The day after

The sound of a strange splash was heard.

Waking up with a start, Natsu realized that he was sleeping on the living room floor, while crushing Tatsumi, under his body. On his guard, he began to sniff the air, like yesterday. However, this time what he felt prompted him to shout.

" There are enemies. "

" Huh ? " Said Spear, opening a eye.

" My head. " Complained Lubbock, putting his hand on it. " Why are you shouting ? "

Suddenly breaking, one of the windows in the room gave way to the silhouette of a strange masked man, with metal claws on his hands.

" What … ? " Said Happy, waking up with a start. " Who is he ? "

Pointing the end of his metal claws, the newcomer rushed straight towards the residents of the room. Seeing him run straight over him, Natsu tilted his body to the side, to dodge his load, before kicking him, right in the abdomen, which threw him against the ceiling. Falling back violently, the stranger was knocked out in one blow.

" How did it get here? " Wanted to know Lubbock, examining his tongue. " My threads are still in place! "

" However, I smell several smells! " Affirmed Natsu! " There are almost a hundred people around the base! "

" How ? "

" Natsu! Behind you ! " Warned Spear.

" Hum ? "

Not even having time to turn around, the latter felt the presence of his former opponent attacking him from behind. He, who had just been knocked out, was currently overflowing with vitality.

" But how … ? "

Suddenly passing, like a draft, Akame passed between the two men, before finding himself in front of Natsu. Putting away her teigu, she said.

" Be careful ! "

Separated from the rest of his body, the enemy's head rolled to the ground, signing his death sentence.

" The base must be defended at all costs. " Akame then announced.

It didn't take more to see a gray tornado appear in front of the building, making enemy soldiers fly in the distance.

" Go, come back. " Cried Gajeel, who was already facing many soldiers, right outside the front door! " I will beat you one after the other. "

" Hey, you cheater. " Roared Natsu, seeing him having fun without thinking of others. " Leave me some! "

Jumping out of the window immediately, the mage was intercepted by Happy, before rushing straight towards the enemy troops.

" I'm coming. "

" Wait for me, Natsu. " Cried Tatsumi, jumping behind him, letting Incursio cover him.

Then waving his arms, the boy had no difficulty in expelling the body of a first victim in the distance, before striking a head violently against the ground.

For his part, blocking or dodging without harm, the charges of the enemies, Natsu went on punching and kicking, putting his opponents on the ground one by one. And very quickly, he showed total domination in this fight.

" Go, it takes more strength, guys! No one has anything better to offer us? "

Attacking him from behind, a colossus narrowly failed to cut him in half with a huge pair of scissors.

Having lowered himself in extremis, Natsu heard the gun close over his head, cutting off one end of his scarf.

" Haha! You are made like a rat. " Affirmed Kaku, while placing the huge pair of scissors on his shoulder. " I am Kaku, one of the men of the fantastic ... "

The man suddenly fell silent, seeing Natsu pick up the tip of his cut scarf, and simply staring at it, ignoring Kaku.

" Hey, I'm talking to you! Miserable brat ! Now, I ... "

A powerful punch interrupted him, while Natsu roared.

" You will regret what you just did! "

Can only scream in pain, Kaku then saw Natsu jump over his body while creating a ball of fire above him.

" FIRE DRAGON'S BRILLIANT FLAME! "

Swinging his attack at him, Natsu caused an explosion that engulfed Kaku's entire body. Seeing him disappear among his flames, Natsu grumbled.

" I would never forgive someone who dares to destroy my scarf! Okay, next! "

However, suddenly emerging from the flames, Kaku's body struck him with full force and made him fall on his back. Then, after trapping Natsu's arms under his feet, the man snickered while pointing his gun at Natsu's face.

" It takes much more than that to kill me! " He assured, barely showing traces of burns! " My teigu and my body improvements have managed to protect me from your attack! "

Then recognizing the weapon, which smelled familiar, Natsu's anger increased again, as he roared.

" What are you doing with Sheele's weapon? "

" Hmmm? Oh, you mean Extase ? Well, let's say that I had the opportunity to prove myself with this superb weapon! In any case, I look much more proud than the other girl who used it before me! And with her, I am invincible. "

Preparing to snicker again, he was surprised to feel a rise in temperature began to be felt all around him.

" What … ? That … ? "

" This weapon is not yours! You will return it to Sheele immediately. "

Seeing the flames cover the body of the mage, Kaku had the good idea to move back, however releasing Natsu.

" Hell, but who are you, you monster? "

" I'm Natsu Dragnir! And now get ready to be turned into a grilled pig. "

" Don't make me laugh ! Do you seriously think that you and your boyfriends have a chance of winning against us? You are nothing but a bunch of second class warriors and nothing more. "

Opening the pair of scissors in front of Natsu's face, the man closed Extase in the direction of his neck. Still, grabbing the scissors while avoiding touching its sharp edges, Natsu had no trouble blocking the weapon.

" What? "

" I have a quick question for you! If I am only a second zone warrior, as you say, and I win in front of you ... then you, what are you? "

" So arrogant bastard. " Kaku roared, dropping his weapon to punch Natsu.

" FIRE DRAGON'S CLAW! "

In an instant, Natsu's foot hit Kaku's jaw and made the man flutter in the sky.

" Impossible ! It's impossible ! "

Suddenly shining, a source of light blinded the man.

" That … ? "

" You should never have pretended to be able to use Extase better than Sheele. " Roars Mine, while aiming him with Pumpkin.

" NOOOOOO ! STOP ! "

" Disappear! "

Seeing the immense ray rushing at him, Kaku could only howl with fear, while his body was destroyed. Seeing nothing remain of him, Natsu ends up grabbing Ecstasy, before turning to see Mine running towards him. Knowing very well what she wanted to do, the wizard threw Extase towards her and the girl hastened to hug the teigu against her.

" Sheele! " Murmured Mine, crying with joy. " This time, we have fully recovered you. "

Bending down to avoid a saber, Spear ends up performing a perfect rotation of the hips, before sending the sharp tip of her lance to the stomach of her opponent. Spitting blood through his mask, a man put a knee on the ground and gave Spear enough time to give him the final blow. Raising her weapon, she was about to shoot down her enemy with it ... when her spear was suddenly blocked by a mysterious man's arm.

" I assume you are Spear. " Noticed the newcomer.

Stepping back immediately, while looking at the arm of the man who had just cashed her attack without flinching, the young woman questioned him.

" And you, who are you ? "

" Oh, what rude I am! My name is Toby! I am a man working under Doctor Stylish. "

" Stylish? Are you talking about the man under Esdeath? "

" Indeed ! And unfortunately, you have become its targets! I have orders to kill each of you and bring you back to my master! "

" Don't even count. " Spear retorted, running towards him.

Trying to attack him, the girl moved the tip of her spear in different directions. Still, moving as fast as she did, Toby had no trouble following her, as he displayed a confident smile on his face. And the worst, for Spear, was the moment she finally managed to touch him, on the chest, without managing to cut his skin.

" Hum ... not bad. " sneered Toby. " You seem to be full of resources. "

"But what is wrong with his body? I feel like I'm hitting metal."

Seeing that her attacks were useless, Spear lifted her foot and tried to hit him in the face. Using his second hand without showing concern once, Toby stopped her leg without any problem.

" So ? Don't you have anything else to amuse me? Honestly, I wonder what an old nobleman like you can do here! "

" Huh ? What are you talking about ? "

" You know it very well. " Assured Toby, dropping her. " For your futile ideas, you are responsible for the deaths of ten former generals as well as your own father! All that to hope to take the place of the emperor? You make me laugh. "

" Motherfucker ! " Roared Spear, attacking again. " Take back what you just said."

Noting that she was then attacking with more force, the man sneered.

" Oh, did I touch a sensitive point? However, I'm just telling the truth! You're just an idiot no smarter than these Night Raid fools! "

Then using a sword, he sliced Spear's spear without any problem, while affirming.

" You really make a nice bunch of morons! I pity your poor father who had to give you so much love to be rewarded by being betrayed by his own daughter! He must go back to his grave. "

"Shut up ! " Yelled Spear, closing her fist before trying to hit him with her bare hands." I'm going to kill you. "

Chuckling then, Toby gave her a look filled with cruelty, as he made up his mind to finish this fight in the second.

" You will tell him that in the other world! "

Her eyes widening, Spear saw that, too late, Toby's sword moved to her throat.

" That ? "

Cut off at that instant, Toby's arm fell to the floor, to his surprise, while his sword did the same.

" But what … ? "

Wrapping his arm around Spear's waist, Lubbock fled as far as possible from Toby, while taking his friend with him.

" Lubbock? "

" Your knight is here. " Assured her the boy. " Don't worry ! Now that I cut off his arm, he's not going to follow us anytime soon. "

However, having barely been surprised by his arrival, Toby had only taken a few moments to catch up with him, before slashing his back with a sword, coming out of his stump. Hearing Lubbock cry out in pain, while falling forward, his attacker said.

" No target can escape me. "

" Lubbock. " Horrified Spear.

Crouching beside her friend's body, the young woman was frightened to perceive the enormous line which almost cut her coat in half. Showing a sword, which had just come out of the place of his old arm, Toby said.

" I have a completely robotic body! I am more a machine than a simple human like in the past and your friend quickly discovered it! But don't worry, you will soon join him in the afterlife. "

Roaring in rage, Spear jumped on him, fist forward. Using the palm of his hand to stop her attack, Toby tightened his grip until the sound of a cracking sound could be heard. Immediately uttering a cry of pain, Spear felt her knuckles being destroyed one after the other, while Toby took pleasure in making the torture last.

" What? Can you offer me anything? Really, I am disappointed. "

Then releasing her, he suddenly struck a powerful punch in her face, which made her fall at his feet.

" You're not even worth it if a man of my size kills you! So wait here for another minion to finish you off! I will find a real opponent. "

However, he stopped, feeling a strange sensation on his leg. Looking down, he saw Spear grabbing his leg and biting hard. What she bit, even though it was only metal, the fact remained that the girl continued to hold on to her grip.

"What are you doing ? " Toby asked her, before crushing her with his other foot. " Let me go now, vermin. "

" No way . " Retorted Spear. " I would never let you go. "

Unfortunately, a powerful kick sent her against a wall, while Toby questioned her.

" Why this sudden motivation to harm us? Do you like working with Night Raid so much? "

" Yeah. " Admitted Spear, getting up. " Night Raid is all I have left. "

" Huh? "

" When my father was killed by the men of Esdeath, Night Raid saved me! When I was injured to death, Night Raid healed me! When I needed support and a new home, Night Raid was there! "

Staring at Toby with confidence, she exclaimed.

" Night Raid did a lot more for me than the Empire did! I could never forgive him for taking my father's life! "

" What stupidities are you talking about there? " Toby asked. " Oh, after all, I don't care about the words of a fallen noble. "

Going for it, he grabbed her face between his fingers, before starting to grind it.

"I wonder how long you will last before begging me to finish you. "

However, to his surprise, instead of screaming in pain, Spear stared him in the eye, while clenching her teeth.

" Never ! I have to deserve it. "

" Huh ? Deserve what? "

" Every time I see them in the base, let it be Gajeel ... Tatsumi ... Akame or everyone else, I see them smiling and partying all the time! Whenever they go on a mission, they know they are putting their lives on the line! And that's why they live day by day so that they won't regret anything the next day. "

Grabbing Toby's arm, she did her best to make him back away while saying.

" Me too, I want to smile and party with them! However, I have no right! No time that I will not fight like they do! Yes, I too want to put my life constantly on the line to show them that I am ready to do anything to be an official member of Night Raid. "

" Too bad for you then. " Toby said, pointing his sword at her face. " Your dream can never come true. "

Preparing to kill her, he was nevertheless forced to step aside before using his sword to stop a strange spear which had been sent in his direction. Made up of threads, the weapon was created by Lubbock, who believed he could take Toby by surprise.

" Damn it, missed. "

" Are you still alive? "

" A member of Night Raid will never die so easily. " Said Lubbock, getting up. " And especially not the coolest guy among them. "

Then pointing with his thumb at the strange armor that covered his abdomen, he exclaimed.

" With a little imagination, my threads can be quite useful! Don't underestimate me just by thinking that I'm just capable of setting traps here and there. "

" Tsss! "Toby said, swinging Spear's body behind him. " With or without your teigu, you don't pose a great threat to me! Of all, I am surely Dr Stylish's greatest creation! I am the man created to kill Night Raid! It is you who should not me ... "

Suddenly silent, he remained paralyzed, while Akame had just attacked him. Fast as lightning, the girl had struck faster than the wind would have made and was now putting away her saber at the level of her belt.

" The fact that you are made of metal, doesn't mean that you are invincible! "

Hearing this, Toby fell to his knees, while smiling.

" It's really pity ! Say I was supposed to fight you and kill you. "

Then collapsing, his head left his body signifying his death.

Sitting up with difficulty, Spear couldn't help but widen her eyes, seeing the man being killed so quickly. Nevertheless, being struck lightly on the head, she stared at Akame, who exclaimed.

" We don't party thinking that we will not survive our next missions! We do it because we love to have fun with our friends! And you are one of our friends. "

" A… Akame? "

" As soon as Narenda declared that you were part of Night Raid, everyone immediately considered you as one of us. " Assured the girl." Don't think you need to do more to try to get yourself integrated! Ok, Spear? "

" Huh…, girls. " Cried Lubbock, seeing several figures approaching them. " There are others who do! "

" In this case, we go for it. " Akame assured, running forward to make the enemy disappear..