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DN : [375] Night Raid!
🕑 Added 2024-12-03 16:00:06 +0000 UTCWhere darkness exists, light inevitably follows.
In the imperial capital, a bastion of power and depravity where shadows thrive, there are whispers of rebellion. Among these whispers is Night Raid—a feared assassin group renowned across the capital. In truth, they are a secret division of the Revolutionary Army, established to dismantle the Empire's corrupt reign through covert operations.
Their missions typically involve eliminating corrupt officials and tyrants at the behest of oppressed citizens. However, their ultimate goal is to assassinate the root of the Empire's corruption—the Prime Minister himself.
At the helm of Night Raid is Najenda, once the youngest general of the Empire.
Years ago, Najenda fought alongside Esdeath, her former colleague and one-time friend, during campaigns in the southwestern territories. Witnessing Esdeath's merciless slaughter of indigenous tribes and her army's monstrous brutality, Najenda could no longer stomach the Empire's atrocities. Disillusioned and driven by a sense of justice, she defected.
She changed her identity, becoming the woman known today as Najenda, and joined the Revolutionary Army. As the leader of Night Raid, she returned to the imperial capital, transforming into a blade aimed directly at the heart of the Empire's darkness.
Tonight, Najenda's face was marked by a rare severity.
Gathered around her were the elite members of Night Raid, all of whom were notorious fugitives on the Empire's most-wanted list. Each one was a Teigu wielder—individuals equipped with ancient weapons of extraordinary power.
"Boss, what's wrong?" Mine, the sniper with the pumpkin-like Teigus, asked curiously.
"She's back," Najenda replied, her tone heavy.
"She?" Mine's brow furrowed.
"Esdeath. One of the Empire's two Generals and the youngest to attain the rank."
A hush fell over the room. While most had only heard tales of Esdeath's ferocity, Najenda had faced her firsthand—and survived to tell the tale.
Years ago, during Najenda's defection, Esdeath had personally led a pursuit. The ensuing battle left Najenda grievously injured; two of her Teigus-wielding allies were slain, and Najenda herself lost her right eye and arm. The scars of that encounter ran deep, a constant reminder of Esdeath's unparalleled cruelty.
"Two months ago, she led a campaign against the northern tribes. To think she's already returned..." Najenda muttered, her voice tinged with disbelief.
"She came back? From the northern polar region?" one of the members asked, incredulous.
"Yes. The journey alone takes nearly two months. This means she didn't need much time to subjugate the tribes."
The room was stunned. Even those who had once been imperial soldiers found it hard to comprehend.
Esdeath's reputation was terrifying enough, but the implications of her campaign were almost too staggering to believe.
"Reports indicate she faced 500,000 northern warriors with a mere 100,000 troops of her own. By the end of it, 400,000 enemy soldiers were buried alive."
The revelation landed like a thunderclap.
"Four hundred thousand... buried alive?"
"And with only a tenth of their numbers?"
Najenda nodded grimly. "This is the kind of terror Esdeath inspires. And the key to her strength lies in the Teigus wielders she commands. In battles like these, numbers are secondary. The outcome is determined by the power of the teigus."
Her words silenced the room. Every member present knew the truth in them.
As Teigus wielders themselves, they were painfully aware of the devastating impact these weapons could have on a battlefield. Mine, for instance, could snipe a target from miles away with pinpoint accuracy. In war, such precision could turn the tide before a single clash of swords.
"The Empire has endured for millennia, even in its current state of rot, because it still holds the majority of the Teigus," Najenda concluded.
"From now on, all missions are suspended," she ordered firmly.
"Suspended?" one of them asked.
"We're lying low until we gather more intelligence on Esdeath. If possible, we will remain in hiding until she leaves the capital."
Najenda's tone brooked no argument. Her familiarity with Esdeath made her keenly aware of the danger she posed.
Esdeath wasn't just a warmonger; she was a sadist who relished prolonging conflict. On occasion, she had deliberately spared her enemies, nurturing them into future opponents simply to indulge her thirst for battle.
This time, however, Najenda's calculations would fall short. Unbeknownst to her, Esdeath's return to the capital marked the beginning of a larger scheme.
"Boss, what about the task we accepted earlier?" someone asked hesitantly.
"What task?"
"A small aristocratic family. The report indicates they've been luring outsiders into the capital, drugging them, and subjecting them to brutal torture and murder."
Najenda exhaled, her voice steady. "If the mission is already in motion, we finish it. Tonight, we'll strike together. Every single one of us."
Her decisive tone ignited a spark of resolve among the members. Despite their apprehension, they drew strength from Najenda's conviction.
To be a part of Night Raid was to embrace the darkness of the world, carving through its filth with unwavering determination.
Though they feared Esdeath, their purpose transcended personal safety. As long as corruption reigned, their blades would not falter.
The room emptied as preparations began. Every mission demanded meticulous planning, especially escape routes. The capital was no place for mistakes, and with Esdeath's presence looming, the stakes were higher than ever.
Left alone, Najenda lit a cigarette, the smoke curling upward as she stared into the distance.
A sense of unease gnawed at her, unshakable and foreboding.
Esdeath's return wasn't ordinary. It was a storm on the horizon, one that threatened to engulf them all.
Comments
Erick Myrthil
I've been reading some of your fics and your MCs tend to become edgelord assholes overtime. Is that a common theme?
