7 days after the Revolution began, the Imperial Palace...
'This entire situation is a mess!' Mentally screamed the Minister of Military Affairs.
Before him a map of the entire Imperial territory marks with various figures to represent Imperial Army positions, Rebels, the Invading Western Barbarians, and the Path of Peace Armed Forces.
Koukei grasped at his hair with his right hand, furiously clutching clumps as he flashed his teeth in frustration.
'Just as we finished that busybody Fuyu's damn pet project, these shit stains rise up in arms! Then the Barbarians of the West chose to invade as if this was all planned!'
"Goddamn this whole shitty situation! It's like someone pored gas everywhere and set the whole damn place on fire!" Koukei screamed aloud, startling his staff attempting to work the problem before them.
"Peasants rising up in the East! Invaders to the West! Organized Rebels in the South that I have no doubt will also take advantage of this shit show! And lets not forget that we're no longer receiving reports form our occupational forces in the North, meaning we can all but certainly expect a retaliatory invasion from those god-forsaken Norsemen!"
"We're surrounded on all sides, enemies everywhere! The majority of our armies are inexperienced, poorly trained volunteers and conscripts scattered about in garrisons throughout the Empire! Any mobile armies we have are destroyed or broken up to assist suppressing the damn civilian revolts! HOW THE HELL AM I SUPPOSE TO FIX THIS FUCKING MESS?!"
He spammed his fist on the table as the minister screamed that last part with all his might. Pieces shifted and fell, scattering from their original positions.
Most of the staff officers simply looked at their superior, mouths agape. The more steel nerved among them wordlessly started to restore the misplace pieces to their proper positions.
"You can start by calming down, Minister of Military Affairs." A voice that sent chills down Koukei's spine answered. He turned around to see the frowning face of the most feared general of the Empire.
"Ge-General Esdeath!" Koukei startlingly let out. "Su-such a surprise to see you here."
"Yes well, someone has to clean this mess up." Esdeath replied with clear annoyance. Odd, given her usual temperament when involving the concepts of conflict.
The fearsome general approached the map, eyes darting across the placements of ally and enemy positions.
"Lets tackle one issue at a time like any sensible individual with a brain." She started, clearly in a foul mood. Koukei is unnerved by this uncharacteristic venom in the general's voice and hesitates to offer a reply.
General Esdeath doesn't wait for one as she begins to work the problem.
"First, reinforce the East with troops from the Northern garrisons. Leave enough forces at the northern most points to act as lookouts for an invasion from the Polar Knight Kingdom. I doubt they will mobilize for sometime, but as my brother once said: Best not to leave anything to chance."
"Leave the South as is, though do keep a close eyes on things. As you suspected, I also have no doubts that sooner or later the Revolutionary Army shall mobilize. That said, our strongholds along the southern path towards the Capital should slow the rebels enough for us to form a proper counter."
"As for the West, inform all the garrisons to hold fast. Any officer that thinks they can be a hero, take their under-strength men on a sally and foolishly believe they can defeat the barbarians shall be executed. In addition, inform them that I, General Esdeath, shall personally destroy these invaders to the last."
Koukei's eyes widen at the last part. "Di-did Prime Minister Honest order you to mobilize?" He timidly asked.
"Yes, or rather he had when I already made up my mind to do so." Esdeath answered, eyes focusing on the boarder between the Imperial Empire and the Polar Knight Kingdom. "I wisely thought I needed a distraction from flying off the handle and invading the North once more. Now is not the time, even though I have an obligation to avenge my soldiers."
"Once I have crushed the Western forces, we shall see if the situation allows for more...personal endeavors."
To everyone in the room, this was something they never expected. Esdeath, showing publicly that she will avenge her fallen men. A reminder to all that despite the horrible, sadistic witch she is, despite the fact she believes that the strong survive and the weak perish, Esdeath still cares for her subordinates.
"Any questions?" The fearsome general asked, more to the staff officers that will be carrying out the work than the Minister of Military Affairs.
"For the Eastern forces, shall they focus more on the civilian uprisings or the armies of the Path of Peace?" A female, junior officer asked. "With reinforcements, that should be more than enough to deal with the rioters. The armed forces of that religious group are another matter, as they are proving to be a competent military force in their own right."
Esdeath smiled. "Excellent question." She gestured for one of the sticks they used to move pieces around on the map, continuing to speak as she shifted pieces around.
"The reinforcements from the North shall repress the growing uprisings, as our men should have no problems putting down untrained civilians. As you have stated, the Path of Peace's armed forces are extremely different. They have vastly superior training to the average Imperial soldier, and have fanatical moral. Any force we throw at them will taste defeat with almost certainty."
Esdeath patted the stick in her open palm. "Who's the highest ranking officer in the East?"
"Th-that would be General's Batto and Heiscliff." Koukei answered. "Both were positioned there with Honest's blessing."
"Indeed. General Batto is a brute known for her cruelty and excessive accounts of collateral damage." The Ice Witch added a smirk as she spoke this next part. "Some dare compare her to myself in terms of sadism. Putting down civilian upstarts is like a field day for her."
"As for General Heiscliff...I don't know them, either personally or through reputation."
"I can assure you, General Esdeath, that General Heiscliff is one of Prime Minister Honest's hidden gems." Koukei spoke up with renewed confidence. "They will deal with the Path of Peace forces until we are ready to mount a proper counteroffensive."
"From your confidence, I take it this Heiscliff is truly capable. Very well, as long as this mysterious general can at least hold the enemy at bay then all is well." General Esdeath placed the moving stick upon the map, adjusting her cap with a wicked smile.
"Lets begin the opening act to the war we all so long awaited for."
Prime Minster Honest stood in an open garden within the Imperial Palace. The first snow of the year began to fall a few hours ago. Beside him, crouch down looking within a pond, is the young Emperor with a frown upon his face.
"Hey, minister. I hear that uprisings are spreading like wildfire in the East." The young Imperial ruler stated. "And our forces to the West keep losing to the invading army. Are we going to be alright?"
"Of course, there is nothing to worry about." Honest happily replied. "Where did you hear such things in the first place?"
"Seigi reported the news during the last Domestic Affairs meeting."
Honest frowned at this information. Seigi is far too dutiful and, ironically, honest for his tastes. It turned out to be a mistake to let that man replace Shoi as the head of Domestic Affairs.
"I see...so Seigi is running away from his responsibilities."
"How so?" The young Emperor asked, turning his head towards the obese man.
"He's distracting us with news of the West when it is his responsibility to deal with the civilian uprisings." The Prime Minister answered. "Fear not, for General Esdeath has been given her marching orders. She shall crush the invaders to the last."
The Emperor's eyes lit up at the news, otherwise saying nothing.
"Every nation that lasts to a certain age will have one or two large scale uprisings sooner or later." Honest continued. "Worry not about such matters and simply remain calm and collected. Remember, our loyal citizens look to you as their pillar of support."
"I understand!" The Emperor stood up, face filled with joy. "The Emperor must maintain his composure during harsh times, otherwise the Empire will fall into deeper turmoil! You have always given me such sound council, thank you Prime Minister!"
Honest closed his eyes, giving his puppet a grandfatherly smile. "You are most welcome...Now if you excuse me, I have to attend a long awaited reunion with my own son."
"Give him my best regards!" The Emperor called out as the most corrupt official in the entire Imperial Capital walked away with a wave.
Once Honest was well and truly away, the Emperor's entire demeanor shifted to reflect his true feelings.
They young man spit in the pond beside him, eyes filled with venom. "Now that I know the truth about him, I can see how obviously Honest has grooming me to his own ends."
A single clap sounded behind him. The Emperor turned around, giving a smile dipped in lingering anger to one of his true friends among the Imperial Palace.
"That was great acting, your majesty. He doesn't suspect a thing." Steven said. "I'll be honest though, never did I think you could pull it off with a straight face!"
"To be fair, I didn't think I'd have the stomach for it either." The Emperor replied with a laugh, rubbing the back of his head. "Its the first time I've tried to deceive anyone too, so this is all new."
"You did really well buddy!" Steven gleefully replied, stepping over to the young Emperor and wrapping a hand around him. "It looked like you remained oblivious to Honest's dark dealings, really impressive!"
The Emperor let out a nervous laugh, thanking his best friend.
Serpentine would report that all is well to Fuyu on the matter later, however thanks to his reduce function the ancient creature missed the presence of one individual observing the entire exchange.
An individual whom hear every world and had the ear of the Prime Minister himself.
His personal aid Saikyuu, smirking in the shadows as he watched the pair walked off.
"So that's what he's planning. How...inspired."
One hour later...
Prime Minister Honest sank his teeth into the meat set before him, stretching it apart with his teeth before ripping it off with his powerful jaw. Sitting across from him, rocking back and forth in his chair is none other than Syura.
"Rebellions, Invasions, its been so stressful lately." Honest said between bites. "I'm going to gain weight from all this comfort food."
"Ha! You're eating too much Pops!" Syura added with a smirk.
"Its thanks to these delicious gifts you have brought back from your journey to the Eastern Islands." Honest replied. "I let you go hoping you would grow as a person. Now you have returned so very different, and I'm not just talking about the tan. You have made me proud Syura."
"I have seen many interesting things throughout my journey. Nations that thrive in horrid conditions, civilizations that have developed completely different societies and standards of living, even some that seem to have a history with the Empire." Syura gazed out the window behind him. "Its a wonder how humans can live so differently, yet deep down remain the same."
"Most of my time was spend traveling around the Eastern Islands, however I did manage to pay a visit to that Wizard Kingdom parked right next door."
"Ah, the separatists of the Dominion." Honest added, wiping his mouth with a napkin. "Yes, our neighbor born from the Imperial Civil War 500 years ago. How did you find the nation devoted to nothing but the pursuit of magecraft?"
"They have a vastly different technological tree in that nation, hardly anything looks to be of Imperial origin." Syura answered, reminiscing of his time there. "Everything they have is powered by magic, and I mean everything! Be it sealed magic cores they used like batteries and generators or their own personal mana, its honestly quite the sight."
Syura smirked before continuing. "I also caught sight of their summoning rituals."
Honest's eyebrow raised for a moment. "Go on."
"It was only the little bastards, as they don't have much cost making them perfect for practice sessions." Syrua continued, placing his hands behind his head.
"I can confirm though, that they can use magic to summon what they call familiars -which mostly look like wickedly cool Danger Beasts- that loyally do their bidding. Only they aren't Danger Beasts, they're creatures called forth from the Astral Plane or some shit like that. Other than that, I know that the bigger and more powerful creature, the more it costs to summon. That's why sometimes the caster dies but the creature carries on with their duty or till they die."
"Interesting, and little wonder why the last Emperor did his utmost to maintain friendly relationships with the Dominion...That do-gooder took many secrets with him to the grave..." Honest lowered his gaze as he spoke this. A few minutes passed before returning his focus to his son. "So in your opinion, which of the Eastern Islands is a close match to us Imperials?"
Syrua tilted his chair again, rocking it back and forth. "Kinda hard to narrow it down there pops. There are a few that are real interesting out there! There's Academia, with their hardcore alchemy, Sho Sho that produces some of the greatest swordsmen I have ever seen, then there's that Crescent Moon chain with the greatest pirate nation ever that I'm sure would thrash us in any naval conflict."
"Though...there's one that has a shocking connection to our country...its a nation of three islands known as the Kingdom of Lui."
"I can tell you all about it later, after I show you the results of that homework you gave me Pops."
Honest smiled with sinister curiosity. "You've found useful talents, which I'm guessing are those guests that appeared soon before you officially returned."
Syrua blinked his eyes in surprise, then let out a laugh. "Nothing gets passed you, huh Pops?"
4:00 PM, Imperial Time. Military Training Grounds.
A massive colosseum structure used more for mass executions than training, Honest, Syura, and an escort of several Imperial guardsmen stood or sat comfortably within the VIP box overlooking the entire arena.
Several dozens of bald death row prisoners huddled together, each armed with various melee weapons. Each could see their breath as the snow continued to fall on that cold day, each terrified as each kept their eyes on at least one of the various entry ways expecting a horde of Danger Beasts to come barrelling towards them in a form of twisted entertainment.
"HEY YOU GUYS!" Syura called out to the terrified group below, each turning up to face the man. "YOU'RE ALL ON DEATH ROW SO LETS MAKE A GAME OUT OF THIS!"
At this moment, the farthest gate from the death row prisoners opened up. Several cloaked individuals of various shapes and sizes passed through, slowly walking towards the group.
"IF YOU CAN DEFEAT THE OPPONENTS BEFORE YOU, WE'LL LET YOU GO! HELL, WE'LL THROW IN SOME PRIZE MONEY WHILE WE'RE AT IT! GO NUTS GUYS, NO RULES AND ALL THAT!"
The prisoners took a few moments to talk amongst themselves, many quickly realizing they had little choice but to try as they'll probably be killed either way. Thus, it is decided.
A group of five prisoners charged forward, yelling as they approached their opposition.
One of the cloaked figures stepped forward, throwing off his covers to reveal a middle aged, black haired man with a twig in his mouth and hair tied in a top ponytail. He is dressed in a set of brown, gray, and black colored cloths befitting a samurai and seemingly has his eyes closed.
This man stepped towards the charging group, muttering the following: "My beloved Kousetsu...I shall feed you now."
The samurai stopped and spread his feet out. In a flash, he passed the five prisoners. In the next moment, each of these five fell apart as their limbs, heads, upper bodies, and so on were all cleanly cut through.
"His name is Izou, one of the best batto-style samurai from the island of Sho Sho." Syura informed his father as the pair watched the demonstration. "He loves his sword a bit too much but hey, thanks to that fetish he makes a lot of carnage."
Three of the prisoners got cold feet, yelling that Izou was a monster before futilely running towards the nearest gate. Another, smaller cloaked figured noticed these few trying to run and stepped out, throwing off her cloak while holding a mic up to her mouth.
The newly revealed thin woman wore a pink-light pink mini-dress, matching collar and wristbands, pink boots with a black star, smart style glasses, and black overknee socks. She had pink, bob-style hair, has black bunny accessory on her head,and roughly a C-cup.
"Hey you guys! You got nowhere to run, but let me sing you a farewell song for your journey to heaven!" She sung-spoke into her mic.
The runners turned toward the sound, and felt their bones crack from the sound waves they were hit by. All three in agony screamed, threw up blood, and died in a heap.
"That's Cosmina. She's a singer accused of bewitching men with her voice, so her home and family were torched and she became insane." Syura continued.
Honest raised an eyebrow at that last comment. "Insane?"
"Yeah, her morals are all warped now. She thinks killing and having sex are the greatest deeds any good person can commit."
Honest let out a laugh at that explanation. "I see, so very easy to manipulate. Good, very good."
The smallest cloaked figure walked forward. A single buff prisoner cautiously approached, weapon pointed at the small foe.
She threw off her cloak, revealing an innocent looking young girl in a turquoise dress with a white apron, a matching ribbon on her head, black and white overknee socks, and white shoes.
"She's Dorothea, a renown alchemist from Academia." Syura spoke as the two faced off. "You'll see in a moment some of the modifications she has preformed on her body."
On que, the buff prisoner jabbed his weapon directly at Dorothea's head. The latter caught the blade, unblinking. As shock formed on the death row inmate, Dorothea threw the man, weapon and all, into the air.
"You should consider yourself lucky!" The small girl shouted, leaping into the air after her prey. She wrapped her arms around the man, sinking her teeth into a shoulder muscle. "Since you're going to die regardless, my method is the best."
Before the buff man reply, he felt his lifeforce draining out of his body. In a matter of moments, the man transformed into a lifeless, dried husk. Dorothea let the body go, landing perfectly on her feet as the husk barely made an impact behind her.
A cloaked figure of similar size to Cosmina stepped away from the group. Instead of moving towards the remaining deathrow prisoners, this one moved to the far left. The greatest distance from either side.
"Where the hell you going?" Another cloaked figure called out to the loner. In response, the loner threw off his cloak revealing an elderly gentleman.
He looked to be 50 or more, yet still in peak condition. He had shiny silver hair, blue colored eyes, and wore a simple black tux with a top hat, black bow tie, dress shoes, and cane. He had a monocle over his left eye, attached by chain to his right chest pocket.
"These specimen aren't worth the effort." He said in a voice weathered by time. The elder continued walking till he stood 10 feet from one of the various steel gates.
He turned around, placing his cane front and center resting his two hands upon the handle. "If any of them wish to take me on however, I shall oblige and grant them a worth death."
"That there's Regin, the Illustrious Gentlemen." Syura commented. "A fellow traveler, he simply wished to fight strong opponents in duels to the death. Everyone else he doesn't bother with unless they attack first."
"So a man of honor, is it?" Honest said, stroking his beard.
"Fraid so, but its all good Pops. Regin can be counted on when it counts."
Three cloaked figures stepped out, walking towards the majority of the surviving death row prisoners. Behind them, the other cloaked figures decided to throw off their coverings as their patience for such concepts grew old.
"Seeing as the rest are just cowering in there group, why don't we just slaughter them wholesale?" The tallest of the moving figures said, his voice brutish in nature.
"Sounds good, this turn bullshit is getting on my nerves." The middle figure replied, voice filled with arrogance.
The smallest of the trio simply chucked in reply.
The death row prisoners huddled around, turned to inaction by the monsters in human form they were forced to fight, sprung to life when they took notice of the trio approaching.
Each of these three cloaked figures smirked as they continued forward like they were enjoying a simple walk in the park. One by one, they threw off the cloaks that covered them revealing each to be male in gender.
"Lets get this slaughter started!" The tallest and most built of the three declared, slamming his fists together.
This man wore a green, sleeveless, skin tight shirt that perfectly framed his chest, flexible black pants, finger-less dull white gloves, black military boots, and a skull helmet that covers have his face with ox shaped horns. Dark green hair crept out the back of this iron helmet.
"The thug there is Iron Skull, leader of the mercenary group known as The Crushers. Smarter than you'd give him credit for, though likes to settle things with brute force." Syura explained. "Guy can shatter mountains when he's inspired enough, or so he boast to me haha."
"Don't got to tell me, let's kill these guys!" The one to reply to Iron Skull first is a lean, muscular man with black hair styled in a triangular bob-like cut and small, yellow-colored eyes.
He wore a black outfit that barely covered anything curving around and stretching around to his lower regions. He also had white, puffy pants with a a dull blue with black stripped sash, a cloth tucked underneath said sash with the symbol of his pirate crew, and white, pointed shoes.
"Enshin's his name. He's a headlining pirate from Crescent Moon. Guy's sexist and can be a bit of an ass. I like him though." Syura continued in his role of explaining to his father who is who.
The third figure shrugged his shoulders, activating the device strapped on his back. Four light-colored cybernetic octo-arms extended out, two supporting him upward.
This man wore an Imperial soldier's helmet, has tan skin with chestnut-colored eyes and short hair with a scar over his nose, wore black boots, black fingerless gloves with threaded in brass knuckles and a white trench coat.
"You two take your picks, I'll clean house." This man stated, licking his upper lips.
"White Scorpion is the name that crazy bastard goes by, he's a local recruit formally from the Imperial Engineers." Syura ques in for his commentary. "Been playing merc for a few years. Apparently his unit was wiped out a long time ago by a single defector or so he says."
"I'LL START THEN!" Iron Skull shouted, charging forward at a surprising speed for his bulk.
Before they could properly react, the massive brute clotheslined four death row criminals killing them from the force of impact. Iron Skull charged forward as these bodies spun openly in the air, grabbing two other prisoners by their heads and proceeding to smash them into anyone in his way.
Iron Skull came to a sudden stop, twisting around to survey his work. Including the four from the start and the two he now dropped from his hands, 13 death row inmates lay scattered, broken, and deceased.
"Hell yeah! Thirteen baby! Top that Enshin!" Iron Skull jeered, sticking two fingers to the pirate.
Enshin let out a humf, pulling out his sword: A shamshir or curved sword. He stuck his tongue out, holding his weapon across his head. "Take a gander at this, you damn ape!"
With his curved sword, Enshin slashed the air in front of him, creating two cross-shaped aerial blades screaming towards his chosen targets. 7 death row criminals lacking awareness of the attack were cut in uneven halves.
Enshin let out a tisk as Iron Skull laughed at the man.
"Oh shut up! You had an entire combo while I only launched two attacks you goddamn ape!"
"Excuses, excuses!" Iron Skull stuck out his tongue, moving it up and down to taunt the pirate. "Be a man and accept that I'm better, dumbass!"
As Enshin and Iron Skull bickered back and forth, the majority of the death row criminals charged these two assuming that their distracting spurt would help their slim chances of survival.
They were gravely mistaken.
A hail of bullets intercepted these men, completely halting the charge. The fire so thin and wide spread even Enshin and Iron Skull had to drop low to avoid getting hit.
White Scorpion smirked as to of his mechanical appendages swept the field, filling the area before him with hot metal death. The engineer designed his octo-arms with a vast array of weaponry, and the most used would be the heavy machine guns, the barrels of which extend out of the palm of each arm.
Firing as fast and using much heavier caliber rounds than Imperial guns, White Scorpion easily can kill top rank Danger Beasts with their stomping power. Spent round ejected through port on the lower end of the connecting piece the merc wore on his back. In a way, it looked like White Scorpion is shitting out casings when elevated up high.
White Scorpion fired for a total of 15 seconds before retracting his guns. A cooling mechanism activated internally, releasing a hiss as it preformed its function.
"And that's..." The merc started as a NOT SCOUTER device popped down from his helmet and over his right eye, bringing up a data feed. "...36 confirmed kills, 5 wounded. Totaling 41 casualties."
Enshin threw himself up, turning towards the former Imperial Engineer. "YOU TRYING TO HIT US TOO BASTARD?!" He yelled.
A scream off to his right rang out, the pirate turned in time to see Iron Skull crush one of the wounded criminals face in with his boot.
"Shut your mouth and do your damn job Enshin. These unfortunate bastards aren't gonna off themselves." The muscular merc said matter of fact like.
Enshin stuck out his tongue, eyeing a crawling man. "Don't gotta tell me twice." He walked over to the man, smirked as he stepped on his leg, laughed lightly as the man squirmed in a panic, then sliced his back with a single swing of his shamshir.
By that time, White Scorpion moved closer to the pile of dead. His two free octo-arms each picked up a wounded prisoner. With one hand, he began crushing the poor man till his insides exploded out like he was squeezing a fruit for juice. In the other hand, a more merciful death was granted as White Scorpion had a needle like blade extend out of the palm.
He cast aside the two bodies, eyeing the last wounded of the group. This one was mobile, limping away as he moved with all his might to get away.
Trying to run right where Regin held his ground. The wounded male didn't register the elder's presence till after he closed within about 10 or so feet from the latter.
"Please..." The man weakly pleaded between breaths. "Please...just..."
"I understand." Was all Regin said before he seemingly teleported an equal distance behind the wounded man. "Your death shall be merciful."
The death row criminal fell to his knees, feeling no pain as he fell face first into death.
What now remained of the fodder chosen by Honest, barely a dozen, hugged the closest wall in utter despair.
Monsters.
Every one of them!
There was close to a hundred of them here just a few minutes ago, and now a tenth of their numbers remain!
They knew that they were going to die no matter what they did. Most threw away the weapons they were given long ago and now waited for either their demise or that rare chance of escape that maybe, just maybe, will present itself.
Most of those monsters gathered around were most of their fellow death row inmates died, either to further disrespect the dead or talk amongst themselves. The old man remained on the opposite side of the arena.
To the survivors, now seemed like the best chance to run for it.
And so they ran left, for the gate these animals in human skin arrived from.
They didn't even make it 3 steps.
The largest member of those brought by Syura stood in these survivors way, one even bouncing off the massive man.
The towering, thick-lipped mountain of a man wore a greyish-white robe, held prayer beads in his left hand, wore wooden sandals, had mostly shaven, black hair, and brown skin.
His eyes were closed as his hand worked through the prayer beads, mouth moving as he uttered words so low no one could hear.
As the death row criminals slowly tried to back up, faces petrified with fear, the massive monk opened his eyes wide for all to see that he had no pupils or iris in either eyeball. They was simply white.
"Thou art lost souls cured with thy fate of ill-fortune!" He cried with an intense voice. "Allow I to purify thou spirits and assist thy poor individuals in ascending to the great beyond!"
The great man breathed in deep, stretching his head back as his stomach expanded with the intake of air. He held his breath for a few moments, bowing forward before exhaling upon the 10-ish souls before him.
Only the monk didn't exhale carbon dioxide, he exhaled fire.
The death row inmates screamed as their bodies burnt, some rolling on the ground, some collapsing in a heep, some running away before falling in death, and some backing up till they fell over.
The monk smiled wide, pleased that he helped ascend these sinful souls before returning to his inaudible praying.
"Mad Monk Joburo." Syura said, pointing to the man in question. "Guy's a wack job that can barely speak in comprehensible sentences. He can tank a crazy amount of damage as a bunch of us tested him out, even had Iron Skull over there take a turn and the guy barely flinched!"
"Heard he burnt three villages to the ground on his home island before being banished, then simply went about doing more of the same all over the Eastern Islands in his goal of ascending all fellow humans from this doom reality. Bunch of nonsense really, can't argue with the fact he's useful though."
With all the sacrificial pawns expended, Syura continued to introduced the rest of his invited followers to his father.
"The fatass over there constantly out of breath is Champ. He's a pedo and a serial killing entertainer." He said, pointing to a large, obese black skinned clown that looked something out of a kid's birthday nightmare.
The remaining three unintroduced members grouped together, as they all knew each other before meeting Syura.
The first of these three Syura pointed at was the only member with an obvious disability.
A dark green messy haired man bound in a wheelchair. He has big, black eyes, wears a white hooded robe with dull blue leather straps spread throughout the robe, brownish green shoes and had a chin that framed his entire face like a slice of pizza.
"Undertaker. A recommendation from one of the other members. Apparently, he can create reinforce parts for his body with enough materials. What these materials are, I got no clue." Syura stated, watching said Undertaker take the arm of a dead man and began to study it thoroughly with his eyes and free hand.
Standing off to the wheel chaired bound man is a woman with light aqua blue eyes, long curry crimson hair, green nails, wearing a dark green mage uniform given to those who attend one of several magic academies located in the Dominion.
"She's Vile, not much of a frontline fighter but she's crazy smart and can preform equally crazy magic. Just what you expect from one of the top mages in her class."
"She's from the Dominion?" Honest asked, his curiosity peaked.
"That's right Pops. The very last member I scouted out."
Prime Minister Honest stroked his beard a few times in thought. "Its best if we keep her out of sight from the masses. Many have a rightful resentment towards those separatists."
"Very true Pops, and that's fine. Vile's more behind the scenes anyway, or so she claims." Syura replied with a nod.
The young corrupt filth of a man smiled as he saved the best -in his opinion- for last. Off to Vile's right stood the one man Syura bounded with the most out of all those he's gathered.
"Finally, the man I consider an equal. Raven!" He said, pointing to the purple haired man in black shoes, dark green pants, and a black sleeveless shirt.
"This man has been my right hand ever since I found him and Pops, I'll tell you having him around is so damn fun!"
Prime Minister Honest eyes went wide, taken aback. Aside from himself, he never knew his son to offer praise to any other individual before.
'Raven was it?' Honest thought, studying the young man's image. "I see, then I shall expect great things from him as I do you from now on."
He took a moment to look at each of these scouted figures, eyeing their weapons of choice and noticing a common theme.
"You've gathered quite the number of talented individuals...and it seems a few of them possess Imperial Arms." The Prime Minster stated.
"I did waste a bunch of time gathering those guys scattered outside the Empire. It's only fair we get to use them." Syura countered.
"Cute." Honest said with a chuckle. "So what do you intend to do with your new...playmates?"
"Crush any bug that annoys you Pops. Like that Seigi guy who's letting his mouth run." Syura grinned his teeth in a wicked smile.
"Oh, that won't be necessary." Honest replied with his own sinister smile. "Times of crisis like these reveal an individual's true nature after all. Any who oppose me will quickly find themselves arrested and executed. After all, its a simple task to falsify evidence for the convicted."
Syura admired his dad, as he hadn't changed in the years he's been away. The twisted son had a goal of surpassing his father, to impress the most corrupt man in the capital.
However, even this was secondary to his own morally corrupt habits.
Now, his pieces have assembled. At last, the true fun can begin...
Meanwhile...
"I'm finally hoooooommmeee." Fuyu whined, burying his face in the nearest comfortable thing available.
Which in this case was the chest of his maid Diane whom greeted him at the front door. The blond haired woman smiled, petting the back side of the Chairmen's head.
"Welcome back, Master Fuyu." She said softly.
"Diaaanneeeee hiiiii." Fuyu continued to whine, turning his face so his words weren't muffled. "I'm soooo dammnnn tirrreeeedddd."
The maid chuckled lightly in reply, continuing to pat her master's head.
It took 3 months, a month longer than expected, but everything is in place for his plan in the South.
Now when the Revolutionary Army marched on their long awaited campaign to the Capital, they will meet with unexpected set backs upon reaching the gates of Shisuikan. A grand surprise that will leave their entire force in disarray.
"I trust your business ended in good fortune?" The familiar voice of Ophelia asked as she slowly headed down the central staircase.
"Everything turn out according to plan, give or take." Fuyu answered, turning his face to embrace Diane's chest once more. "Execution was touch and go for a few of those forts though..." He added, words muffled beneath soft skin.
Ophelia stopped beside Diane, nodding at her before taking Fuyu into her own bosom. She ran her hand through her master's hair, slightly smiling as the man made adorable cooing noises.
Diane took the hint, turned, and headed off to preform her tasks for the day, leaving Fuyu alone with Ophelia, Flora, and Celina.
"How did Flora and Celina preform on your mission, my dear?" She ask, giving the mentioned two a quick glance. Flora blushed, looking away while Celina smiled.
Fuyu turned his head up so he could look directly into his head maid's eyes. He smirked, knowing full well that she knew fully well that he would never lie to her.
"Flora botched up my plans for one stronghold by killing when she should've stayed her hand. Not that I blame her, that particular lord was intensely spiteful." Fuyu stated with a casual flip of his hand. "Otherwise she preformed according to her part. Very well done overall."
"A-ahh A-again, Chairmen Fuyu, I am so, so sorry about that slip-up." Flora bowed her head. "I...I simply couldn't stand that man subjecting you to such vile provocations when all you have done is for the betterment of the Empire and her citizens."
"Forget about it Flora." Fuyu replied with a wave, still gazing up at Ophelia. "We found a work around and its all good to go now. Sides, I appreciate you acting out of character on my behalf. Real sexy."
Flora Gainey blushed once more, looking down. "Y-you are too kind."
"As for Celina, she preformed well. Through her actions, we ensured the loyalties of one of the more troublesome lords." Fuyu continued. "Course that meant she had to sleep with an unworthy bastard, but seeing as she's a masochist and he a sadist it worked out I guess."
Fuyu turned his head, looking back at the dark-purple haired maid. "I'll cleanse your insides of that ugly fuck's stank tonight, sound good Celina?"
Celina smiled wider, bowing her head. "As you wish, my master~" She sang spoke that last bit.
"Ophelia, you'll join in too won't you?" Fuyu said, turning his head back and gazing into his 1st lover with puppy dog eyes. "I need someone who knows how to take care of me after that exhausting trip. Pwweeeezzzzee?"
The green-haired woman couldn't help but laugh at the act. "If you are so insistent on it, it'll be my pleasure." She answered, once more stroking Fuyu's head.
"Yaaaayyy!" Fuyu gleefully proclaimed, pulling himself back and spreading his fist up in the air like the kid he acts as at times. "Flora, you're coming too! I might've forgiven you, but I know Ophelia's gonna wanna punish you somehow. Might as well do it with sex, that way its a win-win."
Flora blushed deep red, giving a flustered smile filled with mixed emotions. She gazed at Ophelia, whom is smiling back with her eyes closed and yet giving off a dreadful aura that sent chills down the former general's spine.
"Ah..I mean I- O-of course, Chairmen Fuyu. I wouldn't miss it for the world. Ah ha...ha..ha..ha."
1 month ago, somewhere in the Imperial South...
Tatsumi found himself back at his home village.
Snow covered the ground and rose to about half his height. However, he noticed he was considerably shorter now.
Tatsumi realized two things in that moment; 1st, he's in a dream and 2nd, he's 6 years old in said dream.
He looked at his small hands, then around the room he stood in. The now kid Tatsumi recognized everything before him.
"I'm in my room." He said, voice now lighter to match his immature form yet seemed off.
Like he was underwater.
He walked forward, reaching for the tall door handle to go outside.
Beyond the door stood two individuals that look all too familiar.
His mother, standing beside a wooden table facing the open door leading outside their house. Her back was to the young Tatsumi as she focused on the second familiar figure outside the door.
"Why are you leaving?" Tatsumi's mother asked, coughing lightly between breaths. Tatsumi noticed that her words sounded off as well. More proof that this was a dream.
Tatsumi's mother came down with a deadly disease that would eventually claim her life two years from the time set in this dream.
A dream wrapped in real memories.
Here she was still in the early stages. The treatable stages.
However, medicine for this disease, like most "luxury" goods within the Empire, couldn't be afforded by the average frontiersmen or villager.
Luxury.
Medicine to save lives.
Tatsumi hated his and his friends naive thoughts on join the military. How they never put the pieces together before coming to the Capital.
"Do I really need to explain it?" The man in the door way replied. His face hidden by the glaring sun behind him. "You're sick, and its not going to get better until you take that special medicine. So I'm going to go find some."
"But darling...we can't afford it." Tatsumi's mom protested, coughing lightly here and there. "We could sell everything we own and only pay for half...Don't tell me..."
"I'm gonna steal it?" The man cut in, chuckling. "Honey, I'm not that desperate. Sides, I know better than that. Even if I did get the medicine, the Imperials would just hunt us down for the rest of our lives. That's no way to live. Not when there's another way."
"What do you mean?"
The man turned his head, looking forward. "I've heard rumors that the medicine comes from ingredients found in the Southern Frontier, one of the hidden boons gained from the Empires expansion." He turned back to his wife. "I'm going to go down there, gather the ingredients, and find a doctor that'll mix'em together without bleeding us dry."
The grown man placed his hand on the door handle before continuing, his face becoming a little more clearer to Tatsumi's eyes. "It'll take time sure, I think a year at most. Plenty of time to get back before you're beyond the point of no return."
Yet Tatsumi knew well what happened. There's a reason why he would soon be taken in by the village elder...
"Darling...You don't-" Tatsmui's mother coughed into her hand. Her body was having one of her fits, a byproduct of getting too worked up or so the doctors claim.
The man smiled sadly at his wife. Hand gripping the door handle hard enough that it shook. "I have to...I want you to see our son grow...I want you to see his kids as we grow old and gray..." He let out a sniffle, holding back the tears forming in his eyes. "I love you...I love you both...so I have to go."
Tatsumi found himself stumbling forward, taken along for a ride as his young body moved exactly as it did all those years ago.
"Daddy? Are you leaving Daddy?" His young voice cried. "Daddy! Don't go! Who's gonna take care of mom?!"
Tatsumi could tell the man -his father- was crying by how his body reacted to his young boy's cry.
"I...I'm going to get medicine for you mother...so she can get better." His dad replied, doing his best to keep his voice compose. "You're the man of the house till I get back Tatsumi. Take care of things while I'm gone, ok?"
With those words, Tatsumi's dad began to close the door. He could feel his mother wrap her arms around him, crying with him as his father slowly disappeared behind the closing door.
"Daddy!? Where are you going Daddy?! DON'T LEAVE! DAAAAAADD!"
Tatsumi opened his eyes, raising up in shock and sweat. Breathing heavily, he took a hand to his forehead. He pulled it back, drenched with sweat.
"Why am I having that dream again?" He said, remembering all his mind had shown him.
He turned his head left, quickly noticing Walker sitting by the still blazing fire. It had to be the middle of the night and yet the merc was still up.
Not without reason of course. Bandits are common in this part of the South.
"Something on your mind, ya'll youngish pup?" Walker asked without removing his gaze from the crackling fire.
Tatsumi let out a breath, slowly swinging his legs over the flat rock he'd been using as a bed. A bad idea honestly, as his back ached from his choice of bedding. Today was a long day, voiding his better judgement.
"Just...a dream I've had all the time 11 years ago came back." Tatsumi answered, wiping sweat from his brows.
"...Wanna talk bout it?" Walker asked, turning his eyes towards the young man.
Tatsumi brought his hands together down low. He took a few dozen seconds to himself before answering, with the sound of the crackling fire being the only audible noise in the night.
"Its...a dream about my past. The day my life changed." He began. "When I was 6, my mother came down with this deadly disease. Treatable with the right medicine, problem was..."
"Everything is expensive. Thanks to them glorious pols in the Capital." Walker finished for the young man.
Tatsumi nodded. "So my dad decided to go find medicine himself. He heard it came from the Southern Frontier, that he'll gather the stuff, find a doctor to put it together, and be back in a year."
"Let me guess." Walker cut in, returning his gaze to the flame as he poked at it with a stick. "Daddy Dearest never came home and Mommy Mearest died."
Tatsumi let out a sigh. "Yeah..." He said, raising his hands to under his chin. "I used to have that dream all the time growing up under my village's elder. I stopped having it about 5 years ago? Something like that."
"Now its back with a vengeance huh?" Walker said, stretching his arms before turning his attention to Tatsumi once again. "Got no idea why it's back do ye?"
Tatsumi smiled, shaking his head.
Walker leaned back, gazing up in the sky. "Could be a premonition." He simply said. Before Tatsumi could ask what he meant, the cowboy looking merc continued. "We Norsemen -that's what you Imps call us Northerners by the way- are a pretty superstitious people. When you got a dream that hounds you, that's you're subconscious doing crazy things like forcing you to remember or somethin. When that same dream comes back after years, that's premonition."
"For what?" Tatsumi asked the obvious.
"Well...I'm not expert on the subject." Walker leaned forward, focusing on his comrade. "If I were to gander a guess...I think its a sign."
Tatsumi raised his eyebrow, about to ask the other obvious question when Walker cut him off.
"I think the cosmic gods that be are telling your subconscious to play that dream again...cause you're going to learn what happen to your old man." Walker shrugged. "We are in the Southern Frontier, so who knows? Then again, I could just be a rumbling old man growing senile."
Tatsumi didn't reply, least not out loud. His mind plagued with thoughts fighting for his attention.
He could find out what happened to his dad?
His dad died...just like his mother...
There was nothing more to figure out...aside from the how and when he guesses...
Right?
Revolutionary Army HQ, 2 days before Tatsumi and Walker arrive...
Within the inner most sanctum of the Revolutionary Army's HQ, two individuals held secret talks within a secluded room.
The individual standing had blond, spiky hair with matching sideburns and a beard. He had brown eyes, a nasty four pointed star-like scar centered at his nose and wore the dark khaki military dress uniform of the Revolutionary Army.
The other sitting in a simple metal chair had an eye patch made of some type of reptilian scales. He had a dark green colored eye, brown medium length hair that spike outward behind his head. He wore a black coat strapped down by belts holding dozens of throwing knifes, hatchets, darts, and other throwing objects. Underneath he wore a sleeveless, dull white shirt, black pants with armored knee guards, armored boots, finger-less black gloves, and had a chain connecting from his pants to the hilt of the resting double battle axe at his right side.
"I must say," The standing man spoke. "out of all the people they could sent, I never expected it to me you."
The sitting man let out a laugh. "Hell man, you and me both. Never thought I'd play diplomat for The Reaper, though I've played just about everything else military wise for that man. Guess I'm due for some politics." He said that last bit with the shrug of his shoulders. "Looks like you're doing well for yourself, General Lepidus."
"I go by Arthur now." The man replied, closing his eyes as he spoke that last part. "A fresh start for a new life in a land far north of our own."
"Riiiighhttt. Like we can all forget our pasts without a second thought."
Arthur frowned. "I'm not like you. Never have, and never will be."
"Damn right bout that!" The sitting man agreed with a laugh. "You're a coward. Abandoning your nation when we were kicking your ass! What would the Romanian Empire think when their learn the youngest and best general they had up and ran instead of dying in battle as expected from your politicians?"
"...I've come to regret some of the choices I have made in the past." Arthur answered, staring daggers into the man before him.
"Was killing the old man one of em? I hope so." The diplomat matched Arthur's hot gaze with his own inferno. "You killed that monstrous bastard. The man that took me under his wing when The Reaper saved me. I will never forgive you for that and mark my words, I will kill you for it."
An intense silence lasted between the two, invisible sparks lashing out at the intensity from their locked eyes.
"That's not what I'm here for though." The man in the chair stated, leaning back. "I'm here to negotiate with you revolutionaries on the Southern Confederation's official position on this whole 2nd Imperial Civil War you got brewing here. Seeing as we are practically neighbors these past few years."
Arthur crossed his arms, frowning slightly less as he focused sole on his old nemesis from his past life.
"Then by all means...Tell me their stance on this, Axel."
And here ends another entry to Akame ga Kill: Clockwork!
Ahhhh finally revealing all the members of the soon to be named Wild Hunt!
As with the other organizations, I added new members to the 4th organization that'll affect the Capital in the days to come. Got a few things planned with these mass murdering assholes, so look forward to it!
Established Esdeath has been deployed to deal with the Western invaders like before and will be unavailable for the majority of the coming events. Don't worry bout the Jagears though, they will get some screen time next entry :D
Finally put a face to the name: Axel! Yep, some of you might have thought he'd pop up at some point and you'd be correct haha. We got some plans for this guy in the entries to follow, but I'll say that he won't be around for too long.
Showing off more of that world building though, mentioning other publicly unknown nations deep within the South.
Yes, we are doing the whole back in time bit when it comes to Tastumi's parts in the RAHQ as it'll serve a particular purpose in order of events later. You might see it as troubling to keep track of but don't worry I'll answer any questions you guys might have on this bit.
The Revolution's opening stages have begun! Syura's forces have gathered, soon to cast a darkness over the entirety of the Imperial Capital. Tatsumi and Walker travel to the Revolutionary Army's HQ, each discovering revelations that will shock their views and beliefs to the core.
How will the days to come reflect the fate of the Imperial Empire? Find out next time as Wild Hunt publicly debuts in the Capital!
