Author's Notes: It's amazing to see how far this story has gotten since I first started it! 90 reviews, 145 favorites and 160 follows; I'm really pleased to see that there are so many people out there interested. Thank you so much for your support, especially those who continuously provide reviews and feedback.

RevansStories: To be honest, while I have an idea of what direction to take the relationship between Tatsumi and Esdeath, nothing is fixed in stone as I continue to build on the plot and character interactions. This is the main reason why I haven't indicated the pairings for this story.

Shade169: Thank you for your support. I really do enjoy seeing your hypothesis/assumption on how the battle with The Three Beasts will go. I hope that the conclusion given in this chapter will be satisfying enough.

Commonwealth1991: Thank you for your continuous reviews. They are really helpful and constructive. Personally, I find myself struggling the most when it comes to writing up creative fight scenes. They are time-consuming and use up a lot of my brain cells. So imagine my surprise when I realize that you like my fight depictions. It was just a huge encouragement for me, so thank you.

And before I forget, I would like to give a heads up. Just to let you know, I have recently changed the rating of this fanfic to M for the sake of future chapters.

Disclaimer: All characters from Akame ga Kill that appear in this fanfic rightfully belong to Takahiro. I do not own anything; I have Takahiro to thank for that.

Currently, I do not have the helpful aid from a beta reader. Everything is proofread and edited by me alone. So please bear with me if I make any mistakes or errors.

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Chapter 17— Kill the First Sacrifice

"Maybe a dream, maybe it was pride.

Maybe for myself, often wonder why?

Until our very last breath.

We're running after life, trying to beat death."

-Never Say Never (Danganronpa The Animation OP1)

Location: The Great Canal (On Ryuusen). Time: Afternoon. Year: 1024 (Day 91).

Everywhere he looked, the passengers aboard the Ryuusen were under the effect of Scream. They collapsed on deck, as if suddenly hit with a plague of depression. Disinclined to succumb to the melody, Yukio placed his hands over his ears and provided extra reinforcement to the sound protection he had. Yet, Scream still managed to affect him to a certain degree. There was no doubt; The Three Beasts were very apt at utilizing their Imperial Arms.

Humming a little tune to himself, Yukio barely managed to block out the last of Scream's disheartening tune as he verified the state of his client. The old man was knocked out cold, flocked by trained guards who were also yielding to the effect of the music.

'I want to stay and guard him, but my top priority is to stay awake. I won't be of any use if I collapse here. The wind should help. I need to get to higher grounds. These earplugs won't matter if I'm really close to the source.' With that in mind, Yukio staggered towards the upper deck, carefully stepping over the other passengers. It was only when he could feel the wind whip against his face that he warily removed his earplugs. A loud sigh of relief stumbled out from his lips when he realized that he could no longer hear the sound of the flute.

Too bad that the stillness did not last long.

"Oh! Despite Scream, someone's still moving. If you'd fallen asleep, I'd left you alone"

Yukio turned and noticed a bulky man in black with spiky blonde hair. He wore an eccentric headdress that reminded Yukio of devil horns. But that wasn't the most alarming; what terrified the young man were the pupil-less eyes, unfathomable and bottomless. His foe was trained to be obscure with his thoughts. And while Yukio was relatively assured of his acuity, he was doubtful that he could properly read him.

"…I thought you'll make your appearance, Night Raid's Imposter," said Yukio in an unequivocal tone. He peeled off his leather shoes, preferring bare feet to the hard soles that caused him discomfort. 'Stay cool, act calm. Don't let him intimidate you.'

The man chuckled and removed his hands from his pockets, reaching for the weapon strapped behind his back. "So, you're a real deal, eh? This is great! I want to fight to gain experience, in order to become the strongest!"

Yukio unbuttoned the top half of his tuxedo and pulled out a dagger from within, his eyes fixed on the battle axe that his opponent held. It was relatively simple in design, with a double edge. Even so, there was no mistaking the underlying power encrusted in the weapon. 'No doubts now. That's the Double Bladed Axe: Belvaac, an offensive Imperial Arms with a separable compartment. Can be thrown like a boomerang and will pursue the target until it hits. If he's wielding that, then he must be… er, Daidara of the Three Beasts. He's super strong… but lucky for me, he's just wielding Belvaac. Compared to Ieyasu's Senpu, this preceding Imperial Arms is a mere toy, created by less experienced hands.'

Taking a deep breath, Yukio analyzed the situation. There were supposed to be three opponents stowed away on the vessel. He was currently facing one, meaning that the other two were either confronting Bulat or were preparing for an ambush. He assumed the worse scenario, with two unknown enemies still lurking in wait. He would have to be prepared for any surprised attacks then. The odds were stacking high and he felt fear worming through his stomach.

"Once you've encountered enough life-and-death situations, you'll learn to trust your intuition. I suppose you can call it an innate. Everyone has this animal-like instinct; it's simply a matter of distinguishing between false alarms and actual warnings. Understand it, learn how it works, and then trust it… If you can't, you'll die." Akame's words rang caution in his ears, and a grin found its place on his face despite everything. In truth, he was a novice, though that didn't mean he wasn't equipped with the necessary resolve. He was slow to start, but he was finally grasping the reality of his new life as well as being a killer.

'Luck and skill will only get me so far without instinct… Against The Three Beasts, I'll have to utilize everything I've learned. There's no running away this time!' Yukio's eyes gleamed in determination. Every moment of training up until now would've been for naught if he allows fear to grapple him.

'Be smart, stay strong, and be brave. I can't die here!' Yukio inwardly motivated himself to switch gears without his mask for the first time. A sheet of frost blanketed his pair of hardened emeralds. "You said you want experience? Fine… let us see if I can give you enough experience for an one-way trip to hell!"

"Excellent! You're a vigorous one! Let's go!" shouted Daidara, beckoning Yukio to move.

'Turbo Trot, activate!' Yukio looped a finger around Baransu's string and was off with a burst of adrenaline. He couldn't risk the space between him and Daidara given Belvaac's properties. A boomerang-like weapon was the most useful at a distance. He would have to settle this at close quarters, where his blades could reach his foe.

A blue spark ran along the surface of Belvaac as the axe divided itself into two. Grabbing onto the center of the golden handles, Daidara pulled both arms back, briefly creating a cross with his body. His tendons on his right shoulder blade tensed and he swung his arm diagonally up, a motion similar to throwing a discus.

Yukio inhaled sharply and dropped low, scarcely escaping decapitation. The spinning axe was a perilous silver disk as it whisked just passed him, taking along a few strands of blond hair. Fully aware of its function, his head swiveled around just in time to see the weapon altered its path, abruptly doing a u-shaped turn near the front of the deck. It was coming back towards him with outrageous speed.

'I-I need to stop it somehow! Over there!' On that note, Yukio scampered towards the edge of the Ryuusen. Nimbly, he leaped over the tables in his way and skidded to a stop before a wooden railing that was around his height. Putting his back against it, he brushed a finger on the surface, confirming its solidity.

The axe cut through the air and flew at him. Yukio narrowed his eyes and waited until he could feel it directly before his nose, with the wind pushing into his face. Instinctively, he twisted his head a sharp right. His heart jumped in his throat at the sound of steel ramming into the railing. Burrowing itself deep, the axe dented the wood and caused splinters to fly.

Yukio received a minor slash on the cheek, but the outcome was better than he could hope for. He had stopped Belvaac in its tracks, and in the process, weakened his enemy. Finding no amusement in Daidara's surprised expression, he sprang for the large man.

All at once, two figures entered from the sky, dropping down to cut him off. Yukio's eyes frantically darted around to regard both sides, and cursed. He had little faith that he could block them simultaneously. Left without any options, he grudgingly abandoned his attack and rolled to the side.

In that instant, Bulat emerged from hiding to assist Yukio. His armored fist ripped through the midsection of the first man before he straightened his leg to hook a devastating blow on the second. Faster than a blink of an eye, he somersaulted in the air and materialized his Neuntote, running the long halberd down on Daidara. The large man was obviously caught off guard, for he did not block. The Night Raider's weapon cleaved right through him, generating a downpour of blood.

"Yukio-kun! Great work keeping them busy. You're learning fast. Good on you!" Even amidst a battle, Bulat still took liability in educating his junior. The ex-soldier tapped the section of his mask covering his ear. "And hope you don't mind, but I borrowed your earplugs while below deck. Found them tied around your mask and thought you'll be fine with me using them. That music was killing my ears... Actually, I'm surprised that you left them there. How did you know?"

"Just a gut feeling," Yukio replied dismissively as he climbed back onto his feet.

Bulat gave a small hum. "I won't ask for details now. But I would love to know the secret to your accurate predictions someday, okay?"

"Y-yeah." The young man nodded without any enthusiasm. A little perturbed by the mass of flesh on the ground, he torn his gaze away from the gruesome sight and scanned the places where two of his foes now laid with their eyes closed. The first one had crashed into a table, breaking the furniture completely. Only his legs were visible from Yukio's angle and he couldn't decipher whether or not the man was still breathing. The second and older man was in no better state. His back had created a large dent in the railing and his head was facing down. Nonetheless, Yukio wasn't so naïve to think that they were dead.

"My agility and assassination records are comparatively superior. But in terms of strength, Bulat is unrivaled by any member of Night Raid. Inarguably, he is the best fighter on the team." Yukio smirked thoughtfully, recalling a conversation he once had with Akame soon after he joined. Curious to learn more about his teammates, he insisted on knowing who the strongest member was. While he had expected nothing but an honest answer from Akame, he was still surprised to hear how highly regarded Bulat's strength was. In truth, it was no overstatement to state that Bulat was the one of the most powerful men in the Empire, second to Budo.

"You're amazing, Aniki. You took down all three in one go!" Yukio exclaimed, elated.

"That's right," Bulat nodded and pointed a thumb to his chest. "I never told you this. But back when I was a soldier, my nickname was the Hundred-Man Slayer Bulat."

"To be accurate, it was one hundred and twenty-eight people."

Two heads turned concurrently to the speaker, a tall man with a mustache and grey hair tied in a ponytail. The tresses fluttered about in the wind as he sauntered towards the assassins, stone-faced and with blue eyes fixed on Bulat. Comparable with his comrades, he wore a standard uniform with the Partas Clan emblem clipped onto a black ribbon that loosely hang around the collar of his white shirt. "You were up against the Special Forces, and you did that well… That Imperial Arms, that strength. So it's you, Bulat."

"You are… General Liver!" Bulat gasped and his eyes widened underneath his armor. His hold on his halberd slackened and it took every ounce of self-control to keep a grip. It was his superior, no doubt. His attire and his hairstyle had changed over the years, but he was still the man who Bulat greatly respected.

"I'm no longer a general. After Esdeath-sama saved me, I became her servant," Liver explained, lightly touching the crest he wore.

'Liver… He must be the person who Aniki was talking about before. What rotten luck!' Yukio stole a worried glance at Bulat. The mission was already difficult; he certainly didn't need the ghost of his senior's past to complicate the situation. In the worst case scenario that Bulat couldn't suppress his emotions and fight his former commander, Yukio would have to do it for him. The young man really did not want things to come to that. Indubitably, this was an assignment, but there was no telling if Bulat would harbor any resentment towards him for slaying Liver.

'Of course, that is presuming that I can last against him…' he thought bitterly.

Neglecting Yukio, Bulat and Liver focused on each other. The two silently inspected the other's posture. In that instant, the wind kicked up and attested their willpower, all the while causing silver locks and a white cape to dance in the air.

It was Bulat who faltered first and broke their passive standoff. He twirled the Neuntote in circles with one hand.

"If we'd been on the same side, we could've had a drink to celebrate the reunion. But since you've resurfaced as my enemy, I must kill you." He stopped the spinning halberd and took his fighting stance, his weapon grasped with both hands. "I must complete my mission!"

"That's my line," retorted Liver as he removed his glove, revealing a ring on his middle finger. He pointed at Bulat in a threatening gesture. "The mission must be carried out… with this Imperial Arms my master bestowed upon me!"

Yukio took in the ring Teigu with critical eyes. He searched his memory and it didn't take him long to recall the name and the specific abilities of the particular relic. 'The offensive Teigu, Water Dragon Possession: Black Marlin. Created from the organ of an aquatic Danger Beast, it bestows the user with the ability to control any liquid as long as there is a source to manipulate nearby. And from what Akame was trying to describe to me verbally, I'll say that the move that took Aniki down is its trump card, Blades of Blood... I think.'

"It's immensely fortunate that my battle with you two takes place here!" Liver smirked. Right on cue, water from the side of the ship shot into the sky like pillars, spiraling around the former general like serpents coiling around their prey.

"A water controller, huh? Appropriate for the servant of one who controls ice," remarked Bulat offhandedly, his gaze concentrating solely on Liver.

"Esdeath-sama can create ice from nothing. She is on a completely different level. It's awe-inspiring!" Fisting his hand, Liver pushed both arms outwards. "Water Spirit Canon!"

The water pillars reshaped into spears and surged towards the armored Night Raider. Aggressive and fearsome, the currents strived to impale Bulat with their mighty flow.

"How brazen!" Treating Liver's attack like nothing more than water sprinkles, Bulat's energetic battle cry torn the heavens as he spun the Neuntote. In rapid rotations that quadrupled the speed of his earlier display, he nullified the water projectiles with little effort.

…

"Oww! That guy's strength is roughly second to The Four. But since we're on water, Liver can defeat him." Nyau, the youngest of The Three Beasts, climbed out from the wreckage and surveyed the battle before him. Eager to help his comrade, he made a move to stand up but winced when pain coursed through his body. Judging from the impact that had sent him sprawling, he wouldn't be surprised if he had a few broken ribs. With one hand on his side, he slowly got up and brought Scream to his lips. "Ugh! Somehow Scream didn't affect him the last time. I should try again."

Clang!

Operating on instinct, he managed to deflect an impending projectile with his flute at the last minute. There was little time to fathom what the object was as he was compelled to move when Yukio brought a blade towards his jugular.

"Sorry, but I'm afraid I can't let you interfere," said Yukio, moving to intercept Nyau's advance.

"This guy… you're in my way! Move aside!" Nyau snarled as he found his self-regarded agility matched by the young man. Backing up Liver seemed infeasible when his opponent was doing everything he could to obstruct. There was no alternative but to get rid of the obstacle first, he concluded. He abruptly lashed out for Yukio's thigh. It missed as the assassin pivoted his leg and adapted his premeditated thrust into repeating slashes.

Yukio pursued his assaults, relentless and unforgiving as he drove the blond-haired man back. Setting into an offensive rhythm, the young assassin lunged and stabbed the other man who was of a similar physique as him. To the young man's astonishment, he found himself able to fend off Nyau's attacks, though he suspected that his foe was weakened due to Bulat's previous blow. He was not delusional; he knew he would stand no chance otherwise.

Their exchange rushed by in a blur and Yukio halted his advance to take a deep breath. He was a little exhausted from the continuous strikes but managed to come out unscathed. Since his opponent was now reluctant to press forward, he took the opportunity to recover his breath, all the while assessing Nyau carefully for the first time. Dressed in the same manner as the other two beasts, the only primary difference was that he wore shorts instead of pants. He was spotted with a horn-like accessory in his short hair and a demon-like tail on his rear for decoration.

"Hah… hah. Your… your speed is startling. I don't think I've met many people who are as fast as you." As Yukio was merely stalling, he was in little rush to finish the battle. To prevent Nyau from interfering with Bulat's fight, the young man preoccupied his opponent's mind with a flattering remark.

"Yeah, of course!" Nyau crocked his head in an arrogant angle, a fang protruding from the corner of his mouth. "I'm one of Esdeath-sama's best sub—"

"Still… I must say that you're too slow compared to Akame," Yukio interjected, derision plain in his tone as he jabbed a thumb towards the ground. "Akame is much faster!"

"Don't compare me to a mere assassin!" Nyau's golden orbs flashed with anger.

Yukio wiped the sweat off his brows with a sleeve. "Akame is no mere assassin. That I can assure you."

"You're getting cocky, kid!" Emitting a low growl, Nyau decided to teach the audacious brat a lesson. 'I'll take my time skinning him while he is still alive and wipe that stupid grin off his face!' But before he could make his threat a reality, he was interrupted by a sudden clamor. The vessel rocked in the unsteady waters, and Nyau planted his feet firmly on the platform.

Whirling around, Nyau noticed that Liver was now standing on top of a serpent created with water. The beast towered over the ship and was eying Bulat hungrily, its fork-like tongue jutting out as though tasting the air around him, searching for flesh.

…

"Succumb to the water pressure, Bulat!" Liver's eyes narrowed dangerously and he stared down at his former friend sternly. With a mental command, the gigantic column of water rushed towards Bulat, intending to swallow him whole.

"Ravine Serpent!"

Having fought countless powerful opponents, the terrorizing serpent felt like a measly magic trick to Bulat. Two options presented themselves, and frankly, they felt superfluous to the ex-soldier, who knew that one was non-existent. For a warrior of his caliber, avoiding the large missile-like attack would be undemanding, though at the risk of endangering everyone else on the Ryuusen.

'An obvious trap, but I got no choice!' The Man-Slayer chose the most clear-cut approach. Using Incursio to enhance his body, he took to the sky in one bounding leap and met the water monster head on. He charged in, his trusted halberd in both hands. The serpent swallowed him whole, and for the briefest moments, it seemed that Bulat was overwhelmed by the water pressure. Then a war cry boomed and spread into the vicinity as the Night Raider braved the rushing torrents, severing the serpent as easy as chopping a piece of log.

Seeing that Bulat had no intention of backing down, Liver jumped off from the serpent's head and took to higher ground. A smirk crept across his face at the sight of the Incursio user's back being vulnerable during his freefall. So predictable, he thought.

"I expected that you'd go straight for the serpent rather than dodge it, given the casualties if it had hit the boat. However, now that you're off the deck and in the air… there's no way you can dodge this!" Encouraged, Liver pushed his body to the limit and summoned every ounce of his energy for the closing finale. His ring emanated a bright violet light, responding to its master's willpower.

"Dark Stream Spear!"

'No! No! No!' The name of Liver's attack pierced into Yukio's ears with frightful intention. Abandoning all subtlety, he scurried for Bulat, well aware that the water lances soaring in the air had enough force to penetrate Incursio's armor. Nyau moved from his peripheral vision, trying to catch up to him.

"Do not obstruct me!" There was a sudden belligerence in his voice as Yukio growled like a mad beast. He could feel it, the unnatural surge of a foreign sensation worming its way through his system, trying to consume his conscience.

Lust!

The unusual lust was neither driven by desire nor spurred by ambition. It was completely difficult, a sensation experienced in its rawest form. It was telling him to kill!

Bloodlust!

A dark eerie glow enveloped his form, the shadows mutating into invisible tendrils that clung onto him. Any lingering reluctance and fear were engulfed by the inhumane urge like a black swallower devouring a bony fish. No longer was he shackled by the fear of repercussions from activing Baransu's abilities.

"Turbo Sprint!" His legs carried him faster than a cheetah's, each step taking no more than half a second. Everything around him ran at funeral pace. He suddenly sprinted for Nyau and aimed a deadly slash for the jugular. Blood splattered across the deck as a strangled cry escaped. Nyau dropped onto the deck like stone.

Dead or not, Yukio didn't bother to check and instead moved forward. He pushed his bare toes down and forced his entire body up in an impeccable jump, flinging himself into Bulat's path.

"Grgh!"

Liver's attack converged into one and dug straight into Yukio protective vest, forcing all the air out. A searing pain flared from his chest, so agonizing that his mind went blank. He gagged, tasting blood in his mouth as his body was pushed up, firmly pressed against the rising torrents. His vest gave way and the pain intensified. Just when he thought he was done for, Bulat's armored hand seized his arm and yanked him into his chest plate. The collision should have caused bruising, but the pain on his face was inconsequential compared to the agony in his chest.

The water lance continued up in an arc, though that was the last thing Bulat was concerned about.

"Yukio-kun, you idiot! Why the hell—" Bulat didn't get the chance to fully express his bewilderment before a sharp sound screeched into his ears. Although his brain distinctively recognized the tune, it just sounded as obnoxious as someone scratching on a blackboard with their fingernails.

Bulat's instincts screamed trouble and he searched for the source with abundant urgency. His sapphire orbs landed on Nyau, who was on his knees. The blond had a hand around his own throat, a last resort to keep his precious life blood from spilling out of the gruesome cut. One look and the Night Raider could tell Nyau was nearing death. Yet despite his pallid visage, he managed to gather enough strength for a final performance.

'Hahaha… there's a reason why Esdeath-sama put us on… the same team. We work well together. That was my trump card, Advent of Fierce God. It's a form of hypnosis that increases the strength of those I want… temporarily. Now, Liver will have enough strength to beat you… Let this be the song that takes you to your grave!' The flute was splashed with fresh blood as Nyau coughed. Taking one final glimpse at Liver, who was surrounded by a foreboding mass of aura, the wielder of Scream managed a triumphant grin before his eyes rolled back.

He was dead before he hit the floor.

There was no time to be relieved. Something cold approached Bulat from behind. In a movement born from pure instinct, he barely twisted his body in midair to protect both Yukio and his vitals. He was not one to be caught off guard, but even he could not have predicted that Liver would suddenly gain enough power and precision to make the water lance do an about-turn. A rush of water drilled into him. The force was so vigorous that Incursio shattered under the impact. His side burned as the blow meant for his heart passed scrapped the right side of his body. The torrent shoved him and Yukio hard onto the ship, shaking the entire vessel in the process.

Being the seasonal soldier he was, Bulat pushed himself back up in a teetering manner. Since Yukio had occupied his left side, he was forced to let half of his body take the blunt of the landing, and therefore further aggravating his injuries. Waves of pain coursed through his tired members in his haste. With his vision spinning around violently, he placed a hand to his throbbing forehead.

It was then he noticed that his helmet was fractured like a broken egg shell, leaving the right side of his face exposed. The rest of the armor was in a worse state. Serrated cracks decorated it, with patches of silver coming loose and bestrewing the ground. Given such damage, it was no wonder that Incursio began to dissolve, melting away into white vapor and revealing the state of its owner's body. Even with the armor's protection, the intense aerial battle had not only ruined Bulat's pompadour but it had also left his body in a terrible mess. There was a deep punctuated wound that ruined the right side of his muscular frame. Fresh and dried blood covered his upper torso, though the Man-Slayer endured the obvious pain as he glared daggers at his former superior.

"Looks like your Imperial Arms deactivates when it receives enough damage. It's clear who's come out on top." With one hand on his hip, Liver couldn't help the look of relief that spread across his features as he assessed the Night Raider's condition. Secretly he was impressed, though he didn't dare to acknowledge it out loud. If anything, Liver wanted to discourage Bulat, not encourage him.

"It's too soon to say," Bulat smirked, "I'm guessing that you're not showing any physical effects just yet because of your buddy's Teigu. But it must be tiring to be throwing around all those crazy techniques. Heh, just hurl whatever you have left and we can end this."

"You're eager. But I wish to negotiate first… from a higher vantage point," Liver paused and temporarily closed his eyes, seemingly undaunted by the accuracy in Bulat's analysis. When the two pools resurfaced seconds later, they were filled with purpose and expectation. "Bulat, can I interest you in joining Esdeath-sama's army? With your strength, you could rise to second-in-command."

"I have absolutely no desire to serve the Empire again," answered Bulat, noting with a corner of his eye that Yukio had stirred slightly on the ground. The young man's hand slowly reached into his tuxedo, before his eyebrows knitted together in… was it irritation? Bulat couldn't tell, and he wasn't given the time to ponder on the matter as Liver spoke.

"Not the Empire. Think of it as serving Esdeath-sama." There was a trace of nostalgia laced onto Liver's voice as he touched the crest he wore on his tie. "This was how I was saved. You can do anything you pleased, and all will fear you. That's right, even those filthy officials spreading their poisonous ideals would bow down before you! Come with me Bulat! Esdeath-sama can absolve your crimes!"

"I refuse." Not even a shred of hesitation could be found as Bulat rejected the invitation instantly. He brushed his hair with his fingers, more concerned by its disheveled state than Liver's proposal. It was too bad that he couldn't rearrange it back to his preferred style as the portable comb he usually carried around had been broken during the fall. Comprehending that he would have to make do with his unkempt hairstyle, he gave a loud sigh before returning to the matter on hand. "You may be comfortable with your current position, considering how you feel about the officials. But my job is to defend the citizens. If I were to join Esdeath's army, in service of the Prime Minister… then I wouldn't be able to say that anymore."

"Defend the citizen? That's not something I'd expect to hear from an assassin." Contemptuous, Liver pinned Bulat a look of displeasure, one that the assassin countered with a rebellious grin. That alone sealed their negotiation. The result was a failure, so now there was only one thing left for Liver to do. "I understand, I will end this before my body succumbs! Since you've refused my goodwill, I'll have you feast on my greatest technique! Water Dragon's Divine Conquest!"

On command, the ocean water shot up as if bestowed with life and took the form of dragons. The creatures surrounded Liver, their long watery bodies coiled around him protectively. The last of The Three Beasts thrust his arm out and Black Marlin erupted with purple light. The water dragons let loose a terrifying roar, following the direction of his hand.

Fearlessly, Bulat stood his ground and pulled out Incursio's key. In its sealed state, his Teigu could be used like an ordinary sword. While it was definitely more durable than standard blades, Bulat was gripped with uncertainty. How well would the piece of steel fare against the overwhelming pressure of the water current? The answer was so apparent yet grim. Nonetheless, the prospect of dodging never crossed Bulat's mind. He kept his face determined, knowing that moving a single step would result in the death of Yukio and the passengers behind him.

Even when splattering and coughing out blood, Yukio could still vaguely see Liver and the storm of dragons heading their way. He let a small hiss escape his lips when he crooked his head to see Bulat's battered body standing upright in front of him. While the pain from his wounds were nearly unbearable, it was the instinctive realization of what Bulat was doing that brought him mental excruciation beyond description.

No! He would not let his intrepid act of sacrifice be in vain.

'Damn this… I r-refuse to let things end like this. Ugh! Liver is all caught up… with being on the offensive. He's wide-opened. If only I-I can just… argh!' Painstakingly, the young man reached for the secret compartment behind his back, the one that Akame said would be his trump card. Being in a supine arrangement made his action more than difficult, but he managed to timely pull out the one dagger that remained undamaged.

Compelling his body to move, Yukio flipped over onto his stomach and hurled the dagger, replaying the exact motion he did in his battle with Zank. Due to his position, the blade soared inches above the floor. Anxiety slammed into his heart. What if it skidded to a halt before it could reach Liver?

Swoosh!

The dagger miraculously slipped in between Bulat's legs and passed underneath the belly of the water dragons. It flew with astonishing velocity before finding its way deep into Liver's leg.

The effect was immediate.

Liver tottered forward with twisted features, all the while abandoning the fine precision needed to control the water dragons. With that, the creatures began to lose their overwhelming might. While they maintained their form due to Black Marlin's effects, their gigantic figure began to shrink as salty water dripped down their body like blood.

Astonishment was painted on Bulat's face for the briefest of seconds before he recovered his composure. Not one to let the golden opportunity slip away, he hoisted his sword in a defensive position in front of him. Before, the action would have been impudently foolish, but things were different now.

With an almighty roar that surpassed the ferocity of the dragons barreling down on him, he single-handedly cleaved through one creature after another. He had just finished slashing through the last one like butter when Liver threw himself at him, a sword in one hand and Yukio's dagger in the other.

Clang!

Two blades scrapped against each other. Spark flew in a battle that attested strength. Bulat pushed with a spirited howl, firm on breaking his foe's weapon. Yet Liver did not let him. A flurry of movement as the former general sidestepped, then propelled a bloody dagger forward. Bulat tilted his head on impulse. The faint whistling of the wind rushed past his ear as the blade missed by a whisker.

Not deterred, Liver was persistent with his advances.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Bulat parried, feeling the direct contact between metals as Liver made consecutive lunges. Tired of being on the defensive, the assassin seized an opening and thrust out his sword… only to realize that Liver was baiting him a second later. His eyes bulged, capturing the impending weaponry. With a quick pull of his arm, he deflected the shot that would've otherwise ended his life.

But that too had been a feint.

Shock clung onto Bulat's pupils when Liver became a blur. For all his injuries, he was still formidable as ever as he jerked his arm up. His sword sliced the air like a laser and met Incursio's key with surreal impact. The Man-Slayer's hand slipped and the weapon spiraled uncontrollably into the sky.

"HRGH!" Having been disarmed, Bulat's survival instincts kicked in and his spirit lit up with a fiery passion. Before Liver could pull back and execute his finishing blow, the Man-Slayer smashed his right fist into his opponent's cheek. His other hand shot forth and grabbed Liver's sword arm, twisting it with blazing pugnacity.

The movement simultaneously sprained Liver's wrist, eliciting a grunt of pain. Bulat had planned to remove his superior's sword from his hand, but Liver still maintained a firm grip.

Splash!

Blood continued to rush into the Night Raider's brain, and he chose to overlook the small noise in the background.

"As someone who exists solely to serve Esdeath-sama, I will take your life by hook or by crook!" Liver roared, his expression contorted into a hideous snarl. His free hand whizzed through the air, aiming a syringe at Bulat's neck.

Bulat barely had time to breath, let alone dodge. But he was ready for it as instinct overrode logic and he yanked out Yukio's mask from his pocket. Its wooden surface collided with the syringe, snapping the thin needle clear off. Faster than lightning, Bulat thrust the mask and the embedded tip coated in prison towards Liver's face. The older man instinctively pulled away, only to stumble backwards when Bulat suddenly let go of his wrist.

Utilizing the chance, the muscles on Bulat's leg tightened as the outsole of his boot slammed into the side of Liver's closed palm. There was a frightening snap before Liver's blade went somersaulting in a vertical direction until it reached the assassin's eye-level. He grabbed it without a second thought and tackled the off-balanced general with his entire weight. Metal split open flesh and a jet of blood sprayed all over him.

"Arrrgh!" Liver choked on his own blood, having been pinned to the ground with his own blade protruding from his chest. His fading vision locked onto Bulat, who was in a straddling position with both hands clutching the sword's hilt. Even the most stubborn person would know defeat given the predicament, and Liver was no different. "Incredible, you withstood everything I had to offer. You Bulat, you've won."

"Yeah. But things could have turned out very differently." Panting profoundly, Bulat spat out blood and found himself engaging in a heartfelt chat with the person who had been trying to kill him with everything at his disposal. Although to be fair, the Night Raider had also gave it his all in retaliation. Now that the battle was over and they had both accepted the outcome, perhaps there was some time for a pitiful reunion.

"What do you mean?" Liver croaked, the fragility of his voice reflected the condition that his body was in.

"Because your comrade endowed you with temporary power, you instinctively became more reckless. You were pressured by the time limit, so you abandoned defense for offense in hopes of finishing me off quickly. You left openings that a seasonal fighter shouldn't have. I just exploited that weakness, just as Yukio-kun did."

"V-very impressive, Bulat. To think… that you know so much about me. I'm flattered. I guess I should reward you then. You want to know, correct? The real reason I decided to join Esdeath-sama's army." Weakly, Liver grasp the crest on his tie with bloody fingers. The light in his eyes dimmed as he stared at the shadowy outline that was Bulat's face. "Simply put, she gave me hope. And I… I idolized her. That's all. Vengeance was merely an honorarium she offered me."

"General…" There was a mixture of pity, sadness, and understanding coating Bulat's sapphire pools as Liver took his last breath. Pensively, he waited until he was certain that all life had left the mortal shell that was his former superior.

'Why give me such a superfluous reason with you dying breath? I wanted to know, but not like this…' The ex-soldier ran a hand down his face, not caring about the trail of crimson mess he was leaving on his features. Maybe that could replace the tears that could not be formed. In all honesty, he was too drained to sort out his feelings. He hadn't expected Liver to be alive, let alone return as one of Esdeath's devoted servants.

Would it appease his heart to classify Liver's conviction as selfish admiration? It didn't seem right to his conscience so he further contemplated the morality of Liver's action. Just like him and the rest of Night Raid, the ex-general was merely following the path that his heart had decided on. Yet the different paths that they chose somehow converged at a point where they had to clash in a death battle. And while Bulat emerged victorious, did that necessary give him the right to proclaim what was right and wrong? Sadly, there were just no black and white spectrums regarding the problem.

Too exhausted to muse deeper into the issue, Bulat let the subject go with little reluctance. There were always plenty of time for deliberations later, after he and Yukio received proper treatment and plenty of rest. With that in mind, Bulat climbed back onto his feet before turning around.

"Eh!"

Nothing could have prepared him for what came next. The blood-stained ground where his junior was supposed to be was empty. Spinning on his feet, the assassin scanned the area with growing apprehension, even going as far to double check. However, reality eventually hit him. There was no sign of Yukio anywhere, and the only clue he could find was the few droplets of blood that dotted a trail towards the railing of Ryuusen.

"Don't tell me he…" Bulat's face turned as pale as chalk when a possibility present itself to him. Going from memory, didn't he hear a strange splash after Liver had knocked his Incursio away? Could it be… could it be that Yukio went to retrieve it? An upsurge of dread rushed through him as he half-stumbled, half-sprinted towards the edge of the vessel and looked over.

Only an endless of sparkling waves came into his vision.

Author's Notes: Okay, I honestly had not expected the chapter to turn out like this. The fight scenes evolved on their own while I was drafting so they became much longer than I initially planned. Hence, I decided to have two smaller parts instead of one chapter with 10K+ words.

As usual, it would be really helpful if you would leave a review or PM to tell me about your thoughts on this chapter as well as the overall story. Any feedback, comment, question, and even criticisms are welcomed.

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Now, this section is dedicated to recapitulating the relevant plot events. Here are some things that can be reviewed over or considered for this chapter:

-Just to clarify, I have made a tiny change to Yukio's Teigu for the plot's sake. To be honest, I originally gave it the name Scale Divider: Baransu because it sounds a lot cooler than the alternative, Scale Tipper: Baransu. However, I am beginning to regret that decision, since the latter actually gives some foreshadowing. As such, while absolutely everything else stays the same, Yukio's Teigu will now be named Scale Tipper: Baransu.

-Since the enhanced Nyau didn't receive much spotlight before Tatsumi dealt with him in the canon, not much is elaborated on the effects of Scream's trump card. Therefore, I hope that it isn't too farfetched for Scream to be able to enhance someone other than its user given that the basis of hypnosis still operates in the same manner.

-Recall from chapter 4 that Yukio has seven daggers around a belt strapped diagonally around his upper torso. Six of them are kept at the front, while one is hidden behind his back. Since Liver's attack hit front on, all but one dagger broke. This is why Yukio was first seen frowning when he tried to reach for his daggers.

-In the canon, Liver injects himself with the lethal poison. Here, Liver instead attacks Bulat with it. The discrepancy in event is caused by Nyau, who used his trump card to amplify Liver's states. Hence, Liver didn't feel threaten enough to go for an all-out attack by throwing away his own life.

Preview: Chapter 18-Kill the Second Sacrifice

Lubbock: "I'll give you this, but I'm counting on you when the enemy comes."

Hidou: "And you'll be following that stupid will of yours to your grave,"

Akame: "…Plague?"

Ieyasu: "What the hell? You never told me that this would happen!"