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Abel's generosity exceeded everyone's expectations, giving away an Imperial Arms! But thinking about it, it seemed 'If it's him, he would indeed do this'.
"Is this for me?"
Tazmi couldn't believe his luck, his face a mix of disbelief and excitement. Having just joined 'Night Raid', he already knew what an Imperial Arms was. Almost everyone here had one, and he too longed for his own. Otherwise, he'd always be a burden. Unless he could overpower enemies without an Imperial Arms like Abel, which was impossible. Thus, looking at Abel, Tazmi's eyes were full of gratitude.
"Even though Abel could have used this Imperial Arms himself, he gave it to me. I'm so moved~"
"Tazmi, try it on."
Under everyone's urging, Tazmi put on the Imperial Arms on his forehead. Unlike the original plot, his first impression of the Imperial Arms was positive, partly because it was a gift from 'Brother Abel', allowing him to activate it successfully without any side effects. He even found unexpected joy in it!
Tazmi's face suddenly turned as red as a monkey's butt, almost steaming with a nosebleed, from whatever he saw using the Imperial Arms. Abel's voice suddenly came, "If you dare use its X-ray vision on me, I'll gouge out all three of your eyes."
This scared Tazmi into immediately deactivating the Imperial Arms, not daring to misuse it again.
"So, you were using it to peek at us. How do you like the view, huh?" Leone teased, not angry about the potential invasion of privacy, but rather playfully mocking Tazmi, who was frantically shaking his head, his flushed cheeks betraying him.
Laughter soon filled the air.
Only Abel, enjoying his late-night snack alone at the dining table, seemed out of place, as if he didn't belong, exuding a strong sense of detachment.
The next day, 'Night Raid' received shocking news. Their assassinations had angered Minister Honest, who disregarded advice and summoned General Esdeath back! This meant the Empire's strongest would return to the capital to eradicate them within days! The news put immense pressure on everyone except Abel, who seemed eager.
"Before Esdeath returns, intensify the assassinations to clear obstacles for the Revolutionary Army," Najenda commanded. Targets in the capital fell one after another to 'Night Raid', creating a sense of panic. Minister Honest, aware of the danger, increased the capital's defenses, hoping to catch 'Night Raid'.
That night, after successfully completing their mission, Mine and Sheele were intercepted by the capital's guards during their escape. The enemy, also an Imperial Arms user, wielded a rare beast-type called the Hundred-Handed Giant.
Initially resembling a cute dog, it transformed into a giant in battle. Beast-types could regenerate indefinitely unless their core was destroyed, putting Mine and Sheele in a tough spot.
"Finally caught you, Night Raid!" declared the guard, Syura Ulybitas. "I'm Syura Ulybitas of the Capital Guard, dispensing absolute justice to evil." He unleashed his beloved Imperial Arms, Little Bee.
Syura, whose father and mentor were killed by 'Night Raid', was convinced of her righteous stance, willing to go to any lengths. As the whistle sounded, Mine and Sheele knew they were in trouble, as more guards would soon encircle them, necessitating a quick resolution.
"Remember, Sheele, the literature says that to defeat a beast-type Imperial Arms, its internal core must be shattered."
"No, there's another way. Kill its user."
While Mine continuously shot at Little Bee, Sheele broke through to target Syura. In this 2v2 battle, Syura was strong but no match for Sheele wielding the Imperial Arms, Scissor of Severance [Murder Soul]. The giant scissors, famed for cutting through anything, sliced off Syura's arms. Syura narrowly escaped a fatal blow by sacrificing her arms, but she didn't give up and revealed a gun concealed within her severed limb.
"Justice, execute!"
Bang!
The crucial shot was blocked by Sheele's Imperial Arms. Just as Syura was about to be defeated, she unleashed her trump card. Even in death, she wanted to take someone with her. Mine, caught off guard by the sudden frenzy and its speed, was seized by Little Bee.
"Crush her, Little Bee!"
At the critical moment, Sheele abandoned Syura and rushed over, severing Little Bee's arm with her giant scissors and saving Mine. But then, gunshots rang out again. Syura had modified not just her arms but also hid a gun in her mouth! Sheele, hit by the shot, fell forward as the snarling maw of the frenzied Little Bee closed in on her.
Just as Sheele was about to meet her end, a figure descended from the sky, smashing half of Little Bee's head with a punch!
"What's all this noise? Turns out there's an unleashed dog barking wildly here."
Syura's whistle had not only summoned reinforcements but also alerted Abel, who was nearby on a mission, to arrive just in time.
"Sheele!"
Mine was on the verge of breaking down. If not for Abel's timely arrival, Sheele would have become fodder for Little Bee. Then, the sound of numerous footsteps approached. The reinforcements from the Capital Guard had arrived and immediately surrounded Abel and the others.