Multiverse Gacha

"Who are you? This is the Imperial Palace's restricted area. Entry is forbidden," barked one of the guards stationed at the palace gates as August approached.

But August wasn't in the mood for pleasantries.

Swoosh!

A flicker of black light swept through the air, and the guards fell lifelessly to the ground.

The palace gates, typically bustling with personnel, quickly erupted into chaos.

"Someone just killed the palace guards in broad daylight!"

"To invade the palace so openly—either they're insane or they have something to back it up."

"Keep your head down. Don't get involved if you want to live."

"Exactly. We didn't see anything. Let's go."

The gathering crowd dispersed as quickly as it had formed. The current atmosphere in the capital was suffocating, with fear gripping everyone under the Prime Minister's oppressive rule. Death was an almost daily occurrence—a grim reality for those who sided incorrectly, resisted, or were simply unlucky.

The term "living in torment" scarcely captured the city's despair.

Though the onlookers kept silent, news of the intrusion spread like wildfire. Within moments of August stepping into the palace's inner courtyard, an alarm was raised, and soldiers swarmed to intercept him.

The palace was heavily guarded, a reflection of the Prime Minister's paranoia and penchant for self-preservation. Countless troops were stationed throughout its grounds.

"Attack! Capture the intruder immediately!" roared the captain of the Royal Guard, a trusted subordinate of the Prime Minister.

The soldiers raised their weapons, but not one dared to advance. Surrounding them lay the corpses of their comrades, all of whom had been slaughtered in their futile attempts to stop August's march.

"Too many small fry," August muttered, his tone dripping with disdain.

As he spoke, the shadows beneath the guards darkened ominously. From the depths emerged clawed silhouettes—shadow ninjas summoned by August's power.

Swoosh!

In an instant, the ninjas struck, decimating the soldiers. Their assault was swift and ruthless, leaving no time for retaliation. The overwhelming power gap caught the guards entirely off guard.

August, however, frowned slightly as he observed his summoned ninjas. With his current limited magic reserves, he could only summon twenty of these shadow warriors. Though they sufficed for this task, their numbers were a stark reminder of his constrained abilities.

Yet even these twenty proved devastating. Nimble and relentless, they ensured no reinforcements could approach. Ordinary soldiers stood no chance against them, and Teigu wielders were rare commodities—far from the palace's disposable ranks.

Inside the palace, the Prime Minister was indulging himself with one of the late emperor's concubines when a sudden commotion interrupted.

Bang!

"Prime Minister, something terrible has happened!"

The intrusion immediately shattered the Prime Minister's mood. His expression darkened as a bone-chilling killing intent filled the room. He had made it abundantly clear: no interruptions while he indulged himself.

"Guards! Drag this fool out and execute him!" he snarled coldly.

The concubine, trembling in silence, dared not make a sound.

"Mercy, my lord!" the guard pleaded. "A madman has stormed the palace and is cutting his way through to this very hall!"

"Nonsense!" the Prime Minister bellowed. "The palace is fortified with heavy defenses. How could anyone breach them? Drag him out and display his head as a warning!"

"It's true, my lord!" the guard cried desperately. "Everyone who has tried to stop him is dead. No one can hold him back!"

Before the Prime Minister could respond, two soldiers entered, dragging the pleading guard away. Despite his cries, the Prime Minister did not spare him a second glance.

To disturb his pleasure—no matter the reason—was an offense deserving death.

Yet the guard's report unsettled the Prime Minister. He had recently dispatched two of the Four Rakshasa Demons to eliminate Esdeath's "man." Now, someone was storming the palace. Could there be a connection?

Uneasy, the Prime Minister rose, donned his robes, and waddled out of the chamber.

"Gozuki, Suzuka!"

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Two figures—a man and a woman—appeared instantly at his side. They were Gozuki and Suzuka, the remaining members of the Four Rakshasa Demons and among the Empire's most formidable warriors.

"Prime Minister."

"Find out what's happening and eliminate the intruder."

"Understood."

Without hesitation, the two vanished into the shadows.

The Prime Minister's face remained grim. Whether the intruder was Esdeath's "man" or not, the situation presented opportunities. If the palace's chaos reached General Budo, a loyal defender of the Imperial Family, he would intervene without hesitation.

All the Prime Minister needed to do was sit back and let the pieces fall into place.

"Send word to General Budo. Inform him that a traitor has infiltrated the palace and the emperor is in danger. Request his immediate support."

"Yes, my lord!"

A soldier sprinted off to deliver the message.

Meanwhile, August cut a bloody path through the palace. Corpses littered the ground in his wake, each one a servant of the Prime Minister's regime.

Thanks to the memories he had absorbed from Sten and Mez, August navigated the palace with ease. Nothing—and no one—could hinder his advance.

Crash! Crash!

Suddenly, two of August's shadow ninjas were destroyed. A man and a woman emerged from the carnage—Gozuki and Suzuka.

August recognized them immediately. "So the remaining two of the Rakshasa Demons finally show themselves," he said, a faint smile playing on his lips.

"Who are you?" Gozuki asked, eyeing the shadow ninjas disdainfully. "Are these toys your doing?"

"My name is August," he replied evenly. "I'm here to kill the Prime Minister. If he dared send assassins after me, he should be prepared to face the consequences."

"August?" Suzuka's eyes widened in recognition. "You're Esdeath's man?"

Her expression shifted, and her cheeks flushed crimson. A moment later, her gaze turned icy, radiating murderous intent.

August raised an eyebrow in confusion. "What are you thinking?"

"I don't care what your relationship is with General Esdeath," Suzuka snapped. "A man like you has no right to stand beside her. You must die!"

She lunged, her claws extending unnaturally—a hallmark of her martial prowess.

August sighed. "I'm not interested in this nonsense."

Slash!

In one swift motion, August's blade pierced Suzuka's heart. The cursed poison of Murasame spread instantly, claiming her life before she could utter another word.

___

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