Chapter 44 – Kill the Adversity Part 2
The fires of the night raged onwards. The Shadow spoke to the trembling boys who looked up to him as he handed Viot the infant in his armor-clad arms.
Bet: You're here?!
Shadow: I've taken out a number of the armored squadrons around the district before I found you here. I'm going to need you boys to get as many people to safety as possible.
Viot: How do you expect to stop them?
Shadow: They won't leave through reason. They're under the direct command of the prime minister to carry out this destruction. I'll make them leave through force.
Teg: Hey! Do you honestly believe they'll just leave after getting knocked out and beaten up? They'll just summon more.
Shadow: All I need is a day and some cooperation from the people. If they can be urged to help, then we'll drive the empire out of the district completely.
Viot: What of the reinforcements?
He asked while cradling the pacified baby.
Shadow: They aren't going to send them. Esdeath is stuck defending the municipals of the inner city and Budo is off to battle the remains of the revolution. No one will come through this district that I can't handle.
Teg: How can you be so sure?
Shadow: Because I can't afford to be. Where are the other children?
Bet: All that's left are in the bunkers underneath the old police station. The store owner who helps us knows someone that let us go there.
Shadow: Stay here then, the city is crawling with soldiers. It'll be far too dangerous for you three to get there. I couldn't save the others, but I can save everyone who's left.
Bet: Goodluck...Wait!
The young man worked up the courage to ask about Kasumi. If what Viot said was true, and that [Name] was working for both sides; then he'd know if she were okay or so he hoped.
Bet: Did you find Kasumi? Is she safe?
Shadow: She's fine.
Bet's face from what [Name] could see in the dark apartment room, had contorted into a frown and then a smile. He almost started crying as he balled his fists to fight back the tears of joy. Teg and Viot had come up behind him to comfort him.
Teg: Ain't that a relief.
He said as he struggled to fight his tears off. The shadow turned his back as if to face the youth. He smiled, but none of them could perceive it as [Name]'s face had been covered by a mask.
Shadow: Come back here when you're done, I'll be back for you in an hour. Viot, you have the Baby so you sit tight until the others get back.
Bet: Don't keep us waiting!
The shadow dashed into the darkness of the abandoned apartment building in which they stood. He left from their sight and into the blazing district beyond.
Simultaneous – Shisuikan Borderlands
The remnants of the Revolution were in tatters. The Revolution itself was only held together by mere strands after the failed assault on the Empire's Capital City. The leadership that had survived remained strong, leading their forces to make smaller hit and run attacks to throw the empire off until the Revolution leadership ruled on stronger positions to take.
A lone colonel just finished cutting down an imperial soldier with a strong slash with his blade. His men while few managed to kill scores of the empire's finest warriors. Screams, shouts, and cries battled in volume over one another throughout the hours of battle. The colonel had sidestepped and slashed another soldier in half, he kicked another in the stomach doubling him over; the colonel jumped and rolled over the men back and slashed him in half as well in the process.
The lone revolutionary leader ran and slid in the dirt. He landed between the legs of an imperial soldier who tried a downward stab that got nothing but dirt. The colonel dodged and slashed upwards; vertically bisected the imperial warrior.
The colonel kipped up and immediately parried the blades of three imperial simultaneously. However, before he finished with another bisecting slash the soldiers backed away and stood in attention. A new contingent of soldiers had arrived and so had the field commander of the imperial regiment.
The leadership had gone a full week with no contact with this squad. These men and women saw a legion of well-armed imperial troops stand before them. The line spanned nearly across the entire horizon beyond what they could see ahead. The empire was many, and they were still few.
The lone revolution commander saw a towering figure emerge from the sea of humanity that was the imperial soldiers. It was the Grand General Budo.
He stood tall and towered above every one of his troops.
Budo: You've fought gallantly. Truly the efforts of you and your battalion are worthy enough to go down in imperial history. Such talent should not be wasted. I propose that you lay down your arms and rejoin the empire. The emperor has great need of a leader of your talents.
Colonel: Never, my men and I'd rather face death.
Budo: Then that you shall.
He walked towards the group of revolutionaries, dropping his cloak mid-walk. He stood knee's bent and fists clashes to one another. His elbows faced the air an incredible fork of lightning struck Budo's body and his body coursed with visibly vibrant blue electricity.
Adramelech: Harrowing God's Lightning
In a flash of lightning with no sound, the lightning snaked throughout every one of the revolutionary men and women. Like vines, the beaming blue lightning chained each of them instantly searing them all to nothing. The living lightning took the form of the people's skeletons in which it destroyed and slowly faded away.
Budo stopped the attack and walked back to his unharmed regiment.
Budo: A shame.
Sometime Later - Squalor District
The fires licked at the stars of the night as people's homes lay a cinder. A group of large imperial soldiers patrolled the cobblestone roads as the fire gave the streets the look of a crude festival of orange lights. The dead lay strung about the roads in various states of decay or ruin. The deceased elderly, children, men, and women were laying in blood-soaked piles of what used to be people.
A shadowy figure landed behind the men and beheaded two of them as soon as they landed on the road! A fountain of blood sprung forth reminiscent of a geyser but all in dark red.
The soldiers turned and were ready. They went in for the attack and had their spears cut in two as they threw them away and readied daggers. Soldiers from the front of the group quickly doubled back and surrounded the figure.
The figure spun their blade creating a steel whirlwind and severed the limbs of a few men. The figure moved throughout the men like water and cut them to ribbons! A lone soldier managed to get a solid shot in kicked the back of the assailant making them scream in pain!
It was a female's voice. The imperial soldier took her head and slammed into the stone wall of a burning home, picked her up from behind and slammed her on the ground. The woman immediately whipped out a kunai and stabbed the man in the leg making him scream in return.
She then stabbed him directly in the face and threw the kunai straight into the skull of a soldier coming up to slash her from behind. All of it happened so fast that none of the other soldiers had time to attack as they did now. She recomposed herself, rolled through several of them and retrieved her sword.
She's dueled with the remaining for soldiers in at one time. She stood her ground and killed one with a quick slash to the throat. With three remaining, she amassed the last of her strength to kill another with a slash across the chest of leaving two left. A hand had grabbed her ankle, a surviving soldier from the beginning of the battle.
One of them got in a strong punch to her gut that winded her. One immediately went for a decapitating blow, but something had happened to him. A tight rope wrapped itself around his neck from seemingly nowhere, he dropped and was dragged.
The rope was dragging the man towards the front door of a home engulfed in flames. The front door was missing and that's where the rope had emerged. The man screamed as he reached out to his comrades to rescue him from being dragged into the fiery inferno that was of their own doing. His screams were silenced. The man was gone; devoured by the fire.
As the men looked in awe, she regained her blade and killed the distracted soldiers in a bloody display. She stood up clutching her midsection and was breathing heavily. From the flames of the home emerged a figure darker than herself.
It was the shadow; the fire seemingly ignored him as he walked out of the living inferno.
Shadow: Akame, you aren't supposed to be here.
The woman took off her cloak and revealed her red eyes that seemed to glow in the presence of blaze.
Akame: [NAME]!
She ran over to him in what seemed to be excitement and joy.
Akame: How are you here? I thought that you were captured.
Shadow: I was. As it turned out Colonel Normandy had found out that I'd leaked the information and got me captured. Surprisingly, she felt bad and helped me escape. Why did the assault fail?
Akame sighed in disappointment.
Akame: It's like they anticipated it. I think that when they captured you, they somehow knew that it wasn't the end of it. Esdeath herself got involved and we had to fall back. We were losing too many people and Budo was on his way. Right now, we needed to help regain control of the district. If we don't, we'll be boxed in. They'd occupy this ring and the high-class ring. If they do that, traveling the empire would be practically impossible at that point.
Shadow: I've got most of them already in this district. You let me finish the rest. You still haven't recovered from that battle with Faide and you need every ounce of rest you can get.
Akame: Understood. Najenda and the others will be happy to know you're free.
Shadow: That won't be all they'll be happy to know. Normandy tipped me off on something that I think will win us the war for certain.
Night – Imperial Middle-Class District – Hidden Nightraid Base
Upon entering the base, [Name] found that the Nightraid was extremely ecstatic to see that is alive and well. [Name] was happy that they seem to see him as family. This brought comfort to him as the only things he'd known as a family had been washed away in due part to his actions. He had no people to tell about his problems and how he feels about anything other than them. Rom was a good friend despite the misgivings he'd had about him the first time they met.
He'd been his closest friend and confidant since his parents. Since his death, the only ones or one who would truly be his friends were the Nightraid and shockingly Esdeath. It's lovely to be back in a place around people he cares for and that sentiment is returned. However, there isn't time for pleasantries
[Name]: Colonel Normandy tipped me off about the Imperial Shisuikan border campaign.
Najenda taking a pull of her cigarette chimed in immediately.
Najenda: Once I heard that they planned to attack, I sent my messenger bird to warn them against doing it. Unfortunately, the messenger returned…with the message.
Mine: So, it was too late.
Lubbock chimed in from the middle of the room all bandaged up. Given that he couldn't fight anymore, he figured being a strategist could be the best thing for him until everything is over.
Lubbock: To be fair, we found out about it too late. The revolution leadership has been scrambled since the assault failed. I think that now, maybe the best time for another attack given that so many troops were needed to fortify that border. Plus, [Name] and Akame took out so many troops in the squalor that they'll need to scramble to send more.
Chelsea: But we'll need to rally the troops.
[Name]: True, but even with that we still have the strategic edge.
Tatsumi: What? How?
[Name]: Normandy told me that Budo went along with them. That means he's gone from the capital and this gives us a chance to strike the Imperial Palace one last time.
Leone: But how? He's probably rushing on back here. Even the Viceroys knew sending him would be risky, so it only makes sense that he'd rushing back anyways. No telling how long the bird took to get there and back.
Chelsea: Not to mention it'd take time for us to rally what little forces we muster to help us fight. Plenty probably deserted and that'd make things even harder. We'd need another week at best to carry out another assault.
Najenda: This is on top of the fact the following the imperial military rules, once a point of interest has been captured, they turn it into a phase four stronghold. It's one where a high-ranking imperial official has to take control just in case the enemy force tries to retake the stron. . .
She thought to herself after she put her metallic hand to her chin.
Najenda: But we've killed just about every...That's right! There's no one strong enough to man a phase four stronghold.
She snapped her finger and smiled.
Najenda: Excellent! I think I know where you're getting at [Name]. Since there's no one is powerful enough to man a phase four stronghold, that'll make it easy pickings for a few of us to take it right back.
Tatsumi smiled too. He knew exactly where Najenda was going with this strategy thanks to Leone's interjection.
Tatsumi: If we attack and take it back, they'll either let us have the Shisuikan border or they'd have kept Budo there to battle fight us if we come to attack!
Leone: Or at the very least have him sent back to deal with the shitstorm we're gonna cause!
[Name]: Giving the few remaining members left here to sneak into the Imperial Palace and go for one more assassination attempt.
Najenda: With Budo away, it'll give us a much higher chance to take Esdeath out.
Mine: When she's down, the Empire's finished.
Leone: Sounds like a plan to me! Well, [Name] looks like you still got some fight left in ya after all. Not like that old retiree sitting over there.
Lubbock: HEY I'M DOING WHAT I CAN!
Najenda: That settles it. [Name], Leone and Mine will go to the Shisuikan Border to retake it and help us with our final assault. You should head out there now.
[Name]: Not yet. Mine and Leone, you two can head for the main gates and I'll be there shortly.
Mine: What are you going off to do?
[Name]: I have to make sure the boys are okay. The orphans got hit extremely hard during the attack. It's only right that I make sure that they're situated.
Akame: I would help you protect them, but you know I need to be here to battle Esdeath.
[Name]: It's okay. You're going to need all of your strength to beat her so do your best, shattered ribs and all.
Akame: I will.
As [Name] turned to walk away, she grabbed [Name]'s hand to stop him.
Akame: Did she do anything to you?
She asked with wide-eyed curiosity. [Name] didn't say anything for a few seconds. He then pulled her aside, obscuring everyone's view from their interaction. He then didn't say a word as she began to remove his armor. After several seconds, [Name] had gotten the chest plate and the top half of the armor off. He showed Akame the severe lashes he'd gotten from Esdeath on his back.
The lash marks were extremely deep. Akame was in horror. [Name]'s back looked no different from a butchered harshly cut meat. The scabbing was repulsive in Akame's eyes. She'd gently touched his back to feel the damage for herself.
Akame: How could she do this to you?
[Name]: To be fair I was a prisoner of war. She caught me in the act of not only spying but stopped a direct assassination attempt on her life. I guess I kinda earned it.
Akame: She claims that she loves you but how could anyone do this to someone that they truly love!
[Name]: I don't know. Maybe her love is just different.
Akame: I'll cut her into bits.
[Name] didn't say anything else. He only put his armor back on as she seethed in anger.
Akame: Tell me.
[Name] looked at her after putting his protective plating back on.
Akame: Do you love her too?
[Name] couldn't answer right away. It's just something about Esdeath that makes [Name] feel a certain way. Her beauty, her body, her demeanor, and her everything just lured him in. Especially after the night, they shared together, [Name]'s rational mind had become clouded by lust. Even after the day, he'd found out that Esdeath was a monster who couldn't be changed by anything, he still felt drawn to her. While he didn't show it, he was infatuated with her. While he was around her he felt something he'd never felt before, what it was he could not explain.
Akame: You do don't you? You absolutely sicken me.
She coldly remarked as she walked off with speed. [Name] had left the small room that he and Akame spoke in and saw Tatsumi and mine having a passionate hug. He realized at that moment that he had to say something about the Tyrant before he summons it and loses all control of his being. Upon separating, Mine had gone to the main room and [Name] caught Tatsumi's attention. Tatsumi then made his way to [Name] to hear him out.
[Name]: Tatsumi can I talk to you for a quick second?
Tatsumi: Sure.
After the two found a secure place to speak, they did just that. [Name] took the lead to talk about the dormant creature lying within Tatsumi's Incursio.
[Name]: Have you felt an odd feeling from Incursio at any point?
Tatsumi: Not really. I just feel like I'm making it my own. This power is incredible. I've never felt anything like it before. It's like the power is surging within me and I can do just about anything.
[Name]: You need to know something. That imperial arms is going to consume you if you give in to it.
An eardrum-shattering voice erupted into [Name]'s ear.
Beast: STOP!
Tatsumi: What do you mean?
[Name] continued ignoring the extremely loud voice within his head. He knows that the beast wanted Tatsumi to be completely unaware of the possibility of the Tyrant unleashing himself. [Name] however, just can't bring himself to let that happen to Tatsumi knowing that he can stop it.
[Name]: I mean that Imperial arms is alive and it's banking on you using every ounce of your being to bring itself out.
Tatsumi looked shaken but his different colored eyes stayed focused on [Name].
Tatsumi: What else am I supposed to do? If I'm not strong enough to kill Esdeath or Budo then what am I supposed to do then?
[Name] shrugged his shoulders genuinely unsure of what should be done.
[Name]: I don't know. Whatever it...
Tatsumi: You can forget that. I don't care if it consumes me or not. I just want to make sure I make the empire pays for every crime it committed. Especially for what they let happen to Ieyasu and Sayo. They'll pay. Don't you feel the same way? What about what happened to your family? Didn't you want revenge for what the empire did? Poisoning and destroying your settlement?!
[Name]: No…
[Name] answered, lying. He'd forgotten that he'd told Nightraid his false background. This made him feel even more guilty than he already did.
[Name]: I try not to act on my anger and go for revenge. I do this for justice.
Tatsumi: And I do too! The difference is I'm willing to sacrifice who I am to win.
[Name]: Do what you want, just know that I warned you.
Tatsumi: How do you even know about this stuff?
[Name]: I have a soul living within me that tells me these things. It's my ethereal connection to this spirit that lets me harness the powers that I do. I'm not trying to be overly cautious. I just don't anything happen to you.
Tatsumi: Thanks for the concern but I can take care of myself.
The Red-eyed man coldly walked off with that finishing statement.
Tatsumi: Goodluck on your assault. I'd better see you back here when everything's said and done.
He said in a stern, commanding, yet friendly tone.
[Name]: You will.
As Tatsumi walked away and out of sight, the beast spirit within [Name] spoke is great ferocity.
Beast: Why did you do that?! You could've cost us everything! If the Tyrant doesn't manifest, then we can't strike at it!
[Name]: It'll kill Tatsumi!
Beast: It'd be a small price to pay. I don't think you understand but if the Tyrant gets free then no one will be able to stop him! It'll be the end of everything, not just this empire!
[Name]: I'll find a way. Trust me. We're still a good bit away from that happening. Until then I'm going to need your strength to defeat Budo.
Beast: You're going to need every ounce of power you've gained and then some. With me removing the seal, you can easily die instantly if you're even an inch away from using too much power.
[Name]: I know.
Hours Later / Late Night – Imperial Palace - Esdeath's Quarters
Kasumi had made her way to Esdeath's Quarters with the intention to ask permission to go to the squalor district. She was lucky enough to catch her and the two spent hours together. The vibrant lights of the infinite city shined through Esdeath's quarters. The reds, blues, yellows, and other colors of all kinds painted the landscape with a bright orange finish encompassing the entire horizon, something she hadn't noticed before. Kasumi looked out of Esdeath's window as she did Esdeath's hair.
Kasumi, whilst growing up was taught by her caretakers how to stylize hair in hundreds of different ways. Some of the styles were rumored to have been passed down since before the first emperor founded the empire. She had a field day in Esdeath's blue hair. She'd never worked with such a beautiful yet problematic mane of hair. While her own hair had gone down to her waist, it was nothing compared to Esdeath's. The hair was particularly difficult to handle due to its length, but Kasumi found some way to form it into something nice enough to warrant a compliment from her master.
The two young women eventually sat on Esdeath's bed in the Seiza position. That way was the honorary way to sit in the presence of an elder or to someone in which you have high respect for if a chair is not present. The comforter had a cloudlike softness that would relax anyone lying within it. Esdeath certainly thought so after she spent two hours sitting in her vanity chair letting Kasumi stylize her hair in numerous ways.
Kasumi had spoken to Esdeath for as long as she was there. The two had very different views on how they feel things should work in the empire. Kasumi only being a fourteen-year-old country girl not knowing what a hot bath was like until a few years ago; had no real concept of how legislation, judiciary systems, or governments worked. She could only argue with her feelings and no facts.
Esdeath, however, was extremely well versed as someone in her position should be. During the conversation, Kasumi had noticed that Esdeath's tone had at times leaned towards the more condescending side of the spectrum of conversation.
Besides that, Kasumi learned more than she didn't, and she viewed that as a good thing. Then these things only picked at the thoughts of her friends that she was going to see tomorrow, but the only thing is that she needed permission from Esdeath; her current caretaker.
Kasumi: I was thinking lately.
Esdeath: About what?
She asked with genuine concern.
Kasumi: About my friends in the third district. I wanted to go see them tomorrow. Can I?
Kasumi noticed that Esdeath's face had a focus on it. The look on her face had while not overtly; told Kasumi that something was wrong. The face Esdeath had while looking at her seemed almost disturbing but not maliciously so.
Esdeath: No. That'd lack a purpose and waste time; and given your schedule that is something you can't afford to waste.
Kasumi: But you know they're my friends. I want to at least see them. Can you at least bring them here?
Esdeath: Kasumi. . .
Now she was beginning to get concerned. This isn't like Esdeath to deny her to do something as simple as taking a small trip. Something is very wrong and Esdeath isn't saying anything.
Esdeath: The squalor has been destroyed.
Kasumi's amber eyes shot wide open as her pupils shrank. Kasumi immediately hopped out of the bed and looked out of the window to see the same stunning sight of the Capital's endless skyline. However, she looked at the orange tint that overpowered the artificial lights that belonged to shops, homes, and other buildings. She put two and two together and realized that it was in fact fire. The range of the fire spanned the length of the entire city.
Esdeath wasn't lying. Kasumi clutched her hair as her heart raced.
Kasumi: Why is this happening?!
Esdeath too had risen from the bed and joined Kasumi at the window only a step or two away from the headboard of the bed.
Esdeath: The Emperor and Prime Minister believe that the rebel assassins are hiding within the district. Therefore, the entire district was to be eliminated.
Kasumi: We have to do something!
Esdeath nonchalantly sat on the bed and crossed one leg over the other.
Esdeath: We don't need to join in. The mayhem is already finished.
Kasumi turned to Esdeath with a dumbfounded expression and then to anger.
Kasumi: Not to join in! To help them! People need to be rescued!
Esdeath: No, they don't. The Emperor wants the people gone and his word is absolute. There's nothing we can do I'm afraid. Besides, people are expendable. Many of the people within the district are useless and wouldn't be able to support the empire in any meaningful way. Being destroyed is only natural for those who can't defend themselves as I'm sure you know.
For a second Kasumi's mind went blank. Esdeath's callous words revealed it. Every rumor about Esdeath was true. She was evil in the truest sense of the word. [Name] was correct about her. Kasumi was blinded by her respect and admiration for her to see it. She is going to see Bet, Teg, and Viot no matter what.
Kasumi stood silent for a minute as Esdeath did the same. Kasumi outstretched her arm and shattered the window! She grabbed a long and jagged shard of glass cutting her hand deeply and spun to strike at her master! Esdeath moved at such a speed that convinced Kasumi that she was capable of teleportation. She under hooked one of Kasumi's arms and used her leg to hook the other! With a massive thud, Esdeath had slammed Kasumi in a crucifix armbar position, she quickly released the hold and grabbed Kasumi's arm. Kasumi felt like her neck had shattered as her head bounced off of hard flooring material that the carpet covered.
She semi straddled the younger girl, having a knee on her temple, and wrenched her arm with a position that could break it with one swift motion.
Esdeath: I knew a warm bed was too comfortable for you. I think spending a night in one of my torture chambers would do wonders.