Chapter 46: Battle of Traitor's Ridge

Que the Intro

(Song This is War) A warning to the people (Show the people of the Empire) the Good (Tatsumi stands with Night Raid, his generals and his new army in his new attire and flag of Night raid and Golden Dragon on shared pole held aloft by its standard bearer) and the Evil (Volgoth in front over a demonic host with the Six Arch-Devil Generals in front with Valtor's shadowing form and Mark in the background and Argardon towering over the rest of the Generals along with Boreth and his inner circle scheming) This is War. (Tatsumi and Esdeath protecting Makoto and his sisters) To the soldier (Bulat wearing Incursio without the helmet and Air siting in his lap) the civilian (Angela holding Ieyasu's hand as she rallies the people in the shield) the Martyr (Budo's dead body) the Victim (Kyoko being held and comforted by Tatsumi) This is war. (Armies clashing) It's the moment of truth (Isshin's Ghost without his face mask looking at Tatsumi) and the moment to lie (Volgoth grinning at his servants) , the moment to live (Tatsumi finding resolve in a fight) and the moment to die (Soldiers dead on the ground), the moment to fight, the moment to fight, to fight, to fight, to FIGHT! (Que battle montage) To the Right! (Spear destroying a Dwarven Automaton) To the Left! (Esdeath killing a Revolutionary Army soldier with her new sword) We will Fight to death! (Sheele taking down a target yet to be revealed) to the End of the Earth! (Eden from space) It's a Brave new World! (Tatsumi kneeling before Supreme Matriarch Maltise) From Last to the First! (Emperors showing Tatsumi's Grandfather, Father, Uncle and Makoto) To the Right! (Bulat killing a Revolutionary Army General) To the Left! (Mine Firing away) We will Fight to Death! (Tatsumi slicing an enemy in half) To the Edge of the Earth! (Eastern Lands) It's a Brave new World (Strongholds of the Giants) a Brave new world! (Dwarven capital of Karak Hammerdeep) (End battle Montague and show Melitine under shadow of Volgoth with Red sky above) A warning to the Prophet (Syura clutching a Staff of Asha) the Liar (Volgoth sitting on the Imperial Throne with Graal and Lorhish to either side of him) the Honest (Aria with her new long hair and new outfit clutching her new sword) This is War. To the Leader (Najenda in her new get up and with her new ponytail with her Desert Eagles in hand and Susanoo at her side in a battle pose) The Pariah (Esdeath in her new outfit with her hair cut short levitating ice shards) The Victor (Spear in her new Teigu Armor Valkyrie with her new Teigu Greatsword Yadviga held aloft atop a mass of dead enemies) The Messiah (Tatsumi in the Golden Emperor's Armor with wings fully aloft and his sword Michael in one Hand and his shield Enoch in the other facing off against a Argardon) THIS IS WAR! (Mangled bodies of Volgoth's victims and of enemies killed by Tatsumi, add also Koro devouring baddies as Seryu grins maniacally) It the moment of Truth (Tatsumi with Akame his mother hugging him) the moment to lie (Boreth Falkland scheming) the moment to live (Tatsumi in bed with Merraid and Akame) The moment to die (Tatsumi killing the Skaven King) the moment to Fight! (Battles) the Moment to fight! (Tatsumi and Spear side by side) The Moment to Fight! TO FIGHT! (Night Raid vs the Arch-Devil Generals) To the right (Najenda firing her desert eagles) to the Left (Susanoo destroying a blob of Revolutionary Army soldiers) We will Fight to the Death! (Falkland's two generals killed by Sayo's arrows) To the Edge of the Earth (Map of Eden showing Tatsumi's journey so far) It's a Brave new World (Tatsumi overlooking the cities of the Lizardmen) From the Last to the First (Line of the Emperors of the Empire) To the Right (Spear driving her new Teigu Greatsword thru an enemy) To the Left (Akame slicing down several Skavan at once) We will fight to the death (Tatsumi fighting Volgoth) To the Edge of the Earth (Tatsumi overlooking a city not Melitine) It's a Brave new World from the Last to the First (Line of Emperors again with Tatsumi included) It's a Brave new world! (Empire's End logo appears) (Song End)

War. Esdeath and Spear were right, the skirmishes and missions of Night Raid were nothing compared to all out warfare. It had been two weeks since the first battles of the War between the Golden Dragon Empire and the Revolutionary Army; yes, it was an Empire now in Tatsumi's mind though in truth he was an insurgent leader in his own rightful domain, a domain in civil war. Still though of all the factions battling for power Tatsumi's was the only legitimate one as he was the sole Imperial Claimant pushing his rightful claim, his opponents in the Revolutionary Army and in the forces of Volgoth Ugor were agents of chaos who sought to wipe out anyone opposed to their ambitions and institute mass death on a scale never seen in Imperial history, not even in the ages of Civil war that had plagued the Empire in the past. No what Tatsumi was fighting for was the ideal of civilization itself, both of his enemies would see the Empire and in the case of Volgoth the entire universe under either total authoritarian anarchic rule or rule of a mob that killed anyone that disagreed with them or they didn't like.

Still though while he was fighting for the right reasons and was in the right, it didn't make war any less hellish, nor did it make it seem enjoyable, yes there were moments of bravery, gallantry and sacrifice but those moments were fleeting and tended to result in something far more common: death. Death in many ways, this war however was a lightning war: a war that had be won quickly to face the real war: that which was for the very existence of freedom and civilization, the Great War against the Demon Invasion.

Because speed was of importance to avoid a war of attrition harsh measures needed to be taken, after a battle was fought routers were run down and captives that were taken were given two choices: fight for the Golden Dragon Army or die, there was to be no prisoners taken until a final battle as Tatsumi could not afford to strain logistics with captives or letting them live to fight another day especially from captivity, with that in mind great piles of his enemies were piled up, skulls in mounds after the heads were removed: the condemned died quickly by beheading, except in the case of enemy officers that wouldn't defect, those he crucified to make a clear example. Some he had fed to Dorothea who was developing quite a taste for the blood of his enemies, Tatsumi didn't watch her feed after the first time she saw her truly feed: her victim a rude and crude Revolutionary Officer who had bragged about raping supporters of Imperial Regime the old one, was drained, not just drained of blood but of life itself, all that was left of him was a desiccated pile of bones.

"I find war to be a horrifying experience" Dorothea commented distracting Tatsumi from his thoughts.

"So, do I; especially the killing, I hate killing people you know" Tatsumi replied, it was a known fact: one he was keen on reminding anybody and everybody who brought up fighting. He had grown to hate it more after he lost track of his kills, he hadn't become numb to it he refused to be, but it was grading on his mind. In order to cope with the stress killing brought on Tatsumi had increased his sexual escapades after battle and whenever he had the time to: it was very helpful in that regard and also for helping his endurance and constitution build up so as to avoid fatigue. The blood from Valruost helped too, the blade had been whispering and Tatsumi had shoved out its desire for unnecessary bloodshed. With all this in his mind Tatsumi took a look at Dorothea, who despite the fresh blood on her little fangs was still beautiful and- quite stunning in her combat attire: which wasn't too different from her normal attire except in the fact it was more protective, it also included her signature teal bow which she wore all the time even when they slept or had sex. Her feeding in battle was limited as her new weapons, her Scorpion machine pistol and Lightsaber made mincemeat out of their enemies, the former with a lot of blood and the latter bloodlessly as any wound it made instantly was cauterized.

Battles had become more frequent too and within the last 2 weeks he had fought seven pitched engagements, three sieges and about two dozen skirmishes each leaving behind piles of Revolutionary corpses in their wake but few from his own men. When his army moved it moved in a fashion that was deceptive to RA forces: each flank of his army marched in a way to threaten different targets to conceal his main objectives and as such the Red Army forces were never certain where he'd strike, on the other fronts from messengers brought by Air Manta the other generals had reported victories at varying levels of success: his own push had driven thru Meekta and secured its food and minerals for his forces, Gallia had come next and with the support of the Gallian Generals it was a cake walk as few revolutionaries came from that region that didn't fight for him and those pockets of resistance were easily dealt with, after that he had pressed into Province of Malaquo which was hilly with light jungles spread throughout the province which were not favorable hiding places for the Revolutionary Army as they were infested with Goblins.

The Greenies were a new thing to Tatsumi, they were not unheard of in the Empire and used to have greater numbers of the small kind the Goblins, the moderately sized kind, Hobgoblins, and the larger kind: Orcs, but their propensity for fighting lead to their numbers being culled yearly to a point were Orcs were driven out of the Empire nearly entirely with numbers being limited to the Western Provinces, and smaller savage ones in the Southern Jungles, with most now living in the Western Kingdoms where they were trouble. Goblins however were still abundant in the Empire and were far more numerous than their large cousins in the first place, but they had been driven back to living in thicker forests and in caverns, though they did frequently come out onto the eastern plains. A couple of the battles in Malaquo that weren't fought against the RA were fought against goblin war parties who had taken advantage of civil war to raid the countryside, but they were a non-issue as they were outclassed by Imperial troops in both skill and especially in equipment which rendered them a non-issue against Tatsumi's forces, they were however an issue for RA troops who didn't have the numbers to form proper formations: another battle against the RA in the Jungles where they decided to fight as the rest of the province favored Tatsumi's army had drawn in goblin warbands eager for blood of 'da hummies' as they called them, they had butchered the RA forces from the rear and cut down those who tried to run, they were then slaughtered by Tatsumi's forces who had been on the other side of the battlefield and received the goblins with prepared formations.

Since that battle he'd seen no goblins, moving on from Malaquo had taken them to Vadal province, one of the remaining strongholds still in rebel hands: the term stronghold wasn't referring to fortifications the rebels didn't choose to hold those as the population of the immediate area was supportive of Tatsumi and when word of Falkland's plans spread support for the Revolutionary army had sharply declined as many of the people who had backed the cause were nobility and Imperial loyalists who wanted simply to remove Honest from power, that deprived Falkland's forces of vital supplies and resources along with transferring those to Tatsumi in turn.

The Gallian forces along with those of the Gassarnel armies from the province of Ekani had joined up with Tatsumi's force that now numbered about 250,000 soldiers, with the bulk being heavy infantry and cavalry, the rebels that opposed him numbered about half his force. The rebels had tried to use asymmetrical tactics against him but Tatsumi had both planned for this and had the advantage of intel from Nora Saika, she herself firmly favored and used her soldiers for feigned retreats, ambushes and skirmishing that harassed revolutionary forces whenever they were seen. These strategies happened so fast that the enemy never knew what hit them, it also helped that Nora had stolen battle plans before defecting as had a few other defectors, one of them was a map of RA army hidden supply caches which were hit and looted whenever Tatsumi's forces were in the area and to his surprise and enjoyment Nora left some as ambush sites for RA troops.

Overall the conflict was fairly brutal overall, the Golden Dragon Army had decimated RA armies whenever they encountered them, with very few losses on their part, for every dragon soldier felled 5 rebels went down with him or her. Now Tatsumi had his next objective; beyond Ekani was Boreth's home province: Alkan, renowned for its silver mines and for the people in the area who were of stubborn and smart dispositions, Ekani was also the last province in Tatsumi's path to Boreth who had retreated to his home in hopes of consolidating the Revolutionary Army's backbone at this point. Taking Alkan would end the war, the money that backed the armies came from its silver mines, it also was the core of the uprising where the Civil War that had torn apart the Empire had begun, without it and without Boreth, who would refuse to give up his home without dying, the RA would collapse into infighting and cease to be a cohesive unit that would easily be mopped up in less than a year.

"Esdeath" Tatsumi said to himself holding a picture of her in his hand. "Be safe my Ice Queen" he thought, despite him knowing full well Esdeath was capable of fending for herself and was in no real danger he still prayed and wished for her safety, not just hers but that of every woman he loved and all his friends, if he were to lose just one of them he'd lose it and if he were to lose Esdeath he'd snap and if he were heavens forbid lose Aria he'd die so deep was his love for Aria. "Aria" Tatsumi thought, he wished that there was some means of long-range communication, unfortunately Eden had yet to invent the telegraph let alone cellular phones or holographic transmitters, so he was forced to rely on more archaic means of communication over long distances.

"Tatsumi" Spear greeted walking into his tent; she smiled looking at Tatsumi who had a face of worry.

"Spear" Tatsumi replied then smiled put away the photograph in his wallet and walked up to Spear and gave her a hug, she hugged back and kissed him on the lips, it was tender kiss.

"Tatsumi, the scouts have reported back in, the generals are waiting for you in the briefing tent, also I'm really annoyed General Isara is not allowing me to look under those tarps she brought with her along with whatever's under them, have you seen them?" Spear asked.

"Yes, as to what's under them Spear well let's just say the battlefield will have a new weapon on it today that will change warfare, let's just say horses are going to become obsolete in terms of war" Tatsumi replied.

"Earth dragons and Wyverns too?" Spear replied sarcastically, Tatsumi chuckled the caressed her blonde hair before planting another kiss on her cheek.

"Nope there will always be a place for those bulwarks of danger beasts on the battlefield just what we'll be showing off today is a future of Imperial army units, during my reign as Emperor if they work as Isara has assured me they will they'll be the backbone anchor to our forces in future wars" Tatsumi replied.

"So, what exactly is underneath them?" Spear asked.

"You'd laugh if I told you" Tatsumi replied.

"I promise not to" Spear replied sarcastically.

"Tanks" Tatsumi replied.

"Tanks? As in storage tanks full of something?" Spear asked.

"Nope, something else entirely you'll see there are about twelve of them" Tatsumi replied. "Anyway, lets head to the briefing best not keep my loyal generals waiting not when there is so much at stake" Tatsumi replied and the two stepped out, the Four Rakshasas who had been standing watch outside his tent joined them followed by his Sacred Swords and the Elite Seven.

"I'm surprised you've taken this well to warfare Tatsumi-kun, I wasn't so sure you'd be the best leader" Spear explained honestly.

"I've learned from you and Esdeath, plus I read more than my share of books before this war started, besides this was sort of what I had in mind when I wanted to join the army in the first place, which reminds me I wonder what that idiot of a recruiter is up to nowadays" Tatsumi replied.

"Recruiter?" Spear asked.

"When I first arrived in Melitine I tried to join the army but I got annoyed when the recruiter told me that I wasn't good enough for an officer's rank and had to start off as a grunt, I thought I was better than that and he told me that he didn't need to accept my application, there were more than enough people wanting to join the army anyway and he could afford to be picky, I got angry and he threw me out with the help of some goons, I hope I see him again someday he'd be shocked to see me as Emperor" Tatsumi explained.

"Well you kind of had the kick out coming, if you had been under my command that kind of back-talk would have gotten you latrine duty for a month plus ten whacks from sugar cane for good measure" Spear replied Tatsumi laughed and smiled at that before looking at her.

"Yeah I was a bit of an arrogant hothead when I first arrived but well fighting for Night Raid changed that and the fight with Honest killed the old me, since then I've been way more cautious" Tatsumi explained with a light-hearted grin on his face.

"Humility is the best virtue for it teaches us we always have more to learn and imparts wisdom to those head it" Angelas commented walking towards them she was clad in red and black battle armor similar in design to that which was worn by the late General Budo but it was covered with holy symbols from her faith and was way more ornate, she also had a strange headdress on with a helmet visor up.

"Indeed, it teaches a person not to be stupid, well helps them not be stupid" Spear replied.

"Tatsumi, my liege I wish to let you know that my troops would like to fight in your vanguard, and I would like to offer to fight at your side" Angelas explained.

"I'd be glad to have you there: any time Angelas, now anything else you'd like to tell me" Tatsumi asked.

"Just this" Angelas said somewhat frowning, then kissed him on the cheek. "You're sweet, sweet enough that I'm tempted to forgo my vow of chastity for you but that would be contrary to my faith and as such I offer my hand in marriage if you'll have it" Angelas replied.

"This is awfully sudden" Tatsumi replied.

"I know but Avawahy gave me a vision last night, that vision foretold I'd bare your children, and one of them would be a great hero of Eden in the future, that hero would save not just our world but our galaxy from an unseen threat, as such I must in duty to my god extend my request now in favor to ask thee to marry me Emperor Tatsumi Gildenstrom, to have and to hold, to cherish and love for all eternity" Angelas explained.

"I- I accept but when this war with Falkland is over; right now, time is of the essence" Tatsumi replied.

"That's acceptable, I wouldn't have it any other way" Angelas replied, Tatsumi took a good look at her she then planted a kiss on his lips, a chaste one but it was a good one.

"Now we need to see to that meeting the sooner this battle is won the sooner we can end this foolish Civil War and turn our attention on our real enemy, the one that threatens to destroy civilization as we know it" Tatsumi replied and they accompanied him to the briefing tent.

The central Table was surrounded by Tatsumi's Generals: first and foremost were those who had been with his force from the start, his wives Najenda, Spear and Seryu along with the Delvars who he was also married to along with Lydia, Chiara and Nikola, but they had been joined since by Generals Claude Wallace, Welkin Gunther, Isara Gunther, along with the Wives of Claude and Welkin who were also generals, The Arch-Duchess of Gallia Cordelia had also joined his army along with a her forces, in addition to the Gassarnel siblings who had joined up after their provinces had been secured and the most recent addition Nora Saika.

"You're here" Audrey greeted, Tatsumi walked up to the table and took a seat.

"What's the situation? How many Rebels are there and what's ahead of us, also what's the battle plan?" Tatsumi asked getting straight to the point.

"The RA forces are dug in on the highest point in the valley a tall hill and they've put in quite a lot of effort fortifying the ground, also they've arrayed troops in the pass leading to the provincial capital of Parthay, they aren't the main threat, the RA forces on the hill are we could bypass them but they would be on our line of march and could harness our advance" Najenda explained.

"I see, what about the forces in the pass how many are there compared to the forces on the hill?" Tatsumi asked.

"About 20,000 defending it, about 100,000 however are on the hill and the surrounding hills" Audrey explained.

"Well the first move I'd say is to deal with the smaller group first, they've made a mistake in dividing their forces in a such an uneven manner, at the same time I think we should surround the hills" Tatsumi explained.

"There is a problem with that strategy, there is a significant cavalry force in the area, the RA is using them to contest an advance we could make" Audrey explained.

"Then we need to take the cavalry out of the picture, how many are there?" Tatsumi asked.

"About 5000 horsemen and 2000 wyvern riders evenly balanced between skirmish cavalry and heavy cavalry" Seryu explained, having been in charge of the scouting reports.

"I think it's time to deploy our secret weapons alongside our own cavalry, General Isara Gunther, General Nora Saika you are in charge of that plan" Tatsumi explained.

"I'm looking forward to the first battle test of my inventions" Isara replied.

"Isara explain to those who haven't been in the know about the project what the new weapons are" Selvaria interrupted.

"Yes" Isara replied and picked up a small basket she had brought with her and placed a model of the new weapon. "Powered by Halvac crystals mined in the Gassarnel lands the first of the Edelweiss class battle tanks are absolute powerhouses on the battlefield, their armor is comparable to that used to build curtain walls but they move at the speed of a galloping horse, their main weapon is this central turret which fires explosive shells with secondary weapons in the form of about five machine guns fired from inside and a built in mortar, all of these weapons are effective against infantry but also against cavalry and if they were to face it another tank, thanks to Dwarven engineers who joined our cause last month we were able to produce more than planed the Dwarves also noted and fixed a few flaws in the designs, also their automatons we purchased allowed for us to begin some semblance of an assembly line, about three divisions of about 12 tanks each were built before the conflict started, each were distributed to loyalist generals and each one is the equivalent of a battalion: they require a ten man crew and about two squads of infantry to support each one, without infantry support it would be possible for an enemy squad to out maneuver and most likely overwhelm and secure the vehicle" Isara explained. "I'll be leading and commanding this division, which has been labeled first division, I'll need to advance at a moderate speed to allow our support to keep up" Isara explained.

"I'll take our horse archers and outrider gunners to the field, light cavalry hit and run will serve us best to draw the enemy to General Gunther's forces, after the enemy cavalry is out of the picture I'll take our remaining skirmishers to hassle the forces guarding the pass" Nora explained.

"Alright now that we've got that out of the way what about the forces on the hills?" Chiara asked.

"We could bombard them with artillery" Lydia suggested.

"That would take too long to set up, we need to do this quick to keep up the momentum, every minute we aren't killing these traitors is a minute they get to fade away and start a war that we don't need when we have more important enemies to deal with" Tatsumi explained.

"We could use mortars of our own, portable ones" Claude suggested.

"We could, but we'd need to get closer to the enemy, I'd be for that plan, but we need to secure a strong foothold to set up" Tatsumi countered.

"I think we could use feign retreats to dislodge them from the hill" Nora suggested.

"We could but I'm not sure they'd fall for the same trick twice in the same battle Nora, what we need is to get them off that hill and artillery is the best way to do it" Lydia replied.

"I may have a solution" Spear chimed in.

"Tell us then" Tatsumi replied.

"We could use General Gunther's tanks to act as artillery platforms after we neutralize the enemy cavalry, Isara can the main guns fire mortar shells?" Spear asked.

"Yes, they can though I'm not sure about the range, I didn't test that though it should be comparable to a normal shell" Isara replied.

"That settles it, we can also use the tanks to shield our mortar teams and our main infantry advance, also I think we should take another force and attack from the rear, if we can force them to fight on two fronts we can weaken their cohesion, also I recommend splitting the tank division from 12 to two groups of six and have them attack on both fronts" Tatsumi added.

"I'll command the second group; I love taking it from behind- I mean taking it to them from behind" Lydia replied.

"As for me I'll lead the main attack from the front, I want the former Elite Seven with me and my bodyguards, a mass of Teigu users in the center should allow for us to break their center easier, Susanoo and Amaterasu will be with that my group too" Tatsumi explained. "Are we in agreement?" Tatsumi asked, everyone nodded. "Good I'll leave it to the rest of you to come up with troop distribution and command postings: I've got other things to do in the meantime let me know when it's time to go" Tatsumi replied and took his bodyguards and stepped out.

Shortly… "Your majesty?" Makoro asked.

"Yes Makoro?" Tatsumi asked.

"My sister and I would like to speak to you in private if you have time" Makoro replied.

"Alright" Tatsumi replied, Nui grinned at him seductively.

"You two do that, I think I'll track down Cornelia and- well inform her of the plans and after that well let's just say you'll want to visit my tent my liege" Nui replied.

"Please the flirting is annoying" Osawa commented.

"Says the person who won't stop saying his name her sleep" Hiromi replied.

"Hiromi! You told me you'd keep that secret" Osawa replied glaring at her friend, Tatsumi face-palmed.

Shortly…

Tatsumi took one step inside before he found his jaw drop, standing in front of him was Amaterasu, Junko's Teigu, completely naked smirking at him, Tatsumi's first instinct was to faint his second was to lose self-control throw off his clothing and get down and dirty right away. He did neither of these things. "Greetings Emperor Tatsumi" Amaterasu replied in a calm relaxed voice as if she were completely clothed.

"Hi" Tatsumi stammered out.

"Good you have brought him here, I see you already are having the reaction I thought you would Tatsumi, Junko and Makoro wish to express their feelings, feelings that I share as part of our bound and let's be honest even if I wasn't bounded I'd be smitten with you" Amaterasu explained, the two sisters then kissed him on either cheek.

"So, you two love me? I'm not surprised, which was it my charm or Nui bragging about me that got you smitten with me" Tatsumi asked, knowing that the effect he had on women varied between the two, some fell in love with him for who he was and others just to get at what was in his pants.

"For me it was your charm, you exuded an aura of confidence and bravery that I've never seen in a man, but really it's your fighting skills, I heard stories of your feats in battle but seeing them first hand as your protector it's- humbling and romantic; especially seeing the blood flow" Junko explained with a smirk.

"For me it's a matter of you being handsome, me wanting to shut Nui up with her desire to hook me up with you, and your charisma" Makoro explained.

"So, do you want to do me here and now or wait until after the battle for a celebration?" Tatsumi asked.

"Do we have to choose between the two? Because I'd like both" Junko replied, then she and her sister began undressing, Amaterasu relived Tatsumi of his armor, his clothes and everything he had on down to his socks, the three then led him to a large oversized cushion, Tatsumi was unsurprised because despite his desire for speed the two sisters insisted in traveling in style with Amaterasu shouldering the burdens to the wagon that carried their things with ease. He was eased back flat as the three crawled around him, the twins kissed him and caressed him while Amaterasu took a good study of his dick.

"I'm impressed by the size; I've never seen one apart from Susanoo's during our creation" Amaterasu explained.

"Can you tell me about that?" Tatsumi asked.

"Not yet, it's not my place to say so while the will of the Dwarves is to keep the process of Teigu construction secret, suffice to say though my brother and I were once human but we volunteered to become what we are today: powerful immortal beings of war" Amaterasu explained then began blowing him, the two sisters went to different positions: Makoro went to his chest and played with his nipples licking them and tickling them, while Junko looked at him with her breasts.

"Drink, I'll bet your thirsty" Junko invited, Tatsumi obliged taking on of her D-cups in his hand and pull her closer so he could begin stimulating her breasts, he caressed the areolas with practiced ease in order induce lactation, Junko giggled as her nipples were ticklish like Tatsumi's own and when he took the right nipple in his mouth she moaned loudly as he began drinking. Tatsumi then puts his hands to use fingering both sisters who moaned loudly, his fingers found they were indeed virgins as he expected the two were a bit on the crazy side and most people believed it was best to keep their dick out of crazy, Tatsumi did not abide by that belief especially when it came to Seryu who was crazy but not insane. His fingers were despite his use of blades in battle surprisingly soft, Amaterasu's tongue handled him with ease whether or not Tatsumi was her first was something he'd have to find out, but she seemed capable of doing this sort of thing without issue.

There was of course always a time when Tatsumi hit his limit and about 2 minutes later he did and creamed Amaterasu's face with a gush of his seed. "Interesting, tasteful, I don't need to eat though" Amaterasu remarked.

"Now who gets his dick in them first?" Makoro asked then quickly she jumped for her chance and parked herself on his still erect length, both her and Tatsumi moaned at the same time Junko pushed Tatsumi back and sat on his face Tatsumi began using his tongue to his usual skill, the best of his ability, Amaterasu beaten to both of Tatsumi's best aspects had to settle for playing with his nipples while at the same time licking his balls, each time she took one into her mouth Tatsumi moaned audibly, this extra stimulation of his testicles resulted in a faster orgasm then normal where he'd usually take a good 10 minutes to do so Amaterasu cut it down to six minutes, Tatsumi didn't notice the fact that Makoro stayed on him as he came but Junko did.

"Sis! Aren't you worried you'll get pregnant?" Junko exclaimed.

"Nope, I'd actually like to bare our Emperor's Children, it would be great for me and I'm already settled on him being my husband, you want him too?" Makoro replied.

"Yes!" Junko replied as she orgasmed.

"Was that your reply to my question or your response to you cumming?" Makoro asked.

"Shut up sis you know the answer, now get off of him and let me at that dick!" Junko replied and aggressively pushed Makoro off and mounted Tatsumi reverse-cowgirl, in her haste however she took him in an ally. "Shit! Your big and this is the wrong hole!" Junko replied as was going to dismount when Makoro pinned her in place. "Sis I'm not letting you off that easily you said you wanted his dick you can have it in your ass first" Makoro replied.

"But what about my pussy?" Junko asked annoyed.

"I can help you with that mistress" Amaterasu and took that as an invitation and began eating her out.

"OH!" Junko moaned, Makoro at the same time had mounted Tatsumi's face, she then held Junko's hands as to hold her sister in pace though this was unnecessary, Junko was enjoying her current position way too much to leave it, but Makoro wanted to wheedle her just the same as she loved reminding her younger twin who was the brains and who was the brawn. Tatsumi was too focused on eating Makoro out to care about their rivalry and enjoyed the tightness of Junko too much to care, he was lost in his enjoyment and simply allowed his new found lovers to pleasure him in whatever way they wanted to, he may have even submitted to bondage at that moment in time, but neither sibling had an interest in that particular kink, but someone else did and Tatsumi didn't know that after his war with the Revolutionary Army that person would be in his path. Junko then swapped and they continued on.

As Tatsumi was enjoying the two sisters and the first Teigu lover he'd ever had, Nui and Cornelia were having an important debate. "Thongs!" Nui yelled.

"Panties!" Cornelia replied both of whom were flaunting their preferred underwear.

"Tatsumi like it easier and I say the less time he spends taking our clothes off the more time we can spend fucking him, which is why thongs are great as they are easy to remove" Nui argued.

"Panties are more comfortable besides it takes Tatsumi the same amount of time either way" Cornelia replied.

"I disagree besides it allows you to flaunt that massive ass of yours more" Nui replied.

"I see your logic there, but I don't like flaunting it, I prefer Tatsumi enjoying it" Cornelia replied.

"You know what there is only one way to settle this: rock, paper, scissors! If I win, we wear thongs if you win you get to wear your panties" Nui replied.

"Why don't we both wear panties if you lose?" Cornelia asked.

"I don't own any, that's why" Nui replied.

"Better idea why don't we go commando" Cornelia responded.

"I- you know what that makes sense now what kind of outfit do we wear? I'd love to wear something unique" Nui agreed and the two set about the far easier task of picking what to wear.

In the meantime, other things were happening, Tatsumi had come in Nui and Amaterasu had mounted him, she was a virgin but had no Hyman due to her being a Teigu. At the same time Nora and Isara had finished readying their force and had set out from the camp.

The open flatlands in front of the ridge which for the purposes of planning was dubbed Traitor's Ridge and would be called so thereafter with a triumphal monument build on the central hill some two years later, but at this time it was crawling with RA soldiers who were fortified in with sandbags, barbed wire and pillboxes set up along with other obstacles, but the Rebels lacked two things that would have made the hill ideal, the first was artillery as it any artillery had to be abandoned to allow for speed but also because it would have taken too long to set up as Eden Artillery during this particular period was not optimized for rapid deployment and was rarely used outside of field battles as the goal of most sieges was to capture the cities relatively intact and usually were done by starving the enemy out or by storm with battering rams, siege towers, grappling hooks and ladders keeping the walls most importantly intact to keep out Danger Beasts that were drawn out in the aftermath of battles.

The ten thousand strong skirmish force didn't have to go far before they encountered the enemy cavalry which was moving about, Nora took her Horse Archers and attacked with a volley of arrows before the enemy could notice them, hundreds of the enemy's light cavalry died in this initial volley which got the attention of the enemy: the captain of the enemy cavalry ordered an all-out counter charge and Nora's forces withdrew making sure to keep themselves at a distance that the enemy would still try to pursue, while doing this the horse archers fired back behind them and the bodkin fletched arrows tore thru the armor of the heavier cavalry and felled horse and rider without much issue, yet still in spite of the casualties and the protests of other officers the captain pushed his force onward confident that they were winning, it was then as they had been drawn back that something happened, the enemy skirmishers fell back behind something they hadn't expected, first off was a phalanx of infantry men but that wasn't disturbing, no it was the large moving structures among them; their horses panicked and the Captain ordered a full frontal assaulted confident that their numbers would carry the day. Then the game changed.

"All units fire at will!" Isara ordered from her tank, then ducking inside bringing the guns of her tank to bare, the surrounding tanks unleashed the first salvo of rounds from the barrels of their main guns, the explosive shells moved quick and then exploded with the force that the enemy horsemen never had expected and never would see again as hundreds both rider and horse were shredded into mulch, those that survived wanted to flee but their horses panicked throwing their riders about, the raptor riders found themselves thrown of and killed by their mounts in the frenzied panic which led to horsemen being torn apart in the rampage, to add fuel to the fire mortar rounds landed amongst them detonating with even more power than initial rounds. The mortar volley caused the enemy to begin to cut and run, in turn they were cut down by machine gun fire from the auxiliary turrets of the tanks which mowed down hundreds more then the mortars, those that managed to get out of range from the tanks were attacked from the rear as Nora's cavalry hadn't withdrawn behind the lines as it first seemed but had gone behind then veered about the flank as the main enemy contingent had been paralyzed and decimated by the tanks. The newly arrived horsemen were also fresh as Nora had held them in reserve, also contingents of foot archers that had been held in reserved fired from the flanks, suddenly the enemy captain who was down on the ground with his guts pouring out realized his force was surrounded and saw the entire enemy cavalry unit massacred to a man with not even the wounded being allowed to live, the last thing the captain saw was the soldier who drove his halberd thru his chest as he lay on the ground bleeding out.

Nora and Isara's initial attack had been an overwhelming success with hordes of enemies being felled with no losses on their part as their ambush had been so successful, with the engagement ended the enemy lacked maneuverability, and riders were sent back to camp to ready the army for the main push, at the same time Nora took her skirmish cavalry to begin harassing the enemy's smaller force holding the pass out of the Valley which was hereafter called the Valley of Bloody Hills, the enemy there wasn't inclined to abandon their defensive position but Nora wasn't going to engage them head on so she was quite content to sit out of the range of the enemy and have her horsemen barrage them with arrows, a lot of them and reserves had been set up to allow her soldiers to keep peppering the enemy with them.

Back at the camp…. "Tatsumi!" Cornelia moaned as Tatsumi came inside her.

"Tatsumi!" Spear yelled rushing into the tent then blushed at the sight in front of her.

"What is it killjoy?" Nui asked annoyed.

"The troops are ready to begin moving out, they are waiting for you" Spear replied, Tatsumi got out from under the two Elite Seven members and looked at Spear.

"You could have waited until after round 7 to tell us that" Nui remarked.

"Never mind Nui, we'll celebrate after the we win, now you two help me with my armor" Tatsumi asked.

"Yes Tatsumi-kun" Cornelia replied, the two helped him redress before doing so themselves.

"Cornelia, I want you and the other former Elite Seven with me and the others in the vanguard, the more Teigu users towards the front to better" Tatsumi explained.

"Kay" Cornelia replied, Tatsumi helped her fasten her corset and then Cornelia left.

"Well my Emperor are you ready to make the blood flow?" Nui asked enthusiastically.

"Not really, I hate killing" Tatsumi replied as he put on his crowned helmet.

"Poo your no fun, I personally love slicing the enemy to ribbons, letting the blood flow like water on your body like a shower of gore, weaving with my blade a tapestry of mangled enemies in my wake" Nui replied with an eager voice, Tatsumi shrugged.

"Do you really believe that?" Tatsumi asked.

"I do, killing bad guys is fun, it's so much fun; but you are way more fun, you know what I'm going to do after this battle I'm going to ride you until my ass is so sore I won't be able to stand up and you'll have to carry me to the next fight" Nui replied, Tatsumi face-palmed.

"You know its attitudes like yours Nui makes me wonder if Eden will ever see peace, by the way what do you intend to do after the war is over? You'll still be my bodyguard but also an empress and on top of that most of that work will be rather unlively" Tatsumi replied.

"I'll cross that bridge when we get to it Tatsumi-kun, personally I'm just along for you: besides you not liking killing your like Shastavi, but you don't have daddy-issues like she does" Nui replied.

"Don't even bring that up" Shastavi said walking in, clad in armor and ready to fight, she turned to Tatsumi. "Your Honor Guard is waiting; the rest of the army is waiting for your final preparations for battle" Shastavi explained to Tatsumi.

"Did Angelas get the sacrificial alter ready, I want the portents for the battle" Tatsumi asked.

"Yes, she and her zealots are at the front of the formation as per her request, the alter is outside and the troops are waiting for their Emperor to carry out those rituals and give an inspiring speech" Shastavi explained.

"I'm going to be improvising one then on the speech front, I don't have one ready so I'll say what I can" Tatsumi replied he then took Shastavi's hand. "Come my Empress I think we shouldn't keep them waiting any more" Tatsumi concluded, the two then stepped out, Cornelia and Nui followed in short order and Spear joined him along with the Four Champions, his Three Sacred Swords and the other Elite Seven members, this following escorted him to the center of camp where an alter had been built and the sacrificial Auroches was restrained to it.

Angelas bowed as he approached and everyone around bent the knee, the banners held in respect, Tatsumi stepped forward and looked at his soldiers, the ones he could see and they numbered in a great crowd with standards of various different regiments held aloft alongside those of Golden Dragon, the most prominent of these was Night Raid's own battle standard that of the Owl over the crescent moon which was held by Pais with her sister Roxanna carrying the banner of the Gold Dragon. "Your Imperial Majesty, we have been awaiting your arrival" Angelas greeted.

"Rise, it's time for the offering, I want the portents as normal though as I've said before we make our own odds here!" Tatsumi shouted in a booming voice, cheers went up and Tatsumi held up his hands, chants were made in religious hymns, as the sacrifice was readied, Angelas took the offered blade. "Avawahy! Lord of Peace! Grant us victory this day to bring peace everlasting! Gods of the Empire, from Ulmo your High King to the new comer of our pantheon the Eternity Queen, we offer this humble offering in search of omens for the battle to come, know that if we are victorious a hundred such bulls will be offered soon after" Angelas proclaimed, she then began chanting in the tongue of the eastern kingdom of Quadala where the Path of Peace had originated from and raised her blade before shouting "CADITH!" which meant something along the lines of "Kill" and drove the blade repeatedly and swiftly into the Aurochs with rapid thrusts to the creature's abdomen to the loud death rows of the bull.

Soon it was over, blood was collected and Angelas and other priests checked the body for a sign, they found one and lifted up the portent to cheers. "Victory will be ours this day! Avawahy's chosen champion will lead us to victory!" Angelas proclaimed cheered erupted and the banging of shields joined it, Tatsumi stepped up to the Alter, Angelas and her entourage poured fresh blood from the sacrifice onto their armor and weapons in a pre-battle ritual behind him as did so.

"Warriors! My fellow Imperials, this day we will break the back of the Revolutionary army, this valley and the pass at the end of it is the lone obstacle in our path to the heart of the Revolution, Alkan, there Boreth Falkland and his traitors plot and scheme, we have given the chance for them to give up their mad dreams of anarchy that would destroy the Empire we all live in, they've refused, this war was meant for the cause of removing Honest as Prime Minister whose depraved policies have allowed rot and corruption to run forth and our economy to falter along with the people starving and suffering, what Falkland and his traitors wanted to do was destroy the Empire and put a government of blood and terror in its place, the Empire is flawed corrupted, but the system of the Empire has worked for 1500 years and yes changes will come to it but those changes will be fair made and needed and the foremost amongst them is to wipe out the corruption and monsters that plague our great nation. Falkland is one of those monsters, he would see innocent children die for his own ambition, my own kin, he'd see anyone who disagrees with his plan beheaded in a public square, we'll show him and any traitor that serves him how the Empire punishes traitors, if he doesn't die in the final battle of this thrice damned war I'll see him and every single survivor that refuses to denounce his vile ideals brought up in the square of his city and crucified, every last one of these traitors that chooses not to embrace our cause and fight for the true Empire will be crucified and their bodies will hang in a forest of iron crosses that will be left up as a monument in warning of their signs and their bones will hang bleached on them to the end of time! So my soldiers we will give them the ultimatum, those who wish to join us may do so, but those who choose not to they are to be killed, any captive you take is to crucified for all to see, We go now to war, let none survive, if we let one of these traitors live their treason will take roots in the hearts of others and we must not allow that to happen lest we fight this war for another century. NO! We will end this war, treason to the Empire started in Alkan and it will end there, but first all the traitors will die on that ridge. My spies tell me those soldiers are the best they have left: HA! If that is their best then we've been fighting sheep using horns made of clay instead sharpened blades and destructive bullets, now we march!" Tatsumi spoke, a roar went up and the audience cheered.

About an hour later… Tatsumi sent a messenger forward along with a small guard baring the flag of truce, the Revolutionaries fired at them and they withdrew rapidly, there would be no quarter given this day not to any enemy. Tatsumi this day had decided to fight on foot, cavalry would be of no use against the enemy fortified on their hill, it would be an infantry fight and he was going to lead his troops: Imperial Guard warriors from his new Dragon Guard rallied around him while close at hand were his personal protectors, to the right of him was Spear with her sword at the ready and to the left was Angelas clad in full battle armor with a helm that masked her face, in one hand she held a pistol, a desert eagle like Najenda's, in her other hand a long Warhammer with an ornate head with a golden ram inlaid in a key joint of the weapon. "Look to the front; kill them all give only quarter to those who yield those enemies that surrender will be given a choice after the battle join us or die" Tatsumi ordered to those nearby, he brought his force to a halt outside of range of the enemy guns.

Tatsumi then his horn and blowed to signal for the tanks to be brought up, his ranks opened and half of the division drove up, the enemy guns opened up but the large behemoths of titanium advanced surely, to the side their infantry protectors marched in tortoise formation their large shields caused the bullet to be useless. At the same time another force had been moving up with the other half of the tanks under Lydia Agathe backed up by Nikola and Chiara with the support troops, from the infantry teams moved up with mortars and set them up behind protective shields once they were set up Tatsumi had the Night Raid banner held aloft as a the agreed signal, the mortar crews were the first to fire, their shells being fired was heard by the tank gunners who fired the first of many mortar rounds, the larger shells from the main gun were far bigger than those held by the handheld mortar teams, the shrieks of the mortars were heard loud and clear and far louder was the impact, ranks of fortified revolutionaries were torn to shreds in moments, more rounds were fired and pillboxes that had withstood the first volley were levelled, at the same time the other attack hit the rear of the Revolutionary forces, that side of the hill hadn't been fortified as they hadn't had the resources to do the job.

The mortars kept firing until the shells were exhausted, by that point the remainder of the Revolutionary forces numbered less than half of their original strength, it was then the skirmish phase began, his archers and gunners moved forward and unleashed the first of many volleys the revolutionaries retaliated in kind but few fell in return, for every skirmisher lost by the Dragon Army 5 rebels fell in that soldier's place, it was then that the infantry began advancing as the skirmishers continued their barrage, on the rear of the ridge there was no skirmish as Lydia had ordered the attack, Tatsumi ordered his personal troops forward and the other commanders down the line did likewise. Tatsumi sounded his horn once more and then slung it on his side and drew Valruost and Smaug, the charge commenced, and his soldiers moved rapidly forward. On the other side of the valley Nora's skirmishers had caused the defenders in the pass many heavy casualties with few of her own, Nora's long composite recurved bow planted many shafts into the enemy from her horseback. Each enemy fell to her bow and many more to those of her soldiers.

Tatsumi breathed deeply before shedding first blood. "One" he counted internally, and this was followed up: in the blood haze as he fought he lost his sense of who he killed, to him they were his enemies, traitors who wanted to destroy everything he held dear for their own twisted ambition "They won't take my Aria from me" Tatsumi thought driven by that above all other things, the fact Falkland wanted to see his beloved dead was enough to seal his hatred, as it would be for anyone who wanted to lay a hand in evil upon her. "Forty" he presently counted, so far he had carved a path of destruction, to his side Cornelia and Spear were eviscerating any enemy that was actively trying to flank him, nearby in the haze he heard the loud roar of Najenda's pistols as enemies were blown away while Angelas felled traitors alongside her fanatical warriors yelling out battle chants as she fired her pistol with one hand and crushed the skulls of enemies with the Warhammer in the other as she smiled under her visor, to his immediate front more enemies, three fell to his swords, and five fell to Akame who had pushed ahead of Spear to cover his right flank and soon the haze of battle came on and he lost himself in the slaughter with only being able to tell friend from foe by the color of their uniforms as he saw red worn by the rebels proudly in defiance.

The battle raged on, it was bloody as to be expected, the rebels held every inch of ground, their General rallied them with brutal efficiency and he roared orders above the noise of battle, Najenda was doing the same on Tatsumi's side as were the Delvars mother and daughter yelling as their household soldiers cut a swath of destruction on the right flank attacking the hill that occupied it, at the same time the Gallian forces did the same: Selvaria was their trump card along side her sisters, using powers infused in her by Imperial research she decimated hundreds of rebels at a time, the fencers of Gallia did their part too outmaneuvering and bypassing the guards of their enemy forces to eviscerate their opponents.

But the real fighting was where Tatsumi was as he had attacked the main hill of the ridge and his vanguard was decimating the enemy, his Dragon Guard fought with the fury of the possessed for Tatsumi's presence rallied them to preform above and beyond that of normal soldiers, while in the center of that his Teigu user body guards killed thousands of enemy soldiers. Somehow in the haze of battle Tatsumi found himself separated from his bodyguards and facing down a determined warrior, a Teigu user of the rebel's own, this man was a looming giant who wielded a Teigu halberd. Tatsumi was impressed by the weapon's design and effectiveness, he had seen Mashiro use her own Teigu halberd to extreme use but this was the first time he was on receiving end of one such user, the weapon granted the user some sort perfect vigor as the soldier didn't seem to tire, however despite this warrior's skill Tatsumi was on another level and kept this soldier on level, but this was ruse of his own for as the soldier focused on him he was blind to his doom. The warriors head exploded in a blast of gore as Tsukushi smiled with one of Prometheus's guns smoking, to the side while Cornelia ripped apart five soldiers who had attempted to aid this soldier, the former two Elite Seven members came to his side while Spear caught up to him not to long after along with his four champions who had finished off about 20 elite soldiers, by this point the army was nearing the top of the hill where the best troops were held in reserve. Not to long after Tatsumi noted that they were meeting up with Lydia's flanking force as the Rebels were now completely encircled in pincer maneuver, at the same time fresh reserves rallied by Nora's skirmishers who had routed and cut down the pass defenders arrived, these soldiers were archers who brought to bear fresh ammunition from crack soldiers onto the hold outs of the two smaller hills allowing the right and left forces to finish off the 2000 or so remaining troops on either hill, then with a good amount of ammunition left they unleashed barrages into the central ridge, Tatsumi saw enemies felled by bolts and arrows to his front and soon the enemy general who had been pinned by one of these volleys that had taken down his knee: the general clutched at his knee with one hand holding his sword with another, he smiled as he saw Tatsumi but winced as he tried to stand, Tatsumi would have killed him then but Cornelia beat him to the punch: literally as a strike from her Teigu fist tore right thru his midsection bisecting him with ease before crushing his skull in an explosion of gore after lifting up the rest of him, she then flung his lifeless corpse at the nearest enemies.

With their general's death the Revolutionaries that remained began surrendering on mass Tatsumi noted the dead around him as the bloody haze subsided, Smaug retracted and Tatsumi noted his proud black and gold armor was stained with blood, near him Spear's armor was likewise covered and she smiled at him as she slung the blood stained sword Yadviga on her back, Akame did the same as sheathed her katanas in a relaxed manner while Mez shouted the first of many cheers. The valley echoed with cheers soon and it was said that years later they could still be heard echoing the valley.

The following day Tatsumi noted the funerals of the dead who fell on both sides, fortunately as had been the case with most if not all his battles so far those on his side proved to be few in terms of fallen where enemies dead numbered in the tens of thousands, unlike the soldiers on his side who enjoyed rest in marked graves the rebels bodies were burnt in great pyres as per Tatsumi's orders he wanted not a trace to be left behind of these traitors nothing for future ones to worship or to celebrate, he wanted Falkland's legacy to be that his historians wrote not that written by the madman who wanted to destroy the Empire and anyone who didn't share his vision for the future.

"So how many did you kill?" Nui asked Tatsumi presently.

"At my count, 1235 before I killed so many that I lost count" Tatsumi replied.

"Damn that's a lot my handsome hubby-to-be, you did well my Emperor, won't this be a nice story to tell our kids" Nui replied, Tatsumi frowned.

"Death is not something to celebrate, in an ideal world none of this would have happened" Tatsumi remarked.

"We don't live in an idea world Tatsumi, we live in one where monsters live, but we'll change it, the world we live in isn't ideal but I don't think any world is, by all rights Eden should be a paradise world where all races live in peace and harmony and, but that's not the case despite our world's beauty, evil never sleeps and those who desire power never stop seeking ways to get it" Shastavi said presently.

"Great way to get all philosophical Shastavi, all of this philosophy is making my head hurt, I'm a simple-minded woman, a clever one but not one who's a fan of talking about the state of the world, leave that out of my life" Nui replied.

"Tatsumi" Cornelia interrupted.

"Yes Cornelia?" Tatsumi asked.

"I need to speak in private, also I'd like to celebrate our victory if you're up for that, I've got some spiced wine in my tent that Lady Delvar gave me" Cornelia replied.

"I'd be up for that, Shastavi you and my protectors stay here, Cornelia and I would like to be alone" Tatsumi replied and the two left his tent, outside Tatsumi heard screams of enemy soldiers hanging from their crosses, Tatsumi had given the survivors the usual ultimatum and those that changed sides did so, those remained were hung from crosses to die as an example to prevent future revolts when they left the following morning those crosses along with those on it would be lit aflame burning both cross and criminal to ash. "I hate having to do these things, but Esdeath taught me that war is cruelty and the crueler it is the quicker it ends, besides you have to make examples to prevent future threats" Tatsumi thought still though he hated the reality of war and the things needed to end it this strategy total war as Esdeath called it was enough to win and it certainly wasn't without tactics, Cornelia lead him to her tent, which was humble compared to his own but still furnished as were those of any of his lovers or rather any soldier as furnishings were readily available and requisitioned to allow his soldiers whatever comforts they could get, Tatsumi believed that his troops should be well cared for and didn't care what they did in their off time only how they performed in battle and if he had to spoil them he would, granted it required a much larger camp following then most armies but as Emperor his people were willing to provide anything he needed: anything.

"So Tatsumi" Cornelia stammered out.

"Cornelia, what is it?" Tatsumi asked.

"I- well I'm not going to dodge it, I'm worried for you- worried that your starting to become numb to killing, during this last battle you cut down enemy soldiers left and right without even so much as looking at them, you told me you hate killing yet how could you at the same time be able to kill so many soldiers?" Cornelia explained.

"They fight for a man who wants to take away and destroy everything I love but above all that he wants to kill Aria and for that alone I cannot suffer him to live not just that he wants my sweet little cousins Koko and Lin to die as well, I dreamt of them dying under those cruel bladed machines of his I'll see them broken and never used again" Tatsumi replied.

"Tatsumi many that live deserve death, and many more that die in our world deserve life, you can't give those who died life again, I wish we could then Natula, Green and Tajasho along with all my friends and everyone we cared for could still live, death however can be given frequently and freely don't be so quick to kill, I worry you may become like Akame" Cornelia replied.

"I'm not like Akame, I'm not a cold-blooded killer who could kill without caring, you're right though, in future battles I'll try not to lose myself in the haze of battle, do you stay levelheaded?" Tatsumi asked.

"Oh yes I do, granted I kill when and as needed but I tend to be quick about it, you on the other hand are like storm unpredictable and destructive to anything in its path; you're a force of nature Tatsumi and your enemies are many but your equals are few" Cornelia replied.

"I'm going to attempt make that number fewer than it already is" Tatsumi replied, Cornelia laughed.

"You know kidding aside I think a celebration is in order let's forget about death and war for the rest of day, let's make merry and celebrate our victory, you and me; besides I've got a little treat for you later and it's got no underpants" Cornelia teased then grabbed a bottle of Spiced wine. She and Tatsumi drank responsibly and after finishing the bottle helped each other with their armor leaving themselves in more regular clothes. "Come on, let's make love" Cornelia replied, the two walked to the bed and stripped each other of clothing, underneath her clothes Cornelia wore no undergarments, Tatsumi did but Cornelia had his boxers off really quickly and had her breasts wrapped around his length even faster as she began giving him head; Cornelia's tongue danced over the head of his phallus licking the tip as her breasts comforted the length in the valley.

"Cornelia" Tatsumi moaned, he placed his hand on her head and leaned back onto the bed crawling back as Cornelia continued blowing him in spite of the movement. "Cornelia could you sit on my face, you need to experience what I'm feeling.

"Of course, my lovely Tatsumi, anything for you" she said with a smirk and she mounted him, Tatsumi began pleasing her orally using his tongue to good effect as she resumed blowing him; he used his hands to found her massive rump as she went off on him. Both had similar limits, and both knew how to push them, and it took only a few alterations in their techniques to prock the orgasms, both showering seed on the face of each other, both licked up that seed as Cornelia dismounted and presented her rear to him invitingly. "You know you want to" Cornelia flirted, Tatsumi backdoored her to her immediate satisfaction, her eyes went wide as he entered, and Tatsumi moaned loudly as his length was sheathed in that tight hole, Cornelia giggled his hands fondled her breasts. "Oh, Tatsumi you just love a handful of boobs, don't you?" Cornelia teased.

"Yeah I'm kind of hooked on them, I think it may have been my mother's doing, she didn't stop nursing me until I was 10 and I'm sure that's had an impact on my preferences" Tatsumi replied.

"So, who do you think has the best breasts in your whole- whole! Eeek! Harem? Damn you're going deep, oh so big" Cornelia teased, Tatsumi was tempted to say Esdeath but he didn't want to name names as Cornelia was sensitive when it came to her looks and was the type to talk about his opinion, chiefly to Taeko her best friend outside of her fellow sevens.

"If I told you won't like the answer" Tatsumi replied honestly.

"Hey I was just kidding, can you up the pace a bit, you're going a bit too slow for my tastes" Cornelia replied, Tatsumi shrugged and intensified the thrusts, Cornelia smiled as she looked at him knowing full well she had pushed him to the limit then smiled as he gave the goofiest grin as he came and fell back off her. "And your still hard" Cornelia remarked as she noted Tatsumi was a bit burnt out.

"I'm good for at least 10 more rounds" Tatsumi replied non-challently.

"I'll bet and I'll hold you to it, if you blackout I'll still be fucking you in your sleep" Cornelia replied.

"Feel free to, also feel free to be on top mistress" Tatsumi replied assuming a submissive persona, Cornelia smiled then mounted him, sighed as she took his length into her then began moaning as she rode him cowgirl style.

Tatsumi's words were off, he lasted only three more rounds before he blacked out and Cornelia kept going until about the time she started to tire and so she wrapped the blanket around both of them and they passed out.

On the other front… Esdeath loomed large and proud above a fresh battle as she watched her wyvern feed on the bodies of the dead rebels. "A lot of food for him" Esdeath remarked as Aria approached, clad in ornate blue and white painted plate and wearing a diamond laced crown along with Noctis Wave Aria looked radiant especially with her hair having grown out. "You're too clean, your armor though is freshly cleaned" Esdeath replied.

"Hey you changed your outfit, I still am wearing the same one I wore in the start of this battle" Aria replied, Esdeath smiled and laughed, Esdeath wore the new Gold and Black Uniform of the Golden Dragon Army over a set of fine plate armor, her new Rapier which had been made custom in Tokorra before her arrival was ornate and a large difference from the rather spartan blade she had used before, said blade's hilt with what was left of the blade rested at her side as a dagger, her hair had grown out too, though it was yet to the reach length it was before she cut it in shame, Tatsumi's words though had broken her shame and had restored her drive, she wanted him and her to live in a peaceful world where the Patras Clan could be reborn, not just that it would live by new traditions created by her; she hoped beyond hope to be victorious and was driven now to win this war: protecting Aria wasn't something though she had to worry about as Aria was protected by the Oarburgh bodyguards: Saraya, Taeko, Meela and Loris, with Bulat who served as her defender alongside protecting Makoto along with Fal, Air and Luna who try as Aria might she couldn't convince to stay behind in Tokorra as they wanted to do their part in this war; Makoto out of a desire to right the wrongs that happened during his reign and the other three to be with him and in Air's case to prove her skills. "Air" Esdeath thought, that girl had a lot of potential enough to surpass her own and Tatsumi's, plus she had seen her trying to learn her strange powers which to some extent she was learning to control but it was all self-taught Aria was trying to find in their off time summon who could understand the power Air had but Esdeath for life of herself couldn't make sense of it, granted there had been people like her before in the history of her tribe and they had been great warriors but they had to learn their powers themselves.

"Anyway, Aria what is it you want?" Esdeath asked.

"I can't stop thinking about Tatsumi, I'm sure you're of the same mind" Aria replied.

"That would be an understatement, I'm focused on him, letting him drive me onwards even in my absence, I don't worry however for his safety, he is the strongest man I've ever met and is stronger than me, for him to die to some random bullet or arrow or to some nobody would be illogical and contrary to reality, yes people die randomly but Tatsumi's not one of them, he's too strong and too well protected to do so, you however Aria are his weakness, if you were to die he'd lose his will to live, I'd lose mine as well, Tatsumi is my beloved and nothing will change that" Esdeath replied.

"Well I'll not die then not until I'm old and past my prime and when I do it will be peacefully" Aria responded. "We march tomorrow to Alkan, all forces are converging on it and the Revolutionary Army has nowhere left to run, remember though that a cornered enemy fights hardest" Aria explained.

"Indeed but remember also that even in the enemy's last stronghold they may still have the chance to win if you don't know them as you do yourself" Esdeath replied the two then looked out on the battlefield.

"I never knew what war was like before" Aria commented.

"War is hell Aria and war never changes, war was the way of life for my people and it nearly destroyed them, the new Patras clan while still being great warriors will live in peace, that I hope; I hope this war will be Eden's last but I know too well that war never rests for long; after all war never changes it remains hell" Esdeath concluded.