Bulat charged straight at Liver, his spear tip piercing the air with a shrill whistle.
Liver waved a hand, lightly touching the blood his comrade had scattered through the air.
Black Marlin activated, and a curtain of blood rose before him.
Bulat's spear pierced straight through the churning crimson barrier.
Taking advantage of the brief obstruction, Liver kicked off the ground and rapidly retreated.
Engaging Bulat, who possessed Demon Armor, in close combat was obviously not a wise choice.
At the same time, Akame rushed toward Nyau at the rear of the formation.
The blade rasped crisply within its sheath as Akame drew it in a flash.
Her gaze was icy as she said softly,
"Begone."
The katana swept horizontally, a gleaming arc flashing through the snow.
Nyau dodged at once, but the black heart-tipped tail decoration behind him was instantly severed.
Pushing off with his left foot, he launched a fierce spinning kick at Akame.
Akame remained expressionless.
As she raised her blade to block, she twisted the sword, the razor-sharp edge turning toward Nyau's shin.
Nyau had long heard of the Demon Sword Murasame's reputation.
He altered his trajectory mid-kick, striking only empty air.
At the same time, he lowered himself, braced both hands against the ground, and vaulted high into the air.
A freezing gust swept past as Murasame's tip skimmed across the bridge of his nose.
Nyau immediately swung the flute in his hand.
The flute collided with Murasame, spraying dense sparks as the two instantly clashed.
"Fast, but not very strong."
After only a brief exchange, Akame had already identified his weakness.
Gripping her katana with both hands, she pressed down fiercely.
Nyau struggled to hold her off, no longer daring to attack recklessly.
Against Akame, his Trump Card, Military Music Dream, was his only real advantage.
He tilted the flute, redirecting Murasame to one side.
The katana cut through empty air.
Akame immediately drove a heavy kick into Nyau's abdomen.
Nyau vomited a mouthful of bitter fluid and staggered back several meters.
Despite taking the hit, a smug grin spread across his face.
Retreating, he began to play his flute.
A melodious tune filled the battlefield.
In less than two seconds, Nyau's body swelled dramatically, transforming from a slender youth into a mountain of muscle.
"Damn Night Raid. Witness my trump card, Demon Summoning!"
After finishing off Daidara, Susanoo moved to assist Bulat.
But Bulat shouted immediately,
"Go help Akame. I'll handle this one myself!"
Blood mixed with droplets of water as Liver continuously maneuvered around Bulat using the fluid scattered across the battlefield.
The heavy stench of blood filled the air.
Susanoo said nothing.
Gripping his weapon, he charged straight toward Nyau.
Faced with both Akame and Susanoo, Nyau's expression grew grim.
"Murasame is too troublesome. I'll eliminate the horned guy first!"
Nyau shattered the frozen ground beneath his feet and rushed toward Susanoo.
Meanwhile, Spear had already escorted her father, Chouri, to the rear.
Watching the fierce battle before her, her mouth hung slightly open in astonishment.
She had always considered herself a skilled fighter.
Compared to these monsters, however, she probably would not last even two moves.
Najenda approached slowly, a slight smile on her lips.
"Mr. Chouri, are you alright?"
The bald old man leaned on his cane and turned to look at her, disbelief written across his face.
"You are... General Najenda!"
Najenda nodded, then pointed toward Liver, who was locked in battle with Bulat.
"That's right, though I'm no longer a general. Neither is he."
Chouri naturally recognized Liver as well.
There were not many generals in the Empire.
Though old, he still remembered.
He asked in confusion,
"What exactly is going on? Why are Imperial soldiers trying to assassinate me?"
Najenda did not answer immediately.
Instead, she kept her eyes on the battlefield and said mysteriously,
"I'm sure General Liver will explain that to you himself."
Chouri stopped asking and quietly awaited the battle's conclusion.
Night Raid had deployed nearly all its forces.
With their three strongest combatants acting together, the Three Beasts were naturally no match.
This was not the ocean.
Liver's Teigu could not fully demonstrate its power here.
Even after taking enhancement drugs, he still could not overcome Bulat, and was soon knocked to the ground.
"Ah! This is... the Demon Sword..."
Nyau screamed.
A tiny cut appeared across his neck.
Dense curse marks spread rapidly from the wound.
His massive body collapsed heavily onto the snow.
"Begone."
Akame lightly flicked a trace of blood from the blade before sheathing Murasame.
Nearly two kilometers away, atop a high ridge.
Wearing Spectator, Uesugi Ryu quietly observed Night Raid's battle.
When Esdeath had dispatched the Three Beasts to attack Chouri, she had also assigned Uesugi Ryu a task.
He was to assassinate a confirmed Revolutionary Army spy as proof of loyalty.
Naturally, Uesugi Ryu had handed that job off to Mephisto.
He had no interest in playing assassin himself.
Esdeath had never informed him about the Three Beasts' mission.
Fortunately, Uesugi Ryu possessed modern technology.
After planting trackers on the Three Beasts, he had quietly followed them here.
After counting the combatants, he decided against intervening.
Bulat, Akame, and Susanoo.
Against that lineup, even Esdeath herself probably would not gain much advantage, let alone him.
"Former Prime Minister Chouri. I wonder how much political influence the old man still has."
"Honest, Esdeath, Budo, Chouri..."
General Budo was a stubborn traditionalist.
He upheld the ancestral law that military officials must not interfere in politics.
Even fully aware of Honest's atrocities, he had chosen to turn a blind eye.
Military officials could not interfere in politics.
Chouri, however, was a former Prime Minister.
He could naturally return to the political stage with complete legitimacy.
General Budo would certainly use his authority to protect him.
If an official under his protection were brutally murdered, even Budo would not simply endure it.
There would definitely be a reaction.
Perhaps Chouri could even rally the moderates to challenge Honest directly.
If the two factions fought, the Capital would descend into chaos.
That would provide Uesugi Ryu with ample room to maneuver.
The Revolutionary Army, however, would likely see things differently.
At present, Honest's tyranny actually benefited them.
The more brutal Honest became, the more dissatisfied the common people would grow.
And the stronger the Revolutionary Army would become.
Conversely, if Chouri returned and Honest's power were restrained, improving conditions within the Empire, the Revolutionary Army's growth would likely suffer greatly.
Of course, this all depended on whether Budo could truly protect Chouri, and whether Chouri actually possessed the ability to oppose Honest.
Otherwise, it would merely spark internal strife.
Uesugi Ryu did not know what the Revolutionary Army intended.
Perhaps they supported Chouri.
Perhaps they opposed him.
But for Uesugi Ryu, one thing was certain.
Chouri had to return to the Capital and oppose Honest.
Honest's greatest support was currently Esdeath.
At the moment, Uesugi Ryu could barely be considered part of Honest's faction.
But Esdeath stood firmly between them.
Bypassing her to work directly with Honest was nearly impossible.
Uesugi Ryu had no intention of remaining Esdeath's attack dog forever.
"Sorry about this..."
A faint smile curled across Uesugi Ryu's lips.
He had just thought of an excellent idea.