Flare had sighed and exhaled some air. "Okay. Here goes."

During a sunny day, a big tournament was currently taking place within a large and lively stadium just on the outskirts of the capital. Thousands of people from the capital had filled all of the rows in the stadium just to watch the entire tournament.

General Esdeath was currently sitting in a fancy chair on a high balcony within the stadium. She had watched a number of tournament contestants fight each other and half of them had won.

"It seems that the tournament is going to start, soon." Run had said as she stood by Esdeath's side in the balcony.

"Yes." Esdeath replied.

Within the large crowd, four members of Night Raid such as Lubbock, Leone, Sayo and Ieyasu were currently sitting next to each other in the same row. They were watching the tournament, freely.

"Hey, Ieyasu. How come you didn't register for this tournament when Tatsumi did?" Leone asked as she looked over Sayo and directly at Ieyasu whom was on her left.

"Me? Well, as much as I want to go out there and impress all the single ladies in the stadium... part of me just feels like I'm not strong enough to compete with Tatsumi." Ieyasu said in a humbled tone and thought of Bulat.

"Not strong enough to compete with Tatsumi? What are you talking about, Ieyasu?" Sayo asked as she looked at Ieyasu, who was next to her.

"On that day when we lost big brother, Bulat... I noticed a huge change within Tatsumi." Ieyasu had begun to say.

Flashback

Tatsumi, Bulat and Ieyasu were currently fighting the Three Beasts on a large ship. Two of the Three Beasts such as Liver and Daidara were slain by a then dying Bulat, while the last member, Nyau had bulked himself up with his Teigu flute called Scream.

Tatsumi had recently inherited the Teigu, Incursio from Bulat and has decided to use it for the first time. "INCURSIIIOOOOO!" Tatsumi screamed while activating the Teigu with his sheer willpower.

Ieyasu was currently dressed in a white tuxedo with a black shirt and tie. He held and gripped the Teigu known as, Belvaac the Double-Bladed Axe. He watched Tatsumi transform with amazement. And at the same time with a bit of jealousy.

A dying Bulat was sitting on his butt as he watched Tatsumi transform into his new Incursio armor.

End Flashback

"And after I witnessed Tatsumi inherit Incursio from big brother Bulat on that ship, I could tell that Tatsumi's strength and willpower has become even greater than my own." Ieyasu said.

"Um, who are you and what have you done with Ieyasu?" Sayo asked, curiously.

"Yeah. You're usually confident and just as perverted as Lub over here." Leone said as she threw her arms behind her head.

Lubbock had blushed after listening to Leone. "D-don't lump me up with him!"

"So what if Tatsumi's stronger than you. Go get stronger yourself by doing whatever you do." Leone said without a care in the world.

"And now...!" A Jaeger member by the name of Wave had walked onto the stadium grounds with a microphone in his hand.

Sayo then gasped as she looked down at the center of the stadium. "It's about to start!"

"We are now about to begin the tournament!" Wave yelled, which earned positive reactions from the crowd. Suddenly, two contestants in the tournament had begun walking into the ring.

"First! In the east corner," Wave had pointed his hand to his right directly at a tall bull man. "We have Kalbi, the Butcher!"

"Heh!" Kalbi smirked, confidently as he walked toward the center of the stadium ring.

"And now! In the western corner," Wave then pointed his hand to his right directly at a person wearing a long black jacket that goes down to the back of his calves and also had a hoodie attached to it. "We have Flare, the Beast Hunter!"

Flare didn't say anything. He just walked to the center of the stadium ring with a normal expression on his face. He didn't pay attention to the crowd around him.

'Looks like we got a hottie in here.' Leone thought as she stared at Flare's masculine face.

'Of course, she'd say something like that.' Lubbock thought as he sounded a bit jealous within his mind.

Sayo had gasped when she had spotted Flare in the stadium ring. "That's him. He's the one we've been keeping tabs on for the past week." Sayo stated.

Leone quickly looked at Sayo. "Really? So-"

Lubbock gasped, then pointed at Flare from a distance. "Wait, that's him?" Lubbock turned his head to his comrades. "That's the guy who helped the girl ca-" Lubbock was quickly shushed by Leone as her right hand covered his whole mouth. "Mmph!"

"Shut it, dumbass. We're still in public, you know." Leone told Lubbock while unintentionally suffocating him.

"But it's him, though." Ieyasu whispered.

"Hm?" Leone looked to Ieyasu.

"He and that other girl are the ones that captured both Sheele and Mine in the first place." Ieyasu said, then gripped his knees.

"I wonder, if this guy has a Teigu or not?" Leone asked and wondered as she looked back at Flare who was in the arena.

Within the tournament ring, Flare and Kalbi had stared at each other face-to-face.

"That young man who's preparing to face that bull man is named Flare. From the past week, I have heard that he alongside Seryu Ubiquitous had captured two Night Raid assassins, alive." Run said as he stared at Flare from the balcony

"Impressive." Esdeath said with a normal look on her face. 'Usually, most people would rather kill Night Raid on sight for the bounty-but being able to capture two Night Raid assassins alive takes a large amount of skill and strategy.'

On the tournament ring grounds...

"You really are a squirt compared to me. The prize money is as good as mine." Kalbi confidently laughed, while staring his bull nose down at Flare. "Before I was kicked out of the Imperial Fist temple, I was a Ninth-degree black belt."

'This guy isn't just all talk. He looks really strong.' Wave thought as he stared at Kalbi from his left side.

Flare just simply stared at Kalbi. There was nothing about Kalbi that intimidated him. 'I used to fight wild animals when I was a kid such as boars and bears. I'll admit. This bull guy maybe a little stronger than them, but to me-he's nothing.'

Wave then raised his right arm in the air. "Alright..." Wave then threw his arm down. Starting the match. "You may begin!" Wave shouted.

"You will now feel the full force of my Imperial Fist!" Kalbi yelled as he attempted to throw a right punch at him.

'I don't even need to waste any energy or time on him.' Flare quickly sped toward Kalbi's lower chest.

"Eh?" Kalbi stopped in place as he saw Flare swiftly move toward his body in close range.

'Just knock him out the ring and-' Flare had quickly struck Kalby in the lower chest with a right fist. Cracking his lower ribs in the process. And sending Kalbi flying into the opposite direction and crashing into the wall like a missle.

Kalbi spat out saliva and gauged before passing out on the ground.

Many people within the audience were shocked and confused as they had just witnessed what happened. Less than ten seconds and Flare had already sent Kalbi flying into the wall.

"Oh?" Wave had gasped.

"Wow." Leone said as she witnessed Flare's strength. She was surprised.

Lubbock's jaw had dropped after seeing Flare's strength. Ieyasu and Sayo had remained silent the whole time but couldn't believe what they had witnessed.

Esdeath was a bit surprised to see a person with such strength.

"That young man has acceptional strength." Run said as he commented Flare.

"Yes." Esdeath had replied.

"That's enough!" Wave had thrown his right arm up in the air, once more. Then, pointed it at Flare. "The winner of this match is Flare, the Beast Hunter!"

Suddenly, the crowd begun cheering for Flare's victory.

"Well, it looks like this mystery guy is really, really strong. Heck. Even stronger than Lub over here." Leone commented on Flare's strength.

"H-hey! I can get just as strong as that that hotshot right there!" Lubbock yelled at Leone.

"No you can't." Leone said.

Lubbock hung his head feeling depressed after Leone's words.

'First, Tatsumi and now this guy? I have to get much stronger than I am now!' Ieyasu clinched his teeth and gripped fists out of frustration and jealousy for Flare.

Flare looked around the stadium to see happy expressions and heard cheers. "Everyone's cheering for me?" Flare had frowned for a second, then gave a happy and honest smile. "This is amazing!" He said in a happy tone. 'I knew that I had a job to do, but I never thought I would be cheered and liked by many people.'

Suddenly... something had snapped within Esdeath. As she watched Flare give a bright and honest smile, she had begun to blush and feel hormones for the first time in her life. "It's him."

Run looked at Esdeath's backside. "He's one of the Teigu candidates?"

"Huh? Oh, yes. That." Esdeath lied and stood on both her feet. "But, something more." Esdeath had then begun to exit the balcony and walk down the stairs leading to the stadium ring.

Suddenly, the crowd's cheers for Flare had begun to die down as many people begun to notice Esdeath walking.

Leone, whom was in the crowd had noticed Esdeath walking and couldn't help but think of the time when she saw Esdeath from on top of a roof. Her eyes narrowed.

"Hey, Sayo." Ieyasu had gently nudged Sayo's elbow. "That woman over there. Is she-"

"Yeah. That's Esdeath." Sayo replied.

"Why are all the cheering dying down all of a sudden?" Flare had suddenly turned his head around and noticed a woman with long bright blue hair walking toward his direction. 'Who's that la-' Flare stopped himself as he had received a greater look at Esdeath. 'Wait, I know who she is. That's Esdeath. One of the Empire's top generals. And also...'

Brief Flashback

"Wait, there's another person that can control fire, like me?" Flare asked.

"No. She can't control fire. But like you, she does possess an Elemental-Type Teigu. Her name is General Esdeath and she has mastered the ability to control ice." Father Christopher said.

End Flashback

'She can use ice-just as I can use fire power.' Flare had thought.

Esdeath had approached Flare in the ring as they stood a few yards apart from one another. Wave had taken a few steps back. Not out of fear for Esdeath, but out of respect for her. The crowd was dead silent as they were all watching what was about to happen, next.

"Your name is Flare, correct?" Esdeath asked.

"I am." Flare had replied.

"What a lovely name, you have." Esdeath said with a smile.

"Thanks. Your name is as pretty as well..." Flare said. 'I guess.'

'And also, those eyes. Those golden burning eyes.' Esdeath imagined roaring fire behind Flare's golden eyes. 'One of the most beautiful colors I've seen in a very long time.' Esdeath blushed a bit. "Your match was rather swift."

"Um, yes. I don't really like stalling... I'd rather get to the point, I guess." Flare said with an embarrassed and bright smile on his face.

'Just look at him. Making small talk and flirting with one of the hottest women in all of the capital! It should be me out there!' An irritated Lubbock thought as he grinded his teeth together out of jealousy.

'I wonder, what they're talking about?' Leone had thought.

"I shall now give you your reward." Esdeath said as she begun walking toward Flare and reaching in her vest pocket at the same time.

"Um, thanks." Flare nodded. 'Why is she reaching in her vest? Is there really money in there?' Flare thought as he stared at Esdeath's chest. 'And also... that marking on her chest. Is it really the mark of an Elemental-Type Teigu, similar to mine?' Flare had thought as he saw the Demon's Extract marking on Esdeath's chest.

Esdeath let out a smile. "From this day forward..."

"Eh?" Flare had suddenly looked down at himself.

"You now belong to me." Esdeath said as she placed a black dog collar around Flare's neck and lied a hand on Flare's right shoulder.

"Uh... w-what?" Flare asked, feeling confused. He truly thought he was going to receive money from Esdeath. Then, he felt himself being dragged by Esdeath as she yanked the chain attached to the collar around his neck.

"There are too many eyes, here. Let's talk in private." Esdeath had smiled.

"W-wait! I never-" Flare tried to resist for a second, but suddenly felt a chop to his right neck.

"Be a good boy and don't resist." Esdeath said as after chopping Flare on the lower neck.

'Damn! Did she really-' Flare thought as he was losing consciousness. His eyes were beginning to close, halfway.

Esdeath had quickly caught Flare in her arms, letting his head rest on her right shoulder. "Let's chat in my chambers. Just you and me." Esdeath whispered before carrying Flare out of the stadium.

Many people within the crowd had gasped in shock and felt surprised after witnessing Esdeath abduct Flare. Sayo, Ieyasu, Leone and Lubbock had all looked at each other in shock and were starstruck.

"Ladies and gentlemen! I have just been informed by the higher ups that this tournament is officially canceled!" Wave yelled on the microphone.

Suddenly, many people within the audience had begun booing and leaving the stadium.

"WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED?" Ieyasu yelled.

Later on That Day...

Hours after the Tournament had ended, the five members of Night Raid such as Leone, Lubbock, Tatsumi, Sayo and Ieyasu had met up with Akame within the Night Raid compound below a cliff.

"You're saying that Esdeath had taken this Flare person?" Akame asked.

"Yeah." Lubbock nodded. "But I couldn't tell if she was trying to either recruit him in her little Jaegers faction or..."

"Or what?" Akame asked.

"Trying to claim him for herself." Lubbock had said.

"Claim him for herself? You mean, own him?" Akame had asked.

"That's what it seemed. After winning, Esdeath knocked him out right in front of everyone and took him within the palace. And after that, the Tournament was canceled." Leone had stated.

Tatsumi sighed in disappointment. "I can't believe she set up a tournament just to find a boyfriend. Our village really needed that money." Tatsumi had thought of his village elder.

"You're not wrong, there." Ieyasu said as he crossed his arms and nodded.

"What do we do, now, Akame?" Sayo asked.

"Hm." Akame had placed a hand on her chin and thought. "If this Flare person is within Esdeath's custody, then there's nothing we can really do. All we can really do now is wait for boss to return." Akame had replied to Sayo and thought of Najenda.

"Right." Sayo nodded.

"Well, if that's the case. I'm going to continue training." Tatsumi said as he had begun walking toward the training yard.

Ieyasu flinched. "Hey, wait up, Tatsumi! You're not leaving me in the dust, forever!" Ieyasu screamed as he ran behind Tatsumi.

"What do you mean, "leave you in the dust, forever?" Tatsumi asked Ieyasu while walking toward the training yard.

"I'm not always gonna be a few steps behind you, you know!" Ieyasu said as he walked behind Tatsumi.

Sayo sighed. "Sometimes, they act like idiots." Sayo said after watching her childhood friends leave the room.

"Yeah, but they're our idiots." Akame smiled.

"And don't forget this one, here." Leone pointed her thumb at Lubbock, whom was standing next to her.

"Tch!" Lubbock grunted after hearing Leone's comment. 'I'm not an idiot! You'll see!'

Meanwhile...

Within the palace grounds of the capital... Flare was currently tied to a chair with chains wrapped around his chest and arms. He was fully conscious and still had a black dog collar around his neck.

"Um, Esdeath? Why am I tied to a chair like this?" Flare asked Esdeath.

"Because, I am about to introduce you to my new team." Esdeath had kneeled and stroked his right cheek with her cold and soft hands.

"Your team?" Flare asked.

"Yes." Esdeath nodded and blushed. "But don't worry, Flare. As of this moment, you are now an official Jaeger." Esdeath smiled and blushed.