mine.
"This girl has potential. That's all." Mine said in a proud tone as she crossed her arms.
"Oh, that's bullshit. You're just going easy on her because she's a girl. I call bias, here. I call-" Ieyasu's ranting is stopped when Mine and Sayo punched him together, knocking him out as he groans in pain, "Great. There's two of them now."
Both Sayo and Mine smiled and nod to each other in understanding before looking at Tatsumi, who flinched at her gaze as Mine takes a closer look at him before saying, "This one's alright."
"Uh... What?" Tatsumi said, being rather surprised that.
"Don't be so full of yourself..." Mine said as she look away with a huff and said, "I only said that you're alright because you kill that bitch. I mean, it's not like you're worthy or anything. Dummy."
"Awwww..." Leone said as she hugged Tatsumi from behind and said, "She likes you."
"Shut it, Leone..." Mine screeched at her before looking everywhere as she said, "Now, where's that Ylith guy or whatever? When I see him, I'm gonna show him a what-for by being so full of himself."
"Ask and you shall receive."
Mine look behind in shock at the sight of Ylith towering over him, his spear cackling with electricity as he floats up in a very domineering display, "Go ahead. Give me your 'what-for'. Judge me all you want. I promise that I won't get mad." Ylith said the last part in a deep, menacing and reverberating voice.
Mine shuddered at the sight as she tried to speak up, "I... I... I..."
"You're gonna what?" Ylith continued in a deep and threatening tone, "What are you gonna say? Are you gonna say something that will test my patience? Do I need proof that I can actually be worthy of working with 'professionals' like you..." Ylith empathize the word in a tone of disbelieving condescension, "Because, I can do it. Tell me what I should do and I will show you how by my lonesome, I can bend the Empire to their knees and call upon the storm if I have to. Or have you forgotten that lightning that almost struck... you... down..." Ylith said as he gets closer to Mine as he said, "Tell... Me..."
Mine can only shudder at the intensity of Ylith's threats until she said, "I... I... I just realized that I drink too much. Bye bye. See ya. Gotta go to the toilet." Mine hastily said as ran away, cupping her crotch as she gets out from the living room.
The rest all looked at where Mine is going in shock as Sheele just said, "Was that... Was that necessary?"
"Why not?" Ylith said in a thankfully normal tone, "She's a bitch. And I know how to handle bitches."
After they were done in the living room, Leone led Tatsumi and his friends alongside Ylith outside where they found themselves in some of training field, if seeing a bare chested muscular man with a black pompadour, swinging his spear is any indication.
"This is the training field..." Leone showed before pointing at man himself, "And that's Bulat, by the way. And it looks like he's breaking a sweat."
Bulat swings his spear with such strength that it creates a shockwave of air through the effort alone.
"Woah... he's amazing." Tatsumi commented as his friends nod in agreement.
Ylith, however, just rolled his eyes in boredom, seemingly not impressed, 'I've seen better.'
As Bulat wipe the sweat of his brow from his workout, he then noticed Leone alongside Tatsumi and his friends as well as Ylith as he started to greet them, "Oh, hello there, Leone. Glad to see that you bring the kids home safely. Also, nice to meet you guys again." He said, grinning at them.
"Again?" Tatsumi and his friends said in confusion, having never met Bulat before.
"He is the one wearing that armour last night." Ylith stated to them in regards to Bulat.
"Yup..." Bulat said as he point at himself, "I know that you guys don't recognize me for my armour but here I am..." He said pointing at himself, "Pleasure to meet you guys. I'm Bulat."
"Pleasure to meet you too." Tatsumi said as he shakes Bulat's hand.
"By the way, he's gay." This made Tatsumi flinched as his friends look in surprise at what Leone just blurted out.
"Hey now, Leone. Don't get them the wrong idea..." Suddenly, Bulat started to give a glittering expression and lastly said, "~Yet."
'He's not denying it.' Tatsumi and his friends can only thought the same about Bulat, being rather creeped out by him.
Then Bulat noticed Ylith is still standing beside them as he proceeded to greet him, "Hello there. You must be Ylith, right? A pleasure to meet you." He said as he give his hand to him.
Ylith look at his hand then at Bulat as he backed away slightly, much to Bulat's awkward chuckle, "Hahahaha... Okay, I get it. Look, I know that I didn't deny my homosexuality but there's no reason to not touch me like I'm contagious. Unless you count my 'charming personality' contagious, right?" He said as he flashed a thumbs up and a grin.
"It's not that..." Ylith said, still in his soft spoken and neutral tone, "The armour you're wearing last night. You're it's wearer?"
"Hmmm..." Bulat said with a tilted head, "You mean, Incursio, right?"
"Right, Incursio..." Ylith drawled out the name in an unnerved tone, "Do make sure to be careful with that armour of yours. You never know how determined that beast is, even when reduced to an armament and used by their wearer and user."
This made Bulat widened in shock as he said, "H-how did you-"
"I believe I have said enough..." Ylith look at Leone and said, "Continue this tour of ours. We're done here."
And with that, Ylith walk forward as everyone can only look at the Phantasm in worry and concern at what he did and said.
Meanwhile, hiding beneath some bushes, Lubbock is crawling on the dirt floor as he snickered and said, "Hehehehe, it's almost time for Leone's bath time. I'll do anything to see those boobs of hers, if it's the last thing I'll do."
"Then, what about three fingers?" Leone said from behind and before Lubbock could know it, he screamed in pain as she did as she promised.
"Hahahaha, never learn, Lubbock." She said as she sits on Lubbock who tries to escape her grasp.
"Dammit, I won't give up." He said in a tear stricken expression as everyone look at what Leone is doing with Lubbock.
"And this is Lubbock. He's the pervert of the group." Leone explained.
"I noticed." Sayo said in a tone of disgust.
"Can't blame him, though. Leone has some big-OW! MY NOSE!" Ieyasu yelped in pain when Sayo backhanded him.
Tatsumi can only stare in a disbelieving expression, unable to comprehend that these are assassins of Night Raid.
As for Ylith, he has one thing to say about the situation, "Cringe."
Finally, Leone brings Tatsumi and his friends, alongside Ylith, outside and near the river, "Are we done yet?"
"Almost there, guys. We just need to meet a little cutie here..." Then Leone saw something in front as she said, "And there she is. Hi, Akame."
Akame is sat on a bonfire while cooking what can be described as a giant bird with a really disturbing face on it, "Is that the Evil Bird?"
"Yup, and she caught it, alright. She's a natural hunter, you know..." Leone said in a proud tone to Akame.
While Tatsumi and his friends watched in awe at the feats that Akame had done, Ylith can only react with disgust.
"Hello, Leone..." Akame said as she showed her stick with the meat on it, "You want some?"
"Don't I ever. I'm starving." Leone said as she grabbed the stick and happily eat the meat itself.
As Akame has given her food to Leone, she then gives her own food to Tatsumi and her friends as she said, "Have you finally considered joining us?"
"Uh... that remains to be seen?" Tatsumi stated in uncertainty as Sayo and Ieyasu also look awkward and sheepish at that.
"Then I'm not giving you." Akame stated, as a matter-of-factly.
"Well, we didn't want any." Tatsumi complained as Sayo nod in agreement although Ieyasu can only pat his stomach, actually wanting to eat.
Then she showed the meat to Ylith as she said, "What about you? Do you want-"
"No!" Ylith responded in a still subdued yet intense tone, much to the shock and alarm of everyone.
"What's wrong?" Akame said, sounding shocked at his refusal.
"I am not eating that." Ylith answered, pointing at the meat and looking at it in disgust.
"Why not?" Leone said, taking a bite out of the meat in her hand, "It's really delicious. And Akame is such a great cook that-"
"I do not know if you know these term but I'm going to say this..." Ylith then give his answer, "I'm a vegetarian."
This made everyone look shocked before Ieyasu said, "You're a vegetable."
Ylith can only face palm and said, "No, you idiot. It means I don't meat. It means I can't stand meat. It means I find eating meat a revolting act like no other!"
Once again, his declaration made everyone shocked at what Ylith had said, "B-but meat is really good..."
"Well, I don't..." Ylith said before looking at the carcass of the Evil Bird, "Why, I would feel sorry for this majestic avian creature. How it would just mind it's own business as it flies, possibly to bring food to her younglings only to suddenly be killed by a heartless murderer who started to impale it, roasted it and then had the gall to eat it. Such a poor creature to be another prey for one who doesn't understand nature. For shame." Ylith said in such an overly dramatic speech.
Everyone can only look at Ylith weirdly at that as Ieyasu whispered to his friends, "This guy's weird."
"Anyway..." Leone awkwardly tries to change the subject, "What's wrong with everybody, Akame? Why is everyone getting excited?"
Akame, after shaking what Ylith had just said, answered, "It's because the Boss is here, Leone."
'Boss?' Tatsumi and his friends thought as Leone look to see Najenda is also sitting beside Akame.
"Oh, hey, boss." Leone called out to her.
"Yo, Leone." Najenda said, greeting her.
"Welcome back..." Leone said with a wide grin, "Did you bring anything good?"
"Before that, Leone?" Najenda said as her voice has an edge into it as she showed her trembling in furious metal right arm despite her expression still remaining unchanged, "About one of your recent assignments. I was told that you have a three long day of overdue, right?"
'Crap!' Leone thought as she tried to escape only for Najenda to fire something from her metal hand, revealing it's mechanical design as it is launched a metal hand with a wire as it grabbed Leone by the back of her scarf and pulled her in.
Tatsumi and his friends watched in shock in disbelief at what they are seeing while Ylith just reacts to the situation in such a neutral expression, barring an unsettled look behind his mask.
"When you face a powerful opponent, be sure that you shouldn't get caught too much in the fun. So, can you please control that bloodlust of yours?" Najenda said as she continued to reel in Leone towards her.
"Okay, okay. I get it. Now, can you please let go of me?" Leone whined as she tried to break free from Najenda's grip.
"By the way, who are these children? And of course..." Najenda then look at the next person beside Tatsumi and his friends before looking at none other than the Phantasm, also known as Ylith, as she stares in shock and said, "Leone, did I just lose another eye or is the Phantasm is in front of us?"
"You're not hallucinating, Boss..." Leone said with a grin, "These kids show promise to Night Raid..."
"Hey, we haven't agreed on anything." Tatsumi complained to her which Leone ignored.
"And of course, none other than the Phantasm himself had finally joined us, here and now." Leone explained it to her as she showed Ylith.
"Really?" Najenda said, sounding intrigued.
Before Leone could say anything, Ylith decided to speak, move Leone out of the way roughly as he said, "That remains to be seen, Miss Najenda of Night Raid. I'll join when I choose to join and if you intend to stop me from leaving..." He gripped his spear as the blade started to cackle in electrical energy, "You know what will happen next, do you?"
Tatsumi and his friends, alongside Akame and Leone, noticed the weather started to gone black with flashes of lightning are in the dark clouds as Najenda puff a smoke from her mouth and said, "There's no need for hostilities. As you know, we both have the same enemy with the Empire and we're both allies, in this regard." She said calmly as she look at Ylith's glare from his mask and flowing white hair, "Tell you what? Why don't we continue our discussion at the meeting room? Doesn't that sounds nice?"
Ylith continue to give a stone cold glare at Najenda before gripping his knuckles as he takes a deep breath and just said, "Fine."
After Najenda ordered Akame to gather everyone to the meeting room, Tatsumi and his friends had explained everything to everyone and all the while, Ylith is just busy leaning on the wall, not exactly caring as he waits for them to finish with the kids.
"I see. I understand..." Najenda said, nodding at what Tatsumi and his friends had said as they look at each other nervously, "In that case, how would you three would like to be our newest recruit in Night Raid?"
"Are you gonna kill us..." Sayo said in fear, "If we refused?"
"No, no..." Najenda said as she shakes her head, "We're not gonna kill you. But we're not going to let you go either because right now, you'll be working in our headquarters to do our daily chores. But regardless, it is your choice to make."
Tatsumi, Sayo and Ieyasu look at each other in uncertainty as Tatsumi then explained, "We... We just wanted To find the money we need to help our village, that's all. But with how the Empire have been..." He didn't need to finish, not needing anymore comments on the matter.
"You three..." Bulat begins to talk, "The Empire has been a corrupting cesspool of crime and depravity, creating mass poverty everywhere. Don't you all want to uproot the corruption with everything you got?"
"Bulat here was once a former high-ranking officer of the Empire but he joined us when the Empire's corruption has become more apparent." Najenda explained about Bulat.
"Indeed..." Bulat nodded to her explanation, "And it is this reason that we are willing to clean up the scums that infested our Empire. If we don't, then it won't get cleaned up in no time."
"Does it?" Sayo said in a skeptical tone, "I know that who you kill deserved what's coming for them but I don't think killing a few won't make a huge difference."
"Yeah..." Ieyasu decided to speak, "You won't make the best omelettes without few rotten eggs."
This made everyone look at Ieyasu in confusion as Sayo just face palm and said, "Sayo, what the hell was that?"
"Sorry..." Ieyasu said glumly as he pat his stomach, "Just hungry, that's all."
"Anyway..." Najenda said as she cleared her throat, "Which is the reason why you three are perfect for Night Raid."
"And why is that?" Tatsumi asked her.
"You see, kids..." Najenda decided to explain, "There is an army that is situated far from the Capital. Known as the Revolutionary Army, they started of small but over time, they grew to become a fighting force capable of facing off against the Empire."
"Wow, that's amazing." Tatsumi said in awe.
"Indeed..." Najenda nodded in agreement before saying, "Unfortunately, they are not capable of facing off the full force of the Empire and it doesn't help on how they don't exactly have the resources and arsenals needed to topple against the Empire. And thus, they needed the edge in the war they're in to do many things such as covert operations, reconnaissance and assassination of targets."
"And that's where Night Raid is in, right?" Sayo said as she nodded in understanding.
"Correct..." Najenda stated to them, "We're only putting out the fire, one scumbag at a time but when the time calls, then and only then will the Revolutionary Army bring up arms and charge straight towards the one that caused the Empire's corruption in the first place."
"And who's that?" Ieyasu asked her.
"The Prime Minister Honest, that's who." Najenda answered her.
"Wait..." Sayo said in realization, "I think I heard about this. Didn't I hear that at the castle, the Emperor was a child and that the one making the orders is some Prime Minister guy? Is that... Is that really true? That the Empire is ruled by a five year old?"
"Technically, he's ten years old..." Najenda corrected her, "But yes. Everything you heard is absolutely correct."
This made Sayo, especially Tatsumi and Ieyasu, look in shock at what they had just heard and he isn't the only one as Ylith also react to such a revelation in abject shock, 'What in my people's name?' Ylith thought in shock at what he can barely expect from the Empire.
"Unbelievable..." Sayo said, still is disbelief, "And who is this Honest guy, anyway? You said that he is the cause behind the Empire being corrupt? And that he is basically the guy who tells the emperor who is actually a kid to do whatever he is telling him to do? Did I hear this, right?"
Once again, Najenda nods at this as Sayo face palm in disbelief before saying, "Great, just great. And what about this Honest guy? What is his reason for making the Empire corrupt anyway? What sort of 'nefarious' plan he is concocting that will make all the suffering, the manipulation and all these evil goes to, anyway? What matter of 'brilliant, scheming, genius plan' he is doing then?" Sayo said in mocking tone.
Najenda and the rest were about to respond but stopped themselves when they heard what she said, realizing how very, very stupid Honest is for making the Empire corrupted anyway, "I think I can answer that..." Mine raised her hand up, actually knowing how to respond to Sayo's question.
"Really? You know what his plan is?" Ieyasu said to her.
"Uh... Yeah..." Mine then crossed her arms and said, "It's because he's probably a spoiled brat in an adult body who doesn't take no for an answer and just being an entitled prick. That's all."
Her answer made Ieyasu look disappointed as he said, "That's... that's stupid."
"It is..." Najenda nod in agreement, "But make no mistake, Honest is dangerous. Well, not really dangerous. Because at the end of the day, he is actually nothing but a pathetic pushover. But he still has connections with his supporters and of course, is protected by many strong enforcers that does his bidding. Especially, her."
"And then, you would kill him?" Tatsumi said to her.
"That's right..." Najenda responded with a nod, "Then finally, the Empire will be reformed and peace, prosperity and equality will finally brought to the people, once more."
Tatsumi and his friends can only stare in awe at Najenda's declaration but for Ylith, he just crossed his arms as he internally, 'I doubt it.' In a skeptical tone.
"That's great..." Ieyasu said in amazement, "You guys are like assassins of justice, right?"
And with that, everyone, sans Akame and Ylith, laughed at Ieyasu's tone with Akame still giving a flat and neutral look and Ylith just face palms.
Tatsumi and Ieyasu can only look around in confusion while Sayo face palms, shaking her head what Ieyasu said, "What? Was it something I said?"
Sayo can only groan in frustration and said, "Of course you did, idiot. You said the most stupidest thing they have ever heard in their entire life."
"Well, what's wrong with what he said? I mean, you guys kill bad guys, right? Isn't that justice?" Tatsumi said to them.
"Is it boy?" Ylith finally speaks as he walks, or floats towards as everyone stayed silent as they watched the imposing form of the Phantasm are at their presence.
As Tatsumi and his friends are all looking nervous at the sight while the rest of Night Raid are on edge with Ylith, he has this to say, "Tell me, Tatsumi? When you killed that 'bitch', did you really think that you did it all for justice?"
Tatsumi has no idea how to answer that before saying, "Uhm... Yes?"
"Really?" Ylith said in a faux mocking tone, "Not vengeance. Not hatred. Not a sense of catharsis. Is it truly justice you did? Is that all?"
"I... I..." Tatsumi can barely answer what Ylith said to him before trying to ask, "What are you saying?"
Instead of responding, he then looked at the rest of Night Raid who all look on edge towards him, "I know that you assassins of Night Raid do not see yourselves as heroes, or bringers of justice or even the harbingers of the law. In reality, you only did this because the Empire force your hand and just because the victims you kill deserved what they get, it's still murder, correct?"
The members of Night Raid all looked at each other, not exactly knowing how to respond to such a wise, experience and understanding response from Ylith.
Najenda then puff a smoke from his cigarette as she said, "That is correct, Ylith..." She mentioned his name, having heard what Sheele, Leone and the others told her about, "Here in Night Raid, death will come to us, one way or another. And we will be payed for our sins from our hands being drenched in blood. We all here are fighting against the Empire for their own different reasons. And regardless of what reasons, death will come to us, sooner or later."
As she gives a morbid answer, Tatsumi and his friends can only feel the intensity in the atmosphere at such a somber presence.
"So..." Tatsumi said, raising his hand up, "What happens now?"
"That depends, you three..." Najenda said as she gives her hand, "You will join us and become assassins of Night Raid and as you continued to work with us, you'll get payed."
This lits up the three youths a little at the thought of getting payed before Sayo gives a skeptical question, "And what's the other option?"
Before Najenda could answer, Ylith moved her hand away as Ylith, "You three will all go home."
"WHAT!?" Everyone can only stare in shock at what Ylith ssid in disbelief.
"You heard me..." Ylith empathize his words more, "Go back to your village. Forget about this ever happened. And live your life at home. And never return ever again."
"Ylith!? What the hell!?" Leone said in shock at what he is saying.
"We can't! Didn't you hear what we said!? If we return now, we would-"
"Return Empty Handed? Yes, you are. But alive? Yes, you also are. And I can take you there if you tell me where is your home at..." Ylith then look behind as he showed his glowing lightning infused spear as he said, "And nothing can stop me from doing what I think is right." He said as he gripped his spear tightly, glaring at Night Raid as they look in caution.
"But why? Is it because we're weak? Well, I'll have you know-"
"SILENCE!" Ylith yelled out in anger, making the thunder crackle and lightning spark outside, shocking everyone who had heard it as Sayo closed her ears from the loud thunderstorms as Tatsumi backed away, being cut off in such an intense manner.
Ylith glared in such a terrifying manner before calming himself down and said, "Tell me, do you all have families at your home?"
"What?" Sayo said at his question.
"Families? Friends? Love ones? The people you know? The people you care? Anyone who actually cares for you three and would miss if you... well..." Ylith didn't need to finish that word as everyone seemed to notice what his next words was about to say.
"Well..." Tatsumi then started to fish something out from his coat as he showed a small wooden statue in his hand, "The chief from my village gave this to me, telling me that it would grant me good luck and protect me if I'm ever get into trouble."
"Does your village chief care for you three?" Ylith asked them.
"W-w-well, yeah..." Tatsumi answered in such an obvious question.
"Then that is all the more reason for you three to get out of this corrupt city and live your life there because..." Ylith then started to put more emphasis on his words and said, "You have everything in your village. And you're going to throw your life away to live a life as an assassin?"
"W-w-well..." Tatsumi couldn't find the correct answer at Ylith's questions.
"Tell me, Night Raid. And I want an honest answer..." Ylith said as he turns to them, "Do you know that when you ever become assassins of Night Raid, whatever reasons you want to do with your fight against the Empire, is there a reason that when you accept death, you also know that you have nothing left to lose?"
The members of Night Raid all looked at each other, having thought of the questions from Ylith at what he said as Najenda just gives a resigned sigh and said, "I wouldn't put it that kind of way but... yes."
"That's right..." Ylith said before looking at Tatsumi and his friends, "You all still have a life and while here, you will be one step closer to death's door, ready to claim your soul, whether you die from being killed by someone stronger, a stroke of bad luck or worse."
"H-how worse?" Ieyasu stuttered out the question.
"The point is... You will die but as much as I would say this but the pink bitch is right." Ylith said, pointing at Mine.
"What!?" Mine yelled out angrily at his remark.
"You three are not cut out for this job. Yes, you have potential. But all that potential will be squandered with trying to murder people who are also willing to murder you, and even if they don't want to murder you, you will begged for death for what they will do the most depraved things against you three. And you are not ready to face the horrors that comes in the Empire. Because if you think that a barn full of tortured and mutilated corpses is the most terrifying thing you had ever seen, I promise you all that is not the worse thing you will ever see." Ylith said to them as Tatsumi and his friends were all trembling at what he said.
Then, Ylith started to say something, "But... you are also free to choose what you want."
"What?" Tatsumi said in shock as his friends in confusion.
"I said, you have a choice between joining Night Raid or leaving, is all up to you." Ylith stated to him.
"Wait? Wait a minute? Are you telling us to join Night Raud or not?" Ieyasu asked in confusion about Ylith being rather contradictory at that.
"All I am saying is that you all need to understand where you're going to if you ever make a choice. For all life, they have the freedom of right to choose what they want. And whatever they want, they are willing to stick to it, no matter the cost..." Ylith continued his explanation as he said, "I just want to warn you all of the consequences of your actions. And whether you are willing to pay for it, is all up to you."
Tatsumi and his friends heard what Ylith tells them to as they look at each other in uncertainty, not knowing what to pick of the choices they get.
Ylith then heard Najenda clearing her throat as he look at her as she said, "That's a great speech and all that..." She then muttered, "Which is really cool, though..."
"Thank you." Ylith said to her, making Najenda glared at him hearing her.
"Shut up..." Najenda then clears her throat again as she said, "Well, as you have given the kids their choice, what about you, Ylith? What's your choice?" Najenda said to the Phantasm as Ylith stares at her, still clutching his spear.
But before he could answer, Lubbock jolted as he sensed something as he said, "Boss, I sensed intruders coming here."
This made Najenda look shocked before composing herself and said, "How many?"
"Approximately..." Lubbock's eyes widened in shock as he answered, "A... A thousand?"
This made everyone look shocked at Lubbock's answer, staring in disbelief that what is basically a whole army are marching towards their hideout.
"This is bad..." Mine said in shock, "J-just how... Just how did an army just get near our home?"
"Was there a spy in the Revolutionary Army? Telling the Empire where we are?" Sheele asked, her tone also is disbelief.
"If there is, I'm gonna kill that bastard!" Leone said in anger as she smashed her fists together.
"What are we gonna do now, Boss?" Bulat asked her as the leader of Night Raid tries to think of something to survive what is basically an invasion of sort.
"Uhm... Everyone..." Akame suddenly said, raising her hand up, "Where's Ylith?"
Everyone look at Akame in confusion as they were about to asked that he is right there only to see Ylith just disappeared from thin air, just like that, "Where's Ylith?"
"And how did he disappear? He was just there a second ago." Mine said, pointing at the spot where Ylith is standing on.
Before more discussion continues, they hear the tattletale signs of lightning and thunder, only farther as they look through the windows at the horizon to see darkened are emitting a crackling of lightning and thunder from farther away.
And as they see the storm, they know who caused it.
Well, hope you guys enjoyed the chapter because with the word I have driven to these, being close to basically 7000 words, I think it is all with the help of both ToolBaz and Writings Journal that I have finally put my new interest in all the more efficient.
Well, anyway...
If you have anymore ideas, let me know in the comments below.
As always...
Ciao...