With the black giant's war cry.
Boom!
As if in response, the next moment, the five-meter-tall, thick outer wall of the estate was shattered. One after another, tall warriors clad in black powered armor marched into the estate.
Along with the booming sound came the heavy footsteps and the heart-shaking roar of voices: "For Selene!" ×N
Although they were far fewer in number than the Imperial police soldiers following behind them, they exuded an overwhelming presence, charging forward like an unstoppable force, as if an entire army had descended.
"Wha...what? My attack... was split?" Mine stood in shock, holding Pumpkin, utterly dumbfounded.
Watching the squad of black-armored giants raise their large-caliber firearms, Lubbock's pupils constricted as he screamed, "Damn it! Mine, don't just stand there! Run!"
"Hold on!" Lubbock lashed out with his wires, trying to pull Mine up to safety.
"Detected Imperial traitor: Tennyson, former Imperial captain, deputy to the rebel Najenda, execute on sight!"
"Detected Imperial Arm: The Speed of Lightning · Susanoo, user unknown..."
"Detected former Najenda Corps officer: Lubbock, previously reported dead, suspected of faking death and betraying the Empire!"
"Detected resident of the Imperial Capital slums: Leone..."
"Unidentifiable, no resident data in the Imperial records..."
As they listened to the chatter coming from the black-armored giants, Tennyson and the rest of the Night Raid members turned grim. Their identities and backgrounds were being exposed in full.
"Execute on sight! Open fire!"
Bang! Bang! Bang!
In an instant, the estate was filled with the deafening roar of large-caliber gunfire.
Lubbock's delicate wires, though nearly invisible, were no match for the targeting systems integrated into the helmets of the Astartes warriors and were promptly severed by the barrage of bullets.
Faced with overwhelming firepower, Night Raid was forced to abandon their positions and take cover inside the now-ruined mansion.
"Who the hell are these guys?" Leone growled angrily, ducking behind a load-bearing pillar, dodging the shards of debris kicked up by the relentless gunfire.
"They must be guards from the Habsburg Duke's estate!" Tennyson gritted his teeth, hiding in a corner.
Although he didn't have time to question why these soldiers were so massive and imposing, the golden double-headed eagle crest on their armor told him they were under Selene's command.
"This upper district is really something we shouldn't mess with!" Of all the missions they'd handled in the middle district, they had always gone off without a hitch, but just one task in the upper district had already cost them two members.
"If this keeps up, we're all going to die! We need to find a way to escape... Ah, got it!" Tennyson's mind raced as he looked at the shattered gold and silver ornaments scattered on the ground from the heavy gunfire.
"This estate is so large; it's bound to have a sewage system. Lubbock, use your wires to find it! Our only chance of survival depends on you!"
"Leave it to me!"
Bang! Bang! Click, click.
"They're reloading!" Thanks to the enhanced hearing from her [Lionelle] Imperial Arm, Leone noticed the subtle difference in the gunfire and shouted.
"If we keep hiding like this, we'll all die. I'll cover the rear!" Without waiting for a reply, Leone charged out.
"Sister!" "Leone!"
"Never listens to orders... But she's right. If we stay like this, we're done for. Bulat, you and I will hold the line. Lubbock, take Mine and those two newcomers to find the underground sewage exit."
With that, Tennyson and Bulat dashed out as well.
...
As the smoke cleared, Akame and Cornelia finally got a good look at the black giant standing before them.
Standing at least three meters tall, he was clad in black, intricately crafted powered armor, which signified his rank as a commander. He held a golden-winged longsword, and his helmet bore crimson wings. His chest was emblazoned with a finely crafted golden double-headed eagle, and he wore a short, red-and-white cape over his shoulders.
"He's so...so big and tall, just like the golden-armored guards in Selene's palace..." Akame blinked, her expression a mix of awe and disbelief.
"Hardly. We're just ordinary soldiers. There's no way we could compare to my lady's personal guard," replied the black-armored giant in a deep, metallic voice, his tone humble.
With your size? Ordinary soldiers?! What does that make us, then? Useless grunts?
Although the Empire didn't have a term for "humblebrag," both Akame and Cornelia exchanged looks, both thinking the same thing.
"Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Alex... Oh, and Akame, that Honkai crystal in your hand is a gift from our lady. Its power is far more than what you think. Don't use it so casually..."
Inside his helmet, Alex used the face recognition system to quickly identify Akame and Cornelia, then pointed at the purple-red, diamond-shaped crystal in Akame's hand and warned her.
"Also, Cornelia's waist injury is quite severe. If she doesn't receive treatment soon, it could cause permanent damage..." Alex turned and called out, "Medic!"
"Here!"
"These two are in your hands now."
"Understood!" A similarly black-armored giant approached Cornelia, carefully examining her. His left shoulder plate bore a red cross.
With that, Alex stood up, holding his golden-winged longsword as he slowly walked toward the front lines. "Cease fire!"
Just then, "You iron tin can, die!" Leone burst from the rubble, launching a punch at the nearest Astartes warrior who had just finished reloading. Her punch whistled through the air with immense force.
But, thud!
"What?!"
With a single hand, the Astartes warrior effortlessly caught Leone's "kitty punch." Securing his firearm to the magnetic strip on his waist, he countered with a heavy punch to Leone's abdomen.
"Ugh—!"
A torrent of blood spurted from Leone's mouth, splattering onto the Astartes warrior's armor.
"Y-you... bastard..." she muttered weakly, her beastified hands clawing at the armor in vain.
"Stubborn fool!"
Showing no mercy, the Astartes warrior grabbed Leone's flailing arms and lifted her off the ground.
With a mechanical hum, purple-red energy blades extended from his wrist gauntlet, and before Leone could react—
Slash!
"Ugh!" Leone's white arms flew through the air, severed cleanly. With her arms gone, Leone collapsed to the ground, unable to stand.
"Leone!" Seeing her fallen comrade, Tennyson and Bulat's eyes went bloodshot with rage.
"Hmph, filthy rats from the gutter!" The Astartes warrior scoffed, kicking Leone's limp body with incredible force.
The immense power of the kick sent both Leone and Tennyson flying back into the collapsing remains of the mansion.
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