He still didn't fully understand the true power of the Ox Talisman—one of the twelve talismans that carried the essence of Shendu, the Demon Sorcerer Dragon.
A-class meme. Its potential was still a mystery.
"Fusion."
There was only one way to find out.
[Meme]: Ox Talisman
[Grade]: A
[Ability]:
「Power of Strength」: Drastically boosts physical strength.
The ability itself didn't surprise him. Raw strength was exactly what he expected from the Ox Talisman.
What did surprise him was its rating.
Just after fusion, the Ox Talisman meme had reached level 6.
"A-class… already level 6? Is that just the innate power of the talisman?"
The thought lingered in his mind. Deep down, he felt this wasn't the talisman's ceiling. Its power wasn't limited—just temporarily bound.
He clenched his fist, sensing the raw might flowing through him.
"This is the last one left… Summoning from Another World."
A new chance to summon meant another world. Another possibility.
"...Hah."
He exhaled slowly, bracing himself.
---
At the very moment the summoning was triggered—
Somewhere deep within a dark forest, several figures sprinted swiftly through the trees, their movements sharp and precise.
Behind them, the sound of armored boots and clashing weapons grew louder. Pursuers.
"Chase them! Don't let the assassins escape! They killed the Duke!"
Assassins. That word was closer to the truth than "criminals."
They were no ordinary fugitives. They were killers—the notorious group that shook the crumbling Empire to its core.
They were Night Raid.
To overthrow the corrupt, rotting Empire—that was their purpose.
Their movements were swift, honed, and deadly. Within moments, they had shaken off their pursuers, slipping deeper into the forest until the chase sounds finally faded.
The group came to a halt. Four figures revealed themselves:
Leone, golden eyes burning with excitement, muscles taut with adrenaline.
Mine, pink-haired sharpshooter, ponytail swishing as she readjusted Pumpkin, her Teigu.
Bulat, black-haired warrior whose imposing frame carried an air of discipline.
And finally, Akame, crimson-eyed assassin, her blade sheathed but always ready.
Leone clenched her fists, grinning.
"This mission was perfect. The people deserve to know how much that greedy Duke was embezzling."
Mine flicked her ponytail with a sharp, disdainful snort.
"Hmph. Trash like him got exactly what he deserved."
Bulat, calm and firm as ever, cut in without lingering on the dead noble.
"We've lost the pursuers. Let's report back to base immediately."
"Mm." Leone and Mine both nodded. Akame gave a curt nod as well.
Just as they turned to leave—
[Do you want to understand the meaning of life?]
[Please choose: yes / no]
Akame froze mid-step. "...Huh?"
Mine blinked, confusion flashing in her eyes. "What the…?"
Leone's ears twitched as she turned. Bulat's sharp gaze followed.
"What happened? Where are they?!"
In that instant, Akame and Mine vanished without a trace.
Leone's expression hardened. "An ambush—?!"
Bulat reacted instantly, his instincts screaming danger.
"There's an enemy! Incursio—Activate!"
A brilliant white light engulfed him as Incursio, the living armor Teigu, wrapped around his body, transforming him into a knight of gleaming power.
Leone also activated her Teigu, the Beast King Transformation — Lionelle.
Her muscles bulged with power, golden fur sprouted along her arms, and sharp claws gleamed under the light.
Lion-like ears twitched atop her head, and her pupils shifted into a predatory beast's gaze.
The "big sister" of Night Raid looked even wilder and more dangerous than before.
She and Bulat stood back-to-back, alert to every rustle in the air.
For a while, only a gentle breeze stirred the leaves. Nothing else.
"No enemies? What's going on?" Leone muttered, narrowing her eyes.
Meanwhile, in the square, the others noticed something unusual.
A pillar of golden light rose in the center, spiraling into the sky.
From within that glow, three figures slowly emerged.
No one had time to react.
Clang!
Steel rang out. Two shadowy figures had already drawn their blades and crossed swords.
Sensing mortal danger, Akame instinctively pulled out Murasame and parried the strike aimed at her.
Her crimson eyes widened in shock as she recognized her attacker.
"…Kurome!"
"Akame… you traitor!"
The short-haired girl with obsidian-black eyes glared at her sister with murderous intent.
But before the two siblings could truly clash—
Buzz!
It felt as though an invisible giant hand pressed down from the heavens.
Both girls were crushed flat against the ground. Their blades flew from their grasp.
"Akame!"
Mine tried to rush over to help, but she too found herself pinned by the overwhelming force.
A cold, mechanical voice echoed through the city:
[Fighting is strictly forbidden within the City of Bones. Adventurers may only risk their lives inside the dungeon!]
Yami Tsukishiro's eyes sharpened as he recognized them. Akame, Kurome… Night Raid.
This was unmistakably the world of Akame ga Kill!
But right now, none of that mattered. The sisters who nearly killed each other had been effortlessly subdued by the city's rules.
The voice spoke again:
[Welcome to the Multiverse Dungeon. Struggle, fight, and survive — conquering the dungeon is your only path forward.]
And with that brief introduction, the voice fell silent.
Knowledge of the rules etched itself directly into the minds of every adventurer present, leaving no room for misunderstanding.
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