'My territory is being forcefully transformed...I have to absorb the remaining ice to recover at least some of my energy.' Esdeath thought with narrowed eyes as she started absorbing the remaining chunks of ice that were being melted by the magma, however, this action allowed her to recover only a quarter of her energy.
'This is bad...I can feel that he is about to do something significant. If I want to have a chance at winning, I have to release all of my remaining energy at once in one attack.' Esdeath thought as she flew to the air to save her stamina from having to constantly dodge magma bursting out of the ground.
---On the hill---
Kurome and Mera were currently stunned by Akashi's change and although Mera already knew this would have happened, she was still dumbfounded how both Akashi and Esdeath could change the entire terrain with their powers.
The changes in terrain helped in melting the ice prison but even that was going very slowly since Akashi limited the changes on the hill so girls wouldn't have to be in danger. Both Mera and Kurome helped Poney break the ice prison and by constantly pummeling the ice prison from within and from the outside made it crack very quickly.
"Thanks, let's go help Taeko" Poney said while getting rid of a few pieces of ice stuck in her hair with an irritated expression.
"No need to..." Mera said and both Kurome and Poney looked at her with questioning gaze and instead of explaining, Mera pointed towards the last remaining ice prison.
They looked towards it and saw numerous flashes all around the prison before the prison crumbled into pieces, revealing Taeko's figure holding her katana in both hands.
*huff* *huff* Taeko supported her body with her katana.
"Are you alright?" Mera asked with a teasing smile.
"*huff* Y-Yes, thanks for not helping me..." Taeko replied with a faint smile which slightly confused Poney and Kurome.
"*That's called being competitive.*" Mera leaned towards Kurome and Poney and whispered with a playful smile.
"What is happening?" Taeko muttered when she noticed the drastic changes in terrain and the large pillar of flowing magma in the middle with Esdeath floating in front of it.
Both Poney and Kurome looked there with concerned expressions.
"That's what he told me about...He told me that he hopes you won't start fearing him after seeing him." Mera took a few steps forward before saying.
"What do you exactly mean by that?" Poney asked while looking at Mera's back with a confused expression.
"I don't know, that's everything he told me, even I have no idea what will happen from now on" Mera replied without turning around at them but just her serious tone made them worry. She held her hands behind her back while watching the battle with a slightly concerned look in her eyes.
---Back to the battle---
Esdeath was floating in front of the magma pillar, ready for anything that's about to come out of it still with a smile across her face, however, when the pillar suddenly got absorbed by Akashi, finally revealing his figure, Esdeath's eyes widened.
"Is that really you, Akashi?" Esdeath muttered while her eyes were shaking as she was looking at an almost completely new person.
Akashi actually no longer had that black shirt therefore his entire upper body was revealed. His lower part of the legs was actually covered by black scales with short claws instead of his toes. The next were his hands that were also completely covered in black scales with something like orange veins between the scales, the black scales were covering his entire forearm and black sharp bone was sticking out of his elbow. Even his fingers were covered in scales with a pointy sharp end instead of nails.
However, the most shocking change of all changes was the hole in his heart's location. The hole was through his entire body however his heart was still there but it looked very different from the usual one. His heart actually turned black with orange veins on it. Black scales were covering even his skin near that hole.
His upper face, from his nose, was covered by a black mask with the 2 horns slightly pointing backward, however it was unknown if those horns were attached to the mask or to his head since the entire mask looked like it was part of his face. And even his back hair grew up to his waist with black and orange shades at the end.
Special Class: Kagutsuchi (+120 Cha, +60 Int, +40 Const, +20 Str, +20 Agi) [FUSED FORM]
[Health: 2000/2000]
[Energy: 3450/5000]
[Strength: 47 (105)]
[Agility: 50 (106)]
[Intelligence: 50 (119)]
[Constitution: 48 (108)]
[Charisma: 40 (166)]
Akashi had his eyes closed the entire time and when he opened them, his sclerae turned black and his left eye's iris turned orange while his right eye's iris remained red.
He was standing in the air with folded arms before taking a look at Esdeath who even winced a bit upon meeting his changed eyes. She narrowed her eyes and was prepared to use her everything.
'His wings made of the flames changed to blackish orange color...however, is this really Akashi?' Esdeath thought.
"What had happened to you?" Esdeath couldn't help but ask for an explanation since this change was truly bizarre, it was on the borders of transformation to some kind of Danger Beast.
"I fused with my 'Teigu'" Akashi replied shortly and his voice was still normal but behind it was a slightly deeper and creepy voice as if it was saying together with him.
'Fused with his Teigu-?' Esdeath thought with a shocked expression.
"Let's resume our fight, it's dragging out for too long" Akashi said with his strange voice and suddenly disappeared.
'?!' Esdeath just saw a hand covered in black scales in front of her eyes and before she managed to do anything else, she was thrown towards the ground at great speed.
'Tch! What was up with that speed?!' Esdeath thought and formed ice on her back while gritting her teeth.
*BANG!* When her body hit the ground, a big crater was created but Esdeath herself received only a few bruises thanks to covering herself in ice.
'Previously, I was able to predict where he would appear but this time I was only able to see his hand before he threw me away like garbage. This is...' Esdeath thought with a pained expression, no longer wearing her crazy smile since even she felt helpless in front of that previous attack.
"Esdeath, use your everything to protect yourself." Akashi said with a killing intent present in his voice while holding his sword in both hands, pointing it towards the sky before flames and magma started swirling around its blade while also extending it.
*gulp* "Heh" Esdeath actually chuckled when she couldn't even see the length of that sword made of flames and magma.
"Esdeath, take this!" Akashi shouted and swung down with all his might.
"I won't lose!!!" Esdeath shouted back and kneeled down while putting both her hands on the ground, using all of her remaining energy, she started summoning numerous of ice walls and pillars to protect herself from Akashi's sword attack.
When she used all her energy she just looked up with a ragged breath, looking at the results.
Akashi's sword actually cut through Esdeath's defenses like a hot knife through butter.
Seeing how Akashi's sword was nearing her, she just closed her eyes, silently accepting her defeat.
'I have lost, I guess I will meet with my father soon, well, it's not like I mind it since I have a few questions for him.' Esdeath thought still with a smile across her face when she felt the sword's temperature getting near her each second.
*RUMBLE!*
However, when she still hasn't felt anything in another 5 seconds, she opened her eyes, seeing stopped sword just a few inches above her head.
She looked at Akashi with a confused expression but he in return just made that sword disappear before turning his back to Esdeath.
"It's my win" Akashi said before he started slowly walking towards the hill where the girls were. He still hasn't canceled his transformation since he wanted them to have a closer look at him, he didn't want to feel like he needs to hide it from them.
Esdeath had dumbfounded expression while watching Akashi slowly leaving, she turned her head to look behind her and saw an extremely long and deep crack in the ground going up to the distant mountain which was also split into 2 halves by Akashi's sword.
'I lost...yet I live...?' Esdeath's mind was working like crazy since she was confused about why Akashi spared her. She was so invested in the battle that she was already thinking about it as a life and death battle.
However, she quickly recalled their deal so she stood up, and with a new light in her eyes, she followed after him. She wasn't feeling ashamed neither she was acting like that. She lost the battle and she accepted it but she still couldn't help the feeling like resisting Akashi's dominance, her eyes were still full of defiance and pride. Despite that feeling, she intended to honor her end of the deal and at least not target his woman.
Akashi glanced behind him and saw the look in Esdeath's eyes. Esdeath who made eye contact with Akashi's changed eyes didn't even flinch this time and stared right back into them.
---
'What a woman, despite seeing our difference, she is still feeling so defiant. You already showed her the ultimate disparity between you and her. I think someone like that can't be controlled no matter how strong you are.' The previous deep voice said inside Akashi's mind.
'Yes, she is someone almost impossible to control, that is if you want to use only strength. However that's why I want her to be in my ranks, with her, the Empire's strength is on another level. I am willing to spare anyone on Teigu user's level but not someone of her level.' Akashi replied within his mind.
'What do you have in mind? Ever since you walked out of that room I can't read your mind at all so be more specific. Anyway, don't you think that she will only bring you more problems than benefits? There are so many people who hate her.' The deep voice asked.
'That's none of your business, I won't explain details on how I am planning to make her more humble. And have you perhaps misunderstood me? I want to make this Empire strong and more developed, I don't need people liking her. If they will be bitching even after the living conditions get better, then let them as long as they won't cause any harm. Why should Esdeath care about what ants think about her? And if anyone tries another rebellion I will simply shut them down, I have never said that I will be kind "ruler". I am planning to be a good "ruler".' Akashi replied and even though he said ruler he meant it more like the one controlling everything.
'Haha, I see...Anyway, a good ruler instead of a kind ruler...Well said!' The voice agreed before letting Akashi alone once again.
---
.
.
.
When Akashi arrived in front of girls in his new form with Esdeath a few meters behind him, all the girls began sizing him up except for Taeko who jumped at him the second he arrived.
"Akashi! It's you, right?" Taeko asked while hugging him.
Even Akashi was slightly surprised how Taeko hasn't even carefully looked at him from up close before jumping at him, hugging him.
'Tch!' Esdeath glared at Taeko who looked over Akashi's shoulder, meeting Esdeath's glare head-on, even with a challenging look in her lime narrowed eyes.
'...This girl-! Hehe' Esdeath was actually pleased after seeing such challenging eyes as she released a cold smile at Taeko.
"Yes" Akashi said and wanted to pat Taeko's head but he hesitated when he looked at his hand just for him to shake his head before finally patting it.
"Is this change permanent?" Mera asked with a frown but she looked more in thought than scared or disgusted.
The same could be said about Kurome and Poney, they weren't disgusted by Akashi's appearance, in truth, he looked very charming in a unique way. Previously he could be said to be handsome but right now he had really dense air of authority around him and even though he no longer looked like a normal human, it still had its unique charm, if there was one disturbing thing, it was his hole and visible black heart.
"No, I can change back" Akashi shook his head with a faint smile.
"What a pity..." Mera muttered while seductively pressing her index finger to her lower lip while sizing his muscled body up.
'She is trying to ease the tension in the air...' Akashi immediately understood her intentions which made him inwardly genuinely smile, being grateful that Babara stopped him at that time from killing Mera.
Both Kurome and Poney were just feeling awkward since they had no idea what to say but in the end, they looked at each other and nodded their heads.
"Akashi Nii-sama!"
"Akashi!"
Both jumped at him and also hugged him since they had no idea what to say so they decided that actions speak louder than words.