Empire, Northwest Border, Rousei Mountains.
Jagged rocks, sheer cliffs, towering ancient trees—this was a desolate, untamed world.
Ferocious dragon-like beasts, vicious giant iron eagles, cunning water monsters as thick as barrels… roars, battles, the sound of flesh being torn and chewed—every moment here was a scene of the most primal, bloody struggle.
Survival of the fittest.
Whoosh!!! Boom!!!
At a certain moment, under the watchful eyes of countless sharp gazes, a streak of light descended from the sky and landed in the jungle.
The ground trembled, and a surge of air rushed forth. As the dust settled, the figure of a man with black hair and black eyes was revealed.
"Screech!!!"
The iron eagle, which had been circling in the sky, was the first to spot this delicious "prey." Its sharp eyes gleamed with intensity, and without hesitation, it flapped its massive gray wings and swooped down with incredible speed.
Its black claws, sharp as steel swords, opened and closed repeatedly, tearing through the surrounding air with violent force. There was no doubt that if those claws were to strike a human body, it would be instantly shredded to pieces!
"Is this where Akame and the others live? It's indeed a nice place!"
Although he had noticed the iron eagle charging toward him, the man—Sora—showed no concern. Instead, he looked around with great interest.
To be honest, Sora felt a bit nostalgic. When he first arrived in this world, he had also fought and struggled against dangerous creatures in a wild jungle like this.
However, time didn't allow him to reminisce about the past, as the massive and ferocious iron eagle was already right in front of him!
"Lie down."
He calmly uttered two words, and at the same time, an overwhelming aura erupted from his body.
Boom!!!
Just as the iron eagle was about to seize its delicious prey, its body suddenly plummeted to the ground like a kite with its string cut.
As the dust settled, the once ferocious and menacing iron eagle was now lying on the ground, trembling uncontrollably. Its eyes, fixed on the seemingly weak human man before it, were filled with endless fear.
Not only the iron eagle, but even the other dangerous creatures nearby were the same. In the face of that overwhelming aura, the only thing they could do was obey the command to lie down, not daring to resist in the slightest.
"Hehe, looks like it's quite tasty."
Sora licked his lips as he looked at the massive iron eagle lying before him. This thing was definitely a delicacy, much more exciting than the usual chicken, duck, or fish.
Dangerous creatures, especially powerful ones like the iron eagle, possessed considerable intelligence. Hearing Sora's voice, it was filled with endless panic and fear. Although Sora had already retracted his aura, the iron eagle still didn't dare to stand up or flee. Instead, it used its massive eagle head to nuzzle the man's leg, its eyes filled with pleading.
"Hahaha, just kidding! Big iron bird, take me to find Akame and the others. Once I've had my fun, I'll let you go!"
With a loud laugh, Sora leaped onto the back of the iron eagle.
If possible, he would have loved to taste some wild game, but now that he didn't have any girls around to serve him, Sora found himself in a bit of a dilemma.
Like Lady Mine, Sora was also a lazy glutton who was used to being served by the girls. Now that he had to do things himself, he wasn't willing!
He thought to himself that he should quickly recruit Akame and the others. That way, he would have some girls around to serve him again. All he needed to do was laze around and occasionally "train" those lovely girls, while leaving the chores to them.
"Hmm, why aren't you moving yet?"
Sora, who was still lost in his thoughts, noticed that the iron eagle hadn't moved. He frowned, wondering if these creatures had somehow developed a backbone.
Seeing the innocent and panicked look in the iron eagle's eyes, Sora finally seemed to realize something. He gently patted his forehead:
"Ahem… Big Iron, just take me to a nearby village where there are people."
Feeling a bit awkward, Sora quickly corrected himself. After all, he was a good boy who knew how to admit his mistakes.
Big Iron??? Although the iron eagle didn't have much artistic sense, it clearly wasn't fond of this rustic name. However, in the face of this terrifying man, it didn't dare to show any dissatisfaction. With a loud cry, it spread its massive gray wings and soared into the sky, carrying Sora with it…
...…
Eight years ago, under the orders of the Prime Minister, a forbidden project was initiated in the corrupt empire.
Hundreds of children were bought from all over the country and thrown into a jungle infested with dangerous creatures. They were forced to fight, struggle, and flee. Only those who reached the end had the right to survive.
Among them, the seven most talented children who reached the end first were taken away by the empire's strongest assassin to be trained as tools of the empire's darkness.
They were known as the "Elite Seven"!
Location: Rousei Village.
Inside a small wooden house, a roaring fire was burning. The room was quiet, with only the occasional crackling sound of burning wood.
A lean man with long hair and sharp, eagle-like eyes sat by the fire. He appeared to be in his forties.
Unlike ordinary people who might seem dull, this man exuded a sharp, sword-like aura that made it impossible to doubt his strength.
This man was the empire's strongest assassin, one of the former Four Rakshasa Demons—Gozuki!
The young boys and girls he had sent out to complete a new mission had not yet returned. Gozuki sat on a wooden chair, his left hand resting on the long sword at his waist—the Teigu, One-Cut Killer [Murasame], while his right hand flipped through a letter that had recently arrived from the Prime Minister in the capital.
His brows were furrowed, and the occasional surge of aura around him indicated that Gozuki was in a very bad mood.
Anyone would be upset if they encountered such a situation—having the obedient and lovely tools they had painstakingly trained and brainwashed taken away by someone else!
Although the other party's goal was only to take away the four girls—Cornelia, Poney, Tsukushi, and Akame—this was enough to make Gozuki's heart bleed. The time and effort he had spent training and brainwashing them over the years made the empire's strongest assassin feel the urge to cut down the Prime Minister with a single strike!
If it were just the other three girls, it might have been manageable. He could always find replacements with a bit more time. But if they were to take Akame as well, Gozuki would absolutely refuse.
After all, a girl with such exceptional talent was something he had never encountered before!
He threw the letter into the fire, watching it gradually turn to ashes. As he tapped the corner of the table, Gozuki pondered. Based on the timing, that person should be arriving soon. Should he do something about it… "Yare yare, the empire's strongest, huh? This time, it's really a headache!"
Hearing the sound of the young boys and girls returning outside the house, Gozuki stood up. He brushed aside the long hair that had fallen over his eyes, and a sharp gleam flashed in his eagle-like eyes.
Clearly, in that instant, Gozuki had made a decision…