Akame ga Clover

by stringdog

Death is the end…or is it? Reborn in a new world where magic is everything by Fate itself to counter a threat that violated the laws of nature Akame and Tatsumi must first regain their memories of their past live and then fight to protect the Clover Kingdom from the threats that it will face but who will accept people like them? The Black Bulls of course.

21. Chapter 21: Reception

Here is the twenty-first chapter in this story released when I wanted it to be released based of my release process for this series. The Diamond incident is over but there is still the wake of the dungeon mission to address so it's time for a report on that and as the Wizard King plans to invite those who participated in the mission to the Distinguished Service Ceremony, which might get a little lively, he's going to need some trusted eyes to make sure things don't get too out of hand. What could possibly go wrong with this? Anyway, that is all I have for the administrative stuff I have for y'all and there are no guest reviews that need a response or questions to answer so I will end this here. Do keep them coming as your support is the best motivation for me to keep producing chapters at this kind of rate. That is it for this pre-chapter note so it is time to sit back and enjoy the twenty-first chapter in Akame ga Clover.

Disclaimer: I own nothing related to these two great animes.

Chapter 21: Reception

"Akame, Tatsumi, orders have come in for you two." Yami said as he walked into the common room just before breakfast to see that they were there along with a still passed out Vanessa, Grey and Gordon in their usual seats, Charmy who was preparing food, and thankfully Finral who'd only just arrived before Yami, so he didn't have to get him out of bed. "The Wizard King wants to see you."

It was the day after the strange man called Zell had shown up naked chasing Noelle which had in turn led to an attack from a contingent of mages from the Diamond Kingdom to try and catch him. The Black Bulls had helped him escape, reunite with his fiancée Domina, and end the attack. In the process they learned that the attack had been orchestrated by a former pupil of Zell's that, following advice from Asta several months back, had decided to leave her life as an assassin for the Diamond Kingdom and turn herself in to atone for her crimes and she used the Black Bulls to aid her by taking out the unit that was watching her.

The girl, apparently called Mariella according to Asta, had succeeded in her plan with several of the attackers, including their commanding officer, being killed and the rest captured but Mariella had made one near fatal error for herself, she'd not factored in the Black Bulls having an assassin of their own who led the counter attack. Akame had figured out that someone was manipulating the attack and charged first to take the leader into custody and went for Mariella, killing the commanding officer in the process.

Marielle had tried to fight back but she was no match for Akame in head to head combat and was wounded pretty badly. That was when she revealed her plan and Akame, who empathized with her as she'd been through something similar, knocked her out and had her sent to where Asta, Noelle, and Finral were with Zell and Domina in the black market in Kikka. They were able to patch Mariella up, though she'd likely have a long scar on her abdomen from Murasame, and she relayed the full plan and intel before she was allowed to leave with Zell and Domina to start a new life in hiding.

Between that and learning that Zell was actually Fanzell Kruger the leader of the Diamond Kingdom's invasion force when they tried to conquer the Clover Kingdom the Black Bulls had kinda messed up but they didn't care as it was clear that Zell and Mariella were trying to leave that life behind. Still, it wasn't best optics so they'd decided not to mention who Zell was and just hand over the intel and captured mages and leave the rest up Julius.

That had all been yesterday and now it seemed like the Wizard King wanted Akame and Tatsumi to head into the Capital to see him. Despite all that they did for him and the Clover Kingdom, now that their unit was set up they seldom met the Wizard King in person anymore so this was a surprise and Tatsumi voiced as much in response to the news as Charmy's Sheep Cooks brought them breakfast now instead of waiting for everyone to be up to enjoy it together.

"He does?" Tatsumi asked surprised. "Usually he doesn't really send for us directly."

"Might be due to my actions yesterday." Akame admitted. "I did act a little hasty in killing that guy who I thought was just some spotter."

"There's still a review on that." Yami said as they began to eat the food that the Sheep Cooks had brought them, most of it for Akame given her large appetite, and Yami explained more while Akame ate at the speed of an assassin that he still didn't understand as even Charmy couldn't eat that fast. "But I am sure the Wizard King will give you an update on that when you get there. However, this is unrelated to what happened yesterday as he doesn't want you to wear your Squad robes. There is also a request from Knights Headquarters for a report on the dungeon mission so I'll send Asta and Noelle to the Capital to deliver that, Luck's going to have another mission with Magna which is more to his talents than dealing with HQ."

"Huh, that's a bit of a surprise." Akame said as she finished her food while Tatsumi was still eating though he finished a moment later. "But ok, when does he want us?"

"As soon as possible actually." Yami said relaying the news from the letter Mushroom Head had handed him the day before after the attack had ended. "Finral, take them to that tower in HQ, you know the one that is open and seldom used, that's where Julius wants to meet them."

"Er sure." Finral said with a sigh at being used as nothing more than transportation as his grimoire floated up and the couple took off their robes and left them on one of the tables in the common room to collect later. "One portal coming up."

The portal formed in the air in front of Tatsumi and Akame as they finished eating. Without a moment's hesitation the couple stepped through and a second later walked out and into the center of a circular tower's top level with a staircase up to it, a table thing to one side with a two bundles on it and open views around under the dome. Instantly the pair felt a familiar ki and turned to see the Wizard King already there smiling and waiting for them.

"Hello you two, glad you could make it and sorry for any confusion after the little incident yesterday as this was planned before that dungeon mission I sent the Black Bulls and Golden Dawn on but in the wake of that mission ." Julius said to the couple. "See, thanks to that I plan on showing my thanks by inviting those who went on it to an event today but because of who some of them are there may be a situation later that I want you on hand to deescalate if need be. Don't worry I'll give you a full writ to act under my authority, the only rules are to not let your faces be seen or to kill anyone, that would be problematic."

"Problematic?" Tatsumi asked. "How so?"

"Well you see, today is one of the Distinguished Service Ceremonies that I periodically hold throughout the year." Julius said. "In it I recognize various Magic Knights who have earned a large amount of stars in a short amount of time and then promote them to higher levels within the Magic Knights. It's a way to honor good service and the recipients and their Captains are invited to it."

"Ok so not something we're usually part of." Akame said. "Got it."

"Your service to the kingdom is invaluable to me but alas I can't reward you two, or Mine and Chelsea for that matter, for what you do." Julius said. "But you know that. You aid the kingdom in ways that must remain unacknowledged,"

"It is what we are trained for." Tatsumi said. "And we work better in the shadows. In our old lives we knew we'd never be remembered after the Empire fell, and seeing as we died we're probably just two more fatalities in the final battle."

"We made it there though so who knows but I agree with Tatsumi we work in the shadows and do the dirty work taking out the worst trash that others can't and which is better for the kingdom to not know about." Akame said. "And so long as the orders are valid and backed up we will follow them."

"That I have no doubt." Julius said with a smile. "And right now thanks to your work both with the Highballs and that unexpected Diamond attack we've got plenty of information to act on. The Highballs' actions have led to more legit investigations being carried out by the Blue Rose Knights and Crimson Lion Kings to expose a network they were part of, but it was thanks to you that we could start this. The Diamond attack is still fresh so we're getting intel as we speak and unfortunately we didn't capture any high ranking people."

"Er, yeah, sorry about that." Akame said. "I take responsibility for that mistake. I guess I'm going to fail my review then?"

"In this case it was unavoidable, you went for the right target though she seems to have slipped away." Julius said though he wasn't worried, he had a feeling he knew where that girl had gone and was fine leaving her for the time being as something told him that in the long run she would be of better service to the kingdom free than in custody. "So for now you haven't failed but you are on thin ice Akame, no pun intended. One more slip up and you will fail your upcoming pardon review."

"I accept that, I made a judgement call in the heat of an attack on my home that I'd make again in a heartbeat, and I'll live with it." Akame said with a bow of her head. "When in battle decisions are made in the moment and I don't regret mine."

"That I understand." Julius said. "And while I know that that battle is still fresh for you I must request your aid today as well."

"With this ceremony?" Tatsumi asked. "But you can't publicly acknowledge what we do so what aid will we be?"

"True I can't and it's not actually the ceremony itself that I need your aid with." Julius said. "But rather the reception afterwards where the recognized Magic Knights, their Captains, and the guests I'm inviting will mingle and enjoy some food together before they head back to their respective headquarters."

"Food?" Akame asked. "Like meat?"

"Don't worry, for watching out over this I'll have the chef there make you two a special private meal somewhere nice and secluded afterwards." Julius said. "He's the best around by the way and with my request he'll give it his all to give you a meal that will surpass any you've had here, or at least try to do so anyway."

"Alright so what are our orders?" Akame asked as Tatsumi sighed, food was always a great way to bribe his girlfriend though this could be a nice romantic meal for them as well.

"Can I just ask two things." Tatsumi said and Julius nodded. "First why are we needed?"

"Because I was the one requesting the report on that dungeon mission." Julius said. "Mainly because I want to meet Asta and Yuno in person at last, both are such intriguing and promising rookies that I feel will go far, and they will be invited to the ceremony and reception as well. The issue arises regarding who else is coming to give their report with Asta and Yuno. It's probably fine for Yuno and likely Klaus Lunettes and Mimosa Vermillion who accompanied him on the mission because there are some Golden Dawn members being recognized today, though Yuno's common birth may be an issue for some of the more classist people attending, but no Black Bulls will be there and, well, if Noelle Silva comes…"

"Oh she's going, the Captain is sending her." Tatsumi said. "He's not sending Luck though, just Asta and Noelle."

"Then I fear that things might get heated though without Luck Voltia it won't be too bad, he's a little too lively at times from the reports I've read." Julius said. "Noelle being present will raise an issue as her brother Solid and sister Nebra are being recognized today and as her oldest brother Nozel is their Captain so he'll be there as well. Nozel has been more distant than mean to Noelle, though he's not been kind to her, from what I've gathered but the other two, well they're not great examples of royals."

"That bad?" Tatsumi asked. "We can tell that Noelle has some familial issues, she's in our Squad and not her family's one after all, but we don't ask about them."

"Even to their own the royals can be bad if they see that person as a failure who brings dishonor to their family, which unfortunately House Silva does with Noelle." Julius said with a sigh. "In fact they, along with Kirsch Vermillion and the notable members of House Kira have the very mentality that I am fighting to change as Wizard King. Leopold Vermillion has some class based prejudices but his siblings are good role models so I am sure he'll overcome them in time when he sees that there are strong commoners, that branch of House Vermillion has always been good like that, and Noelle being with the Black Bulls will help her a lot both in terms of controlling magic and dealing with her ingrained prejudices."

"I see." Akame said as she understood though her mind was still partially on enjoying some delectable meat with Tatsumi after the ceremony was over. "And if they start anything with Noelle then Asta will defend her honor, he's like that and they're already really close, not that she'll admit it, and that could lead to an escalation of violence. Asta is, after all, the lowest born of commoners like myself so he won't be accepted by many at this ceremony but he won't back down from a fight either if one breaks out."

"That is what I fear." Julius said. "And if I'm honest I expect something will happen so I want you two in position above them, the ceiling is high enough that no one looks up and there is a nice ledge to stand on, and then be willing to act when you see fit. Let Asta show off a bit, he's a commoner, an orphan from the Forsaken Realm in fact, and so if he can show up some nobles and royals then let him for a bit. Then, when the time is right, act to end it though I'll leave that time up to you. This is why you can't kill or be recognized, though I know that Asta and Noelle will do so, but if you need to knock out some of them then you have my authority to, even if they're royals."

"Not like we'd care either way, we've faced corrupt royalty before so this isn't new to us." Akame said with a shrug. "But sure though I don't have magic that can conceal me like Tatsumi does."

"Well I did use Incursio in my entrance exam." Tatsumi said. "Though I doubt it will be remembered."

"Captain Charlotte may recall it, you did knock out a girl who she recruited, but I think Venalia's crimes will outweigh that." Julius said. "And the other Captains will have probably forgotten as it was over a year ago."

"That is good." Tatsumi said. "Though we could still be recognized if someone looks up and acting will reveal Akame."

"Which is why I had these prepared by the Magic Tool Research Lab." Julius said and he gestured to the bundles on the table that Akame and Tatsumi noticed were folded up gray robes. "I'll give some to Mine and Chelsea as well, not that the latter ever needs it, but I feel like you need some kind of outfit for when you act so I had these commissioned though I didn't say why. Your actions have garnered you the name Night Raid again so why not play into it with some robes and they are tools so magic has been used on them. They're not perfect but if you stand still then they will slowly adapt to the background and you'll blend in though sudden movement will cause you to be revealed."

"Works for me." Akame said as she took the smaller looking robe off the table and put it on, the orders had said not to wear their Squad robes so she was able to easily put it on and it fell down to her ankles while comfortably covering her long hair. "So long as I can get Murasame out I'm good."

"It was made with that in mind." Julius said as Tatsumi put on his own robe and pulled up the hood so that the cowl fully covered his head, the shadow cast by it covering his face more than he thought it should showing that that was another feature of the robe without obscuring his vision, but with ki he didn't need his eyes. "A fitting look for your work."

"Yeah, I like it." Tatsumi said as Akame did the same with her hood. "It will come in handy, thank you sir."

"It will be updated in time but should work well for this assignment." Julius said. "And now that that is over, you had a second question for me Tatsumi. What was it?"

"Oh right, well I was wondering if you're going to be there as well?" Tatsumi asked. "At the reception that is, I presume that you have to be at the ceremony but if you're asking for us to assist you I want to make sure that you're not going to be at the reception."

"You are correct that I won't be there and that is why I need you two there and why you have my full authority to deescalate the situation should it start to get out of hand, short of killing of course." Julius said as he withdrew a rolled up writ and handed it to Tatsumi. "There is something I must investigate personally once the ceremony is over. It is of the utmost importance that I do so as I feel like I'm closing in on this elusive enemy I've been sensing, likely they are the people behind that attack on Saussy Village, so I will use the ceremony as cover and sneak out before the reception to complete my investigation. Marx won't be happy but it's for a good reason."

"That does sound like you." Tatsumi said as he put the writ away in a pocket with a feeling that he'd have to show it at some point today. "Very well, we'll do this for you Wizard King."

"I know you will now please get into position." Julius said as he pulled out a second set of instructions on how to get to the reception hall and handed them to Akame. "I must meet the dungeon teams now so it would behoove you to head there now."

"Of course." The pair said in unison as they saluted the Wizard King and Julius smiled at them before he suddenly left in a flash of magic.

"Let's go." Akame said as she opened the instructions and read them. "We need to find vantage spots and be in position well ahead of time so that whatever magic is in these robes has time to work."

"Agreed." Tatsumi said as the leapt out of the tower and onto the top of the roof and began to run towards where the reception was being held. "I'll follow your lead in setting up as you know this kind of thing best though when the time comes I'll act when necessary and trust you to do the same."

Akame just nodded at that, she trusted Tatsumi's judgment and he hers so they were good on that front, as she ran on ahead and Tatsumi fell into step behind her. They had a mission, and they'd see it out to the end. Given who was going to be there both of them expected that this would be interesting to say the least.

---

The moment was drawing near, the couple could feel it as they stood on ledges that jutted out from the walls high above the circular room while the Magic Knights who'd just been honored for their service, their Captains, Asta, Noelle, and three Golden Dawn members who with them and not the other honored members, began to file into the room. The pair had been there for a little over and hour and no one had noticed thanks to the camouflage feature of the cloaks that allowed them to blend into the background behind them after staying still for a while.

Thankfully they'd found this out early as they got the room, a large one at the top of a tall cylindrical tower, and used a conveniently open upper window in the roof to slip into it. Then they took up positions across from each other on the ledge that wrapped around the room over the high windows and stood still. The moment they were still the cloaks began to take on the color of the walls which was how the camouflage worked and so they kept still, something their training allowed them to do without much issue, and observed waiting to see if their intervention was needed.

They waited as the tables were set up, servers in the livery of the special Squad that directly served Julius came in to the buffet table, and round tables were set up for the Magic Knights present to congregate at and chat. The entire time this was going on no one looked up, which to Akame at least showed poor training, so they were able to watch the set up as they prepared for any eventuality.

The whole set up, both the layout and process, had this formal air to it that was fitting for the situation but both Tatsumi and Akame knew that something was going to happen, their instincts and experiences told them that it would. That moment was soon upon them as the Magic Knights filed in chatting in groups based on the Squads they were in, Golden Dawn, Crimson Lion Kings, Silver Eagles, and Blue Rose Knights it seemed, for the most part at least, and the Magic Knights got food and drinks.

It was clear that one thing was certain, those who'd come here as invitees and ere not getting awards or the Captains of those being recognized, which oddly didn't include the Golden Dawn Captain despite a few members being recognized, were out of place by comparison. Naturally, Asta didn't seem to care about that as he got plenty of food and began to eat while commenting on how good the food was and showing his low birth with his lack of manners, not that either Akame or Tatsumi cared there. He even asked Noelle and the Golden Dawn trio, who were clearly his friends now, to join him.

Interestingly, one of the three Golden Dawn members, a girl that had to be around Asta's age joined him at his suggestion, as Noelle looked on clearly uncomfortable at that. Tatsumi couldn't see their faces from his spot but Akame could and she noted that the Golden Dawn girl had a warm smile on her face and a slight blush on her cheeks as she ate with Asta which showed to Akame that she was comfortable around him.

Meanwhile the two other Golden Dawn in that group, a tall handsome boy with black hair and an older teen with the rigid attitude of a noble wearing glasses, sipped water as they looked around the room uncomfortably. They were out of place even as members of the top Squad and it was noticeable to all to see.

There was a tension in the air that pretty much everyone could feel, a sense of foreboding that the couple looking down on the scene knew all too well. Add in the meanness in the ki in the room coming from two people with silver hair wearing Silver Eagle robes as well as a mix of arrogance, distain, and even disgust, in the others' ki as Asta began to dig in with his lack of manners and a boiling point was about to be reached. The contempt was clear to anyone and there were comments that were designed to put commoners down but Asta just let them wash off him as he was clearly used to it.

Things began to heat up when one of the Crimson Lion Kings present, there were only two and frankly the couple didn't care who they were though both had the bearing of high nobility if not royalty, began to taunt the Golden Dawn members over the commoner in their ranks. That person was the younger of the two with fiery red hair, they both had it and it was clear that they were brothers, who showed his classist attitudes as he looked down on the commoners present.

His words were met with little resistance as the other Golden Dawn members also showed that classism as well by agreeing that they as nobles had the ideals of the Squad and Captain not the commoner that was somehow in their Squad and now present. That commoner, the black haired teen, had to be Yuno, Asta's foster brother.

There was one exception to this from the Golden Dawn members, the fussy bespectacled man with the group who was apparently called Klaus, which was a name the Wizard King had mentioned as part of the dungeon debrief so it made sense to the couple that he was with Asta and Noelle. He was a noble and yet defended Asta and Yuno showing some change in attitude despite being talked down to by a senior member of his Squad who didn't like that he associated with the two commoners there.

That senior member continued to show his contempt for that group by then going after the girl with them, who was revealed to be a royal of House Vermillion meaning that she had to be the Mimosa that the couple had heard about, for getting wounded and withdrawing from the battle. However, once again Klaus defended her actions in the dungeon to his superior but clearly the man was too much of an ass to care.

As this made it clear to Akame and Tatsumi that something was coming that would tip the scales from simple snipe meanness from a bunch of elitist pricks and into some form of conflict soon. The situation was clearly worsening and the tension building moment by moment, especially the attack on Mimosa which really seemed to get Asta annoyed though as they knew she was the one who saved his life that made sense, and the point of no return was coming.

That point came a moment later when an older teen in a Silver Eagles uniform with the hair style, color, clothes, and symbol of House Silva and was one of the two who's ki reeked of meanness stated that they knew who the true inept one in that group was. He then approached Noelle from behind holding his glass of water and the couple tensed knowing that this was it and that the man was almost certainly Noelle's brother Solid and the scales finally tipped into conflict when he poured his mostly full glass of water over Noelle's head as he insulted her.

Solid then ignored Klaus and continued to scold Noelle, being joined by an older girl with the same style and mean ki as Solid who must be Nebra, about how Noelle couldn't control her magic and was basically banished from the house for being a failure who shouldn't dare set foot in the noble realm. Even the third Silver Eagle present, who had to be the Captain and oldest of the four Silva siblings Nozel, spoke about how Noelle had let her one success go to her head and disgraced House Silva by even being here.

Noelle tried to point out that she was invited but Nozel didn't stop there. He didn't accept it and went as far as to order Noelle to leave and accuse her of killing their mother which was a line too far in the couple's mind. Clearly there was some serious family issues between the four Silva siblings and this was what the Wizard King was worried about.

That was about to come to a head because that line about killing their mother was too much for Asta and the couple grinned at the support he was giving their Squad mate as he grabbed her arm to prevent her from leaving. This was what the Wizard King had predicted and it was time to give Asta his moment to show off by going toe to toe with some royal brats. Well, for a bit before helping out.

"Don't run away Noelle, you don't need to do so from people like this." Asta said angrily, his voice carrying in the room as Akame and Tatsumi watched from their spots waiting for the right moment to intervein. "Unlike those people, you're actually worthy of being here."

"Asta…" Noelle began but he let go of her arm and got on the table to glare down at the three Silver Eagles, Tatsumi had to give it to his friend this was a bold move that took a massive set of stones to pull off and he was impressed, there was something to Asta in this moment that resonated with Tatsumi and he couldn't wait to see more.

"You were invited to this by the Wizard King in recognition of your service, so I figured that that meant that you had to be amazing, better than the others out there, that you were true Magic Knights." Asta began as his voice rose. "But you're three are just like all the rest of them, aren't you? Commoner, rat, disgrace, failure, dirt, shit, that's all you people think when you see someone like me which shows that you're not true Magic Knights, but you know what, I don't care if I fit in with people like you. Now watch, because…"

Before Asta could finish a grimoire in the group he wasn't addressing glowed and suddenly a rush of sand covered Asta where he was. As this was happening, the caster, a Golden Dawn mage that Tatsumi had heard called Alecdora who'd been the one to go after the others in his Squad with Asta and Noelle showing him to be the worst of the Golden Dawn present, told Asta to shut up though he called Asta a rat.

He was clearly pissed at how a commoner had spoken to them like that and one look between Tatsumi and Akame, even with the camouflage they could tell the other's position with ki, and it was clear that she'd deal with him when the time came. First, though, they wanted to enjoy the amusement of these assholes getting upstaged by a commoner that came as Asta drew his new sword and slashed through the sand nullifying the spell before it could form around him.

"Not a chance." Asta said in response to being told to shut up. "I'm speaking hear and you're not going to stop me."

"How dare a rat like you defy me." Alecdora roared. "I am…"

"I don't care what you are, you don't get to treat people like that and as a noble you should be better than that but clearly you aren't, so you shut up because I wasn't done." Asta said as he finished dispersing the spell. "Now listen up all of you, I'm going to get results unlike no one before me and I all do it as a commoner, a filthy rat in your eyes and you know why? Because I am going to become the Wizard King and prove people like you wrong."

Tatsumi grinned under his hood as he prepped his spell for when he was needed. This was getting really good and it was time for these pompous asses to get something that they no doubt had coming for a while. He was so glad for that writ because he was going to really play off Asta's words and actions and he knew that Akame would as well though he'd do the speaking, that wasn't her thing as she preferred to let her blades do the talking for her.

The reaction to Asta's words were rather mixed it seemed. Some were just unphased by it, two a chubby Golden Dawn guy and a dark skinned tall Blue Rose Knight woman who was likely a commoner as well, were still eating despite the scene unfolding around them, some were intrigued, and Nebra and Solid were stunned by that as if someone slapped them with wet fish. The group with Asta were almost as stunned for their own reasons but Tatsumi did note that the Yuno kid smirked and smiled at that, the boy was Asta's rival, and he was going to match his friend and brother which Tatsumi approved of.

"A rat like you becoming the Wizard King, not a chance in hell." Alecdora said breaking the tension somewhat. "It will never be allowed."

"A mere commoner, never going to happen, you're just naturally inferior to the likes of us and the sooner you learn your place the better." Nebra added as her brother Solid laughed though Tatsumi did note that the older of the Crimson Lion Kings, one of the few with a truly noble ki to him that held no judgement in it, was taking this seriously while the younger was starting to get impressed by Asta it seemed. "You've got to be joking. In fact, let me put you in your place right now so that you truly where you belong, brat."

"As will I dear sister." Solid said as their grimoires glowed. "Water Binding Magic: Sea Serpent's Coils!"

There was a rush of magic and a jet of water burst from the grimoire and coiled through the air taking the form of a snake with fangs, it even hissed which would have impressed Tatsumi if it wasn't being created by someone as horrible as Solid Silva. It twisted and spun through the air in an elaborate and needlessly pointless dance as it gave Asta more than enough time to get his sword in place.

"That's not going to work!" Asta roared as he slashed through the snake and dispersed it much to the shock of Solid.

"My turn." Nebra said. "Now, Mist Binding Magic: Mist Spider's Threads!"

This time mist burst forth and shot at Asta and began to encircle him in a cocoon. He let it and then slashed at the mist as it covered him, his sword cutting through the mist and dispersing it with another one of his yells. That clearly got to the upper class pricks in the room as it was now evident that Asta was nullifying their magic despite it being strong magic and proving that he was no ordinary commoner as he landed on the ground having leapt from the table in the process.

"I've got you now." Alecdora said and Tatsumi just smirked as it was clear that the noble thought he had a plan but this was Asta, and Tatsumi already knew enough to know that this wouldn't work in the long run. "Sand Creation Magic: Sand-Armored Guard!"

This time the attack, a giant armored creation that was made of compacted sand, well the upper half at least, erupted from the ground and wrapped Asta in it's arms in such a way that he couldn't use his sword. It was a good move, it would be a shame if Asta had a second sword that he could still access, and Klaus inadvertently bought Asta time to do just that by trying to defend Asta and that he'd learned his lesson only to be shut down by Alecdora.

"Your abhorrent behavior must be punished, rat, especially when it interferes with a grand occasion like the Distinguished Service Ceremony's Banquet." Alecdora said. "You defiled it with your mere presence and now I will be the one to rectify that."

"Don't tell me the Golden Dawn's gone and gotten all soft on us, Alecdora." Solid said as he stepped up beside the man and Tatsumi already knew that that bastard was his. "Restraining is not enough; you've got to beat the lessons into a lesser like this when they get presumptuous and think that they are above their lowly station in life. Violence is the only thing filth like this understands so you just have to hurt them until they understand where they belong in this kingdom."

"Solid, don't do it." Noelle pleaded and Tatsumi was ready to act but he saw the look in Asta's eyes as Solid created a spinning, pointed, cone of water and waited, his own sudden halt alerting Akame to not move just yet either. "If violence is how you see commoners then what does…"

"This will shut your mouth for good." Solid said a maniacal and sadistic grin on his face as he ignored Noelle. "Water Creation Magic: Holy Water Bullet!"

The blast shot at Asta as Noelle yelled but Asta was calm, Tatsumi could feel it in his ki and watched with a smile as the hilt of his sword came out of his grimoire and he punched through the sand to grab it while showing that the sand wasn't as compact as it was made out to be. Asta then cut the sand around him got the flat of his sword, the large one as he now had both in his hands, and hit the spell with it and blasted it back at Solid.

"I'm not done yet!" Asta roared as Solid tried to get some water up in time to block it which caused the now twice as strong attack that rebounded into him to explode. "Now apologize!"

That was the moment that Tatsumi and Akame knew it was time to act. Both activated their spells and leapt as the mist of the explosion from water striking water cleared to reveal that Solid had been brought to one knee by the blow from his own magic being sent back at him and in front of everyone had been clearly bested by a commoner.

"Why you, how dare you bring me to a knee!" Solid said as Tatsumi finished he leap and came down in full Incursio armor on his target. "I'm…ah!"

"Right where you belong I'd say." Tatsumi said cooly as the cracking sound of Solid's right lower leg breaking as Tatsumi landed on it filled the room right before his scream of pain. "Stay there, this supplication to your better standing before you is fitting for someone who would dare disgrace their status the way you have today."

The entire room, Asta and Noelle included, stared in wide eyed shock at the sight before them. Tatsumi knew it was a shock as he was there standing tall in his full Incursio armor, one foot still on Solid's broken leg and hand right on Solid's head forcing him to remain in that position with his face pointed straight at the ground as if he'd bowed his head in supplication to Asta. Add in the words that Tatsumi had said and you could hear a pin drop in the room.

Asta had no idea what Tatsumi was doing here or why he was in that armor, the one that was based off his Imperial Arms apparently, but clearly it was big as he was here. Even as he stood there he was ready for an attack as shields appeared next to him just in time to intercept several mercury spikes that slammed into them.

The mercury pierced them them but being stopped by the shields that Tatsumi then moved away before they could be melted to a liquid and continue on their path to Tatsumi, not that they'd reach him regardless. Nozel had acted quickly showing his skills but even he looked shocked as the shields repaired themselves and cut off the mercury so that it fell to the floor where it vanished before they returned to their positions protecting Tatsumi.

"Thanks, that makes my life easier now that I've had a taste of that Mercury Magic of yours but if I were you I'd keep quiet for a moment." Tatsumi said not looking at Nozel. "And try not move, it might get a little messy."

"Brother, what are you doing, help me!" Solid pleaded the pain clear in his voice as he was held there. "This attacker is…"

"Fully authorized to be here and do as I please to deescalate a situation that may arise due to cunts like you creating it." Tatsumi said as there was a popping sound on his armor and the writ appeared that he caught in the air and held aloft with the Wizard King's seal on it for all to see. "Authorized by the Wizard King to do whatever is necessary short of killing someone to end a conflict caused by, in this case, wounded pride. So even a royal excuse like this fair game."

"How dare you, stop him!" Solid roared. "Someone help me, I am a royal!"

"Yeah that might be a little tricky." Tatsumi said as he yanked Solid's head up to show him the room. "See, I'm not alone but a flashy entrance does hide the true danger that is present. I did tell your brother not to move as things might get messy so see for yourself how messy they might get."

Solid's eyes went wide as he saw before him was a frozen Alecdora, fear and indignation in his eyes and arms to his side as a katana, Solid only knew what one looked like because that damned foreigner who acted above his station carried one, across the Golden Dawn man's chest from the back with the top part pressed against his neck. The blade had cut deep enough to just cut the skin and let a trail of blood run down it to show that he was helpless.

Even more startling to Solid was who had the blade to the Golden Dawn man's neck. Standing behind Alecdora was what looked like a girl in a hooded gray cloak, there was clear swell in the chest area indicating the person was female, head low so that none of her face was visible with the katana in her hand, her body language deadly and her grimoire open.

That also got Asta and Noelle's attention as they too had been focused on Solid's predicament and they turned to look to see Akame there though they only knew that it was her because of the katana as they recognized her Murasame spell right away. Well that and the glance around that showed that every single person but Asta, Noelle, Yuno, Mimosa, and Klaus, had a blade floating at their throats.

It was either the blade or the point there and all were pressed against skin with a deadly calm that showed they'd kill before any could act to prevent it unless Akame let them. Between the girl who was clearly controlling them and her demeanor that made it clear she was no stranger to killing everyone was frozen.

"Useful, isn't it, while I make all the noise the true threat lands and makes sure you lot all take a nice breath and calm down." Tatsumi said the smile clear in his voice. "My partner there has a really rare attribute that is perfect for this, care to guess what it is."

"No, get off me." Solid said.

"I see." Nozel said his voice low mainly because of the knife at his throat that he didn't doubt could pierce it in a heartbeat, it seemed Julius was prepared when he invited Noelle and that thanks to Solid, Nebra, and Alecdora they were in this embarrassing predicament. "Blade Magic, I've heard of this attribute but never thought I'd see it given how rare it is. There is fine control and poise over all the blades in the air, looks like we've been thoroughly had. Julius was clearly expecting something so was prepared though who you two are I don't know. Regardless, I see that you've made your point; my brother has disgraced the family today despite being honored so you can let him go."

"Yeah that's not how this works pretty boy." Tatsumi said surprising Nozel. "See, I've been here the whole time, actually got here before you lot which shows how great your spatial awareness is, and heard everything so I'm going to make sure that this is sorted out right. Your brother did more than disgrace your family with his actions, he disgraced the Wizard King by attacking his personal guests and now he can see why they were invited seeing as a commoner with no magic just bested him. So I'm going to give him a chance to make some redemption."

Honestly, Tatsumi would have let everyone go with just Solid's broken leg if this had just been some annoying classist royals and a noble attacking a commoner for being here but what really pissed Tatsumi off was how Solid and Nebra had treated their own sister. Had it not been for how they'd all treated Noelle, who didn't deserve any of it and especially not Nozel's comment about their mother, then Tatsumi wouldn't have felt the need to make an example of Solid to show that this stuff wouldn't be tolerated by the Wizard King.

"What the hell, I've done nothing wrong." Solid protested. "I am royalty, I can treat inferior filth like the rats they are."

"Yeah the luck of your birth doesn't excuse your actions bastard." Tatsumi said coldly. "I'll give you one chance to get out of even more humiliation and disgrace because you should know that I'm also a commoner. Now, show humility and apologize to your sister, she's a much better Magic Knight than you'll ever be so while you're on your knees, make amends."

"Never, I will not apologize to that failure!" Solid yelled. "She's a disgrace on House Silva!"

"Shame, but oh well time to deal with this disgrace, boy the day she beats your ass is going to be a sweet one for sure." Tatsumi said before he suddenly and violently bent down and drove Solid's face into the ground hard enough to crack it and knock out a few teeth but he held up in time to not kill him and those who were watching noted that Tatsumi did that as he added while still pressing Solid's face down. "That should teach you a lesson. What was it that you said, beat the lesson into your lesser? Well, now you got a taste of your own lesson, hopefully you'll learn from it but alas I doubt it in your case."

Tatsumi rose and looked around the stunned room who were now all shocked beyond belief at that. Even with the blades at their throats they all looked to see an unconscious Solid with a bloody, gap toothed, face laying there, and then at the armored man who'd just knocked Solid out. This was someone who apparently represented the Wizard King so what he'd just done meant a lot.

"Well, how about you?" Tatsumi said looking at Nebra. "You were just as bad as your brother and as much a disgrace on House Silva as he is so now it's your turn. Will you apologize to your sister?"

"A failure who was banished, I will not." Nebra said defiantly despite the blade at her throat. "And I don't care that you have the Wizard King's permission, you can't do this to someone who is superior to you."

"Oh I can, and I'll leave this here for that Crimson Lion guy to read, he's one of the few nobles present who's sensible and not either classist or sexist, so I'll trust he understands this unlike an arrogant narcissist like you who doesn't deserve to be royalty." Tatsumi said as he tossed the writ to Fuegoleon who caught it despite the blade pressed against his neck his expression still serious and contemplative as he didn't disagree that Solid deserved what happened to him. "Guess I've got to beat a lesson into you as well, figured as much and you can relay that to your dear brother as I don't think he heard me just now. Dismiss the blade, let's give this bitch a chance to face me in a fair fight."

There was no words as the blade suddenly vanished but Tatsumi didn't move as the grimoire that Nebra had begun to glow and float as it opened and flipped to the right page. She went from being stunned to smirking in a heartbeat.

"Big mistake, you may have gotten my brother because he was distracted by that rat, but you can't hope to face a royal who's at the height of her power." Nebra said as the grimoire found the right page and her strategy came to mind. "First I'll make sure you can't find me. Mist Magic: Bewildering Forest of Mist!"

"Is that supposed to impress me somehow?" Tatsumi asked as mist billowed out of the grimoire and hid Nebra in a forest of it that also obscured her magical signature so it was a useful concealment spell against someone who uses mana sense to detect people but Tatsumi knew exactly where Nebra was thanks to her ki. "Or stop me. It's not a bad idea and certainly a strong spell indicative of royalty, I'll give you that. If I used magic to sense your presence then I'd be confused but you see I don't use magic in that sense, I use something better."

With that Tatsumi leapt at the mist, cocked his fist back and then punched as the mist enveloped him. He'd read Nebra's ki the entire time and was on her before she could get whatever spell she had planned to use next that would attack him from within the mist. She was so shocked that he'd found her right away that she didn't do anything to stop the blow to her jaw that shattered it with an audible crack and blasted her unconscious body out of the mist and into a table.

Nebra then continued through the table, causing plates to crash and shatter on the ground as well, before she too hit the ground and rolled over it until she hit the wall with enough force to crack it. that brought her to a stop and she collapsed in an unconscious heap as the mist dissipated showing Tatsumi still in his armor just calmly standing where he'd landed from his leap.

That was it for Nozel, unlike the others who just stared in shock at this strange armored man who'd taken out Nebra with one punch, he was working on his situation and suddenly mercury shot up from under his clothes and covered his neck where it hardened so that the blade at his throat couldn't stab him. He then grabbed the blade with a moving lump of mercury and covered it entirely and then tossed it away and sent more mercury at the man who'd landed on the ground now after hitting his sister.

Wizard King or not, he couldn't let this affront stand to his House even if he knew that those two did deserve it for what they said to Noelle. However, he also couldn't tell Noelle the truth lest he die and after losing their mother to that monster he didn't want to lose Noelle as well, she was too much like their mother for him to bear another loss like that. That was why he treated her the way he did but, well, Noelle was as stubborn as they came and wouldn't desist so he'd exiled her to the Black Bulls and continued his treatment of her.

Now was not the time for contemplating that, though, as he attacked trying to down the man who was almost certainly using Armor Magic. The get up looked familiar but he couldn't place it and that wasn't relevant now as his mercury, stronger than before, shot at the man.

"If you think that you got that blade away because of skill no, she let you remove it because she knew you'd join the party." Tatsumi said as shields appeared between him and Nozel. "And now you'll see the true nature of my magic."

The mercury spikes slammed into the shields and dented them before either bounced off, splattered, or shattering depending on their consistency much to Nozel's shock. Before his magic had been able to pierce the shields but now it couldn't and as the shields vanished he realized why as the man turned to him. The magic the armored man used had adapted to his own to be able to fully block his mercury with only dents that were quickly repairing.

"I see, so your Armor Magic doesn't work the way my new recruit's does." Nozel said thinking on the commoner with strong Armor Magic that he'd recently accepted into the Silver Eagles as part of a repayment of a familial debt. "His enhances speed and strength, yours doesn't something different."

"Even if you have the same attribute it won't be the same and for me the core of my magic I adaptability." Tatsumi said as he faced Nozel squarely while not confirming that his attribute was armor though at this point it was rather blatant. "My magic will adapt to defend against anything that it encounters and all I need is one encounter to be able to adapt to it, from what I've experienced so far but I'm sure there's magic out there that I can't adapt to."

"Magic that can change to fit what is going on." Nozel said his eyes narrowing. "I know of one other with that ability but his is pure offensive and rather unsightly."

"Yeah I can't really speak to others like me, I just know how my magic works that's all." Tatsumi said. "And it is my adaptability that makes me so strong, why the Wizard King puts such faith in me because I am the ultimate shield who protects the kingdom from those who would do it harm in anyway while my partner is the ultimate sword with how sharp she can make her blades."

"Very well then you leave me no choice." Nozel said as he released his magic and the whole room seemed to shake as all but Asta felt the great power a royal had and a silver eagle seemed to form behind Nozel. "I will have to…"

"What show me what a royal can do, to punish me despite the authority entrusted to me by our superior, is all that supposed to intimidate me?" Tatsumi asked as he got serious. "I really don't think you know what you're up against so let me match what you have as I show you the full extent of my armor, of what is at the heart of it since it all came back. Let me introduce you to the spirit of a monster called Tyrant."

With that Tatsumi released his own magic, which was considerable and easily on par with a high noble though not a royal, and suddenly a cross appeared in his eyes on his helmet though only Nozel could see it. He was also the only one who saw as what could only be described as a monster burst up around the man before him with armor on its body that matched the man's own armor and with four blood red eyes and a sharp toothed maw. It was growing and adapting to the magic that Nozel was releasing to meet it, eagle to monster, as the room shook from the magic being released.

Only Akame and Fuegoleon weren't now feeling the fear from the situation, though for Asta it was more the overall aura of what was going on as he couldn't sense the magic that was now shaking the room. Akame was fine because she knew Tatsumi and trusted her love implicitly while Fuegoleon was ok because he'd picked up the writ and understood it though he was certainly impressed by the power on display from the armored man.

Fuegoleon had agreed with Asta, the Black Bull was clearly special in a way only Yami had been able to notice, and now things were showing that whoever this man was he was something else. The Captain of the Crimson Lion Kings knew Armor Magic thanks to Bulat but this was more than his Squad member's magic as this appeared to be what Bulat's magic could become had it been fully utilized somehow.

He knew of two others with Armor Magic in the kingdom and he was sure he knew who this boy was though as the Wizard King trusted the man Fuegoleon wouldn't reveal his identity. Regardless, once again Yami had chosen well by recruiting such a talent. It did make Fuegoleon wonder if the girl was also a Black Bull, it was highly likely that she was, and if so then Yami's Squad was a lot stronger than anyone realized and those were just three of the members of it.

"Now listen here, Nozel Silva, royal Captain of the Silver Eagles." Tatsumi said getting everyone's attention as the magic radiated around the room. "The only person in this room not bringing shame and disgrace upon the royal House of Silva is the only one not in the Silver Eagles, Noelle Silva. The actions and words of yourself, your brother, and your sister Nebra have all shamed your house as well as the Magic Knights and the Wizard King. Worse, you call yourself a big brother and yet you dare treat your youngest this way, you, above the others, are a true disgrace upon the Silva name."

"Why you…" Nozel began as his anger began but Fuegoleon had had enough of this.

"Enough Nozel." Fuegoleon said sharply as his own magic flared and the knife at his throat, which wasn't actually a threat he realized much to his surprise though the man had entrusted the writ to Fuegoleon so likely the girl had the same trust in him that her partner did, vanished. "Is your pride really that great that you can't accept this defeat and embarrassment that your house has suffered because of the actions of its members? As my rival you should know when to be humble."

"I accept the disgrace that Solid brought upon us with his actions but that is it." Nozel said. "I will not accept the treatment of my siblings and I certainly will not suffer such an insult to my own personal honor, Fuegoleon."

"You spoke in a manner unbecoming of a Silva, that I cannot deny, so I see no dishonor in the words spoken to you." Fuegoleon said calmly. "And I have read this writ, this man is acting with the full authority of the Wizard King right now, as is the woman with the blades though her actions skirted lethality. Regardless, these two people are his personal representatives here and did what they had to not only to restore order to this celebration that your family caused disorder to, along with Alecdora and I will reprimand Leo for fueling it as well, but also restore the dishonor those who attacked the Wizard King's guests cause the Magic Knights."

"Fuegoleon." Nozel said as his position became even more untenable. "You…"

Before he could finish however there was a massive explosion, followed by several more from outside that snapped everyone out of what was going on. There was a direct attack on the Capital and suddenly smoke could be seen through the windows and screams began to reach them from the city around them.

"Looks like it's time to do your jobs." Tatsumi said as he reigned in his magic though he kept Incursio active. "Use it to restore all the honor several of you just lot and let this be a lesson to those who disgrace the Magic Knights and this ceremony that is supposed to recognize those who've distinguished themselves, not disgraced themselves."

With that Tatsumi ran at the nearest window still in his armor and leapt through it was a crash to go and see what the situation was. Akame likewise dismissed all her blades and then followed Tatsumi out, her cloak billowing as she ran and her sword in her hand before she leapt out into the chaos behind him.

That was enough to snap the whole room back to reality because the armored man was right, it was time to do their jobs because the unthinkable had just happened. The Capital of the Clover Kingdom was under attack.

A slightly different take on this banquet reception what with the presence of Tatsumi and Akame at the orders of the Wizard King as they intervened in Asta handing Solid his ass, and then helped in said ass handing. Solid deserved that though, he's one of the characters I really dislike in Black Clover so I couldn't resist having him and Nebra (who is equally as bad) get owned while Nozel suffers a lecture but he at least has the sense to grow with what he learns over the series. Anyway, this won't change Leo's acceptance of Asta, that is just going to be slightly delayed and addressed some other way, but the reception certainly went differently. Next up is the Eye of the Midnight Sun's attack on the Capital so that should be a fun time as we see what Akame and Tatsumi get up to during that. That is all that I have for y'all, however, so I will leave this chapter off here. If you like my story then please follow, favorite, review, PM, etc. it is all appreciated and helps me get better and stay motivated to keep producing more content and any questions asked I will do my best to answer both privately and at the start of the next chapter. Until next time.

Stringdog