Chapter 43 – Kill the Adversity Part 1
Lubbock stared death in the face. It was an oddly beautiful sight. As he saw Izou standing at the end of his path, he saw a path filled with bright flowers of every color in the rainbow. The sun was out without even a single cloud in sight. He almost couldn't believe that his journey might end here. The Shambhala imperial arm wasn't working again. It likely needed a cool downtime. He'd also kept his Cross Tails one his way out and tried to figure something else out.
He stood ready as Izou had readied his blade to strike at Lubbock to bisect him. Lubbock while dropping the blade he'd stolen from an incapacitated soldier. Lubbock charged! Several imperial high guards intercepted him only being completely diced to ribbons in the process with his cross tails!
"I can't play dead this time", he yelled at himself mentally. It was a do or die situation and he's not going to die.
Izou: Kousetou, it's time to feed.
Lubbock: Not Yet!
He screamed aloud as he readied himself for an attack.
Izou: DIE!
ZING!
Seemingly within an instant, Izou unsheathed his blade and dashed towards his green-haired adversary with a vertical bisecting slash!
Shambhala!
Izou noticed how a thin line of purple energy protected the area in which he was about to slash. The line has increased in length and another formed near his head, but Izou hadn't cared. He slashed with his bisecting strike. And skid past Lubbock who stood there motionless.
Blood splattered across the grass and the clean white stone columns as Izou hit the mark. He finished in a crouched position. But….
Something wasn't right. Izou looked back and saw that Lubbock had still been standing and was even moving slightly. Lubbock spat up blood as he dropped to his knees in pain. This isn't right, Lubbock should be in two pieces.
Izou stood up but immediately dropped. The false samurai was stunned beyond belief, he'd lost all feeling in his body as he'd fell. Izou looked above his head and saw a pool of blood forming at his head. Mustering the last bit of strength, he looked further above himself to see his scalp cut cleanly off.
Then it hit him. He'd realized what had happened before his end. When he slashed at Lubbock's midsection, the terrorist had opened a small thread sized portal using Syura's Imperial arms and his Cross Tails. Lubbock had used them both simultaneously in perfect sync. Izou's Kousetsu entered the thread sized portal and exited out the end of another thread sized portal aimed directly at his skull. Lubbock had calculated that move flawlessly. With an imperial arm he'd never used had left a man with his brain exposed, dead.
An incredible migraine stormed over Lubbock's brain. His organs churning like a tornado, he clutched his stomach. Blood exited his mouth like the water fountains in the courtyard. His vision blurred as his senses dulled. His muscles twitched uncontrollably as he struggled to stand up.
"A rebel is over there! Quickly take him down!" He heard nearby soldiers shout as their heavy boots trample the grass in which he knelt on. Tears began to form in Lubbock's eyes as he gained control of his senses and wiped his mouth of the blood.
Lubbock: Najenda, are you thinking about me right now? If you are, then know I'm thinking of you too; and ALL OF YOU. I WON'T DIE HERE!
He screamed at the top of his lungs as a division of soldiers converged onto him. He'd powered up both of his Imperial arms and stood up!
Blood trailed down his cheeks like tears. Both imperial arms were destroying his body. Lubbock had to do something now, if not; he would die regardless.
Lubbock: COME ON!
He screamed to challenge the imperial guardsmen attempting to subdue him. However, little did he know, a massive hulking figure was looming onto his location. A man who's size alone would deter any sort of rebellion. A man could conjure the power of lightning and who's attacks were just as quick, Grand General Budo was very close by.
Simultaneous - Imperial Dungeons
Deep within the imperial dungeons, [Name] lied on the floor face first as he hadn't yet broken his legs free of the bindings. He meditated as he spoke with his master, the Danger Beast whose origins are still unknown to him. The ghost held great power but could only intervene in this war through [Name].
Beast: As I've told you before, I'm giving you as much energy as I can. You cannot handle any more than the seal itself can. Now that you're not drugged you need to get out and save yourself while I can talk to you!
[Name]: But I need to save him! He's going to be killed. If he's using two as you said then he'll just kill himself!
Beast: Use what you can and GO!
BOOM!
Then out of nowhere an explosion of gargantuan proportions rocked the entire palace building! [Name] felt the shockwave. Normandy traversing the halls to confront Lubbock saw it from the windows of the halls.
Esdeath whilst nearing Tatsumi's location had been blown back by the explosion. The Prime Minister Honest and the Emperor had also felt it as the whole building struggled to stand after the shockwave of the blast.
Lubbock and the remaining soldiers had seen it aswell and ceased attacking Lubbock.
"A diversion!", yelled out Budo as he ran towards the direction of the blast.
Lubbock: Now's my chance! I hope there's a marker outside of the palace!
Shambhala!
In a flash of purple lighting with a Yin and Yang symbol below him, he'd teleported away as soon as he'd activated it.
[Name]: What the hell was that?
Beast: It was Tatsumi. He's called on the power of the Tyrant.
[Name]: But he doesn't have Incursio with him. How is he doing that?!
Beast: He's using the power he's subconsciously absorbed small increments of power into himself from the Imperial arm.
[Name]: Could this be what you were afraid of? Do you think that he fully embraced its power?
The voice in [Name]'s brain stood silent as if to think rather than ignore.
Beast: No, the Tyrant's power is far greater than what I'm feeling now.
[Name]: Then, I think now's the time to make my escape.
As he finished that sentence the door had come open. The metal of the door screeching as the light showed throughout the room. This was horrible timing, the worst it could've possibly ever been. [Name] while still lying on the floor took a deep breath to prepare the deep scolding, he was about to receive from Esdeath.
"Hello? [Name]?", he heard a much woman's voice with a much lighter tone call out. The woman's green locks revealed her to be Colonel Normandy.
[Name]: Normandy! What are you doing here?!
Normandy ran over to him and looked around as if to be sure that no one else was listening. She crouched down beside him and whispered in his ear.
Normandy: I'm here to free you.
She'd smashed the shackled that bound his feet to the ground and helped [Name] up. The room smelled horrible to Normandy. [Name] was made to defecate on himself, was underfed, and savagely beaten by Esdeath. To know that it was all her fault made her feel horrible.
Normandy: I was the one who'd told on you…And I'm sorry.
[Name]: I figured it had to be you.
[Name] struggled to stand on his own as he hadn't been able to for the last week. Normandy was aiding him with a helping shoulder as he tried to stand on his own.
Normandy: Through saving you, I hope to have made amends for my deeds.
[Name]: I could've gotten free on my own but thanks all the same.
Normandy: Again, I'm so sorry. I never knew you meant so much to so many people. Kasumi had told me how much you meant to her and a lot of the townspeople in the squalor. I just had to do something.
[Name]: Does Kasumi know that I'm down here?
Normandy: No, I was told not to tell her that you were even captured. I don't believe that Esdeath told her anything about your capture either. Kasumi thinks that you're dead, but she may holding out hope that you're still alive.
[Name]: And what's happened with the squalor district?
Normandy looked downwards and her shoulders dropped in dejection.
Normandy: I'd rather not say.
[Name]: Then I need to get over there NOW!
[Name] being completely nude made Normandy cover her eyes as [Name] stretched. She did, however, notice that his body was covered in scars. His back was deeply cut by Esdeath's whip. He has a large impale wound from his back to stomach. He has a nasty stab scar on his ribs. He'd also had two separate bite marks on his neck. As quickly as [Name] had gotten up, he was ready to battle. He would, however, be noticeably weaker from his severe treatment here and not fully recovering from his previous injuries.
[Name]: I hope you've made up what you're going to tell Esdeath about this.
Normandy: She won't know. She's too preoccupied with the other prisoner, Tatsumi.
[Name]: Of course, she is. They say you never forget your first.
Normandy: I believe that to be true. My current fiancé is my first. What about you? Is Esdeath yours?
[Name]: No, she's my second. I killed my first.
Normandy: …
Hours Later – Imperial Dungeons – Eastern Wing
Budo and Esdeath stood as numerous soldiers locked down the entire palace, municipal buildings, and nearly the entire High-Class District. Tatsumi, Lubbock, and [Name] had all gotten away and made the empire look like fools in doing so. The prime minister's son had been killed during the escape and Honest was devastated for all of ten seconds. One of the wild hunt's members had been killed, and the empire had now lost three imperial arms.
Budo: The prime minister is most displeased at these turns of events.
Esdeath: I would imagine so. I've nearly pinpointed the Nightraid's location within the middle-class. And although they've regained three members, they'll all be found very shortly. Truthfully, I'm not at all that upset.
Budo: Understood. My spies have informed me that the remnants of the revolutionary army are forming near Shisuikan. My forces will be there to intercept them. This war is nearing its end and hopefully, the corruption in this Empire will end alongside it. I'll see to it personally. I can only hope that you share my sentiments and will seek to do the same.
Esdeath: Your sentiments don't have a shred of worth to me. My primary focus now is ending the war; and nothing else.
Budo: We shall see.
He said as he walked away with a small contingent of troops. Esdeath stayed behind to inspect the area in which Tatsumi had broken free from. She'd inspected the scorched walls and bars as she pondered about his strength.
It's odd how he's amassed such a wellspring of power. It seems that his imperial arms are far more dangerous than she'd given it credit for. Her introspective voice kicked in as she spoke to herself.
Esdeath: You're quite the strange one Tatsumi. But I will hunt you down and collect your head like the danger beast you are. And like any good hunt, I'll make sure to enjoy it. Najenda, prepare yourself because I'll save you for last.
Afternoon – Imperial Squalor District Ruins
A guard walked amongst his peers who were all equipped with bloodied weapons. The men all walked down the cobblestone roads with swords and daggers flailing. Kicking in doors, slaughtering the people, and setting homes ablaze has been the norm for the past week with the imperial soldiers. Many homes have been destroyed and many more were taken.
The guard had just witnessed a beheaded of a family of two. The blood sprayed the exteriors of the homes in the surrounding area as many people ran for their lives.
The sky was for the last week an acrid looking grey with the sun being blocked from the fires. The fires were becoming more powerful as more and more homes were being burnt out.
The empire deemed this place to be without worth. The people and their homes are equally expendable. The Prime Minister's fears of the Nightraid living here have doomed its people. The guard trembled as he walked into a group of huddled laughing soldiers. Their laughing was very loud as if he'd missed the joke by seconds. However, he'd heard a faint, higher-pitched noise. It was crying.
As he neared them, the crying became that of an infant. The father's body had been mangled in the circle of men and they held the child making faces at the distraught child.
Guard: What are you guys doing?
He inquired nervously.
The other much larger and more powerful men turned towards him.
Guard 2: Aye, we need you to hold this.
He told the younger and smaller guard. He handed him a war scythe. It had a slightly curved blade that was designed to skewer and disembowelment upon its removal.
Guard: Move over to back there.
He gestured for him to move backward and he did. The young guard did as he was told as one of the others held the baby upwards.
Guard 4: See if you can catch this baby with that scythe.
Guard: WHAT?!
Guard 4: I said, see if you can catch this baby with that scythe. 1..2..
Guard: That's sick! This is all wrong. We're just killing people left and right. Our people! These are people of the empire too!
Guard 3: Looks like we've got ourselves a turncoat. Let's see if we can catch him with the spea-
The man's skull was nearly caved in with a small rock. He dropped as the infant from another soldier's arm was snatched away.
It was the three orphans, Bet, Viot, and Teg. Viot, the most intelligent held the baby. Bet with a slingshot continued his onslaught of miscellaneous items that pelted the soldiers. Teg had thrown a brick and knocked out one of the guards. They quickly began tanking the shots and chased after the trio.
The boys ran through burning wreckage and screaming people as they ran away from the blood lusted soldiers.
Afternoon - Nightraid Hideout
Chelsea came barreling through a wooden door with Tatsumi and a naked, barely conscious Lubbock.
Mine: OH MY GOD!
She screamed as she ran towards the three of them. She in tears hugged both Tatsumi and Lubbock as he nearly dropped onto the floor. Akame came running not long after doing the same thing but cradling Lubbock tightly.
Tatsumi: He needs help now!
Mine: I'll get the medical equipment!
She said as she caressed his face upon leaving to retrieve the medicine.
Hours later
Lubbock lied in the same bed that [Name] lied in before the assault and his capture took place. He had a full list of injuries. He had an aneurism, several torn ligaments, broken fingers, a terrible concussion, cuts, scrapes, bruises, and a mashed testicle. This was all including malnourishment and severe dehydration.
He lied there smiling as the sun beaming through the window of his room. He looked at his broken fingers and coughed. He thought about how he should be dead. His adrenaline and quick thinking were the only things that had kept him alive. Tatsumi had walked in and sat down beside him. Tatsumi's red-eye and stone-faced expression almost frightened him.
Lubbock: I'm surprised that you found me on that roof. I was about to just call it quits and die being happy that I'd at least escaped.
Tatsumi: I don't know how I did. When I broke out, I just went, and I happened to see you when I flew over the high class. I guess it was luck.
Lubbock: Well whatever it was, I'm glad it helped us both make it out of there alive. I can't say well in my case. I'm done. Chelsea broke the news that I'm officially retired from the active Nightraid roster due to my injuries.
Tatsumi grabbed Lubbock's hand and squeezed on it gently.
Tatsumi: You did everything you could and that's more than I could ever ask from you. Just leave the rest to us.
Lubbock: I bet Bulat would be proud of us both.
Tatsumi: Hell yeah he would!
Lubbock: What about [Name]…I feel bad that we left him.
Tatsumi: I'll go back for him on the next attack I promise. We just needed to get out of there as fast as possible.
After conversing a little more, Tatsumi had left. The silence of the room was calming for Lubbock. It was a stark difference from the torture halls. All he heard there were screams, metal doors opening and closing, cries, and very heavy footsteps. He's finally out now and couldn't be happier. Him going into early retirement means that maybe he can open that book shop he'd always been thinking about. After around another hour, the woman of his dreams entered the room.
Despite what he's been told regarding how hopeless things seemed, her demeanor was warm. She'd walked in and sat at his bedside.
Najenda: Well, how have you taken the news Lubbock? About you needing to retire from the Night raid.
Lubbock: It sucks. I can't fight for you anymore. I'll still help out any way I can though. That's one thing that'll never change.
Najenda said nothing. She'll let the noise of the creaking chair she was sitting on dominate any other noise in the room. She turned to Lubbock with a wide-eyed glance. It's something she'd never done before. Never had Najenda showed anyone this side to her before. It's not that she's being more affectionate than before, or even more personal. It's that she's actively caring for someone with a high level of both at the same time. Lubbock had given so much for seemingly so little. He'd been captured, tortured, and brought to the brink of death all in the name of the Revolution as Lubbock claims.
Najenda: Lubbock, you fought for more than just me.
She said as she gently rubbed on his blood-soaked hair. She smiled at him; her lips nearly separated by how much she'd smiled. Lubbock, on the other hand, didn't have a smile on his face. He just had a look of "oh well whatever". He turned his head over as if to hide his expression from her, but not overtly.
Lubbock: I guess you're right.
Najenda sighed and got up.
Najenda: Of course, I'm right. I highly doubt that you withstand a full week of torture thinking about just me.
Lubbock: I don't fault you.
He said. His words were shallow with no heart put behind them. Lubbock's words drifted over to the opposite direction of the room in which his head was turned towards. Najenda walked over to the door but only placed a hand on the knob. A few seconds of silence passed before turned to Lubbock again.
Najenda: And Lubbock…
Lubbock turned his head slightly as suddenly the captain had zipped over to his bedside with a blurring speed! Najenda had wrapped her arms around the injured Lubbock and kissed him on the cheek. It wasn't quick, she'd held this on for a few moments. Lubbock had blushed considerably. He'd never imagined the feeling he'd be feeling this right now. He was warm and safe, in the arms of the woman he loved. He nearly melted completely, and his sour demeanor had sweetened. With this one action, he reaffirmed his belief that everything he went through; his torture, and near-death was all worth it.
She'd released her hold on him and stood proudly over him.
Najenda: Thank you for your service. Your efforts have never gone unnoticed.
Lubbock: I'll say.
He replied with a slurred voice of utter joy and delight.
Night – Imperial Palace: Kasumi's Quarters
Kasumi bathed in a body of water filled with mountains of suds. Hot water was still a new concept for her. While with [Name], the water never got as hot. Back in her village, she'd have to lather down with cold well water. If she wasn't being lazy, she'd and the other children would boil the water.
Living how she does now is a stark change from anything she's experienced before. She'd never experienced anything truly bad. She'd been delivering mail, organizing weapons, going through private schooling, filing reports, and mandatory intense exercise. Doing all of this, she never fully recovered from that savage beating that [Name] had given her. The injuries she'd sustained only compounded with Esdeath's combat challenges. It's thanks to [Name]'s training that she survived.
She was armed with Rom's flawlessly crafted obsidian blade, [Name]'s training, access to riches, an education, and housing still feeling like she had nothing at all. As much as she'd liked Esdeath, her mentor; she missed [Name] and Rom dearly. With Esdeath not telling her anything regarding any leads on [Name], she's still under the staunch belief that [Name] is dead.
He died being loyal to what he believed was right and ignored all of these pleasantries and privileges he'd be afforded by being an imperial soldier. She'd lost her friends Bet, Teg, and Viot and has no one to talk to. She was lonely and she hated it but never let it show. Bet had a strong liking for Kasumi, and she returned those feelings although she never showed it. He was charismatic, strong-willed, moral, and would do anything for anyone he could no matter how small the gesture. He was someone raised without his parents yet knew how to nurture others as any parent would. He was only fourteen just like her. He'd cited that the shadow inspired him to be that way, [Name] had.
Teg and Viot were perfect compliments to him. They contained the things he'd lack. Teg has raw strength and rationality while Viot had raw intelligence and calm thinking. She'd loved all three of them as well as the rest of the teens and children at the multitude of orphanages. Being here means her love doesn't matter. While she's here, well-fed and bathed, the others are starved and dirtied.
She clenched her fists tightly as she finished her what supposed to be a soothing bath. Even though she was well exfoliated, she didn't feel clean to any extent. The only thing she thought of after leaving the bath was paying the squalor district a small visit in the morning.
Night - Imperial Squalor District
Flames licked up at the sky, brightening the district at night. Blood, severed limbs, burnt and broken wood were strung about all over the roads. Corpses in various shapes of being littered the cobblestone streets. Many homes had been destroyed by the imperials. Food pantries, markets, shops, stands of all kinds were ransacked and or torn apart.
Surprisingly there has been a small uprising amongst the local militias fighting back against the empire. Vigilantes, poor veterans, workers, and people of nearly all occupations formed small groups to fight back. The resistance is considerable. Many imperial soldiers defected during the battle and joined the people in fighting back but even then, the numbers were very small.
The three boys, Bet, Viot, and Teg were hold up in an abandoned apartment building. The cries of the baby Viot held were very loud. They'd run for hours away from the group of soldiers. They'd been chased relentlessly for hours on end and the troops haven't stopped the pursuit. Hungry, annoyed, angry, and scared, the boys sat near complete darkness. The only light they'd gotten was from a burning home across the street that shined through the broken windows of the apartment they stayed in.
Teg shivering in fear stood at the window to keep watch over the semi-deserted streets. Bet was pacing back and forth repeatedly as he trembled. Viot sat crouched in a dark corner beside a small dresser rocking back and forth to calm himself and the baby that hadn't stopped crying.
Bet: I should've known the revolution wasn't gonna help!
Teg: Shut up.
Bet: I-I mm-mean we trusted them and everything! Where's the night raid?!
Teg: They have their issues damn it! Shut up!
He said as he started wiping tears from his soot-covered face.
Teg: Don't you crack! You're supposed to be the one holding this whole shit together! We're only in this because of you!
He wasn't referring to this situation alone. He was talking about everything they'd ever done together. Bet was rubbing his red hair as if he were going insane thinking about the same thing. While he regrets being in this situation, he'll never regret taking the path that got them there.
Bet: NO SHIT! We had to do something! You expect us to have rolled over and died! We needed to at least fight back in life to even get here!
Teg: I know I'm not judging you I'm just telling you that I'm scared too!
Bet: WHO SAID I WAS SCARED?!
Viot: Your incessant bickering is going to get us killed!
He screamed at them. Teg retorted, and Bet followed by barking back at Teg. The trio argued in a massive circle while the baby cried aloud but being drowned out by the boys. Teg then waved for them to be quiet as he screamed at them one final time. The clanking of the armor made the only noises heard. A small division of soldiers had begun to bust down the doors in the downstairs entrance to the apartment they were in. The cold-blooded soldiers that were chasing them had found them and were going to finish what they'd started.
Viot while sitting in the corner uncharacteristically began to cry whilst trying to hold it in. Teg and Bet joined him in the corner whilst they're resolve melted down to nothing as a candle would. The soldiers were busting through numerous doors until they'd eventually found the right one.
Teg stood in front and was going to be the first line of defense in the small corner. The men started laughing as they filed into the room. The boys had all started to scream and cry as, like wild dogs, the men began to tear them apart.
One of them grabbed the screaming baby with extremely excessive force. The infant screamed as it was being hurt by the man's strength!
However, the screaming of one soldier made everyone stop moving. One of the soldiers who stood watch was screaming and was silenced.
Guard 4: What the hell was that?
One of the guards motioned for a few of them to follow him out of the darkened room. Each of the boys was being held as a few of the men left to investigate.
Several moments passed. The commanding officer who was holding Bet called out.
"Is it clear?" He asked after he heard nothing but a continued silence.
"Do you copy? I repeat is the coast clear?". Everyone heard a sudden thud followed by a wooden crash. One of the men screamed in pain and nearly immediately stopped.
"Comman-". One of them attempted to yell for the commander but couldn't make it out. The commander let a few drops of sweat drop from his forehead as several other soldiers ran out to combat the assailant.
Bet listened. He heard more grunts and shuffling followed by more crashing noises. The person who attacks these soldiers were getting closer and closer. With there now only being three left, the boys had regained hope. Out of nowhere a dark hand grabbed hold of one of the soldier's ankles from under the floor and dragged him seemingly down to hell in one pull. An incredible thud nearly shook the room when the man hit the floor to the bottom flight. Two left, the commander and the man who held the baby looked at one another.
The soldier who held the baby stood opposite the door, the only way in or out of the room. He tried to peek out of it to see but no one. He only saw darkness passed the threshold. The commander let Bet go and he dropped to the floor as the boys huddled together sitting down. The commander then brandished his short sword and slowly walked towards the door. Each step making creaks in the floorboards. He leaned beside the wall and make his move!
He stepped out into the door and was struck in face extremely hard. The commander froze with his blade held above his head in a striking motion. The soldier shuttered and fall back into the room his face appearing to be caved in. Blood covered the man's face as he lied unconscious.
The final soldier who held the baby was a mess who could do anything. He could freak out and throw the baby out of the window, crush it, or do any number of things to harm the infant. Around a minute passed by with nothing happening, the three boys hugging onto one another waiting for the next move to be made. The soldier snapped!
Guard 4: Stay away from me! I-I'll kills it, I believe me I'll do it!
As soon as he finished his sentence arms reached out from both sides of the man's head! Both arms broke through the wall beside the man's head. The arms reached out and crushed the man's head as he was pulled through the wall, now the size of a doorway. The baby went with the man into the darkness. However, the darkness seemed to take form as the baby was being held by a figure in dark garbs that emerged from the wall. The baby was safe and sound, held by the dark figure. The person was taller than Kasumi and had a man's physique. Bet's eyes lit up as the man opened his mouth to speak.
Shadow: I believe you.