Chapter 19 – Kill The Visions
Akame had launched over and performed to primary function in life. With the speed of the wind on her side she leapt over to [Name] within a blink and stabbed him in the gut. As she was crouched in her downward position with the blade to [Name]'s stomach, she realized that none of the blade went into his skin. Whatever material this black and blue sleek armor was produced from was extremely durable.
Everyone was somewhat stunned and looking in this direction, even some of the corpse puppets. [Name] had his eyes closed as he thought he was dead for sure. He was wrong, the armor protected him; saving his life in the process of serving its function.
At this point, it seemed like words he heard before echoed through his head and both ears.
"Just remember to test its blade resistance yourself before going out to battle. If I happened to make any miscalculations it could mean your life",
He remembered what Esdeath had told him. She'd saved his life by making this armor for him. He has to take advantage of this situation, so he quickly grabbed her arms and knee struck her in the face with all of his might. She staggered back and fell to the ground, in a fit of rage [Name] prepared to pound Akame out with a fist barrage.
Tatsumi had dashed over and shoulder tackled [Name] with extreme force. [Name] went crashing into a nearby cliff wall. He lifted Akame up and helped her back to her feet. With [Name] out of the picture the remaining corpse puppets were defeated.
Bols who was on the ropes, wouldn't go down in defeat. He quickly removed his back canister. Leone screamed for him not to do what everyone knew he was going to do. He pulled out a cylindrical device, and he placed a thumb on the head of the small item. It was a detonator.
[Name] struggled and fell out of the shattered rock wall and fell. Only to rise a second later he noticed what Bols was going to do. He then quickly looked in various directions for cover and saw it. [Name] ran up a small rock hill and found cover behind a rock only slightly taller than he is while crouched.
Within moments [Name] saw a massive light emanate from the battlefield, as well as deafening BOOM!. Flames reached out and licked at every direction and super-heated some of the rocks below. The explosion left rocks flying in an omnidirectional pattern. Incineration blanketed the land and even [Name]'s cover had been scolding hot. [Name] got up looked at the heatwave that was left behind where everyone was standing. This can only mean one of two things. They were either obliterated by the blast or two they all managed to flee in time.
He looked after the black smoke cleared and saw that the surrounding rock was blackened; walls and ground alike. The sheer heat from the detonation had turned the sand to glass. [Name] had seen greenery afar on the other side of the small cliff he was on. He decided that going there was his best potential option.
Some-time Later – Outskirts' Forestry
Bols walked through the very green leaves and amongst the vines reaching out in every direction. He wondered what use he would still serve in the empire. He'd just lost the very thing that had gotten him selected by General Esdeath herself. No doubt she'll have him replaced with another Imperial arms user, using his trump card was an all or nothing gambit. A gambit in which he'd lost it all. His job, his usefulness, and likely his new friends who he'd come to known and would soon be forced to move on without him.
The only thing he can do is to submit himself back to the Capital and let them discharge him. It's likely he could be given work somewhere else as an incinerator but things would never be the same salary wise, if anything it could get far worse. After moments of thinking, he heard wales of a child. It was a hurt little girl, she had a scrape on her knee.
Regardless of what happens to him, he can't let that negativity affect his actions. He has to help her. Upon seeing Bols emerge from the foliage she screamed in fear; claiming him to be a monster. Bols assured the girl that things would be fine and that he would not harm her. After around a minute he disinfected the wound and placed a bandage over her scrape. The girl hugged Bols who embraced her as well. However, he noticed a movement behind his neck. He felt a brush of wind move behind his neck, and after this he heard the girl grunt as if trying to break away.
Bols looked back and saw a long needle held by the girl, but [Name] was right behind Bols and had the girl's wrist. Bols was shocked beyond comprehension, "what was going on?" ran through his mind.
[Name]: It's over Chelsea.
Bols scooted back and held his head in disbelief.
Chelsea then reverted back to her true appearance, with a great scowl of distaste. Chelsea then got up and inched ever so closer to [Name].
Chelsea: What the hell do you think you're doing?!
[Name]: Stopping you from making a mistake.
Chelsea: Like hell you are!
She threw a slew of jabs and leg sweeps, where none of which landed. Chelsea was fast, fluid, and calculating. Although she had those attributes, [Name] had dealt with this before and it wasn't an issue. [Name] swiftly parried, and arm locked her as she tried to throw two punches.
[Name]: Go back and talk to Leone. I'm here to help
He said as he pushed her back. She grimaced once again and ran back into the surrounding forestry.
Bols was still sitting on the ground befuddled over what had just transpired. [Name] walked over to him and extended a hand which Bols took. After Bols had gotten up the two conversed.
Bols: [Name]? You saved me. I would do anything I can to return the favor. But my trump card rendered me useless to the empire. What should I do?
[Name]: You're apart of the Jaegers, an extremely high ranking military faction. Plus no doubt, you're a notorious face for all you've done. All these things make you a target on both ends. The empire to silence you, and the revolution to snuff you out. I'd suggest you leave and don't come back.
Bols: Desertion? Do you really think that'll help?
[Name]: For all the empire knows you went MIA. If there is ever a time to get out now's the time.
Bols: I can't, I have to atone for all of done. I've burned out countless future generations after what I did. Even if it means death.
[Name]: Do you think your family would agree?
This put a wrench in the mind cogs. He thought back on this. If he did die and atone for his actions. He would never live to see his little girl grow up. He'd never be with his wife to grow old with her. [Name] was right he had to live, if not for himself, but for his girls at home.
Bols: I guess you are right [Name].
[Name]: You'll get more out of life alive than dead.
[Name] then saw a stream of tears flow down both of Bols's eye holes. [Name] then extended a hand for the masked man to shake and whilst wiping his eyes he did.
Bols: I'll never forget the kindness you showed me. Thank you.
Bols and [Name] then parted ways. [Name] had recalled the path in which Chelsea had gone to and followed it. [Name] traversed the greenery and slashed his way through numerous vines that seemed to grab at him and hiss while doing so. [Name] finally reached a cabin, while it looked abandoned he knew better as Chelsea wouldn't have come this way for no reason.
He crept up to the old wooden cabin and he peered through the back of one of the windows. There he saw every member of the Night raid. They were conversing amongst themselves. He then heard a sharp crack of wood near his abdomen. He saw the sharp point of a kunai sticking out from the inside.
Akame: Show yourself, whoever you are!
She demanded. [Name] then showed his face looking through the window.
[Name]: Glad to see none of you died.
Najenda spoke whilst sitting in a chair far off in the corner.
Najenda: Leone told us what you said. So, you're a double agent after all?
[Name]: You could say a triple. I work for whatever serves me at the moment. Whether it be you, the empire, and or myself. But that's not important right now. What is important is the fact that as soon as you were spotted all the way out here General Esdeath dispatched us out here to get you.
Lubbock then replied as he stood in another corner near Najenda.
Lubbock: The empire's military is far more vigilant as of late I presume.
[Name]: Exactly, this campaign of yours might have to stretch out far longer if the empire is on your tail to this extent.
Chelsea then ran in after [Name]'s comment. Mine then rushed over to hug her and screamed at her.
Mine: What the hell is wrong with you?! You could've died going off like that! I'm glad you're safe.
Chelsea smiled as she embraced the hug and explained her decision to run off.
Chelsea: I'm sorry. I just wanted to see if I could catch any Jaeger members off guard and help us out. I found one but that [Name] showed up and saved him. I can'—HE'S RIGHT THERE!
She yelled while pointing at [Name]'s peering face through the small window.
Najenda: Oh we know. And Chelsea, we can't afford to lose anymore members. What you did was incredibly reckless and could've easily resulted in your demise. Don't pull a stunt like that again.
She finished in a stern tone.
Chelsea: Eye eye captain. Sorry for worrying you. Like I was going to say [Name] spared one of the Jaegers members. After killing him, I was going to look for another but I couldn't spot anymore after [Name] stopped me.
The tension of the room shifted and everyone looked at him, who still looked through the window.
[Name]: His survival doesn't matter to you. He lost his imperial arms and now he's dead weight to the empire.
Najenda: And how can you be certain that they won't retool him with another?
[Name]: Well they did hire him for his ability to use the one he had and now it's gone. Him being a problem won't be a concern.
Tatsumi in Incursio then arrived at the small home and saw Chelsea. He then also became delighted and relieved to see Chelsea unharmed.
Tatsumi: [Name]? Are you really on our side like Leone said?
[Name]: More or less. I have my own priorities though, the only reason I'm here is because Esdeath essentially forced me to be here.
He stated as the window muffled the rest of his sentence. Mine then order [Name] to come around and come on to the inside. After a brief moment he did. Standing surrounded by Night raid he spoke.
[Name]: Like I said, Esdeath forced me to come here. Anyway, there isn't any intel I have for you other than the political infrastructure is crumbling. The Squalor district is getting worse, because the Middle class and the imperial class citizens are hoarding food and supplies so the the squalor class doesn't get any. That can't mean anything good. The Loft Dynasty, Artican, Geleasian, remnants of the Crimson Empire, Celestial Commonwealth and the Grand Confederation are having an emergency summit in a couple days from now.
Lubbock: Damn, the Grand Confederation too? They never get involved unless it's something seriously wrong with a debt payment. The last time they showed up without a proxy I was a kid.
The usually silent Susanoo chimed in from across the room, arms folded.
Susanoo: I read in the paper about this. It stated that the Confederation is unsettled on the economic down turn and they're appearing to reassert their foothold in debt payment that they gave the empire.
Mine: That's not good, they want their money back and they're getting impatient.
Susanoo: Also the Crimson Empire also isn't too happy about what we did and now they hold the empire accountable. While they are crippled, they are still a force to be reckoned with; we were lucky to begin with. Not to mention the Celestial Commonwealth suspects the royal massacre was committed by an outsider who hailed from the capital. They aren't too happy either.
Chelsea: What about Gelease? What do they want?
Najenda: They just got nasty tariff increase by the empire since there are an annexed settlement. Since the other nations have a gripe with the empire they see this as an opportunity to strike back economically anyway.
Tatsumi had just let Incursio fade out; causing him to return to his base form.
Tatsumi: Man, the empire's really fighting on all fronts.
[Name]: If stuff like this keeps on happening a full-scale war might break out.
Najenda: Precisely. We'll regroup and prepare for when we snuff out the Path of Peace. Until then what do you plan to do [Name]?
[Name]: I have to leave for a bit. I'm heading out southward. You may or may not see me again and if you don't; good luck to you guys.
Tatsumi then went and punched [Name] on the arm and the two performed a brotherly handshake of sorts. Lubbock, and Susanoo did the same surprisingly. Leone then asked from the other side of the room.
Before leaving he asked.
[Name]: Can I speak to you Akame privately?
She then glanced at [Name]. The girls of the group, Mine, Chelsea, and Leone then smiled and looked at Akame from behind. They mocked Akame with annoyingly feminine tone. All at once they stated "ooooh Akame!" taunting her as if there was some sort of romance involved. Akame then rolled her eyes and blushed somewhat. She followed [Name] outdoors and the two stood still.
[Name]: I know you and I don't see eye to eye. But If I don't see you again, I just want to apologize for. . . Looking up your skirt. You just came out of no-
Akame: Save it. . .It's not a problem. It never was.
[Name]: Then why did you seem so cold towards me? It's like you hated me.
Akame: I never hated you. Don't get things twisted, though at first I did dislike you before because of your wayward methods of doing things. But I realized you weren't a coward, you're just different. Your heart is in the right place and I always knew that. That's all that should really matter
[Name]: Why the hostility?
Akame: I never told anyone this not even my own team. But after Chelsea showed up, I felt like she was the last person I could open my heart to. Then when you came I knew one of you were bound to die. It's happened to mostly everyone I know. Instead of trying to treat you like a friend, I pushed you away. So that way if you died it wouldn't affect me as badly. I never told any of them because they'd think less of me. So if there's anyone who needs to apologize it's me. I'm sorry.
[Name]: Well apology accepted. Now I don't hate you as much for hati-, or almost hating me. Keeping secrets like that aren't good.
Akame: They'll think I'm losing my mind.
[Name]: No they won't, and even if they did you lasted a while before going totally insane right? I mean you're group of assassins; as far as I'm concerned, you're all nuts already.
Akame: And are you any different?
[Name]: Nope. Oh and I'm really sorry about that knee to the face.
Akame: It's okay, it didn't hurt.
He said as they both smiled. Chelsea then called out to [Name] and threw him something which he caught and looked in his palm. It was a lollipop, the real question that flushed through [Name]'s mind. "What was the flavor"?
Chelsea: No hard feelings, right?
[Name]: If this is a flavor I don't like then there will be.
Chelsea then sucked her teeth and gave [Name] the middle finger in a playful gesture. He then turned his attention back to Akame.
[Name]: Well Akame, time for me to hit the dusty ole trail. Remember, they're your friends. You can talk to them about all that emotional stuff. After all, those are what friends are for.
He walked off down a small dirt passage far from the cabin as he was giving the thumbs up as he left.
Akame: Goodbye [Name].
[Name] raised a and for a light wave as he soon disappeared from her view, leaving Akame with a smile.
Night – Capital Imperial Personal Lounge
In the Capital building located in the center of the town the buzz was rampant. Many important imperial personal were in a well-lit and dressed room with marooned carpeting, and wonderfully crafted tables and chairs. With this floor being fifteen stories above, the view of the city below was utterly stunning. Multiple personal, statesmen, judges, captains, corporals, and other government officials were living it up. Some standing at the windows, drinking, joking, and telling stories. Not Esdeath, she sat at a table by her lonesome, legs crossed and staring out of the window at the view below.
She was gently moving her drink back and forth in her fingers, she'd lost [Name] again. The rest of the Jaegers returned except [Name] and Bols. This time was nothing but a loss. Two comrades were M.I.A, and Bols was more than likely K.I.A. No Nightraid member was caught nor killed, so this expedition was a utter failure. Bols, while he was a good man his death wasn't all that impactful to her. [Name] was a different story. She'd finally found him and once they're deployed on a mission together and have to separate he goes missing. There was nothing good about this at all.
Mission failures and Esdeath were total strangers, but now she'd consider the two well acquainted. As far as she knows she won't be sent on any costlier expeditions unless it was absolutely necessary, she'd have to look for [Name] again on her own. Duty comes first however, the emergency summit is tomorrow and the last thing she'd like to do is worry about political or economic dribble. As she thought this a tan skinned woman of a below average height appeared. Her unmistakable green hair was in a neat ponytail as she walked to general Esdeath.
Esdeath: Colonel Normandy.
Normandy: Greetings General Esdeath. May I sit?
Esdeath gave the okay and the woman sat in front to her superior, who seemed to barely regard her appearance.
Normandy: How are things here on your front?
Esdeath: Pitifully boring these days. While the revolution is growing in power, they're becoming more and more elusive. Those who hit and run are painfully annoying, it's like trying to swatting a fly.
Normandy: Maybe it's for the best, the empire seems to be in dire straits as of late. I don't think the revolution pushing for total war would be good for anyone. I mean look at the summit tomorrow and even the Confederation is showing up, with all the money the prime minister borrowed from them, things aren't looking good.
Esdeath: Well it's like this, Day by day the political structure is showing its cracks to these rival nations. Unless we can comeback with an economic boom, we; in the worst-case scenario, would end up subservient to the one of them. Which is extremely unlikely, with our sheer skill we'll annihilate them. So, you needn't worry.
The woman shifted her hands across the table in a nervous manner.
Normandy: It's not myself I'm concerned for. It's someone I care about. A partner.
This caught Esdeath's attention, she looked at her from across the table instead of the out of the window.
Esdeath:Oh really?
She said with a noticeable amount of intrigue.
Normandy: I've been stationed near the Artican border so long that I met someone from the Artican army. We might be forced to fight if push comes to shove. Though he's only a private, he's nice, charming, smart and a gifted carpenter. It brings me great pain just to even have to think about us fighting.
Esdeath: Just make him defect and join the empire. Force him if you have to, it'll be fool proof. That's how things are, and as a woman of the empire I'd expect you to know that already. If you want something done you have to do it through brute force, or else no one will do as you say. You're the most prodigious female colonel born in the empire, use that.
The military woman then looked down in uncertainty. Is this the real way to get what one wants out of life? Force it to happen? Not to wish, hope, pray, or even work hard. But one must make it happen through means of force. The green haired woman retorted after a few moments.
Nomandy: Will it really work?
Esdeath: Yes.
She replied nearly instantly as if she anticipated the question.
Esdeath: It worked for me.
Then Esdeath noticed a taller man enter with extravagant military robes striding through the room. His blonde hair and tan skin was his trade mark features that made him unmistakable. The colonel then hopped up and stated with excitement.
Normandy: It's General Budo!
Budo then greeted a vast majority of the rooms' inhabitants. When he finally arrived at Esdeath's table she arose and the two gave a formal greeting of kisses on both of each other's cheeks. After sitting back down, Normandy stood in and kept speaking on how she was one of his biggest admirers of his work. Budo then waved her off and she sat down in awe.
Esdeath: So who am I to thank to cause you to finally exult us with your appearance?
Budo: The Grand Confederation and the other nations for demanding this summit. I was pulled from my assignment over in the Sionis Valleys. Unless the prime minister decrees otherwise; I will be heading back in a few days. It is because of the Prime minister's spending habits that got us in the predicament in the first place.
Esdeath: Indeed, while paying off imperial officials to overlook drug syndication, "secret police forces", human trafficking, and tax evasions can be fun they've certainly taken a toll. Yawn I couldn't care less.
Budo: Regardless of the end result of the meeting tomorrow, I will snuff out the source of this injustice.
He said as he walked away from the table.
Esdeath: Well just be careful that your escapades don't impede with mine. Because if they do
She placed a hand over her face and unveiled one of her own extremely radiant blue eyes to him. Budo looked back to see as he noticed her voice took a more malicious tone.
Esdeath: You'll have to answer to me.
A single drop of sweat had escaped from Budo's forehead. It's as though the sweat drop had seen and felt Esdeath's visual wrath and did everything it could to avoid her. Even if it meant killing itself by jumping off his face. Budo still kept his stern face and turned back around while walking away.
Budo: I look forward to it.
Night - Nightraid Fortress
Tatsumi tossed and turned in his warm bed as he sweat. He then sat up as his heart raced like he'd been in a marathon run with a headache. He then got up and went down the stairs to get a glass of water, hoping it'd help out. Only in his boxers though nothing of it, it was late so all of the girls should be knocked out. He then went to the sink for the water. His headache increased in power and he then heard something "Tatstumi". He heard whispers of is name and the voice seemed really familiar. He remembered, it was Bulat!
Tatsumi: Bro is that you?!
Bulat: Yep, who else but me?
Tatsumi: What the heck?! How am I talking to you?
He said as he looked around.
Bulat: Simple, through Incursio. Through Incursio, I've seen it all, how things are supposed to happen. The past, present, and the future.
Tatsumi: What?! You can? What happens do we die? Is the empire safe or destroyed?
Bulat: Woah, slow down. I know this might be a lot to take in, but I've seen "it". I was supposed to die, Sheele was supposed to die. And today Chelsea was supposed to have died too.
Tatsumi: I don't get it, how?
Bulat: Lubbock, Leone, even Mine in one instance die as well later on from now.
A overwhelming pit of despair gripped Tatsumi's heart. He didn't know what any of this information meant. That his loved comrades are to meet horrible deaths rattled his brain and he gripped his sheets as he gritted his teeth. Tears had begun to well up in his eyes and his speech was choked.
Tatsumi: No, they won't die. I won't let them. There has to be some way that I can stop that from happening to them. Is there a way? Bro?
He asked in a fearful tone as he wiped away his tears. Fearful that he wouldn't get a positive answer or a the least one he expected
Bulat: Of course, that's why I'm here. You have to let Incursio take over you.
Tatsumi: What? Why?
Bulat: Because the power that this imperial arms holds is the key to you saving them. If you let Incursio lock on to your soul, the power it can give you will let you bring the empire to it's knees by your hands alone.
Tatsumi: No way.
Bulat: Yes way. I couldn't tap into it's power, hell you and I only managed to tap into a tiny fraction of Incursio's true power. In the events I've seen in the future, you were unable to use for full potential with Incursio even you were close to tapping in to it in at one point.
Tatsumi: Do they die at that point?
Bulat: Yes, and you tapping in to it's true power could've saved them. But instead-
Tatsumi: I failed and they die. Man seriously, the original emperor knew what he was doing, when he made these things. I thought I was doing everything I could now, and yet I'm still nowhere near close enough to getting what I want.
Bulat: Tatsumi listen to me. If you're not dead there's always more you can do. But for now look at things this way. Yes the empire does get saved and is brought into a new era of democratic peace; but all at our expense. All we fought for, no one knows a thing. We'll go down as terrorists who went missing. After we died no one cared. Only a fraction of us make it to the end. No statues, no love, no us. You can change that.
Tatsumi stood motionless in utter shock at this. If there's a way to save everyone he has to do it. As it is now, he already stoops low enough to kill sometimes indiscriminately just to bring about peace. There's nothing he won't do to bring that peace, and to save his loved ones along the way. There's point of going in this together holding hands, only for one or a few to eventually succeed with empty hands. None, that's why they are a team.
Tatsumi: I'll do it.
Bulat: Good man.
He still half naked and standing in the kitchen in front of the sink, felt his headache fade away.
Mine: Hey Tatsumi? You okay?
This scared Tatsumi who jumped back and held his chest.
Tatsumi: Oh yeah Mine. I'm fine. What are you doing up?
He saw her in her pink nightgown peering around the corner. She then went into the kitchen, pulled out a chair, and sat at the table to answer his question.
Mine: I heard talking, is there someone else here?
Tatsumi: No Mine, sorry I woke you. I was giving myself a pep talk.
Mine: Well, TRY DOING THAT IN YOUR OWN ROOM YOU PERV!
Tatsumi then shushed her as much as he could, got her up and shoved her out of the room.
Mine: I'm serious though, is everything okay? You're not just up giving yourself pep talks while seventy five percent naked in the kitchen.
He's not going to tell her what Bulat had confided to him. She'll just figure him crazy, and probably complicate things. He still doesn't even know if that stuff was true, it could've been his subconscious mind just being really philosophical at the moment. But regardless of that he can't let any of his comrades know. The two stood close to each other as Tatsumi tried to find a believable excuse.
Tatsumi: I had a really bad dream. I dreamt that you guys got killed.
Mine: Tatsumi, don't worry it's just a dream. You don't need to worry about me ever, because the only thing that'll kill me is old age.
She said with a smile. Tatsumi then smiled and hugged her. Tatsumi in a moment of weakness had begun to weep and proclaimed his thoughts of grief.
Tatsumi: I don't know how I could live with myself if I let something happen to you. Like Sayo, Like Ieyasu. I couldn't save them.
Mine: Tatsumi. . .
Mine, while somewhat caught off guard by this did nothing. After a few moments she caressed his well-defined back to embrace the hug. Mine was happy with her time here in Nightraid, people to look after and care for her, and from her to do the same, made her feel like she was at home again.
Mine: Stop crying. Your acting like a big baby. Come on, I don't want to lose you either and you don't see me bawling.
Tatsumi: Yeah, you're right.
Though she though, with the bond she has with her teammates, she already might as well be home. Still holding one another. But she then only said one thing as every other thought left her mind.
Mine: Tatsumi?
Tatsumi: Yeah?
Mine: That had better be a hidden knife poking me.
Simultaneous – Dirt Plains Outskirts
[Name] traversed the lands with his shadow steed who finally returned to his side. He was also thinking on how Esdeath had essentially saved his life, he felt like he should thank her one of these days; he has no idea how and luckily it'll be a while before he has to think about it again. [Name] traveled through numerous places, villages, swamps, marshes, tiny deserts, and more forests. Right now, he's in the dusty plains and he'd finally found what was calling out to him. There was a massive rock like formation with an extremely large cave with nothing but darkness beyond.
[Name] dismounted and walked in as a luminescent blue light filled the cave. This made absolutely no sense, "what was down here?" he thought. An ancient settlement? An old sage? Then [Name] saw it, there was a large chasm like hole. Where was he to go? Jump down the hole to his death? Then a rumble shook the cave. An incredibly gargantuan danger beast had emerged from such hole, it highly resembled a scaly version of the desta ghul that Kurome possessed, but this one was twice as large. If he had to find the source itself he'd have to duel this beast. He dropped his blade in awe, he was shaking, as he'd never seen an organism this large up close before.
[Name] then picked up his blade while still shaking.
[Name]: I-if I have to get through you big guy then so be it!
"You won't be needing that right now."
The voice echoed and boomed through the cave. He dropped his blade again, his eyes nearly dilated as he just realized that the beast had spoken to him.