A smile tugged at Akuto's lips.
So Mine was the one who used the Piece.
Her Teigu, "Romantic Battery—Pumpkin," converts the user's mental strength into firepower. The more danger, the higher the resolve, the stronger it hits.
If all of Night Raid used Rule-Breaking Pieces, Mine would see the biggest leap—because she'd started out with the weakest physical stats.
After using the Piece, her body multiplied several times over, her mind surging like a rocket.
"By my estimate, with the Piece, Mine's sustained output can trade blows with General Budo. With a brief charge, she can suppress even him with absolute firepower."
"If I didn't back him up, Budo would probably die by the end of tonight."
That was the point—make Budo realize he couldn't handle Night Raid alone, and transfer more command to Akuto. With the right seat and Anvale's resources behind him, Akuto could lock that seat quickly and win loyalty.
Minutes later, a beam wide as a house hurled Budo and Pony together. If Pony's "leggings-type" Teigu hadn't been enhanced once by the Symbiote, she wouldn't have dared catch that blast.
"Alright. Cornelia and the others have shown enough presence. Time for me."
Akuto stretched lazily.
"Heading out yourself, Akuto-kun? Godspeed." Shayu's eyes curved with a teasing glint.
"Back soon. Don't worry."
Green light flashed; the Boosted Gear appeared on Akuto's arm.
[Welsh Dragon—Balance Breaker!][Forbidden Move—'Red Dragon Emperor's Armor'!]
With the Scale Mail equipped, he burst into Maou-class at the peak. Over the past month, he'd opened two more "initial ability slots" via Silver and Taeko, and filled them with Complete "Pureblood Leviathan Lineage" and "Divine Avatar—Dwarf Vāmana." With bloodline and training both soaring, he'd broken through high-class devil and stepped into Ultimate-class.
Thus, in Balance Breaker, he touched Maou-peak.
Tap.
He kicked off the air and vanished.
At the Grand General's manor, Night Raid fought as they retreated, sniping at Budo whenever they could. After the last blast, the Imperial Guard had wavered—but instead of collapsing, they went mad and charged harder.
Noise drew more reinforcements. Night Raid had to pull out. Even so, Mine kept sighting for kill shots on Budo as they ran.
Boom!
A cannon the width of a city gate howled toward Budo.
Cornelia's gaze hardened. She unleashed her Teigu "Shatter King," standing in front of him. The earth-rending shockwaves slammed into the sky-piercing beam—then the beam crushed through her wave and roared down.
But Cornelia's Slime Symbiote reacted on its own, bracing her and nullifying the aftershock.
"Damn it! Akame, why are all your old comrades such a pain?!"
Mine clicked her tongue.
Akame could only fall silent. What was she supposed to say—that they were all Akuto's women now? And that Mine herself owed her newfound strength to a favor from him?
"Night Raid vermin! You trade on the people's suffering!"
A voice thundered from the sky. Everyone looked up to see a red suit of armor floating there.
"Akuto-sama! Is your Teigu finally ready?!"
Cornelia's shout both identified him and explained his "late" entrance. His people had arrived earlier—he needed a reason for the delay.
"Tsukushi, Pony, Taeko, Silver—and all Guards under General Budo!"
"Akuto-sama's power stands above ours! With him at the front, we can win!"
"Charge! Don't let Night Raid escape!"
"OOOHH!!"
Learning he commanded Cornelia's unit sent the Guard's morale through the roof.
Green jets flared as Akuto accelerated, slicing toward Night Raid like a meteor.
[Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi!]
Susanoo swung a blade hundreds of meters long to intercept. Akuto opted for the flashiest answer.
[Dragon Shot!][Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost!]
A green beam thick as a tower devoured the strike.
The Guards roared. To them, besides Budo, the Empire had birthed another monster.
Najenda narrowed her eyes.
(He wants to use us against Budo, then ride the merit to rise.)
(Still, we hit our marks—rescued Bulat, hurt Budo, shook the Empire's root a bit.)
"Everyone, withdraw! Don't linger! I'll handle the rear with Susanoo!"
"Boss! Count me in on rear guard!"
Before Najenda could answer, Rabac had already fired lines at Akuto.
"Wait, Rabac!"
Too late—the wires were flying.
He fancied himself the only one in Night Raid who could defeat Akuto. To stop dependence—or worse, submission—to Akuto from sprouting in hearts, he had to sever the tie here.
Strings—dozens of them—wrapped Akuto's armor. He flexed. The lines snapped like sugar glass.
Jets screamed. Akuto streaked for Rabac.
(Got you.) Rabac's grin sharpened. He wanted Akuto to engage. He'd seeded an absolute killing web.
[Boundary Sever!]
Lines that could cut space itself—invincible edges.
Akuto didn't slow. The threads "sliced" him in half—and he kept coming. Mid-air, his bisected body knit back together.
(Bad. Run.)
Rabac knew when to scurry—but he was a second too slow.
Crunch.
Akuto stepped on his back. Before Rabac could rise, a heel came down again.
A ragged scream ripped the air.
And so, just like the original timeline in its cruel irony, Rabac became the "lone warrior"—if only for a few seconds. Then Akuto stomped again, ensuring there would be no "second spring."
Pain turned his face a sick purple. Pinned, he couldn't even curl up.
(End of Chapter)[Get +20 Extra Chapters On — P@tr3on "Zaelum"][Every 500 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter Drop][Thanks for Reading!]