Chapter 36: Path of Peace Celebration
It's been three days since three of the Rakshasa Demons have been eliminated by Night Raid Suzuka has been hanging with the Jaegers and has her eye set on general Esdeath. She wanted her to punish her just by thinking about how wonderful it'll be to be punished by the commander. The Jaegers have been keeping an eye out for Night Raid, searching for them but found nothing and they have not located their whereabouts or their hideout.
Wave got a little frustrated, he couldn't find Night Raid and it was killing him. Right now he's with Suzuka watching the kids playing and Seryu went to play with the kids. Wave watching from the sidelines with Suzuka.
"I don't get it I feel like we looked everywhere. Where could there hideout be?" Wave wondered.
"Well Kyriakou is extremely large city and since this religious organization is a fairly peaceful one we can't do anything drastic to lure them out. It's going to take more than simply attacking someone." Suzuka stated.
Suzuka notices Seryu smiling wide while playing with the kids.
"Wow. I never knew she could actually smile like that." Suzuka commented.
"Yeah she's been stress for quite a while so Esdeath told her she should try a change of pace. By the way, you've been hanging around a lot lately does this mean that you've decided to join us or what?" Wave asked.
"Hmm… I guess we're partners. Whatever it takes to get Esdeath to put me in her place."
Suzuka suddenly smile sadistically just thinking about Esdeath and the way on how she tortures her enemies that made Suzuka think about what'll be like to be tortured by the commander.
"I'm not sure why but something tells me that this girl reminds me of Dr. Stylish." Wave thought.
Later on, Night Raid Hideout…
"That's all the info the spies gathered." Akame informed right after filling everyone in what she learned from her spies.
"We will launch the plan the day of the Path of Peace celebration." Najenda announced.
"Wow. Going out with a bang huh?" Leone inquired.
"During the festival we'll slip through the crowds and sneak into the palace then we'll go in for the kill."
"Serves that bastard right?" Tatsumi thought.
"This job will send the Revolutionary army into action failure is not an option."
Everyone nodded and Susanoo comes in and just finish making dinner. He had made everyone their special dishes causing everyone to drool to eat their favorite meals. Sonic looking around seeing everyone enjoying their food. He look over to Mine who asked Tatsumi to try her ice scream but Leone had Tatsumi to poor a glass of saki for her. Sonic couldn't help but to smile and enjoy his meal.
"Seems like there may be a connection between Mine and Tatsumi. Maybe I'm just imagining things but who knows maybe they can find love." Sonic thought.
"Sonic."
Sonic look over to Najenda wondering what's up.
"Yeah."
"You seem to be awfully quiet. Something the matter?" Najenda asked.
"Oh no just thinking that's all. Nothing bad that is."
"Oh. Thinking about the mission?"
"Yeah you can say that."
"You do know your assignment."
"Of course. I'll keep Shads busy which I have an idea."
"I hope you know what you're doing."
"Oh definitely. Just leave it to me."
The next day, the Path of Peace celebration…
The Jaegers are on heavy duty and on the lookout for Night Raid. There was Seryu and Suzuka up top of the roof of the palace looking out for Night Raid.
"It looks like it's the day of the celebration." Suzuka said while looking out for Night Raid.
"Suzuka, do not let these demons into the cathedral ok?" Seryu ordered.
"Yeah I know and after that's over, I'm going have a little more fun with that black hedgehog."
"What do you mean fun?"
"You won't understand."
Suzuka resume to keep a lookout but discover two suspects who are in disguises.
"That girl got combat experience. I can tell by those eyes and the way she walk." Suzuka spotted.
"It must be Night Raid, let's go stop them for the name of justice." Seryu suggested.
"Let's."
Suzuka and Seryu jumps down from the cathedral and find the two suspects.
With the Ultimate Life Form…
Shadow too keeping a lookout for Night Raid. The city is very busy and the people are enjoying the celebration.
"It looks like everyone is enjoying the celebration. Yet this city is large and a lot of people to escape through the crowd. Now I wonder…"
"Hey Shads."
Shadow jump in and turn around and sees Sonic waving at the black blur smiling.
"Sonic…" Shadow trailed off.
"Nice to see you too. Still moody as much."
"Humph. So you ready to fight or what?"
"I have no interest in fighting you Sonic."
"Wait you're not?"
"No. I believe we'll wait until the final day comes but right now I just want to talk."
"Uh… ok then. So what do you want to talk about?"
"Not here, let's go to secluded area to talk."
"Sure thing. Race ya!"
Sonic takes off running. Shadow with that cold look but simply just smile and takes off going after Sonic out of the city.
Outskirts of Kyriakou…
Tatsumi and Mine made it out in one piece evading the Imperial guards. Unaware, they're being followed by Seryu and she spotted Tatsumi and Mine.
"There's that girl that I fought and there's Tatsumi. I can't believe he's with Night Raid. He's corrupted by evil, the general shower you with affection and this is how you betray her. I cannot let this evil stand. Koro!"
Koro begin giving Seryu some missiles launchers and aims it right at two Night Raid assassins and launches several missiles at them. Mine begin smelling the gun power and the missiles coming right at them. Tatsumi then activates Incurio and gets himself and Mine out of the way as they explode from the impact. There comes more missiles on the way and Tatsumi using his speed to dodge them as fast as he can before getting to a safe place and puts Mine down.
"The attacks had slow down so I guess we're out of range. I did happen to a good look of the shooter. It's Seryu Ubiquitis."
"Seryu Ubiquitis…" Mine trailed off.
Mine readied her Pumpkin and looks around for Seryu.
"Which was it that bitch shooting from?" Mine questioned.
Out of nowhere, Suzuka comes in and attack the both of them.
"It's the Four Rakshasa Demon." Mine spotted.
"Suzuka. It doesn't make such difference since you guys are about to be dead." Suzuka countered.
"Oh really!" Tatsumi shouted charging at her and delivers a punch but she blocked it.
"Mine, get out of here." Tatsumi ordered.
"I don't think so, after the what she said there's no way I could…"
Tatsumi charges at Suzuka and continue attacking, taking their fight elsewhere leaving Mine behind.
"Stupid… well I'll let you deal with Suzuka, I'll deal with Seryu. I got a score to settle with that bitch." Mine said readied her pumpkin.
Elsewhere in the Outskirts of Kyriakou…
Sonic and Shadow have meet up and it appears to be the coast is clear that no one is here.
"Ok Shadow, since we're not fighting so what's up. Why did you decide you want to talk?" Sonic questioned.
"Because I have a lot things to discuss with you." Shadow answered.
"Oh? So what is it that you want to discuss about?"
"About Night Raid and the Empire."
"What?"
"I've yet learn nothing about how all this occur and I think you can provide some answers for me Sonic."
"I thought you already know that."
"I did but it wasn't enough. I went behind Esdeath's back and discover their secrets but not all of it so I want to hear your side from what you learn when you've joined Night Raid."
"Is that so? Well then I'll tell you everything you want to know. It's a long one…"
Back to the Fight…
Tatsumi went after Suzuka trying to stop her as the Rakshasa Demon continue to run. He then summons his spear and launches up in the air and tries to stop her by swinging it but Suzuka counters him and slams him back down to the ground.
"Oh my, you made me broke a nail." Suzuka said smirking.
"Damn it…" Tatsumi stuttered.
"I'm surprised that one of you took out Mez and Sten but I was surprise that one of you took out Ibara. I doubt that it was you, have little of combat experience judging by how you fight."
"Once again I'm not strong enough. I've dealt with this regret too many times over and over and over! No matter how tough she is, I cannot let it happen again!" Tatsumi thought.
"Back for more huh, come on let's see what you got."
"Oh I'll show you what I'm made off!" Tatsumi roared charging at Suzuka with a war cry.
With Mine, she was too busy dealing with Seryu and Koro as she uses her weapons of justice to get the upper advantage against Mine. The pinkette shooting her Pumpkin at Seryu who injure her to her left side and Koro assist his partner but Mine then dodge away the Imperial Arms and Seryu charges at Mine delivering some brutal punches with the assault of justice then delivers a powerful uppercut then sends Mine up in the air and came down crashing down to the ground and she's a mile away from Seryu.
"Damn… that bitch sure hits hard." Mine thought.
With Sonic and Shadow…
Sonic had Shadow the Revolutionary army's side of the story and how it all started. Shadow nodded his head understanding the full story as Sonic explain it in a best way possible.
"Is that so? So that's what this war with the Empire and the Revolution started?" Shadow questioned.
"Yeah. I was confuse at first but I understand now. I'm fighting to bring peace to the world and the Capital."
"And I'm fighting to keep control."
"Shadow there still a chance to change sides. Esdeath is filling you with evil and you're not that type of hedgehog that you used to be back at Ark. You're a G.U.N agent and the member of Team Dark. Don't throw it all away, it's never too late."
"I'm well aware of that and to tell you the truth Sonic."
"What?"
Shadow simply smirked and deliver a roundhouse kick right at Sonic but the hedgehog hero blocked it in the nick of time. The kick sends Sonic skidding a feet away from him and turn his attention to the black blur.
"I don't care what you say Sonic. Esdeath brought me back what I used to be. Cold and merciless and there's nothing you can do that will change about it." Shadow stated.
"I knew that we were going to fight Shadow. Never knew you could plot a sneaky move on me." Sonic retorted getting ready to fight.
"This is just personal. I'm going to reclaim my title as the Ultimate Lifeform again by killing you!"
"Since you want to put it like that then fine, let's rock!"
Sonic and Shadow draw out their swords and charge at each other with a battle cry.
Cathedral, Kyriakou City…
Night Raid had invaded the cathedral and fighting off the Jaegers as we speak. Esdeath enter inside the throne to confront with Bolic.
"General Esdeath! I need the jaegers or that black hedgehog. Where are they?" Bolic questioned.
"Shut up! You're getting just what you deserve Bolic. If you would've listen you wouldn't be in this mess." Esdeath responded silencing the counselor.
Bolic rushes to the general and get down on his knees the pray.
"You must protect me! The Minister himself commanded you-"
Esdeath interrupted the counselor by stomping Bolic on his face.
"You're right, orders are orders. I will continue to keep you save however I must forbid you to leave this room."
"Yeah. Of course, I won't leave."
With Tatsumi…
"If you plan to lose me in the ruins it won't work. You'll just tire yourself out and make your death too easy." Suzuka said with confidence.
"Yeah well sorry, you're going down one way or another! Get ready to join your friends." Tatsumi countered raising his spear.
Tatsumi begin cutting the wall to cause the ruins to come down crumbling.
"What the hell! You're going to kill us both."
"You won't get away this time, this is your end!"
Suzuka sprint away to get out of the runs fast as she can but is stop by a large piece of rubble then another rubble came down and it crushed Suzuka killing her as the entire ruins came crashing down.
Mine still on the ground weakened looking up at the sky and the moon. She begin remembering her bad past just how it all started.
"This brings back some memories, how they called me a half-breed and trampled me in the street. I just kept gazing in the sky no one ever stopped, no one ever helped, and then I realized the only one that safe is was me. I made a promise to myself that I would never waste dark days ever again and I will never let anyone suffer such discrimination. Which is why…" Mine thought.
Mine begin to cock up her Pumpkin refusing to lose and to keep fighting.
"That I won't die in the middle of nowhere!" Mine shouted.
Seryu and Koro launch up in the air, charging towards Mine to finish her off. Mine then begin to charge up her Imperial Arms.
"Now… I'LL HAVE MY REVENGE!" Mine yelled.
Mine blasted a powerful beam at Koro, slicing him in half.
"Koro! No I won't lost, I will let justice prevail!" Seryu shouted as she ejects her metal arms and aims her hidden guns right at Mine but the pinkette would not let that happen so she then move her weapon that moves the beam and slicing Seryu in half.
"No! How can I let this happen?" Seryu wondered.
Mine's beam slices the ruins in half and discharges her weapon.
"My weapon creates power out of emotional energy. The more intense my feelings, the more fuel for Pumpkin." Mine explained.
Seryu deeply wounded, she glared daggers at the pinkette.
"So the moment you pissed me off, that's when you lost." Mine exclaimed.
Seryu just simply laugh and kept glaring at Mine.
"Justice will always prevail no matter what the cost all even must cast out." Seryu said before gritting her teeth when there is a sound of click being heard.
"Just the judgment of Ten Kings. Final phase go to ten infernos. You got one minute." Seryu continued.
"What the hell! You bitch!" Mine insulted.
"The doctor was kind enough to give it to me. It's the ultimate weapon against sin as long it lives inside my head I can never truly lose."
"Damn you!"
Mine aim her weapon to finish off but the weapon is still overheated.
"What. It's overheated." Mine thought.
Mine acted fast and take off running, hoping she can get away before the bomb explode. Seryu continue to laugh knowing Mine won't get out of the blast alive but she stop to see Koro slowly crawling over to his friend whimpering.
"Oh no, you can't heal yourself anymore. It's not fair. There's still more evil in the world. I can't die… not just yer…" Seryu said before she begin to sob in tears.
Suddenly, the bomb went off killing Seryu and Koro with it during the blast. Mine try to run as fast as she can but is too weakened to move and blast comes right at her. The pinkette then brace herself for her life but unaware, Tatsumi then jumps in and safe and gets away of the blast just in time.
Cathedral, Kyriakou City…
Esdeath enters the room and search for the counselor.
"Bolic? Hmm… where the hel is that pic?" Esdeath wondered.
"He already ran away." A voice answered.
Esdeath recognize the voice with that stern look.
"Najenda." Esdeath recognized.
"It seems he didn't take your advice after all. I'm sure my subordinates are silencing him as we speak.
Elsewhere…
Akame and Lubbock located Bolic as Akame took care of the body guard and Lubbock uses his strings to hang Bolic up killing him in seconds as he chock him with the strings.
The Room, Cathedral…
"You always did come with clever little schemes." Esdeath remembered.
"Oh yes, I like to think I have a better understanding of your talents and anyone so I wouldn't be so foolish to take you head on." Najenda retorted.
Esdeath just gritted her teeth with anger boiling inside her.
Outskirts from the Kyriakou City…
Sonic and Shadow continue to fight as both hedgehogs clash and using their weapons as they swung their swords at each other. Shadow try with a spinning kick but Sonic ducks down then hits him with a flash kick. Shadow in the air dives down for a diving kick but Sonic back flips, dodges the kick and lands the ground skidding a feet away.
Sonic dashes over at Shadow and swung his sword but Shadow jumps over Sonic, doing an aerial twist and shots a red lightning energy Chaos Spear at the blue blur. Sonic dodges the chaos spear but gets hit by Shadow with his flying kick and Shadow swung his sword at the hedgehog hero but Sonic blocked Shadow and pushes him away.
Both hedgehogs glare at each other and just about to continue fighting. Shadow soon stop and look over to the city and sees some smoke down at the cathedral. Sonic then notices it, form a smile on his face and put away his sword.
"Looks like Night Raid did it again. They killed Bolic." Sonic said.
"So that was there plan all along huh? Should've known this was a distraction." Shadow figured.
Shadow put away his sword before turning his attention to his rival.
"You're lucky that we didn't settle this again Sonic but next time you won't be so lucky." Shadow said before he use Chaos Control to teleport away.
Sonic shakes his head then look over at the city crossing his arms.
"Another job well done. Awesome job guys, I hope that everyone is ok." Sonic hoped.