Chapter 42 – Kill The Carnage
[Name]'s eyelids raised. Unfortunately, as fate would have it; he's still trapped in the dungeons. However, with the extreme pain of his shoulders came great relief. As it turns out, Esdeath had relocated his shoulders and had his back doctored on before he was strung back up. Upon waking up, he felt slightly more refreshed and his strength slowly returned to him. He'd also been cleaned thoroughly, and he felt like a new man. Still very dehydrated, a migraine persisted but he was still able to fight if necessary.
He felt a rush of cool energy flowing through his veins as the back of his neck glowed blue. It was back, the Teigu energy had returned and now all he must do is find the perfect opportunity to escape and get Tatsumi and Lubbock.
After several hours, [Name] started to regain most of his strength. He was waiting for his strength to get to a suitable level to at least buy time for Lubbock and Tatsumi to escape. He's only praying that he isn't too late.
Then his heart skipped a beat as he heard the metal door screeching as it came open. It was Esdeath, her long blue hair swayed from side to side as she walked in; all [Name] could see was her curvaceous silhouette as the door behind her slammed shut.
Esdeath carried something with her again. Instead, seeing that [Name] was awake she immediately put what she had down and strode to him. She wrapped her arms around his neck, caressing his hair.
Esdeath: Poor thing. You should know you only have yourself to blame for your custody.
[Name]: I don't care. . . but I have a question.
Esdeath: Hm?
[Name]: How's Kasumi?
Esdeath: She's advancing quite well. She's far more powerful than I'd have imagined.
[Name]: Thank goodness, she's okay.
Esdeath: By the way, I brought something for you.
She'd somewhat skipped over to what she'd put down and [Name] was astonished at what he'd seen. It appeared to be a plate. She uncovered it and revealed what was shocking. It was the best-looking meal he'd ever seen prepared. She went on to tell him what was on it. She used a fork to point at each section of the plate. It was among [Name]'s favorite dish combinations of all time.
Esdeath: I made it just for you.
She'd gotten some of the food on the fork and pointed it at [Name]'s mouth for him to enjoy. [Name] wanted to be defiant and knock it straight out of her hands. Something stopped him, he saw her sweet smile and flushed cheeks as she tried to feed him. That combined with the fact that he hadn't eaten anything resembling that in what seemed like forever made him do the opposite. [Name] had eaten it.
The meal made the glands in his mouth explode with pleasure as his face flushed with ecstasy. Esdeath was having the time of her life feeding him something she'd slaved over a hot stove for hours to cook. When [Name] was finished Esdeath wiped his face and gave him water.
[Name]: You aren't going to force me to tell you about how much I care about you?
Esdeath: No, I already know how much you do.
It was a strange answer to hear but [Name] didn't know or for that matter care why she came to such a conclusion. After that, however, [Name] wanted to get down to business.
[Name]: What's happened with Tatsumi and Lubbock?
Esdeath: They'd been sentenced to death of course. Did you need to ask?
[Name]'s eyes shot open and fear jumped into his bloodstream.
[Name]: SENTENCED?! NO, have you killed them already?!
Esdeath: No, their execution is scheduled for another day or so. You were only out for the night.
Immediately relief replaced the fear as his tensed muscles loosened. Then a thought jumped into his head. A proposition of sorts that Esdeath may be willing to deal with.
[Name]: Esdeath, If I promise to serve under you faithfully; would you spare them?
She gave him a side-eyed glance.
Esdeath: [Name], things don't work out that way I'm afraid. The imperial court ruled in favor of a public execution. They're terrorists, as are you. I can't just snap my fingers and do anything I want as powerful as I am. Legal proceedings are as they are. The ruling is backed by the Imperial High Justice and I will not interfere with the Emperor's command.
[Name]: Then what about me?
Esdeath: You were tried differently than they were. The jury is still hung regarding you. I could only imagine that it is because of your connection to me. Barring that, if you aren't executed you'll likely spend the rest of your days here.
[Name]: But then why are so calm when you could be forced to kill me.
Esdeath: Because if I'm forced to kill you then I'd likely do everything in my power to change that. But another reason is that it's also very possible that the imperial jury may push to have immunity granted on you only; IF you claimed to be an agent under my command.
[Name]: Will that save Lubbock and Tatsumi?
Esdeath: No, it won't. All that'll do is free you; not them. As I told you, saving them is impossible. They deserve the fates in store for them, so you should let them face it. I haven't any idea on why-
[Name]: Then I'll make it possible!
Before Esdeath could retort, she'd spewed up a clear and silky fluid and grabbed onto her knees to steady herself. She spat up a lot in that instance but then took a deep breath to regain her composure.
Esdeath: Excuse me, but I think this discussion is over. [Name], please understand that I don't enjoy seeing you suffer but I'll do what I must to make you come around.
[Name] said nothing and Esdeath had left, slamming the large door behind her.
Imperial Palace Courtyard
Syura, the prime minister's son and leader of the disbanded Wild Hunt strode into the Emperor's throne room. Accompanying him was Dorothea, a remaining member of the faction who'd fled during her group's destruction. Her and Izou were the two surviving members besides Syura himself who'd forgotten to take her with them as they teleported away.
Honest had greeted his son and asked for an update regarding the captured Nightraid members.
Syura: Well, as it so happens; I'm dangerously close to finding out where the Nightraid's hidden fortress is located. I was having fun with one of the members named Lubbock. It's so cool to see the light in his eyes fade. He was so sure that he wouldn't break, and he pretty much has after about a damn week.
Honest: What of the other two?
He asked while stirring the wine around in his golden cup.
Syura: Well father. I have some rather unfortunate news. It appears that Esdeath is attempting to collude with them both to challenge the throne.
Honest: Is that so?
Syura: I last saw her with them individually-
Honest: That doesn't concern me now. Esdeath's alignment doesn't trouble as much as the confirmation of your own.
Syura: Huh?!
Honest: Syura, the empire isn't a playground for you to enact your fantasies with your now mostly nonexistent band. You releasing the danger beasts belonging to the deceased Dr. Stylish caused a lot of damage. I don't mind you causing a stir, as long it doesn't impede with the empire's demands. The things you do and the lies you tell are too easily deciphered, my son. If you hope to become a larger player in the political side of things, you're going to need to be far more useful. As things are now, you're proving to be quite the liability; and you know how much I hate liabilities.
Syura gritted his teeth. He opened his arms out as if presenting something.
Syura: What about what I just did?! I captured two nightraid members!
Honest: And that my son is the only thing that prevented you from being charged and labeled as a criminal. The group of the Wild Hunt has been herby legally disbanded by the imperial legislative, and you will hand over its remaining members to General Budo's command before the week's end. You'd do best to heed my warnings, Syura.
Syura was left speechless but was filled with great anger. He left the extremely large room with Dorothea still standing alongside the prime minister.
Half An Hour Later - Imperial Dungeons
Lubbock dazed up at the empty ceiling with dehydrated and dry eyes. His body stung all over. He had numerous open wounds, bruises, and other disgusting injuries. He wanted to be back home with his family, the Nightraid. Unfortunately, it would be a long shot if he ever made it home ever again.
Syura barged into his cell and raised a razor-sharp blade to his neck.
Syura: TELL ME WHERE THE BASE IS YOU FOOL!
The white-haired male shouted.
He grabbed Lubbocks green hair now almost soaked entirely with blood and wrenched back, ripping at it! He demanded to know everything about Nightraid. Lubbock who was whimpering from the pain, obliged and began to tell him about Tatsumi's powerful Incursio Imperial Arms.
Syura was disinterested, he disregarded the information like a used tissue. He wanted to know about Murasame, Akame's weapon. Lubbock did like an obedient dog and answered, telling him all he knew. This would include the fact that he did not know its trump card. This greatly angered Syura.
Syura was scared. He wasn't scared of his father. He wasn't scared of imprisonment either. What he feared was his losing control. If he doesn't get the Nightraid's location, then he will lose his father's favor. If that happened, he would never be able to do whatever he wants again. He must get this information from this man.
Syura had become frantic. He was shaking and had lost the confident demeanor he had just as early as half an hour ago. He was looking through his table of torture items. He was swatting things off of the table like a madman, even cutting himself accidentally in the process. He didn't feel the pain, he didn't have time for it. Then he found what he was looking for. A map of the capital.
Not knowing of Esdeath's deduction, he had no idea that she'd narrowed down the search to being in the middle ring of the Empire's capital. So, he showed Lubbock all of the empire's land.
Syura: Point to it! Where is the NIGHTRAID BASE?!
Lubbock told him. Lubbock had uttered something to him. Syura smiled.
Syura: WHERE?!
He asked holding out an ear as if to hear better. But then out of nowhere, a web of powerful strings intertwined Syura! The shining thread snaked around Syura's neck like a choker neckless and tightened!
Infinite Uses: Cross Tail
Lubbock had played Syura like a violin. He was never scared of Syura or his torture methods. He was never scared of breaking as he knew he wouldn't. He knew that when the time was right that Syura was going to die by his hands and he'd make his escape!
The Nightraid member opened his mouth with threads webbed around his teeth like a mess of dental floss. Lubbock spoke like a man with high power, like a man who hadn't been tortured for a week straight. He spoke like a man who was going to kill his enemy.
Lubbock: Nightraid never betrays one another.
Syura: WAIT!
SNAP!
Syura's body had fallen limp. All life in his eyes is gone with his head slumped backward. The son of the prime minister, the corrupt Syura had died of a broken neck.
Lubbock had quickly gotten free and grabbed his fallen enemy's Imperial Arms, Shambhala ready to make his escape.
After dispatching two guards that had ran into the room after hearing the commotion, Lubbock put an amazing strain on his body by using the imperial arms he'd just gotten.
Dimensional Formation: Shambhala!
Imperial Palace Courtyard
Lubbock had arrived in the same place that Syura had left from! Amongst all of the flowers and fresh air was death standing right before him. Although it hadn't come yet, this death was going to be a bladed one. One that was going to slash clean through him and be done with it. It was the Wild Hunt's Izou.
However, that wasn't the only one of death's cruel joke. That was only half of it. The other death was a towering, hulking heap of it. It was clad in imperial combat garbs of that only one would wear. That was High General Budo. It was certain death for sure.