At the top of a massive clock tower.
Seven beautiful girls stood there, gazing at the brightly lit city with excitement in their eyes.
But it wasn't just them.
Over three hundred girls were scattered throughout the city. All of them had suppressed their auras so as not to be discovered.
"Master Alpha, everyone is in position,"
Gamma said to the blonde elf standing in the center.
"Very well, let's begin. Follow Midnight-sama's will and use the cult's blood tonight to wash away the filth of this city."
Alpha looked down at the capital beneath her feet with sharp eyes. She channeled magical power into her feet and stomped slightly, and her magic was instantly transmitted to the bell tower.
DONG~! DONG~! DONG~!
The ringing of the bell was the signal for the beginning of the war.
It was also the death knell for the enemy!
"The time has come. Night Raid, kill them all!"
"As you command!" x6
In the next second, the seven beautiful figures, dressed in battle attire and masquerade masks, darted off in different directions.
At the same time, the same happened with the 300+ Night Raid members already on standby. The moment the bell rang, the girls launched surprise attacks on their designated targets.
BOOM—!
BOOM—!
The cult of Diablos' main fortress in the royal capital was also attacked simultaneously, and their secret agents embedded in many high-ranking official positions were assassinated at once.
Night Raid operated with terrifying speed and efficiency in completing their mission.
Hundreds of attacks were launched simultaneously.
Such a massive operation instantly turned the entire royal capital into a battlefield, but Midgar itself, as the battlefield, had no awareness of it.
It became the stage for a chaotic clash between Night Raid and the cult of Diablos.
"What's going on! What's with all this movement!?"
"Report to Lady Iria! Hundreds of attacks have occurred simultaneously in the capital!"
"Whaaaat?! Don't joke around! Do you even know what you're saying!?"
"But, but…"
Seeing the same horrified, stunned expressions on her subordinates' faces, Iris was immediately struck with disbelief. She quickly leaped onto the rooftops and used magic to enhance her vision and scan the surroundings.
And then she was utterly stunned.
With just a quick glance, she could see several skirmishes and attacks. Men and women in black were fighting and killing each other in public!
At the same time, massive explosions occurred across various buildings, and fights broke out all over the place.
"What the hell is going on…?"
Iris looked panicked and deeply shaken.
Her sister still hadn't been found, and now a massive wave of attacks had broken out again. She was completely confused. Who were these people?
However, just then, a battle broke out within her sight. A man and a woman in black were fighting right in front of Iris.
"Go to hell, you bitches! How dare you interfere with our plans!"
"You cultists of Diablos are the ones going to hell!"
"Ughhh!!!"
The man in black was pierced through the heart and died instantly. The woman in black let out a sigh of relief and prepared to leave.
"Wait! Don't move!"
Iris drew her sword to stop her. Not knowing what was happening, the quickest way to get answers was to capture and interrogate someone. There was no way she would let this girl go.
Though the girl in black seemed to possess exceptional skill, Iris also had absolute confidence in her own strength.
However…
"Iris Midgar, I advise you not to interfere with our plans."
"What?!"
"Everything is going as the master intended. You, the spectators, should simply watch the grandeur of my master's plans and not interfere with Night Raid."
"You know who I am and still say that?!"
It was clear that her kingdom was being used as a battlefield by these people, yet she was expected to simply stand by and watch? Iris Midgar clenched her teeth.
She felt deeply insulted.
A massive amount of magic was poured into her sword as she decided to teach the woman in front of her a lesson!
"Iris Midgar, you overestimate your abilities. Don't think that such little strength is enough to interfere in this battle."
"What?!"
The girl in black suppressed her easily, shocking Iris completely. She had never heard of someone so powerful in the entire world.
A blow infused with immense magical power sent her flying backward. The girl in black did not pursue her further.
Though not possessed by demonic power, the princess still bore the blood of a hero.
She was not yet qualified to be a worthy opponent.
But she wasn't an enemy either.
"Who exactly are you?"
"We are Night Raid, those who lurk in the darkness hunting shadows."
With that, the girl in black disappeared.
Her mission target had been successfully dealt with, and the clash with Iris was just a minor unexpected event. Now, she would go support her comrades.
Yet, she let out a quiet sigh.
Before joining Night Raid, Iris Midgar was the magical swordswoman she had only admired from afar. But she didn't truly understand until she lost everything and joined Night Raid.
She wasn't even considered an elite within Night Raid — just an average member with middling scores in every aspect. That alone was enough to suppress the world's strongest magical swordswoman.
"Ah, it's all thanks to the master. Truly, following him was the best decision of my life."
---
In the basement where Alexia was imprisoned.
The silver-haired princess stared at the ceiling, startled. There had just been several loud noises above, loud enough to be heard even in the underground chamber.
"What's going on up there?!"
"Damn it! Damn it!"
Suddenly, the basement door burst open, and a man in white, his face filled with terror, stumbled and rolled inside as if fleeing from something terrifying.
"You're the one who kidnapped me?"
"Damn those persistent bitches! How the hell did they find this place?! Ahhhh, I have to escape, I have to escape quickly!"
"Give up. Let me go now, and I'll put in a good word for you when the knights arrive."
Alexia let out a relieved sigh. She thought the knights had finally found her. Of course, she had no intention of begging for mercy — it was just a bluff.
However, the man in white seemed to find her words amusing. He quickly searched for something while looking at Alexia with a mocking smile.
"The knights? Midgar's knights are worthless. These bitches are nothing like them. No, this isn't good. I have to escape fast."
"Not the knights?"
Alexia was momentarily stunned. Then… who was coming?
"I don't want to die, so I have to get out of here right now. But before I go… I need to squeeze you dry."
"Eh?"
"I haven't obtained any hero's blood for years. My research has been stalled. If this continues, I'll be executed by the cult. So… I'll use your blood to continue my research!"
This madman in white actually pulled out a huge empty syringe.
Alexia's face went pale. She didn't know what he needed her blood for, but with such a huge needle, her blood would definitely be completely drained!
"You—don't come any closer!"
"Hehehe, royal blood… Now I can finally restart my research."
"Get away from me! Get away, you filthy pervert!" As she saw the needle about to pierce her, Alexia was so frightened that her true nature was revealed.
But then she saw it.
Crack!
The man in white's neck was snapped.
The one who acted was a cat-eared woman who appeared out of nowhere.
"Who are you?"
"The one who came to rescue you, Alexia Midgar. Follow me."
Sinon said as she broke the sealing chains on Alexia's hands and feet. The cat-girl sniper was cold toward everyone—except Leon.
---
(End of Chapter)
"Hmph. If you really want to be useful, then entertain me, try to throw those pathetic power stones at me. Let's see if even your insolence can amuse a king."