Hello, people and welcome to chapter 7 of The Glacial Ones!
Firstly, reviews:
Tsunashi777: Currently Harry hasn't had any interaction with either Night Raid, beyond Tatsumi, or the Revolutionary army, so the point becomes slightly mote. I will agree with your point about not knowing if the Revolutionary army will be any better though as, after all, Absolute Power corrupts Absolutely. Even if they do have good intentions that could easily change when they find themselves in control of a severely weakened Empire. Harry himself will be unable to trust their goals simple because he has seen too much of humanities worse not to doubt them. The point is rather mote though as unless Esdeath decides it would be more fun against the Empire than with, he will never join the Revolutionary Army.
Froper98: Thanks, it's always nice for a writer to know they are managing to get things across to their audience. Feel free to point out things that could use more work as well.
Also thanks again to everyone else out there especially Imperial warlord. Your reviews aren't long but they motivated me to write the first five chapters. I was honestly expecting to lose interest before I hit ten thousand word since I'm normally one of those writers who starts a story but never continues.
So, thanks again to all of you who have given me advice, ideas, constructive criticism and simple encouragement.
Now, onwards to chapter 7!
I do not own, in any way, shape, or form Akame Ga Kill or Harry Potter.
-T.G.O-
Chapter 7: Slay the Beasts of the Glacier
Silence reigned supreme once more on its throne of stolen voices.
It was then promptly dethroned by Tatsumi.
"Wow…I knew you were powerful, but that was amazing."
Bulat turned to face him, his massive grin hidden by Incursio's helmet and faceplate.
"I know right! In the army my nickname was "100 Man Slayer Braht" for a reason."
Daidara's bisected body was promptly ignored and forgotten about by both members of Night Raid.
There was a thud behind Bulat and he spun in time to see Liver climbing to his feet, face impassive as he spoke.
"Strictly speaking, you actually killed 128 people. You were doing very well against the Special Forces at the time. Those skills, that Teigu…it really is you after all Braht."
Bulat gave him a long look as he relaxed his guard slightly.
"…General Liver."
Liver shook his head softly and grasped the small cross around his neck.
"I am a general no longer. After Esdeath-sama saved me in court I became her loyal servant."
Bulat sighed before spinning the blood red spear in his hand around and entering a combat stance.
"If we were allies we would have gone drinking to celebrate this reunion. Since we are enemies however I have no choice but to kill you. The mission must come first."
"You stole the words right out of my mouth. My mission is absolute and I will complete it, using this Teigu given to me by Esdeath-sama."
He pulled off his right glove and moved into a combat position, revealing the odd ring he wore on his middle finger that looked like the head of a dragon. Behind him the tops burst off several suspiciously conveniently placed barrels, pillars of water rising out of them as Liver activated the Teigu.
"It is unfortunate that you had to face me here of all places, but it is no matter."
With those words he fired the water rising behind him at Bulat in a series of water cannons, interrupting whatever Bulat intended to say in response.
Bulat swung his spear in front of himself and began to spin it at high speed.
"Don't get cocky just yet!"
With a crash the water cannons slammed into the spinning spear, water splashing everywhere around Bulat as he held firm against the torrents. Behind him Nyau dragged himself shakily from the rubble of the crates he had been knock through, taking stock of the situation before him.
Noting Liver being held off but Bulat, Nyau brought Scream to his lips, preparing to play a song on the recorder Teigu to assist Liver.
He was about to start playing when he felt a jolt of impending doom and jerked the Teigu up, holding it with a hand on each end just in time to block Tatsumi's blade with the middle section.
Tatsumi jumped backwards, pulling back his sword into a combat stance as a slight snarl crossed his face.
"Like I would ever let you start playing. I don't want to have to hear your shitty music."
Behind him Bulat leapt backwards as Liver turned the water slashed around by the first attack into thin spikes that pierced Bulat's previous position.
Nyau twitched slightly at the insult to his music.
He took a lot of pride in his musical talent, almost as much as his face collection.
Growling slightly he pulled himself into a combat ready position.
"What a nuisance. Bloody small fry."
Tatsumi twitched at the comment before charging forward, mirrored instantly by his opponent.
Blocking an overhead blow from his opponent's recorder intent on bashing his skull in with the flat of his blade he rotated and slammed his foot into Nyau's stomach in a surprisingly smooth spin kick, knocking the smaller boy back several metres.
Growling in annoyance at being hit by a small fry as he slid backwards on his hands and feet, Nyau dug his feet into the wood below before exploding forward and unleashing a barrage of attacks with his Teigu.
Tatsumi struggled backwards as he threatened to succumb to his opponent's barrage, blocking blow after blow with his blade, his arms quickly starting to go numb from the jarring strikes.
Not far away from the pair Bulat slashed Incursio's spear down, slicing through the ships railing with ease as Liver leapt away, sending swirling spears of water towards his opponent at high speed.
Bulat jumped away from the spears, leaving them to drill into the wooden planks that made up the deck and using the crimson spear to slash the few that came close, reducing them to splashes of water as he did.
Back with Tatsumi and Nyau, Nyau abruptly stopped his intense barrage of attacks, sending Tatsumi off balance slightly as he front flipped over the larger boy and landed behind him, before spinning and sending three staggering blows towards Tatsumi's back.
Tatsumi stumbled forward, catching himself on his hand and spinning mid fall, extending a leg in order to knock Nyau's out from under him when the smaller boy advanced to press his advantage.
Feeling his feet knock out from under him Nyau managed to turn the momentum into a spinning flip and sending an axe kick down towards Tatsumi's unprotected head.
Tatsumi finished his spin and used the excess momentum to slide himself to his feet, hearing the splintering crash behind him as Nyau's foot split the planks below where his head had been mere moments before. He ignored what that would have done to his skull. Rotating on the balls of his feet he slashed his sword out towards his opponents head.
Nyau brought up his Teigu to block, the force of the attack knocking him backwards several metres where he slid to a halt, crouching down as he prepared for another ground. At the same time Tatsumi leapt backwards, assuming a combat stance once more.
On the other side of the side Liver brought up a massive ball of water above his head and Bulat set his feet, holding the blood coloured spear ready.
No signal was given.
Nyau and Tatsumi shot towards each other, weapons at the ready as they charged their foe.
Liver slashed his arm downwards, sending the ball of gentle rotating water shooting towards Bulat.
Bulat rocketed forward, crimson spear ready to strike the incoming ball of water.
With a clang Nyau and Tatsumi's weapons collided in a shower of sparks, sword and recorder pushing against each other as their respective wielders struggled to overcome the other.
Bulat's slashed his spear forward, splitting the ball of water in two even halves that crashed down behind him in two equally large splashes of water even as he continued forwards, thrusting his spear towards Liver, who leapt backwards over the ships railing and out of the crimson spears range.
Liver began to fall backwards as the canal below him began to rise up, a great pillar of water bursting up in a swirling torrent, topped off by the head of a massive sea serpent made entirely out of water as it lifted Liver up above the ships deck.
On the other side of the deck Tatsumi and Nyau disengaged, leaping away from each other as they turned their attention to the massive water construct in front of the ship, keeping a wary eye on each other as they did.
Tatsumi gaped slightly, unaware of Liver's abilities with his Teigu, unlike Nyau who had seen him training with it.
"Holy shit! There's some amazing stuff going on over there!"
Nyau smirked slightly and spoke just as Tatsumi opened his mouth once more.
"As long as there is enough water around there is no way Liver will ever lose."
"It's obvious that Aniki is going to win anyway."
The two spun to glare at each other as Liver and Bulat faced off in the distance, before bringing their weapons into position and charging at each other, their respective weapons grinding together as they glared at their foe.
"You mean Liver, right?"
"You're talking about Aniki, of course, aren't you?"
The two growled in unison as they pushed against each other, trying to overpower the other, before Nyau's eyes widened in revelation.
"Why am I even trying to convince you of this? I just need to kill you and go make sure Liver wins."
With that he jumped backwards, sending Tatsumi stumbling forwards at the sudden lack of resistance, before darting forward again, his recorder blitzing forward in a barrage of attacks.
Tatsumi, off balance and off guard, tried desperately to block or escape the barrage of blistering fast blow that slammed into his body, stumbling backwards as Nyau advanced.
Away from the two Liver leapt off the water serpents head, sending it barrelling towards Bulat who jumped upwards to meet it, Incursio's blood red spear held before him.
The spear-that-likes-to-bisect-things, split the water serpent in two, sending the water crashing down on either side of Bulat as he was left hanging in the air, Liver falling towards the deck several metres across from him.
"You can't dodge in mid-air, Braht!"
Liver thrust his hand toward Bulat as he fell, seven pointed pillars of water rising up on either side of the ship and converging on Bulat, slamming into his chest mid-air and knocking him up higher into the air, shattering his face plate with the force of the attack.
"A little bit of water is not going to put out my fires!"
Extending his spear downwards, Bulat spun in mid-air and fell towards Liver who stood calmly on the deck, serpents of water rising from the channel around him.
"I am aware of that, more so than anyone else. We have walked many a battle field together. That's why I will let you feast on my greatest ability!"
Nine serpent of water converged on the falling Incursio user, slamming into him from all sides and crushing him between them with the immense water pressure.
Down below Liver gasped for breathe, a line of blood trickling out of his mouth and down his chin.
"Is he finally dead?"
"You shouldn't go around saying such words…"
Bulat burst from the watery explosion, crimson spear aimed for Liver's head as he lunged forward.
"…you normally save them for when your enemy is dead!"
Liver growled as he started to jump backwards.
"Will you insist on dragging this out to the end?"
The crimson spear descended, intent on its favourite hobby of bisecting things.
Nyau leapt up behind Bulat, his Teigu, Scream, poised to strike at his defenceless back.
At the last second Bulat spun in mid-air, slashing the crimson spear towards Nyau, who block it with Scream, the force of the attack sending him hurtling backwards as Bulat landed heavily on the deck.
Looking over to where Tatsumi lay groaning and bruised from Nyau's brutal assault, Bulat turned back to Liver, Incursio vanishing from around him to reveal the beaten and bleeding body beneath.
Liver cast his eye over his opponent's injuries.
"So despite the armour you were still that damaged. Incursio must have deactivated because you took so much damage."
Bulat snorted.
"You're not much better. You do realise your bleeding from the ears, right?"
Liver flinched slightly, bringing a hand up to his right ear and looking at it. His fingertips were painted red with a layer of blood.
Bulat ignored his actions and continued talking.
"Throwing around all those high level, high energy attacks has damaged your body. You're in no condition to use your Teigu either."
Liver lowered his hand with a sigh.
"So you noticed that. Well…I was hoping to ease this out slowly, but it seems I'll just have to ask straight out. Would you think about joining Esdeath's army? You could even be raised to second in command if it's you."
Bulat closed his eyes for a moment.
"Sorry, but I have no wish to serve the Empire again."
"You wouldn't be serving the Empire. Think of it as being a servant to Esdeath, like I did after she saved me. You would be able to do as you pleased, you will be feared. Even those dirty politicians with their filthy politics, consumed by their own power, could not touch you."
His face grew into an ugly scowl as he commented on the politicians within the Empire.
"Come with me Braht. Esdeath can surely make your crimes vanish."
Bulat pulled out a collapsible comb and began to casually comb his hair.
"I refuse. I have always been an Ally of the People have I not? Esdeath's army supports Prime Minister Honest, so I will have nothing to do with them."
Liver's face darkened. Bulat casually put away his comb after finishing styling his hair.
"'Ally of the People'… I never thought I would hear an assassin say such a lofty thing. I always said you needed to be more humble. No matter."
Both Bulat and Liver moved into combat positions, Nyau not far away preparing his trump card.
The next few minutes would change the world.
They all knew that out of all those here…
…only one would leave the ship alive.
-T.G.O-
Far away, in a snow covered village Akame and Lubbock sat together on a large tree branch, observing as a wagon down in the village below began to unload rice for the villagers.
"Providing rice for the village. This is the kind of guy we will need in the future."
Akame nodded in agreement towards Lubbock's comment before responding out loud.
"Yes, but watching all that rice is making me hungry."
Lubbock gave her a wary look, before holding out an opened food bar.
"But if I give you my snacks you'll promise to deal with anyone who arrives, right?"
Akame nodded before leaning forward and biting down, taking the snack whole, causing Lubbock to yelp and pull his hand back as she bit down on his fingers too.
Rubbing his aching hand he turned his attention back to the group they were guarding.
"Nothing has hit any of my wires yet. Maybe this isn't the target after all."
"Negligence is forbidden."
Was Akame's blunt reply and he nodded seriously.
"Yeah, I know, we must protect this guy at all costs."
Akame ignored him as she turned her worried gaze in the direction of the Capital, wishing Bulat and Tatsumi luck.
-T.G.O-
Bulat and Liver stood, eyeing each other warily as they stood.
"If we can't finish this with Teigu…"
"…we'll have to finish it with swords!"
Bulat braced himself, setting his feet firmly on the deck and reaching over to a small button on his left shoulder. His eyes widened slightly as he saw Liver slide a full syringe from his sleeve into his left hand before ramming it into his right wrist and forcing its contents into his blood stream.
Pulling out the syringe out of his wrist and dropping to the ground behind him, he drew his blade from its sheath and moved into a simple stance.
"You'll have to forgive me for doping, but I am facing you after all."
Gritting his teeth as Tatsumi gave a rather unnecessary warning, Bulat pushed the button on his shoulder and reached back, grabbing the sword that hosted Incursio in his right hand before pulling it from its holster on his back.
Both opponents charged forwards, blades meeting half way, grinding together as they pushed against each other.
Disengaging from each other, they both leapt backwards a step, blades flashing at incredible speed, mere flickers of steel as they clashed again and again, colliding and separating only to do it all again.
Liver stumbled back half a step, arms going numb from the jarring blows, unable to keep up with the strength and speed of a man forced to bear the strain of Incursio for hours on end.
An upwards slash from Bulat sent his blade up and unable to block the slash sent towards his stomach, forcing him to leap back.
To slow.
Saving himself from being cut in two, Liver instead took a deep wound across his stomach, blood bursting forth as he fell backwards.
Bulat's eyes widened in realisation as he saw the blood.
Liver thrust his right hand forward.
The blood splattering from his stomach wound suddenly shot forwards, blades of blood spearing towards Bulat, as he stumbled back slightly in shock.
Regaining his balance, Bulat cut away at most of the blood blades, splattering them across his armour even as a few pierced straight through, digging into his body.
Staggering backwards before toppling forwards, only to be caught by a worried Tatsumi, Bulat felt his breathes become short gasps of exhaustion.
"I'll be…okay…Tatsumi, they weren't fatal blows. I already noticed that his blood was a liquid he could use just before he did it."
He staggered again, leaning against Tatsumi's much smaller frame as he coughed up blood.
He shouldn't be coughing up this much blood. Something was wrong.
He turned his gaze sharply towards where Liver was struggling to sit up, pointing over towards Bulat.
"So you…noticed…I am one who is completely devoted to…Esdeath-sama…and as so… I will be… giving her your…life!"
Bulat's eyes widened as he realised what had happened.
"That syringe. It wasn't just a strengthening solution was it? It was also deadly poison."
Tatsumi looked up at him alarmed, as Liver nodded.
"That's…right. It has no…antidote…you'll be dead in a couple of…minutes. It looks like…I'm going on ahead. I'll…scout out…the afterlife…for you. Forgive me…Esdeath…Harry."
Liver slumped backwards, releasing a single breath for the last time.
Bulat staggered again, Tatsumi stumbling under his not inconsiderable weight as he coughed up blood.
"As expected of him…so it was a tie after…all."
"Bulat! We need to get you medical attention quick!"
Bulat shook his head before pointing ahead of them.
"There's…no point. Anyway, the battle isn't over…yet."
Tatsumi turned his head to see the last member of the Three Beasts walking towards them, his Teigu to his lips as he played a song. Before their eyes his muscles began to expand, bulging out obscenely as his body grew larger, ripping his shirt from the collar to his stomach.
"A song to increase his own strength?! Is that his trump card?"
Tatsumi placed Bulat on the ground as gentle as he could before standing with his sword at the ready.
Nyau walked forward, stretching his enhanced muscles and popping his bones as he did.
"It's been quite a will since I've used this form in combat."
Gritting his teeth and setting his feet Tatsumi prepared to take his final stand until Bulat spoke up behind him.
"Here, Tatsumi. I'm entrusting this to you."
Tatsumi turned to see Bulat holding up the sword he had been using.
"That's…"
"This is Incursio's key. The armour will come to whoever possesses it."
Tatsumi took the blade gingerly.
"M-me?! Use your teigu?!"
Nyau laughed behind him.
"Give up, it's impossible. Incursio puts immense strain on its user. An average person like you would die instantly. If you don't put it down you'll die before you even get to fight. You should just fight as you normally do."
Tatsumi ignored him. If Bulat thought he could use it, then he would trust his judgement.
Though he may have twitched at the average person comment.
Nyau scowled slightly.
"There's also the matter of his compatibility. If he's not compactible enough it'll kill him, right?"
"The compatibility is mainly to do with first impressions and how he views it. Mostly anyway."
He turned back to Tatsumi.
"If it's you it'll be fine. Do it, Tatsumi!"
"Heh, if you have so much faith in me, I have no choice."
Setting his feet he held the blade in front of himself as Nyau burst forward, intent on stopping him.
"Do it, Tatsumi! Use all your hate and anger!"
"Incursio!"
The massive armour rose up behind Tatsumi, arms crossed over its chest before it threw them back, the face plate sliding away to reveal four eyes and rows of knife like teeth, and roared.
Nyau stumbled to a halt, watching in horrified fascination as the great beast placed its hands on either side of Tatsumi and enveloping him in a clear sphere as armour began to materialize on his body.
Bulat stared in shock. He hadn't expected this.
"Incredible. Your feelings have...caused it to evolve again."
Tatsumi swept his cape behind him, turning to face Nyau.
"Esdeath's group has used Night Raid's name to commit fake assassinations again and again. It's time for your reward!"
Nyau gritted his teeth.
"You're suddenly full of yourself aren't you."
Tatsumi clenched his fist.
"This armour…it forcible increases my strength."
He pointed at Nyau.
"Like this I know I can beat you."
Pure, devastation fury filled Nyau's face as he charged forward, fist ready.
"Try it if you can!"
Taking a step forward and raring back his right fist Tatsumi swung forward.
Nyau speed forward, his enhanced fist surging forward.
Their fists collided.
There was no contest.
Bones snapped and shattered all along Nyau's arm, his fist reduced to bloody pulp as his arm was mangled beyond recognition by the force of Incursio's fist, sending Nyau reeling back, shouting in pain.
Incursio's left fist lashed out, ramming into its targets stomach with devastation force.
Blood burst out of his mouth as his organs were pulverized, the force of the punched sending him hurtling back into the reinforced walls of the ship, a crater forming two or three metres around him as his ribs and spine shattering on impact, his pelvis and leg bones as well as his remaining arm bones shattering moments behind.
He began to slide down the wall as he released his final, pained words with the last of his breath.
"Sorry…Harry. Looks like it's just you…now."
Moments later he crashed to the ground, a sack of shattered bones and torn muscles.
The Three Beasts had been slain.
-T.G.O-
Far away, in a small village, just recently deceased, in a distant corner of the Empire, a small teen sat upon a pile of corpses, humming to herself as she casually mutilated the bodies below her with the katana in her hand.
"Human bodies are so much fun."
She starting humming again before reaching into the small sack sitting on her lap and pulling out a small candy and placing it in her mouth. Down below a man in the Empire's assassin garb ran over and called up to her.
"Hey, Kurome. A request came for you from the Capital."
Kurome looked down at the man.
"Just me?"
"Yeah. You and five others got selected for some mission or something."
Kurome stood up, crunching on her candy as she did, uncaring of the bodies she was standing on as she stared off at the distant setting sun.
"The Capital, huh. Maybe I'll see you there…right, Onee-chan?"
-T.G.O-
And that is Chapter 7 done!
I'm sorry if it was a bit of a slog and we didn't get to see Harry and Esdeath but I wanted to get it over and done with in one chapter. I don't think I'll be doing any more chapters without our too mains after this hopefully.
Part of the reason for this chapter was it show some slight differences in Tatsumi's personality and fighting style. Shout out if you noticed them!
I would also like some suggestions on Harry's relationship with Kurome and the rest of the Jaegers. I might not use it, but I will at least read it and think about it so put any idea you want out there.
Also, again, all advice, likes, dislike, improvement or constructive criticism are welcome and appreciated.
Reviews are the lifeblood of authors so please, review!
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this chapter and see you next time!
Thanks and goodbye!