176-180

Chapter 176: Ran’s Request 

Uchiha Hikari lingered in the small city for a few days. 

She spent her time studying the Teigu she’d acquired while waiting for the local nobles to deliver their “tribute” of wealth. 

Speaking of which… 

Teigu were all about compatibility. Only those with the right affinity could wield them effectively; otherwise, not only would the Teigu’s power remain untapped, but it could also take a heavy toll on the user’s body. 

After some experimenting, Hikari confirmed she had decent compatibility with “Shangri-La” and “Moonlight Waltz.” The air blades produced by “Moonlight Waltz” were far longer and more destructive than those wielded by its previous owner, Enshin. Apparently, the Teigu wasn’t as weak as she’d thought—it was just that its former master was pathetic. 

“Chaos Pitch” was… okay in terms of compatibility, but Hikari found it pretty useless. She figured she’d toss it to someone as a toy later. 

As for “Earth Rumble”… 

Hikari’s first impression of the microphone-shaped Teigu was actually pretty good. But she quickly realized she wasn’t cut out to be an idol. In her hands, the Teigu couldn’t unleash its full potential, and after a few forced attempts, her throat felt scratchy. Thankfully, her enhanced recovery kicked in and fixed her up fast. 

“Maybe… I should let Bulma try this one out?” 

—Cosmia, the original owner of “Earth Rumble,” was a bunny-girl-styled witch songstress. Bulma, from the Dragon Ball world, had rocked a bunny outfit a few times and seemed to enjoy singing. Maybe she’d have better luck with this Teigu. 

Oh, and speaking of Cosmia… 

Over the past few days, she’d started trailing Hikari like a loyal puppy. 

Compared to the other members of the “Wild Hunt,” Cosmia’s crimes were relatively light—borderline forgivable. Hikari had some questions for her, so she spared her life, unlike Sheila and the others. 

“Cosmia, come here.” 

Hikari beckoned with a casual wave. 

Cosmia, standing nearby, immediately lowered her gaze and scurried over like an obedient pet, looking at Hikari with utmost respect. “Lady Hikari, I’m here. What do you need?” 

“Ever been to the Imperial Capital?” 

“The Capital?” 

Cosmia blinked, answering cautiously, “I visited once a few years ago, before I met Sheila. I’m fairly familiar with it… If you’re planning to go, I can guide you.” 

“Good. In a few days, you’re coming with me to find a place there.” 

“…Got it.” 

Hikari was looking for a location Sheila had mentioned. She’d seen glimpses of it in his memories, but the exact route was fuzzy, and there weren’t any clear landmarks. Having someone familiar with the Capital would speed things up. 

“By the way, isn’t there one more member of your ‘Wild Hunt’?” Hikari asked offhandedly. 

“Yes, an alchemist named Dotya. Her alchemy can transform humans into Dangerous Beasts. She’s done a ton of human experiments and even modified her own body that way. Her Teigu is ‘Blood Harvest,’ a tooth-shaped device she mounts in her mouth. It boosts her strength and heals her by drinking blood. Dotya’s the most cautious of us. She probably saw you in action last night and slipped away.” 

Cosmia sold out her former teammate without hesitation. 

“Got it.” 

Hikari nodded, unbothered. 

In the original story, Dotya was a slippery one, the last of Sheila’s crew to die. She might be hightailing it back to the Capital to report Sheila’s death to Minister Ornest. 

No big deal. 

Hikari was bound to clash with that old schemer eventually. In her mind, Ornest was already half-dead, and not even the Little Emperor’s “Supreme Teigu” could save him. 

“Lady Hikari, these are the valuables we collected from the nobles’ estates.” 

Inside the Governor’s mansion, Ran and the female Governor approached Hikari’s temporary residence, gesturing to a dozen or so chests in front of them. 

“…This much?” 

Hikari was taken aback. 

She’d figured this small, unassuming city wouldn’t have much wealth to plunder. 

But… ten chests of gold and silver? 

That was practically on par with the Ox King’s fortune from the Dragon Ball world! 

If even the nobles in a mid-tier city like this were this loaded, how filthy rich were the aristocrats in the Capital—or Minister Ornest himself? 

Ran, meanwhile, wore a complicated expression. 

As a teacher, his life had been simple. He’d spent half his years in a school, surrounded by students and colleagues. He’d heard rumors about corrupt nobles, but they always felt distant—until that tragedy struck. 

It dragged him from paradise to hell, shattering his peaceful life. 

Then came Sheila’s crew, their downfall, and the things Ran witnessed while confiscating the nobles’ wealth. His worldview, built over two decades, was shaken to its core. 

For the first time, he craved power over knowledge. 

Against monsters like these, moral lectures were useless. Only overwhelming strength could force change. 

Like… the girl standing in front of him. 

“Lady Hikari,” Ran swallowed, his voice tinged with nervousness. “I know this is bold, but… could you teach me how to gain power like yours?” 

“Hm?” Hikari raised an eyebrow. “What’s with the sudden question?” 

“…I’ve just realized the world isn’t as simple as I thought.” 

“It takes years to nurture a child into someone great, but it only takes a day to destroy them. The nobles who lord over us don’t care about the suffering of the common people—they exploit and enslave them without a second thought, even taking lives for fun. It’s so unfair.” 

“I don’t want what I’ve been through to happen to anyone else. So…” 

“Please, teach me.” 

Ran bowed deeply, his words earnest. 

“…” 

Hikari fell silent. 

She had a decent opinion of Ran. He was one of the few people in the Empire with a conscience, and he’d been diligently helping her with the asset seizures. He deserved some kind of reward. 

She thought for a moment. “Gaining power like mine? That’s impossible. But… I can teach you something.” 

“Have you ever heard of ‘ki’?” 

Chapter 177: Tsukuyomi’s “Spirit Time Chamber” 

Teaching the “Chakra” system to people from other worlds was tricky. From Uchiha Hikari’s past attempts, it seemed that natives of other worlds couldn’t generate chakra on their own. They could only use what she injected into them, which meant that even if they learned advanced ninjutsu, they’d burn through it quickly. At best, they could manage basic techniques like the Three Body Technique, tree-climbing, or water-walking. 

In the world of Akame ga Kill!, those skills weren’t useless, but their impact was limited. 

However… “Ki” was different. 

According to Master Karin, anyone from any world could cultivate “Ki.” Lan, despite his background as a civilian teacher, had joined the Hunters in the original story and even took down Champ single-handedly, showing he had some talent for training. 

The only issue was time. 

Even under Master Karin’s direct guidance, it took Hikari nearly a month to grasp “Ki.” Karin’s teaching style, much like the Turtle School’s, emphasized “building a strong foundation” and “going with the flow.” It was slow at first but allowed for a higher ceiling later on. For Lan, there was no need to be so meticulous—she could directly infuse him with Ki to let him feel it—but it would still take about a month to teach properly. 

Hikari didn’t have that kind of time to stick around. 

So… 

“Tsukuyomi Imprint!” 

As their eyes met, Lan’s consciousness was pulled into an illusionary space. 

This time, Hikari conjured a scene of Karin Tower, standing thousands of meters above the ground. 

“What… is this?” Lan gasped, experiencing Tsukuyomi for the first time. 

“This is a mental world I’ve created,” Hikari explained, her petite frame floating in midair with her arms crossed. “Right now, you and I exist here as mental constructs—soul projections. No matter how long we spend here, it’s just a fleeting moment in the real world. Now, listen carefully. I’m going to explain the concept of ‘Ki.’” 

The Tsukuyomi space wasn’t just for combat; it could be used for training too. In a way, it was an artificial “Spirit Time Chamber” powered by her ocular abilities! 

Of course, compared to the real Spirit Time Chamber, Tsukuyomi had limitations. Only mental constructs could enter, so while knowledge, memories, and thought processes could be trained, physical conditioning couldn’t. Once they left, Lan would need to practice the techniques again in the real world to integrate them. 

Moreover, maintaining such a detailed simulation consumed an immense amount of ocular power. A regular Mangekyou Sharingan user would never waste their precious energy on this—they’d go blind after a few uses. Only Hikari, with her near-eternal ocular power, could sustain this space for extended periods. 

Having decided to teach Lan “Ki,” Hikari took on the role of a proper teacher, diving into the lessons with focus. 

Thankfully, Lan’s comprehension was decent. 

By the second week in the Tsukuyomi space, he began to sense “Ki” vaguely. By the end of the month, he could project it outward, forming a protective aura around his body. 

Flight, however, was still a bit tricky. 

Not that Lan needed to learn it—his Teigu, “Mastema,” already granted him the ability to fly. 

“…That’s enough,” Hikari said, nodding slowly. “I’ve taught you the basics. How far you take it from here depends on you.” 

With that, she dispelled Tsukuyomi. 

Back in reality, Hikari slept for a day to restore her depleted ocular power. Then, from the stack of books she’d bought from the Dragon Clan world, she picked out a few and handed them to Lan. 

“These books come from a distant continent,” she said. “They document several reform and revolutionary movements from different eras. The details differ, but the ideas and philosophies should give you some inspiration. I’m looking forward to seeing what you do with this. Be careful—don’t die too soon.” 

Her words were sincere. Hikari was genuinely curious to see how Lan, now aware of the empire’s grim reality earlier than in the original story, would choose to act. Whatever path he took, it would likely be fraught with danger. Champ might be dead, but that didn’t guarantee Lan’s safety to the story’s end. 

In response to her unconventional “blessing,” Lan bowed respectfully. “Thank you, Lady Hikari. I’ll do my best.” 

“Mm.” 

Her tasks here were complete. 

Next… 

“Cosmia, come here,” Hikari called, raising the “Shambhala” on her wrist and channeling her mental energy. 

Like the Pumpkin Cannon, this Teigu was activated by the user’s mental power, though teleportation put a significant strain on the body, limiting its use to a few times a day. Still, its maximum range far surpassed Flying Thunder God. 

“Northwest, destination… 2,700 kilometers.” 

As Hikari narrowed her eyes, a vague image of mountainous terrain flickered in her mind. 

That was Shambhala’s ability: upon activation, the user could faintly sense the landscape of their destination and make minor adjustments to avoid teleporting into perilous locations like the ocean depths or a volcano’s crater. 

“…Activate.” 

In an instant, a circular array several meters wide glowed beneath Hikari and Cosmia. 

The next moment, their figures vanished from the governor’s mansion. 

It was like a blink. 

When Hikari’s vision cleared, she stood atop a mountain peak. From the towering cliff, she could see a sprawling city about ten kilometers away. Its endless walls, massive towers, churches, and bustling streets filled with carriages and crowds spoke of its grandeur. 

But to those who knew the truth, that grandeur was laced with irony. 

“…Let’s go. Time to find the place Syura mentioned.” 

Hikari lingered at the peak for a moment, then grabbed Cosmia and took off with her Flight Technique. Amid the witch-songstress’s startled yelps, they soared toward the western side of the capital. 

Later that day, Hikari landed in front of an unassuming bunker hidden deep within a dense forest. 

“…This should be it.” 

After cross-referencing the image with Syura’s memories and confirming it was correct, Hikari drew her Dragonbone Blade from the two swords strapped to her back. With a deep breath, she gathered her strength and slashed the door open! 

Chapter 178: Sword, Come! 

[Brandt@Unknown: Miss Hikari, uh… was Sheila’s death your doing?] 

[Bulma: Sheila? Who’s that?] 

[Unknown: A total scumbag who’s done every bad thing in the book. Think Naraku, but with even fewer morals.] 

[Unknown: Yup, that was me. Has the Revolutionary Army already heard about it? @Brandt] 

[Brandt: Yeah, not just us—Minister Ornest probably got wind of it too. The Capital’s guard force has been on high alert these past few days. They’ve beefed up morning and evening patrols and are searching for someone matching your description… Akame’s been questioned two or three times already and nearly got arrested. 

Because of this, we’ve had to cancel several planned assassinations. If you’re heading to the Capital soon, you’d better be careful.] 

“…Akame?” 

Inside the bunker, Uchiha Hikari paused, then realized what was going on. 

When she took down Sheila and his crew in the midland city, she’d openly used her Mangekyo Sharingan. Plenty of people witnessed it. Besides Dotya, who escaped, others could’ve spread the word to Ornest. 

Akame’s age and height were close to Hikari’s, and they both had black hair and red eyes. Without seeing Hikari in person, it was easy to mistake Akame for her. 

Still… 

[Unknown: Thanks for the heads-up. Pass my apologies to Akame. Also, I’m already in the Capital, and I’ll keep a low profile.] 

As she typed, Hikari’s hands didn’t stop moving, packing chest after chest of jewelry and treasures into a sealing scroll. 

Say what you will about Sheila’s character, but at least he did one good thing before he died. 

Before arriving at this bunker, Hikari couldn’t have imagined seeing a literal mountain of gold and silver. Compared to Ornest, who’d practically usurped the Empire’s power, the wealth of those provincial nobles was pocket change. 

After loading everything up, Hikari was running low on universal capsules and sealing scrolls. She started wondering if she should ask Bulma to pop back to the Dragon Ball world for a few extra boxes of capsules… 

“Lady Hikari, it sounds like someone’s coming!”  

Cosmia, who’d been keeping watch at the bunker’s entrance, hurried back down the steps, whispering a warning. 

“Oh?”  

Hikari nodded, calmly sealing the last two chests of treasures into her scroll before strolling out of the now-empty storage room. “The Capital’s guard force?” 

“Yeah…” Cosmia glanced back at the entrance tunnel, her expression tense. “Lady Hikari, I think we should get out of here fast. Your strength is incredible, but the Capital’s guards have some serious heavy hitters. Plus, the Imperial Fist Temple isn’t far from here. If they pin us down…” 

“No big deal. I’ll handle it.” Hikari smirked. “You didn’t think I came to the Capital just for some shiny loot, did you?” 

“…What do you mean?” 

“I’m here, so I might as well make some noise.” 

Ornest was definitely on her hit list. The guy was as vile as his son Sheila, one of the Empire’s darkest pillars. If she could take him out, she’d be doing the world a favor. 

Plus, Hikari had another motive. 

In the original story, Esdeath’s “Demon’s Extract” was initially held by Ornest, and the gem Teigu that destroyed Leone’s “Lionelle” was also in his possession. Who’s to say he didn’t have more Teigu stashed away? Taking him down could save her the trouble of hunting them down later. 

Hikari led Cosmia up to the surface. 

Just as the songstress had warned, the surrounding forest was buzzing with activity. 

Roughly a hundred figures were converging from all directions, most armed with spears, though a few held bizarre weapons. Among them was a young girl cradling a small dog. 

“…Lady Hikari, those guys might be Teigu users,” Cosmia whispered, hiding behind her. “I heard from Sheila that the dog-like thing is actually a biological Teigu called ‘Hecatoncheires.’ It grows massive in battle and regenerates unless you destroy its core. It’s dangerous.” 

“…Noted.” 

Hikari casually drew her Dragonbone Blade from her back, infusing it with spiritual energy. 

The “heart” pulsed. 

The three-meter-long blade materialized. 

Then… 

“Listen up, everyone! I’ll count to three. Anyone who steps forward dies!” 

Hikari’s voice boomed like spring thunder, echoing through the forest. 

“…What’s she saying?” 

“Counting to three? Does she think we’re kids who’d get scared off by that?” 

“Seryu, this villain’s probably a big deal. Have Koro go berserk right away—we need to take her down here and now!” 

“Got it, Master! Seryu will do her best!” 

“…” 

The guards were too far for Hikari to hear their chatter, but their intentions were clear through their actions. 

“Sigh… you guys really don’t value your lives.” 

Hikari let out a soft sigh, raising the Dragonbone Blade to her chest. With a deep breath, she swung it in a wide arc! 

In that moment, a crescent-shaped slash erupted from the blade, tearing forward with overwhelming force! 

“Getsuga Tensho!!” 

It was like a repeat of the scene at the Governor’s mansion. 

Where the blade’s light passed, the forest vanished. 

Or rather, a blinding white wave swallowed the trees—and the guards along with them. Captain Oka, Seryu with her warped sense of justice, and the other nameless guards disappeared in an instant. The sound of collapsing trees filled the air, and a massive cloud of dust rose into the sky. 

When the chaos settled, the forest, spanning miles, was a wreckage. 

A few survivors remained, pinned under fallen trees, staring toward the bunker with unbridled terror. 

Hikari sheathed her Dragonbone Blade and raised her right hand, palm open. “…Sword, come!” 

Word Spirit: Sword Control! 

In that instant, broken spears and shattered swords scattered across the ground lifted into the air, gathering together. 

Hikari grabbed Cosmia and used the Dragon Ball Flying Technique to step onto the blade of a broadsword. With the surviving guards watching in awe, she soared into the sky, heading straight for the heart of the Capital—toward Minister Ornest’s estate! 

Chapter 179: What If It’s Not a Teigu? (2-in-1) 

That evening, many residents of the capital’s western suburbs witnessed an extraordinary sight. 

A black-haired girl with crimson eyes soared through the dim night sky, her stance commanding as if riding an invisible blade. Behind her, a swarm of swords trailed like stars orbiting the moon. Though the empire had no legends of “sword immortals,” everyone who saw this was struck with awe. 

Well… except for the rabbit-eared songstress dangling awkwardly from the girl’s hand, who looked wildly out of place. 

“…What is that?”  

“Did someone just fly through the sky?” 

Passersby stopped to gawk. 

At the entrance of a bookstore in the capital, Lubbock, disguised as its owner, stared slack-jawed at the distant figure. “Is that… Miss Hikari?” 

The purple-haired, bespectacled Hill beside him nodded. “Looks like it.” 

“Boss mentioned that the one who took down Syura in the central empire might’ve been Miss Hikari,” Lubbock said. “If that’s true, she’s likely got Syura’s Teigu, ‘Shambhala,’ so her being here makes sense. But this sword-control ability? No idea where that came from—Brand never mentioned it.” 

“Miss Hikari’s methods are… terrifyingly powerful,” Hill murmured. 

Lubbock’s expression turned serious. “She’s heading toward Minister Honest’s estate, isn’t she?” 

Honest was Night Raid’s ultimate assassination target. His residence was heavily guarded, and with the imperial palace nearby, any commotion could draw the palace guards’ attention, making things messy. 

“Hill, I’m going to follow her. You find a way to contact Boss and Brand, fast!” Lubbock said urgently. “The capital’s about to get chaotic tonight!” 

“Got it.” 

Lubbock shuttered the bookstore, and he and Hill split up to act. 

Similar scenes played out across the capital. The Revolutionary Army wasn’t the only group with spies here—city guards, the Temple of the Imperial Fist, Honest’s private soldiers, even sentries atop the palace walls noticed the figure streaking through the sky. 

Uchiha Hikari saw the various figures below, watching her. 

She didn’t care. 

Following the map’s directions and Cosmia’s guidance, she located Honest’s estate among the cluster of noble mansions. A large number of armed soldiers were already gathered in the courtyard. 

“Who dares wreak havoc above the capital?!” 

“Get down here, or we’ll cut you down!” 

“Loose arrows! Shoot her down!” 

These soldiers were far better equipped and trained than the city guard. Soon, a barrage of arrows launched from the courtyard, slicing through the air with sharp whistles toward Hikari. 

It was like a torrential downpour of steel. 

Facing this onslaught, Hikari raised a hand. A Blood Jade Barrier formed, stopping the arrows thirty or forty meters away. As they clattered against it and fell, she unleashed another ability—Word Spirit: Heaven and Earth as a Furnace. A translucent veil enveloped a hundred-meter radius, and the steel arrows melted midair, reforming into swords, spears, and halberds. Under her Sword Command, they gathered around her, forming a layered sword array behind and beside her. 

It was as if an iron throne unfurled in the sky. 

“Nice arrows,” Hikari said coolly. “Now… take them back.” 

With a flick of her wrist, a massive magnetic field surged. The swords shot forth in a storm far fiercer than the arrows, raining down on the soldiers below. 

One volley left the courtyard littered with casualties. 

Yet, some soldiers proved resilient, wielding blades and spears to shatter the falling swords. They directed others to drag out ballistae and cannons from storage, loading massive bolts and shells, cranking the mechanisms with force. 

These weapons were far deadlier than standard arrows. 

But it didn’t matter. 

Hikari’s Blood Jade Barrier, stronger than the Four Flames Formation, could withstand even a Tailed Beast Bomb, let alone conventional artillery. The metal in the bolts and shells melted under Heaven and Earth as a Furnace, forming more weapons that bombarded the estate, crushing the soldiers’ defenses. 

Amid the chaos, a tall man stood out. Wielding a pale silver spear, he expertly shattered every sword that came near. With a flourish, he slammed the spear into the ground. 

“…A Teigu?” Hikari mused, narrowing her eyes. 

As if confirming her thought, a blinding silver-white light erupted from the spear, cracking the floor beneath. 

“Judgment Spear: Corona, unleash!” the man roared. 

An invisible field expanded, multiplying gravity dozens of times over, enveloping a hundred-meter radius. The soldiers in the estate collapsed, unable to bear the weight, dropping their weapons and falling to their knees. 

Even Hikari, floating in the air, felt the crushing pressure. The broadsword beneath her held for a few seconds before shattering into fragments. 

Under such intense gravity, she could still fly with her Flight Technique, but it would strain her body heavily. Instead, she landed smoothly, channeling chakra and Ki to counter the weight on her shoulders. 

As for Cosmia… the poor witch-songstress was sprawled on the ground, unable to move. 

“A gravity-manipulating Teigu, huh?” Hikari muttered. “Interesting.” 

She wanted it. 

The man smirked. “Hmph. The power of the Judgment Spear isn’t something petty criminals like you can withstand.” 

As he spoke, he maintained his stance, drawing a short gun from his coat with his free hand. “If you thought you could harm Lord Honest, you’ll pay the price. This ends here—” 

Before he could finish, Hikari met his gaze. 

“Tsukuyomi.” 

One look, and he froze, expression blank. The oppressive gravity vanished. 

Then… 

“Amaterasu!” 

With her second glance, black flames erupted across the man’s body. He collapsed in terror, reduced to a charred corpse in moments. 

Clang. 

The Judgment Spear fell to the ground. Hikari walked over and picked it up. 

Her earlier Tsukuyomi had already let her scan the memories of this man, Vitra. “A spear-type Teigu made from the super-dangerous beast, Great Rock Serpent,” she noted. It could manipulate gravity, theoretically up to hundreds of times normal, but it drained immense stamina and immobilized the user while active. That’s why Vitra had tried to finish her with the short gun. 

“Not bad. Much better than Moonlit Dance,” Hikari remarked. 

Of the forty-eight Teigu, fewer than a third could pose a real threat to her. The Judgment Spear’s capabilities ranked among the top, comparable to those held by Night Raid. 

Hikari stored the spear in her sealing scroll, then removed Shambhala and Moonlit Dance from her wrist and waist, adding them to the scroll as well. She listed them in the chat group’s shop before heading deeper into the estate. 

Vitra was Honest’s confidant. His memories showed a conversation with the minister just minutes ago, so Hikari didn’t need to search far. She soon arrived at the small building where Honest resided and pushed open the door. 

The interior was dimly lit. 

With her Sharingan active, Hikari moved through the corridor, past the living room, and stopped at a room resembling a tavern. A tea table held a flickering oil lamp, illuminating two opened bottles of red wine and a half-filled glass, as if someone had just been drinking. 

“He escaped?” Hikari narrowed her eyes, scanning the room. 

As she stepped toward the table, a faint breath sounded. 

A small figure burst from a nearby wine cabinet, charging at her with ferocious speed. At the same time, the wall to her right exploded, revealing a fat, pig-like figure with the agility of a monkey, swinging a fist at her. 

The former was Dotya, the alchemist who’d fled from the central city. The latter was Honest himself. 

A faint crack echoed. 

“Gem Ornament: Irreston.” 

The ceiling above and floor below Hikari split open simultaneously. From above, a volley of massive bolts rained down. Below, a bottomless pit revealed gleaming blades and the hissing of venomous snakes. 

A five-layered trap. 

This was a meticulously designed deathtrap. Honest was one of the empire’s top hand-to-hand fighters, rivaling Brand and Akame. Dotya, an alchemist with a modified body, was just as deadly. Together, they could take down any Night Raid member in an instant. 

With the Teigu-disrupting Gem Ornament active, even Brand, Akame, or General Budo would struggle to escape unscathed. A single second’s delay would mean being pierced by bolts from above and swallowed by the pit below, where blades and snakes awaited. The smooth iron walls of the nearly hundred-meter-deep pit made climbing out nearly impossible. 

Only someone like Esdeath, fused with her Teigu and overwhelmingly powerful, could survive this ambush. 

But… 

“Word Spirit: Land of Purity.” 

Hikari crossed her arms, hovering in midair. A powerful repulsive field pushed Honest and Dotya back. With a flash, she raised her right hand, fingers spread, catching Honest’s fist and twisting it sharply. 

Crack! 

His wrist contorted like twisted dough, bones and flesh mangled in an instant. He screamed like a slaughtered pig. 

Before he could react, Hikari kicked out, shattering his left kneecap with her toe. A spinning aerial kick followed, sending him crashing through the back wall, collapsing it entirely. 

As she finished, Hikari rose into the air. Crimson flames coalesced around her, forming the second stage of Susanoo. The Blood Jade Barrier expanded simultaneously, and a black sun emerged behind her, its light banishing the surrounding darkness—Word Spirit: Black Sun. 

Finally, her Dragonbone Blade extended into a three-meter greatsword. 

With all her abilities unveiled, Hikari tilted her head, gazing calmly at Honest as he struggled to rise. “Surprised?” 

“?” 

Honest was dumbfounded. 

Susanoo, Blood Jade Barrier, Word Spirit: Black Sun—none of these were in Dotya’s reports. Nor was her Flight Technique. Hikari hadn’t used any of these against Syura. 

And the Dragonbone Blade… 

“That’s impossible! Why hasn’t your Teigu been destroyed?!” Honest stammered. 

Hikari’s lips curved into a faint smile, her eyes blazing like fire. “What if… it’s not a Teigu at all?” 

Chapter 180: You’re Telling Me What to Do? (Two-in-One) 

Uchiha Hikari had long known that Ornest’s “Gem Ornament” could destroy other Teigu.  

She wasn’t sure about its limits—whether it could affect heavyweights like the “Supreme Throne” or “Demon’s Extract,” or if it could only destroy one Teigu at a time or all within range. To be safe, she’d preemptively packed her spoils, including “Shangri-La,” and uploaded them to the chat group to avoid any irreversible losses. 

And now, she was going all out, unleashing a slew of abilities, including Susanoo. 

Even when hunting a rabbit, a lion uses its full strength. 

For a major villain like Ornest, the big bad of the Akame ga Kill! world, she figured he deserved a bit of respect. 

Unfortunately… Ornest didn’t quite live up to it. 

After his sneak attack failed and Hikari lopped off one of his arms, he could barely struggle to his feet. Hikari’s Susanoo casually swatted him, slamming his several-hundred-pound body into the far wall, embedding him in it. Who knew how many ribs he’d broken? 

“…Didn’t you train at the Imperial Fist Temple?” Hikari tsked. “This is it?” 

She tossed a Golden Binding Illusion at Dotya nearby, freezing the alchemist in place, then maintained her Blood Jade Barrier and cast Tsukuyomi on Ornest, diving into his memories. 

“…” 

After a long while, Hikari blinked, her throat churning with nausea. 

Here’s the thing… 

Peering into Ornest’s memories was necessary. As the Empire’s top minister, he held a treasure trove of secrets—about the Empire itself and its Teigu. Finding someone else in the Akame ga Kill! world with this much intel would be next to impossible. 

But… actually sifting through his memories made Hikari realize just how vile he was. Some of the images that surfaced were so disgusting they made her physically ill. 

Compared to Ornest, even scumbags like Danzo from Naruto or Naraku from Inuyasha seemed almost merciful. 

And that made sense. The Hidden Leaf Village and the Inuyasha world were small-scale, but the Empire in this world spanned millions of people and vast territories. As the man second only to the Emperor, Ornest had directly or indirectly killed enough people to rival the entire population of the Leaf Village. Danzo couldn’t hold a candle to that. 

“Phew…” Hikari exhaled softly, glancing at the floor. 

Since arriving, she’d caught a faint whiff of blood from the depths of a pit a hundred meters below. After digging through Ornest’s memories, that bloody stench became even more vivid in her mind. “A lot of people have died in this pit, haven’t they?” 

“When you built this place, did you ever think it’d be used on you one day?” 

With that, Hikari willed Susanoo to stretch out its massive arm, yanking Ornest from the wall and dangling him over the pit. 

“?!” 

Ornest seemed to realize something. Driven by a desperate will to survive, he snapped out of his daze, his face contorted in terror as he thrashed wildly. 

“Please—” 

“Goodbye.” 

Hikari didn’t even bother hearing his final words. She ripped the Gem Ornament Teigu from his head and let go. 

Ornest plummeted. 

Several seconds later, a dull thud echoed from the bottom. 

Then came the sound of something hissing and lunging, followed by sickening chewing noises. The air grew thick with the stench of blood. 

“A serpent Dangerous Beast, bred specifically to dispose of bodies?” Hikari lit a match and tossed it into the pit, peering down. 

In the flickering light, she saw Ornest’s broken body sprawled at the bottom, being torn apart by a three-headed black serpent. Nearby was a small mountain of white bones. Sensing her gaze, the serpent glanced up, locking eyes with her for a few seconds before resuming its feast. 

“…” 

Hikari covered her nose and stepped away from the pit, turning to Dotya. 

“!!” 

Dotya’s eyes widened, and she started shouting incoherently, “Please, don’t kill me! I was forced by Minister Ornest… Even if you kill me, don’t throw me in there! I don’t want to die like that!!” 

Clearly, Dotya had some idea of what lay at the bottom of that pit. 

A death like Ornest’s was too much, even for a hardened killer like her from the “Wild Hunt.” 

“Hmph.” Hikari let out a cold laugh and cast a second Tsukuyomi. 

Moments later… 

“…Ugh.” 

As Cosmia had said, Dotya was an alchemist obsessed with immortality, conducting countless human modification experiments and even altering her own body. Despite looking like a sixteen-year-old girl, she was over sixty. Using her tooth-shaped Teigu, “Blood Harvest,” she’d drained hundreds of people into husks to maintain her youth and lifespan. 

The images from her memories were just as revolting. 

But compared to Ornest’s heavyweight atrocities, they seemed slightly less heinous. 

“Want to live? Give me one reason not to kill you.” 

Under Hikari’s calm gaze, Dotya blurted out, “I know where Ornest’s secret vault is! He has a—” 

“Try again.” 

“Huh?” 

“That’s not good enough,” Hikari said coldly. 

Dotya froze, racking her brain. “I’m an alchemist! I can deal with enemies you don’t want to face, turning them into Dangerous Beasts—even Super Dangerous Beasts…” 

“You know a lot about Dangerous Beasts, huh?” 

“Totally! I’m an expert!” Dotya exclaimed. 

“…” 

Killing Dotya would be as easy as a thought for Hikari. But in the Akame ga Kill! world, people with actual research skills who could study Dangerous Beast materials were rare. Dotya was one, and Dr. Stylish from the “Jaegers” was another. Stylish was also deep into body modification and dreamed of creating gear rivaling Teigu—a sort of upgraded version of Dotya. 

Both were rotten, but they had some use. 

For people who’d committed such evils, death was too easy. Better to keep them under control and squeeze out every last drop of their value. 

“Take me to that vault,” Hikari said casually. 

Dotya blinked, then lit up with frantic joy. “Yes, Master!” 

They returned to the corridor, heading to the far end of the building. Dotya pushed open a hidden door, revealing a passage with descending stairs. 

Hikari briefly thought of Cosmia, still outside. But the songstress, stripped of her Teigu, was just a moderately skilled performer now. If she ran, it didn’t matter—Hikari’s “Yasaka Magatama” could track her to the ends of the earth. 

The priority was looting Ornest’s treasures before any nuisances showed up… 

Ornest’s estate was already cordoned off. 

A swarm of soldiers had sealed the streets, converging on the mansion to assess the wreckage of the battle. 

Among them was General Budo himself. 

As the Empire’s top general, Budo wasn’t exactly chummy with Ornest, but as a protector of the palace and Capital, it was his duty to respond to an attack this close to the palace—a serious failure on his part. 

He’d arrived ready for a fight. 

“…General, we’ve questioned the surviving guards. They say the assassin was a black-haired, red-eyed girl matching the description from the recent wanted posters. She can fly and control weapons, likely a user of some powerful Teigu…” 

“Also, the attack on the western guard unit this evening might be connected to her…” 

“Hm.” Budo frowned, listening to his subordinate’s report. “Openly attacking Imperial agencies and key figures? This one’s got guts. Could she be tied to that assassin group ‘Night Raid’ the rumors have been buzzing about?” 

Before his aide could respond, Budo pressed, “Where’s Ornest? Still no sign of him?” 

“No…” 

Just then, a soldier sprinted from the inner mansion, visibly shaken. “L-Lord Budo, we found a hidden mechanism in the back building. There’s a Dangerous Beast down there… eating Minister Ornest’s body…” 

“?” 

Budo exchanged a glance with his aide, then jutted his chin. “Let’s go see.” 

Meanwhile, Hikari was walking through a hidden passage. 

She’d just raided Ornest’s secret vault, finding a few more chests of high-quality treasures and two items that seemed like Teigu. 

One was a set of mechanical torture devices, designed to restrain and brutally interrogate victims, with a minor lie-detection function. Ornest had used it for private executions and intel extraction, but it was useless to Hikari—her “Yasaka Magatama” was far superior. 

The other was a thin mask that could conceal one’s presence, though even Ornest hadn’t fully figured out its capabilities. 

As for the passage she was in now… 

It led to the palace. 

According to Ornest’s memories, he’d secretly built this tunnel as an emergency escape route. If his estate was attacked, he’d flee to the palace and manipulate the Little Emperor into using the “Supreme Teigu” to crush any rebels, ensuring his survival. 

Too bad for him, in this timeline, he didn’t even get the chance to use it. 

And that “Supreme Teigu” probably wouldn’t see the light of day either. 

Hikari was heading to check it out. 

“Uh… Master, are you really sneaking into the palace through here?” Dotya asked nervously. “That’s a death sentence! Even Orn—that guy—didn’t dare use this passage lightly. If the palace guards catch us…” 

“Shut up,” Hikari said coldly. “You’re telling me what to do?” 

“…” 

Dotya clammed up. 

Their footsteps echoed softly as they moved through the passage. 

After a while, a low hiss and a massive tremor reverberated through the rock, as if something was fighting in the distance. 

“…That’s the direction of Ornest’s pet Dangerous Beast. It got loose?” Hikari raised an eyebrow but didn’t dwell on it. 

She kept moving, navigating a few turns and climbing several flights of stairs before pushing aside a panel and stepping into a grand palace. 

More precisely, a royal bedchamber. 

It was already evening when Hikari arrived at Ornest’s estate, and now, the moon hung high in the night sky. 

The bedchamber was silent, with faint shadows of patrolling Imperial Guards visible through the gauze curtains. 

Dotya stayed huddled in the passage, too scared to come out. As a native of the Akame ga Kill! world, she held a deep reverence for the thousand-year-old Empire’s authority. 

Hikari had no such reservations. Guided by Ornest’s memories, she crossed the bedchamber and found the Little Emperor’s quarters. 

Naturally, he had personal maids nearby. As Hikari approached, a few noticed her and sprang up, shouting, “Who are you? How dare you trespass in His Majesty’s chambers! Guards—” 

“Quiet down. Take a nice nap.” 

Hikari moved like a phantom, appearing beside the maids and knocking them out with precise hand chops, sending them into a deep, baby-like sleep. 

Then, she approached the sleeping Little Emperor’s bed and tapped his face. 

As he jolted awake, his eyes met a pair glowing with dark red light. “Tsukuyomi!”