Reliable Excavation & Demolition: A Rotten World, and Pure Chaos

The moon loomed high over the Capital, its pale glow casting long shadows across the empty streets. A cold breeze whispered through the alleyways, carrying the distant murmur of the city's nightlife. Standing beneath the silver light, Tatsumi faced down Captain Ogre, his grip tightening around his sword. The towering officer stood with his arms crossed, his broad chest puffed out in arrogant confidence. His smirk widened as he eyed Tatsumi like a predator sizing up easy prey, exuding an air of absolute dominance. His pulse thrummed in his ears, but his emerald eyes remained locked onto his opponent, unwavering. The towering officer stood with his arms crossed, a smug grin plastered on his face.

"So, you're the little brat who thinks he can take on the Empire?" Ogre's deep voice was thick with amusement. "A country kid like you should've stayed home."

Tatsumi didn't flinch. He knew Ogre's reputation—his ruthlessness, his unchecked authority. He had been warned, but none of that mattered now. Tonight, he would put an end to it.

Ogre chuckled, stepping forward. His heavy boots clanked against the stone pavement, the sound echoing through the silent night. "I'll give you credit for having guts," he said, cracking his knuckles. "But guts alone don't win fights."

Ogre's smirk deepened as he rolled his shoulders, his muscles tensing like a coiled spring. The air grew heavy, an unspoken warning of the impending attack. Then, without warning, Ogre lunged. His massive fist tore through the air, aimed directly at Tatsumi's head. The boy barely managed to duck in time, the sheer force of the punch creating a gust of wind that sent dust swirling. The impact struck a wooden post behind him, splintering it into fragments that flew past Tatsumi's face.

Tatsumi rolled away, heart pounding, his breath coming in ragged gasps. His muscles burned from the sudden movement, and his fingers instinctively tightened around his sword hilt. A bead of sweat ran down his temple as he struggled to steady himself, his mind racing.

That strength… If that had hit me, I'd be dead. He could still feel the shockwave from the strike buzzing through his bones.

"What's wrong?" Ogre sneered, flexing his fingers. "Is dodging all you can do?"

Tatsumi steadied his breathing, adjusting his stance. He couldn't afford to make a mistake.

I can't block his attacks head-on. I have to be faster.

Ogre rushed at him again, each footstep shaking the ground. Tatsumi barely managed to sidestep as the captain's fist crashed into the pavement, sending cracks spiderwebbing across the stone. Taking advantage of the opening, Tatsumi swung his sword toward Ogre's exposed side—but his blade barely scratched through the thick armor beneath the uniform.

Ogre smirked. "That all?"

Tatsumi's eyes widened.

I didn't even cut through…

Before he could react, Ogre's knee shot forward, slamming into his stomach like a battering ram. The force sent a shockwave of agony through his torso, knocking the breath from his lungs. His vision blurred as he staggered backward, his body refusing to respond for a split second before sheer will force him to stay on his feet.

Coughing, Tatsumi forced himself up, his arms trembling. His entire torso ached, but he clenched his teeth and steadied his grip on his sword. Ogre rolled his shoulders, still grinning. "You won't last much longer, kid."

Tatsumi wiped the blood from his mouth, his vision sharpening with renewed focus. He couldn't afford to hesitate. "We'll see about that."

Ogre scoffed, cracking his knuckles with a loud pop. "Fine, I'll crush you properly this time. But try to make it fun for me, will you? It's been a while since I had to put effort into breaking someone." I'll crush you properly this time."

He charged again, the ground shaking beneath his weight as the fight continued. Tatsumi gritted his teeth, tightening his grip on his sword.

I need to find an opening... one clean strike to end this.

Perched in the shadows of a nearby alley, Heavy folded his massive arms as his deep-set eyes locked onto the duel before him. Even from this distance, he could feel the intensity in Tatsumi's movements—the raw, unpolished determination clashing against Captain Ogre's brute force. The young warrior had been holding his own, but Heavy's gut churned with unease. He had seen many strong men fall because they lacked the experience to turn their strength into true survival. Was Tatsumi about to be one of them?

Little man is strong... but brute is stronger. Will he last?

The moon's glow barely illuminated the darkened street, but it was enough for Heavy to see the thick, arrogant smirk on Ogre's face as he swung his massive sword. Tatsumi evaded just in time, the blade carving into the stone road with a sickening crack. Dust kicked up from the impact, but Tatsumi didn't falter. Instead, he lunged forward, bringing his blade across in a swift arc—just as he had done in training. He was fast, and he was sharp, but Heavy could tell he was still fighting with instinct rather than experience.

Heavy raised an eyebrow. Good. He does not just run. But will he know when to strike?

Ogre laughed, clearly amused. "You've got guts, brat, I'll give you that. But this is where your little game ends!"

With a sudden burst of speed, the towering captain closed the gap between them, swinging his weapon with murderous intent. Tatsumi barely managed to duck, the force of the strike sending a gust of wind past his head. Before Ogre could reset his stance, Tatsumi twisted his body and struck—his sword slashing across Ogre's chest, tearing into fabric and scraping against armor. A shallow cut, but a cut, nonetheless.

Heavy let out a quiet huff of approval. It was a small victory, but an important one. Tatsumi had drawn blood. He was fighting a man far more seasoned than him, yet he was adapting. Heavy had seen trained killers falter in fights against stronger opponents, but Tatsumi was doing no such thing. His strikes were still uncertain, but his resolve was unwavering.

Spy, hidden atop a nearby rooftop, silently observed as well. The Frenchman leaned against a chimney, his cigarette burning softly in the night. Unlike Heavy, his concerns were less about Tatsumi's safety and more about what the boy's fighting style revealed.

"Zis boy… he fights like someone who has never had to kill before."

Spy had seen it countless times—young fighters who had skill but lacked the experience to embrace what it truly meant to take a life. There was still hesitation in Tatsumi's strikes. His movements, though fierce, lacked the decisiveness of a trained assassin. His eyes still flared with righteousness rather than the cold calculation of a killer. That kind of fighting could only take a man so far.

"He hesitates," Spy mused, taking a slow drag from his cigarette. "Zis could be a problem."

But then, something shifted.

Tatsumi had found his rhythm. His strikes became sharper, his footwork more precise. Ogre, despite his earlier bravado, was forced onto the defensive. Heavy's eyes widened slightly as he watched the captain stagger back, gritting his teeth as Tatsumi pressed forward with relentless determination. Spy noticed it too—this was not just a frightened boy swinging wildly anymore. Tatsumi was learning mid-fight, adjusting, adapting. That was dangerous. That was promising.

The young fighter dodged a downward strike, stepping in close to deliver a punishing stab toward Ogre's torso. The blow connected. Not fatal, but enough to force a grunt of pain from the corrupt officer's lips. Ogre staggered, his eyes flaring with rage. He hadn't expected the kid to actually land a solid hit on him.

Heavy allowed himself a small, approving nod. Da… He does not need help. Little man is strong.

Spy, however, merely exhaled a slow stream of smoke. He was not so quick to celebrate. Tatsumi was doing well, yes, but he had yet to prove he could finish what he started. A fight could shift in an instant, and right now, he wasn't convinced Tatsumi understood that.

Ogre's frustration turned to pure fury. "You little bastard! I'm going to rip you apart!"

With renewed aggression, Ogre charged, his massive sword cleaving through the air. Tatsumi sidestepped, his agility keeping him alive, but the force of the swings left him little room to counter. He was skilled, but against an opponent with more brute strength and endurance, a single mistake would be the end of him. Heavy tensed, his fingers curling slightly, prepared to intervene if necessary. No… He must stand. Let him prove himself.

Tatsumi's breathing was controlled, his grip firm. Instead of engaging Ogre head-on, he began analyzing his opponent's patterns. He noticed the slight pause in Ogre's recovery after a heavy swing, the way his weight shifted when he overcommitted. Tatsumi adjusted his timing. He dodged another wild strike and countered with a slash to Ogre's exposed side. Another hit.

Heavy's expression remained unreadable, but internally, he was impressed. Spy, meanwhile, chuckled softly. "Ah… he is figuring it out."

The battle was reaching a turning point. Tatsumi was no longer just defending himself—he was fighting with strategy. Spy took one last drag of his cigarette before flicking it off the roof, watching the embers fade into the night. Perhaps zis boy has potential after all…

For now, the two mercenaries would remain in the shadows. Tatsumi was proving himself capable, but the battle was not over yet. And in war, a single mistake could turn victory into defeat in an instant. Heavy and Spy had both learned that lesson long ago—Tatsumi would have to learn it on his own.

The mission had gone as smoothly as expected.

Gamal had barely put up a fight—his overconfidence had sealed his fate the moment he let his guard down. Leone wiped the blood off her fist with a smirk, while Akame methodically cleaned her blade, her expression as unreadable as ever. The two assassins moved with practiced efficiency, ensuring there were no loose ends before slipping away into the night.

The scent of iron lingered in the air, a stark reminder of their efficiency. The streets, once filled with the idle murmurs of the few wandering citizens, now seemed quieter, as if the city itself recoiled from the silent execution. Leone let out a satisfied huff, cracking her knuckles. "Well, that was easy enough," she said. "Almost feels like cheating when they go down that fast."

Akame remained as still as ever, slipping her blade back into its sheath with precise, controlled movements. Her focus was already shifting forward. "Captain Ogre is next," she reminded. "We shouldn't stay here longer than necessary."

Leone stretched her arms, her golden eyes scanning the dark alleys ahead. "Yeah, yeah, I hear ya. But we've got some time to breathe, don't we? Ain't like Ogre knows we're coming."

Just as she finished speaking, the distant clash of steel echoed through the streets, cutting through the night like a knife. Leone stiffened, her ears twitching at the sudden disturbance. "Huh? That sounded like a fight."

Akame's head turned slightly in the direction of the noise, her gaze sharpening. "This district should be silent by now. We took out the biggest threat. There shouldn't be any patrols left."

Leone frowned. "Then who the hell's out there making a racket? Think it's one of ours?"

Akame shook her head immediately. "No. If Najenda ordered an operation, we would have known. That means someone else is moving."

The possibilities ran through their minds. Another assassin group? Unlikely. The Revolutionary Army didn't have the resources to send extra teams without informing them. Perhaps it was just a common thug, or a desperate fool trying to take on Imperial soldiers. But something about the sound of the fight unsettled them. It was too intense, too deliberate to be a random scuffle.

Leone smirked, curiosity flashing in her eyes. Then, as if a thought clicked in her mind, her grin faded slightly. "Wait… wasn't Ogre our next target?" she muttered. "If someone's fighting him, that's gonna be a problem."

Akame's expression darkened. "Or... it could be those mercenaries from the warehouse."

Leone stiffened at that. The memory of the interference back at Aria's estate hadn't left her mind yet. "Damn, you think so? They were a real pain in the ass back there," she muttered. "If they're messing with our kill, we might have a problem."

Akame nodded, her grip tightening on Murasame. If those mercenaries had gotten involved again, their intentions needed to be made clear. Were they after Ogre for their own reasons, or were they trying to disrupt Night Raid's work? Either way, it wasn't something they could ignore.

Leone sighed, shaking her head. "If it's Ogre, we finish the job. If it's those mercs, we find out what the hell they're up to. Either way, no sense in standing around."

Without waiting for an answer, Leone took off in the direction of the fight. Akame exhaled quietly before following, her steps as silent as the blade at her side.

Whatever was happening, it was worth investigating.

Tatsumi steadied his breath, tightening his grip on his blade. Captain Ogre, once so smug in his own invincibility, now staggered, blood dripping from a deep gash across his chest. His armor, once pristine, bore the marks of their brutal skirmish. Tatsumi could feel the moment—his chance had come. One clean strike, and the Capital would have one less monster preying on the innocent.

With a determined step, Tatsumi lunged.

Then, a blur of gold crashed into his peripheral vision.

"Oi! What's going on over here?"

Leone's voice cut through the night, loud and casual—too casual for the gravity of the moment. She landed with a heavy thud a few feet away, her golden mane catching the dim light. Tatsumi's body hesitated for just a fraction of a second, his instincts thrown off by the sudden intrusion. But that was all Ogre needed.

The Captain's cruel grin returned in an instant. "Gotcha, brat."

With surprising speed for a man of his size, Ogre twisted his body, bringing his massive fist around in a sweeping arc. Tatsumi barely had time to process the danger before a heavy gauntlet crashed into his side. Pain exploded in his ribs, white-hot and unbearable, as he was flung backward. He hit the ground hard, skidding across the cobblestone road, his vision momentarily swimming. His fingers twitched around the hilt of his sword, but his strength faltered.

"Shit!" Tatsumi gasped, forcing himself to move despite the searing pain lancing through his torso. It felt like something inside had cracked, but he couldn't afford to stop. His breathing came in ragged, shallow gulps, but he refused to stay down.

Ogre took a step forward, looming over him. "You almost had me," he sneered. "But you hesitated. And hesitation—" He raised his blade. "—gets you killed!"

A thunderous crack split the night.

Ogre jerked back, startled, as a sharp clink echoed from his pauldron—a bullet had ricocheted off the metal plate just inches from his neck. His sneer faltered, confusion flickering across his face.

The silence stretched for a moment.

"Mon dieu, what a disappointment," a smooth voice sighed from the shadows.

From his vantage point above, Spy emerged from the darkness, his revolver still trained on Ogre's head. His smirk was almost lazy, as if he had expected better from the so-called 'Captain.'

Ogre's eyes darted toward the rooftops, his instincts screaming at him that the battlefield had shifted. He clenched his jaw. He had always prided himself on being a step ahead of the common thugs in the Capital, but this… this was something else entirely.

Then, a low, guttural rumble came from the alleyway beside them.

Ogre turned just in time to see a massive figure step into the dim light of the street, casting an imposing shadow. Heavy cracked his knuckles, his expression one of pure disapproval. His dark eyes bore into Ogre like a predator sizing up its prey.

"You hurt little man," Heavy stated, his voice heavy with restrained fury. "Big mistake."

The streetlights flickered, casting eerie shadows across the towering man's form. Heavy wasn't just large—he was a living wall of muscle and menace. Each step he took toward Ogre felt like the ground itself was shifting under his weight.

Ogre's bravado wavered, his grip tightening on his weapon. He hadn't expected this. For the first time in the fight, his confidence was shaken. Who were these people? Why did they fight like assassins but move like soldiers?

Tatsumi coughed, pushing himself up as he realized what had just happened. His chest ached, but he couldn't afford to let weakness show—not now. He wiped the blood from his lip and forced himself to focus. The REDs had made their move.

And now, Ogre was the one caught in their sights.

A bead of sweat rolled down the Captain's brow as he assessed his situation. This wasn't a mere duel anymore—it had turned into an assassination.