The Imperial Saber

by Marutectz552

"Soldiers we are: we the Imperial-Sabers do not flee, nor do we falter and nor do we fail to purge Evil from our sights. We are flesh and steel, so we are nothing but weapons of the Emperor. In the face of Evil we do not back down, ever." Tatsumi's beginnings were not of a free hero as he was made out to be, but as a soldier loyal to the Empire he lived in. Loyalty unto Death.

11. Chapter X

Akame ga Kiru

The Imperial Saber

Chapter Ten

Standing amongst the party goers on the Imperial cruise ship the Ryuusen, Tatsumi had a glass of wine in his hands while evaluating those that were of the Prime Minister's inner circles. They were around amongst the crowds and more than one instance they stood out, unfortunately. Despite majority of the guests being nobility or prestigious blood lines, Prime Minister's Honest's allies had an air of superiority around them and often leered at the youngest female guests amongst the crowds. They were eying children who were growing into beautiful young woman or young men, if one of those gazes reflected such tastes in the same gender.

Tatsumi just shivered internally breaking that line of thought, god help him otherwise.

Focusing on maintaining his professional demeanor as an Imperial Colonel kept him civil.

Which was quite the challenge in other words.

"Ah, Colonel Saber! I've been told you've had taste for the finer liberties of a man for his stature?"

Some snide looking male that looked like a real sickly fossil from too many years behind the doors of his own pleasure palaces and what not, came up to him smiling. His body frail, hunched and gave off the appearance of a twisted representation of a man who abused their powers too much. He had no idea as to who this demented fuck-head wanted with him but he to reply eventually.

So the young Colonel merely smiled at the man, tipping his head in an older military tradition of respect.

As forced as it was.

"I'd like to think I'm a simple man. I'd honestly rather be at the helm of my Legion to be fair..."

He trailed off in a forced state of apologizing mannerisms. Ignoring the way this sickly corrupted politician stared at his face, Tatsumi merely maintained that discipline he had instilled upon himself as a means to hide his insecurities in these type of situations. Only withholding the urge to scowl did the man introduce himself, laughing witheringly like a jackal.

"I'm Minister Okayama of the Imperial Tax Fiances which such much to be done and funds for the Empire, Colonel as such I'm aware you know it is."

The identified supporter of the Prime Minister Honest made Tatsumi bite his tongue, to stop himself from cutting this incrusted old sickened creature into the hells that awaited his kin in death. Trying to stop his rage from being too evident as Okayama snapped his fingers as something rather unworldly to the Colonel's eyes made place the wine glass down.

Immediately trying to maintain a calm sense of mind, the next few minutes tested his resolve beyond any measures so far on this mission. Clenching both hands into a locked position behind his back as a slave came forth to his master's side.

"Damn it all! I know slavery is legal but this old man has a boy for a slave. Oh dear god, I don't know if I can take this without even withholding a few choice words. He looks half dead, son of a bitch he's got to be on drugs and..."

This boy was young.

Probably around the age of ten.

His eyes were hollowed to the point where they didn't to seem have any life within their orbs, a dull blue and having blond hair made Tatsumi wince from the suspected origins of this slave. Possibly on the Northern Frontiers alone and that meant Esdeath's Armies had claimed a decent amount of the enemy populaces to form the basis of slaver profits and it's effects were being displayed for him to see. While this was speculation on his part, it really disgusted him to see this occurring and couldn't do a damn thing to stop it.

Teeth internally crushed each other to the point where if he weren't careful his incisors would snap into fragments.

He always knew that slavery was a perfectible legal practice, it'd implied if an enemy were to rebel or come forth then the consequences were the lack of becoming a human. An unfortunate mandate that Honest had used for his policies for the Imperial-Armies to maintain their morale and support for his rule at the Emperor's side. A simple legal means to exploit the wealth that could be made and all that it cost was for people to look the other way.

And it worked, sadly.

"This is my personal toy and third slave that I use for my evening activities. I was told by my good friend and partner, that you enjoy such tastes as my own? The Prime Minister was very, vague about it if I'm aware Colonel Saber."

At some unbidden command, the Slave boy to kneel down as offering his very small body towards the elder Imperial Officer.

Disbelief ranged in his mind!

More so at the cruel mocking smile that the Prime Minister held on his face if he had seen this situation.

"You son of a bitch! No scratch that! Just saying that is a compliment going to the demonic danger beast that spawned you and I swear I'll cut your testicles off! When I do I'll stuff them down your throat Honest. I know he's just messing with me and it's working, unfortunately!"

It made Tatsumi's eyes harden to the point where steel wouldn't be able to cut them out. The emotions reflected into his gaze as it shifted to the Tax-Minister, the Colonel looked very unhappily and bit down on his words to maintain a civility. This took a considerable amount of mental restraint to ignore the urge to stand this, this...

This disgusting creature that dared to call itself a human!

"No. I have zero interests in that regard, Minister. Whoever told you that information is just lying to you and honestly, he's making me feel less inclined to care about his good health. So if you excuse me I have to relieve myself and go get some air, on the open decks."

So nodding his head in a calm manner, again severely forced. Tatsumi left the massive dining hall to go up the stairs to see the open skies on the ocean as it had sailed from the Capitals Harbor within its canals. The sudden rush of air could only keep his smile plastered as he continued to the point where he was within the middle of the cruise liner itself.

And he promptly scowled at the open oceans.

"I fucking hate these people! It'd be a service to the Emperor to purge, this Evil filth from the plane of life and I'd sleep better at night because of it!"

While gripping the handle of his Saber to the point where it creaked from the straining alone. A sense of heat gripped his bodies ability to stem the unholy rage from gutting every single one of those corrupted politicians that had actively made the Empire so utterly unbearable to see now. His mind raced to purge the face of that slave-boy from his mind.

That was why that type of face haunted him.

Along with that lack of hope only made him enraged!

All this did was just piss him off and find a quicker way to destroy the corruption infecting this nation!

Trembling due to his pent up rage, the laughter of various people below deck only made him crack his knuckles violently.

Just where was the line to be drawn? Where was the line to be drawn to kill anyone crossing it? Tatsumi couldn't stand good politicians on any day but these corruptions of mockeries of people were pushing the envelope to cut them up for good measure and to relieve all the fucking stress he was under! He swore to the Emperors own will that removing these pestering slices of flesh would do only good and the results would be nothing less than, satisfying...

Satisfying to watch the horrors they inflicted on others to be returned to them with, interest.

Watching the horizon of the skies he could only marvel at the sight of so such water and how calm it looked as the young Colonel smiled to himself. He hadn't seen the open seas beforehand, not once while deployed as a foot-soldier and when he became an Officer. His career advanced underneath the Empire's banner stricking on land and in the western territories mainly.

Despite his thoughts, it was the serenity of this setting that made him wonder if he should have become a seamen.

But the thought made him laugh quickly.

Well he made an innuendo about himself without even trying.

"I wonder if I can ever be at peace. For what I've done..."

His unspoken question got an answer as he felt a chill brush up on his side!

It made him shut his eyes dreading this confrontation since he sins he had committed on that stormy night. He could only inhale deeply with his head in shame making a shimmer of air place a hand onto his shoulder and as he withheld the tears that were forming. Tatsumi looked up at the massive armored form of the Teigu Incursio as Bulat the Hundred-Man-Slayer gave him the best stare an elder sibling could when the younger committed a grave crime.

A crime they understood.

Bulat didn't have an accusing gaze but it was one that wanted answers.

And the reasons behind them.

"You can start by accepting the fact why you did it. Don't worry, Lubbock told the team about your words but I still volunteered to take on this mission Solo."

Even with his head bowed the Colonel replied in a sober tone that couldn't hide that grief of a man who committed Sins so badly, that he had no chance for forgiveness in what he had done. Tatsumi had to stem the tears as to what he had done, so that all the pain was justified to shoulder now. Glancing over at the blue seas as the waves crashed against the side of the Cruise Liner.

The salty spray hitting his face and the white coat of his uniform flapped in the upcoming breeze.

"I don't deserve your forgiveness Bro, nor anyone in Night-Raid itself. I can only hold this pain within my heart and only move forward: I had no choice but to choose between two friends, two people who didn't deserve to die. However one did die to my own hands no less, so I don't suppose you can tell me an answer for that?"

He trailed off unable to keep his voice level as the invisibility of Incursio maintained the cloaked camouflage. Bulat only gripped the top of the smaller Imperial Officers arm as a means to understand why his pain hurt. As one soldier to another they had both taken lives but for the reasons weren't the same and they had their choices to contend with.

The elder man from behind his armored helmet stared only with an expression that he or Najenda could give to a man who had seen enough agony in a battlefields but to only know it'd be the only good thing he could withstand. Most solders were destined to the endless void of bloodied warfare and eternal damnation if they lost themselves.

"Find your resolve, Tatsumi. It's all I can hope for you since you will become a Great man."

"Me? A great man? That's bullshit, I know for a fact great men don't kill their friends and have themselves unable to look at their reflections. Me as a great men is just wishful thinking bro."

Tatsumi bitterly started chuckling and it made the elder man look down despite the effects of Incursio's abilities.

The expression on the young Colonel's face was borderline of a man who accepted the fact he'd never wake up from a nightmare in order to realize the very things he couldn't escape were real. This nightmare was real and he'd have to confront it in the future. Murderers never got peace and they only received justice in the form of their deaths to end all the pain they had made.

It made an expression so alien on the usually kind boy's face it almost looked twisted.

Bulat shed a single tear for the boy whose path to the most peaceful of solutions would be marred by the most impossible weights that no man could shoulder without someone to help him. The elder soldier had to guide him, to cradle him, to understand him and to have Tatsumi know the consequences of being a great man until the end of his time.

Tatsumi started to laugh as if something amused him.

"Great men don't commit Sins to those they consider friends and become a murderer for their troubles, bro. I'd say I was becoming something different. Different in a way that I hate myself even more and if it kills me to reach my dream, so be it. I bet more than mountains worth of supposed heroes weren't remembered for their troubles that superseded their actions..."

He paused before looking out over at the vast seas, watching the land fade away into the distance as the amount of nautical miles were placed by the ship itself. The sun seemed to be setting for another night to be stained in blood and carnage, Tatsumi could only welcome the chance to spill it for the right reasons. What good was he other than to kill?

Quietly relaxing in the cooling breeze he felt Bulat glance over towards the dining areas and considering the people seemed to be at peace.

"...But enough of that. Have you seen the targets Bro? They're not that hard to see."

That smile faded into something more friendly as the Incursio user merely hummed thoughtfully about the crowds beneath the decks and very simply came up with a plan that the Colonel frowned at. Mainly due to the fact it wouldn't accomplish anything other than corruption being wiped out, normally a good thing but he wanted to make the Honest's other friends cringe when he thought about ways to make them squirm in their holes.

Tatsumi Saber had finally evolved into a political nightmare that would spread into the hearts of those who were corrupted.

He'd make them shiver in their sleep!

Always to have them fear what it meant to be Evil and to have them realize that terror to threaten their lives! Due to his excitement he got pulled from his thoughts smiling nonetheless about the potential plans.

"The targets all stand out. I'd figure wait for a few more minutes and just wait till the cruise ship can't turn back quickly enough to port. Eventually I sneak off and for what it's worth, we score a win against the Prime Minister's money makers."

The younger Colonel's satisfying smile didn't waver but he merely critiqued the planning and made a few improvements that had Bulat raise an eyebrow at. The boy had been scarred again for sure but at the expense of his deteriorating expressions, still in that sense he maintained his morality on hope and justice to spread from the deeds of those fighting the corruption.

What the Colonel suggested next made would be borderline sadistic that made him seem utterly, delightful.

"While straight-forward enough, Bro: it's not sending a message to those who waiting in the wings for the Prime Minister to appoint through Emperor Makoto. This is an opportunity to make the very Evil within this Heart of the Empire fear the repercussions of abusing their authorities. Granted it won't stop but I have hope it'll pause in its steps. All we need is the perfect composers and audiences to give this Evil which of all the corrupted are under Prime Minister Honest's pants a reason to hear about a good show. Want me to continue?"

Bulat folded his arms prompting Tatsumi to just smile in a new manner.

One that was quite unnerving for the better lack of a word.

"On this cruise liner below in the decks for passengers, there are more targets. Esdeath's Three-Beasts are just biding their time until a certain time limit in order to knock everyone out with a melody that comes from a person called Nyau, whose habits of skinning victims faces off are notoriously well known right? I propose we use that moment when the piper himself plays his little song, so that when the people who are knocked out see an image of Prime Minister's allies cut in half or decapitated then wouldn't that be an important image for a mind to last remember? I mean I'm basing this on chance but, I can have hope that those who fear justice will lose faith in the Prime Minister to realize they won't see a better tomorrow."

Tatsumi added a few choice words while staring at the ocean.

"Also I have a score to settle with that little bastard piper below deck but instead of me paying him: it'll be him paying me. So what do you say, Bro? You up for a challenge to make those that are the true Evil in the Empire suddenly cry out for change in their habits?"

The Colonel wasn't kind to those who were enemies but the emotions were akin to a gentle truth that could be made for a greater good. It made this a more realistic approach and it sounded so pure for the right reasons, it made the Incursio wielder suddenly see an after image of a younger General on the side of him. Bulet witnessed someone he had known back in his years as a soldier and it looked remarkable.

An old leader who inspired many like himself to fight.

"General? Oh I see, Tatsumi, you're becoming something even I was afraid of doing. Taking on the world and finding the right reasons. I feel like I'm standing at the beginning rise of a legend and it's very, odd. No matter what you believe yourself to be, fighting for the right reasons is what makes men great. Try to understand that for me one day."

That smile on the young officer's face was of a man who knew how to win a battle. It also reminded Bulat of a certain leader he once knew, it was these shrewd tactics to create the best results possible and have the good to negate all the bad . Balut couldn't help but remember of a fond man, who he considered his mentor and almost a father to follow within the Imperial Armies ranks as an Officer taking on special forces of a rogue unit that had broken away from the Empire.

His namesake came from his deeds on that day.

Fondly the man looked at the younger Imperial who could only smile in response.

Tatsumi knew what to say, the words weren't hesitated nor glossed over. This boy knew how to inspire those under him and it made Bulat realize something that he overlooked despite their age difference. The boy was a leader! It was known he did lead a Legion of men and a leader could turn the tide of battle on his word alone, to inspire those to get the job done.

A leader could inspire faith in their soldiers, to always have hope to win.

"Well, you know how to make a guy get hot under the collar Tatsumi. Man, I'd kiss you and say it'd be a blessing from God. Interested?"

That got a funny look from the boy, "Nope. I prefer women, at least the attractive ones."

Bulat laughed lightly making the younger Officer just sigh shaking his head the meanwhile. Looking over the oceans again, Tatsumi took this time to maintain his calm mindset despite the stresses pressuring him to go mad from the pains and twists that it took to get to this point. So far into this time it felt like a dream at times and he had to do all he could in order to withstand the tides of Evil.

He couldn't do this alone, so he'd fine ways to get help and eventually start to pressure the Puppet-Master himself!

To cut the strings of the Emperor and to end this madness.

It was a dream.

A good dream but nonetheless like all dreams, they could come true if one worked hard to attain such a goal...

"Well time to go set-up shop. I'll shadow you from wherever you go Tatsumi. Just remember you're not alone here and for that, I want you to find your resolve knowing that your Big-Bro is here to outshine you in battle. See you then."

Tatsumi smiled, more grateful that he had in a long time.

"Thanks, handsome."

That last word whispered so softly the man couldn't quite hear it.

Bulat looked back immediately as the breeze caught the word fully. However due to the waves smashing against the side of the cruise ship the actual sound got lost as Tastumi didn't flinch when the cold water hit him in the face. The Colonel just remained in his spot for a few minutes longer seeing perhaps things that few men would care to admit in their futures.

"Did you say what I thought you said?"

When the reply came, Tatsumi still maintained that smile.

"Nope. Just in your dreams, Bro."

The man moved towards the bottom half of the decks, as the Colonel took a few moments to compose himself in order to have the fortitude to maintain the path that held firm too. To walk into that den of snakes beyond that staircase was nothing less of a risky option since he nearly lost his passive mindset when it came down to interacting with the Nobility of the Capital once more.

Clenching his free hand to release the tension of his limb, Tatsumi turned on his heel to move back to the under-decks where the other guests of the political rally were located at.

Feeling the blood rush from feet to his head the young man ultimately inhaled deeply and exhaled softly through his mouth.

He had to go mingle with those that deserved to die.

Some of those people deserved to die far more sooner than most men in the Imperial Army but more importantly, it saved the lives of the citizens. Imperial citizens that held no choices for their lives to be spared and for that end alone: these Nobles would suffer! They'd suffer on the very actions their that made their own debauched lives. They would see it, to understand that blood was met with blood. All these corrupted souls who benefited under this System of Evil would fear those that fought for change!

A stronger breeze came to shift into his overcoat.

"Let's see who can give the better performance here. To give the audience the best impression."

He spoke this to no one while walking down the stairs into the under-decks moving towards a table that held the wine glasses full and ready to be consumed. Reaffirming his cover as a Legionnaire representative for the politicians to ask or question his experiences the young Imperial moved towards a more secluded part of the crowded room to just pass the time. His eyes were consistently searching for all the targets which had numbered of two to three into about five prominent figures of Prime Minister Honest's closest allies. The most debauched of souls whereas the only merciful thing so that there victims would be at rest beyond life: was to kill them all.

Nothing short of that would even get the restless dead the peace they deserved.

Chatter floated around the luxurious room as people took plates of food or discussed whatever they wanted.

The pale skin tones of many of these Nobles suggested that they had never gone out into the sun very often. Hell some were so utterly fake like a porcelain doll and that wasn't even the worst of it. Tatsumi had slowly taken in the eyes of debauchery as the looks of twisted creatures and the lack of any sort of humanity in the ones that were deliberately flaunting their power.

Ever so slowly his hand drifted towards his side where a thumb or an index finger brushed the handle of his Saber-blade.

Almost reflexively drawing the weapon when seeing more than a few instances of lesser morality. More than once he watched a slave, being it a young boy or girl be paraded amongst Honest's allies within the gathering. And more than once one or two of their supporters would leave with that slave to the more privater passenger suites. This was on a lower deck that a stair case lead to from the corner of the main lobby.

Laughter echoed into his ears the very vocal cords that warped into his own senses and he felt the potency of the very essence of Corruption stain his body. The lack of life, the lack of any remorse or the lack of any regrets were lingering onto his consciousness as more than a few faces of Evil were glancing his direction. Withholding that urge to spit violently to the side Tatsumi just stood there sipping the expensive wine.

One could admit it held a sweet, fruit tastes and it he honestly thought overall...

The wine wasn't half bad.

But it felt bitter to swallow, regardless.

"Ah, the Young Colonel Saber! I was told of your attendance to this political event."

Biting his tongue slightly, "Now what?"

Glancing over towards the person who called out his rank.

Another one of Prime Minister's allies of his Political schemes walked over towards with a wine glass in hand. An elder woman whose age varied from her early thirties into mid forties came in a dress that left little imagination to the eye. Her vulpine form with a cleavage that pressed itself in manner that taunted a man or boy to look at it in detail.

Her hair was as dark as night with eyes a clear green that looked utterly pale beyond anything and her attire made him wince in irritation.

If Esdeath could make him nearly feel like an open book...

Than this woman was just a meager attempt to get him to read her.

A black dress with high-heels that sparked with golden lining and her gloves held designs that were more than likely worth more wages that a blacksmith earned in a year. Her skin accented with various makeup or whatever tried to enhance her looks and it certainly did its job well. He assumed that her servants or slaves, whatever the flying fuck she had spent hours do the work.

Exhaling annoyed as eventually he had to reply to the greeting.

So tipping his head in a respectful manner that hid that series of emotions.

"Good afternoon, mam. May good fortunes follows your steps for the Empire."

Her response was an alluring smile.

Tatsumi honestly thought it was not even remotely close to the person he was under the command in the Palace.

"Great. Another admirer or sadistic torturer? Which is worse?"

The woman offered her hand as Tatsumi merely took it before kissing the back of it in a forced respectful mannerism that he certainly wanted to do away with.

His heart pounded as urges to cut the very corruption he had sworn to uphold against and was just a few feet around him! He swore mentally his very lips nearly became tainted if it had touched her skin. Thankfully the gloves negated this feeling more so than the other debauched souls around his location. The Colonel could only pass the time doing what he could to see the true states of the darkness that lay infesting the Imperial Capital.

Also to make his patience grow so when the time came to strike...

It'd be all the more satisfying to enjoy their deaths.

To witness them to die and to utterly feel happier.

"Such etiquette from a Legionnaire that came from the Western Territories, this is quite interesting Colonel Saber. Allow me, to introduce myself..."

She pulled the side of her dress to reveal apart of her strong powerful legs that left little to imagine what lay beyond.

Unfortunately the Colonel absently noticed a lace of reddish undergarments that made him only mentally groan. Why in the fuck was this happening? He couldn't care less due to the fact if General Esdeath were to see the blatant lust in this woman's eyes, he'd wager she be frozen than be kicked overboard into the ocean. Oh he could picture sight right now and it'd make him tip his glass in respect. Shit, it'd make him kiss the General out sheer disbelief and thankfulness to see this creature destroyed.

If Esdeath were ever to do that: she'd be pleasant despite her personality.

"...Minister Helena of Public Health and Internal Affairs. I've been watching you for nearly two years now Colonel, when you were first amongst your peers in that Traditional Ceremony almost a year ago now was it?"

Her voice would've been tempting had it been the fact that Tatsumi had experienced the pinnacle of that category in the form of General Esdeath herself and she'd had a body that killed those in envy. He had witnessed firsthand on what the strongest of the Empire held at her disposable and his confidence to remain unprompted would be amongst the challenges to withstand against.

Basically he knew how to deal with attractive women, somewhat.

Now comparing the blue-haired beauty to this noble woman was akin of a school girl seducing a college student and the college student falling for it. The mere idea of this description just instilled the professional discipline to merely smile kindly at the elder woman, whose hands brushed the side of his arm. Not to mention her touch made him cold to his core in the worst ways possible.

"Why the sudden curiosity in me, Minister? I'm just a commander legionnaire who just got picked to fill in a spot. A place at a Politician's discussion to maintain a clear line of support for the Imperial-Army, no less. I doubt I'm the most interesting person to converse with."

With that kind smile in place Tatsumi did what he could to dissuade this mature mistress of god-forsaken sadism to just stand in peace until Nyau's melodies kicked in. He had to maintain a passive expression or else it'd tip off the more alert of the Prime Minister allies, as few as they were here. So naturally that would be a waste to witness and he wouldn't allow that. So not placing too faith in his ability to pressure women, the Colonel waited for a response as the female aristocratic Minister chuckled good naturally.

The sound again got him disgusted ever more so now.

Really it sounded so bland.

"You're too humble about yourself, Colonel. Many of my fancies are the ways you spread the message of the Empires total dominance over the peasants that rebel against their betters. I wanted to ask: do you feel any sort of private desires to see them squirm at your word? To have utter control over another as you debate whether to make them suffer in agony or in pure pleasure? To enjoy the release one gets in order to feel alive? I've heard you have committed thousands to the crosses as you took down when destroying rebellion after rebellion within a week if I recall faintly..."

Tatsumi only maintained his inquisitive facial expression when his hands were gripping each other so tightly that he nearly snapped his own bones from the intensive forces. This woman had an attraction to him due to the fact he had ordered thousands to be crucified or put to death! What the fuck was this person? He'd bet this woman was a monster and two thirds danger beast! Those orders were from the Prime Minister's own policies!

He had obeyed but had only killed the armed rebels.

Giving the rest a choice to get their families out of the towns or villages, so that the message could be spread.

The Colonel had to merely maintain his smile.

Even though the strain of not showing any emotion other than an expected fancy nearly became impossible. Seriously his mind demanded his own body cut this fucking bitches head off and just go on his merry way! Always the monstrosities within the Capital were beyond unreal and he knew he only skimmed the surface to see how far the depravity went! Tatsumi really didn't enjoy this place, he felt so out of place and it just disgusted him again.

"Minister, I did what my orders pertained. I only completed them with the most efficient tactical layouts possible and due to the frequency of the Western Territories, I had no choice but to put them down with great haste. Having a Legion at your Command is one thing but maintaining the discipline to keep on marching is what made such an over-sized area to cover, challenging..."

The woman smiled charmingly as she leaned into his ear making the young man rooted in place due to the urge to draw his Saber, ever more temptingly. This woman had the voice of a poisonous viper and it'd only end bad if he entered its den with the intent to face it down. So inhaling slightly he bore with the female serpents tantalizing propositions that would have most other men, weak at the knees and utterly ready to accept.

He didn't see why others would be happy to trade places.

It didn't make sense: poison was poison.

No matter what body part being offered.

"Can you discuss with me in a more private suite? The efficient tactical layouts of suppressing an enemy, I'm sure we can plan accordingly if we do not act hastily.

Her breathe smelled of fruit and other such things but it couldn't disguise the smell of blood laced on her tongue.

Tatsumi made a thoughtful face to merely make him appear interested but thankfully, he gave her the hint. For the sake of his own sanity and purity that if he had to lose for: it'd be for a good cause. Internally grimacing from the image of him locked in a room with this widow-maker which he bet, hadn't held a steady marriage in probably ever. So exhaling lightly he made himself just become a simple man once again to end another conversation.

"The offer is tempting Minister, however may I have some time to consider it? The day is still young and the party has barely started. I'd rather have my time alone to consider things if that is not to offend such a woman of your position?"

He stepped back kindly smiling as the woman gave a shadow of a glare at being rejected somewhat but took a consolation that he was interested. She merely nodded at him before moving back to her entourage of peers that were talking louder now laughing and what not about the reign of the Emperor or, the Prime Minister's policies that were making their pockets with gold. The sight of it made him disgusted, which was getting frequent now and that made him wary.

All of this self-control and for what?

To maintain the illusion that he was in control? His thoughts came down to he had no choice but to remain Strong! He couldn't afford to become weak! He'd perish long before anything could be done. If he had a lesser man it'd have gotten him in trouble or killed if he offended those that were in power here and politicians were the worst amongst snakes to keep appeased.

"The right to live is nothing Tatsumi but an illusion of control, nothing more and nothing less."

Esdeath's words unknowingly sent a chill up his spine.

"I always know she's not wrong, but in this case it makes sense. Controlling that urge to kill these people is all the more harder for me to bare, damn it all. That makes sense to see an illusion of control but I do have a choice."

He could feel her gaze even now with him admitting to be strong as the only good in the world.

The Colonel could only feel less inclined to admit this out loud. Esdeath's words were taunting him even now in this midst of corrupted souls, these were the main sources of many pain and agonies that the citizens of the Empire were inflicted with. To hold back and to control himself seemed more a hindrance, but it was the right thing to do. What else could he do but no inflict more pain to allow survivors and to do that required the very Evil that he waited to lure these people to sleep. It always seemed so simple at times but it never got easier to accept.

Glancing down at his hands he could see Aria's ruby ring taunt him with his past experiences.

"I do more good to those around me than myself: who I endure all the pains to stand. Choices are one thing but to endure the consequences are something I've gotten better at over time."

Staring into the wine glass his reflection seemed diluted now and the lack of clarity made him blink in a personal moment.

He felt a bit different after going through the many trials to finally take the fight to the Corruption on hand in the Capital but did the cost of maintaining a passive posture outweigh the rewards once things started to move? Once the fact he could do something finally would that outweigh the dangers that were coming to face him on the horizon? Sometimes it just hurt to breathe and move forward.

But that was what he was good for: to bare the weight.

"Glory to the Empire."

Mentally speaking this while staring at the room as the various guests continued to express their feelings or flaunt the wealth that they had siphoned away from the Citizens who worked their lives, to have a decent life. Where did such choices be made from, when did a person fall into ruin and have the lack of respect of a life? Shaking head, the young Colonel figured to watch the rest of the crowd to spot signs of Bulat who wasn't even visible at the moment.

But before he could even find the elder soldier whose Incursio Armor had be cloaked.

A sweet inducing melody began to play.

So people started to fall over.

"About time you little disgusting creature. I hope you play your heart out for these people because it's going to be your last. I hope for all Evil that it begins to fear what happens you go out of line and when you kill innocents when the one who protects them is down. I can't wait now."

Tatsumi whispered shaking his head almost immediately to ward off the Teigu's effects.

That took a lot willpower to stand up to the effects of an illusionist song that consistently grated on his mind to go to sleep. The Colonel found that the key wasn't to hurt himself in order to stay awake but to merely do think of something to get him angry. To be fair it made up an unorthodox strategy to negate the effects, fortunately it wouldn't last too long as the passengers were nearly out of it.

Bulat witnessed the slumping forms of the target politicians and allies of the Prime Minister slowly feel the weight of the flute-teigu do its charms.

Every person felt the effects as they were starting to pass out, one by one.

Eventually Tatsumi would have the greatest pleasures of seeing their last thoughts and expressions.

"Any time Bro, now would be good."

The casual words made the chain reaction as he had waited for the first strikes against the Corruption were orchestrated by his hands alone.

Bodies suddenly exploded into fountains of gore and red the spray staining all who were in the immediate area of the Incursio spear wielder who was literally moving like a ghost. The assassin moved so quickly that every tune that was played, the blood splatter made it into a pattern of 'swish', 'spat' and ultimately the peaceful tunes of an ending to a musical that made all widen their already half awake forms as the blood fest ended within a matter of moments.

Humming a tune the Colonel raised a glass to those who were staring at his smiling form.

"All I can say about this, is that this is..."

Almost half a dozen faces of Evil, obliterated.

The satisfying relief he had sought for that underwhelming sense of a sword strike taking a chunk of flesh from an enemy.

"...Outstanding, bro."

Bodies littered one corner as the lone protection of another Politician that Night-Raid needed to survive was slumped under a fair few of his guards. Tatsumi merely walked over to him checking his pulse before sighing in relief, it seemed that Nyau was good for something after all. Making those who were not of being strong willed, sleep their worries away and just stand for an ovation once the time came.

Finishing the rest of his wine in the glass.

He waited patiently for Bulat to appear on his side completely less strained than for ware.

The elder man just commented a bit bored.

"That seemed no different from my initial plan Tatsumi. Oh well, anyone else to worry about?"

The smell of the dead freshly on the ground didn't bother the two soldiers as it was just the right reasons why they could share small smiles over such a sight. Despite the amount of crimson liquid forming in pools to shadow their images in the eyes of the dead who were already on their trips to Hell and he'd only offer them a tip of his glass.

Tatsumi smiled seeing the very Evil that he had sworn to destroy enter its beginning stages of a retaliation.

He was prepared to endure the storms ahead.

And he was ready to start the change that was needed for the Empire to flourish.

For it all started right here on the cruise ship of the corrupt and he'd purge it, absolutely.

"The Three-Beast's will move within the next few moments. So take the first one out you see with an Ax, it's a Teigu of some kind. Better to kill them as quickly as possible and have each of us, fight one on one. If you see a small midget of some kind, he's the Piper the owes me for more than his share of innocent blood spilled. Wish you luck bro, stay safe."

He looked over his shoulder to see the shimmering form of the Incursio wielder as Bulat gave him a slap on the shoulder again.

That seemed to be happening to him a lot lately.

It didn't hurt but the gesture was welcomed, warmly.

"Though I wonder if this means anything. Blood has been spilled and I know, the Beasts are prowling for Night-Raid now."

Bulat's shoulder slap wasn't strong enough to make him stumble but it was a sign that the man trusted him to do the right thing. Even though Tatsumi had to take out the most iconic faces of the Empire that represented the corruption within its heart. So all the while the soldiers were united by a sense of familiarity. Only a kin-ship of a brotherhood as solders within their respective experiences could make them work together to the point of whereas motives were merely secondary drives.

Tatsumi respected the man the elder soldier despite the differences in rank.

He'd understand his one time mentors views to turn against the Empire and he'd fight with him until a choice had to be made.

As they stood together as friends.

A sad but realistic truth would hit them hard until that day when they saw each other again. It didn't mean they were allies as one was aligned against the Empire and the other fought to save it. Both men fought together on their own choices and their own will, in order to make the worlds they fought a better place for everyone to live. It wasn't peace but it got close to that sense with what they felt as soldiers fighting a battle soon to come.

"No problem, just remember what I said about your resolve. Maintain your path and do what you can to understand what you had to do. I may not forgive you for Sheele, Tatsumi but I can respect the guts of a man who can face his choices and to not hide from it."

With that the last words of Bulat the Hundred-Man-Slayer were spoken to the young Colonel.

A young boy who bowed his head nothing less at the compassion of a man, who didn't deserve to understand him. Tatsumi knew he had hurt those within a family, did it justify to do what he he had to do? All for to reach his own goals that these were the weights he had to bare as penance? Was there any hope for him as a person for his future? To honestly to be forgiven for murder?

So wouldn't that meant the world was a hypocritical place? Whatever he did in the future for those suffering under the weight of corruption and tyranny. It really came down to a simple thing, something that was far to common in this world now. Tatsumi felt his body tighten as the blood of thousands weighed his soul onto the reality that he looked at.

Murder was a sin.

Sins were never forgotten by the men who committed them.

And less so be forgiven as a murderer, for those that witnessed it.

So he waited as he felt alone once more waiting for the Beasts to arrive from the lower decks.

The silence of the still living could be compared to the dead that were mingled amongst the dining area of the ship as the Colonel waited patiently for the other targets that were to be destroyed come forth into the range of his Saber-Blade. The waiting part was clearly the most stressing moment if the Beasts were aware of his involvement in this orchestrated show to the Evil, to show the corruption of Imperial Society to suddenly watch their backs.

"Oh I'm so going to enjoy this. Plus with most of these people asleep, it means anyone innocent will not get caught in the cross fire. Time is all I have until all of the Evil has been purged. I couldn't ask for anything more satisfying to attain on a good day, finally."

The waiting game lasted for a few minutes.

Daidara came trudging into the room to see Tatsumi himself drawing his Saber while inspecting the dead. The massive man commented grinning at the sight of so many dead bodies, he wanted to fight the strong person responsible for such a work of a battle. The younger Colonel didn't remotely flinch when his voice broke over the deathly silence of those amongst the living which really just made the Teigu-user just relish in the smell of the blood. Nothing could compare it to a battle with a strong opponent that pressed his limits into becoming truly a beast to be reckoned with.

"You alright Saber? You got red all over you and yet you're still breathing. Whose the strong assassin that did this?"

He hefted the ax-like teigu weapon over his shoulder as Tatsumi moved over several of the corpses as if studying their wounds.

This was all mere farce to lure them into a false sense of security.

Sighing heavily the young man merely moved up towards the massive giant Beast who kept grinning without a care in the world.

"Once the music started, Nyau hindered my sight. I was able to suspect that we have the possibly of an infiltrated member of Night-Raid here with us. It appears that whoever did this job, did it well enough for me to guess the opponent will be on the main deck. Let's go check it out, I doubt the others will care to hurry up."

The giant just shrugged, "The Stronger the better and the faster I gain I experience to be the best. I'll check it out, I'm a little bored in sitting for so long."

Tatsumi cracked a grin, "I know the feeling."

The two moved to the main stairs keeping their guards as the sounds of the ocean came to their eyes. Standing up on the main deck, the massive man walked towards the center of the cruise liner as Tatsumi went up the stairs behind to get an overlooked position of the spacious battlefields. He could only scan for an outline of Incursio which Bulat had moved so quickly into a place behind the unsuspecting Daidara who turned around after a few minutes.

"Hey Saber, you see anything up there? I think the guy is..."

The only person that Tatsumi would have to feel sorry for would be this man. The guy didn't have any sadistic quirks that he was aware of and held that belief of fighting stronger opponents to become his own personal legend. So for that end alone he tipped his head towards the man with a glimmer of admiration in his eyes. The massive man just didn't understand why the Colonel had just lowered his head.

He would have said something but...

Due to have Bulat reappear in front of him shimmering into view with a massive dual-edged spear.

And promptly cutting the massive giant in half!

Vertically sending two halves of a gushing body to the deck. The amount of crimson liquid just saturated the wooden decks, sending the two twitches halves of a former man tumbling around. Strange gushing sounds of a scream were akin to hearing a gurgle and hit pitched screeching. The brain hadn't comprehended its death until after a moment of clarity as organs spilled out like a mocking pinata at some birthday party for a child. Intestines tumbled out of the torso areas like a snake coiling, to defend itself.

Each vertical body had the skull halves, to one eye, which widened and in bloodshot disbelief!

"One down."

As much as the anti-climatic sense of achievement for Tatsumi occurred: this was to level the playing field and to get his own sense of Justice against the smallest Beast of them all. Cracking his wrists reflexively the young officer waited for the rest of those hiding in the shadows of the Imperial cruise ship to come forth into the light and to eventually meet their ends.

Almost with a sign from the heavens the clouds parted to bath the area in a glowing warmth of light but it got clouded from the overcast skies swarming in from the eastern winds.

Bulat merely flipped his weapon expertly linking to the back of his armor while he turned around.

As an old voice called from where the death had piled.

Tatsumi knew that the old man's tone was stern, calm and impressed at the quick death.

"Such a well executed killing, very efficient. Not to mention the quick work of Daidara as well. I wondered as much when the amount of bodies were so quickly maintained in their places. It seems I made a mistake in calling you a fool boy, clearly you're capable of some results. Such a shame that you will not make it off this ocean, for it is your grave."

The eldest amongst the Three-Beasts walked out as Tatsumi idly heard the foot steps of someone appearing on the railing behind him. Bulat looked closely from his position keeping a hand on the weapon that his Teigu had attached to the armor. However the more pressing threat to the younger Imperial had appeared in the best way possible. The voice of the Piper, the voice of a sadistic existence and he'd do the justice in ending it utterly.

Tatsumi just smiled while turning around as the youthful Nyau gave him all the more reason to fight now.

By pissing him off!

He do it to not even care about the innocents that wouldn't be harmed in their battle.

"Looks like Liver got his wish to fight someone Colonel and now I get mine! Finally to skin that perfect face of yours off. Doesn't that sound rewarding enough?"

Nyau had flipped himself onto the railing with his flute Teigu in hand as his eyes danced with unrestricted maleficent mirth. His tongue licked the outer rim of his lips, as the younger Imperial soldier merely unbuttoned his overcoat to prepared himself.

"Oh fuck you. I've been waiting for a chance for quite some time."

Tatsumi still had the shredded undershirt from earlier this morning on, freshly stained with blood. The blood of an innocent girl who shouldn't have survived but he had changed that. No longer did he step back from the ones that committed the murder of such a person, the time to fight only served to get him gleeful. So the Colonel took his time to explain in a great tone of voice that promised retribution and satisfaction.

"Be careful what you wish for. I'm not stopping until you're fucking dead. When I purge you as a face of Evil to never again harm those of this nation, I'll be happier. So play your song Nyau and I will give you my best performance to dance to your death."

Hissing the words out of his mouth Tatsumi flung his overcoat to the side of the railing where it hung in the breeze. Preparing himself into a lose stance that got his hand onto his Saber as a smile of unfamiliarity drifted upon his face. The sheer swift in attitude made the youngest of the Three-Beasts only frown at the excitement the boy was radiating to fight.

That was odd.

No sense of uneasiness?

Nothing to remotely show him that he was afraid?

Nyau's silence made Tatsumi only grin in an eerie manner to the youthful beast's master.

"What's wrong with you? Aren't you delighted to see me take you on? Where's that taunting piece of shit that I've come to harbor an extreme dislike for?"

The insults made the blond youth scowl before he started to play his Teigu flute making the Colonel only dash forward at speeds that made the elder blond flip gracefully onto the railing of the vessel. The missed strike didn't have any profound effect onto the Imperial Officer who was waiting patiently for the adversary to make the next move.

Nyau moved quickly enough as Tatsumi tried to strike at the smaller opponents legs but nimbly the smaller Beast literally walked on the blade of his Saber.

The sudden graceful movements made him widen his eyes as he got kicked in the face sending him forward to the railing of the vessel.

But that wasn't the follow up to that attack.

The smaller blond slammed two more kicks into his back making him hiss from the pain.

Whirling around he slammed the Saber blade first into the deck as the nimble little sadistic man grinned at the slower moving soldier who didn't have a Teigu. If he had one then it'd have been more alarming to fight such a prominent swordsman. This boy was maybe shrewd, but if he couldn't catch up to him to begin with and than it meant: he had all the fun time to play some melodies until he died.

It'd be such a beautiful picture to that end of a boy.

Whose face was so perfect to hang on his wall.

"You're too slow Colonel."

That taunt made Tatsumi get himself back into a defensive position with his Saber in-between the junction of his free limb. Lining up the strike he exhaled deeply while lunging forward as the laughing blond again avoided his strike still playing his Teigu-flute to make the younger boy stumble as he slammed a kick into the pack of his knees.

Pressing the advantage the small blond used one hand to play his flute as he slammed the younger Imperial to the deck, occasionally making him block his rib-cage or taking a shot to the face.

Nyau laughed loudly as Tatsumi slammed into the back of the railing nearly causing him to tumble overboard into the ocean...

"I'm not going for a swim."

Looking up just as when Nyau appeared behind him sending a monster kick to the back of the boy's skull to make slammed a good two meters into the wooden deck. Delighted now as the Teigu user quickly appeared overhead about to slam his foot into the Colonel's ribs the boy rolled away at the last second. He had shoulder rolled towards their initial position when the battle begun.

Gingerly wiping the blood from his lips and spitting over the side into the oceans waves.

"Lucky break, Colonel. But I will crush your ability to breathe when I can."

Tatsumi retorted smirking, "What a coincidence, I was thinking of that same thing to do to you."

A massive shock-wave rocked the vessel making the two younger combatants see the sight on the main area of the Cruise-Liner.

Bulat had been fighting against Liver to the point where the man was manipulating water around in the ocean to keep the other soldier locked into a stalemate. Their dueling had been rapid, short but powerful as water like dragons came up spear heading at the Incursio user who was able to sheer out run them as they crashed into the wooden deck of the ship sending it groaning as if the strains were too much.

The old man literally was using his Teigu's own ability to level the battlefields in his favor and for what it was worth, it didn't look good.

Tatsumi couldn't interfere yet since he had his own troubles. The troubles trying to catch a fast skirmishing little creature that refused to shut up. Inhaling a great deal of air he waited for another round with Nyau watching him and gauging his movements as he took in hits.

This wasn't the problem!

He couldn't grab the nimble little shit. So for that end alone he needed something to make the youth make a mistake as he weaved over to the right now. Trying to find an edge on an opponent that seemingly race circles around him. Nyau literally was casually side stepping the Saber's strike the closest limb. Trying to keep up with that image as the melody being played made his vision swim in a volley of colors.

"Wait! It's that flute! It's making me see Nyau in double afterimages and making it hard to focus. So why is it just..."

As he withstood another skeleton crushing blow that sent him to his knees, his vision wavered seeing the blond move within them and he was seeing doubles. Blinking as the sounds of the Teigu-Flute slowly made the Beast move to his right however something seemed off about the way his eyes were adjusting to the amount of movement. Getting onto his feet, Tatsumi tried to kick out the legs of the smaller adversary who laughed out loud again. His assailant continued onwards pressing the limit his will could tolerate the pain.

Another series of kicks hit his side forcing blood past his lips to spill onto the wooden deck.

The Colonel smirked despite the copper taste lingering.

"I get it."

Nyau's fighting was based on the sheer ability for him to dodge and use sounds to disorient enemies.

But could he multitask?

In the sense of dodging two things at once?

"It could work though can I get close enough to use that and make him panic? Well, time to do something brash and possibly exciting! Seeing illusions is one thing but to see something that is making them to not move, is another detail altogether!"

Standing straight he got into his stance where his sword arm locked behind him and the tip of the Saber lay at the very middle of his index and thumb on the free hand to line up a strike. Inhaling deeply the boy waited for his enemy to smirk at him, standing on the opposite site of the upper-deck they were that oversaw the main battlefield of which Liver and Bulat fought one another.

Chips of metallic armor from Incursio were all over the wooden surfaces.

And they had finally understood each other or rather who they were fighting...

It seemed that the two here knew of their own pasts that split at events that the Empire or rather the Prime Minister had created when both men were younger. This unknown bond between the elder soldiers didn't trickle into the battle that Tatsumi and Nyau were on above decks that overlooked the main one. In this case the less flashier battle between the younger soldiers was more personal to spill blood over.

Tatsumi finally understood what he could do and what he had to do in order to end this fight.

It'd be more unorthodox than anything if the answer came forth from the very thing that was making him disorientated.

"Oh, man. Liver is really putting the pressure on that Night-Raid guy whose probably a friend of yours. Such a naughty thing Colonel, to betray the Empire to let Night-Raid kill the people you're supposed to be protect."

Tatsumi only raised an eyebrow grinning all the while as he angled his saber.

"I don't recall serving that lard of a Prime Minister, who I'd ram my own saber down his throat to end all my troubles. Not even Esdeath herself will break my loyalties fuck-head. I'll always be loyal to the Empire, to the Emperor foremost before I ever yield. For you are just the very Evil, I swore to purge from my nation. So get your facts right and when I have your tongue in front of your own eyes creature I'll end your existence in the way, you'd enjoy it..."

He trailed off laughing lightly making the blond snarl at the insolence of the young boy. This whole fight he had been toying with him, dodging his strikes and now the little shit had the audacity to threaten him with death? The youngest Beast just stared hardly at the Colonel who tilted his head at the expression as if mocking him. A subtle shifting on his feet made the Beast retort annoyed at the lack of fear coming from the boy after he came down to his anxiety.

"How so boy? By preaching your Justice and Hope? It's just boring now."

The answer came in the form of another smile, this a similar expression that Nyau recognized.

"No that would be too kind, I have something more fitting for you. I want you to sing as I have your tongue so that all can hear the sound of when Evil is purged, the very things that hide from my beliefs will make them fear to ever do the things they take for granted. In the end I'm just going to kill you much more happily."

That laughter echoed into the Beasts ears as he snarled charging forward as the boy stood there in his stance. Nyau wanted his face hung on a wall more than ever and he started to play his Teigu-Flute clearly ready to kill the Colonel who waited with his head lowered.

For five seconds he waited, as foot step after foot-step vibrated into the feet of the younger Imperial.

Nyau lunged forward snapping his teigu in half as a blade came forth underneath the interior instrument.

"Die! Saber!

Tatsumi merely smirked as his eyes flashed in delight.

"Gotcha."

Moving forward the Colonel watched as the little blond started to move left to right but the image of the teigu was moving underneath his actual strike. Tatsumi had taken a risk that the image of a user could be manipulated by the very Teigu that didn't move at all and for what it was worth: it was a chance he take to get this little shit to bleed!

Smiling he waited for the small Beast to get closer as he withheld his Saber for another few more seconds...

Bringing his arm back with his heart pounding in his ears.

He threw the serrated saber making Nyau suddenly veer upwards to the right as the blade impaled itself onto the deck as the sounds of metal ringing made the Teigu's own sounds get negated in mid air!

So smiling widely the little blond didn't realize that sound negated sound within the close proximity into a dull tone that couldn't be processed by the human ear drum. Tatsumi had just took a risky chance and managed to turn the tide within the duel itself!

Nyau had taken his lips off his flute to brace himself upon in landing a crouch...

And his eyes looked up as a shadow engulfed his frame.

Only for Tatsumi's knee to smash into his jaw causing an excruciating yell out in pain followed up by an elbow drop to the nasal cavity crushing the cartilage inwards into the skull and effectively breaking the smaller Beasts nose into an according like effect. The vision of the small blond flickered as he felt himself get lifted into the skies. One brief moment of a soothing sense of lightness and then...

He promptly got body slammed into the wooden deck!

The back of his neck hitting at full momentum while making him see spots of light flicker over his vision.

Cracks in the wooden plants groaned from the stress as Nyau's felt a numbness trickle into his spine.

Then came the agony feeling a hot liquid as distortions rocked his senses as the Beast looked up at the hazy outline of the Colonel who stared down at him like the an avatar of death itself. The younger Officer merely stood for a split second before stomping down hard onto the hand that held the Teigu Scream. Tatsumi had literally crushed the blond's fingers as snapping sounds of bone bent under the heel of his steel boots.

"You used yourself as a means to attack opponents while having that Teigu to disorient the enemy. A sound tactic but unfortunately for you, your flute didn't move with your body. So every time you went left the flute stayed perfectly center in my eyes and to be fair I understood what I had to do. Yet do you want to know what I think? About you?"

Tatsumi explained while twisting his steel laced boots onto the hand of the Beast whose broken knuckles and fingers releasing the wooden instrument to the deck as Nyau tried to grab it with his free limb. However the Colonel had other ideas as he brought down his other foot onto the said limb of the smaller blond. The steel material crushing the knuckles underneath the smaller hand making three of the fingers pop out of their sockets making the blond screech in pain. Splinters of bone peeked underneath the flesh bleeding red liquid.

Bones that were supposedly strong in their own rights but became twigs.

Twigs that were bending under another persons will.

Leaning down he gripped the crushed nasal appendage of the blond's face twisting it as he reflected on what he saw before him. For every word that he pronounced vindictively as the eyes on the Colonel's face became even more delighted to see that Evil had realized something about him. A primal emotion that all held in their bodies and minds whenever that end came upon them, unexpectedly.

Fear.

"You give in so easily to feel pain and yet you give so much of it out! Skinning faces? Making innocents beg for mercy and to receive only a sadistic end at the hands of a creature that deserves no mercy! I will purge Evil, evil that is you! With you as the face of it, I without fail will kill it and I will not back down from it ever!"

Colonel Saber enjoyed purging Evil and to make the world a better place!

So he laughed darkly seeing the look of rage appear in the smaller man's frame, he trembled as he realized something about the younger Imperial staring down at him. This wasn't a kind man who stood for justice or hope, Nyau saw something else appear behind the boy whose eyes were glowing literally with an excitement that those of their professions excelled at. His heart beating as the looming doom appeared in his gaze and he could only see the very thing, he had done in his line of work. This was the look of a boy who had given in to the inner beasts but it gave him an answer to understand that look.

And this boy had killed a lot of people!

A monster only revealed itself as a side of him to relish in it!

"Fuck you. You're no different from us! You're a monster like the rest of us! You hide it like a..."

Tatsumi punched the smaller blond in the face three times, nearly breaking his jaw from the force behind it.

The full momentum of him leaning down as he slammed another fist into the Beast. Esdeath's supposed strongest subordinates that together could kill him, for sure but they had one trait that rubbed off on many.

They were arrogant!

So arrogant they underestimated him and for the life of it all: it felt good to literally take the fight to Evil! To literally gets his hands onto the Corruption and to plunge blade into very source of it all was at the side of the Emperor's own throne. It was just a start, a small tease to savor that kill whenever the future came forward to exploit itself. So until then, he'd enjoy what had been given to him and to utterly destroy it!

Muscles tightening as Tatsumi hammered down onto the half alive Teigu user who only screamed in pain as his jaw swelled beyond its normal appearance.

The Colonel stopped to inhale deeply feeling blood drip down his own hands.

The gloves were torn slightly to expose the hard skin underneath.

"A monster you say? Well then I hide it like how a smart man should do so, you little twisted miscreant of a creature. I fight like a Commander of an Army and I will always find a way to win the day. I may not have a Teigu or even anything to make me seem special but I can still kill you fuck-head, regardless! So let's begin!"

Gripping the impaled Saber, buried into the wooden back and it was not even a foot away. Ever since the body throw was meant to get himself closer to his enemy, he needed the weapon now. Tatsumi lifted it as it creaked from the pressure his hand held the handle along with his eyes blazing with an emotion that made him look more akin to something other than human.

His arm tensed pointing the tip of the blade at the blond Nyau who glared defiantly at this fellow monster.

A hypocritical monster, it was so disgusting!

Spitting a glob of blood at the Colonel's face who merely smiled.

"Why so serious?"

Tatsumi vindictively rammed the sharpened blade between the shoulder and the neck of the smaller blond who screeched! Screeching in an agony as the tone of it was so high that it'd made the two combatants on the main deck pause in their fighting. Both Liver and Bulat stared upwards for a moment to take in the inhumane screaming that would've scarred many.

He didn't care! He didn't a damn about it all!

As far as he was concerned this was retribution and justice for all of those who had died at this Beast's hands!

Justice at its most sweetest hope given to him!

Within his body blood boiling for more to make do on his promises!

To end the Evil, that plagued the Empire.

The half alive youth tried to flail around but a strong grip on the top of his hair made the struggling impaled Beast stare into the eyes of his killer. The eyes that were a hellish far cry from the usual kind soul of an honest and passive boy who had ordered the lives of thousands to be put to death. He was responsible for thousands of lives buried in the dunes of the Western Territories despite the mercies he had given to those of the rebellions. Tears had shed, even though it wasn't enough to erase the stain of Sins off his soul.

Not ever in this life would he be free of Sins.

But he could only destroy the most vile of Evil to stop those atrocities from occurring ever again.

Reaching into the smaller man's jacket he found the skinning knife that he had seen the blond use on the various other victims before the caravan that held the former Prime Minister and his daughter Spear. Her eyes were replaying in his mind over and over again. Tatsumi flipped opened the knife while idly looking down at the impaled creature at his tenacious thoughts. Thoughts so causally explained, that it certainly mimicked the superiority that Nyau had done to many while skinning their faces off.

"You know I've always wondered whether you'd be at the mercy of a person who skinned your face off. For once I think you need to realize how this knife is going to skin you alive but I won't do the same thing as well. It's because personally I'd do a sloppy job, however..."

Gripping the blond's skull he slammed it down onto the wooden deck cracking bone in the process. His eyes rolling into the back of his head as Tatsumi merely leaned down whispering the promised death that had gave to one of the Three-Beasts and didn't go back on his word.

"...I'm willing to find out how bad I can be. Besides I did promise you'd sing for me when I tore your tongue out and to make you play that flute for a melody. So hold your requests and screams to a minimal. I'm not going to lie, it's going to hurt and this will be painfully fun for me.""

Gripping the side of the half-unconsciousness face of the Beast he pulled the creatures tongue as he gargled from the amount of saliva that had been built up and the small droplets of blood. Tatsumi brought the knife underneath the muscle and lifted quickly to make the tearing of flesh sound over the main deck.

And Nyau screamed so loudly it echoed into the open seas.

Plus he started to choke on his own tongueless wounds.

Holding the appendage in front of the shrieking blond Beast the Colonel merely spoke damning the smaller cretin into the afterlife, his words causing a profound effect of hatred and terror on the struggling smaller man. Waving the tongue in front of the blond's eyes despite it twitched for a few seconds did the full hell come down upon the half-alive Beast.

Cracking his knuckles together, Tatsumi whispered the request that a melody needed to be played.

"C'mon start singing! You always wanted to play for me right? Well, give me a show and something to remember Nyau! Oh! Let me put the flute into your mouth its right here. So start a tune for me, will you?"

Grabbing the soon to be dead Teigu users actual instrument the Imperial Officer rammed the Teigu into the overflowing mouth of crimson and pieces of muscle being spat onto his shirt. Inhaling deeply he heard a wheezed gurgling tune fill the holes on the metallic musical instrument and he started to hum in a mocking follow up.

"What do you know, I actually enjoy listening to your melodies. Go on keep playing and I'll ask for an encore, eventually!"

Disappointingly he got fed up as the blond chocked under his grip.

It caused the tongueless blond spitting over to the side.

"...uck..ou..."

Tatsumi smirked, "What? Speak up? I didn't catch that? Cat got your tongue perhaps?"

Nyau glared at him before spiting a large amount of blood onto his face as a raspy guttural tone of voice came from the smaller Beast. The rage was there alright, that inferno of emotion that the Colonel knew all too well and just watched it transition into a blind madness of terror. He watched with emerald orbs so apathetic to it that he could only smile at the irony of this situation. One who issued death was afraid of dying to the very thing he feared the most choking on stage for a performance itself!

But he casually wiped the liquid off.

Then he heard the three words that made him finally end this purging, sadly.

"...Fuck...you...Saber!"

Tatsumi shrugged before taking the tongue off the knife and plunging into the other side of the man's upper torso causing another screeching sound that was inhumane. It sounded more akin to an animal caught in a trap that had crushed its ankles. Even Danger-Beasts couldn't maintain the pitch of this piece of Evil underneath his heel as the Colonel could only make an interesting fact about that. Shrugging to himself again, beasts were beasts regardless of the spieces in that sense.

The Colonel got up from his position towering over the half dead blond Beast.

He promptly stomped on the neck of the smaller man crushing his throat with one action.

So blood that would've been solid liquid was coughed into a misty foam!

This foam was spewing a haze like mist as his eyes rolled over and he violently became a spasm of limbs. A shame that Nyau barely any motor control as the amount of crimson choking its owners air ways even more potently. It still wasn't enough to make this bastard die in shame! The Colonel knew he'd did the world a better favor for his actions. So why did it feel so wrong, to end this life? To end this little piece of shit and ultimately not feel bad about it?

Taking his Saber impaled on its intended target, Tatsumi lifted it so that flesh slide free.

All the while aiming it at the neck area his eyes were a cold emeralds akin to a certain demonic general of the Empire.

"Soldiers we are: we the Imperial-Sabers do not flee, nor do we falter and nor do we fail to purge Evil from our sights."

With out further delay the Colonel swung his Saber down decapitating the Beast without even blinking.

"Burn in hell you little bastard."

The splatter of blood gushing out onto the wooden planks didn't bother him as much and he could only stare at the execution he had just committed. Panting lightly his arms were trembling as the head rolled onto the railing overlooking the main deck below his position and he could only look down. To actually kill that insufferable little cretin of sadism and he'd hadn't the slightest guilt in doing so, for sure he was killing the actual Evil that plagued the Empire.

Nearly this got him excited it took more than a few years to maintain his composure and it was paying off finally. That feeling of accomplishment getting closer to the sight he had waited for, to that moment in his time as a soldier and to eventually, right the wrongs that encircled his heart. Inhaling the salty air of the oceans blessings, Tatsumi watched the clouds roll over heard as he took a moment to relax.

"It's not enough, isn't it? What a stupid question of course it's not enough, it never is!"

The sounds of battle shook him where he stood as he looked down to see Liver and Bulat in a stalemate of sorts. Their forms locked in a fatal death struggle as Tatsumi witnessed the conclusion to their battle without being able to assist his one-time mentor that helped him while with Night-Raid. He could only watch in a stunned vision as the elder man had whipped out a knife, seeing it gleam in the fading light that parted from the clouds.

It gleamed menacingly as he tried to sprint over the railing running as fast as his body could carry itself.

Balut held the positioned to strike from behind!

"Bro! STOP! He's got a knife!"

And Liver struck fast as both fighters would meet their ends...

The warning and shout from his throat came one second too late as Incursio's spear punctured the old man through his torso spewing out his own blood onto the running Colonel and the said person who saw the knife, watched it plunge into an exposed patch of skin. His eyes took in the expression of pain and sudden shock on Bulat's exposed face as he kicked the older man away leaving the dagger like weapon embedded in the elder soldier's side. Blood trailed onto the white steel like armor as its user started to realize the full implication of that his life was over now.

Yanking it from its spot the man fell to his knees clutching his chest as Tatsumi understood why a poison could do that to a man, if they didn't have a resistance to it.

He slid over onto the man's side as he gasped in pain seeing his Teigu receded back into its form of a sword. Almost stumbling Tatsumi supported the man trying to get him standing straight but the damage was already done. He knew why that Liver would wait until the last effort to kill the enemy, he'd wanted to go out with someone other than himself it he were to fail. It was a suicide tactic when an enemy was outclassing you and the advantages were decided from the start.

"If you thought I was going to die alone Bulat. Then you'd be a fool..."

Liver wheezed out in front of them as the man was slumped against the wall where the stairs led to the bottom decks. Since Nyau's melodies had worn off, it'd be making the guest down below wake up from their forces slumbers. Tatsumi could only shift his own body to support the weakening Incursio's users frame, the poison that the old man had used spread quicker into the blood stream of the elder soldier that was respected by the younger Officer. Unbidden to their owners thoughts, tears were starting to form and they were slowly dripping past his cheek. That overwhelming sense of anger and hopelessness folded onto his heart akin to the night where Sheele had been killed by his own hands.

It was the same!

Like that night when he had to choose.

Always the same fucking thing! Why did he always have to get people who he considered friends killed? He got another person who didn't deserve to die to see their end and it didn't matter! It didn't matter how much accomplishment he took in today, pain was pain and it always lead back into his heart! Nothing was worth this insanity of agony pain that coursed through his veins! Always his actions had a cost, always was it high to pay and it never ceased!

Dipping his head tears dropped to hit the wooden plants of the vessel.

Also Bulat's own crimson wounds mixed with the salty droplets of sorrow themselves.

"I wouldn't expect anything less, General..."

That revelation made the Colonel just tremble in stunned disbelief at the truth. It made both men glance at the boy whose entire body was soaked in a bloody visual that pictured a sinister person. Majority of the white uniform had been saturated in red, along the chest portion as long streams went down his legs and both pairs of eyes witnessed the bloodied face of a Colonel whose gaze made two different forms of answers come forth.

"Is that your, legacy Bulat? A boy with dreams that are too improbable to achieve in this life?"

Feeling the man literally collapse onto his feet Tatsumi slowly put the dying man down into a leaning position.

Propping his back against his knees the elder soldier only grinned with a small trail of red going down his chin. He coughed violently struggling to maintain a clear mind as the need to sleep surged forward and if he closed his eyes the Hundred-Man-Slayer knew that it'd be game over. At least not until explaining his hopes and dreams, to be passed onwards at the best of his time to live. Summoning his strength the soldier told his former teacher and General, the reasoning he believed in the bloodied visage that was Tatsumi.

"I'd say he's as close to it as a brother passes the responsibility to a younger one. General, you didn't see what I witnessed in this boy..."

A fit of coughs interrupted the man who winced as the poison worked against its targets will to live, the organ that kept on beating would lose but the struggle would be fierce. His heavily implied breathing made Tatsumi keep his head lowered as tears continued to stream down his face, knowing that a person he could come to respect and to befriend, had to die in front of him. Again no less by his involvement at the actions of a battle and he couldn't have been there to land a hand.

"Bulat. That boy is just another endless result of a world that is dying. He has the eyes of my cherished Lady but..."

The old General of the Empire stared up at the skies watching the sun hide out of sight.

Birds were flying above as the stink of corpses and death enticed them for a free meal.

The old man just struggled to maintain a low heart rate as his very life liquid spilled behind his frame on the wooden planks.

"...He hides behind a mask of hope and justice. For what reasons, I know not. I can see your fate boy and you try so hard, to deny it. That nature has not yet consumed you but it will and when it does. You will only fall into despair as many who have tried before in my time alive."

Tatsumi felt his mind go numb at the comparison to the woman who was considered the strongest of the Empire. To be compared to her wasn't a good thing in the sense of how ruthless and uncaring she was under that belief of hers. Arms were useless to try to justify a defense but now, he realized something utterly rationalized as the corpse of the youngest Beast crossed over into his mind.

The way he enjoyed picking him apart, enjoying the expressions and maintain a sense of dominance that only filled his veins with adrenaline of the highest ecstasies. Liver's details of his assumptions were clear that he thought of Tatsumi as another Beast in his own right. That thought made him pale as his stomach lurched at the thoughts alone.

Liver wasn't making up a dying man's rambling but speaking of a truthful opinion.

Which was far more terrifying for him to admit it openly...

"No. You're wrong, General."

Bulat had remained silent while having his head bowed from the weakness his body succumbing to the poison in his veins. His voice grew fainter nearly to the point where it'd be hard for the dying old man to manage but they did. Their opinions were classing over the resolve of a boy, who had experienced the same amount of despair that many would end their lives from. Tatsumi didn't want to speak due to his fears of such thoughts, becoming a true reality.

"Tatsumi maybe rough around the edges as many of us are but he's becoming something greater than neither of us could ever achieve. He has the look of a Great man that is just understanding the world, a world beyond the black and white it pertains too. He's just finding his way to that dream, it's a dream that he has cried for to make this world a better tomorrow..."

Liver's silence spoke volumes as Bulat continued weakly feeling a dizziness swim onto his vision.

"...Mistakes are made to those who stumble on their way, General. You taught me that every decision we take, is just a future we choose to strive for and for that end alone, I entrust mine for Tatsumi to strive for. A peace to be made in the form of our dreams as soldiers."

The man shuddered as the temperature of his skin heated up, Tatsumi finally found the strength to grip the larger man's hand in his own and just squeezed. While he held no romance for those in the same gender, he could honor a fallen battle-brother of the Imperial-Sabers in the same rights to death in the Emperor's name. Crushing the fading soldier's hand, the Colonel maintained his silence as the conversations between former comrades continued despite the crash of waves on the sides of the vessel, with birds cawing overhead and the lack of any ceremony made this affair painful.

"A peace you say? This world is beyond that point Bulat and for that end alone, I'll see you at the place were all soldiers find at the dream waiting."

The old man softly spoke making Tatsumi look over as he addressed him. The man's eyes bore into his own teary emerald orbs and for a sliver of a second, the Colonel witnessed hope drift into eldest of the Three-Beasts who lay there dying. Feeling the vessel rock left to right, the young Imperial listened to the advice of an elder General, who had made mistakes and could ultimate impart the weight of choices that extended into the next life that awaited them all.

"Colonel Saber. You have good intentions as did many of us who held the same dreams, hell is paved with good intentions. Always remember that a dream is just a dream unless one cannot hope to see that change come to them. To understand what they will become in order to see that end and as soldiers we bare the weight of our decisions as leaders. As for you Bulat I'll await you there and I'm happy to die on the battlefield of my choosing, finally..."

And with those last words General Liver, the last of Esdeath's Three-Beasts were dead.

Passing on into the skies where the heavens embraced the loyal sons of those born in the womb of War and to be baptized by the fires of chaos that emulated their lives. The last rites of an old soldier passed onto the legacy of the younger generations who bore the weight of Sins, to see a dream that both the Empire continued to hide from those that were seeking it.

Tatsumi watched with tears flowing down his cheeks hitting Bulat on his forehead.

His eyes were dimming as the second to fall to death's gentle embrace soon came upon the boy's senses.

"Tatsumi, I want you to bear Incursio in my name. Find a use for the armor that holds my dreams and my legacy for you to endure. I need someone to remember the resolve I had to say, 'I could die, happy' and to be able to pass on. Can you accept this?"

This request came from a dying man, who the Colonel could come to love as a teacher in another life. That agonizing fire of loss, coming full circle as he bit his lips trying to stop the sounds of grief to plague the older soldiers mind before he passed. Thoughts were running through his head, the weight of sending another close friend to death and to be able to maintain such a path, was nearly impossible to accept again.

Another life claimed due to his actions and direct influences.

Tatsumi stayed silent, trying to maintain his tears.

"Bro..."

The request couldn't be accepted!

This god damned pain inside his hear, due to the Sins of his past and present were too much! The Armor may accept him as a wielder but he could not accept it as a weapon to attain his dreams. The teigu wasn't meant for a cursed soul such as him. It just wouldn't be right, Bulat deserved someone who could fight onwards and to fight for a peace against the Empire. This was what the full weight of denying the man's request as this was the weight of Sin, this was the full weight of penance and he couldn't use the Incursio armor due to his own inability to accept reality.

"I can't accept it. You're asking the wrong man to take up the mantle of your dreams. My loyalty to the Emperor and to the Empire is unto Death. To accept Incursio is break my promise to the Emperor himself, if break that promise I'm to deny hope and to deny faith to those willing to see a better tomorrow. So that things like this don't have to drive a heart full of madness, I know for a fact that your teigu will hate me to be full of rejection and so full of sickness, it'd be too much to bare..."

Bulat smiled weakly looking at him as his forehead lay on the lap of the Colonel who had adjusted to make the soon to be corpse, comfortable and could only wait the last minutes of this man's life end. His arms were shaking to the point of uncontrollable feelings of rage that were sinking into his veins. It was poisoning his heart, making every moment so ungodly painful he just looked to the skies crying his very soul out and eventually, the tears would run dry.

But the pain in his heart would never run empty until the end of his suffering came to the light.

"I understand, so find someone who can. I entrust this task to you Tatsumi and if it's not too much to ask for. Do you know anything to make this passing memorable? Hell do you anything to make the best way a man can sleep?"

Tatsumi's eyes closed as the tears were becoming harder to form.

His lips gritting to hide the pressure his teeth and stop urge to yell out to hate this damned world!

"I know one song but its not a song. It's chant of rites I came up with for my men in my Legion. Bro, do you want to know what we sang after those we had to kill or for those who died in our time? Do you want to hear what we sang to those who died before our eyes? When all the blood is no longer being spilled?"

The man squeezed his hand in return giving the Colonel all he needed for a man to say 'yes'.

But he started to sing a rite of passage into the heavens as the Imperial-Sabers held a soft memorial poem about the lives of those in service and to find eternal peace. Where Glory reined in all the hearts of men and women in the service of their leaders, the Emperor's of the past to guide their spirits into an Elysium of Faith and Hope to be eternally everlasting. So every tear shed now was not to be wasted on petty what-if's but of how to endure the path that he had to step forth onto once again.

"For we who are Flesh and Steel; begotten to our fates as we fall.

We remember; not your time to die not as a means to mourn.

But as a means to join you in time, for the Glory that await us all.

For we who are Flesh and Steel; begotten to our fates as we endure.

In death, is not a means to an end. Death is but our journey to our peace.

So we shall endure with Hope that is reached and to be afar.

Afar that is Faith to be revered as we enter our eternal Rest.

Rest that is given, to those who serve to die begotten to our fates.

For we who are Flesh and Steel; our Brothers and Sisters who await us.

We shall never forget, never shall we forget what you gave in life."

The breathing of the Hundred-Man-Slayer slowed to the point where the heart that beat within the chest of a person who Tatsumi called friend, brother and mentor for a brief time could only grieve alone in the world of cruelty. A world that had to change, a world that had to change for the better or those that would follow in his steps, suffer the same fate as he was now.

He shook with emotions that were bottled up beyond the point of no return.

Tatsumi could only stop crying as the tears ran dry.

But that aching in his heat only grew.

Inhaling shakily he took the blade of Incursio and hitched it to his hip: honoring the request of a fallen soldier who had no right to die here. However fate had gave the hand of death, but alas it gave the push for a drive to change the world that was so attuned to the ends of life. Nothing good could come from War, more so than the Corruption that fueled the fires of Chaos and for that end alone: Tatsumi Saber would stand against it as always.

He had to endure it.

Enduring a pain so great that it'd kill him in the end if he couldn't reach the dream.

So he stood up putting the hands of the his one time mentor and brother in arms, as a soldier to rest upon his own chest. The peaceful expression of the man in the eternal rest, could only be remembered as the one of many who would see the end of War and he'd join them after his life amongst the world was over.

But until that day when he died.

It'd be the day he was judged.

"I will continue onwards fighting for those like us."

The sun parted bathing the deck of carnage in a warm light.

"Sweet dreams, Handsome."

Staring at the body of his friend the Colonel let the warmth wash over his frame.

But for the life of him...

Tatsumi just felt hollow.

So as he heard the first voices of the citizens of the Empire awaken to the bloody massacre that was below his position he prepared himself, to see that Hope wasn't dead yet. It wasn't time for him to die. He couldn't wait to see night fall to wash away this daily cycle of death once more. A cycle that made him wish for one thing that certainly stood out as a soldier, one who knew the agonies of continuing towards a seemingly impossible dream.

A dream that might as well have killed him.

End Chapter Ten

Author's Note: Review please, it always makes me happier to see responses and I want to reach a goal of one thousand. Yeah its asking a bit much but hey, I got a thing called time.

The Chant above (I honestly had ten people to give me recommendations, a few told me to change it but most said leave it be) is a reference to Warhammer40k, note I didn't ripe anything off and I honestly was shocked to make sure I didn't do anything of that sense. It's not my intention to plagiarize and I do respect the source material from where it inspired me. Most people told me keep it that length and say wing the storm or praises or insults, I don't go poetry in that sense of a professional. I'm a schmuck when it comes down to witty pretty poems that rhyme, point is I left it there to make you readers (understand) the severity of what Tatsumi experiences.

And two paragraphs the ten lines is not a long chant (The NCO Creed and Officers Creed of the U.S Army are both a hell of a lot longer) I can say I once knew the Soldier's Creed of the U.S Army by heart and that thing is about thirteen lines? I just felt the need to show you a more in depth sorrow as a soldier mourns a friend and they can't do jack shit to save them, poison is poison and it never ends well.

I like to say that a few things have been made clear and some are only just beginning to form that there is more to Tatsumi than that 'hope' and 'justice' ideals that I made him consistently repeat. There's a reason for it, at times it seems redundant and mind grudging boring to read but when events like that incident with Nyau occur: it makes you think about what he does at times. Is he truly a good person or is he really a twisted person like those we've come to see in the Akame-Ga-Kiru universe that defines them as killers.

Murder is murder, regardless of what Tatsumi's intentions are or what he plans to do.

He has killed thousands, again good intentions or not: the consequences and sheer weight imply negative outlooks...

Just ask yourself if you had to order that many people to die and the bad always out shot the good.

Does that give him the right as to why he continuously tries to justify this more twisted personality that is a jaded mentality? Apart from this quick but brutal fight, its not over the top since again Tatsumi was underestimated by an arrogant opponent who enjoys pain more so to finish him off. I kept this fight grounded and more so to avoid the flashier battle between Liver/Bulat (It's the same as canon so I didn't feel the need to write that out) which you can see in the anime for your guilty pleasure. I enjoy explaining this to you readers, it clarifies some clunky grammar at times and I feel the need to express myself near the end of all these chapters.

It gives you a more explained version if you can't catch or what not, its all for good fun on my part to do this for your entertainment to read/review this story.

Moving onwards towards the more popular questions.

Is Tatsumi getting a Teigu: Oh Yes, it also involves everyone who helped me design Teigus and OC's which (Spoiler: Is the Next ARC) the coming chapters flush out. I say this with the utmost excitement for you to enjoy the pleasures you have thought of to help me and I in turn, give you the suspense to find out as to who and what is coming to help out Tatsumi rise to that dream of: changing the Empire. Be patient, you'll see in the coming chapters and have hope in your choices.

Incursio on the other hand, the Manga essentially proved a theory I had always suspected: that it's alive!

Literally a Teigu that adapts from user to user, is alive and sentient to a degree. I honestly had it in my gut to know Incursio and by extension, other Teigu were that blended line of science and magic to create weapons that are alive. Sussano/Koro are living creatures, constructed but they feel and learn like people or any other intelligent being! Plus the unreal Power boost Tatsumi gets (in-canon) really just makes it predictable, hell that manga has been predictable for some time and I really am terrified to have go a cliche route of an ending.

So what does that for this story: I have an answer in the form of a new Teigu...

Hold your thought process of saying, 'Oh god over-powered weapon' because its NOT that simple. Minor warning this Teigu will essentially have more harm than good attached to it and its based on the user's own ability to understand a double edge sword. To those who I've discussed this with keep your mouths shut please or god forbid I will end this update or story here.

My point is this Teigu will have more dangers than rewards per say as long as Tatsumi (in this story) understands power is not willingly given without consequence.

So anyhow the next ARC will split from whatever I've done in the past ten chapters, literally this is end the Threat-Beasts ARC as things will change and you will see new things as they come forth. Foreshadowing shout outs to those who sent in OC's, Teigus and all the works: be prepared to see familiar creations come to life and interact with the story. The time is coming and be aware, I'm writing twenty one I think at this time.

Plenty of time (as I said earlier) to wait.

I hope everyone is safe, is well and I hope you have good fortunes in wherever you're at.