Hello, everyone, and welcome back to The Glacial Ones for chapter 32!
To start with, responses to all the awesome reviews I've been given!
Drunkle Qrow: Yeah, not a lot of anything actually happened in chapter 31. A lot of setting things up, especially with the Philosophers Stone and Mirror, but not any actual events. Anyway, Thanks for the support!
Wildman90: While it certainly would be something the Prime Minister, or even Esdeath if she bothered to actually think about it, would do, I can't really see Budo doing it. Or me. A logical suggestion though, so thanks.
Iliveonbooks: Hmm, the Esdeath I have created is more interested in just going from world to world with Harry in form of conflict, not actually ruling or long term plans. A definite thought though. As for the actual Harry Potter storyline, Harry will be returning to the Wizarding World properly, with Esdeath of course, after I wrap up the Akame Ga Kill storyline, for the fourth year. And of course, the Goblet of Fire. Beyond that, I don't really have any plans. Anyway, thanks for your comments and opinions!
Guest: Do you mean the story feels different or the update speed feels different from the first chapters? Because if it is the former, that would probably be largely because when I started writing this, I had not done a lot of creative writing recently, and I've simple taken a bit to get into my flow. If it's the second, then I have no idea really. As for 'A Certain Scientific Railgun', or 'A Certain Magical Index', they could both be rather interesting, especially the imagine breaker with Harry and Esdeaths powers. And another fellow Lupine Horror fan! I hope anyway. Finally, thanks for the support and suggestions!
Froper98: Yeah, Budo kind of does have to die… sorry, Budo. Anyway, thanks for the support!
Imperial Warlord: All I can say is thanks for your continued support! Your 'Awesome chapter' has been with me the whole way and you have no idea how much it means for a rookie fanfiction writer like me! Thanks again!
Dieter17: I doubt I will ever go that far as to give them Full Metal Alchemist type Philosophers Stones. Too many nightmares. I might make them start a collection of different types of Philosophers Stones from different worlds just for the hell of it though. Thanks for the support!
The Perfect Re TPR: Hmm, I never really noticed the similarities, especially with how dubious Pumpkins abilities are. Sometimes its power seems to be related to the user's emotions, and sometimes it is related to the amount of danger the user is in. Don't know about that. AS for your suggestions, X-men is one that could be amusing, but I don't really know the series, and playing the villain could be equally amusing. And not particularly difficult for Esdeath. Just release a video of her doing her favourite hobby to the world governments. As for facing Superman and Hulk etc. you have to remember that Esdeath also has ridiculous physical abilities on top of her ice powers. She wouldn't win easily, but she wouldn't be crushed easily either. Harry… not so much.
And for your second review, Budo is the other Great General for the Empire and he has a very strict code of honour, as well as being incredibly loyal to the Emperor, to the point of promising to weed out the Empires corruption after the Revolutionary Army is destroyed. He wants to make a show out of killing Tatsumi and Lubbock in order to draw in Night Raid. Killing them after letting Esdeath have them wouldn't be an execution. It would be a mercy killing. But yeah, it was a foolish decision. He is a human with a strict code of honour baring his sight. He makes mistakes. Anyway, thanks for your views and support, as well as your suggestions!
Sakura Lisel: Sorry, but this is just the story I'm writing. Thanks for sticking around anyway though and being polite about it.
Zathol: True. And it would draw all kinds of attention. As for you second comment, it resulted in a whole load of shit since they were on opposite sides of the war so yeah, take that how you will. Thanks for the support!
And now that that is all out of the way, onwards with chapter 32 of The Glacial Ones1
I do not own, in any way, shape, or form Akame Ga Kill or Harry Potter.
-T.G.O-
Chapter 32: Clash of Monsters
Truly, the Empire was black to the core. That was Harry's first thought as he watched the crowd that had gathered for the sole purpose of watching two young adults die.
He was currently standing on the top of the colosseum wall, watching as the two members of Night Raid awaited their execution at the hands of Esdeath far below. He snorted lightly as he swept his gaze over the crowds of leering men and woman filling the colosseum as they watched what to them probably prime entertainment was.
Shaking his head, Harry swept his eyes across the clear skies above, scanning for any sign of movement. He wondered of the people below would be quite as gleefully amused by the show below if they knew that it was a trap to try draw in Night Raid.
Turning his head back down towards the centre of the colosseum, Harry watched as Esdeath said something to Budo, followed by Tatsumi commenting on something that made Budo bow his head for a moment. Briefly, he wondered what Tatsumi was asking Budo about in what was possibly his final moment before dismissing the thought. It was of no significance to him.
Far below him, Esdeath began to approach the two members of Night Raid, walking with a slow step towards where the two males where bound to a set of solid, wooden crosses as Harry swept his eyes across the sky once more, noting a dark shape rocketing across the sky towards the colosseum.
Harry sighed softly in annoyance.
He had been hoping that they wouldn't show up and they could have a relatively peaceful day, but no, instead they had to decide to take on the Empires two most powerful soldiers to rescue their comrades. He could understand wanting to rescue their friends, but seriously?!
Letting out another sigh, Harry released a wave of bitingly cold air down towards where Esdeath was approaching the two members of Night raid far below, sending a shudder through the crowds below before he checked to make sure that his veil was still in place as he noted the dark shape in the sky draw closer, revealing a dragon-like danger beast.
Down below, Esdeath released her own flash of chillingly cold air back towards Harry to confirm that she had received his signal.
Esdeath drew her rapier.
The danger beast carry the remaining members of Night Raid drew closer.
The crowd leered down in sick amusement, unaware of the killers flying above them.
Esdeath's blade flashed towards Tatsumi's chest.
There was a flash of light.
A beam of pure energy tore down from the top of the flying danger beast punching through the top of Tatsumi's cross, just grazing his head before it punched through the air where Esdeath had been standing mere moments ago, a twisted smile on her face as she dodged out of the way before landing and looking up at the danger beast as it swept down towards the arena.
There was a thump as the large danger beast landed in the large colosseum behind where the two captured members of Night raid where being held, dark figures leaping from the dragon beasts back before it had even crashed.
The crowd, suddenly realising that this was no longer just fun entertainment, fell into panic as they fled from the famous group of assassins as they confronted the Empire's most fearsome individuals, Harry feeling the urge to warp down next to Esdeath.
Resisting the urge as the colosseum cleared out, he instead help out his right hand, tugging harshly at his core as he materialized a spinning spear of tiny, razor sharp ice fragments, spinning it faster and faster as he compressed it, adding more and more ice as he struggled to keep it in a spear shape.
Far below him, Esdeath eyed up her opposition, taking note of each member of Night Raid as Budo stomped over to stand beside her, a scowl on his face.
She smirked as Najenda stepped forwards.
"Najenda."
Najenda glared at her in pure loathing.
"Esdeath."
Esdeath just smirked wider.
"How naïve of you to show up. You are getting predictable, Najenda."
Najenda scowled back as the rest of Night Raid began to spread out behind her, standing between their two captured members and Esdeath.
"I see that your little pet isn't here this time. Did you break him on accident?"
It was barely noticeable, almost impossible for a normal civilian to notice, just the slightest tightening of her jaw, a slight twitch in her cheek as her lips turned down the slightest amount for a single moment that informed the members of Night Raid that Najenda had somehow hit a nerve on the normally untouchable Empire's Strongest.
Esdeath's voice was a several degrees colder when she spoke.
"I assure you, just because Harry is not here, does not mean he is so weak that I would have broken him on accident."
Najenda's eyes widened slightly and she almost smirked when she realised that maybe, just maybe, Esdeath had more of a weakness in Harry than they had originally thought.
Beside Esdeath, Budo growled in irritation.
"Enough. You have had the nerve to disrupt the peace of the Capital for too long, Night Raid. You shall be executed here."
He slammed his fists together, lightning cracking around him as Esdeath fell into a stance, a bloodthirsty grin on her face.
Across from them, Night Raid prepared itself, readying their weapons.
There was a moment of silence.
Esdeath moved, rapier flashing out towards Najenda at impossible speeds as Budo thundered forwards, lightning crackling around him as he stormed towards Mine and Leone.
Akame shot forwards, deflecting Esdeaths first strike as Najenda sent her fist shooting towards her foe, Esdeath slipping to the side as she sent a flurry of attacks towards Akame.
Across from them, Leone leapt forwards to intercept Budo as Mine jumped backwards, bringing Pumpkin up to release a barrage of shots that staggered Budo a step backwards. Taking advantage of Budo's distraction, Leone leapt forwards, fist flashing towards her opponent's face, only for him to grab her arm and hurl her off to the side with little effort before pulling both of his hands back to his sides.
He thrust his hands, finger splayed, towards Mine just as she fired Pumpkin at him, releasing a flash of lightning towards her at the same time as she released a powerful beam of energy.
The two energy blasts slammed into each other, vying for dominance as the moments passed by, an eternity in a second before it was shattered by Leone slamming her feet into Budo's side in a flying kick that staggered the mountain of a man for a moment, snapping his concentration from the lightning vying for control against Pumpkins energy blast.
A moment later, said energy beam tore through Budo's lightning and slammed into the large man's chest, lifting him from the ground and hurling him backwards though the colosseum wall with an angry roar.
Leone grinned, giving Mine a thumbs up.
"Good work, Mine! Go help take out Esdeath and I'll go free the other two."
Mine nodded, spinning and sending a barrage of energy bolts towards Esdeath, who was in a high speed battle with Najenda and Akame, a bloodthirsty grin stretched across her face as her rapier moved in a flash of steel, barely even bothering to lean back out of the way as the energy bolts flew past her.
Far above the battle, Harry finished creating his, well, it was a spell he supposed, a three metre long spear of miniscule, super condensed, razor sharp ice particles spinning so fast that it looked like a single white spear.
Glancing down and noting that Leone had cut down Tatsumi and was moving onto Lubbock, before sweeping his gaze over to where Mine was trying to snipe Esdeath, Harry decided to try go for them all and stood from his crouch, pulling back his arm and hurling the spear forwards like a javelin, nudging it with his powers as he did.
A blast of chaotic winds swirled around him as a thunderous crack shattered the air, the white spear elongating into in to a bean of swirling white energy between Harry's hand and the ground between Mine and Leone.
Then it was gone and a massive explosion shook the colosseum, a howling blizzard of high speed, bitterly cold winds and razor sharp ice particles tearing apart the very air itself in a screeching roar.
Off to one side, Mine leapt away from the explosion, gritting her teeth as her left arm was shredded, leaving her unable to unable to hold Pumpkin properly as on the other side of the instant blizzard, Tatsumi leapt out of the swirling ice, having managed to grab Incursio in time and escape with Leone and Lubbock.
Harry groaned in annoyance as he noticed that though Incursio looked a little battered up and Lubbock and Leone looked a little sliced up, they were superficial wounds at best, and Leone was already healing. All that energy and effort, used up and the most damage he did was shred one person's arm. That would teach him to try target more than one person at once.
No one noticed the suddenly mossing danger beast.
Jerking to the side, Harry dodged several energy shots from Pumpkin down below, their accuracy dropped by the fact that Mine could only use one arm, before sighing and focusing on Shambhala where it was hanging around his neck, warping away in a flash of blue light as he drew his blades off his back.
In a flash of blue light, Harry appeared beside Esdeath where she had leapt back to, disengaging from Akame after Harry's attack had hit, the blizzard dying down to nothing, leaving a small portion of the colosseum covered in a layer of crimson snow and ice.
Across from them, Najenda gritted her teeth as she crouched in a ready stance next to Akame, Tatsumi carrying Leone and Lubbock over to them using Incursio as Mine rushed over from the other direction.
There was a moment of silence as the two groups' eyes each other, before it was shattered by an angry shout off to the side, the eyes of all present turning over to the recently created hole in the wall as Budo stepped out of it, growling.
"Little brats, thinking you can just come along and cause trouble chaos without repercussions. I will execute you here!"
He stomped over to Esdeath and Harry, the group of three eyeing up their opponents once more as Night Raid cast a wary eye over the two generals before observing the black and white haired newcomer.
Najenda snorted.
"So your little toy is here after all. Must be getting soft, Esdeath."
Esdeath just smirked.
"Harry is rather tough. I wouldn't want to break him even if I could, anyway."
Najenda narrowed her eyes, about to respond when Budo interrupted.
"Enough! General Esdeath, Night Raid is to be executed now. There is no time for more chit chat with the enemy."
Esdeath sighed as Budo stormed forwards once more, lightning crackling around him as he went, before shooting forwards towards Akame and Najenda once more, a twisted grin fixed on her face as she moved.
Across from them, Tatsumi leapt towards Budo, his crimson spear materializing in his hand as he went, Leone leaping after him as Lubbock joined Najenda and Akame against Esdeath. Behind them, Mine fired off an attack at Harry using Pumpkin, only for Harry to warp away and appear behind her, sword flashing towards her back.
She spun, leaping backwards and just barely avoiding his blade as she fired of another series of energy shots, Harry throwing up as shield to deflect them as he thrust his second blade towards her chest.
Firing Pumpkin at his feet, Mine sent herself flying backwards as Harry was knocked off his feet, firing another blast towards her foe, only for him to vanish in a flash of blue light.
He appeared off to her right as she realised that he was probably the worst opponent she could be paired with, Pumpkin coming up to narrowly block his first slash before she leapt backwards in an attempt to dodge the second, the blade opening a thin slash across her stomach, Harry ducking under another energy blast and thrusting his blades towards her stomach.
Mine jumped backwards again, noticing Leone and Tatsumi fighting Budo nearby and leaping sideways towards them, firing off a weak volley at Harry as he warped above her, a crushing axe kick set to cave in her head and forcing her back once more as she dodged, her teigu coming up to block his twin blades as they came down after his kick.
She growled.
"Dammit, why don't you go mess with someone else? Or, even better, go die!"
Harry grinned.
"That's not very nice!"
He jabbed one of his blades towards her stomach, deciding to use a little more of his magic, which had been rather drained by his first attack, as he banished her backwards towards Budo, who kicked Tatsumi away from him and pulled back his fist to give a devastating blow to the flying girl, only for her to fire Pumpkin at the ground, sending her back flipping over Budo's fist and landing behind him, spinning and firing off a flurry of energy shells into the large man's back.
Budo staggered forwards a step, his heavy armour protecting him from the brunt of the attack as Tatsumi charged forwards, his spear jabbing out towards the mountain of a man. Leone switched targets momentarily and sent a blistering kick towards Harry's head, which he promptly ignored as he blasted her backwards with a shockwave before warping away.
Appearing behind Mine in another flash of blue light, Harry sent a powerful double slash towards her head before slamming a boulder of ice down towards her when she leapt backwards. In a flash of light that shot into the sky, the boulder was obliterated by a powerful shot from Pumpkin, Harry taking advantage of Mine's distraction to slam a powerful spinning kick into her midsection, blasting her backwards before warping in front of her, blades prepped to stab forward into her chest.
He jabbed the two twin blades towards her heart, warping away at the last moment as Tatsumi sent another blistering slash at him with his spear.
Appearing crouched below Lubbock on the other side of the colosseum, Harry thrust his blades upwards at his new targets chest, only for Lubbock to leap backwards, and swing his hands across his chest, strings wrapping around Harry and pulling tight as he warped away once more, appearing above the string wielder and dropping a rain of ice spears on him before vanishing once more.
With a series of complex motions with his hands, Lubbock deflected and destroyed the icy shower, weaving the strings together into a shield to block Harry's next attack from behind.
-T.G.O-
Not far away from where Harry was now fighting Lubbock, Esdeath materialized a house sized boulder of ice and slammed it into the ground where Akame had been standing a mere moment ago, dodging backwards out of the way of Najenda's metal fist and sending a wave of icy spires bursting from the ground towards her.
Najenda leapt out of the way, pulling back her hand as she did, Akame charging towards Esdeath from around the ice boulder, blade ready.
Esdeath gave a sadistic smirk as she used her rapier to deflect and block the flurry of blows that Akame sent at her before slamming a foot towards Akame's stomach and forcing her to leap backwards and dive out for the way of a shower of ice shards as Esdeath sprinted after her.
Appearing in front of Akame with her blade ready, Esdeath sent her own flurry of jabs at the katana user, Akame barely keeping up until Najenda appeared beside her, her fist slamming towards Esdeath's midsection.
Esdeath leapt backwards, another boulder if ice, this one covered in rather nasty spikes, materializing above Akame and Najenda before Esdeath sent it tumbling towards them, spinning at high speed with every intention of tearing the two members of Night raid apart.
Said members of Night raid both leapt out of the way, separated from each other by the boulder as Esdeath shot towards Najenda, blade flashing and her sadistic grin still firmly planted on her face.
"You have let yourself get rusty, Najenda!"
Najenda gritted her teeth as she dodged a spear of ice, her metal arm coming up to block Esdeaths blade.
"And you must be getting soft, Esdeath! Keeping around a kid like that."
Esdeath snorted as she sent another flurry if jabs towards Najenda.
"Harry is more than capable of looking after himself. He seems to be doing fine against your assassins."
Najenda gritted her teeth again, glancing briefly over to where Lubbock was using his strings in order to destroy Harry's ice attacks before turning her gaze back to Esdeath a millisecond later.
A millisecond too slow.
Esdeath, capitalizing on her distraction, thrust his blade towards her heart, Najenda's metal arm coming up too slow to block as the tip of the blade inched nearer to her heart in slow motion, piercing through her cloths like a hot knife through butter and breaking her skin, drawing a drop of blood.
Then Esdeath stun, dragging a long cut along Najenda's chest as she used her rapier to block a powerful attack from Akame, a wave of ice spears sending Najenda jumping backwards as Esdeath sent a barrage of powerful jabs and jarring slashes at Akame, her sadistic grin present on her face the entire time.
Slashing out and sending Akame sliding backwards from the sheer brute force in the attack, Esdeath spun, her right foot lashing out to kick away Najenda's arm as she fired it towards her, a large spire of ice forcing the former general to leap backwards once more as Akame shot forwards, her katana, Murasame, flashing out towards Esdeath's throat, only for her to lean backwards out of the way and send a powerful kick towards Akame's side.
Akame barely blocked the attack as it lifted her up off the ground and hurled her backwards where she landed in a crouch, gasping for the breath Esdeath kick had stolen.
At the same time, Esdeath sent a wave of spears surging towards the crouching member of Night Raid, her rapier flashing up to block an attack from Najenda.
Blood splattered the air.
-T.G.O-
Harry warped out of the way of Lubbock's strings once more, firing off a flurry of ice spears at him, followed by a shock wave that sent the spears rocketing forwards towards the other male who quickly wove a shield in front of him, just barely stopping the attack.
A moment later Harry warped down behind Lubbock, crouched low to the ground as he swept his blades upwards, Lubbock trying desperately to unravel him string in time.
The blades inched towards Lubbock's heart.
There was a flash of light and Harry abandoned his attack to instinctively throw up a powerful shield, just in time to block a powerful blast from Pumpkin that sent him hurtling away.
Further away, Budo let out an angry roar.
"Little brats!"
There was a flash, the rumble of lightning as a bolt of electricity, several times more powerful than anything Harry had ever used, arced down from the heavens, crashing into the ground in front of the massive man and knocking Tatsumi and Leone flying backwards.
Mine sent another blast from Pumpkin towards Harry as Lubbock freed up his strings, a flash of blue telling them that Harry had warped again moments before he appeared behind Mine, blades slashing downwards.
Mine smirked as Lubbock managed to wrap Harry's blades in string, spinning around as Harry was knocked of balance by the sudden stop of his sword and pulling the trigger on her teigu.
Pumpkin spat fire.
Harry barely threw a shield in time before the blast sent him flying backwards, Lubbock's strings tearing his swords from his hands as he went.
A moment later, Lubbock leapt after him, strings swirling around him as Mine sent another barrage of shots towards Harry's location in an effort to stop him from moving.
Staggering slightly as the exhaustion from the many warps he had made in the last few minutes began to seep in, Harry disappeared in a flash of blue, appearing beside Mine and banishing her into the distant opposite wall before she could respond.
At the same time, Budo's massive fist slammed into Lubbock's side, cracking ribs and bruising the bones in his arms as he was sent hurtling away seconds before Tatsumi, recovering from the massive lightning bolt Budo had called down moments ago, slashed Incursio's spear at the large man's head.
Budo ducked, grabbing Leone's ankle when she tried to kick him and spinning her around, slamming her into Tatsumi and sending them both flying backwards in a tangle.
Facing the two tangled up members of Night Raid as they tried to shake to grogginess from their heads, Budo held both hands in front of him, a ball of lightning forming in front of him.
Seeing the incoming danger, Leone and Tatsumi struggled to free themselves.
The ball of lightning grew larger.
The two rolled away from each other.
The ball of lightning surged forwards.
Something wrapped around Budo's right arm, jerking it to the side and sending the ball of lightning careering off the above two down members of Night Raid, shocking them as it skimmed past before it continued onwards before exploding against the wall in a clap of thunder.
Budo growled as he saw Lubbock standing off to the side, holding his ribs tenderly with one hand as his other controlled the strings wrapped around Budo's arm. He grinned.
"You can't put me down that easily, Great General or not!"
With a frustrated roar, Budo swung his right arm towards Lubbock, completely disregarding the strings as he sent a flash of lightning towards Lubbock, only for him the jump to the side, charging forwards as he wrapped as many of his strings around Budo as he could, restricting his moment for a moments as he wove a spear of tread in his hand.
With a yell, Budo slammed his fist into the ground where Lubbock had been standing moments ago, shattering the earth as his target spun out of the air, his spear thrusting towards the larger man's chest, piercing his chest plate with a crunch before continuing onwards, biting blood for a second before Budo kicked him away, forcing Lubbock to remove the spear before the threads could enter his opponent.
Another flash of lightning slammed into the ground, Lubbock barely dodging in time as he darted forwards, a dark scowl on his face as Budo sent another bolt to stun Tatsumi and Leone and send them crashing to the ground when they struggled to stand.
Lubbock leapt up, dodging Budo's massive fist as he spun his threads, wrapping them around the massive man's thick neck. He landed on Budo's chest, legs bracing against his foe as he leaned backwards, tightening the strings with all his might as Budo grasped at them, feeling them tightening and trying to snap them with all his might.
Lubbock just gave him a bloody smile.
"These are my best threads. You'll never be able to break them."
Giving up as he felt them continue to tighten, only the tough muscles of his neck preventing his death, Budo instead took advantage of Lubbock's position to slam a fist into his stomach.
Ribs crack as Lubbock held firm, ever tightening the threads.
Budo slammed his other fist into Lubbock's side, the piston on his arm crash forwards as he did.
Ribs shattered, fragments of bone tearing into Lubbock's body as blood began to fill his right lung.
He did not falter, nor did he stop grinning.
A third punch slammed into Lubbock's left side, damaging his stomach and shattering his lower ribs.
The threads continued to tighten.
A fourth punch slamming into his right side once more, piston crashing forwards and pulverising what remain of the ribs on Lubbock's right, tearing his right lung apart.
Blood began to seep out from under the threads.
A fifth punch smashed forth as Leone and Tatsumi struggled to recover and aid him, the punch bursting part of Lubbock's stomach and smashing part of his pelvis.
More blood began to run down Budo's neck as Lubbock gave him a bloody grin, not the faintest sign of pain on his face.
A six punch, as Leone and Tatsumi pulled each other up and rushing towards the Lubbock and Budo, shattering what remained of his ribs, bursting several organs and flooding Lubbock's remaining lung with blood.
The threads tightened further.
Budo's hands feel limply to his sides, a final, bitter, accepting smile on his face, blood pouring from his lips.
The threads tightened for the last time, slicing through Budo's arteries and larynx.
Budo toppled backwards, Lubbock's weight driving his to the ground as the light left his eyes.
He crashed to the ground, Lubbock still standing, impossibly, on his chest.
Tatsumi and Leone rushed over.
Lubbock gave a bloody, victorious grin.
Then he toppled forwards, landing in Leone and Tatsumi's arms as they tried to speak to him, their voices hazy.
He struggled for another breath, blood bubbling up in his mouth, the pain being swept away by a soothing warmth.
He went to breathe again.
He never made it.
So Lubbock of Night Raid died, held in the arms of two of his members after killing one of the two most powerful people in the Empire.
The Empire began to fall a little faster.
Through his death, a new hope for victory.
-T.G.O-
And that is chapter 32!
What did you all think? A bit heavy on the combat if I say so myself, but hey, it was necessary.
I'm sorry Lubbock! Please forgive me!
Anyway, as always, any ideas, likes, dislikes, advice or constructive criticism are all welcome and appreciated! Please review!
Finally, I hope you enjoyed chapter 32 of The Glacial Ones, and I'll see you next time!