A.N Thank you very much everyone 3,500 views

Chapter 7

A horse and cart is traveling with an armed escort throughout the empire's western country heading towards the capitol.

"My another devastated village, someone has to put a stop to this." Said a bald man sitting looking horrified at the sad people of a village.

"Well that is why Grandad you have come out of retirement" A blonde haired women said as she sat opposite her granddad.

"I wish you would find yourself a man, granddaughter" he said, causing his granddaughter to blush.

"What does that have to do with anything?" She asked going redder and redder.

The old man simply laughed happily amused at teasing his granddaughter when their carriage was blocked by a blonde haired man, win a black uniform, he was wielding a mighty axe. Granddaughter charged forward spear in hand and a full squad of troops standing behind her. "Stay strong my warriors we'll slay this fiend" She said voice full of courage, inspiring the men around her. The warrior smiled and swiped with his axe, it created a massive force of energy which almost completely annihilated the entire defense force. The daughter was on her knees struggling to stand when a small blonde haired boy stepped forward, "Oh you're not dead yet but when I start playing you are going to wish you were!"he said cruelty in his voice. The grandfather roared in rage as he turned to see a grey haired man standing in front of him. "I think very highly of what you do but an order from my lady" he said as he swiped his arm across the old man's throat and blood gushed out "Is absolute."

The day before in the imperial palace

"Ah general Esdeath, congratulations for destroying the northern race" the emperor said sat upon his throne. "We have prepared a reward of a 1,000 gold pieces for you".

"Thank you, I will have it sent to my men in the north" Esdeath said

"She truly cares not for power or money, she simply lives for the thrill of bloodshed, as long as I am in power she has all the bloodshed she want's, our interests work together" Prime Minister Honest thought to himself smiling.

"I now will be dedicating all my energy into finding Night Raid" Esdeath said.

"When you find them I feel that gold will not be worthy enough for such a deed, is there anything you desire in return" The emperor said.

"I want to find love your majesty" Esdeath said much to the emperors and prime ministers surprise.

"Well would you consider the prime minister" The emperor said stuttering.

"With the prime minister's blood pressure, he could die any day now" Esdeath said bluntly.

"How rude, I am perfect health. Well would you like us to help you find a man suitable?" Honest said.

"Yes, though I have very high standards most likely very few will meet my requirements, I shall write you a list saying what I want" Esdeath said smiling.

Night Raid HQ

Training yard, everyone had gathered to watch the sparring match between Tatsumi and Bulat, both had armored up.

"Tatsumi are you sure you're up to this, I don't think that you have recovered fully yet" Bulat said with a hint of concern.

"Don't worry bro, I need to keep pushing myself, the few seconds I used Deagora's flame nearly drained me of everything. I need to keep pushing forward no matter what!" Tatsumi said.

With that little exchange they both surged forward Bulat's and Tatsumi's fists collided with such force that it blew Lubbock of his feet.

"Why me!?" Lubbock protested as he tried to stand back up.

Bulat forced Tatsumi back a little far, "Tatsumi you are not fighting to your strongest, you need to rest!" Bulat said, he could see Tatsumi wasn't able to push himself any further his body couldn't handle it.

"Hey now you two, time out, I have just received some disturbing news, It appears that general Esdeath has returned and since her return many nobles have been found dead, with Night Raid messages left on their corpses" The boss said

"Isn't that a little too obvious for us though?" Tatsumi said.

"It would be but each of these nobles had powerful guardians, so it would have to be people as powerful as us and probably fellow relic wielders to kill them. Moreover each of these nobles are people who support the Revolutionary army, they are people who could rebuild once the war is won, so basically we can't afford to lose any more of them" The boss said.

"So basically it's a trap for us then" Lubbock said smiling, "Then let's go spring it."

"Good, Leone I want you to monitor Esdeath and under no circumstance should you attack her, understood?" The boss said.

"Yes boss" Leone said grumbling to herself.

"Due to these attacks we have identified the next possible targets, so I want Night Raid to protect them." The boss said she turned to Bulat and Tatsumi. "Tatsumi are you strong enough for this mission, I don't want you to lie to me, answer truthfully are you up for the task?"

"Yes Boss!" Tatsumi said eagerly.

"Fine the teams shall be Akame, Kurome and Lubbock to watch over the Lord Delion, he has been secretly been sending supplies to the rebel army for the past few months so losing him will be disastrous. Next will be Tatsumi and Bulat to watch over Lord Ryussen aboard is massive luxury ship the Ryussen" The boss informed them.

"Wait he named his ship after him?" Tatsumi said

"Yeah he was never really original in that sort of sense" The boss said.

Aboard the Ryussen

"Man that guy is surrounded by guards, there is no way anyone could get to him" Tatsumi said leaning back against the railing.

"Really?" Bulat said out of nowhere as he hit Tatsumi in the back of the head.

"Ouch bro what was that for" Tatsumi said rubbing the back of his head,

"Well just take it as tough love" Bulat said as he got closer to Tatsumi "Love...love…..love"

"Was there any need to repeat it?!" Tatsumi said.

"I think if this keeps up we should run away as fast as those scrawny legs can carry you!" Deagora said Tatsumi had to bite back a retort, his legs were definitely not scrawny. A spark dance across Bulat's armor.

"Ah need to take of the armor" Bulat said.

"Well go inside since people know your face I while keep an eye out here" Tatsumi said as Bulat walked off.

"Umm Master I forgot to say this earlier but I can sense three other relic wielders on this boat" Deagora said slyly

"WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME EARLIER" Tatsumi shouted angrily internally.

"You were talking to Bulat, it would of been rude to interrupt" Deagora said apologetically.

"For god's sake, these three could be our targets and now me and Bro are separated." Tatsumi said as a strange melody took his concentration, he struggled to stand he walked towards the centre of the deck each step a battle in itself.

"Master fight it, otherwise you're dead" Deagora shouted.

"Thanks really helping there" Tatsumi complained when he heard a new voice enter the area.

"Oh if only you fell asleep I would've left you alone, oh well time to kill you now" Said a long haired blonde man in a black uniform wielding a greataxe.

"Oh so you are the ones framing Night Raid" Tatsumi said anger in his voice and filling his body with renewed strength.

"Ah so you are the genuine article, my name is Daidara" Daidara said smiling, as he drew his axe. "I look forward to gain experience from you"

"Be careful of what you wish for" Tatsumi said as two more individuals engaged the fight, Tatsumi barely had enough time to armor up.
"I need to at least hit Daidara before these two hit me" Tatsumi said as he surged forward heading to smash his fist into Daidara's face. Before the other two hit him Bulat came out of the shadows striking the old man and the kid with such force it pushed Tatsumi forward which allowed him to get under Daidara's guard and kill him with ease fist going through his throat.

"Nice one Bro" Tatsumi said as he stood back up.

"Don't mention it" Bulat said.

"Ah well it is you Bulat" said the older man walking forward.

"No, It can't be general Liver" Bulat said voice full of despair.

"Just Liver, I am no longer a general" Liver said, he looked at Tatsumi, "So you are the fire user, I have been looking forward to meet you" Liver said as he raised his ring "This is my relic it is called Black Marlin, it allows me to control any pre existing liquid and since we are in the middle of the ocean well let's say I have an unlimited supply to extinguish your fires." Liver said with a hint of amusement in his voice. Tatsumi stepped forward his hands ablaze when Bulat stepped in "Tatsumi he is mine" anger in his voice.

The blonde child stepped forward "My name is Nyau and my relic is called scream other than allowing me to make people to go to sleep it also give me the ability to do this!" He shouted as the flute disappeared and the boy grew in size and physique.

"By my flaming arse he's hit puberty" Deagora shouted.

"What the hell does that have to do with anything?!" Tatsumi thought.

"See it has the ability to turn me beefy allowing me to tear your arse apart" Nyau roared.

"Okay this guy is giving me bad vibes worse than what Bulat was" Deagora said.

"Seriously what is wrong with you today Deagora everything you'be been doing is off" Tatsumi asked.

Nyau looked at Tatsumi and charged him "Talk later, smash his head in now!" Deagora ordered, Tatsumi obliged happily as he surged forward.

"Well now that the children are busy let's settle this" Liver said smiling as spikes of water burst out of the water and took the shapes of serpents. The fight was intense Bulat either had to block the attacks that Liver through at him or withstand them, as if he let them hit the boat it could kill all the sleeping passengers.

"Ah I thought you'd fight like that refusing to put the passengers in harms way." Liver said smiling.

"What happened to you, you wanted to fight for the people now you're the one crushing them underfoot." Bulat replied anger in his voice.

"Well the answer is simple I respect Lady Esdeath, she is admirable." Liver said with almost a hint of a crazed worship as he launched more water serpents which kept wearing down Incrusio.

"Now face my most powerful move WATER DRAGON DIVINE CONQUEST" Liver roared as multiple water serpents attacked Bulat each one tearing piece by piece his armor as Bulat fell after that onslaught he turned in mid air and smashed the but of his spear into Liver throwing him across the deck of the ship.

The fight between Nyau and Tatsumi was brutal and savage, each one throwing punches at one and other. Nyau had the advantage since Tatsumi's body still hadn't recovered, Nyau noticed that as the fight continued the weaker Tatsumi became. "So this is simply and endurance race is it" Nyau said laughing, "All I have to do is outlast you….ha, I have already one" as he said this Liver's body shot passed him distracting him from Tatsumi giving Tatsumi all the time he needed to land a solid kick on him Launching Nyau in the opposite direction.

"Nice one Tatsumi" Bulat said as Incrusio broke off him.

"Bro, with your armor gone we should withdraw" Tatsumi said concern in his voice.

"Liver can't use his relic either, so now it is my advantage!" Bulat said as determination filled his voice.

"Okay Bro I will handle the punk kid" Tatsumi said as he walked towards Nyau who was struggling to stand back on his feet.

Bulat faced Liver who pulled out a grey needle with a white liquid inside. "If I am to fight you in hand to hand combat I will need every advantage I could get!" Liver roared as he injected the liquid inside of him. His muscle grew slightly in size and his eyes dilated. "Well let's end this my former pupil" Liver roared as he grabbed his blade and charged.

"Wouldn't have it anyway my fallen master" Bulat said as he drew Incrusio's key charging towards Liver. The fight was elegant but not. Each slice was perfectly countered and parried by the other, neither could gain the advantage. In the end it was Bulat who came on top with superior skill and the fact he was younger. As his blade sliced into Liver's body and blood gushed out. "Yes now we die together, hidden ability blades of blood" Liver smiled as his blood became weapons and aimed at Bulat. Bulat grimaced as each of the blades launched at him. Bulat blocked as many as he could as he swung Incrusio's key into as many of the blades which were heading for fatal areas, many still hit him but they were not fatal injuries.

"Wow you never fail of surpassing yourself Bulat, I threw all my life energy into that and you still survived it." Liver said as he fell onto the ground "But well you still will die, my blood was poisoned" Liver said smiling.

"Damn it, should've let Tatsumi burn you" Bulat said as he fell to the ground coughing up blood.

"Yes that would of worked." Liver said.

The fight between Tatsumi and Nyau was less graceful than the one between Liver and Bulat. Each one swung their fists at each other like animals, trading blows. When Tatsumi turned to see Bulat fall. "Bro!" Yelled Tatsumi voice full of concern.

"Idiot watch your back" Deagora roared as Nyau launched and kicked Tatsumi right in the stomach were the dragon tattoo is launching Tatsumi into one of great doors of the ship.

"Tatsumi!" Bulat said weakly.

"Master!? Master?! Oh for god's sake he's gone passed out" Deagora moned. "Fine then since he's unconscious he won't mind" Deagora's gem which is placed in the left gauntlet glowed slightly and the helmet's eye lens glowed from green to orange. Tatsumi's body stood up, flexed it's muscles and took a fighting stance different to anything Bulat had ever seen.

"What the hell that kick should've killed you!?" Nyau said with fear and confusion in his voice as he charged forward fist aimed straight for Tatsumi's helmet, the body easily dodged it and wrapped flames around the right gauntlet the flames turned into spikes which sliced off Nyau's arm. Deagora didn't even give him a minute to scream in pain as he surged forward fist grabbing Nyau's head and slowly crushing and burning it.

"Well that was a little gory for my tastes" Deagora said as he begun to collect all the relics left by the three beasts. He then turned his attention to the corpse of Bulat still holding Incursio. Deagora sighed slightly, "Tatsumi is gonna be heartbroken" he said as he picked the corpse up. "Oh crap how much I don't have enough strength to fly all this back all the way to HQ" Deagora realised. "Oh well if I can get to the forest border then hopefully boss, sheele and Mine can help us" Deagora said as he jumped into the air.

It was hours before Deagora managed to get Tatsumi's sleeping body into the forest located near the base. He was met by Akame, Kurome, and Lubbock all who ran towards him as Deagora relinquished control over his body as he felt all of it's power beginning to run out.