Hello again, everyone! Welcome to chapter 28 of The Glacial Ones!
To start off, as always, reviews!
Arawn D. Draven: To start with, about your comment with people trying to seduce Harry… well, it could be interesting to say the least. Esdeath is bad enough when she thinks Harry is going to die, imagine how she is going to be if she finds someone actively trying to turn Harry's affections from her… *shudder*. Those poor, poor wizards and witches. As for my release rate, I honestly expected to crash quite a while ago, and I am rather worried that I may have lost some quality for it. Either way, thanks for the review and support!
The Perfect Re TPR: I agree with you about Bols being a good father, but have to point out that Ran, Wave, Tatsumi and Lubbock, plus the Lord for what little we see of him, are all genuinely good people. Sometimes. They have their problems, but they don't fall into your categorize. On the other hand, your point remains, and I have to agree with you.
As for sending Harry and Esdeath to the Naruto universe, I admit I probably will at least once, but at the moment I intend to try keep to worlds more technology based. Hmm… I don't know a lot about X-men or Marvel, but they could be interesting. Would Harry and Esdeath be villains or heroes? Anyway, thanks for the show of support!
Plums: I honestly doubt I could write that kind of content that would make this an M rated story very well. As for the Wizarding world, I intend to try pace it but yeah, there's going to be some curb stomping. Thanks!
Aku No Kotei: Your idea of giving them pets is interesting, but could become difficult to include when they start exploring the multiverse. I'll look into it though, especially the idea with the basilisk. As for the second Teigu of the set, I had already planned to kill some random rebel for it. Great minds think alike! And yeah, finding another Teigu in a ruin would be way to cliché, even for me. Thanks for your support!
JDS62: Short answer, yes. Longer answer, after the Akame Ga Kill timeline, I intend to do the fourth year at Hogwarts, Triwizard tournament and all that, and after that I'll put up a poll with where they might go next. Feel free to make suggestions, though I may not know the series.
Sakura Lisel: Hmm… I admit that I never thought of having different time periods for different worlds. Anyway, Harry will be fourteen when he re-joins the Wizarding world for the Triwizard Cup. That's why I focus so much on Harry being physically inferior to a lot of his opponents and haven't accelerated his relationship with Esdeath. Hope that clears that up for you!
Wildman90: Oh dear. That could be a… interesting meeting. If I end up sending them to the Nasuverse then it is pretty much a given though.
Drunkle Qrow: I am forced to agree now that I look back over chapter 27. It holds information and helps advance the plotline in the Potterverse, but it lacks any kind of actual, real substance. Still, it's nice to know that despite my shortcomings you are willing to look around that. Thanks!
And of course a thanks to Imperial warlord, froper98, Silent Lurker, Exiled soul Nomad and Lilithnocte for providing your support. You're all awesome!
Alright then, now that that is out of the way, onwards to chapter 28!
I do not own, in any way, shape, or form Akame Ga Kill or Harry Potter.
-T.G.O-
Chapter 28: Sound the Drums of War
Harry, could honestly say that he had forgotten how tedious warfare could be at times. On one hand, there was the combat that, while it honestly wasn't difficult for someone with Harry's abilities, especially when he was always with Esdeath, it was still tiring. On the other hand, was the planning, the strategic moves and long meetings between Esdeath and all of her lieutenants.
Like right now.
Currently Harry was sitting next to Esdeath inside of the command tent in the army camp, Air, Fal and Luna sitting along the side of the tent watching and Izou, who they had brought with them as agreed, standing over in the corner behind Esdeath.
Harry supressed the urge to yawn widely as he focused on what Esdeath was saying. While generally he just stayed with Esdeath and followed her directions in combat, it still payed to know the overall strategy.
Beside him Esdeath leaned back in her chair, sweeping her gaze across the assembled lieutenants.
"We just received a letter via falcon from Fort Bluemont up ahead. They have been surrounded by Rebel forces and will be overrun in a matter of days."
She gave a vicious grin that was mirrored by several of the lieutenants.
"We will be marching on Fort Bluemont at full speed. They should be able to hold off for at least three days, so we will be there in one and Fort Bluemont will be free of the rebels in less than two. From there we will start our main offensive on the central rebel force that is approaching."
Picking up a small model that represented a part of her army, Esdeath placed it down on another part of the large map that was covering the table.
"We will be travelling as one force up until we get to the Tyrone River. From there, the western segment of our forces will take half of the ranged corps out to the plains of Vialmot while the main forces continues onwards to flank the rebel forces."
Off to the side, a little way down the table a bulky lieutenant nodded as he glanced from the map the Esdeath.
"I assume that the splinter force will be doing a standard mope up operation?"
Esdeath nodded.
"Indeed. You will be coming in from the east to cut off their escape route. The only way that they can flee other than east is either towards Fort Bluemont, back towards the main force or up Mt Vialmot. Both the first two will be impossible for them, and the last will be just putting off the inevitable, so they will go east, back towards their main forces."
She gave the lieutenant a sadistic grin.
"So yes, just a mop up operation, since they are so unlikely to flee in any other direction. I don't want any of the rebel forces making it back to the main forces, so make sure you remove any and all stragglers. There will be no mercy given whatsoever. They must all die."
Around the table, the various lieutenants of Esdeath's army nodded solemnly. Beside her, Harry just sighed softly as he closed his eyes.
Sometimes he wished Esdeath wasn't such a warmonger.
He snapped his eyes open a moment later, a terrible fire burning within them. In the end, he supposed, it did not matter if she was a warmonger. Where Esdeath lead, he would follow.
He stood from his chair as Esdeath prepared to leave the tent, Air, Fal and Luna mirroring the action as Izou stepped out of his corner.
The hounds of war may howl, but in the end, the roaring blizzard would drown out their dying whimpers.
-T.G.O-
Esdeaths army was nothing if not efficient. It was one of the most fearsome thing as about them, where they travelled in days what would take other armies twice as long, allowing no time for respite from their enemies, nor any chance of fleeing.
One day whatever anti-Empire force has popped up is crushing everything in its path and the next they are wiped out before they realise that there was even an army approaching.
Quick, efficient, merciless and absolutely devoted. That was Esdeaths army.
Proof of that lay in that fact that in less than thirty minutes after the order was sent that they were moving out, the army was already prepared to move. Within a few hours they reached the Tyrone River, normally half a day's journey for a force as large as theirs, where they split up into the larger force that continued onwards to approach Fort Bluemont, and the smaller force which split off and followed the river before splitting of and travelling north until they reached their destination.
Which lead to where Harry was now, almost twelve hours later in an impromptu camp thrown up half an hours journey from their target. Esdeath knew how to lead her army, and she knew its limits well. While she was sure that they could win the battle no matter what, there was no reason the send already weary soldiers straight into battle where they could die and weaken her overall force.
He was sitting next to Esdeath on a small hill overlooking the camp, Air, Fal and Luna arranged at random around him as they watched the soldiers below laugh and smile in their respective groups, relaxing as they prepared for the coming battle.
Harry glanced over at Esdeath, who was watching him with a small smile.
"Will we be joining one of the teams again?"
Looking away with the same odd smile, Esdeath shook her head as she looked at the sky.
"No. Not this time at least. Once we have freed Fort Bluemont, we will be spending time there to recover before moving onwards to attack the main force. So for now it will just be the five of us. Hmm…"
She looked almost… wistful as she spoke, which made Harry question whether or not the apocalypse had already begun and no one had told him.
"It'll be a bit like when Liver, Nyau and Daidara where still around."
Harry mirrored her grin. While the three had had their issues, pretty bad ones at that, they were still some of the first people other than Esdeath to treat him like family.
But seriously, they had major issues. Who the hell cuts off people's faces as a hobby?!
He glanced at the three girls sitting around him, dismissing the disturbing memories of Nyau's hobby.
"We used to have meals together, just the five of use, in Esdeaths tent. It was good fun."
He glanced up at the sky, noting that it was beginning to darken, as though it were setting the scene for what was about to come.
"Hey, Esdeath, remember that time that Liver tried cooking for us?"
Esdeath half grimaced half grinned.
"I doubt I will ever forget it."
Sitting slightly further up the hill to Harry's right, Fal piped up.
"What happened?"
Harry lay backwards onto his back, grinning up at her.
"Liver was many things. A cook was not one of them. He tried cooking once and he made this meal that looked and even smelled perfectly normal. One bite knocked out Esdeath for a minute."
Fal's eyebrow rose.
"Wait, seriously?! Why haven't you weaponized this yet?"
Esdeath smiled as she leaned back, her taller frame lying next to Harry.
"Believe me, we were tempted. Unfortunately, Liver could only do it when he was trying to cook properly, and we could never think of a viable method of use for it. We definitely thought about it though."
Fal sniggered lightly, Air and Luna grinning with amusement.
Down below them, soldier began to pack up their food, rushing around in a kind of orderly chaos as the camp went from being peaceful and relaxing one second to chaotic the next.
Beside Harry, Esdeath sat up, standing to her feet and offering a hand down in order to pull Harry up as Air, Fal and Luna all stood.
Esdeath glanced at the sky.
"It will be dusk by the time we arrive for combat. Come on, we have an army to lead."
Harry nodded falling into step beside her as he glanced over his shoulder at the three girls as they feel into step behind him.
"You three make sure you stock together no matter what, okay? And Luna, if you all get to far away from us in battle, make sure you use the Book of Lies and try get back as fast as possible. This battle shouldn't be too difficult, but it's best to be safe than sorry, especially as this is your first proper combat against humans."
The three nodded seriously as they followed Esdeath, various lieutenants appearing, taking order and then disappearing without a word. By the time the group of five was on their horses and back in front of the army, the camp had be pulled and the men were beginning to fall into place.
Harry completely blanked out the speech Esdeath gave the soldiers, seeing no real need for extra motivation, before turning his horse beside Esdeath, following a little behind her as she lead the army in a light gallop across the hills, towards their target.
-T.G.O-
There was no warning of their coming.
…
Actually, that was a lie, there was a warning, in the form of a massive slab of ice slamming into one of the rebel forces siege engines, smashing it to pieces.
Then Esdeaths lead her army in a thundering gallop that shook the very ground, storming towards the rebel encampment as the main rebel forces charged the walls of Fort Bluemont, turning back around when they realised that there were being flanked and struggling to adjust to not only making sure the archers on the walls of the ancient fort didn't kill them but also trying to find a way to make sure Esdeath and her army didn't.
They failed.
Harry pushed his horse forwards beside Esdeath, Air, Luna and Fal galloping behind her as they stormed into the enemy encampment that had been almost completely emptied in order to attack the Fort.
The first to die was a heavily armoured knight, who did so by having his head removed from his shoulders with a bored flick of Esdeaths wrist.
Then the massacre began.
Harry flicked his wrist, materializing a wave of ice spears that he sent hurtling towards a group of soldiers left to guard the encampment, skewering all but two of them to the ground as the last two either blocked or dodged the attacks before chagrin forwards with twin yells of fury.
One fell to an arrow through the skull courtesy of Air while the other was trampled by Fal's horse as the five swept onwards through the camp.
Flexing his had sharply towards another two armoured men as he hurtled past, Harry banished them backwards, sending them flying backwards at high speed, through several tents as they went before landing in a crumpled heap on the ground.
He didn't even bother looking back at them.
A moment later, Harry and Esdeath were beyond the camp and into the enemy forces, Fal, Air and Luna moments behind them.
Harry flicked his wrist, releasing a concussive blast off to his right that knocked the nearest group of rebel soldiers flying off their feet before pulling out one of his swords, slashing it across the throat of another man as he swept past, the man too slow to block the attack.
Behind him, Luna pulled out one of her pistols, her favoured weapon after she was given the Book of Lies, and began to fire rapidly, face impassive as men and woman began to fall, her bullets tearing through their armour like they were paper.
Beside her, Air had placed her bow back on her back, instead drawing one of her two curved blades, one hand still on the horse's reigns as she attempted slashed a man's head off, just missing and instead slitting his throat. At the same time, Fal slammed her gauntleted fist into the midsection of a knight thundering past on a horse after ducking his first swing.
The horse kept on going. The man didn't.
The armour crumpled around Fal's fist and the man was hurled backwards off his horse even as two spearmen rushed Fal from the other side.
The two spearmen were side by side, spears thrusting towards Fal, one for her horse and the other for the chest.
The spears inched closer in slow motion.
Fal gave a bored look before reaching over her back. In one smooth movement, Fal spun the short range shotgun type gun towards the two men and pulled the trigger, hurling them both backwards in a powerful blast, corpses before they hit the ground as Fal thundered past.
A bullet shot through the air, slamming into Harry's horse and forcing it to buckle forwards, dead before it hit the ground. Harry leapt off of its back before it could even start falling, wrapping his wrists, shoulders and ankles in ice as he used it to stay afloat, sending a wave of ice spears hailing down on the soldiers around the man who had shot his horse.
Flying up into the air to avoid a hail of bullets fired up at him, Harry threw his hands in front of him, a shimmering, translucent ball of concussive energy forming in front of him like some kind of distortion in space.
A hail of bullets shot towards him as he flew to the side, tugging at his core as he pumped more and more energy into the growing orb.
It grew larger before shrinking to the size of Harry's head.
Then he thrust it forwards into the enemy forces, grabbing Shambhala a moment later and using it to teleport back to Esdeath as another hail of bullets slammed through the air he had occupied.
The ball of energy, on the other hand, slammed into a group of soldiers, violently imploding on itself.
Nothing happened.
Then it exploded, a rippling wall on invisible energy expanding from the point of impact, shattering bones and liquefying the organs of those closest to the epicentre as it picked up those further away, shattering armour and bones alike as it hurled them backwards, killing everything within ten metres and blasting everything within a twenty metre radius flying backwards.
Esdeath grinned massively as she saw the destruction he had caused, casually running through another man with her rapier and sending a hail of ice spears down on top of another group as she thundered onwards, relishing in the mindless massacre around her as Harry flew above her.
Behind her, Air hacked off the sword arm of one of the knights as he thundered past, a bullet from Luna ending him and buckling him sideways off his horse. A loud bang from Fal's own high power gun sent another two soldiers who were targeting Luna with their guns flying backwards, their torso's smashed to pieces even as a third lined up a shot, pulling the trigger and sending a bullet skimming past Luna's head.
Luna flinched, almost losing her concentration as the man cursed, line up another shot just as Harry sent a spire of ice through his skull.
Air slashed horizontal to the ground as she leaned to the right of her horse, hacking off another man's head as she thundered past with a small grimace before deflecting a spear thrust and knocking its wielder off balance a moment before Luna placed a bullet through their skull.
Behind the five, Esdeaths army hacked its way through the rebel forces, showing no mercy whatsoever as they swept after their leader a tide of death and destruction.
Noting a group of horse riders thundering towards their group, intent on trying to intercept them as they rushed past their allies, Harry tugged at his core.
There was a moment of nothing as the group of six thundered onwards. Then the ground reacted, spires of earth and dirt erupting from the ground and piecing into the charging horse riders, the riders who survive their horse's deaths finding themselves skewered before they could so much as hit the ground.
Looking up at his flying form as she hacked apart another group of rebel soldiers, Esdeath laughed, shouting up to him.
"Good work, Harry!"
And so it went on, the rebel forces surviving purely from sheer numbers, numbers that held no meaning when the rest of Esdeaths army joined the fray, with Esdeath carving a path of blood and death through them. Air, Fal and Luna rode behind her, covering each other as they killed off anything Esdeath didn't.
Above the battlefield Harry rained down everything from hails of razor sharp ice shards to concussive bombs to the odd lightning bolt.
And then it was over.
The sudden arrival of Esdeaths army had left the rebel forces shaken and without proper leadership, leading to a swift death at the hands of the attacking forces.
Technically, Harry noted as he landed beside Esdeath, the arrival of him and Esdeath had pretty much sealed their fates but, as Esdeath had once told him 'If we do not lead our soldiers into battle with us, then it is not a war. It is a massacre.'
It was horrible true in a way.
Wincing as he felt the slight pangs of pain across his body from using his core so much, Harry stretched with a pained groan and glanced up at Esdeath on her horse.
"Well, that was easier than expected. There was a lot of them, but they weren't very well equipped or directed."
Esdeath nodded, gazing around the battlefield as her soldiers began to pick up their wounded, mercilessly killing any of the rebels that had survived.
"Indeed. Our attack seems to have taken them by surprise, which is odd. They should have had some knowledge that we were approaching and have fortified their position. Hmm…"
She looked thoughtful as she used her rapier to poke one of the dead rebel's chest plates.
"Considering the quality of this equipment, I have to agree that it is nothing like what we were expecting. It's likely that the main force already knew that we were in the area and expected us to take back the Fort Bluemont before they could reinforce it, even if they did capture it."
She chuckled darkly as she climbed down from her horse.
"How very ruthless of them. This force seems to have been made up of whatever dregs they could find, equipped with whatever armour and weapons they didn't need. It was a suicide mission from the beginning."
Gazing around, she chuckled again.
"They sent their own men and women to the execution to try slow us down and weaken us as much as possible. Which means that the main force must have prepared something for us. They wouldn't be willing to sacrifice so much otherwise."
Harry nodded, before turning to look at Luna, Fal and Air as they climbed down from their horses, slightly pale.
"Are you three alright? The first big battle is by far the worst, especially if you haven't killed humans before."
Fal nodded.
"I'm fine, just a little, I don't know, detached? Yeah, I feel kind of detached from it all."
Harry nodded with a smile.
"If that lasts for more than an hour, come talk to me. It's a normal coping method for people who haven't killed other humans before in these kinds of situations. If it lasts too long though, that can mean you've gone into shock. Which is not good."
He turned to Air who just nodded slightly shakily.
"I'll be fine. I felt a little ill at the start, but it went away pretty quickly. I'm fine now."
Harry nodded at her.
"Just make sure you wind down a bit. What about you, Luna?"
He turned his head towards Luna as he spoke, who nodded at him.
"I'm fine. I got a bit of a shock when that man almost shot me, but other than that I just feel a bit distant, like Fal."
Stepping beside Harry, Esdeath grinned.
"Well done all of you. Most soldiers already have experience with killing people when they have their first large battle like this. You are all doing well considering that it is the first time you've killed humans before."
She gazed across the battlefield, Harry and the three girls following her gaze as it swept across the blood soaked earth and the hundreds of corpses littering the ground.
"Where is Izou?"
Harry grimaced slightly.
"He was off after a group that fled towards the mountain last I saw him. It won't be hard to find him anyway. Just follow the trail of body parts."
Esdeath smirked in response, turning as the massive gates of the Fort swung open behind her.
Shaking his head, Harry let out a sigh.
"Took their time getting out here. The battle ended several minutes ago."
Nodding, Esdeath watched as several soldiers walked towards them, led by a large, bald man.
Behind the group of five, the army of Esdeath was already beginning to set up a camp away from the battlefield.
The first true blood against the Revolution had been spilt.
And it would not stop until the oceans were red.
-T.G.O-
And that is chapter 28 complete!
I have mixed feelings about this chapter, mostly because it is harder to write a decent scene where there is an army of people of no importance against people who can massacre them. It simple feels like I'm missing something important, so if you find it, please do tell me so I can implement it.
Anyway, as always, any and all ideas, likes, dislikes, constructive criticism, questions or advice are all welcome and appreciated! Please review!
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and the rest of the story so far!
Goodbye until next time!