Hello again everybody! Welcome back for chapter 33 of The Glacial Ones!
To start off with, as always, review responses!
Shadex2: To be honest, I don't think this story is quite a master piece, but thanks for the support and encouragement anyway. I really, really appreciate it!
Drunkle Qrow: Don't worry, the cliff hangers only kill you if you let go. Anyway, thanks for the support!
Shincore/Casuar: I'm going to answer both your reviews at once since they both said pretty much the same thing. To be honest, I didn't really think about Mine's close quarters combat ability, and it is definitely something I can work on.
On the other hand, firstly, while Mine isn't a close quarters combat specialist, she is still a highly trained assassin, who would have her body in peak condition, meaning she would have some close quarters ability and insane reflexes. Secondly, jumping backwards out of the way of attacks and using Pumpkin to make sure Harry doesn't follow is barely dodging, and appearing in a flash of blue light is barely inconspicuous.
On a final note though, you both have a point, and I have tried to change it up a bit so she takes more damage. Thanks for your honest opinions and pointing that out to me!
Froper98: I don't actually intend to have them summoned by the Goblet of Fire, instead it's just going to force them out into the public eye. But yeah, I'll try explain it as best I can. Suggestions are welcome!
For some reason I got the review you made as a guest late, so I'll answer it here. I agree that DxD and RWBY would be good ones to do, DxD more so than RWBY since it has characters that are even more powerful than Esdeath, In RWBY I feel like Esdeath would be one of the most powerful, if not the most powerful human being alive. That's just my thoughts though, so you are welcome to convince me otherwise. Anyway, thanks for the support and suggestions!
Mrsiri: Some people get addicted to drugs. I'm addicted to updating this story. I tend to update as quickly as possible.
Cinder: Hello again! It could be rather interesting to see Shirou's reaction to Harry and Esdeath, wouldn't it? As for meeting Zelretch, was that comment a response to one of my own responses or a thought of your own?
Imperial warlord: Gosh, it's always nice to see your still here! And now I have had both the game Overlord and the anime Overlord suggested to me, and I have to say, the interaction with the anime Overlord characters would be interesting.
Tamagat: Well… four reviews from one person in less than twenty four hours. I feel warm and fuzzy inside. Thanks!
Zathol: Yeah, for Lubbock, I felt like I had to kill somebody and he got the short straw. It wouldn't be Akame GA Kill if I didn't. As for Mine, as Shincore and Casuar have both pointed out to me, she was doing a little too well considering his warping abilities. As for distracting Esdeath with hat comment, it would probably work too! I doubt anyone ever would though, at least not Night Raid, as that would be admitting that she is capable of love and thus subconsciously admitting that she is human like them. Anyway, thanks for the support!
And a bid thanks to everyone else who has reviewed this story at any stage in time!
Finally, now that that is all out of the way, I hope everyone enjoys this latest chapter!
I do not own, in any way, shape, or form Akame Ga Kill or Harry Potter.
-T.G.O-
Chapter 33: Blood and Battle
Blood splattered through the air as Akame was sent flying backwards, two of Esdeath's ice spears piercing through her right shoulder and stomach. At the same time, Esdeath blocked Najenda's metal fist with her rapier, the blade straining slightly for a moment before Najenda spun with a yell of fury, slashing her foot towards Esdeath's head in a devastating kick.
Esdeath ducked under the attack and sent a flurry of jabs towards the former general, said former general leaping backwards to crouch beside Akame as the katana user struggled to her feet, pulling the two half a metre long spears out of her body as she did.
Najenda placing a hand on her uninjured shoulder.
"Akame, get out of here now. You're in no condition to fight Esdeath like that. I'll hold her off."
Akame opened her mouth to try arguing, before coughing up a wad of blood and deciding against it, leaping away as fast as she could with her injuries.
Esdeath gave a cruel smirk, releasing a wave of ice spears towards the fleeing member of Night Raid, Najenda leaping up and using her metal arm to block and deflect most of them, thin cuts appearing along her body as a few slipped by. Then Esdeath was in front of her, rapier flashing in a storm of flickering steel.
Najenda leapt backwards, firing her fist towards Esdeath, who jerked her head to the side and dodged before sending a spire of ice rising from the earth towards Najenda's chest in retaliation. The former general push a small button on her metal shoulder as her fist became lodged in the cross that Lubbock had been on, reeling her in at high speed and out of the way of Esdeaths attack.
Esdeath spun, a wave of ice spears obliterating what remained of the crucifix as Najenda jumped out of the way once more, sprinting back towards Esdeath.
Rapier flashing as the two enemies began fighting in close combat, Esdeath gave a sadistic grin, leaping backwards as she materialized a massive boulder of ice above Najenda, slamming it down towards the former general.
Najenda fired her hand towards the ice spire Esdeath had tried to skewer her with less than a minute before, reeling herself in at high speed and sending a blistering kick towards Esdeath's head as the cable pulled her past.
Smirking with amusement, Esdeath stepped out of the way of the kick, her rapier flashing out to slash across Najenda's side.
Najenda landed in a crouch clutching the wound at her side, freeing her metal hand from the ice as she watched Esdeath, who merely smirked and pointed her rapier at the leader of Night Raid.
The two glared at each other. Well, Najenda glared at her. Esdeath just smirked sadistically.
Neither noticed as Budo feel, toppling to the ground as the life left him on the other side of the colosseum.
Then they were moving once more, a wave of ice shards sending Najenda leaping backwards as Esdeath shot forwards, rapier a blur of movement once more as she slashed away at her enemy, cuts and gashes appearing all over Najenda's body as she struggled to block the lightning fast flurry of attacks before Esdeath spun, slamming her foot into Najenda in a crushing spin kick.
Najenda barely brought her arms up in time to block the attack, the force of it lifting her from the ground and hurling her backwards as Esdeath clicked the fingers on her left hand, another house sized boulder of ice materializing above her and plunging towards the mid-air leader of Night Raid.
There was a splintering crash as the boulder split in half, bisected almost perfectly in two. The two almost perfectly equal halved of the ice boulder landing with a crash on either side of Najenda as she landed in a crouch.
Standing in front of her, Tatsumi brought Incursio's spear up to point at Esdeath from where he had just finished the downwards slash that split the boulder.
Najenda pulled herself to her feet.
"Tatsumi! Akame needs assistance, I can hold Esdeath off!"
Tatsumi shook his head, never taking his eyes of Esdeath.
"Leone is helping her right now. Lubbock already dealt with Budo."
Nodding, Najenda took her place beside Esdeath as she watched them, twisted amusement dancing across her face.
"Lubbock? Is he okay?"
Tatsumi froze for a millisecond, eyes still on Esdeath as he ground his teeth under his face mask.
"No. Lubbock, he…"
No more word were needed as Najenda crushed down the feeling of grief that built inside her, resolving that she would deal with it after the mission as she turned a terrifying glare that could turn back armies towards Esdeath.
Esdeath didn't so much as twitch, her grin still stretched across her face as a wall of sharpened ice spears appeared behind her, pointing towards the members of Night Raid
Her attack plan was interrupted as a massive beam of light exploded out of a hole in the wall on the other side of the colosseum, piercing into the heavens like some kind of divine lance.
A moment later, Harry appeared beside her in a flash of blue light, Mine staggering from the hole in the colosseum, her body bruise and battered, on arm hanging limply from Harry's first attack and several slashes across her arms and torso. Her expression, Harry decided, could have caused armies of lesser men and women to commit suicide in the spot.
Which is to say, no one present really noticed it at all.
She staggered over to where Leone was assisting Akame in standing, Tatsumi grounding his teeth together harshly as he held his spear towards Esdeath and Harry, infuriated by her battered appearance.
There was a moment of silence, the two sides eyeing each other up as Mine helped Akame to stand, Leone leaping over to stand beside Najenda and Tatsumi.
Then Esdeath moved, thrusting her hands forwards across her chest and sending the wave of ice shards floating behind her surging towards the members of Night Raid, Harry flicking his wrist and sending a shock wave after them, accelerating the ice shards towards their targets.
Leaping forwards, Tatsumi held his spear in both hands before beginning to spin it in front of himself as Najenda and Leone took cover from the wave of ice shards behind him, the small ices spears slamming into the spinning spear with crushing force, shattering as they pushed Tatsumi back.
A moment later, the wave ended, revealing Tatsumi with Incursio covered in several small scratches and a pile of shattered ice around him.
Then he surged forwards towards Esdeath, Najenda and Leone moments behind him as Harry and Esdeath moved forward to meet them.
Harry vanished in another flash of blue light, appearing directly in front of Najenda and causing her to flinch slightly in surprise, Harry taking advantage of her momentary lapse and sending her flying backwards with a shock wave, the former general landing just in time to dodge out of the way of a hail of ice shards.
Spinning as she dodged, Najenda sent her metal fist rocketing towards Harry, reeling it back in when he warped away once more, appearing in a flash of blue light above Najenda, the former general blocking his crushing axe kick before sending a blindingly fast punch into his stomach with her normal hand, knocking him backwards before following through with her other fist.
Harry staggered back, gasping for breath and wincing in pain as Najenda charged at him.
He warped out of the way once more, sending a spire of earth surging upwards towards her chest, followed by a shower of ice shards as she leapt away.
Ignoring the fatigue that was seeping into his very being from the extensive use of his magic, Harry appeared above her once more, banishing her straight down into the ground as she leapt away from his earlier attack.
-T.G.O-
Across the colosseum from Harry and Najenda, Esdeath blocked a kick from Leone with one hand as her rapier smashing into Incursio's chest plate in a devastating jab, cracking it as the attack forced Tatsumi backwards several paces moments before Leone was hurled into him.
For a moment Tatsumi wondered why people kept throwing Leone into him before dismissing the stray thought as he caught the blonde girl, Leone leaping back to her feet as Tatsumi readied his spear once more. Esdeath darted forwards, her blade a flicker of steel as the Incursio user struggled to keep up.
Leone charged in from the side, changing direction and leaping backwards as a spire of ice shot upwards towards her chest a mere moment before Esdeath sent a wave of ice shards to send Tatsumi staggering backwards.
Taking advantage of his distraction, Esdeath slammed a heeled foot into his chest plate, cracking it further and picking him up off his feet, hurling him backwards through the air. A moment later Esdeath spun, rapier flashing as she slashed Leone across the stomach, blocking a powerful kick at the same time before kicking the blonde haired member of Night Raid away.
Her rapier came flashing up, blocking a powerful downwards slash from Tatsumi's crimson spear before spinning around, blocking a second slash before deflecting a powerful jab, her sadistic smile still stretched across her face.
A moment later she deflected the crimson spear for a second time before stepping inside Tatsumi's zone and slamming her fist into his armoured stomach, staggering him backwards far enough for Esdeath to slam a powerful snap kick into his chest, cracking the chest plate a little more and hurling him into the air where a hail of ice spears slammed him back into the ground.
Spinning once more, Esdeath blocked a powerful punch from Leone, the member of Night Raid turning out of the way of a lightning fast jab of Esdeath rapier before sending a spinning kick towards her face.
Esdeath leaned out of the way for the kick, batting it away with her free hand before kicking the off balance Leone away yet again, before turning back to Tatsumi just in time to block another flying, mid-air downwards slash from the Incursio user's crimson spear.
Tatsumi released the spear from where it was being blocked by Esdeaths rapier, dropping to the ground in a crouch and pushing himself towards his opponent with all the devastating power of Incursio behind him, fists flashing upwards.
Noting his attack plan, Esdeath released her rapier, hands coming down to block the powerful double punch, coating her lower torso in ice as she realised that she wasn't going to be able to block the attack properly.
A micro moment later, Tatsumi's fists slammed into her stomach, cracking the ice covering it and launching her hurtling backwards through the colosseum wall.
-T.G.O-
Najenda rolled out of the way of Harry's rain of ice spears moments after he banished her downwards, leaping back to her feet and sending her metal fist shooting out towards Harry as he fell. Harry warped at the last moment, the fist passing through empty air as he appeared behind Najenda, barely blocking a spinning kick from her the sent him back several metres, bruising and numbing his arms as he skidded backwards along the ground.
Coming to a stop, Harry summoned up a hand of earth on either side of the former general, attempting to crush her between them as he tried to recover the feeling in his arms.
Leaping out of the way of the massive hands and filing the information on Harry's abilities away for later, Najenda leapt over the earthen structures, her fist firing out once more down towards Harry, who ducked under the attack and slammed his palms into the ground, a pillar of ice shooting up to slam into the former generals stomach and blasting her upwards.
Warping in a flash of blue light, Harry appeared above Najenda as she spun to regain control of her fall, crossing her arms and just barely blocking Harry's mid-air axe kick, the force of the attack sending her crashing towards the ground as Harry flipped in mid-air, flicking a shock wave down at the former general.
The shock wave crashed into Najenda mere moments before she hit the ground, slamming her into the earth with a crash that shattered it, cracks running through the dry earth.
Najenda coughed up a wad of blood before flipping to her feet, just in time to dodge the hail of ice spears that obliterated the spot she had been lying on moments ago as Harry landed nearby, breath slightly haggard from the amount of energy he had expended.
Najenda noticed his exhaustion and, ignoring her own aching body, rushed forward towards him, metal fist rocketing past Harry's head as he dodged sluggishly to the side and vanished in another blue flash of light.
Appearing behind the charging former general, Harry sent a powerful kick towards her back, only for her to spin out of the way and grab his leg before his sluggish body could retract it in time, hurling him flying backwards into a wall with a painful crunch a moment before Mine, seeing an opportunity, sent a powerful energy beam slamming into the small males chest, smashing him through the wall in a flash of destructive energy.
With a crunch and a cry of pain, Harry landed on the other side of the wall, his front seared and burnt and one of his arms bent in the wrong direction from the bad landing, his back torn and bloodied from being pushed through the wall. He pulled himself painfully to his feet, his vision darkening and swimming in a mixture of exhaustion and pain as he pulled himself forward in time to see Esdeath punched flying by Tatsumi.
Gritting his teeth in pain, Harry reached into his core once more and tugged at it, warping himself as Esdeath smashed through the colosseum wall, vanishing in a flash of light towards her location.
Appearing just out of sight of Night Raid, Harry staggered over to where he had seen Esdeath vanish, vision flickering as she stood, the bloodthirsty grin on her face vanishing into one of immense worry as she spotted him.
"Harry!"
She rushed over to him, kneeling down in front of him as he staggered, the last of his energy drained by Pumpkins blast and his final warp. She caught him as he fell, coughing hoarsely.
"Sorry… Pinkie got me with the Roman Artillery…"
She hugged him protectively, careful not to aggravate his injuries.
"There's nothing to be sorry for. You held yourself against a former general, as well as several members of Night Raid."
She glanced up, picking him up in a bridal carry as she looked out into the colosseum.
"It looks like Night Raid has left to lick its wounds. Good."
She glanced down Harry as his eyes flickered open and closed.
"I wouldn't be able to protect you if they had all remained. Come on, let's get you some rest."
Harry faded from consciousness as Esdeath leapt forwards with him in her arms, heading towards the palace.
Behind them, they left a colosseum in ruins and the corpse of one of the Empires most powerful men.
Behind them, the Empire crumbled a little more.
-T.G.O-
Harry groaned as his eyes flickered open, blinking the spots from his eyes as he found himself staring up at a white roof.
"Who threw the mountain at me?"
Hearing movement beside him, Harry turned his head, looking over to see Luna sitting beside him, Fal resting against the bed he was in beside her, another glance showing Air doing the same on the other side before he turned his attention back to Luna as she sat up giving him a relieved grin before abruptly hugging him, careful not to aggravate his still healing injuries.
"Harry! You're awake! How are you feeling?"
Beside her, Fal looked up groggily, her eyes lighting up as she saw Harry, Air mirroring her on the other side.
"Harry!"
He blinked, slightly surprised. It was hardly the first time he had been badly injured, but then again he supposed it was the first time they had ever seen him badly hurt.
"Hello Luna, Fal, Air. I'm fine. There's no need to be so worried, it's not the worst that's happened to me. Close, but not quite."
Air wacked him over the back of the head, speaking in an annoyed tone.
"Don't say things like that like it's nothing, stupid."
Fal nodded beside Luna.
"Yeah, just because it's not the worst you've ever faced doesn't mean we can't be worried, idiot."
Harry blinked in confusion.
"Why? I have recovered from worse, so there should be no need to fear for my life."
Shaking her head, Luna decided to take mercy on him.
"Harry, we care about you. Seeing you hurt is going to worry us no matter what you have survived before."
He blinked in confusion again.
"Esdeath cares about me, but she's never been very worried about my injuries. Why are other people?"
Air, Luna and Fal all sighed simultaneously as they hit the root of the problem.
Beside him, Air placed a hand on his shoulder and looked him in the eye when he turned to her.
"First, Esdeath was worried about your health, Harry. She just shows it differently and was needed with helping with the aftermath of your battle. Secondly, Esdeath is… different. You shouldn't base everything off what she says and does."
Harry tilted his head to the left with a quizzical look before nodding uncertainly.
"Okay… But I feel fine right now anyway. How long was I asleep?"
The three sighed softly, getting the distinct feeling that this was one of those things that would take some time to get across to him before Fal answered him.
"Just over sixteen hours. You pretty much emptied your power, magic, source, as well as taking quite a bit of damage from that final shot from Pumpkin."
"Indeed, you took quite a bit of damage. Even your regeneration hasn't been able to deal with it yet."
Esdeath stepped into the room, smiling at Harry as she spoke.
"Esdeath!"
The three girls around the bed ruthlessly crushed the small spark of something that flared in their chests when they noted Harry's rather enthusiastic greeting to Esdeath.
Esdeath smiled a little wider as he greeted her, walking over and sitting down on Air's side of the bed, reaching over and pulling open the top he was wearing, the three girls biting down small yelps as she scanned his rather slim frame.
Used to this happening every time he took significant damage, Harry just ignored it.
"Hmm… Good, it looks like other than your arm and a bit of bruising, you're mostly healed up. Rest a few more hours, and then you'll be fine."
She patted him on the head with an affectionate smile, her tone taking a slightly more dangerous edge.
"And let's not have you doing that again, okay?"
An odd shiver ran down Harry's spine as she spoke, Air, Fal and Luna all flinching in their heads at the slightly worrying tone of voice, somehow already knowing that it had gone over Harry's head, even if he did get the sense of impending doom carried in it.
He nodded a little more rapidly than normal.
"Of course, Esdeath."
She smiled again, the dangerous edge vanishing from her face as she leaned over and, in one of her rather affectionate displays that Harry was still getting used to, hugged him against her, careful not to hurt his still slightly tender torso and broken arm.
"Good. Now, as much as I want to stay around, I have to go now for another meeting. General Budo's death has stirred up a hornets nest in the government."
She released him, something he found himself oddly… upset by, as she turned and looked at each of the three girls in turn.
"Air, Fal, Luna, you three need to get back to training. Once you are at an acceptable skill level, you will be able to join us in our missions more often and will be able to prevent incidents like this."
The three nodded in an eerie unison, determined looks on their faces.
"Good."
Esdeath stood from her spot on the bed, smiling at Harry again.
"I will come back as soon as I can get away from the meetings."
With that, she turned away, leaving the room with a brisk step as Air, Fal and Luna all stood up, Fal stretching her hands above her head before grinning at Harry.
"We'll see you later, Harry."
Beside her, Luna nodded.
"Once we finish our training for the day, we'll be back."
Air piped up from the other side of the room as they prepared to leave.
"Yup! We'll see you later, okay?"
Harry nodded, giving a small wave as they left the room.
"See you later then!"
The three girls left, leaving Harry alone in the room as he ran a check over his body, noting that he still had some medium to minor bruising, as well as his broken arm and the flesh on his torso where Pumpkin hit him being a little tender.
Sending a pulse of magic through his body, he went to actively heal himself, only to look up when he heard someone else enter the room.
Grinning, Harry noted Dorothea walking up to him, sitting herself down in the chair that Luna had been using as she smiled down at him.
"Are you alright there, Harry? Not going to die anytime soon?"
Harry nodded with a grin.
"I'll be fine in a few hours. I have a pretty good regeneration factor, though the arm will take a little longer.
She nodded, he grin still on her face.
"Good. It would be annoying if my main benefactor died. I actually came up to tell you that I completed my testing with the replica of the incomplete Philosopher's Stone you made, since I can't talk to Esdeath while she is in a meeting."
Harry grinned widely.
"Really? What happened?"
She grin turned into a smirk.
"Exactly what I thought would happen. My theory was correct and now I just need a few more days to adjust my calculations to fit the new data, and then I can start the moment I get the materials. After that, I can probably make six or seven of the implants at a time in a time of about two weeks."
Harry nodded, still grinning.
"That will please Esdeath. She has been wanting those implants since you suggested them."
Dorothea nodded, still smirking.
"The replica stone also survive the experiments, though the men didn't, so now I intend to see how it reacts with the replica Teigu core when it is complete."
Nodding once more, Harry looked around the room.
"The core should be done by tomorrow. It would be done, but I focused on the Philosophers Stone recently."
Dorothea nodded again.
"That's fine. Just bring it to me when you're done, okay? Anyway, I need to head back to the lab, so make sure you get better and heal up quick."
She stood from the chair moving towards the door as Harry nodded.
"Yup! See you, Dorothea!"
She cast one last glance at him, before turning away and walking out the door, Harry staring after her before turning towards the window, looking out at the calm, clear blue skies.
It was so calm and peaceful, Harry decided, that it could only be the calm before the storm.
-T.G.O-
And that is chapter 33 complete!
As always, any and all ideas, likes, dislikes, constructive criticism and advice, or even simple encouragement are all welcome and appreciated! Please review!
Finally, I hope you all enjoyed chapter 33 of The Glacial Ones!
Goodbye, and see you next time!