General Esdeath walked the crowded shopping area of the Capital, she was accompanied by Run whom was proving to be a useful secretary as well as an excellent subordinate.

As they went, Esdeath couldn't help but search the crowd, hoping to spot Tatsumi among them. Run noticed this act shortly after it began.

"Are you alright commander?" He ask with honest concern.

"In large crowds like this, I can't help but look for Tatsumi." Esdeath answered the attractive young blond. "I hope to find him among the many faces in the crowd, though it's probably a futile effort."

Run frowned. "About that," He pulled out a list of names the young man took the time to write down. "I've identified a number of bachelors with similar appearances to Tatsumi. If you wish I could arrange a meeting."

"No." Esdeath bluntly replied. "There can be only one Tatsumi." She looked up into the sky, yearning to see her beloved once more.

Run smirked. 'This is troublesome.' He thought. 'For such a powerful, sadistic woman who does the minister's bidding she's rather interesting. Originally, I though Esdeath would nothing more than scum.'

He smiled even wider. 'It might be worth it to watch such an interesting general for a bit longer.'

At that moment, a swirl of fire suddenly appeared in an open area before them. The swirl vanished, leaving a spiky haired man in its place. He looked in General Esdeath's direction.

"I've found you. General Esdeath." He said with a smirk.

General Esdeath stared at the latter, unmoved by his sudden and mysterious appearance. "And you are?"

"The name's Pyro. I'm the guy who killed that ugly ass son of a bitch called Dr. Stylish."

He grinned his teeth in a smile as he pulled his fist up and clenched it. "Pleasure's all yours."

The general continued to stare blankly at the man, replying with nothing but silence. Run walked forward, stopping once he was directly off his commander's left.

"You're openly admitting you killed Dr. Stylish?" He asked with a frown.

"That's right." Pyro turned his gaze to the young man. "Guy turned himself into some hybrid abomination and I put him down like the mad bastard he was."

He glanced back at Esdeath. "I'll be more than happy to show you the body, assuming it wasn't eaten by the vultures."

"I'll take your word for it." Esdeath replied as she placed her right hand on her hip. "So what do you want? Obviously you aren't here to simply tell me you kill Dr. Stylish."

She tilted her head up. "Given the way your coming on, it seems like you wish to provoke me."

Pyro closed his eyes with a smirk. He placed his hands in his pockets. "Nothing get's past you now does it?"

He reopened his eyes, tilting his head slightly as he stared into Esdeath's eyes. "You are one hundred present correct my dear general. I've come here to fight you."

"Interesting." General Esdeath smiled. "It's been quite some time since someone as foolish as you challenged me to a one on one fight."

"Who said anything about one on one?" Pyro grinned his teeth in a smile. "I'll happily take on you and your Jagears all at once. Trust me when I say you'll need the backup."

Esdeath let out a slight chuckle. "Such overconfidence. I'll enjoy putting you in your place."

Pyro took his hands out of his pockets. "Took the words right out of my mouth."

In a flash, the two dashed towards each other. They meet exactly halfway from their original positions, one fist colliding with the other. The force from the opening blow created a small whirlwind that knocked those weak in the knees off balance.

They smiled at one another, each realizing this would be an interesting fight.

Esdeath brought up her left leg, aiming high. Pyro brought his right fist up and blocked the kick. He followed up with a right sweep, aiming to knock his opponent off balance. The general saw it coming and jumped on her one foot.

She willed her left leg to spin around in midair and with it her entire body. Pyro smiled, then spun around in the opposite direction. As he almost finished his spin, Pyro brought his leg up and meet Esdeath's kick.

Again, a shock wave of sorts emanated from the point of contact. More intense this time, as several bystanders were blown off their feet by the force.

"It seems you do have some skill." Esdeath said with a smirk.

"You ain't so bad yourself." Pyro replied. "But that's to be expected from the one said to rival even the mighty Commander Budo."

The two broke apart. They stood almost face to face, each smiling at the other.

Pyro threw a left hook aim at Esdeath's face, the latter caught the blow and returned the favor with a right hook. Pyro caught it as easily as she did prior. The two's arms were locked together as neither let the other go.

Pyro smirked at his opponent. "Why aren't you using your ice powers Esdeath?"

Esdeath smiled in kind. "I though it would only be fair to fight on equal terms with someone who doesn't process an Imperial Arms."

"Heh, fair huh? More like you wanted to take your time punishing me you sadistic bitch." Pyro showed his teeth with a smile. "But, who said that I didn't have an Imperial Arms?"

Half his face started to deform, at first it waved back and forth like a flag in the wind then it erupted into a wave of fire. Esdeath's face portrayed shock for the briefest of moments as she stared at this latest development.

She let Pyro's hands go, and he in turn released her's.

The general jumped back, analyzing what exactly was happening to her opponent's body: Parts of Pyro's body started to vanish, leaving a seemingly pulsing flames in their place.

On the transformed fire half of his face, a gap in the shape of an eye formed where it normally would be. Next, ghostly lips formed and connected with the other half of his face. Lastly, the fire half formed the other half of his nose, aligning perfectly with the flesh half.

"They don't call me Pyro for nothing." He said, both halves of his face mouthing each word perfectly. "I'm a living, breathing pyre after all."


Meanwhile...

Deep in the Margue Plateau, Walker and Akame hunted for food along one of the various rivers in that region. Normally Susanoo would be the one accompanying Akame, but the forward was occupied with assisting Bulat and Tatsumi training today. It wasn't like Walker never hunted Danger Beasts before, plus this was the perfect chance to 'bond' with his teammate.

Walker took point, one hand on his holstered pistol while the other held it's twin up to his neck. His eyes darted back and forth as he chased every little shadow that seemed to move.

After the pair traveled down a fair distance, the mercenary suddenly stopped. Slowly, he drew his other pistol and brought it up like the first.

"Targets at 5 and 9 o'clock." He said in a low voice. "Others approaching at 3 and 12."

Akame rested her left hand on Murasume's sheath. Her eyes darting to each of the indicated points. Large shadows slowly moved towards them: Danger Beasts.

"I'll take the ones in front and across the river." Walker's eyes narrowed, he was picking out his first targets. "You take the ones on the side and any that get too close."

"Understood." Akame hit the guard on her sword, causing it to pop out a tad.

One of the Danger Beasts roared, signalling the others to attack. They emerged from the shadows of the forests, charging at the two humans. These beasts were a mix of various species, odd that they would hunt together but not unheard of.

Walker lowered his twin pistols and fired his first shots. Green projectiles the size of his thumb raced towards his first targets, piercing through their skulls. He turned and fired off another set of rounds, then another and another all in quick sessions adding more to his body count.

Akame stayed near Walker, covering him as the gunslinger requested. She sliced into a Danger Beast that drew too close, lunged forward into another then cut a third's head clean off.

Akame moved in a pattern, jumping ahead so many steps slicing any enemies in her way before hopping back to her original position and repeat. Between that and Walker's seemingly automatic 'turn and fire' movements, it was like the two were dancing a very uncoordinated dance.

The Danger Beast across the river started their move. Some jumped into the running water while most simply ran into it. Walker turned his head towards the incoming threat. He moved one of his pistols in front of the other, upside down this time. The two guns transformed, morphing into one.

Instead of turning into the long barreled gun like last time, the two morphed into a bigger but not a long gun. Walker turned his body towards the horde, new gun in hand, and fired upon them.

Many small green projectiles rushed towards the Danger Beasts, ripping through their ranks as they were cut down.

Akame sliced another beast in two. She looked over her shoulder, noticing the rapid fire coming from Walker's new pistol combination.

"Those pistols of yours are very impressive." She said before dodging the right claw of another Danger Beast. Akame dashed forward, cutting it's head clean off.

"Those have to be the most versatile weapons I've seen." She said as she spun her blade around, causing most of the blood on it to splash off.

"Course they are." Walker smiled as he continued to gun down the approaching mob. "This is an Imperial Arms after all."

Soon after, the Danger Beasts crossing the river were dealt with. Walker threw his gun straight up. The machine gun deformed back into the twin pistols and began to fall down.

The mercenary crossed his arms along his stomach, catching the two toy-like pistols. He spun around, imminently firing on the closest Danger Beasts from himself or Akame.

"Infinite Combinations: Lock-On. That's the name of these twin beauties." He said between blasts. "These two have been with me for nearly a decade. Come to trust them like I trust my old crew."

Akame didn't reply, at least not with words. She sliced into another Danger Beast, blood spewing outward from the cut as she dashed to another.

Walker let out a sigh between his shots. "You don't talk much do you lass?"

"Not really, no." Akame replied as she cut down the last of the Danger Beasts.

"Shame," Walker spun his twin pistols around before setting them back in their holsters. "Well at least we feast tonight."


Back at the Capital...

Glass shattered as one of the single widows lining the top of the market's ceiling broke as Run -and his angel wings- smashed through. Moments after, pillars of fire burst through the one broken and all the remaining widows. (Melting through the glass.)

The young man could hear the screams of the many people who were in the market, many burning themselves as the entire place was set ablaze.

A pillar of ice shot up from the market, ascending atop it was a rather unscathed General Esdeath.

"Commander." Run said, turning to his commander. "Where is-"

"Be glad you're Imperial Arms a flying type." The voice of Pyro called out, though the latter was nowhere to be seend. "Otherwise you would've been another burning corpse."

"Are you insane?!" Run yelled. "How could you do such a thing with so many bystanders in the area?!"

A swirl of fire suddenly appeared some few feet in front of the two. It disappeared soon after, revealing a cross armed Pyro.

"Kid, right now I couldn't care less who gets burnt." He said, shifting his gaze from Run to Esdeath. "Long as your commander's one of them smoking corpses, I'd gladly set the entire Capital on fire."

"As much of an entertaining idea that is, I'm afraid I can't let you go through with such an action." Esdeath replied with a smirk. "I'll stop you before you have the chance."

Pyro tilted his head towards the left, grinning his teeth in a smile.

Run turned to Esdeath. "Commander let me help you."

"No Run. You get out of here while you still are able." She replied without so much as a glance. "This man is well above your skill level, and far too dangerous."

Run hovered in place. Dissatisfied, but smart enough not to question her orders. "Very well." He said with disappointment before flying off.

Pyro watched the blond haired man go for a few moments before returning his gaze towards Esdeath. "You sure that's wise?" He said. "I did say you'd need all the help you can get."

"And I said I would put you where you belong." Esdeath smiled widely. "Besides, with him gone I can fight without worrying I'd take out one of my own by mistake."

Pyro shrugged. "If you say so."

The loose worn jacket he had morphed into flame. It shifted around his back, taking on the form of a pair of pulsing wings. Pyro smiled, holding his hands out to his sides. A fireball formed in each of his open palms.

"Don't say I didn't warn you." He smiled before throwing the first fireball.


A short distance away...

A elite commander amongst the Imperial Army; one General Nouken, walked the streets of the Capital with his personal escorts and several of his concubines.

Normally, the general would be accompanied by ten of said concubines, but since this was a simple stroll through town and not a battlefield he felt it wasn't necessary to bring all of his personal whores.

His casual stroll took a unexpected turn when Nouken and his men heard the sounds of the not so far off battle between Pyro and Esdeath.

"What the hell was that explosion?" The brown skinned general shouted.

"I don't know, but it sounds like it came from the market!" One of his men replied.

General Nouken threw one arm to his side. "Send someone to find out what the hell is going on down there!"

"You have more pressing matters to deal with." A muffled voice sounded behind the group. They all turned, coming face to face with a masked clown of some sorts. The clown wore a skin tight jumpsuit with purple lines on one half, and green stars on the other. On his left hand, he had a metal glove.

The mysterious clown slowly approached the General and his escort.

Nouken raised an eyebrow. "And what the hell are you-?"

A sudden scream cut him off. General Nouken turned just in time to see a man wearing a black suit cut into several of his men with a scythe. Blood splashed on Nouken's right cheek as the man continued to cut down the Imperial soldiers.

The general grinned his teeth, his right arm reaching towards his sword. "You upstarts! I'll-"

He felt the air suddenly leave his windpipe as something wrapped around his neck. Nouken reached up, grabbing the chain slowly choking the life out of him.

"Hey, hey, why don't you calm down before we do something we'd regret?" A feminine voice rang out. "That's it. Such a good boy. It'll be over soon."

Nouken couldn't breath, he pulled at the chain but that did little to improve his situation. He fell on his knees, feeling his consciousness slipping. The general gasped for air once more. Then, a swell of oxygen filled his lungs as the metal chain wrapped around his neck loosened.

Nouken coughed, gasping between breaths as he fell forward. He move one hand up to his neck, the chain was still there but it was lax for the time being.

The general looked to his right, the blood of his slain me trickled down the stone tiled streets. His concubines were unharmed, at least for the time being, huddling together in terror as the man with the scythe watched them with a big grin.

Nouken looked up, noticing the clown from before hovering over him. The general turned his head, tilting it up towards the masked clown. Before he could say a word, the latter placed his left hand on Nouken's forehead.

The metal glove felt warm on the general's skin, then he felt a strange tingling sensation.

"Obey my command." A voice echoed inside his mind.

Nouken felt weightless, as if a burden had been lifted from his shoulders.

The clown pulled his hand back. Each stared at the other for a few moments.

General Nouken rose to his feet, he placed one hand upon his chest, closed his eyes and bowed slightly to the masked figure.

"I live to serve."


"Try this on for size!" Pyro shouted, flapping his wings and launching several short but fast flaming projectiles towards Esdeath. The latter answered with a similar attack, sending several ice shards at the incoming flames.

Each one collided with the other, exploding into a mix of mist and water.

"Nice!" Pyro held one hand up in the air. A large fireball swirled into creation above it.

"Let's see how you counter this!" He threw the large fireball at the general.

The latter smirked, quickly creating an ice chuck as large as the the fireball. She threw it towards the large fireball. The two collided, exploding into mist, water and even a rainbow.

Esdeath crossed her arms. "All we're doing is exchanging blow for blow." She more to herself then anyone else. "It'll be a contest of endurance at this rate."

"You make the sound like it's a bad thing!" Pyro's voice shouted from behind her. Esdeath spun around, enveloping her right fist in ice. She looked her opponent directly in the eyes as she threw her fist towards his fire enveloped fist.

The blows collided, sending shock waves throughout the open air.

"Haven't you always wanted to test yourself against someone that rivals even your own power?" Pyro asked, pushing against Esdeath's fist.

"Oh?" She raised an eyebrow, matching Pyro's strength. "And you think you're someone that rivals my power?"

The man let out a single laugh. "Well I say I'm on my way there."

Esdeath smiled. "I have to admit, you're more powerful than I gave you credit for."

"And you're exactly what I expected." Pyro smirked. "I've heard many things about you and your strength. Glad that the rumors weren't a bunch of crap this time around."

"Don't get cocky yet." Esdeath grinned. "I have yet to show you my true power."

"I expect nothing less." Pyro grinned in turn. "I've been holding back myself."

The two chuckled between themselves, gradually erupting into laughter.

Round two was about to begin.


Inside the Palace...

Xien Shi stood motionless inside a dark lit room. His hands covered in blood. The foreigner scanned the room, the floor was littered with the blood stained corpses of the conspiring senators he was assigned to silence.

"It is done." He said bluntly, moments before the door to the room swung open. Light filled the darken room, almost blinding really. Imperial troopers rushed into the room, surrounding Xein in a full circle.

"Don't move!" One of the soldiers shouted.

The foreigner smiled, slowly he raised his hands to his lower jaw. "I surrender."

With great caution, two of the soldiers approached the mercenary. The pulled the latter's arms forward, cuffing him.

"Before you take me away." Xein said. "I wish to share something with your commanding officer."

The two soldiers before him exchanged looks before one of them turned, running out of the room.

A few minutes passed before the same trooper returned with another in tow. They stopped a feet from Xein.

"You have something you wish to get off your chest assassin?" The officer spoke. "If this is some ploy to buy some time, save it. Though I have no idea how you managed to sneak in, the palace defenses are impenetrable."

"Quite." Xein Shi smiled. "You see, I am a simple mercenary hired by someone within these palace walls to assassinate these senators here. It was he who showed me in."

The officer's eyes widened a tad. The surrounding soldiers gasped, turned to one another and/or mumbled between themselves.

"If what you say is true that would be a great offense." The officer replied. "Tell me, why should I trust the word of a hired mercenary like yourself? Besides, don't you have some sort of loyalty towards your employer?"

"My only loyalty is to coin." Xein bluntly replied. "This man hired me for a suicide mission but we never agreed that I wouldn't reveal his identity if I should be captured."

"Very well." The officer said with a nod, deciding to give the mercenary the benefit of the doubt. "And who is this employer of yours?"

"Senator Nark."

The lower ranking Imperial soldiers whispered amongst themselves once more.

"I don't suppose you have some sort of proof for this claim?" The officer asked.

"Search his personal quarters." Xein Shi answered. "We conducted most of our dealing there. If there is any proof to my statement it would be in that room."

The officer frowned. "Very well." He looked at the two soldiers before him. "Take him away, we'll have a chat with Senator Nark."

"Yessir!" The troopers replied. The pushed the foreigner along, all the while the latter smiled knowing that his part had been played to perfection.


Esdeath carved a path across the skies of the Capital. Well more like created but you get the point.

She swerved from side to side as she slid across her ice made path, dodging the long ranged attack her opponent threw every so often.

The feared general raised one hand in the air, returning fire as she lowered herself closer to the ground. Pyro swiftly followed, dodging everything the sadistic bitch had thrown at him. The two neared ground level, but high enough that they wouldn't run any bystanders over.

Esdeath lead the fire-man through a maze of twists and turns at such a speed that left everyone who caught a glimpse in wonder.

Eventually, after one turn or another, Esdeath threw a rather large ice ball at Pyro. The latter stopped, took a deep breath, and exhaled, breathing out a spew of fire.

The ice ball melted, mist and water sprinkled all around. Pyro pulled his head back, ending his fire breathing. As the last stream of flame rush forward, Esdeath emerged from it. Rushing towards her opponent with a wicked fire.

Ice wrapped around her fist as she closed in on her clearly surprised opponent. She hit Pyro in his left cheek, sending the latter end over end towards a nearby building.

Before he made contact, Pyro regained control of himself and landed on his feet.(While on the side of the building.)

He rubbed the side of his cheek, smiling. "Heh, caught me off-guard." He lowered his hand. His flame wings began to beat as he flew towards Esdeath.

The Clockwork member stopped a few feet from where Esdeath was standing. "Pretty clever using my own attack as cover." He scanned the latter's body, noting the scorch marks on her cloths. "Clever, but risky."

"Battles aren't won by those unwilling to take a chance." Esdeath replied. "Besides, I say the result was well worth the risk."

"That so?" Pyro crossed his arms. "Maybe I should-"

White feathers raced towards the latter from the side, passing through his intangible body. Pyro and Esdeath looked towards the source and frowned.

"Hmph. So much for fighting me alone."


Back at the Palace...

The same group of Imperial soldiers that apprehended Xein Shi paced towards Senator Nark's personal quarters. Several minutes past before the group came across Senator Nark and Chairmen Fuyu, both of whom were conversing a few feet away from the forward's personal quarters.

"Senator Nark." The officer leading the group said, taking three steps forward. "We have reason to believe that you are behind the murders that only recently been committed."

The middle-aged senator turned to face the officer, his eyes wide with shock.

"M-murders?" He said nervously.

"That's correct. We are conducting a thorough investigation and will hereby examine your personal quarters with or without your permission."

The senator stared blankly at the officer. Honestly, he had no idea what this was all about. Murders? Of whom? And they thought he was behind it all? Either this was a serious mistake or a joke gone too far. Whatever the case, cooperation was the key to proving his innocence.

"..Yes..Yes of course." Nark said, spinning around before heading towards his chambers. "I have no problem letting you and your men conduct a search of my chambers if it will prove my innocence."

"We shall see senator." The officer replied, following Senator Nark's lead. The soldier nodded respectfully as he passed Chairmen Fuyu, the latter responded with a slight smirk.

Senator Nark unlocked his door and pushed it open. The officer and his men entered the room, spreading out and searching any proof of the mercenary's claim.

Several minutes past into their search, as of yet they found nothing that pinned Senator Nark as the mastermind behind the murders. The officer glanced at Senator Nark. The latter rubbed the two of his hands together, his face mixed with worry and certainty, like he knew they wouldn't find anything but worried if they somehow did find something.

Very odd, and all the more suspicious.

More time past and still nothing. The officer let out a sigh. Perhaps this was nothing but a farce after all-

"Sir!" One of his troopers jugged to his position. He held an envelope in his hand. "Take a look at this." He held it out to his superior.

The older soldier took the envelope. He opened it, pulling out a letter inside. The officer studied the letter's contents for several moments before turning towards Senator Nark. Their eyes meet, Nark felt his heart stop.

The officer took a number of steps forward before holding out the letter for Senator Nark to see. "This letter contains in great detail the dealings you had with the assassin known as Xein Shi, including the directions to a secret entrance you advised him to use and the preferred method of elimination. This is all the proof we need to detain you."

Senator Nark mouth dropped. "Th-there has to be-"

"Senator Nark, you are under arrest for the murders of several fellow Senators." The officer cut him off, obviously not wishing to hear another of those 'I didn't do it' stories. "Do you have anything to say before we take you in?"

The senator slowly backed up, shaking his head. 'HOW?!' He shouted mentally. 'How could this have happened!?' Nark turned around and made a break for the door.

As he neared the door frame, Nark bumped into something blocking his path. He looked up into the smirking face of Chairmen Fuyu.

"Well, here's a surprise." The light blue haired man spoke as several of the Imperial soldiers restrained Nark. "Who would've thought that you, of all people, had the audacity to order the assassinations of your fellow senators?"

A vein popped out of Nark's forehead. "Damn it Chairmen! You of all people should know that I'm not responsible for all this!"

"I don't know Senator Nark." Fuyu closed his eyes. "Does an innocent man run?"

"I...I was afraid..!"

"Afraid of being caught." Fuyu opened his eyes. "Face it, you've been caught red handed my old friend."

It was at that point Senator Nark had a sudden revelation. "You! You're a liar!" He growled. "You set me up, you had to!"

"My dear old friend, it pains me to see you casting the blame for actions you obviously committed yourself." Fuyu said with a smile. "The letter these soldiers found, along with the testimony of the mercenary you hired more that proves it."

"I did no such thing! You were the mastermind behind all this!" Nark yelled, stomping his feet. "You framed me because you know I've been against you since the day you took office! I bet those other dead senators were you're opposition as well!"

"Perhaps, but where-" Fuyu leaned down, face to face with Senator Nark. "-Is your prove for such bold statement?"

Senator Nark bit his lip. He had no proof. Even though he knew, he absolutely knew this man played him the poor senator couldn't convince those around them. Nark closed his eyes as tears rolled down. This was the end, he would he executed for sure!

"Nothing to say?" Fuyu stood back up. "Very well then." He glanced the officer. "You have your killer. Do with him what you will."

Senator Nark opened his eyes, all his grief turned to rage. He hopped up and down, giving any sort of struggle he could muster as he cursed and shouted at Fuyu.

"That's enough!" The officer shouted. "Take this man to the dungeon!"

"THIS ISN'T THE END FUYU!" Nark shouted with all his might. He feet dragged across the floor as the soldiers took him away. " YOU WILL PAY FOR THIS! I SWEAR YOU WI-"

The door slammed shut.

Fuyu let out a sigh. "Good grief. And here I though I knew the guy."

"These things tend to happen." The officer looked at the Chairmen. "Especially here in the palace."

"Indeed." Fuyu replied with a smile, he turned his head towards the officer. "By the way, what happened to that mercenary? Xein Shi was it?"

"He's being held in the dungeon." The officer shrugged. "Given that he surrendered without incident, and that he was nothing more than a hired hand, he might not be executed. That's a mighty big if, given how the Prime Minister couldn't care less who's sent to the gallows."

"He does have a habit of being...overzealous when it comes to examples."

The officer raised his eyebrow. "Sir?"

Fuyu smirked. "I wish you to bring the mercenary to my mansion." He took a step forward. "I could use a man of his skill." He turned a full 90 degrees, looking at the Imperial officer.

"I'll clear this over with Honest, so you can go right ahead and deliver him to my front door. Oh, and don't forget the bow."

The officer blinked a few times before snapping a salute. "A-as you wish sir."


A few minutes prior...

"Hmph. So much for fighting me alone." Pyro crossed his arms, looking at the blond haired man whom just attacked him.

Run hovered in midair, thanks to his Imperial Arms: Mastema. He glanced from the Clockwork member to General Esdeath, the latter frowning at him.

"Commander!" Run said as he moved to her side.

"I told you to leave." Esdeath bluntly replied.

"Apologies, but I though you would need assistance."

"And what makes you think I need help defeating him?"

Run paused for a few moments. "Apologies once again, but you misunderstood me."

The general glanced at the young man. "Oh?"

"While I'm sure you can defeat him yourself, there would be a number of civilian casualties." Run smiled. "That said, I though it best if we help you finish this guy off as fast as possible."

Pyro raised his eyebrow. 'We?'

A shadow overtook a portion of the sunlight beating down on Pyro's face. He looked up, though couldn't quite make out what was creating the shadow.

The shadow grew at an alarming rate, taking up more and more of the sunlight. Pyro raised one hand above his eyes, trying to block out what little sunlight beaming down on his face as he tried to make out what was creating that shadow.

It took a few moments for the Clockwork member to make out the dark blue armor.

Pyro's eyes widened as the fast approaching figure yelled out.

"GRAND FALL!"

Wave's armored boot, along with the rest of him, passed through Pyro's body. The intangibility of the latter caught the young man off guard as he crashed into a building below. The force of the impact caused the building to cave in on itself, trapping the Jagear underneath.

Run closed his eyes, letting out a nervous laugh. General Esdeath simply looked unamused.

Pyro looked at the collapsed hep of what was once a building. "Yeah, you guys are doing a really good job minimizing collateral damage." He said before turning his head back around.

General Esdeath glared at the latter. "Some of my subordinates are rather, enthusiastic when it comes to fighting." She turned her gaze to Run beside her. "I assume the others are on their way?"

Run nodded in response.

"Since you all are already here," General Esdeath looked back at Pyro, a smirk formed on her face. "I suppose I wouldn't mind if you fought beside me."

"Of course." Run looked at Pyro. "I'll follow your lead."

Pieces of debris fell upward as Wave emerged from the collapsed building. He remained unscathed thanks to his Imperial Arms: Grand Chariot. Though shockingly identical in appearance and capabilities to Tatsumi's Incursio, it is supposedly an improved version as the latter was crafted and tested before this Imperial Arms was made.

Wave looked up at Pyro, bringing his fist up to his lower cheek. "You coward!" He yelled. "Phasing in and out like that! Come and fight me like a man!"

Pyro let out a laugh before glancing down at the young man. "As tempting as that is, I think I'll fight using my full abilities." He looked back at General Esdeath, smiling. "I am fighting a living legend after all."

Wave paused for a few moments. Then, he moved his hand behind his head. "I know I was a big deal while I was in the Navy, but a legend? I wouldn't go that fa-"

"He's talking about the commander," Kurome, whom approached the latter when he wasn't paying attention, said. "You idiot."

Wave flinched at his teammate's sudden appearance. "Kurome?! When did you-?" His voice trailed off as what the latter previously said finally registered.

"Well, that makes sense." Wave turned back towards Pyro. "Our commander really is a monster, but did you really have to call me an idiot?"

"Maybe if you didn't crash through a building, you idiot."


A few moments later...

Not too far from the battle, Seryu, Drake and Bols ran towards the insuring fireworks.

The trio stopped within eyesight of Pyro and their fellow Jagears. They watched silently as the forward maneuvered around, warping from physical state to fire and back as he dished out attacks towards his four opponents.

"Looks like this guy's element is fire." Drake said with a shrug of his shoulders. "Sorry Bols but I don't think you can do much against a guy like that."

"I think you're right." The scary looking masked Jagear looked at his flamethrower type weapon. "My Imperial Arm wouldn't do much good against someone who's a floating fireball."

"I don't think I'll be much help either without an Imperial Arms." Drake turned his head to Seryu. "Sorry lass, but you'll have to go on without us."

"Understood!" She gave the old soldier a salute. "I won't let you down!" And with that, she hopped off into battle dragging Coru along the way.

Drake let out a sigh. Ever since he converted her, the young Seryu grew real crummy with the double agent. Hell, if he didn't know any better you could say she had a crush on him or something.

HA, like that happen.

Drake turned his head back to Bols. "Best we can help is making sure these civilians get out of the crossfire."

Bols nodded. "Good idea Drake. I'll head over this way." He said before running off.

It was funny how the usually awkward Bols was more, well focused, when in a combat situation.

Drake scratched the back of his head. 'Yeah, best keep you out of sight from Pyro.' He looked up at his partner, images of the last time he mentioned Bols to the latter occupied his mind.

"If that crazy bastard sees you, he might just lose it and light the whole damn district up."

He let out a sigh, silently wishing he had his own Imperial Arms and wasn't playing spy before turning around, running off to help evacuate the surrounding area.


Pyro launched a medium sized fireball at Wave, the latter caught it head on. His armor absorbed most of the blow, but the force caused him to fall backwards.

Kurome hopped off the rooftops she was only prior to running on. She drifted towards Wave and, using his armored body as a base lift, sprung towards the flame man.

She drew her sword, the Imperial Arms Yatsufusa, and swung through Pyro's body as the latter turned into flame once more.

Kurome landed on a rooftop. A moment after, she heard the loud crash of Wave's armored figure impacting on the ground. She turned, looking at her teammate. The latter was back first into the cracked ground, no doubt created from the fall.

"Why did you use me as a spring board!?" He yelled. "I thought we were teammates!"

"We are, which is why I did that." She replied bluntly. "I needed an extra boost to reach the target, and you provided me with that boost."

"Think you can warn me next time you do that?"

"Maybe." She turned around. "Idiot."

A swirl of flame appeared a little too close for comfort in front of Kurome. Pyro emerged out of the swirling flame a moment later, his face almost against Kurome's.

"Hello Kurome," He said with a smirk. "Do you remember me?"

"Should I?" She brought her sword up, cutting through Pyro's body. Once again, the latter became intangible and the attack phased through him.

The Clockwork member let out a single laugh. "You really are just like your sister. Action first, question later. No wonder you're related."

That caught Kurome's attention. "You know my sister?"

Pyro closed his eyes. "You really have forgotten haven't you? Both of you." He reopened his eyes, giving Kurome a sad look. "That's a shame, and the three of us got along so well."

"Stop messing with Kurome!" Wave crashed into the building the two were standing on, causing both Pyro and Kurome to jump upward.

Pyro looked at Kurome while the latter was in midair. "You'll remember, one day." He said aloud. "You and your sister."

"Number 7!" Seryu's voice cried out. "Taizan's Cannon of Justice!"

A large boom echoed as Seryu's anti-tank rifle fired a massive round at the airborne fireman. The round passed through Pyro's body, continuing outward towards the sky.

Pyro looked over his shoulder, smirking at the orange haired girl. The latter moved her gun hand out, a moment latter the Imperial Arms known as Coru chomped down on it. The dog like organic opened (his?) mouth, somehow it switched the long gun arm with a metal human like one.

"I'll banish this evildoer!" Seryu shouted with a ginning smile. "For my loving parents, my mentor: Captain Ogre and Dr. Stylish!"

Pyro turned around, looking at the young girl. He smiled, crossing his arms. "Funny you should mention that mad bastard."

Seryu raised on eyebrow. "What do you mean?" She yelled angrily.

"What? Your blond friend didn't tell you?" Pyro grinned his teeth in a smile. "I'm the one that kill him."

Seryu's eyes widened. At first, she felt shock. Then rage, unrelenting rage. She grinned her teeth, angrily pressing them together.

"I'LL KILL YOU!" She yelled, leaping into the air.

Pyro smirked, showing his teeth. "Well isn't someone fired up?!" He threw his hand forward, forming a fireball before it.

The Clockwork member launched the fireball at Seryu. The latter stared at the incoming attack with a mix of shock and fear. A large chunk of ice formed in front of the hot headed teen, blocking the fireball.

Seryu brought her legs up, landed on the ice chunk, and pushed off it. She flipped backwards, landing on a rooftop not too far from where she once was.

"Think before you foolishly charge in Seryu!" General Esdeath's voice echoed towards the latter. Seryu turned her head towards the commander.

"The enemy is purposely getting you riled up! If I didn't intervene you'd be dead right now!" She yelled, continuing to lecture the young teen.

"But this man killed Dr. Stylish!" Seryu yelled. "He is the very evil I've sworn to destroy! How can I do anything but bring justice to such an evil man!?"

Pyro let out a chuckle, finding this girl's broken sense of justice to be amusing.

"I am not saying that." Esdeath calmly replied. "What I am saying is that you cannot defeat this man without a clear head. Now calm down, otherwise the only one dying today is you."

Seryu stared at her commanding officer for a few moments, silently admitting that the latter was correct. She closed her eyes, taking in deep breaths. After a few moments, Seryu reopened her eyes.

"You're absolutely right commander!" She turned back to Pyro. "Nice try evildoer! But you're tactics wouldn't work on a true champion of justice!"

Pyro smiled, shacking his head. "That right? Well you could've fooled me with the stunt you pulled earlier."

He looked to his sides, Wave and Kurome had taken up flanking positions behind his back. Pyro turned his head to the right, staring directly at Esdeath and an airborne Run a little ways behind her.

Pyro grinned his teeth in a smile. "Well, it looks like you have me surrounded." He teased, extending one hand outward. "What are you waiting for? You have me outnumbered! Come at me!"

Despite his taunting, the Jagears held their positions. Not one moved aside from Seryu as she had Coru switch her hand for a giant sword arm.

"Commander." Run drifted towards the general. The latter tilted her head slightly towards him, but kept her gaze on Pyro. "I've been analyzing his fighting pattern, it's pretty erratic. Like he moves on a whim."

"Yes, I noticed that too." Esdeath replied. "He responses to our attacks in kind, but when he attacks he barely puts effort into it." She placed one hand on her chin. "It's as if he's buying for time-"

Her eyes widened as she finally realized it. This man's sudden appearance, challenging her out of the blue in a populated area, taunting her into fighting alongside her Jagears while holding back.

"That's it, he's not fighting us seriously!" She lowered her hand. "He's stalling for time, but for who and why?"

Before she could press the issue, several symbols of unknown design appeared in various places around the groups. The symbols glowed purple, then flashed brightly. The symbols along with the purple glow vanished in the next moment, in their place stood something much more odd.

All around in large numbers where some sort of humanoid abominations, possibly a new kind of Danger Beast. Their faces seemed to have melted inside their skin, various scars and stitches suggested these monstrosities went through some sort of augmentation.

The collectively roared, their monstrous screams sending chills to all but the strongest of those who heard it.

General Esdeath looked back at Pyro, could this be the reason he was buying time? The surprised looked on the man's face proved otherwise.

'If these beasts have nothing to do with our friend here,' Esdeath glanced back at the closest group of monsters. 'Then who summoned them here?'

The beasts roared once more, each one positioned along the rooftops setting it's sights on one of the fighters while the others on the ground began to wonder around.

A single moment past before waves of this new kind of Danger Beast launched off of the roof tops or stormed forward. Aiming at one of the Jagears, Pyro, or General Esdeath herself.


A few minutes prior...

Two cloaked figures watch the explosive battle between Pyro and the Jagears. They stood in the shadow of a rather tall spire, looking with particular interest.

The first figure leaned against the spire with his arms crossed. He had white skin and, upon closer look of his hooded face, one could see bits of dark purple hair. He wore dark green pants, black shoes and a black sleeveless shirt underneath his dull brown cloak.

The second stood out in the open, though still covered by the shadow of the spire. This man had tan skin, bits of silver hair could be seen underneath his hood. Aside from the matching dull brown cloak, this man wore a white skin tight shit that cover his upper chest, white pants with a skirt overlapping, grey boats, and a pair of arm coverings that stretched upward from the base of his fist.

"Isn't this a interesting development." The first said, his voice mono toned. "I never though there was someone who can go toe to toe with the famous General Esdeath."

The second figure laughed. "Just goes to show how much I missed when I was away." He smiled grimly. "How wonderful this is, to find someone else I can test my new play things against."

The first cloaked figure turned his head slightly. "You're going to summon them here?" He asked. "What about terrorizing the surrounding settlements like you originally planed?"

"I changed my mind!" The second replied, pulling out a small device that just fit the palm of his hand.

It was a small, pendant like device with a dark three petaled flower in the center. He took a step forward, crossing both his hands as he extended them outward. As he did, the pendant in his right hand began to emanate a purple glow.

"Now open, the gates of Shambhala!" The clocked man shouted.

The pendant in his hands glowed even brighter. Off in the distance, several dimensional gates appeared at several marked locations, dropping off the artificial Danger Beasts the second cloaked man found a recently in an abandoned lab.

"Let's see how you fair against my new toys! Ahahahahahahaha!"


And here ends this latest entry!

I would like to apologize for this one's delayed premier, but many things happened in the past two weeks that required my attention.

Anyway, I'll address something that might come up as a question: How did (you know who.) arrive so quickly to the Capital from the mine he was in a few minutes before the start of all this? The answer is simple.

Thanks to the Teigu Shambhala, the user can teleport anything and everything to another location as long as it's been marked prior to the teleportation. That said, its unclear how far in advance (you know who) planned in advance or how he even marks these locations, but it is HINTED that he marked a crap load of locations all over the damn place. So a number of those locations are inside the Capital.

Now, he and his 'friend' teleported to the Capital, saw the battle between Pyro and Esdeath, and later the Jagears and decided to summon those Danger Beasts he found because he bloody felt like it.

It is a fact that Shambhala does have a cool down time between teleportations, however it is only guessed at how long that cool down is or even the toll on the user. That, and its never really been addressed if it can summon multiple things in multiple places(unless you count the anime after it went on its own path.)

SO for the purpose of this fanfiction, Shambhala can do said action but at a cost.

As the battle between Fire and Ice is well underway, an unknown third party interrupts. How will the Capital respond to this sudden attack by mysterious Danger Beasts? Find out next time!