The Dark Raven Hero 78

Chapter 78 : Senzaki's Rebellion

TL:SummerPeanut

Unexpected reinforcements. It was true that Senzaki had made the request as soon as he realized that the information of the raid had been leaked. Even so, it was too early for Gonda and the army's elite troops to arrive.

“Don't tell me that...... General Gonda was expecting this development from the beginning? If that's the case, then...”

Senzaki believed that Gonda had anticipated this development from the beginning. If that was the case, what about the other soldiers, including himself, who were in the vanguard?

“......I knew it, we are just a disposable pawn. Hmph, even if he hadn’t planned so far, it’s not like it’s hard to order myself to give up my life for my country.”

Everyone says that Gonda is the very picture of cold-rationale, cold-bloodedness and ruthlessness. Senzaki also added that he was cunning and a coward at heart. In other words, he was not an admirable superior. More than one or two of his colleagues had died in vain. Even so, Gonda had highly appreciated Senzaki's ability to handle everything from paperwork to combat and Senzaki had always told himself that everything he did was for the NDF. At least, that's what he thought and that's why he solemnly dealt with the things that Gonda did and couldn't be shown to the public. That was exactly why he shed tears of blood.

Once again, many of the army's elite troops would be sacrificed in this battle. After all, the opponent was Kuroyume.

If there is a clear objective, they are willing to die for it. I'm sure the elite troops are participating in this mission with that in mind. Certainly, defeating the Demon Lord of Kuroyume would be a great victory for the NDF.

But the real purpose of this operation was just for Gonda to take credit for. That's the kind of person Gonda is.

This time, Senzaki was treated as a pawn, and all the things he had put up with up until now felt exploding out.

(The National Defense Forces will rot as long as people like...... Gonda is in charge. This has to change, and someone has to do it. If it remains like this, the NDF will fall to the ground soon enough.)

The damage he sustained in the battle with Jiren was great. It was impossible for him to participate in the battle. Even so, Senzaki's hand was trembling strongly as he held his sword.

Due to the unexpected numerical inferiority, Vendetta suggested to Kiryu to retreat. However, Kiryu......

“Hold the line. No need to force yourself to defeat them. Just buy time!”

What more is there to hold on to? For Vendetta, Bright's awakening was of secondary importance and Kiryu's life was the top priority. She was tempted to argue his decision but Vendetta stifled her emotions. …because that was what Kiryu said.

“~~Tsk, I understand……. Okay, let's go!”

Vendetta leapt towards the melee-focused soldiers. And…

“‘Nightmare lure!’”

Nightmare Lure. Gift ranked at A. An illusory ability that causes the target to experience a nightmare based on the scenario the gift holder created. It can only be activated against 20 people at a time and tends to be ineffective against those who have a high tolerance...... or mainly those who are much stronger than you. It's also not the most fuel-efficient gift as it also wears down the nerves of the user considerably.

Fortunately, it seemed to work well on the melee squad, and about ten of them were attacked by the illusion created by Vendetta. They were now experiencing a nightmare of a phenom bursting out of their stomachs.

Vendetta's ability results in the destruction of the mind, not the body. The members of the Byakkotai who confronted her were still alive physically but their minds had been destroyed. …although the illusion in their case might have been heaven for a man.

After that...... Kuroyume members, who had been struggling against the army's elite troops for a while, gradually began to lose ground.

Both Jiren and Vendetta were fighting with all their might. However, they were outmatched by the overwhelming number and the well-disciplined army elite soldiers.

Jiren was still suffering from the damage from his battle with Senzaki, Vendetta was on the verge of breaking down due to her excessive use of her abilities, and Kiryu was barely able to keep his guard up.

“Kuhh~ persistent bastards! What the hell are you guys(elite troops) doing! All of these people(Kuroyume) are half dead, aren't they!? What are you waiting for? You useless bastards!!”

Gonda raised his voice in anger. Even though they were already exhausted, the army's elite troops were fighting to the death against Kuroyume Numbers 1, 2 and 4.

A man who could not remain silent anymore stood up to Gonda.

“General Gonda……”

Senzaki stood in front of Gonda, dragging his fully wounded body.

“Hmm!? Senzaki… you’re still alive!? …then why are they(Jiren and Vendetta) still alive?”

“Due to my lack of strength, I was defeated.”

“What was that~? I've been looking out for you all this while and now you're telling me that you lost and embarrass the NDF. …all right, I'll give you one last chance to die as a soldier. Now, go and defeat them!!”

In Senzaki’s head, the past ten years of struggling under Gonda ran through his head furiously.

In the past, he was a man who loved his country even if he was very harsh. That's why Senzaki was able to ignore some of his characters. However, as he rose through the ranks, Gonda changed. Even so, Senzaki believed that there was still some sense of justice as a soldier at the core of Gonda and that was his conviction’s final bastion. Now, it has completely collapsed.

Senzaki pointed the tip of his clothesline(sword) at Gonda. In the military, hierarchy is absolute. In addition, if you attempted to kill your immediate superior, a general on top of that, you will be punished with a death penalty with no other leeways.”

“Senzaki……You, what is the meaning of this?”

“General Gonda. As a soldier in the Japanese Defense Forces, I have followed you for the past 10 years, believing in you. But unfortunately, all that time has been wasted.”

“Hoh, so you say……my little dog. You don't think you can just bite your owner and get away with it, do you?”

A dog……. Now that he reached this point, Senzaki felt intense regret that he really had been nothing more than a dog to Gonda for the past ten years.

“…you were originally going to let me die on this mission, weren't you? You're not fit to be a general! If you can't care for your comrade, how can you care for your people? If you only think about yourself and not the entire NDF, do you even care about the people!? I have all the evidence of your past crimes! I, will not recognize you as a proud soldier of NDF!!"

In fact, the army's elite troops, who were already at their limits, stopped fighting and listened to the argument between their two bosses.

Comparing Gonda, their symbol of fear, and Senzaki, someone who always stood by their side, they knew what they had to do.

Behind Senzaki, Sato and the rest of the elite troops who could still walk lined up.

“All of us! Starting from Sato to the other members of the Army's elite troops...... will all follow Lieutenant General Senzaki!!”

Then they bowed deeply to Senzaki.

The three members of Kuroyume saw this opportunity but instead of fighting back, they chose to watch in silence. Vendetta's favorability towards Senzaki had gone through the roof, and she was getting hot all over.

His men were saying that they will follow him. That alone made him feel that his seemingly wasted ten years had not been in vain. However, Senzaki did not respond to the loyalty of his men. If he accused Gonda of his wrongdoings, it also meant that he, who had been Gonda’s subordinate, was equally guilty.

Having been betrayed by his subordinate, Gonda trembled with his face downwards.

Then Onijima, who was also the general, approached Gonda, albeit staggeringly.

“Senzaki, you. In the NDF, hierarchy by rank is absolute. But Gonda's misdeeds had reached my ears as well. And yet, thanks to a brilliant subordinate, these conclusive proofs never came to light.

……You, If you're willing to bare all, I'll do my best to lighten your sins. Therefore, you should respond to the wishes of your subordinates who adore you with all their hearts.”

“General Onijima………!”

The National Defense Force is not filled with only corrupt people like Gonda. There are many people who should be respected, including the hero Onijima, and once again Senzaki regretted what he had done so far.

“……Senzaki~, You…, You've forgotten all the debt you owe me for helping you rise to the rank of Lieutenant General.”

“I've been indebted to you and have been at your mercy, which has been my biggest mistake. For the sake of those who are watching my back...... I will give you the boot!!”

Surrounding Gonda were Senzaki, Onijima, and the army's elite troops. Even under such circumstances, Gonda laughed out loud.

“FUFUFUH……FUHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH! I never thought I'd get my hands bitten by these dogs! That's fine. You guys seem to have forgotten how I was able to rise to the rank of general, so I'm going to carve it into your bones!!”

In the next moment, Gonda's outstretched arm pierced the body of Sato, a member of the elite army unit behind Senzaki.

“GAHARGH!?”

“SA, SATO!?”

“Senzaki…… You haven't forgotten my gift, have you? Gift rank A, the Vampus Arm.”

Vampus Arm. It is a flexible, fast-moving arm that sucks in the energy of its target and converts it to its gift holder power.

With the exception of Gonda, there was already no one on the scene who was unharmed. With the exception of Onijima, Kiryu, Jiren, and Senzaki when they are in perfect condition, there might not be anyone who could escape Gonda's Vampus Arm at the moment.

“A……a……Sen……za……”

“SATO!! STOP IT! GONDAAAA!!”

Senzaki used what little strength he had left to slash at Gonda, but Gonda moved far away with incredible speed with a punctured Sato.

“KuhKuhKuh…… Even if they are rotten, they are still the elite troops. That's some good energy...”

As Gonda pulled his hand out, a dried up Sato was dumped at his feet….

“GONDAAAAAーーー！！”

Senzaki shouted in anger at Gonda as Sato was reduced to nothing more than a shadow of his former self.

Author’s Note:

Gonda has finally revealed his true colours. Kiryu and the others resist with their wounded bodies, but......

Next time, ‘The main character is always late.’ ......I am the light within darkness, Bright. I am the one who will change this world!

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