Chapter 8: Delmaris
The two days flew by in a blur of restless training and quiet preparation. Somuchi spent most of her time poring over the mission details, her focus as unshakable as ever. Meanwhile, I threw myself into the sparring room, determined to silence the nagging thoughts about that figure. What was it? Why did it keep haunting me? Every time I thought I'd pushed it out of my mind, its shadow crept back in, relentless and unnerving. But whatever it was, it wasn't coming with me to Delmaris. I wouldn't let it.
When the time came, I grabbed my suitcase, running through my mental checklist. Clothes. Weapons. Gear for the mission. Essentials for the unknown. Zipping it shut, I took a deep breath, forcing my thoughts into order. The mission was all that mattered now.
Outside, Somuchi was already waiting at the front of the Guardian building, the rest of the team gathered around her. Her bags were neatly packed, and the ever-present tablet was clutched under her arm. As always, she practically radiated efficiency, her calm demeanor contrasting my restless energy.
"Hey, everyone," I said as I approached.
"Akame," Luma greeted with a grin, stepping forward. "Good luck—and try not to cause too much chaos while you're out there, alright?"
Without missing a beat, Somuchi adjusted her bag and replied, "I think I can keep him under control."
"Not if he doesn't want to be controlled," Raven muttered, her arms crossed. Her sharp gaze flicked to me, filled with the kind of judgment that felt more honest than insulting. "Just stay on mission, Akame. No unnecessary risks. Delmaris is already in a delicate state—you don't need to make it worse."
"Relax," I said, rolling my eyes. "I've got this."
"Sure you do," she shot back, clearly unconvinced.
Luma stepped in, her usual optimism cutting through the tension. "You'll both do great. This is your second mission—you know the basics. Just trust each other and adapt to the situation."
Zaire stood a little apart from the group, leaning casually against the wall with his arms crossed. His expression was unreadable, but there was a glint of something in his eyes—amusement, curiosity, or maybe something else entirely.
"Akame," he said finally, his tone light but deliberate. "Try to use that head of yours, yeah? Somuchi's the strategist, sure, but you're not as thick-skulled as you pretend to be. If something feels off, trust your instincts. They might surprise you."
I smirked, but his words lingered in my mind.
"Alright, we have to get going now. See you all when we get back," I said, lifting my suitcase.
"Bye, everyone," Somuchi echoed as we stepped onto the transport.
The doors hissed shut behind us, and the ship's engines hummed to life. I slung my bag into the cargo hold and dropped into one of the seats. Somuchi had already claimed a spot near the workstation, scrolling through the ever-present tablet.
"How long until we get there?" I asked, leaning back in my seat.
"Five hours," she replied, not looking up.
I glanced at her tablet, curiosity tugging at me. "What's on the tablet?"
"Information about our mission on Delmaris," she said, her voice steady but serious. "There's been suspicion that some people on Delmaris are working for Orion."
The name hit me like a blow to the chest. "…Orion," I repeated, my voice quieter now. The memory came rushing back—the day he destroyed the city, my home, and killed my mom in the process. My fists clenched involuntarily, the pain as raw as ever.
Somuchi must've noticed the change in my demeanor, but she didn't press. She continued, her tone softening slightly. "We'll land at night, so we'll check in at a local hotel first. Rest up, then start investigating tomorrow morning. The sooner we figure out who's behind this, the better."
I nodded, forcing myself to push the memories aside. Orion had taken enough from me—I wouldn't let him take my focus now. "Alright. Let's just get this done."
Somuchi glanced up at me, her sharp eyes softening just a bit. "We will. Together."
The hum of the ship filled the silence between us as we soared toward Delmaris, and I stared out the window, watching the endless expanse of stars.
Before I knew it, I had drifted off to sleep. The steady hum of the ship, the monotony of the mission details, and my mind's constant churn all blended together into a comfortable fog. The next thing I knew, Somuchi was gently shaking my shoulder.
"I'm up," I mumbled through a yawn, wiping sleep from my eyes.
"Good," she said, her voice steady as always. "Follow me. We're heading to the hotel like I said."
"Right." I grabbed my things quickly, still a bit groggy, and followed her out.
When we arrived at the hotel, I couldn't help but stop for a moment, eyes wide. The place was massive, a towering structure that seemed to touch the clouds. The exterior gleamed under the artificial sunlight, its sleek design cutting through the air with modern elegance.
As we stepped inside, I was taken aback. The lobby was something out of a dream. Soft, ambient lighting bathed the entire room, reflecting off polished floors and intricate, modern decorations. It was the kind of place I'd only ever seen in advertisements, and certainly not the sort of place I ever expected to find myself in.
"Impressive, right?" Somuchi's voice snapped me out of my daze.
"Yeah, no kidding." I let out a low whistle, following her across the marble floor to the reception desk.
A robot stood behind the counter, its design sleek and streamlined, with a smooth metallic finish. It was almost too perfect—polite, programmed, and wearing a smile that seemed as much part of the machine as its functions.
"Your reservation has been made," it announced in a voice that carried the same perfectly calibrated politeness. "Top floor."
It handed Somuchi two cards, each with a sleek black design that matched the luxurious tone of the hotel. Somuchi took them without a word, nodding her thanks.
"Top floor?" I raised an eyebrow, glancing at her.
"VIP accommodations," she replied simply, her tone businesslike. "Let's just get settled, then we rest and continue the mission tomorrow"
We rode the elevator in silence, the soft hum of its machinery unnervingly smooth, like a predator's quiet breath. The walls reflected distorted images of us—Somuchi's focused calm, my restless shifting. Each passing second felt heavier than the last, as though the building itself was pressing down on us.
Somuchi stood motionless, her arms crossed, her gaze fixed on the floor numbers as they climbed. She always seemed unshaken, like she'd seen the worst the universe had to offer and come out unscathed.
The chime announced our arrival, and the doors slid open.
We stepped into a corridor drenched in wealth. The carpet muffled our footsteps, and soft golden lights lined the walls, casting long shadows that flickered unnaturally at the edges. The silence was oppressive.
Our rooms were at the far end, side by side. Somuchi handed me a key card. "Room 1902. Rest up. We've got a long day tomorrow."
"Yeah," I muttered, taking the card.
The door unlocked with a soft click, and I stepped inside. The room was as extravagant as I'd expected: floor-to-ceiling windows, a massive bed with crisp white linens, and furniture that reeked of wealth. But the opulence couldn't smother the unease coiling in my gut.
I wandered to the window, staring down at Delmaris. Neon lights pulsed below like veins of a living city. From this high up, it looked almost peaceful, but I knew better. Somewhere down there, Orion's people were moving, working. My chest tightened at the thought.
I changed into something more comfortable and collapsed onto the bed, trying to push the unease away. Sleep came slowly, and when it did, it was shallow and restless.
I woke with a start. My heart was racing, the sheets damp with sweat.
The room was pitch dark, save for the faint glow of city lights filtering through the curtains. Something was wrong.
Then I heard it—a soft, deliberate shuffle of feet on the carpet.
I froze.
My gaze darted to the door. It was shut, but the shadow under it flickered as if someone—or something—was standing just outside. My stomach turned.
I reached for my communicator, but before I could grab it, the sound changed. The shuffling was inside now.
A figure stepped out of the shadows near the corner of the room, silhouetted against the faint light. They moved like a predator, slow and purposeful.
"Akame," the figure said, their voice low, smooth, and chilling. "You're making this too easy."
My blood turned cold.
They stepped closer, and I caught a glimpse of their face—a man in a sharp suit, his eyes glowing faintly in the dark. Orion's mark shimmered on his hand, the symbol twisting unnaturally, as if alive.
I grabbed a lamp off the bedside table, holding it like a weapon.
"What do you want?" I demanded, my voice hoarse.
The man's lips curved into a twisted smile. "You're far too young to understand the danger you're in."
I didn't hesitate. I threw the lamp at him, but he swatted it away with a flick of his hand, the ceramic shattering against the wall. He didn't even flinch.
"Amateur," he muttered, his voice dripping with disdain.
That's when I felt it—the pressure in the air. Something cold and heavy. He was already manipulating the gravity in the room, making everything feel dense, oppressive.
I tightened my grip on the ground beneath me, my instincts kicking in. I wasn't about to back down.
I reached into my core and called upon the power of my Supernova Star. The temperature in the room spiked as I unleashed a burst of radiant energy, the heat from my form shimmering around me. The air crackled with raw, chaotic power. I could feel the star's energy coursing through my veins, its raw force flooding my senses. I focused that energy into a concentrated blast and hurled it toward him.
The blast hit, sending a shockwave that rattled the walls and blasted through the air. For a moment, I thought I'd caught him off-guard. But the man wasn't knocked back. Instead, he absorbed some of the energy, the glow around him flickering as he shifted the gravitational field, redirecting the attack.
"Impressive," he said, his voice unchanged, "but not nearly enough."
I surged forward, using my star's power to manipulate the air density around me, shifting the pressure to give me more speed and force. I threw a rapid series of punches, each strike glowing with intense energy. My fists collided with his chest, but it was like hitting a steel wall. Each punch made the floor beneath me crack, but he didn't even stumble.
He retaliated quickly, a flash of motion as he lashed out with his hand. I barely managed to dodge, his fingers brushing past me with a burst of gravitational force that sent me crashing into the far wall. I gritted my teeth as pain shot through my side.
"You're fast," he said, his voice tinged with amusement, "but not fast enough."
I pushed myself up, ignoring the burning in my muscles. I wasn't finished. I had to push harder.
Using my Supernova form's energy, I focused on the gravity around me, increasing its pull to add weight to my strikes. The pressure in the air thickened as I drew in even more of the star's volatile energy, turning it into a massive wave of heat and force. The temperature in the room spiked dangerously.
I attacked again, faster, with more precision, each punch coming with the force of a collapsing star. The air sizzled around me as I swung at him, each strike making the man flinch, his confident smile slipping slightly.
He barely managed to block one blow, his hand shaking as the full impact hit him. This was it—the moment I needed. With a yell, I channeled every ounce of my star's power into one final, devastating punch.
The energy in my fist detonated, exploding with an intensity that shook the entire room. The shockwave blasted through him, sending him flying back, his body slamming into the wall with a sickening crack. He collapsed, gasping for air, his body twitching as he struggled to stay conscious.
"Stay down," I spat, my chest heaving. I could feel my energy draining, the star's volatile power fading, but I wasn't about to let him get up.
The man groaned, his eyes fluttering open, but he didn't move. The room was silent except for my labored breathing.
Suddenly, the intercom buzzed, cutting through the heavy silence.
Somuchi's voice crackled through the speaker. "Akame, are you alright?"
I wiped the sweat from my forehead, my hand trembling slightly. "Yeah, I'm fine."
The silence stretched for a moment before she responded. "Get to my room. Now."
"On my way."
With one last glance at the fallen man, I turned and left the room.
I stormed down the hall, my energy still crackling in the air, my body buzzing from the intense battle. The moment I stepped into the hallway, I could feel the weight of the gravity shift again—the man's power lingering in the air like an oppressive shadow. My instincts told me something wasn't right. But I couldn't afford to focus on it now.
I reached Somuchi's room, banging my fist against the door. The moment it swung open, I rushed inside, trying to push away the lingering tension.
Somuchi was sitting on the edge of the bed, her posture as calm as ever. She raised an eyebrow, looking me up and down. "Took you long enough."
"Trouble," I grunted. "Had a run-in with one of Orion's guys."
She didn't flinch at the news, which told me she'd probably been expecting something like this. "You're alright?"
I nodded, but before I could say anything else, the air in the room grew cold—unnaturally so. My blood ran cold as I felt it: another presence, darker and more threatening than the last.
"Somuchi—"
I didn't finish the sentence before the door slammed shut behind me with a force that rattled the entire room. The lights flickered once, twice, before dimming to a sickly hue. The walls seemed to close in, and I could almost taste the shift in the atmosphere—thick, charged with malice.
A deep voice echoed from the corner of the room.
"Did you really think you could escape so easily?"
The voice was smooth, cold, and far too familiar. Another one of Orion's agents, this time much stronger. The shadows in the corner seemed to twist and warp, forming into the figure of a tall, cloaked man with glowing eyes that pierced through the dim light. His presence was suffocating.
Somuchi didn't move, her expression unchanged. But I could feel her preparing, her aura sharpening like a blade.
I took a step forward, my hand instinctively reaching for the power of my Supernova Star. The air around me began to heat up, the gravity warping under my feet as I prepared to unleash another blast. But this time, I wasn't alone.
"Somuchi…" I began, my voice steady despite the rising tension. "You ready?"
She gave a small, almost imperceptible nod.
"Get ready for this," I muttered.
The cloaked figure laughed, a low, menacing sound that filled the room.
"You think you can fight me?" he taunted. "I'm not some lackey. I am Orion's right hand. You're both just… expendable."
Before I could react, he raised his hand, and suddenly the temperature in the room plummeted. The air froze, my breath visible in the icy atmosphere. With a snap of his fingers, shards of ice began to form, hovering ominously around him. The ice glinted like daggers, a weapon more dangerous than any physical attack.
I barely had time to react as the ice shot toward me, faster than I could follow. My instincts kicked in, and I hurled myself to the side, narrowly avoiding a shard that pierced the spot where I'd been standing.
"That's cute," the man sneered. "But you'll need more than agility to survive."
He snapped his fingers again, and the shards exploded in all directions, the room filling with a hail of frozen projectiles. The air crackled with power as the shards sliced through the air like a storm of deadly needles.
"Akame!" Somuchi shouted, her voice breaking through the chaos.
I was already moving, my body reacting faster than my mind could process. I tapped into my Supernova form, unleashing an intense wave of radiant energy, superheating the air around me and turning the ice into steam before it could reach me. The force of the blast sent the projectiles scattering across the room, but the man wasn't finished.
He waved his hand, and the shards of ice reformed into a massive spear, larger than any I'd seen before. He hurled it with terrifying precision, aiming straight at my chest.
I didn't hesitate. Summoning all the power I could from the Supernova Star, I twisted the gravitational field around me, increasing the pressure to propel myself forward in a burst of speed. I collided with the spear mid-flight, my fist glowing with molten energy. The impact created a shockwave that sent both the spear and myself crashing back against the walls, shaking the entire room.
I could feel the star's power burning inside me, and I used that surge to push myself up. The man was already coming at me again, but this time I was ready.
"You think you can beat me?" I growled.
The air around me warped as I manipulated the gravity to add more force behind my punches. I moved faster now, my body blurring with the speed granted by the star's power. Each strike landed with explosive force, the room shaking with every impact. My blows left glowing afterimages in the air as I pummeled the man with everything I had.
But he wasn't going down that easily. With a howl of rage, he summoned the ice again, forming a wall of jagged spikes between us.
I didn't hesitate. "Out of the way!"
I let the star's energy explode outward in a concentrated wave, shattering the ice wall and sending shards flying. I charged forward, closing the distance between us in seconds, and launched a final, devastating punch, channeling all my remaining energy into the attack.
The man tried to dodge, but it was too late. My fist connected with his chest, the force of the blow sending him crashing through the wall and into the hallway beyond.
I panted, my body trembling with exhaustion, but I didn't let up. I knew that wasn't the end of it. Orion's agents were relentless. This fight wasn't over yet.
But before I could take another step, a calm voice sliced through the tension.
"I think you've done enough, Akame."
Somuchi had moved without me even realizing it. She stood near the shattered remains of the ice, her eyes cold, focused, as though the chaos around us didn't phase her in the slightest. She was holding a long, jagged shard of ice in one hand, the tip glowing faintly with a strange energy. The air in the room seemed to vibrate with her presence.
"You've been far too reckless," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
I blinked, stunned as she effortlessly closed the distance between us and the cloaked man, who had staggered to his feet. She didn't hesitate. In an instant, the shard of ice was embedded in his chest, the glowing tip digging deep into his flesh with a sickening crunch.
The man gasped, his eyes wide with shock as he crumpled to the ground. His power seemed to waver, flickering like a dying flame.
Somuchi stood over him, her posture relaxed but deadly. "You should have stayed out of our way."
With a sharp twist of her wrist, the shard of ice was yanked free, and the man's body collapsed to the floor, lifeless. Somuchi wiped the blood from her hand with a flick of her fingers, then turned toward me.
"Clean up's done. We can rest now."
I stood there, still processing everything that had just happened. Somuchi's calm, effortless handling of the situation hit me like a slap to the face. While I'd been throwing myself into the fight with everything I had, she had been calculating, poised, and precise—taking control when I hadn't even realized how out of my depth I'd become.
"Right," I muttered, feeling a surge of respect for her. "Thanks."
She only nodded, turning toward the door. "Don't get used to it."
"So, what are we going to do now?" I asked, my voice a little rougher than I intended. My chest still ached from the battle, but I didn't care. I just needed to focus on what came next.
Somuchi didn't slow her pace, her steps measured and deliberate as she moved toward the elevator. She'd already wiped the blood from her hands and seemed as calm as ever. It was almost unnerving how unfazed she was by the chaos.
"We're going to report this to HQ," she said, her tone steady, as if talking about a routine. "And after that, we continue the investigation."
I nodded slowly, processing her words. "And about the attackers?" I asked, my mind still buzzing with the details of the fight. They'd come at us out of nowhere, and they hadn't been simple lackeys—this one had been strong, dangerous.
"HQ will probably lock the alive one up for questioning," she replied, her voice cold, detached. It was clear she didn't have any illusions about what would happen next. The organization would extract whatever they could from the man, and then… well, that would depend on what they learned.
I glanced over at her as we reached the elevator. Despite her calm demeanor, I could sense there was something more beneath the surface. Her eyes—there was something different about them tonight. She was always calculated, but now, it was like she was carrying the weight of something heavy, something far beyond just the mission.
The elevator doors opened with a soft chime, and we stepped inside. The interior was sleek, clean—too perfect for the gritty reality we were facing. I leaned against the wall, crossing my arms as the doors slid shut.
"Do you think they'll get anything out of him?" I asked, my voice low. I couldn't shake the feeling that we were being watched, that there were more of them lurking in the shadows, waiting for another chance to strike.
Somuchi didn't answer immediately. Instead, she reached into her pocket and pulled out a small device, tapping it with her fingers. The screen flickered to life, displaying a list of reports, mission details—everything I needed to know but didn't want to ask. I had a feeling we weren't supposed to be this involved in something so much bigger than ourselves.
Finally, she spoke. "I hope so. We need answers. The more we know, the better our chances of stopping this before it gets worse."
Her gaze flickered to the screen, her eyes narrowing as if reading between the lines of the data in front of her. "Orion isn't going to let this go. They'll send more people. We need to be ready."
I clenched my fists at my sides, the weight of her words sinking in. "We need to find out who's behind this," I muttered, more to myself than to her. The feeling of being hunted, of being part of something much larger than I could understand, was suffocating. But I couldn't back down. I wasn't the type to run.
Somuchi glanced at me, her expression unreadable. "We will," she said quietly. "But for now, we report in. No more fighting. Not until we have more information."
The elevator stopped, the soft ding signaling that we'd reached the main floor. As the doors opened, the quiet hum of the hotel's machinery surrounded us again. The lobby was empty, save for a few lingering staff members who gave us curious looks as we walked toward the front desk.
At the front, the robot receptionist stood motionless, its metallic body glinting under the fluorescent lights. Its artificial eyes flickered as we approached, processing our presence with mechanical precision.
"Report," the robot said, its voice a monotone blend of human-like cadence and robotic detachment. It was programmed for efficiency, nothing more.
Somuchi stepped forward, her posture as rigid as the machine's. "We've encountered hostile action. Two attackers, one neutralized, one captured. We need a transport to HQ for the live subject."
The robot processed the information for a brief moment, its mechanical hum filling the silence. "Understood. Transport will be arriving shortly. Please wait."
We stood there in silence for a moment, the weight of the situation hanging over us like a heavy fog. The stillness of the lobby was suffocating. The robot's eyes flickered again, and I could almost feel the machine's artificial gaze scanning us, as if it could read the unspoken tension between us.
I shifted my weight, my thoughts still racing. This wasn't just about Orion's agents anymore. The shadows behind their actions were darker, more complex. If we were going to stop whatever was brewing, we needed to dig deeper.
Somuchi, however, seemed lost in thought, her eyes distant as she stared at the robot. I knew she was strategizing, working out the next move in her mind. She was always several steps ahead, always calculating the angles.
The transport arrived with a soft hum, and we stepped inside. As the doors slid shut, I looked at Somuchi, a question burning in my mind.
"What now?" I asked, my voice steady, though the uncertainty remained.
Somuchi met my gaze, her expression unreadable. "Now, we play it smart. We find the answers. We keep moving forward."
"Okay, sounds good. I'll be returning to my room now." I said, trying to shake off the weight of the recent events.
"Okay, rest well, Akame," she responded, her tone steady, but I could sense a flicker of concern hidden beneath the calm.
I nodded and took the elevator up. Even though the mission had ended, a heavy feeling still weighed on my chest, like I couldn't fully shake off what had happened. The elevator ascended with a quiet hum, but all I could hear in my mind was the aftermath of the fight, the feeling of danger still lingering.
When the elevator stopped, I stepped out, the familiar hum of the hotel's quiet halls greeting me. As I walked down the corridor to my room, a sudden chill crept down my spine, as though I wasn't alone anymore.
"Pathetic."
The word rang loud in my mind, like a harsh bell tolling, and it cut through my thoughts like a knife. It echoed louder and louder, reverberating through my skull, shaking me to my core. I didn't know what it was, where it came from, or why it felt so… familiar. I searched the empty hall with a growing unease, my pulse quickening.
Then I froze.
There, just outside the edge of my vision, stood him. The figure. The one I had seen before. But this time… it was different. It wasn't just a shadow anymore. It had taken on the shape of a human, tall and unnervingly still, with those eyes—glowing faintly in the dim light, and that smile, too perfect to be real.
I couldn't move. My mind screamed at me to run, but my body refused to obey. This wasn't just a dream or a trick of the light.
No. This is real.