Chapter 45 – Kill the Adversity Part 3
Surprisingly, Kasumi's arm wasn't shattered. Neither was her shoulder; she was relatively okay. Esdeath however, took Kasumi with her down several floors without saying a single word. Kasumi struggled as hard as she could but Esdeath's strength was immense.
Night - Imperial Palace – Secret Dungeons
The route to the underground dungeons was an unpleasant one. The dampened flooring caused by the leaking sewage system gave the halls an acrid odor. There was barely any light and the sounds of groaning humans gave the place the aura close to that of a haunted tomb.
Once they reached their destination. Esdeath opened a massive metal door and flicked on the lights. The lights sputtered and then finally turned on.
Kasumi's eyes shot open in dismay. The room was very spacious but down the walls in each direction was a person. The people were either comatose, asleep, writhing in pain and barely conscious, or perhaps even dead. The people were either nailed to the wall or chained to it. With the people being in various states of dismemberment, there was both fresh and dried blood giving the stone flooring a coating of brown and red.
The peoples' waste too was all over the walls. Kasumi screamed and tried to back away and run but Esdeath had her by the wrist.
Esdeath: Don't yell Kasumi. I'm not going to torture you.
Kasumi caught her breath and regained her composure as a wave of relief washed over her.
Kasumi: You aren't?
Esdeath: Of course not. I've realized you are a lot like myself when I was your age. There's a wellspring of potential within you yet you're so naïve, weak, and stupid. You are going to watch me torture someone tonight and I want you to help me.
Mid-Night - Squalor District Ruins
[Name] armor and all stood with the boys and the infant child that one of them held. They were standing amongst the surviving children that [Name] helped them round up over the past hour. They'd amassed a good portion of survivors of all kinds and not just children. The fires have since begun to either burn themselves out or were being put out by the combined efforts of the townspeople.
Bet: But that's not gonna work. What if you don't come back?!
[Name]: I'll be back.
Teg: But what if you don't? You're the only one really looking out for us like this.
[Name]: At this point, a lot of survivors are in one space. Many of these people might know of people who have resources or still may have some of their own. Stick with these people for the time being.
As [Name] walked off into the vast night beyond the red-haired young man called out to him.
Bet: Hey [Name]. If we find out that you died, I'll kill you!
[Name] smirked.
[Name]: I'm counting on it.
Night - Imperial Palace Dungeons
Esdeath finally found a ready target to begin her exploits. Kasumi clenched her fists preparing to attack the blue-haired woman who had her back turned to her. She took a step forward.
Kasumi was about to either make the boldest move she had ever made, or the most foolish. If maybe, just maybe she can get Esdeath one good time, then maybe she can have some fighting chance. Although Esdeath is a general; there is no way possible that she can have an abundance of overwhelming strength that may prevent her from getting in at least one good strike. To Kasumi, hitting Esdeath was at least worth a shot.
Without a moment's notice, an imperial agent sped through the threshold of the dimly lit room's doorway. The agents will only appear to key imperial personal at any point in time. They are a strange bunch of characters that only report directly to the prime minister or the emperor himself. They are predominately female from what Kasumi has observed even though she is aware males are indeed among their ranks. In her textbooks and various data entries, it is revealed that these masked agents are leagues above infantry in combat. They however lack the power to battle imperial arms users in direct combat. This is the reason why in the past century that they have been relegated to espionage, mid-grade assault missions, and assassinations. So, to Kasumi, this must have been imperative news for one to make an appearance at this time.
Agent: General Esdeath, the Prime Minister wishes to speak with you. It comes at the demand of the emperor himself.
Esdeath: Then this must be important.
Esdeath swiftly removed her gloves and placed them on the metallic table in front of her. Esdeath's radiant blue eyes locked on to Kasumi's.
Esdeath: Kasumi, understand that I too am going through a difficult time with [Name]'s disappearance. I do not want you to let that grief eat you alive and impair your judgment more than it already had. I'm doing everything in my power to make this work between us.
The General walked over to her. She placed a firm hand on the younger woman's shoulder and knelt to her level, her eyes matching Kasumi's.
Esdeath: I'm not a fool. I know our morals and values are not parallel on certain things, but you need to understand that things are different here within the empire. Power is everything you need and without it, you would certainly be dead. You need the ability to make things happen the way you want them by any means necessary.
Kasumi: Does the emperor feel this way too!
She snapped at Esdeath, her voiced echoing, racing through the dark hallways.
Esdeath: I hardly think that matters at the moment.
She stood up and crossed her arms.
Esdeath: Kasumi, go to your quarters and wait for my summons in the morning.
Kasumi reluctantly bowed to her master before she turned to walk away.
Esdeath: Kasumi, I want to make another thing clear.
The amber-eyed girl stopped in her tracks without turning around to address her remarks.
Esdeath: I have custody of you for a singular purpose. Your primary use to me is to serve as bait for [Name]. If he is out there, then his compassion for you will draw him back to me. However, make no mistake the moment you prove to be a problem, your usefulness will cease, and I will kill you. Is that clear?
Kasumi shuddered slightly but still stood firm. She figured that this had always been the case. It was still very different to hear it with her ears. However, Kasumi smiled as she too had found a use for Esdeath.
Kasumi: Yes master.
Imperial High Council Room
Esdeath had finished climbing the seemingly infinite flight of stairs to the imperial high council room. Upon entering she had seen numerous viceroys and magistrates leaving the massive room with double doors.
Upon entering she saw the prime minister honest along with the emperor himself. Once the emperor saw her, she immediately ceased conversing with Honest and placed all his attention on her. She knelt in his presence as he walked to speak with her with the prime minister flanking her.
Emperor: Ahh! Esdeath! It's been quite some time since you and I have last seen one another.
Esdeath: I agree with your majesty. You have my apologies for making my visits to you so infrequent.
Emperor: It's okay. I only wish that your efforts could have been put to use by evacuating the people of the third district from the Revolution's tyranny.
Honest: I concur. However, Esdeath is already far busier through her efforts to pinpoint the hidden location of the Nightraid. How goes the search?
Esdeath: I have reason to believe that they are hiding within the second ring of the empire. It'd make no logical sense for them to hang within the third knowing imperial eye is more blind there than the first and second. Najenda would realize that the third ring would be targeted first.
The prime minister laughed off the remark as he quickly shifted the subject onto the reason for which she was called.
Honest: Indeed, Najenda was your intellectual equal when it comes to strategy and planning. However, if that is the case then they need to be drawn out. Once Budo returns from his campaign we will continue to formulate a strategy to combat the Nightraid threat.
Esdeath thought that was slightly odd given that she was already well on her way to being the one who was single-handedly finding them herself. On the other hand, to Esdeath, the wait is welcomed as she can use this opportunity to undertake whatever this assignment maybe if it wasn't already related to the war.
Honest: My dear Esdeath, it had been brought to my attention that you'd requested insight into restricted information in the Grand Imperial Library here within the palace. Might I ask your reasoning?
Esdeath: Certainly. There is an insignia that I recently came across that I've never seen before in my studies. I simply wanted to know of its origins and to how it correlates to where I saw it.
The Emperor was puzzled, he hadn't a clue of what either of them was talking about, therefore he mused and stayed quiet.
Honest: Where exactly did you see it?
Esdeath: On [Name]. He had it etched on the back of his neck. He's as you know was one known as the shadow some time ago.
Honest: That is what worries me. Upon seeing the request, I investigated the situation myself and what I found was rather alarming. I had wondered for some time how exactly he'd been able to go as long as he had without an imperial arm in his possession.
Esdeath: I wondered that same thing. I chalked it up to him being naturally gifted and left it at that. Once I saw the insignia on the back of his neck recently I had to research it.
Honest: I assumed the same, although I've never met him. I knew he had to be a stalwart warrior to gain your attention, but his abilities or lack thereof puzzle me greatly.
The information they sought out was lying within the secret walls of the Empire's sealed wealth of knowledge within a secret location within the palace. Information held since the First Emperor's conquest of this land resided within the secret library. Secrets held from the public for roughly one thousand years knew about the events of the first emperor's doings along with every emperor since that time.
Honest: The insignia's first sighting was right after the Great Sovereign War. The logo itself is a simple but complex one. It is in a spiral formation. However, I did find that it is some sort of sealing mark. The book I read it from spoke of mastering etheric energy and how to manipulate it on one's own, the same energy which powers the Imperial arms.
Esdeath: That's preposterous. One can only do that using imperial arms. It is simply impossible to do it without it.
Honest: I believe so too. However, this book was written by the first emperor's disciples and it seems to be the only one of its kind. There must be some sort of merit to these claims.
He said as he carefully flipped the thousand-year-old pages.
Honest: I haven't any real insight on the inner workings of the magic that power the imperial arms themselves. It is possible, however, that techniques as carefully described in this book were used in extracting the abilities of the danger beasts. I'm at a loss.
Esdeath: I doubt that [Name] had it put there himself. I believe it was placed there by someone or something. I intend to find out what it is.
Honest: Can you be certain Esdeath? It is possible however unlikely that [Name] could harness this "etheric energy" to aid his combat prowess given what this book says. He could destroy us.
The prime minister's voice had deepened as he added a sense of urgency. Esdeath smiled. The emperor was unsettled by this revelation. He looked to the prime minister and then to Esdeath before he asked aloud.
Emperor: Is that true? Can he defeat Esdeath or Budo?
He asked without aiming the question at either of them.
Esdeath: Worry not my emperor, for if that's truly what he's capable of then would we not be dead now?
Emperor: I…I suppose we would be safe then.
Esdeath: Pardon my retort your majesty but please rest assured that if [Name] does have that skill then he's either nowhere near optimal strength or he's just weak. Either way, he'll be dealing with me.
Very Early Morning - Shisuikan Borderlands
The stars above the field of death were the only things that illuminated the grass plains. Mine planted an extremely firm foot into the dirt as she fired several neon yellow beams of energy! She blasted apart throngs of men and women as they charged to her position. Numerous booms! And bangs! Sounded throughout the night as mine stood resolute in her decision to decimate the imperial soldiers that killed her brethren in arms.
Pumpkin overheated to the point where Mine dropped it! Its heat was immense and almost made her lose her already weak grip of her imperial arms.
Leone and [Name] flanked her, prepared for the cooldown. Leone's elongated nails cut weaponry into bits and carved deeply into metallic armors meant to withstand cannon fire! Her nails easily made its way into their flesh and she created a mist of blood as she cut down tens of soldiers in mere seconds.
[Name] without his obsidian blade was no less effective. He picked up two blades from fallen revolutionary soldiers and fell into combat. [Name] clashed metal with the men and women serving the empire. His double-bladed offense and defense made combat with multiple opponents far easier.
No soldier could penetrate his defenses! He spun and twirled so many times that he was practically a propeller that slashed off limbs and easily gashed through the armor and sternums of the soldiers similarly to how Leone was doing concurrently. He threw one of the swords into a group of soldiers coming from him. The blade spun horizontally and bisected each of the screaming warriors.
Heaven Style: Heavenly Thrust!
[Name]'s eyes glowed blue as he outstretched a hand and blew away tens of soldiers that flew through the air. Each of them either broke their spines or several limbs as they fell with disgusting thuds onto the grass. The blue etheric energy had glowed over [Name]'s skin as his heart rate returned to normal and his condition returned to its original state. Leone and Mine were both stuck gawking at [Name] after what he had just done. They were very far away from him as the battle had taken them different places during the skirmish, but he can tell they were looking at him.
After around ten minutes they finally reached him. They all saw several imperials running over the hillside and away to the capital. They plan to let them inform the imperial high command that the border of Shisuikan had been lost nearly as quickly as it was taken.
Both Women: What the hell was that?!
[Name] stabbed the sword he'd picked up into the ground before explaining.
[Name]: Well, it's kind of hard to explain. I just know that I have the strange ability to copy imperial arms abilities. I was kind of born this way.
Leone: Let me guess was that one of Faide's moves?
[Name]: Yeah. I just renamed it to Heaven style because I think it sounds cooler.
Mine: THAT'S INSANE THAT YOU CAN DO THAT!
Leone: Yeah, were you always able to do this?!
[Name]: No. I just starting using it recently. It does take an extreme toll on my body though. If you think about it, I'm practically a living imperial arms that can use anything I need but-
Leone: Wait wait wait! So if you can do this, then why didn't you just kill Esdeath as soon as you saw her?
She asked with a tone of rage.
[Name]: Leone... .It's not like that. Esdeath is too strong. When I use these abilities they generally aren't as powerful as the imperial arm itself.
[Name] in frustration stumbled over a few of his words to explain himself. [Name] put a fist to his chin as he rested on the hilt of the blade he placed into the ground. After a few moments of silence, he snapped his finger.
[Name]: If I were to use Faide's attack that destroyed your base on the scale that he did, it might just end up killing me outright. If I tried to use Esdeath's or Budo's abilities, I'd only be able to use a small portion of their techniques. My condition for the most part traded strength in favor of versatility. Even then I am still limited because I'd probably end up giving myself a heart attack if I went balls out and started uses moves from different people all in one fight. Chances are if I have to resort to doing that then I'm just throwing things at the wall hoping they stick.
He lifted his shirt to reveal his catalog of injuries. Leone and Mine winced at the severe damage dealt to him throughout this entire conflict.
[Name]: I have no actual time to train, and I'm pretty much always injured. I can only do but so much for right now.
Leone: Well I don't completely get it but I suppose it makes a little sense. Whatever at least we know you're not just a body on the team.
She slapped his back making him holler, sending an echo firing off in every direction.
Leone: Sorry.
She said with a smile.
[Name]: Okay guys. . . now let's get the hell out of here.
Mine: But wait. I thought we were going to fight Budo when he comes back.
[Name]: No, this is already a victory. Budo's eventually going to have to come out here again. They'll keep him here to prevent this from happening again or they'll give up the border to let the rest of us move on in. Budo will be back and when he sees this he'll know it was us but there wouldn't be anything he can do. Then once we get back, we'll find our time to strike and end this thing once and for all.
He grabbed the sword from the ground and whistle for his ghostly black stead to was seemingly already close enough to the proximity to appear within moments.
Mine: Is that even a real horse?
[Name]: I'd like to think so.
As they embarked on their journey back to the Imperial Capital. They traversed the night and the valleys beyond. One would be shocked at how radiant the stars are with no light pollution. [Name] could see this area. This was a different way then they took to get here but [Name] recognized the area. They are not near Galease, the Commonwealth, Polaris Academy nor the Crimson Dynasty. He did for some reason recognize the area. Then it hit him. He hoped that it wasn't truly the case but around an hour later of riding, he saw it.
He saw the ruins of his settlement. What remained of the settlement was blackened wood surrounded by crowds of vines and tall grass. He made a bold move and decided to ride through the wreckage.
Mine: Hey [Name]?! What are you doing?
Very Early Morning – Ruins of [Name]'s Original Settlement
The horse slowed considerably so that way he could move around the mounds of woods and destruction that he'd left several years ago. Mine being the empath that she was figured the only reason why [Name] would go through here was unless he had some familiarity with it. Seeing as how he didn't respond and how the village is in ruins, this must've been his home.
Mine: Did you live here?
[Name] said nothing. He recalled how he lived, always being scorned, and wronged for seemingly for no reason at all. When the time came, he slaughtered everyone in the settlement and did so with a sickening smile upon his face. He loved his parents as they never treated him wrong by any means. They were everything a child could want despite his circumstances.
Yet, when they confronted him to make him see the error of his ways; he murdered them just like he did everyone else. [Name] despite the events of Rebellion war he fought in now, taking Kasumi in, the situation with Esdeath, and coming face to face with death numerous times, he thought about his parents every day. Mari, the girl he had a crush on met just as gruesome of a fate. The shadow man had taught him how to be a trained killer, a warrior that can combat all things. But he never prepared him to deal with the mental anguish of what would have happened should he fell out of touch with his sense as he did that terrible night. He regretted everything he did that night and will probably never live it down.
What lied before him now were the charred or scatter remains of the former inhabitants of the settlement. It was a literal boneyard. He saw nothing but weeds and overgrown shrubbery that rivaled his height. He visited his school and former home before finally disembarking with Mine and Leone in tow back to the capital. What once was his home, was now a cemetery devoid of headstones or proper burials. Not too long after they had left the old ruins.
Mine: Hey look, it's a home.
She said pointing to a faint source of light. As they rode further to reach closer, they saw she was right, and it was a home.
Leone: You're right it is. Let's stop and ask if they have anything for us to drink.
Mine: Leone!
Leone: What?! It doesn't have to be alcohol! It could be water or something!
Mine: Then fine, you can drink from that well.
Leone: Grrh! Forget I said anything.
[Name]: It's not a great idea Leone. I don't want the empire to have followed us and hurt this person for helping us down the line.
Leone sucked her teeth as they came even closer to the small abode. The small and somewhat run-down home that had a nearby well and several crops. [Name] remembered that the place in which he trained with the shadow man was not too far from his village. But he did not know the direction of the shadow man's home since it had been so long. After a second, [Name] realized that this was the only home near his settlement for miles and so was the shadow man. [Name] gritted his teeth as he realized this very well may be the hut where the man who trained him, the shadow man had lived. [Name] wasn't going to sleep wondering if this was the case or not, he was going to find out whether it was or wasn't.
[Name]: You know what? Let's make a quick stop. I've got something I want to ask.