Boom, boom, boom!
Explosions echoed one after another as dazzling beams of light illuminated the battlefield like fireworks.
Having gained immense power, Minister Honest unleashed his strength recklessly, bombarding the battlefield without restraint. The entire area was engulfed in a sea of flames.
"Yes, that's it! That's how it should be! Anyone who dares to defy me will die!" Honest laughed maniacally, his already hideous face twisting into something even more grotesque.
The power of the Supreme Teigu had far exceeded his expectations. He now felt as if he possessed limitless strength, capable of destroying anything with a mere wave of his hand. The thrill of controlling the fates of others filled him with an intoxicating sense of euphoria.
"Suffer, scream!" Honest roared, watching the battlefield where people screamed and fled in terror, his laughter echoing.
Suddenly, something caught his attention. Looking down, he smirked wickedly. "A bunch of ants... still trying to betray me? Die!"
With a wave of his hand, a blinding beam of light shot toward the battlefield.
"Move! Get out of the way!" Ieyasu's pupils contracted sharply as he saw the impending attack. He had hoped to spread out the soldiers and slowly withdraw them from the battlefield, but Honest had spotted them too quickly. Gritting his teeth, Ieyasu leaped into the air. He would have to block it head-on. Behind him were countless soldiers from the Imperial Guard, many of whom were high-ranking officers. If the attack landed, the consequences would be disastrous.
"Oh?" Honest sneered at Ieyasu's actions, his lips curling into a mocking smile. "Do you really think a little worm like you can stop the Supreme Teigu's attack? How ridiculous. Die!"
In the blink of an eye, the searing beam of light was upon him. Ieyasu's eyes widened as he gripped his sword tightly, bracing himself to block the attack.
Boom!
The explosion was deafening, the blinding light blooming like white flames, turning the ground beneath them into a field of scorching white. The shockwave spread out in all directions, sweeping up clouds of dust.
"How foolish." Honest snorted dismissively, but then his expression froze. "What...?"
Ieyasu stood unharmed, and in front of him was a man with horns on his head, bare-chested and carrying a wheel on his back.
"Susanoo!" Ieyasu gasped, astonished.
He hadn't expected a member of Night Raid to save him. While the Imperial Guard and Night Raid weren't mortal enemies, their relationship was complicated and far from friendly. They had even been adversaries not too long ago, so why was Susanoo here now?
"I'm not here to save you," Susanoo said flatly, his eyes fixed on the towering Supreme Teigu in the distance. "I'm here to defeat that man."
"I see," Ieyasu nodded.
It made sense now. Susanoo wasn't here to help him specifically, but to join forces to take down Honest. Though the Imperial Guard and Night Raid had their differences, they shared a common enemy: the corrupt Minister Honest. Night Raid had long sought to assassinate the minister, the source of so much evil, but they had never had the chance. Now, with the battle raging, the time had come.
"Let's go," Susanoo said in a low voice. "My Yata Mirror was destroyed in the last attack. I won't be able to block any more of his strikes, so be careful."
It was Susanoo's Yata Mirror, with its powerful defensive abilities, that had shielded them from the Supreme Teigu's previous attack.
"Understood," Ieyasu replied, gripping his sword as he charged toward the Supreme Teigu.
As Ieyasu approached, he realized that most of Night Raid's members were already there, engaged in battle against the massive weapon. Najenda, Akame, and Sheele were all present, fighting relentlessly. Meanwhile, Leone, Lubbock, and Chelsea, lacking the necessary firepower, focused on clearing out the remaining loyalists of the Empire. The Supreme Teigu's outer shell was incredibly tough, harder than steel, and most ordinary attacks had no effect on it.
Clang!
Ieyasu's sword struck the arm's exterior, sending sparks flying. But even his powerful strike only left a faint scratch on the surface.
"It's so hard," Najenda gritted her teeth.
Thanks to Kaguya's earlier treatment, Najenda had fully recovered. Her life force was restored, and even her severed limbs had regrown. However, without her prosthetic arm, she was forced to fight with a regular sword, which clearly wasn't enough to penetrate the Supreme Teigu's defenses.
"Look out!"
Suddenly, a dark blur shot toward her, knocking her aside just as the Supreme Teigu's massive hand swiped down. If she hadn't been pushed, she would've been crushed.
"Thanks, Akame," Najenda said gratefully.
It was Akame, moving with her characteristic speed.
"Mm," Akame nodded silently. With Muramasa in hand, she darted toward the Supreme Teigu like a shadow.
Her movements were agile, almost like a cat, as she dodged the Arm's attacks. Seeing another strike coming, she sidestepped and used one of its ridges to vault herself upward, swiftly ascending the massive body.
"Damn insect, you're asking for death!" Honest snarled, having noticed Akame's movements. He grinned menacingly. "Let's see if you can dodge this!"
The Supreme Teigu's hand shot toward Akame, but she remained unfazed. Her speed only increased, and with a well-timed kick, she propelled herself past the incoming hand, landing on the Arm's neck.
"This is it!" Akame's eyes gleamed as she raised her blade, aiming for a joint in the neck.
"You fool! Did you really think this was my weak spot?!" Honest's sinister laughter echoed.
Suddenly, from the gap in the neck, a dark barrel emerged. Akame's pupils contracted in shock.
A blinding flash erupted.
Boom!
At the last moment, Akame crossed her blade in front of her chest to block the attack, but the force of the blast sent her flying off the Supreme Teigu.
As she fell, a massive hand descended upon her.
"Little bug, I'll crush you into paste!" Honest sneered.
In midair, Akame had no way to dodge. The giant hand loomed closer, ready to smash her.
Suddenly, a shadow appeared beside her, catching her in a swift motion.