"I hate to admit it but your plan is probably the best play we have" Akame told Tatsumi.
They had been fighting for some time against Bulat and Mine and did not make any significative breakthrough.
Between two assaults, Tatsumi managed to tell Akame the plan he came up with.
"Alright then. We have no time to spare" Tatsumi declared.
On these words, Tatsumi took a step and rushed forward, gaining speed and momentum as he charged towards Mine and Bulat.
(If I'm right, first comes big bro's charge…) Tatsumi hoped.
And he was right. Facing him head on, Bulat raised his axe, intending to slice him vertically.
Having anticipated the attack, Tatsumi dodged with a step on the side.
(…and now comes the bullet.)
As he expected, a bullet fired by Mine came right through his supposed blind spot, but since he was waiting for it, he easily deflected the bullet.
Bulat and Mine were not to be taken lightly but despite their strength and armament, they had a weakness Akame and Tatsumi noticed during the fight.
They always aimed for the best strategy and moves, the most efficient ones… which made them predictable in a certain way.
By creating openings and feigning to loosen their defenses, Akame and Tatsumi could literally bait them and parry their attacks.
In that present case, their strategy was to stop Tatsumi's blade with Bulat's axe and go for the kill with Mine's bullet. It was the best way to counter a frontal charge which was why they had applied it.
This weakness was probably due to the orders they received from the one who resurrected them.
Not wasting his time, Tatsumi dashed towards Mine, aware that by doing so, Bulat would chase him right away.
Mine fired several bullets but as her weapon's accuracy decreased if used in succession, Tatsumi only had to deflect the threatening shots.
After all, Mine's specialty was not quickfire but precise, powerful and single shots.
As the footsteps noises grew louder, Tatsumi suddenly turned around, finding himself once again confronted to Bulat.
The latter had separated Belvaac in two. Tatsumi did not let him the time to strike and took the initiative by striking and thrusting with the Water Dragon Sword.
Tatsumi's swordsmanship was excellent and Bulat was not wielding his favorite weapon. Thus, Tatsumi had the upper ground, until…
(The best timing is now.)
Tatsumi suddenly dropped on his knees.
Mine's shot missed him and instead touched Bulat's left arm.
"!"
Bulat did not emit a sound but his face betrayed his surprise.
Surprisingly, he and Mine did not talk at all during the fighting. It was similar to Akame's 'assassination mode' and was quite strange since they talked before as old friends.
(I didn't expect big bro not to avoid it, I'm lucky. But pushing my luck would be reckless…) he decided.
With quick steps, Tatsumi retreated.
Then, he saw Akame jumping over the palisade of the Northerners encampment.
Tatsumi flashed his smile.
Putting his life on the line, he had managed to distract Mine and Bulat long enough to allow Akame to slip through them and reach the encampment.
His former comrades did not even give Akame's silhouette a glare, as they were bound by their order: kill anyone who tries to enter the encampment.
There lied the contradiction: they had an enemy trying to get through them and an enemy already in the encampment. Which one should they stop?
To prevent them from wondering and eventually pursue Akame, Tatsumi attacked them once again, forcing their attention on himself.
(Mission success. I don't have to kill them… I just have to hold them. If Akame finds the way to stop it, we'll win. No. I know she will!)
"OOOOOH!"
Tatsumi roared and repealed all of Mine and Bulat's attacks.
Esdeath's stamina was huge. No, 'huge' was a euphemism. But one thing was certain: huge did not mean infinite.
And against Budou's repeated lightnings, even Esdeath was beginning to pant.
By three times, she countered his furious attacks and special moves. And by three times, he reloaded his batteries with the same method: aiming at the sky with thunder to provoke a chain reaction.
Since he was using the nature power, it was nearly infinite: the same process would repeat again and again.
Summoning rainy clouds with his control over magnetic fields, absorb their energy and repeat.
Waiting for this kind of power to thin out would be like waiting for the rain to definitely stop, hoping one day the sky would be out of water. Childish.
(Yes, that would be pointless), Esdeath thought. (But I wonder, is this ok for him?)
Esdeath had lost track of time, but a lot of time had passed since the beginning of their fight.
As she had isolated them with a thick ice wall to prevent collateral damages, there was no way to know how the battle between the Kingdom's army and the Northerners was going.
That said, Esdeath was sure the Kingdom had the upper ground. They had Teigus, better armament, more experience than their opponents.
So, was it really fine for Budou to stay here with her, unable to assist the Northerners?
(Given the situation, we have a lot more to gain to keep him away… unless they have another card to play?)
Esdeath chased these thoughts to stay focused. If another foe was to appear, it would be Najenda's matter.
Her only task for now was to kill Budou.
(My ice blocks the electricity. With that in mind, I'm sure I can figure out how to get rid of the old geezer…)
"ENOUGH!"
The instant she had this thought, Budou roared.
"I WILL PUT AN END TO THIS NOW!"
(If he even informs me of his intent, he probably believes his next attack is unstoppable. And for him to think that…)
Tatsumi felt a chill running down his spine when Bulat's axe passed so close that the wind produced by the blow caressed his hair.
(I might have been too optimistic!...)
Bulat kept swinging Belvaac, forcing Tatsumi to clumsily step back. The bullet in his arm did not seem to bother him at all.
He was badly bleeding but did not care. Either because he was already dead or because his orders were to ignore any wound.
Thus, his assault, way too ferocious for a supposed injured one had surprised Tatsumi.
Tatsumi heard a gunshot.
(Shit! Mine!)
His brain tried to calculate within a second what was the best course of action. Currently, he had three blind spots Mine could use to shoot him.
Since her Shingu allowed her to alter the bullets trajectory, nothing was impossible.
(I cannot block the bullet. I've to…)
Tatsumi avoided both the axe and the bullet – coming from behind – by throwing himself on the ground.
This unexpected move puzzled Bulat for an instant and Tatsumi took advantage of it by securing a safe position.
(Since we killed the previous ones in one go, I didn't know they didn't fear wounds), Tatsumi cursed. (And against tough opponents like them…)
Even if he was supposed to be the bait, Tatsumi considered another option: kill Mine and Bulat and then help Akame.
With the power-up provided by the Water Dragon Sword, Tatsumi thought he could kill at least one of them. Maybe both, but he was not sure.
And not being sure in this kind of situation could cost him his life.
No. Being reckless here and try the devil was obviously the wrong choice.
(If I die here, Akame and Esdeath will kill me for good… I have to trust Akame to end this. I'll hold them off until then!) Tatsumi decided.
Meanwhile, in the Kingdom's encampment.
Ryuu and Nea were anxiously waiting in their tent. Their parents left several hours ago and despite Tatsumi's promise, they were worried.
Maybe because they had inherited their mothers' sixth sense Ryuu and Nea felt something was off.
An unpleasant sensation causing them to worry.
"Hey, Nea… What do you think about it?"
"…"
Ryuu's question concerned the current situation along with what they were to do.
However, her question was not only to know Nea's opinion. It was a true question about what was going on around them.
Nea did not talk much but had a sensitivity above Ryuu's. No, it was not an understatement to say her perceptive abilities were even better than her parents.
By using her senses, Nea would understand her environment and even the mental state of other persons.
Her eyes closed, sat on her bed, she was concentrated, listening to every sound coming from the camp.
The vibrations of footsteps. The orders, the cries of alarm from the soldiers. The far, far way sound of battle and clamors.
Thanks to her inner skill, Nea could analyze and treat these information to understand them.
"So, Nea?"
"I heard men observing the battle. It seems Mama is still fighting a thunder man. The soldiers commanded by Miss Najenda are winning."
"And about Papa and Mama?"
"I didn't hear anything about them. Miss Najenda asked too but no one knows…"
"… Mama and Mama never lost a one on one battle but Papa and Mama are weaker than Mama" Ryuu said. "Do you think we should go?"
Nea and Ryuu called both Akame and Esdeath 'Mama' but only they were able to distinguish whom they were talking about.
"… Papa promised us he would come back. He promised us we would return home" Nea answered.
"It's not what I'm asking".
"… Ryuu. We're not as strong as Papa, Mama and Mama."
Nea calmly stated.
Ryuu crossed her arms.
"I didn't say we'd fight. Maybe we can just check if they are fine…"
"And if they are not?" Nea asked suspiciously.
"We go look for Mama. If Papa, Mama and Mama are together, nothing can stop them. You know, like the Triforce."
"Irrelevant here but I get what you mean."
Nea sighed.
Ryuu and she were worried and not knowing anything worsened it.
"So. Do we go check on Mama then on Papa and Mama, or the contrary?" Ryuu asked.
"SOLID SHOOTER!"
Budou fired once again his trump card towards the sky.
Esdeath saw a white flash and instinctively moved… which saved her.
A white flash. A dazzling stream of light.
Esdeath was partially hit by the lightning coming down from the sky.
This time, Budou did not aim to replenish his power but to attack Esdeath with the lightning backfire.
The astronomic amount of thunder that was supposed to come down on him instead stroke Esdeath's location, pulverizing even the ground.
An almighty, overwhelming attack faster than the speed of sound.
But Esdeath, thanks to her inhuman abilities, managed to avoid the whole attack. However, her right arm and side had been touched by the electricity.
Since she always had a light ice armor under her clothes, only the latter were gone. Ice was a very efficient isolator, so the damages caused by electricity did not spread.
(That old geezer. The nerves of my right side have gone completely nuts. My mobility has been decreased by half, at least…)
Esdeath quickly evaluated the damages while trying to perform some movements.
(To think he was planning this from the start…)
Budou let Esdeath think on purpose that he was firing Solid Shooter to the clouds only to replenish his power. Because he repeated it several times without changing anything in his method, Esdeath came to believe that he would not use it another way.
"I didn't expect you to dodge. But… Now that you can't move like you used to… I'll terminate you, Esdeath.".
Budou's face tensed and he raised his right hand.
Small sparkles could be seen, and little by little, fragments of ore came from the ground, assembling into a projectile which looked like a giant bullet.
(Okay… so he's using his attractive power with electricity to gather ore and metal from the ground…) Esdeath thought.
"If you are hit with this, there is no way your pitiful ice will protect you."
"You're probably right, but I doubt your strength will suffice to throw it with enough force" Esdeath replied, trying to find a strategy.
(Because of the voltage of his electric armor, Mahadpadma won't freeze him. So what?...)
"Did I say I was going to throw it?"
"Huh?"
The Northerners encampment was quite chaotic compared to the Kingdom's. Tents were amassed here and here, apparently by tribes, with no cohesion.
The rampart Akame climbed was the only defense of the encampment.
(Another proof Numa Seika is not truly leading this… army. He would never have agreed to set up a camp like this.)
Numa Seika used to plan his moves from fortified cities. Launching an all out attack with low effectives, supplies then setting up such a camp was simply not his style.
Akame quickly spotted the command tent, in the middle of the encampment. She didn't have much trouble since command tent looked like a house given its size.
(I wonder if the word 'tent' is correct…) Akame thought, running in the alleys.
It was at least thrice larger than Najenda's pavilion.
On her way, Akame swiftly killed several patrolling guards. They were merely farmers or fishermen armed with poor weapons, but it had to be done.
When she finally reached the gigantic tent, Akame pondered.
(Did they spot me? Are they waiting for me inside, or?... Should I burst in or observe a bit to gain information?)
Since nobody came to her, Akame chose the second option. She focused her hearing and closed her eyes, trying to sense anything in her range.
(I don't know the patterns of the sentinels, so if they find one of the corpses, I'll have to go in.)
Suddenly, she heard someone talking. A woman's voice. Her age… was difficult to determine.
"Hehehe, I can't believe everything went as you predicted. Invading the Empire… oops, the New Kingdom will be a piece of cake thanks to you and my other pawns. Although it seems there are some unexpected newcomers, but I'm confident. Soon, the battle will be over, and in less than a month, I'll have an entire country to help my researches."
The woman clicked her tongue.
"And with that… maybe I'll be able to seize immortality. After all, what I need is time and means. Who knows, I'll maybe resurrect one of the rulers to work in the shadows in peace."
Akame held her breathe. Less than ten meters away from her, separated by a wall of cloth, was the woman responsible for all the events.
More important, Akame just learned several things. But as she was putting some orders in her thoughts…
"Heyyyy, how much do I have to tell you so you come and join us? ~ Yes, you, outside the tent ~"
Suddenly, the womanly voice turned into some loli one. It would've been cute in another context, but here, the sudden change was rather frightening.
Akame hesitated to come inside the tent.
"Buuuuh. If you don't want to… Numa!"
Akame opened her eyes and dashed on the side.
A lance with a large edge ripped off the cloth of the tent and pierced where she was a moment ago.
The lance did not stop and with a few movements, properly cut an entrance large enough for a person to pass.
"Don't be shy, come in!" the voice said. "You came this far, don't you want to learn a bit more about me before you die? I'm excited to know how you passed my guards…"
(Is it a game for her?...)
Akame unsheathed Murasame and entered the tent.
Akame couldn't help but to be shocked once inside the tent.
Aside from the faint light at the entrance and the one created just for her, the interior was dim.
(Is it a lab?)
Numerous tables with countless bottles, flacons, and experimental tools, along with tanks filled with glossy liquids and forms floating inside.
It was truly the lair of a mad scientist. The kind of scientist to laugh loudly and mad enough to create weird stuff like banana gel.
To Akame, all the scientists were strange.
But this laboratory emanated something wicked.
And, right before Akame's eyes were standing a man and a girl.
The man was well known to Akame.
Numa Seika. A young man with a warrior body, in a shining armor with the color of ice, holding a long spear. His black and long hair along with his serious eyes would've charmed any maiden in his country.
And yet, this man was dead. Or was supposed to be dead.
Behind him, a petite young girl with short hair, dressed with an apron, thin limbs and good looking. She was smirking and…
(Wait… am I hallucinating or does this girl have vampire tooth?) Akame thought.
She had a very bad feeling. This dark lab, the living-dead, and this girl… it looked like a haunted house that existed in Lubbock's books.
"Sooo it's a she" the girl exclaimed with a voice that did not match her appearance.
(An adult in a young body?)
"Hm. I did not expect that. But your specs… your red eyes and your katana… I suppose you are Akame of the Demon Sword Murasame? The trump card of the assassination group Night Raid? That group that supposedly never existed but helped the Revolutionary to overthrow the Empire years ago?"
Akame was dazed. That woman knew things that were supposed to be erased from the history books. Did she participate at the war between the Revolutionary Army and the Empire? How did she know that much though? Even in the Army, this secret was well guarded.
Then was she an ancient of the Empire? But she had to be someone high-graded to know that much. Who was she?
The girl answered the question Akame did not even ask.
"Oh by the way, the name's Dorothea. Put it simply, I'm a scientist and an alchemist. And if you're here, I'm sure you already know I have the way to raise the dead, and I'm the one currently attacking your precious New Kingdom."
For her to admit such atrocities that easily, it was a shock. No remorse or hesitation could be sensed from her words. She did not care in the slightest about the consequences of her actions on other people.
Akame had seen her likes in the past when she was chasing corruption. But to be confronted to that kind of darkness once again, and that violently…
She firmed her grip on Murasame and opened her lips.
"Why?"
"Why? Oh, why am I doing all of this? Well you heard me earlier. I just want to find a way to live forever and to stay young forever. Science can achieve that, I'm sure of it! But I need time, money, means and test subjects" she casually said.
Akame listened carefully but did not relax. She was observing Numa Seika, but the latter behaved like a stone statue.
"Years ago, I decided to travel to join the Empire. The Prime Minister was rumored to love experiments and I had a lot to offer. Plus, there was a scientist I wanted to meet, a certain Stylish. Since I knew the country was at war, being prudent, I observed, waited, and gathered corpses when I could as well as data. However, when I arrived, before I could take a decision, the Revolutionary Army was marching toward the Capital, Stylish was dead and the future incertain."
Dorothea was telling her story regardless of the situation.
"During my journey, I discovered a formidable item that could resurrect the dead under conditions, but I hesitated. Was it better for me to use it for the Empire or the Revolutionary Army? I didn't want to be part of the losing side. So… I waited. I waited and gathered my forces, analyzing the reports Stylish left behind him. Oh by the way, that's how I know about you."
It made sense. Stylish was deeply involved with the Empire affairs. He had access to restricted information, and even knew about the Elite Seven.
Obviously, his notes had fallen into the wrong hands.
"At first, I was planning to offer my help to the New Kingdom, in exchange for a fair wages but when I saw how weak and idealistic they were… I had the idea to simply take over them. I simply needed an army, and thanks to Numa Seika, I have been able to gather a bunch of fools ready to die in the name of revenge. Haha, these twats."
She laughed and cleared her throat.
"The plans Numa established did not work at all against the New Kingdom's army though. They did not rush after us even when we attacked the villages to lure them. They even managed to repel the night assault leaded by some of my puppets. Whatever. By now, I'm sure your army has been wiped out by my stupid Northerners… and by the former Great General Budou."
Akame twitched. Tatsumi and her guess were correct. The lightning before was Budou's work.
"Surprised, heh? Yeah, that's right. My trump card is Budou, whom I repaired his Adrammelech. Geez, his corpse was in a bad state when I recovered him, but fortunately, everybody thought he had been disintegrated and did not look for him."
"Why are you telling me all this?" Akame calmly asked.
She wanted to know more about her abilities and plans, in particular about the 'item that could resurrect people', but there were little chances Dorothea would make such a mistake.
Dorothea smirked nastily.
"That's obvious, isn't it? I don't often have the occasion to talk to somebody of my plans. Plus, you're alive only because I wish so, and I've already won. Here's why I'm telling you all this."
Akame's reaction surprised Dorothea.
Akame smiled confidently.
"I'm sorry, but you've already lost."
"Ooh? Why is that?"
"Two reasons. First, Esdeath is facing Budou so I don't think our army will be wiped out."
The name made Dorothea waver. If she knew of Akame, so she certainly knew of Esdeath, the Ice Queen, the Strongest of the Empire and her countless achievements.
Dorothea's eyes narrowed.
"And second, I'll kill you right now to stop your madness."