A/N: Chapter 50 of One final breath. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters except my own OCs. Akame ga kill belongs to the rightful owner.
Special thanks to the reviewers and to the readers who Fav/Alert this story, I really appreciate it.
Chapter 50: Kill the Archenemy
At the palace...
"A general at the front lines, leading their troops...clashing into battle with the fate of the country on the line. This kind of war...is old and obsolete." Honest mused as he started to stuff his face with food. He chewed slowly, savoring every bite while enjoying the killing show. "This is how my war is fought!"
"Disappear!" The Emperor held up his staff and the Supreme Teigu obeyed, unleashing a barrage of what seemed to be unlimited firepower into enemy line. Soon the skies were filled with explosives and cries of pain. "Disappear all of you!"
"Giving orders to fire...from a safe and secure location!" Holding up a pair of binoculars Honest chuckled to himself before taking another bite out of his food, chewing it slowly and loudly. "And just like that, I can kill people in droves! I'm pretty sure I've already killed tens of thousands! Clearly, this is the most rational and logical method!"
"Gaaah!"
"Woah!"
"Help!"
"Bu...But even I have to admit..." The Prime Minister's body trembled with glee as he witnessed countless corpses flying through the air during the explosions, their bodies raved and dismembered by the onslaught of attacks. "This is absolute overkill...blasting the rebel army to smithereens!" Lowering the binoculars he started laughing uncontrollably till tears rolled from his eyes. "This battle is so lop-sided, I just can't help but laugh!"
"Tatsumi..." I whispered as we watched the ragged army around us. Medics were rushing around trying their best to keep up with the injured but even I could tell that we were going to end up with heavy casualties.
"He needs to be stopped." He growled and I turned to see a look of pure anger cross his face. His hands were clenched into fists and a menacing aura surrounded his body. He turned his attention to me. "Let's get going."
"Roger!" Following his lead the two of us quickly disappeared from the Rebel army and rushed towards the Capital without looking back.
"Wh...What the hell is that...?!" Leone gasped as she and Akame spotted the Supreme Teigu from a nearby window. The duo were on their way to hunt down the last target inside the palace when they felt tremors outside and stopped to take a look. What greeted them was something beyond their imagination. "It's gigantic...!"
"We need to hurry!" Akame replied and the two of them started running towards the next room that had a giant throne mounted in the middle. "Taking down our target just might somehow be able to stop that thing!"
"Akame! That miserable Saikyuu has probably found somewhere safe to hide by now." Leone told her. "This palace is quite big and we don't have time to look through every room. Where do you think he could hide himself?"
"This palace has a basement so I'm certain he's down there!" The two of them approached a hidden stairways and the black-haired assassin proceeded first. "He was the founder of the assassination squad...I feel like it's my obligation to take him out myself."
"I see..." Leone said as she stayed near the top of the stairs, looking off to the side. "I'm getting an intense scent wafting in from the floor above...That's probably that horrid Prim Minister, I'm guessing..."
"In order to ensure we succeed in burying our targets...we were given specific instructions not to separate from each other..." Akame told her, regurgitating what Najenda told them before the entire operation.
"But if we do split up now...We can eliminate the last two much faster." The yellow-haired assassin replied. The two of them stared at each other, there were no need for spoken words. The two of them knew what had to be done and split ways. "One target...One kill...Akame!"
"Right back at you!" Akame shouted over her shoulders. "That's our mission!"
Back outside...
"You got to be shitting me!"
"Now it's all raining down on us!" The Rebel army scrambled for shelter as more missiles and what appeared to be laser beams fell from the sky. Screams and broken corpses soon littered the ground. However not all was lost as the remaining Teigu users rushed forward to intercept.
"Banbutsu Ryoudan!" The revolutionist shouted as she used Ectasy to bisect one of the more massive missiles. Nearby another user that wielded Black Merlin used his power to create a giant barrier to stop more from raining down.
"Communicate to every Teigu user in every battlefield to prioritize shielding our troops!" Najenda ordered as she made her rounds. "If we fall apart here, it's all over! Stand firm, everyone! Hold your ground!"
"Yes ma'am!"
Their morale is getting low...She gritted her teeth in frustration before looking back at the massive Teigu. That trump card they were hiding...is far beyond anything I had imagined...The imperial army should be momentarily withdrawn from here...After all if they had stayed...they would have been collateral damage.
"Ma'am!" A soldier rushed up and saluted her. "There are heavy casualties and we're losing numbers left and right! Your orders?"
"Please do all you can to help them." She replied quickly. "Try to keep the numbers from going any lower, we need as many hands as possible!"
"Yes!" The report saluted her and scurried away.
Hmm? I don't see Tatsumi anywhere...Or Sonya for that matter...She looked around in hopes of spotting us but she didn't have much luck. That only means one thing...those two are headed straight towards that massive...weapon of destruction...!
"Tatsumi! Target is in sight!" I shouted over the howling winds. Since he was afraid that I may strain my legs he offered to give me a ride and proceeded to run along the rooftops at full speed. "God it's huge."
After coming to the Imperial capital...I lost Sayo and Ieyasu...I learned of the darkness within the Empire...and I met everyone from Night Raid. Man, time sure does fly by...He was lost within his own thoughts to respond back. I've fought all this time, always believing that I could change this country for the better. I've lost comrades...I lost my girlfriend Mein but I have Akame now who's still fighting...I've stained my own hands with blood.
"Tatsumi?" I looked over to see that he had his mind somewhere else. "Hello? Earth to Tatsumi."
Now...finally, we're just one step away from our goal...! An image of witnessing the horrific deaths when the Supreme Teigu was first introduced burned through his mind. He could never forget the gruesome aftermath and it just added more fuel for his hate against the Empire. That's no way...for any human to meet their maker!
"Tatsumi!" I shouted again which got him to turn his head, giving me his attention. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine." He breathed. "Just stick to the plan!"
"Okay!" Nodding my head in agreement he came to a stop and put me down before we parted ways to execute our plan. Meanwhile, Honest decided to have a chat with the emperor who stopped his attacks for a quick breather.
"Your majesty! How are you? Are you feeling okay?"
"I am...all right." The emperor's voice floated through. "I seem to be controlling this contraption just fine! What about the rear and the palace itself? Are they being properly defended?"
"Do not fret." Honest stretched his arms out to the side. "General Esdese has already headed off towards that direction! She can handle things there!"
"That's reassuring...it also means I can give my undivided attention on attacking." The emperor mused with a small grin on his face. From inside his little sphere he can see everything that was happening around him on little monitors. I must make sure not to hit any of our own people...Where is the enemy's supreme commander? His eyes darted rapidly from screen to screen, focusing on everything down to the slightest detail. I've got to find them...I'll keep moving for now.
What the fuck are you babbling on about, your majesty? Honest snickered at his leader's naive self. Just keep blasting them all down, discretion be damned...Perhaps you're being a bit too cautious, your majesty! Allow me to give you a small push!
C'mon...c'mon...Where the hell are you hiding? Ugh, too many useless beings are cluttering the screens!
"We must concentrate on breaking down the enemy's forces first and foremost!" The prime minister's voice cut through and the emperor listened intently. "For now, keep overwhelming them with your projectiles! You do that and they have no chance of counterattacking!"
"All right..." The emperor's voice sounded unsure but there was no way he would disobey the Prime Minister. "This time I'll use this one...huh?"
"Stop firing a weapon you've got no business using!" Tatsumi roared as he lunged at the Teigu. Gaining momentum by running up the surrounding walls, he jumped high into the air with his weapon in hand.
"He came flying in all by himself?!" The emperor gasped in shock as he focused on Tatsumi. "What a fool!"
"He's not alone!" I yelled up from where I was positioned on the rooftop, my left arm pointed at the enemy in the shape of a finger gun. I shorted the distance by teleporting myself as close as possible. "We're gonna take you down!"
"Like hell you all will!" Opening the mouth the weapon started to charge up and fired a ball of energy. "Take this!"
"Hnghhhhhh..." Tatsumi quickly blocked the attack with his weapon, surprised by how much power was behind it. "What do you...think of this?!" Twisting around, he sent the ball of energy flying straight into the air. Not bothering to see where it landed he continued his descend.
"No way." The emperor gritted his teeth and pulled his arm back, preparing to punch Tatsumi away. "How dare you!"
"Let's go Sonya!" Tatsumi roared as he dodged the punch and ran along the arm at full speed. "We're so close! We can't let up now!"
"Right! Fire away!" I took aim and fired rapid fire shots from the tip of my finger. The wave of fireballs zoomed through the air and exploded against the Teigu's body.
"Who the hell are you?!"
"We're from Night Raid...you might've heard of us!" Tatsumi and I shouted together as we rushed forward. Balling his fingers into a tight fist he sent a devastating punch directly to the face while I followed suit with a Judgment Cannon to one of the legs. Both attacks connected and the Supreme Teigu stumbled backwards, lost its balanced and crashed to the ground.
"This...This cannot be!" The Emperor snarled as he forced the Teigu back on its feet. One of the legs had smoke billowing off from where my attack collided with it. "The Supreme Teigu...shaken to it's every core by one simple punch and an unspeakable attack...?! I refuse to accept it!"
"...Did you see that just now?!" Najenda spoke as she turned her attention to her army. "There is a way to fight that weapon! It's not a lost cause! For us to flee with our tails between our legs is exactly what the Prime Minister wants right now! We're so close to the finish line, we can't give up now!"
"She's right..."
"We're putting our very lives on the line...just for this cause."
"We still have to avenge the others that have fallen..."
"Just follow my lead...and let's see this through until the end!" Najenda watched as those around her lifted their voices in agreement. They were no longer afraid because what seemed to be the impossible was actually possible; they had nothing to fear. Seeing that overwhelming display of power was meant to destroy morale...and yet you two charged forward to confront it face to face.
"Yeaaaahhhh!"
"We got this!"
"Glory to the Revolutionary Army!"
Thanks to your display of courage, we were able to quell our own despair and trepidation...Tatsumi...Sonya...!
"Your majesty!" Honest jabbed a finger at the Teigu in absolute horror. "Do not let mere flies hold its own against your incomparable might! Flies are meant to be swatted down...with the supreme beam!" We don't have the luxury of taking too many direct hits...if I allow his majesty...to continue at this snail's pace he's on, we could possibly be overcome before we get a chance to unleash our entire arsenal...
"Supreme beam...?" I tilted my head to the side in confusion. "What the hell is he talking about?"
Looks like the time has come...A malicious grin appeared on Honest's face as if an idea had magically appeared in his mind. To use Shikoutazer's ace-in-the-hole!
"Prime Minister Honest..." The Emperor looked at the man for a minute before facing forward. "Yes...For generations our Empire has been a flawless image of divine order...Anyone who should rebel against it must atone for their sins!"
"Sonya watch out!" Tatsumi shouted as a bright red light in the shape of a cross exploded from the mouth. Nearby houses were decimated in a heartbeat and the following explosion could be equated to that of an atomic bomb. Citizens were running, screaming...and dying.
"Cut it out!" I yelled as beams upon beams tore through the town. "Stop what you're doing! Can't you see you're doing more harm than good?!"
"Why?" The Emperor asked, turning the Teigu's head to face me. "I'm gonna continue purging until there's nothing left of your evil doers!"
"YOU'RE ATTACKING YOUR OWN PEOPLE!" I yelled at him and gestured at the burning Capital behind me. "Do you see that?! Look at what you did and WAKE UP!"
"I'm...hurting my own...citizens." The Emperor repeated and surveyed the damage he had caused. Debris littered the streets and those that managed to survived were wounded beyond recognition. "My own...people..."
"Don't you get it now?" I asked him. "What kind of an emperor are you if you can't even look after your citizens properly?"
"Shut up...shut up..." The Emperor growled, shaking his head from side to side to thwart off any words from reaching him. "How would a dirty assassin like you...understand anything? Who the hell do you think you are, ordering me around?! I am the Emperor! Your words mean nothing to me!"
"Gwah!" I yelped as a beam was sent my way, throwing my body into the air before crashing into the ground. "Ouch!"
"Sonya! Argh!" Tatsumi didn't see a punch coming until it was too late and crashed into an already destroyed house.
"All those who stands in my way...will be annihilated. You are no exception. If getting rid of rebels require noble sacrifices...then so be it!"
"If...If you had the power to do all this...why not use it to fight the real problems...?" I got back up slowly. "Why are you abusing that gift?!"
"Shut up!"
"Are you just gonna be that fat bastard's puppet your entire life? Is that it?!"
"I order you to shut up!"
"Quit dreaming!" I snapped at him. "Open your damn eyes and face reality! Be someone that your citizens can look up to!"
"Ahhhhhhhhhh! Shut the hell up!"
"Guah!" I flattened myself against the ground as a beam soared overhead, taking refuse behind an already destroyed building. Not letting me rest he continued firing, not caring at all who was around. All he cared about was seeing me dead. As I darted behind another house he blew it up and watched the structure crumble to the ground.
"Huff huff huff...I've never heard...such insolent words from a lesser being..."
That Teigu...its way out of my league...I breathed heavily, watching from a safe distance once the attacks had stopped. I had sensed how much trouble I'd be in if I had stayed so I teleported just minutes before the house came down. How the hell can I fight against it?
"Where the hell did you go, you little bitch?" The Emperor's voice floated through the air, taunting and baiting me to reveal myself. "After all that talk, did you turn tail and flee like the rat you are? I know you're out there...there's no way you'd die just like that."
Damn him...I clenched my teeth in fury, forcing myself to not take the bait. Damn him to the deepest pits of Hell and back!
"Momma...Momma..."
Huh? I turned at the sound of crying and noticed a little kid weeping over the corpse of the young woman. By the looks of it, her head must've been taken off by one of the beams from earlier. A little kid...?
"Wake up momma...Daddy said he was coming to get us. Please wake up."
How much suffering is needed until all this is over?
"Are you afraid? Why don't you show yourself? I wanna play with you even more."
I've had enough of this crap... "You wanted me? Well here I am." I rose from my hiding spoke and stood where he could see me.
"Heh...took you long enough." He smirked and took aim. "Any last words before I blow you to smithereens?"
"I stayed away from using this...because I knew that once I use it there's probably no turning back." I started walking towards the Supreme Teigu as blood trickled slightly down my leg. "My brother was the only person who stood beside me when we were young. When he died at the hands of the Capital I vowed to destroy the ones who did me wrong. I made new friends and together we had lots of fun together..."
"Your majesty! What the hell are you waiting for?!" Honest yelled at the top of his lungs, still standing from his seat in absolute fury. "Don't be swayed by words from a measly fly! Crush her immediately!"
"Yes..." The boy nodded his head in agreement. "Of course. I shouldn't waste time negotiating with the enemy."
"We were as one...I felt as if I gained another family. And then you pull this stunt..." Clenching my teeth in anger I glared with as much hatred as I could muster. All that pent up emotion from the time of Roan's death was starting to show. "You are trampling on my teammates. You are trampling on my friends. Most importantly...you are trampling on my family."
"Just stop talking!" Enraged he continued to fire missiles in my direction. Taking a deep breath I started walking forward, oblivious to the explosions that were happening around me. "Grrr! Why can't I hit you?! Damn it!"
"You must feel very confident hiding inside that giant weapon." I said, not even flinching when a nearby house erupted into flames. "What a coward you are."
"What is she!?" The Emperor howled from within his little sphere. "What the hell are you?!"
"I thought we told you who we were...I am a member of Night Raid...I will destroy you." I came to a stop and wrapped my hand around my Teigu, the very gift I got from Roan. I could feel the power pulsating erratically through my fingertips. "I swear it on my life."
"Die!" The Supreme Teigu lifted one leg with the intent of squishing me like a bug. "Just fucking die already!"
I haven't even said your name once...This will be the day that happens. My fight with the Empire started with my brother's death and it's time I end it. "Triumph..." My fingers curled tightly around the dog tag to the point where my knuckles turned white. "Trump Card. Activate."
