Chương 20: #18 Master of Death

------Night Raid's base------

Najenda called for everyone to assemble at main hall.

"I have finally got information about Lokal's guard in my hand. It cost me quite a lot but I couldn't let him go without finding out his identity." Najenda announced to everyone.

"Who was that?! I want to take revenge!" Mine shout out.

"Calm down. It was like Akame thought...guy named Ren or his guild's name Ryu was guard at that time. I couldn't find information easily because it was personal quest and not public." Najenda tried to calm down Mine.

"What?! It's really him? Did he really joined the Empire after what he saw at that storehouse?!" Tatsumi was asking questions aloud.

"100% sure it's him. I am not sure if he really joined Empire. After all, he got that job through guild..." Najenda answered Tatsumi's questions.

"Doesn't matter if he joined Empire or not!! He injured and almost killed one of our comrade!! Don't you agree Akame?" Mine wanted to get revenge so she went for support from Akame.

"Stop that Mine! I have also got bad news, now isn't time to make another strong enemy." Najenda inturrepted Mine and made main hall quiet once again.

Everyone stopped arguing and looked toward Najenda and waited for bad news.

"Esdeath is coming back to Capital soon." Najenda grimly announced.

Main hall got even more quiet until Lubbock spoke: "How is that possible? Shouldn't she take more than year to conquer entire Northern Tribes?"

"I have heard that she was called back by Emperor plus she already conquered a lot of cities but she did it in hurry so she just destroyed enemy army and didn't even terrorize citizens. Which means that it is something important and she herself want to go back." Najenda explained

"What could be the reason?" Tatsumi asked.

"Who knows, but probably us so we need to prepare, I will leave for while to find some new comrades. Akame will be leader while I am not here. And Mine don't even think about revenge for now!" Najenda instructed and left the hall.

------Somewhere at forest------

Ren was sitting and meditated with Shadow on his lap. He was trying to control all the Death energy that he absorbed, He absorbed so much that it was slowly leaking out of his body in gaseous state.

After 5 hours of meditation.... It was already night, enormous whirlwind of Death energy was created and lasted for few minutes until it dispersed.

When Ren opened his eyes he saw that his white robe was transformed into black one, he also had black scythe with red gem like eye that was connecting shaft with blade on his lap.

"Is that you Shadow?" Ren asked.

'Yes, but I didn't just transformed to weapon. With your Master control over Death energy we were able to combine with each other.'

When Ren heard voice in his head he immediately asked: 'What do you mean by combining?'

'Just go and look at yourself in reflection of water.' Shadow answered.

After Ren found water and saw himself he was pretty surprised by change in appearance. He had still his snow white skin but he had abyss black like eyes that were devoid of any emotions, he had black crown formed by Death energy and his white hair turned black.

As for advantages in this form, he could feel that all his Death techniques were strengthened a lot and also his body became more sturdy.

He could also finally feel Life energy in this form but he was extremely disgusted by it and couldn't absorb it.

'Now that I mastered Death energy I can start training in another energy. But I will worry about what kind of energy after I will try out this form.' Ren thought and was bit excited that he got once more stronger.

'I need to find some Danger beasts' Ren thought while focusing to sense any living creature around him. After few seconds he found one bit stronger and after a minute he arrived behind it. It had figure of turtle but it had a lot of spikes on it's back.

"Just what I needed" Ren said aloud to get it's attention.

When beast heard Ren spoke it immediately jumped to safety but when it turned around and saw small human it was embarrassed by it's actions. Beast decided to simply fire few spikes from it's back at Ren.

Ren wanted to see how his techniques were strong. He activated his slowed time and immediately saw everything at least 60% slower. He easily dodged all spikes and then he heard Shadow's voice:

'You can fire Death orbs from me that will explode upon impact'

Ren did as Shadow told him and fired orb and when it landed on beast's leg it exploded and totally destroyed one of it's legs. It was having problems with balance so Ren decided to also try sharpness of Scythe and when he attacked another leg it sliced through without any resistance.

Beast couldn't even stand up anymore so Ren created 1 stronger Death spear and threw it. Spear pierced through entire beast and continued to fly through few trees before stopping.

'This beast was at least Special class Danger beast' Ren thought while being satisfied with his strength.

He decided to stop combination with Shadow since it was draining him of his energy.

His original appearance restored but he saw young boy with black hair and black eyes in front of him.

"You look even better than I thought" Ren said to boy

"....I don't really like this form" boy said and transformed back to raven, that's right it was Shadow who is already able to transform to humanoid figure.

"Not fair!!! If you don't like it then switch with me!" Shell was extremely jealous of Shadow's free transformation.

"Ren quickly find that woman and have her help you master water energy so I can transform too!!" Shell was already pestering Ren about his control over water energy.

'This will be long way back to Capital' Ren thought while trying to ignore Shell.

------Emperor's throne room------

Esdeath was bowing to Emperor

"General Esdeath, your actions strengthened Empire once again, I have heard of your victories over Northern Tribes." Emperor said aloud

"Thank you for the praise, my lord. I will make sure to exterminate Night Raid that was hindering my lord" Esdeath answered

"General Esdeath, I might be able to hire man named Ryu to help you take down Night Raid." Honest announced.

"Prime Minister, you don't believe that I can take care of Night Raid by myself?" Esdeath said with displeased voice.

She didn't believe that guy named Ryu could be as strong as her or as guy she met not long ago named Ren. When she thought about Ren for few seconds she blushed a little but it was still visible and it greatly shocked Emperor and Honest.

Honest just threw the shock he received aside and spoke to Esdeath: "Just give him a chance plus I still don't know if he will take the job"

"Alright I will do as you want and eliminate Night Raid with him if he takes the job." Esdeath answered but thought differently 'If he will be good I might make him my assistant but if he will be weak I will make sure he will disappear from this world'

Her thoughts were interrupted by Emperor: "General Esdeath, we appreciate your loyalty and I would like to give you better reward than just gold. Do you have any wish?"

When Esdeath heard Emperor's words she thought to time when she fought with Ren and couldn't dominate over him while having those frustrated but also nice feelings. She blushed once again when she thought about that which once again alarmed Emperor and Honest.

"I want to experience love". Esdeath said aloud shocking both of them once again

"I see... You are after all unmarried...How about...Prime Minister here?" Emperor was bit lost for words but still managed to say it

"My lord?!!" Honest was already sweating when he heard Emperor's words.

"I appreciate lord's suggestion but I already have very specific standards in mind, I will need lord's help to find man like that." Esdeath said.

"Oh, please say some of them" Honest was truly interested if this cold woman could fall in love.

When she started to talk she saw in mind image of Ren. "He needs to be strong, as strong as me or stronger, he must have cold eyes that gaze at everyone like they are preys,....., I will write rest of them on paper, please excuse me now" Esdeath bowed to Emperor and left throne room.