TIGR'E's POV
"Your mission is to eliminate Commander Aigiel. Failure to execute your task would unveil our Church's main goal," these words busily buzzed through my mind as I walked upon the dark and crowded yet quiet streets of the Empire.
I'm an assassin trained by the Great Church to execute extremely difficult tasks. Commander Aigiel, a powerful leader and the commander of the Empire's Main Armed Forces - The Imperial Knights. He is my target.
The Empire's probably searching for me at this moment after what happened a while ago. I went inside a narrow passage between two houses and went at the back where I found a ladder. Perfect, I thought.
I climbed the ladder and in a few seconds, I reached the house's roof. I sneaked behind chimneys to avoid detection from the people below until I reached the Castle walls. From atop the house, I jumped.
"Aquilla's Curse."
As I fell, my arm was enveloped once more in darkness as it changed form into a giant black claw. Before reaching the ground, I gripped onto the Castle walls. With my arm, I speedily climbed the stalwart Castle walls till I reached its top.
"Where could that Aigiel be..?" I asked myself as I observed the Empire's Castle from here.
I then heard sounds that were similar to that of a propeller as I felt harsh winds strike my body. I looked up and saw gigantic airships. Similar to a pirate ship, an airship takes the form of a natural giant boat or ship but instead of travelling through bodies of water, airships travel and hover through the winds using propellers and turbines built within the ship.
"Seems I was a little early... But here he is anyway," I whispered at my self as my eyes followed the swift hovering of the airships. In a few moments, the airships went down to the ground and the men contained within went out like ants in a formation.
"Time to wreak havoc~"
~*~
"W-What... happened..?" Leon stared down at the piles of dead and burnt bodies of both Empire and the rebellion soldiers.
He continued walking on the bloody patches of grass until his attention was caught by a familiar piece of clothing: a white robe.
"Valmeur," He ran towards the robe and found a burnt body within it.
"No... No. NO!" He walked a couple of steps backwards before kneeling down to the ground. He cried loud as he lamented over his comrades... and o'er the man who treated him as his own son.
"This can't be happening..." he said as his tears made his eyes red and swollen. His emotions were both anger and loneliness... a sight to be pitied.
Leon gasped when he thought of an idea which gave him hope, "Alicia..!"
From the blade which was struck on the ground came out a gorgeous lady.
"I know what you want me to do--" Alicia's words were immediately cut by Leon's.
"Alicia! Tell me... Please tell me you can revive them..! You revived me, right? So you-- You can revive them as well!" Leon started stuttering. His eyes were filled with the little hope. The hope and faith that Alicia may resurrect his comrades from the dead.
"Leon... I can't revive them. Doing so will just make them the 'undead'... Beasts without real souls..."
Leon just stared down on the ground. He laughed, he cried and he hit himself. Alicia just watched him as he slowly lose his mind. He had enough loss. He had felt enough pain...
"You'll pay Escanor. I'll destroy your Empire, your family... and your life," This time, Leon's face was even more threatening. He's now ready to slaughter. He is ready to reap blood for vengeance.
He stood up and held Alicia's hand where she changed form into a blade and once more walked towards the dark and thick forest of the Empire.
TIGR'E's POV
"21... 22... 23~" I sang as I ripped multiple bodies with a single strike of my claw. Each body was cut into shreds making their blood pour out and sprinkle like a fountain.
I'm almost near the Castle! There are just too many pesky guard soldiers outside which kinda hinders my should-be easy goin' assassination.
"29... 30! Thirt--" before I could continue, a large metallic arm punched through my body which sent me reeling towards the sturdy walls. The impact made a cracked mark on the wall.
"Argh... What the hell was that?!" I looked forward and saw a giant piece of metal walking on two legs with arms that are similar to a behemoth's.
"Wh-What the--" I immediately dodged when I saw a large projectile launch towards me from the machine's arm. Upon impact, the projectile exploded and made a larger crack on the walls.
"Okay... If that's how we're gonna play~" I sang once more and dashed towards the giant machine.
"Aquilla's Curse!" My hand changed form once more and I struck it at the machine's arm but it's steel is too hard to tear apart that my assault didn't even make a dent.
"Woah... That's a hard one~" I dashed again but this time, towards the other soldiers who were just beginning to approach me.
"20..." I counted and quickly jumped towards the machine's upper part and that's when I saw a soldier controlling the machine from inside it. I broke the glass at the upper part of the machine and flicked the pilot's head which sent it flying towards the other soldiers. They gasped in fear when they saw the head of their comrade on the floor with blood still pouring out from its neck.
"21... Where's that Aigiel?" I said as I scanned the whole place looking for a man wearing an armor with a Aeg'Dracomail armor but I found none.
"Where is Aigiel?!" I shouted at the soldiers who were petrified in fear of dying.
"H-He headed towards t-t-the Castle's throne r-room..." said one of the soldiers who were stuttering and shaking in total fear. What a sight... An Empire soldier practically shaking on his metallic boots~
"Thanks..." I said and pierced that soldier's forehead with a single finger... and did the same with the others.
"34~ Better be prepared, Aigiel... I don't want this game to be as boring as your minions."
I entered the Castle and eventually, I reached the throne room. Sitting on the throne was neither the Emperor nor the Commander I was assigned to assassinate but a woman wearing a red backless sleeveless shirt, short skirt and somewhat curly hair. She wore the Emperor's crown on her head.
She stood up and spoke.
"Took you long enough~"