Undying Flame: Experience and Loss
Two months after joining the Revolutionary Army
"Good Tatsumi! Now concentrate as many flames as you can, when I was at full power I could change entire landscapes with one use of my flames. I will settle for no less from you."
Tatsumi brought forth as much fire as he could muster and concentrated it into a small orb. Sweating in exertion, he brought the orb forward and shot it at the targets ahead vaporizing them and a bit of the ground behind him.
"Woah! I didn't know condensing the fire like that would increase the strength by that much!"
"Yes Tatsumi, if you bring the flames into themselves they vastly increase in heat and power. As you saw though it is much more taxing on you, for now atleast. Which is why we must train until you can do this with little to no effort."
"Back to it then huh Fenikkusu?"
Three months after joining the Revolutionary Army
"Say, Fenikkusu?"
"Yes? What do you need partner?"
"Well I've been thinking about what the others here have been saying about teigus and how we can only wield one because going over that severely taxes our body."
"Yes, that's correct Tatsumi. Throughout history no one has ever been capable of wielding multiple teigu. The mental and physical strain is just far too much for humans."
"Well I wanted to ask, with your regenerative powers do you think we could wield multiple?"
"Well... that's a good question. I've never gave it much thought myself. If I had to guess you may be able to wield a second including myself once you're stronger. You're mind is capable enough, it's your physical attributes for now that wouldn't be able to take it. I will say though never exceed two, the mental strain would likely at best put you in a permanent coma and at worst kill you from the backlash."
"Got it Fenikkusu! I didn't even expect to be able to wield two so I'll take that easily!"
Three months later...
"Alright lads! This should be a clean operation based on our information! We get in, sabotage this supply line toward the Empire, and get the hell outta 'ere! Understood!"
"YES GENERAL JOTAR!"
Jotar looked down towards his right, "Tatsumi yer with me. We draw the Empires main force and engage them while the rest do the sabotagin'."
"Understood sir. What course of action should we take if the the sabotage squad is targeted?"
"If that happens I need you to defend them. Yer likely our strongest man, they'll rally around you just as well as they would me."
"Yes sir!"
"Alright! Let's get a move on lads! The quicker we clean up 'ere the quicker we can get back to base and relax!"
The soldiers began to move towards one of the many Empire's supply stations. Sneaking through the foliage they quickly came upon their target.
"Alright Kuga, when me n Tatsumi get their attention you and the rest of the sabotage squad need to sneak around to where the supplies are kept."
"Understood General Jotar."
Jotar turned back towards Tatsumi, "Tatsumi, now that we're finally on a mission together it's time I tell you about my teigu and its abilities. My teigu is called Supreme Protector, alongside giving me enhanced strength n durability I can also form extremely durable protective barriers. I can use these barriers offensively to trap adversaries in these barriers and do things like cut off their oxygen."
Tatsumi looked to him with stars in his eyes, "Your teigu sounds amazing Jotar!"
"Not as good as me though I hope."
"Of course Fenikkusu. Nothing could be better then having you in my head 24/7."
"Well I'm glad ya like it boy. Now let's get in there and cause a ruckus!"
With that said Jotar and Tatsumi ran into the clearing. Tatsumi quickly cut down one of the soldiers with his new blade, while Jotar trapped the enemies with them in one of his barriers.
"INTRUDUGH-" one of the soldiers was cut down by Jotar with unseen speed before he could even finish the word.
"Well Tatsumi, I hope yer ready cause we're about to face the entire hive!"
Dozens of the Empire's Soldiers started to converge on the barrier, though each attempt to get through with their weapons failed. "They have atleast one teigu user! Men inside the barrier target the big one so we can reinforce you!"
Tatsumi sent out a wave of hot flame that torched the soldiers before they could even get close to Jotar.
"Sorry to burst your bubble, but there's two of us. Even if you get in you'll die by my hand."
Tatsumi then launched himself towards the soldiers within the barrier cutting some down while incinerating others with his intensely hot flames. In the process though he missed out on a soldier who managed to get in close and expertly swing his sword for his arm.
"TATSUMI ON YOU'RE RIGHT!"
Tatsumi quickly turned but still took a rather bad slash to his chest. He recovered fast and grabbed the man by his helmet before heating it to a degree where it melted around his head.
"Thanks Fenikkusu! If I had taken that blow how it was coming I would've lost my arm. Man we really need to work on my regeneration so I don't have to worry so much about that in the future."
"Yes, we must make that a priority, your regeneration is still far too limited as of now. We can focus on that once we're done here."
Tatsumi dropped the man before hearing a frantic shout from who he recognized to be Kuga somewhere towards the East.
"THEY HAVE A TEIGU USER EVERYBODY GET BAUGHHH!!"
"JOTAR LET ME OUT OF THE BARRIER!"
"You can go right through it Tatsumi! Get to the sabotage squad now!"
Tatsumi darted out of the barrier making a break for where he heard Kuga yell. Once he got there the sight was grisly, Kuga lay on the ground his right hand missing and a gruesome hole in his chest.
"KUGA!" Tatsumi ran to the mans side, "It'll be okay I'll get you out of here, YOU WON'T DIE HERE!"
"Heh, s-save your energy Tatsumi... y-you need to help everyone else before the Empire's teigu user c-catches them."
"I CAN'T LEAVE YOU HERE KUGA!"
Kuga looked into Tatsumi's eyes, his vision quickly going dark, "Hey... do one thing f-for me. Tell Shion... I'm sorry I won't be there for our d-daughter." Upon saying this, Kuga's body went limp in Tatsumi's arms.
Tears filled his eyes for one of the friends he made in the army, "Of course I will Kuga. I'll make sure she knows." Tatsumi stood from the man's body filled with a mix of sadness and rage. Knowing he had a duty he left the body without a burial to save his other comrades.
Arriving at where the supplies were kept he saw a man with a pristine looking katana approaching the Revolutionary Army soldiers. He got inbetween them and the man before looking back towards them, "All of you! Get the hell out of here and with Jotar! I'll hand him and the supplies now go! That's an order from a superior!"
"Yes Officer Tatsumi!"
The soldiers quickly left to reunite with Jotar. Tatsumi looked back to the man before him. "You know, I've heard what they say, when a teigu user encounters another one is sure to die."
The man gave Tatsumi a bloodthirsty grin, "I've always wanted to battle another since I got my own. No other battle has been enjoyable anymore. I hope you don't disappoint Tatsumi."
"I've seen that teigu in the past Tatsumi. It's Deadman's Embrace. It gives the user the ability to manipulate their blood and use it to attack and defend. It's good that you wield fire, otherwise this fight would have been far from in your favor."
"Understood thank you Fenikkusu."
Tatsumi charged the man, condensing flames in his left hand while doing an overhead strike with the sword in his right.
"A fire teigu? Well it looks like my blood abilities won't be very useful here. Though you should know my skill with a blade can more then make up for my disadvantage."
The man lashed out with his katana faster then Tatsumi could react, parrying Tatsumi's left hand away while also deftly avoiding the deadly swing from above. He then lashed out with a strike aimed for Tatsumi's side. Tatsumi had no time to dodge the blow and quickly made space after being hit.
"So this is the strength of a teigu user..."
"I expected better, you're slow and you're attacks are blatantly obvious. It unfortunately looks as though this fight will be as boring as all the others." The man charged back in towards Tatsumi while blades of blood formed around him, "I'LL END YOU RIGHT HERE YOU WEAK WELP!"
"That's all well and good but you're not gonna win like you think you are."
"AND WHY WOULD THAT BE YOU LITTLE ROACH!"
"You didn't wait to see just how much fire I could use." Flames burst forth from all around Tatsumi, burning the ground around him and catching the man's front burning him badly.
"AHHH! YOU LITTLE SHIT!" The man shot backwards escaping the flames before they could damage him further, his blood blades evaporating due to the intense heat.
"This is where the tables turn." Tatsumi ran back in fire building around his entire body, "You're debilitated due to the burns on your entire body. NOW TRY AND SAY YOU'LL WIN FUCKER!"
The man easily seeing his approach but unable to react due to the pain flooding his senses could do nothing when Tatsumi grabbed him around his waist.
"THIS IS FOR KUGA BASTARD!" Tatsumi unleashed the hottest flames he could the very edges burning so hotly that they were a dark blue. The man broke out into the worst screams of pain Tatsumi had heard in his life before succumbing to the intense heat.
"Thank god that worked."
"You got insanely lucky he underestimated your abilities. We're gonna have to make you stronger so nothing like this happens again."
"Yeah I know, but it's good I won. We can bring his teigu back for the Revolutionary Army."
Tatsumi dropped the man and took his teigu shearing it and temporarily putting it on his hip.
"Now to destroy these supplies."
Back at the Revolutionary Army base
"I am sorry for your loss partner."
"Don't worry about me, he was a friend but my main regret is not saving him in time so he could return to his wife. Now his daughter will never be able to meet him."
Tatsumi continued to look down at Kuga's grave, tears welling in his eyes as he berated himself.
I should've been faster, then this never would've happened."
"There's plenty of things that could have prevented this Tatsumi, don't blame yourself and use this moment as a way to get stronger and protect your comrades."
"Thank you Fenikkusu..."
His grieving was interrupted when Jotar called out for him, "Tatsumi, one of the captains would like to see you. I'm sorry for interrupting your grieving."
Half a year later, near Night Raid's base
"I'm telling you Najenda he'll be perfect for your little group. He's risen through the ranks quicker then any soldier I've seen even without his teigu. Speaking of his teigu it's a damn strong one you'd be wrong to pass up on this."
The woman, now known as Najenda, looked towards the man, "Fine I've had enough of listening to you go on and on. You've convinced me, send the boy in."
Welp! We finally get into actual canon a bit starting next chapter. F's in the chat for Kuga but it was necessary, had to show Tatsumi that things don't always go as planned. Oh and look! A double update! Guess this is a bit of a makeup for being gone without a word. See y'all next time!
-MacaroniManX