Feeling Guilty

A blinding beam of light shot out from the chest of the Supreme Teigu, so intense that the surrounding air distorted as if ripples were forming on a calm lake. The beam moved with incredible speed, reaching Kaguya in an instant.

BOOM!

A deafening explosion followed as a massive mushroom cloud rose into the sky. The shockwave, mixed with searing heat, swept across the battlefield like a tsunami, flattening everything in its path. The intense heat melted the ground, turning the very earth into molten lava.

"No one could have survived that," Honest sneered inside the Supreme Teigu. "Those two little brats must have been reduced to ashes by now. They should've begged for mercy; I might have spared them. What a shame. I could've had fun with them, tossing them around in bed. Oh well, there will be plenty more women to enjoy once I ascend the throne."

Honest indulged in his fantasy of becoming emperor, completely lost in his delusions.

"Is it because you're so fat that they stuffed you inside this giant tin can?"

"What?!"

Honest jolted in shock. Looking up, he saw the two girls standing atop his Supreme Teigu—alive and well.

"How are you not dead?" Honest stammered in disbelief.

"Did you get your head stuck in a door or something?" Kaguya taunted, stepping on his head with disdain. "That's such a stupid question; I refuse to answer."

Akame's response was even more direct. She gripped Murasame tightly and, with a swift swing of her sword, sent a flash of icy light crashing into the Supreme Teigu.

Clang!

A shower of sparks erupted as Akame's strike left a deep gash, several meters long, on the armor of the Supreme Teigu.

Though powerful, the Supreme Teigu was too massive. The damage, while significant, wasn't enough to pierce through its thick, metallic shell.

"You dare harm my precious Imperial Arm?!" Honest's ugly, bloated face contorted with rage. "I'll make you both suffer! But don't worry, I won't let you die too quickly. I'll savor it."

"Oh? Didn't you say the same thing last time?" Kaguya teased, tilting her head.

"I underestimated you before, but this time I'll make sure—"

"And didn't you say that last time too?"

"Y-you brat! You dare mock me?!" Honest roared in fury. "I've changed my mind. I'll crush you into pulp!"

The Supreme Teigu began to tremble violently.

Sensing danger, Kaguya swiftly grabbed Akame and leaped into the air just as the giant machine began to morph.

"What is this?"

Kaguya frowned slightly as the Supreme Teigu underwent a dramatic transformation. Its body twisted and broke apart into massive fragments, which floated in the air, guided by an unseen force. The pieces began to reassemble into a new form—an enormous, terrifying dragon.

The dragon raised its massive head and let out a roar that echoed across the battlefield.

"Hahaha! You should feel honored. You're the first to witness my second form," Honest gloated, laughing wildly.

This form wasn't in the original story, but it did appear in the manga, significantly boosting its power and making it much more formidable.

Akame's expression grew serious. As an Imperial Arms user, she could feel the overwhelming pressure emanating from the dragon. It was a power beyond human capability, so immense that it made her feel like she was suffocating.

"Is this all it amounts to?" Kaguya sighed in disappointment. "I expected something more impressive."

"Stop pretending!" Honest shouted. "You're terrified, aren't you? Trying to bluff your way out of this?"

"Bluff?" Kaguya giggled, covering her mouth with her hand. "Maybe all that meat you eat has clogged your brain with fat. Why would I need to bluff?"

"The more you talk, the more it shows how scared you are," Honest grinned. "You can drop the act. If you beg for mercy, I might spare you for a while. Maybe after I'm done playing with you…"

"Why are people so obsessed with delusions?" Kaguya shrugged. "You have no real power, yet you keep daydreaming."

"Delusions?" Honest sneered. "Since you're so eager to die, I'll grant your wish."

With that, the dragon lifted its head, opening its massive jaws. A glowing orb began to form within its mouth, growing larger and brighter with each passing second.

With a deafening roar, the dragon unleashed a beam of light, shooting straight at Kaguya.

In response, a massive black sphere materialized before Kaguya, enveloping her completely.

BOOM!

The beam collided with the sphere, but to Kaguya's surprise, when the dust cleared, she noticed a hole had been burned through the black sphere. The edges around the hole appeared melted. Even her powerful defense had been penetrated.

Looking down, Kaguya saw that although her skin was unharmed, her shoulder strap had been incinerated, revealing her smooth, pale shoulder and a hint of her chest.

Her expression darkened instantly.

"Hahaha! Now you see my true power!" Honest cackled madly. "Don't worry, I won't kill you just yet. First, I'll strip you naked and tie you up for all your people to see. I wonder what their faces will look like when they see you like that. Hahaha!"

Kaguya's eyes turned cold, her voice icy. "Why do some people insist on seeking death when they could just live quietly?"

She lifted her head, her gaze chilling. "Congratulations. You've succeeded in angering me."