AN: First off, I haven't read the manga (YET! I'm starting it as we speak!) so this is based off my knowledge of the anime. This chapter is just to introduce Kai and a small helping to what he can do, but later chapters will bring out the real monster within him, along with showing more about his relationship with the other Night Raid members, especially Chelsea. Anyway, hope you enjoy!
Kai let out an aggravated sigh as he stood across from the Jaeger, Bols. "Ah, to be honest, I'd hoped I could've sat out but it looks like I've no choice," he whined, running a hand through his hair. "Alright, well, suppose we best get the introductions 'outta the way. I'm Kai."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Kai. My name is Bols," the masked Jaeger replied, giving a bow (Something that surprised Kai), before raising his Imperial Arms in preparation of the battle. "I apologise in advance for your death, Kai."
Kai raised an eyebrow before chuckling. "Damn, looks like I should've told Chelsea how I felt beforehand," he noted, sighing again and holding his hands up in acceptance. "Oh well, I suppose I could always beat you and tell her after." He smirked and brought the grey scarf wrapped around his neck up to cover his mouth.
"You should always let those you care about know how you feel," Bols stated. "If you do manage to walk away from this battle, you should tell her."
"Thanks for the advice," Kai replied, before walking towards the Jaeger. "You don't seem like a bad guy Bols, so I do admit that I don't feel comfortable in this situation. However, I have people I care about, and I intend to return to them."
"I accept those reasons, however, I also have people I care about and I have no intention of leaving them alone in this world," Bols replied, before unleashing his flames on Kai.
The flames enveloped the Night Raid member, but to Bols shock the flames were dispersed and Kai continued to walk towards him, unscathed. "What?! How can you survive Rubicante's flames?!" Bols shot out another blast of fire, only for the same thing to happen. "I-Impossible…"
"Wrath of God: Negación," Kai began to explain. "An Imperial Arms that negates the abilities of other Imperial Arms. I'd suggest another method of fighting me, Jaeger!" Suddenly, Kai dashed forward and sent an uppercut at Bols, who managed to block it with Rubicante before jumping back to avoid Kai's kick to his head. Kai continued on the offensive, throwing strike after strike at Bols—who could only defend and dodge his attacks.
What is this? His strength and speed are- Bols thoughts were interrupted as he blocked another punch, but this one sent the Jaeger skidding back. Is he really human?
"Is that all you've got?" Kai asked, cracking his knuckles while wearing a bloodthirsty grin on his face. "I'm just getting warmed up!" He shot forward again, but before he could throw a punch, Kai disappeared. Bols let out a shocked gasp, before feeling a sharp pain in the back of his head and suddenly rolling across the ground until he hit a rocky wall.
"Alright, I think it's time we ended th-" Kai was prevented from finishing his sentence thanks to the intervention of one of Kurome's undead puppets, who had managed to strike Kai and send him a few metres across the ground. His attacker, a bald man with dark glasses and who used a riot shield, charged at Kai as he got to his feet.
"Alright, now I'm pissed," Kai growled, and sent a punch at the puppet, only for it to be stopped by the man's shield. Kai expressed surprised at this, but quickly got over it as he jumped back to avoid being pierced by the shield's hidden lance, which shot out of the top of the shield. "Oh? Now this is getting interesting…"
"Before we go any further," Bols said, getting to his feet. "Kai, may I ask why you joined Night Raid?"
Kai appeared rather surprised at the question, but nevertheless gave his opponent an answer. "Two reasons. One reason why I joined Night Raid is to gain revenge on someone. Someone who belongs to the Empire. That person murdered my family, so now I desire revenge against them. The other…well, like I said, I have a confession to make. And the one I want to confess to is another reason why I joined."
"I can accept those reasons," Bols told Kai, before aiming Rubicante at the assassin. "Magma Drive!" A ball of fire shot out and headed towards Kai, who merely raised a hand to negate the ability. As he did though, the puppet had used that moment to appear at his side and managed to connect a kick to Kai's stomach. Kai was sent flying back and into the other rock wall.
Bols immediately shot another ball of fire in Kai's direction, but rather than hitting Kai directly, it hit the rocky wall at his side which caused a small explosion.
After a few seconds, Kai emerged from the dust and smoke, and unlike before he had sustained damage – nothing major, just a few cuts and bruises, but it did prove that his Imperial Arms didn't make him invincible. "Not bad," Kai stated, wiping away some blood that had dribbled down to his chin from the edge of his mouth.
"So am I correct in assuming then that your Imperial Arms can only negate direct attacks from other Imperial Arms?" Bols asked, to which Kai answered with a blank stare before smiling in acknowledgment of Bols' achievement.
"Yeah, more or less. I can't negate indirect attacks from an Imperial Arms, which is also why that guy is still moving about," Kai explained and pointed to Kurome's undead puppet. "I can't negate that Imperial Arm without coming into contact with it."
"I didn't think you'd openly admit to the weakness of your Imperial Arm," Bols admitted.
"Overcoming one's weaknesses is how we can get stronger," Kai replied, preparing to move should either Bols or the puppet attempt to strike.
"Not all weaknesses can be overcome," Bols muttered, before shooting a ball of fire at the ground in front of Kai. Kai smiled again and stepped forward with his left leg, and then brought his right leg forward to seemingly kick the fireball. Instead though, the fireball dispersed upon making contact with his leg. The puppet who had been following the fireball in an attempt to use it as a distraction, however, was sent flying into the air. Kai prepared to follow him before a loud roar brought his attention to the large, undead Danger Beast – Desta-Ghoul – which proceeded to fire a large beam of destructive energy in his direction.
"Shit!" Kai attempted to dodge it but his reaction to the attack was too slow and he ended up getting hit by the attack. Luckily though, he avoided getting hit full force. Still, even the small amount that did hit him managed to break both the bones in his right leg and right arm, along with a couple of ribs.
"It appears that this is as far as you go, Kai. Farewell." Bols, whom the undead Danger Beast had purposely avoided hitting, fired a shot at the wall above Kai, intending to crush him under the rocks that would fall as a result.
Kai, resigned to his fate, closed his eyes and waited for the inevitable…only to instead hear the sound of metal cutting through rock, and then the sound of footsteps landing beside him. Opening his eyes, Kai found himself staring up at Akame and Leone.
"Hehe, looks like we arrived in the nick of time," Leone stated, at which point Kai noticed she was missing her left arm, something Leone picked up on. "Don't worry about this. Just sit back and relax now while me and Akame take out these guys." A smile crossed Kai's face as he noticed his vision blacken, and then he fell unconscious.
It was unclear if the water running down Kai's face were tears, or simply water from the heavy rain shower. He stood before a crudely made cross – two sticks simply woven together. "You shouldn't have went alone," Kai said quietly, before tilting his head back and staring up at the darkened sky. As the thoughts swirled around inside his head, his feelings began shifting from sadness to anger. "I swear…I'll kill all of those bastards…Every. Last. One." He looked down at the grave again, where he noticed a puddle had formed and was now casting a reflection that stared right back him. Black hair, which held red streaks and was normally spiked, hung down to his shoulders. His eyes were a dark brown, almost black, while a faded scar ran down his left cheek to his shoulder. He was pretty tall, just a few inches shorter than Susanoo, and his years of training had given him a fairly muscular body. He wore a long, high-collared, black jacket and a dark blue shirt, black pants and a pair of combat boots. He also had a grey scarf wrapped around his neck, which he would pull over the bottom half of his face when on a mission.
Kai bent down and placed a lollipop on the grave, before straightening and heading back into the forest. "Goodbye, Chelsea."
