Chapter 10: Reunite and raid
Next morning
Tatsumi's POV
The guards were unable to find the body where he fell. They kept searching from high and low, and they were unable to find his body. While Tatsumi head straight to the hall and finds two members of Jaeger eating their breakfast.
Wave noticed Tatsumi's eyes were darkened, asking him, "Morning, Tatsumi. Heard he spoke to you? What did he tell you?"
"He told me…that he plans to mess with Esdeath. He never told me anything else besides to mess with Esdeath." said Tatsumi, covering him up since he was the one who was supposed to rescue him, instead he plans to head straight to the mountain.
"So, I assume that is…Satsujinki, right? Then how in the world did he manage to sneak in this palace because we have dozens of traps, lots of guards?" said Wave, drinking his coffee while he noticed Kurome was still eating her candies.
"I doubt he is. I still don't know how he did it. If you're asking me if I knew that person, then I don't know him much." said Tatsumi, scratching his head as he still kept wondering how he managed to sneak in.
"I would like to fight Satsujinki and have him collect since he can sneak in here. If I cross his path, then I will fight him," said Kurome, eating a few pieces of candies.
Tatsumi felt like he had seen her before. But familiar to him. He couldn't help but ask before she saw him and kept her candies to herself.
"You can't have my candies," said Kurome, guarding her bag of candies.
"No…you misunderstood me. I do have a question for you because you look like that girl, Akame from a wanted poster."
"You're right. She looks familiar to me. I've been wondering about it." said Wave, feeling familiar with her face.
"Ah right. Forgive me if I confuse you with someone else. That would be my sister. Originally, she was a member of the Empire until the day, she decided to betray the Empire. If I meet her, I would gladly, kill her with my own hands. As long as I don't care what happens to me." said Kurome, giving herself a huge smile while the duo were surprised as their spines were chill.
The next thing he saw was a man in mid 40s with grey hair and with huge, scurvy white beard, wearing his eyeglasses, eating his sandwich while writing on his notes. He never recognizes him, since he was never part of Jaeger. He starts to ask him," I have never seen you here this before. Who are you?"
"Oh, forgive me. I didn't notice you were guys here. Where are my manners? My name is Klein and I don't believe we ever met this before." said Klein, introducing his name as he offered his hand.
Tatsumi shook his hand before responding, "Tatsumi. My name is Tatsumi and…unfortunately, I've been stuck with Esdeath because I never asked for it."
"My condolences, Tatsumi. It's nice to meet you and I heard Satsujinki sneaked in your room? Did he tell you what he wants?"
"Unfortunately, I don't know what he wants from me. From what I know, he told me that he keeps annoying Esdeath. That's all I know of."
While they were both interrupted by Esdeath making her announcement, "All right everyone. I do have a plan to ambush Night Raid at Mount Fake. Maybe Satsujinki might be there too. So keep your eyes open just in case they might bite back."
She looked at Klein was done talking to Tatsumi before he left, "Oh, forgive me. If you may excuse me, I'm going back to research about summoning Holy Grail War."
He left the room already as Tatsumi was wondering what the Holy Grail War was? Was that about some kind of legend kinds of stuff?
"Oh don't mind him, Tatsumi. Just ignore him because he is far obsessed with the Holy Grail War. I can see why the Prime Minister is far interested about the Holy Grail War. From what I know, he does have evidence that can grant any kind of wishes."
"I thought it was made-up stuff for legends?" said Tatsumi, doubting what Klein was doing in his research.
"I hope so. Back on topic, Kurome and Wave will be coming too. Until evening, we will be hunting for tree man cells. Once we get there, me and Kurome will search on east side. Wave and Tatsumi will search on the west side. One more thing, I have never seen Kurome's ability because I haven't seen her use it." said Esdeath, adjusting her hat before making her comment to Wave, "As your captain...I need to make sure about your abilities."
"Wait…does this mean…I pass?" said Wave, being surprised as he used it yesterday while clearing bandit camp.
"Tell you what. You are a good teacher. Your strength is perfect. You should be proud of this." said Esdeath, smiling at Wave as he felt motivated by her words, "Once we are done at dusk, Tatsumi will be with me."
"Huh? No way! This opportunity might be good with Wave but I don't want to get stuck with Esdeath." Tatsumi's thought as he knew he needed to create his diversion. From what he remembers, Shiki told him that he would find a huge tree as he mentioned before. He was wondering what kind of tree was he talking about.
While Dr. Stylish overheard Esdeath's conversation and he started to suspect Tatsumi. He doesn't trust Tatsumi since he might be one of them. The question is, why didn't Satsujinki take Tatsumi out from here?
Later…
Wave and Tatsumi trek on the west side as these dirt roads are very treacherous to them. They had to be careful as long as they didn't slip out or cause an accident.
"I do know lots of kind monsters out there but this mountain… I don't know about this place," said Wave, taking his look endless sky as if it covered the whole area from his height before he moved back where he didn't want to fall.
"Tell you what. This mountain does have lots of monsters. They prefer camouflage and can take us for surprise from ambush. However, you need to be wary of these rocks on this path. There's no telling if it is fake or not." said Tatsumi, walking calmly as he knew he had training from Balut.
He knew this place, which makes him remember the day he took his training before Balut died, to fight against the undead. He had to let go because it won't bring him back anymore.
'Say...you got your skill, right? If these monsters pop up, please let me know." said Wave, trying to make his conversation without making it awkward.
Tatsumi's face became deadpanned as he knew what is he doing, "Thanks. I'm being used to treat like I know nothing."
"Ah...I know what you mean. Because somehow you remind me of myself."
"Huh? Then what do you mean?" said, Tatsumi stopping on his track as he looked back before Wave's face became awkward.
"How do I say...you know my team? Maybe some kind of problem I had? Or was it?"
"Ok. Ok. I get it. By the way, you know this Mt Fake has a huge tree? It is said that the forest used to be a dangerous beast that used to devour lots of people and animals here. No one else came from this forest alive. Now it's dead."
"Oh yes. I've heard the story of this before. Wasn't it like a hundred thousand years ago? The legend says the hero once fought against the demonic tree and destroyed its core, and it has never risen again. Or that's what it says. I think it was a special class?"
Tatsumi remembers Shiki telling him to use its distraction since it is time to make it look like they fight against trees and rocks. Once they found a huge deformed tree that they had never seen it huge before. Was this tree named Einnash? A vampire? No. It cannot be.
Tatsumi decides to look closer before Waves calls him, "WATCH OUT!"
Wave pulls him back safely before they notice numerous trees and rocks come out alive.
Wave smiles at him, "Looks like we are going to be busy."
"Then let's get it done."
They both fight against beasts, while Tatsumi uses his chance to escape without having Wave notice him.
Once he uses his Teigu to transform into Incursio armor to hide his face, made his way to escape by himself from Wave. He is nearly free until he is caught by Wave who he is using the same Teigu as Tatsumi had.
"Oh. Looks like I caught a bigger fish." said Wave, instantly recognizing the user's armor, "I know that Teigu. The prototype for my grand chariot. And I knew you were a member of Night Raid."
He puts his fists as his body starts to stance as he is about to ready.
Does Wave recognize Tatsumi using his Teigu? No. He never saw his face, and he is using his armor to hide his face. He felt he had no choice left but to fight him. The next thing, Tatsumi noticed Shiki standing behind Wave's back.
Shiki intentionally let his intense bloodlust on Wave's back as he felt being intense. He couldn't move his body, nor could turn his head. Wave couldn't feel Shiki's presence, and now he is unable to move. All is, he could move his eyes.
"Good armor you got there, Wave," said Shiki, giving his signal to Tatsumi as he moved on ahead, leaving Wave and Shiki behind to be dealt with.
"S...Satsujinki?"
"Mmm...I can think of many ways to cut your armor. Maybe desiccated your whole armor, but not today." said Shiki, starting to chuckle as he pats on his back. He moves around to give him a view of Shiki so that he will know his face.
"You...you're that guy from the tournament! You're that guy who is wearing a blindfold!" said Wave, instantly, recognizing him back from the tournament. He tried to move but his body didn't listen to him anymore.
"It's been a pleasure to meet you face to face, Wave. I sure hope we will meet again. And tell…Esdeath, it's been fun." said Shiki, heading toward to the forest as Wave is still being frozen. All is, he could watch him disappear into the forest.
Once his body starts to drop his right hand starts shaking which he never felt before. He is unable to go after him and now decides to report about missing Tatsumi and Satsujinki.
At Night Raid Base
Shiki's POV
Shiki sat on his chair, drinking his coffee while the rest of the Night Raid members were able to be glad Tatsumi came home alive. Tatsumi was able to live to tell about Jaeger's strength while recounting his event yesterday.
"That's all I say. And lastly, I heard Shiki managed to break the palace?" said Tatsumi, looking at Shiki, enjoying his drinking.
"I've heard. This quite unbelievable how he breaks that palace. I thought they caught him after they raised their alarm. Now he came back here without being captured and I was wondering how in the world did he managed to make his job easier?" said Lubbock, heard it made happen since it is the first time for someone to break the palace.
"Nothing is impossible for me to get in or out. Compared with palace and Lourve's castle, they're really easy to break in." said Shiki, starts to laugh a little bit before putting his coffee on the table, "So my job is done. I'll take my leave."
Before Akame was able to stop him she asked him one last time, "I have a question about my sister., Shiki."
"So what? Spit it out."
"Since my sister belongs with Empire and now she wields her Teigu that raises dead people. It's called, Yatshusa. I was wondering, can you kill people, just like how you hunt nest with Leone?"
He turns back as he smiles at her, "Easy. I can kill her or make her disappear without a trace. Is it because you can't face against your sister?"
While Len approached Shiki as she wrote on her paper, Master, I'm back. I have a report for you about Klein and Valesti.
"Len, you're here. Shall we go and grab food for you while we are here?" said Shiki, patting Len's head before she nods her head, "Looks like I have to stay here a bit longer. Say...don't you have food to prepare for Tatsumi's return?"
While they all celebrate Tatsumi's return, except Shiki doesn't. He is bored at the party until Akame approaches him, thanking him.
"Thank you for bringing him back here, Shiki," said Akame, felt relief Tatsumi came back alive.
"It's just merely a job. I did a favor for my old friends back in a few years ago after I helped them to hunt vampires down."
"Include Dead Apostle Ancestors?"
He nodded his head as she knew what he meant. She smiles as she acknowledges him, without a word as she goes back to her party. While Shiki stood as he was about to leave. But he felt his sense was telling him. He looks outside at the forest. He knew what he felt there were a couple of people near Night Raid's base. He suspects there is one person who might be from Jaeger.
Was it Wave? No...he knew he had a familiar feeling...it is Dr Stylish.
It's time for him to hunt the prey down. Once he jumps down from at least no more than 5 stories as he lands gracefully without waking them up. He walks toward the forest to find Dr. Stylish.
While Dr. Stylish was happy to find the Night Raid base, along with his three modified soldiers. He would rather take his credit so that he can have his experiment against Night Raid members. The next thing, the man with bulky with big eyes, able to see a figure is coming out from the base.
"Sir. I could see someone coming out from base. Does he know we are out here?"
"I guess he knew we were here. This leaves me no choice but to lose our surprise attack. It's time to let this show begin." said Stylish, giving his signals to a dozen enhanced soldiers while he noticed Shiki still kept walking as he met five enhanced soldiers.
"Keep an eye on the man with a blindfold. He might be Satsujinki." said Stylish, observing on blind man being surrounded by 5 enhanced soldiers. He thinks Satsujinki will be done in the fastest way.
While Shiki used his afterimage as soon as he managed to cut them, like, sashimi. Five enhanced soldiers just fall apart as Dr. Stylish is surprised that Shiki can slice them with his knife. Shiki looked at Stylish's eyes and thus met their eyes.
Shiki smiles as he uses his knife, pointing at Stylish, "That's where you are."
With Night Raid members woke up as they defended themselves and were able to defeat the rest of the soldiers with ease. While Tatsumi jumps high as soon as he lands next to Shiki, "Why didn't you warn us?"
"I just had to warm up before hunting my prey down," said Shiki, smiling at Tatsumi.
They were both met by a huge muscle man with a mustache, holding Scheele's former Teigu, Ecstas, "Finally...I got to meet you face to face as Night Raid and...Satsujinki."
"You got that Teigu..." said Tatsumi, noticing that disgrace doesn't know how to handle her scissors. He would have been angry if Sheele died, but she's still alive, along with Akiha Tohno.
While due were surprised as they saw the fire start to shoot up, like a flare as they saw Sheele and Akiha come out from the forest. Tatsumi smiled as he saw Sheele come to rescue Night Raid along with Akiha in this scene.
"Sheele! I knew you were coming!"
"I know." said Sheele, smiling at him before facing her opponent, "He is mine. He has no right to use my Teigu."
"Oh, this? Oh right...I know you. You are supposed to be dead. I can't wait to cut you into a few pieces!" said a tall man with a mustache, starts laughing at her.
Sheele's face becomes angry as she cracks her fists loudly which stops him from his laughter.
"Only fools will have the last laugh before you will meet my fists." said Sheele, feeling her anger rising, "I dare you to cut me into a few pieces."
"Oh ho ho! You sure got a death wish!"
He moves forward as he starts to cut her down but Sheele manages to stop its edge with her own hands. She doesn't care if her hands get cut, instead, her body is made out of steel or at least less human beings.
She managed to snatch his scissors away from him and it hit the ground before she punched his stomach and made it hole. He has a last breath before he asks her, "Wh...what the...hell are...you?"
"Just being a corpse. Less human and nothing else," said Sheele, staring at him coldly before he died.
While Mine arrived at this scene as she found her dear old friend, standing in front of her eyes. She remembers her hair used to be purple and now white. Now she is crying as Sheele notices Mine is crying in front of her.
Sheele approaches Mine as she hugs her, "I'm back." It was her small words coming from Sheele.
"Wel...welcome back, Sheele!" said Mine, hugging her tightly as she cried more. Tatsumi saw as he smiled before thanking Shiki.
Shiki is about to head straight to the forest as he meets numerous enhanced soldiers. He doesn't care as long as anyone gets in his way. He cuts them down as he keeps moving to find Dr. Stylish. The next thing he looked up as he saw was a flying beast which was commanded by Najenda.
"Hey, kid. You got new friends coming here," said Shiki, pointing out at Najenda before slicing the attacker's head.
"Oh that's good to know," said Tatsumi, feeling happy as they all fight together, along with Sheele and Akiha.
"All right guys! We are going to mow them down while we stand!" said Tatsumi, boasting their morale before they all fell, except Shiki, Sheele, and Akiha never did.
"What's going on here? Don't tell me...someone else releases poison?" said Akiha, starting to suspect someone else releases biological weapons.
"No. It can't be. Now we are defenseless." said Tatsumi, looking at his comrade before Akiha changed her hair from black to red.
"Just leave it to me. I'll take care of it," said Akiha as she released her invisible strings and it touched on every enhanced soldier. The next thing they start being burned alive before they all scatter around.
Every Night Raid members were all amazed by Akiha's ability while they felt their poison slowly wear their effects off soon.
Akiha drops on her knee as she has to take her breath before Shiki checks on her, "Sis, you don't have to do it. You do realize that you made a consequence?"
"I know I take the risk, brother. Not unless you have to stay alive to stay with Arcuied," said Akiha, smiling at him before he helped her to stand up before an unknown person came down from the flying beast. He took his hood off, thus revealing two horns on his head.
All is they could hear Najenda give her order to a mysterious person, "Alright, Susanoo! Exterminate every enemy and you are not allow them to escape alive!"
"Got it, boss," said Susanoo, responding to her command as he managed to wipe them out with ease. The next thing every dead bodies starts blowing him up and ends up killing him.
All members of Night Raid were surprised before the smoke disappeared, revealing Susanoo lost his left arm before he could regenerate his arm.
"Heh. Looks like, Nrvnqsr Chaos's successor but he is unable to match his skills," said Shiki, remembering the day they first met back in the old days.
Susanoo walks toward Mine as he pats her head, "There you go."
Mine is being confused as the rest of the members were all relieved by newly reinforcement. Shiki approaches Susanoo as he makes his comment, "You sure know how to regenerate your lost limbs. If you would have been DAA on the list, then I would have ended your existence being."
Susanoo looks at him with his disgusted face against Shiki, "Then what are you? You are not a member of Night Raid, are you? And I know you...you're not a human being anymore."
They both stare before Najenda calls him out as she finds Dr. Stylish and his associates at the top of the cliff, "Susanoo, I found them! Do not let them escape by any means! And Shiki, assist him if you can!"
Susanoo responds to her call as he makes his way to the top cliff while Shiki manages to catch him up as they find Dr. Stylish and his assistants are all trap. Nowhere for them to go. Nowhere to hide.
Dr. Stylish noticed two incomers as he saw a person wearing his blindfold, that covered his eyes with red bandages. He instantly, knew his name, Satsujinki.
"You...you're Satsujinki, right? I've been looking for you everywhere! I was a fan of your work! I studied your history and your castle, along with White Princess! I thought you were just a legend! It's been...10 years since I've been chasing you. Now I've finally met you in person for a long time. I do have a question...how does one become a vampire?" said Stylish, finally meeting the God of Death in person.
"Oh...I got a fan! If you're asking me, then fight me. Oh, by the way, I'm not a vampire. Just Dead Apostle Ancestor. This time you will regret soon." said Shiki, pointing his knife at him.
"Hahaha. I finally get to know you well! And unfortunately, I won't be captured." said Stylish, pulling out his vial from his pocket, "Once I'm done with Night Raids, I'm going to study you, Satsujinki. I'm going to explore every bit of yours."
This is his final trump card as he inserts his vial on his arm as he transform into a huge Danger Beat. He devoured three of his associates and now he ate them all to increase its strength. He starts to laugh as if he is insane, and decides to ask Shiki for one last time, "Then how will you kill me with your tiny little knife?"
Shiki smiles as he doesn't give him an answer. He starts to rush before he gets punched by a huge hand as he was sent before hitting the tree. The next he fell unconscious, as if he was far dead already.
Tatsumi, Akame, and Akiha arrive at this scene as they witness Shiki being punched as he is sent toward the forest. His body was hit like a brick as his whole body broke every bone. He fell asleep as if he were dead.
Akame is about to wake Shiki up before Akiha shouts at her, "STAY AWAY FROM HIM!"
"What?" said Akame as she felt her neck being grabbed by a hand before lying down on her back hard before she noticed Shiki holding his knife as he nearly poked Akame's right eye. Akame was scared as she nearly lost her eye before he spoke, "Ever wonder how it feels like your eyes being poked out?"
The way he spoke is a different person. He unwinds his right eye as he opens an eye before Akame knows what the priest is talking about. She closes her eyes and avoids staring at him to her death. Just like Zanku was.
"Tatsumi, don't. You cannot win against him," said Akiha, stopping Tatsumi before he protested.
"But he is going to kill her!"
"No. That is...Nanaya. That is his true nature side. If you fight against him, you'll be good as dead." said Akiha, knowing they wouldn't win against Nanaya Shiki whom he woke up from his deep sleep.
While the huge beast is about to smash Shiki and Akame where they are before it feels its hand being cut into a few pieces.
"And you're the one who woke me up from my deep sleep. I wonder...how many pieces am I going to cut? 17?" said Nanaya Shiki, starts laugh before he disappeared from their sight.
Dr Stylish looked around panicky before he felt his back stabbed as he turned his head, the next thing he saw was a person with glowing blue eyes underneath a full moon. He felt the dangerous beast slowly disappear, like dust as he no longer felt to move around anymore.
"I...I need to know your name...before I go." said Stylish, taking his final moment before disappearing soon.
He came close to his ear and started whispering, "Shiki. Nanaya Shiki."
Dr. Stylish finally disappears, along with the huge danger beast as he leaves no trace behind. Not a single corpse left. Nanaya starts laughing quietly as he looks at Night Raid members, "And you? You're just nothing but mere playing assassin games?"
Tatsumi and Akiha, stood still while they readied their stance before Tatsumi asked her, "Does he have...any weakness?"
"None of that I knew. All is I knew my own nii-san's weakness and now I don't know his weakness," said Akiha, starts to smile at him before Nanaya Shiki came closer to her without noticing him.
"If it isn't Shiki's little sister, am I glad to see you here. Tell me...how will I deal with the rest of the Night Raid members? To make them disappear? Or expose them with their weaknesses?" said Nanaya, smiling at her.
To Be continue...