Chapter 318: Chelsea (Part 2)

"Could it be that you're an Imperial Arms user?" After resuming their journey, Chelsea continued to display an expression of admiration. To anyone else, her beautiful appearance and charming demeanor might have been convincing, but Daniel could sense the underlying killing intent she exuded.

Despite this, Daniel wasn't overly concerned. Instead, he was curious about what Chelsea was planning.

"Imperial Arms? What's that?" The term sounded vaguely familiar to Daniel, but he couldn't immediately recall what it was, so he looked at Chelsea with a puzzled expression.

"Oh, you're just teasing me, right? The weapon you used earlier is clearly an Imperial Arm!" Chelsea's smile was as radiant as a blooming flower.

"Are you talking about this? It's just my weapon, nothing like an Imperial Arm. By the way, what's the Empire?" Daniel said as he pulled out the Han Guang sword, encased in its green scabbard.

Although Daniel could form a blade using his own energy, the Han Guang sword consumed far less of his energy, making it his preferred choice when dealing with dangerous creatures.

"You don't know about the Empire?" Chelsea's expression immediately shifted as she looked at Daniel as if he were a complete idiot.

"I come from a distant place and am unfamiliar with the situation here." Daniel quickly came up with a plausible excuse.

"An outsider? You don't look like one," Chelsea muttered to herself quietly.

"So, can you explain what an Imperial Arm is?" Daniel asked, steering the conversation back on track.

"It seems you really don't know..." Chelsea's demeanor relaxed considerably, and the killing intent that had been lurking beneath the surface vanished entirely. She then began to explain what Imperial Arms were and what the Empire was.

"So that's who you are," Daniel thought as Chelsea's explanation jogged his memory. He now understood why the term "Imperial Arms" sounded familiar and why Chelsea's name had rung a bell.

"What's wrong?" Chelsea asked, noticing Daniel's contemplative expression.

"Nothing, please continue," Daniel nodded, indicating for Chelsea to carry on while he internally pondered the situation.

Chelsea, Imperial Arms, and the Empire—this world was none other than the world of Akame ga Kill. The reason Daniel hadn't recognized it immediately was that the world was far too brutal; during his first encounter with it, he hadn't been able to watch it in its entirety.

Akame ga Kill, also known as Kill la Kill, was a world where the protagonist and his allies could die at any moment, even characters like Chelsea, a kind and cute girl, met a gruesome end—beheaded and her body consumed.

"Come to think of it, Chelsea's Imperial Arm has the ability to transform into anything. If I recall correctly, it's called 'Gaea Foundation.' Quite a remarkable item," Daniel mused as he glanced at the strange box Chelsea always carried.

While in this world, Gaea Foundation might not seem like the most powerful Imperial Arm, to Daniel, it ranked first among all the Imperial Arms, even surpassing the ultimate Imperial Arm wielded by the Empire's royalty.

The ability to transform was something Daniel himself didn't possess, though he was aware of it through the Animagus transformation in the Harry Potter world. However, even Animagi could only transform into a single animal, whereas Gaea Foundation allowed for limitless transformations.

Moreover, it wasn't just a physical transformation—the user would gain the abilities of the creature they transformed into. If Chelsea transformed into a bird, she could fly; if she became a fish, she could swim. It was this versatility that had made Chelsea the top assassin of the Revolutionary Army. Unfortunately, Chelsea's power was limited by her own physical strength, and her ultimate fate was sealed by her carelessness in underestimating Kurome, who she thought was already dead.

"A weapon that kills in one strike—Gaea Foundation, the cutting sword, the demonic blade, the fearsome Oni, and the demonic beast—Akame's Murasame, Esdeath's Mahapadma...," Daniel continued recalling the names of various Imperial Arms. The first one that came to mind was Akame's Murasame, followed by Esdeath's ice-based Imperial Arm, both of which were among the strongest of the 48 Imperial Arms.

"If Esdeath were to reach her full potential, a fight between her and Aokiji would be fascinating," Daniel thought, comparing Esdeath's ice powers with those of Aokiji, the Admiral from One Piece.

In terms of sheer area-of-effect ice abilities, Esdeath was on par with Aokiji, and her Imperial Arm had a hidden ability that allowed her to freeze time—a power that even Aokiji couldn't match. If they were on the same level, Esdeath would likely emerge victorious.

"Judging by your words, you must be part of the Revolutionary Army. Earlier, you tried to kill me because you mistook me for an Imperial Arms user from the Empire, correct?" After a brief pause, Daniel spoke up, breaking the silence.

"You figured it out. Yes, if you were an Imperial Arms user from the Empire, I would have killed you," Chelsea admitted without hesitation.

"Your Imperial Arm is indeed remarkable and highly effective for assassination, but your strength is lacking. Be careful not to get caught off guard," Daniel warned Chelsea, unable to help himself.

In reality, Daniel's concerns were somewhat unnecessary. Chelsea's downfall in the original story was largely due to the atmosphere within Night Raid and her own underestimation of Kurome. As the top assassin of the Revolutionary Army, Chelsea was typically extremely cautious, always ensuring that she either killed her target in one strike or disappeared entirely if she failed.

Of course, her lack of physical strength remained a significant weakness. While Gaea Foundation allowed her to transform into various creatures, the extent to which she could use their abilities depended on her physical stamina.

"You're worried about me?" Chelsea asked, surprised by Daniel's concern.

"I just don't want to see such a beautiful young woman meet an untimely end," Daniel said before adding after a pause, "May I take a look at your Imperial Arm?"

"My Imperial Arm? Sure." Chelsea handed the Gaea Foundation to Daniel without hesitation.

"You trust me that much? Aren't you worried I might steal it?" Daniel was surprised by Chelsea's straightforwardness as he took the Imperial Arm from her.

"To use an Imperial Arm, the user's energy must resonate with it. I don't think your energy will match this one," Chelsea said confidently. Gaea Foundation was originally designed not as a weapon but as a cosmetic tool for the Empire's first emperor to give to his concubines. Because of this, it was generally more suited to female users.

Just imagine—a tool that could allow you to transform into anything you desired.

"Resonance, huh?" Daniel muttered as he held the Gaea Foundation. Surprisingly, he found that he could use the Imperial Arm with ease, encountering no resistance. However, he chose not to demonstrate this to Chelsea and simply opened the makeup box to examine the contents.

"Room." Daniel activated his Op-Op Fruit powers, enveloping the Imperial Arm. "It's alive?" Through his powers, Daniel detected a faint trace of life within the Imperial Arm, likely the source of its abilities.

The Imperial Arms were created by the Empire's first emperor, who gathered the nation's top artisans and alchemists to craft them using parts from legendary Danger Beasts as materials. His goal was to ensure the Empire's long-lasting stability.

The Empire's first emperor was undoubtedly a man of great talent and ambition. With the help of the 48 Imperial Arms, the Empire remained a powerful and stable force for centuries. However, the first emperor likely never anticipated that the downfall of a great nation would come from internal decay rather than external threats.

A single internal rebellion led to the destruction of many of the Empire's Imperial Arms, with the remaining ones scattered among the populace.

Fortunately for the Empire, it retained control of the most powerful Imperial Arms, which allowed it to maintain its rule for over a thousand years. In many ways, the nobles of the Empire were no different from the World Nobles in One Piece.

As time passed, more and more people began to resist the Empire, and the revolutionary forces grew in strength.

In truth, the Revolutionary Army owed much of its success to one man—Prime Minister Honest. Without his corrupt and self-serving actions, Esdeath might have crushed the Revolutionary Army long ago.

Of the 48 Imperial Arms created by the first emperor, their power levels varied significantly. The weaker ones merely granted a slight boost in strength, while the more powerful ones allowed a single individual to take on entire armies.

Currently, the Empire had two individuals capable of this—General Budo and Esdeath.

"Are you trying to recruit me into the Revolutionary Army?" Daniel asked, handing the Gaea Foundation back to Chelsea. If it had been anyone else's Imperial Arm, Daniel might have been tempted to keep it, but he wouldn't do that to Chelsea.

"That's right," Chelsea replied, nodding.

"While I'd like to believe what you've said is true, I need to see things for myself before making any decisions," Daniel said after a moment of thought.

In reality, Daniel already believed Chelsea's words. He was well aware of the darkness that plagued the Empire. It was a land where demons and monsters ruled, and joining the Revolutionary Army would undoubtedly be a wise choice.

However, Daniel had no interest in joining the Revolutionary Army. He had his own goals. In a world filled with dangerous creatures and powerful Imperial Arms, he intended to carve out his own path.

Why serve as a pawn in the Revolutionary Army when he could become the master of his own destiny?

"You'll see for yourself soon enough," Chelsea said, not pressing the matter further. The Empire's sins were evident, needing no embellishment or exaggeration—they were visible everywhere.

Shuiyun City, located

 in the southeastern part of the Empire, was once a thriving metropolis known as the Water Capital. However, as the Empire's decay set in, so too did the city's prosperity begin to fade.

"Such a pity." Upon entering the outskirts of Shuiyun City, Daniel saw countless emaciated refugees and even a few corpses lying by the roadside. The sight prompted a deep sigh from Daniel, though Chelsea remained indifferent. It was clear she had grown numb to such horrors.

Chelsea had once been a maidservant to a corrupt governor. Her greatest aspiration was to earn enough money to live a comfortable life. Though she was aware of the governor's corruption, she felt powerless to do anything about it—until she discovered the Gaea Foundation and learned that the governor hunted people for sport.

Chelsea used the power of the Imperial Arm to assassinate the governor and later joined the Revolutionary Army.

Chelsea played a crucial role in the Revolutionary Army's rise to power, earning the nickname "Governor Slayer" for her assassination of corrupt regional leaders. Her latest mission had brought her to Shuiyun City, where she planned to eliminate the governor there.

Shuiyun City had once been a vital stronghold for the Revolutionary Army due to its abundant resources. Much of the army's salt and other supplies came from this region. Unfortunately, the stronghold was eventually destroyed by the Empire—by none other than Akame, who killed the only woman capable of rivaling Esdeath.

It was this event that awakened Akame to the corruption and evil within the Empire, leading her to join the Revolutionary Army.

For Chelsea, returning to Shuiyun City was a trip down memory lane. She had been stationed there before, only leaving when another mission called her away. Shortly after her departure, the stronghold had been overrun. Had she remained, she might have faced Akame herself.

"Such a remarkable Imperial Arm," Daniel marveled as he watched Chelsea transform into a white dove, fly into the governor's mansion, and then seamlessly blend into the household staff. With a single, poison-tipped needle, she eliminated the governor and escaped unnoticed before the guards arrived. From start to finish, Chelsea's assassination was flawless, and the guards never suspected the white dove.

Once he was sure Chelsea had safely escaped, Daniel quietly left the area.

"You're going to the Imperial Capital?"

"That's right."

After Chelsea successfully assassinated the governor, Daniel explored Shuiyun City for a while before deciding to head to the Imperial Capital. Night Raid, Esdeath, and the others were all based in the capital.

The outcome of the war between the Empire and the Revolutionary Army would ultimately hinge on the battles between Night Raid, Esdeath, and General Budo.

Without defeating these key figures, the Revolutionary Army's efforts would be in vain. Esdeath alone had the power to crush the northern tribes, defeating their 400,000-strong army and leaving the once-proud northern prince a broken man.

"What a powerful Imperial Arm... I wonder if I can replicate Esdeath's ice abilities," Daniel mused as he considered the potential of Esdeath's Mahapadma. Other Imperial Arms were external tools, but the Mahapadma directly enhanced the user's own abilities.

"It just so happens that I have a mission in the capital too. Let's go together," Chelsea suggested after a moment of thought. Daniel agreed—after all, who wouldn't appreciate the company of a beautiful woman on a long journey?

"I wonder if I'll be able to replicate Esdeath's Mahapadma," Daniel thought, considering the possibilities.

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