Here is the fortieth-sixth chapter in this story released in accordance with the release schedule. The fight with Vetto the Despair in the Undersea Temple rages on this time with a shift in one of the combatant's magic allowing for a solo fight with the Beast Mage but will this evolution be enough? Well let's find out as that is all that I have for the administrative stuff I have for y'all and there are no guest reviews that need a response, though I thank you for your support of my work, 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 forty-sixth chapter in Akame ga Clover.

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

Chapter 46: Evolution

Tatsumi had managed to push himself up to one knee when Akame was hit as she tried to slash Vetto with her new katana, well altered but still it was different to Murasame, and was hit by his Bear Claw as he brought it around. It was the worst hit that she'd taken all battle, the worst he'd ever seen her take in fact, and Tatsumi grit his teeth, blood running down his face and chin, every breath labored, but he pushed past it knowing that he had to surpass his limits here and now.

He couldn't just remain here on one knee, he had to fight, to back up Akame and protect his squadmates and the Undersea Temple. However, even with his magic and its ability to adapt when it came in contact with other magics he wasn't strong enough to protect them.

It was that desire to protect everyone coupled with the situation and the seeing his love take that hit that pushed him over the edge and his grimoire glowed as it rose and flipped to a new page where it quickly filled with a new spell. Tatsumi grinned, a slightly manic look with all the blood on his face, as he saw the new spell. This was just what he needed and while there was a strange feeling to it he didn't hesitate to cast it as Akame was pointing out the issue with her latest cut on Vetto.

Akame had surpassed her limits and made her katana change to a replica of her Shingu complete with its power, something Tatsumi only learned about in this life after he and Akame had become a couple and she opened up about her entire past to him, and now it was his turn to do something similar. Only, in his case, this was going to be a bit different and the armor quickly formed around him, responding to his heart and desire for speed and silence rather than a show of power and terror though it could do that as well he felt.

That, coupled with Akame's defiance, had given Tatsumi the time he needed to finish his transformation and push off the ground with such force that the wall behind him cracked all the way through creating a small hole in it, and charge Vetto. He reached the Beast Mage long before the man could attack Akame as he cocked his fist back before he slammed it into the side of Vetto's face blasting him sideways.

"So cool!" Asta said his eyes wide, stars in them as he stared at Tatsumi as his senior stood right where Vetto had been following his punch.

"That's new." Noelle said her eyes wide as she too took in Tatsumi's current set of armor. "And a bit scary. Something doesn't feel right about it."

"So he's never shown it before?" Kahono asked.

"Nope." Noelle said shaking her head. "Though I've heard he has a few other sets in his grimoire but I've only seen two on him and a third via a new spell he learned a while back so it's not like he's limited to the one he was using early. That, though, that's clearly different."

"You could say that again." Kiato said with a shudder. "There's something off about his magic now. Before it felt protective but this, this has a streak of savagery in it."

"Huh, yeah now that you mention it I can sense it in his ki." Asta said surprised as he focused on Tatsumi's ki. "I've never sensed that before but I can tell that he has control over it and I trust him so it will be fine."

Akame for her part stayed silent as she was filled with a mix of emotions while blood ran down her chin and from the various cuts on her body. It wasn't hard for her to be conflicted as she took in a set of armor she'd only seen once before.

That's right, Tatsumi was now in a more draconic armor complete with a helm that had two spikes shooting back, large spiked shoulders, and no canvas as it fitted to his body. However, more noticeably were that his kneed high boots ended in clawed feet with three clawed toes that looked like talons and a hind toe out back while a set of slightly ragged wings had burst from his back and were now fully extended as he stood there facing Vetto. To add to it all his armor was no longer gray but a glowing gold that seemed to emanate from the armor itself.

It was identical to the evolved armor that Tatsumi had summoned in his final battle in their old life when the ancient soul of Incursio took more control and changed to give Tatsumi the boost he needed to take down the Emperor's giant Imperial Arms. The only thing that was different was that he didn't have the three claws on his hands but even as Akame watched his armor morphed and they formed there as if it was adapting on the fly to fit the situation, which it was as Tatsumi had initially only intended to punch Vetto away but now he was going to kill the Beast Mage so the claws formed in response to that desire.

There was no doubt that Tatsumi had just learned a new spell but there was a lot more to it, Akame could feel it. Yes she read ki and not mana like the Captain and Tatsumi did, which was why she agreed with Asta's assessment of Tatsumi's ki, but she could feel that Tatsumi's magic had changed, grown, and adapted to face an opponent like Vetto. It was the core of his power and what Incursio was but it felt more than that and it sent a chill down Akame's spine as there was a savagery in Tatsumi's ki that hadn't been there before. It was controlled but it was there and naturally she worried.

Of course she was also worried for one other reason, one that trumped her other worries, and that was what happened the last and only time she'd seen this. Tatsumi had used this armor to stop the giant Imperial Arms as it fell to the ground after he'd defeated it and that selfless act had been what had killed him.

That was a memory that still haunted Akame, catching her love's lifeless body as it fell forward and before she could confess her love to him as Tatsumi broke his promise to her. As such seeing this armor again was tough even if she knew that this strength was what they needed right now because all she could do at the moment was watch as she recovered and planned how to rejoin the fight.

"Not quite there yet but this is good. Come on then, bring on round two!"

Tatsumi wasn't entirely sure what Vetto was going on about but he was more than ready for round two. While he personally didn't feel any different mentally, he could tell that this new armor was stronger than any he'd created before. It boosted his strength, speed, and durability considerably while supporting him better even with his injuries just as it had done in his last life when he needed it to end the Emperor's rampage.

Back then it had been the key to ending that war but it had been his end as well when he'd saved the people and died as he fell towards Akame. He could tell that she was worried, he could feel it in her ki, and he knew that he had to alleviate her worries that something similar would happen this time around as well.

"Come at me beasty, this isn't like before you're just one small man who will die by my hand soon." Tatsumi said pointing out the key difference with Vetto that should ensure that he didn't die this time around as he held out his hand and made a come at me gesture. "So bring it, it's time I broke in my latest armor, Incursio – Evolved."

Vetto just let out a laugh that turned int a roar as he charged at Tatsumi blood still dribbling down his chin from Tatsumi's punch. The send stage, well third counting the fight with Magna, Luck, and Gio, of this battle began.

Despite the several wounds on his body, including one that wasn't clotting or healing at all, Vetto was as fast as ever as he charged in and at Tatsumi but even with his speed it wasn't enough to reach Tatsumi before he leapt into the air so that Vetto ran straight under him. As he did, Tatsumi created his Indomitable Shield just not as a shield like he usually did but a barrier so that Vetto smashed headlong into it at full pelt with a loud gong.

The man's speed and power was such that he dented the shield but it held and he pushed it back several feet before he got his bearings, grabbed it, and spun tossing it to the side though it disappeared before it hit the ground as he turned to face Tatsumi. Vetto had to look up though as Tatsumi was now floating in the air above him, wings extended and fully under control of this aspect of his newest armor.

"So those wings aren't just for show, you can fly now." Vetto said with a grin as a tickle of blood ran down his face from his hairline at the impact. "I'm going to enjoy plucking them."

"So cool!" Asta said the stars still in his eyes. "Man Tatsumi, your magic is amazing!"

"How is that possible?" Noelle asked shocked as Tatsumi hovered in the air. "Seriously, how do those wings work?"

"The evolution of his armor allows for it." Akame said quietly, she was too far from the others to be heard and right now she wasn't moving as she conserved energy following her exchange with Vetto while she watched for her opening knowing that Tatsumi would, if possible, give her one. "It's core, Tyrant, has started to come out and allowed for it. I should have expected it as I've seen it come out when he's cast Incursio in the past."

"Come on up here and try." Tatsumi taunted not hearing any of the chatter around him as he made sure that Vetto's attention was solely on him. "If you can that is. Don't worry, if not I'll gladly take your despair at the situation."

Vetto just smirked at Tatsumi's taunt before he launched himself into the air and at Tatsumi. Instantly Tatsumi created a line of shields that got in Vetto's way but the Beast Mage just created his Bear Claws and swiped them away as if they were nothing, destroying most of them in the process. The move did slow him a fraction and that was all Tatsumi needed as he twisted to the side and out of Vetto's path but within range so that he could swipe at Vetto with his own claws as the man passed him.

Tatsumi was aiming for Vetto's side but the Beast Mage was as fast and agile as ever so he managed to twist at the last moment and take the blow on his glowing left forearm while bringing his right down at the same time to rake it across Tatsumi's chest. However, Tatsumi read Vetto's ki and knew that the attack was coming so easily got his left arm up and intercepted the blow on his grieve, his speed now almost a match for Vetto, with a boom that held with only a small crack appearing on his grieve. To add to it the claws on his right hand had made it through Vetto's magic and cut his forearm though it wasn't too deep.

All of this happened in a split second and they didn't hold the exchange and try to overpower each other. Rather than allow Vetto to use his incredible strength to push him down to the ground, however Tatsumi used his new aerial mobility and supremacy to fly down slightly as soon as the block happened. Tatsumi was using it to his advantage as he allowed the impact to send him down enough to give him the space he needed.

As soon as he had that space, Tatsumi backflipped to increase momentum and used his left leg to kick Vetto in the right forearm to force the man's arm away as he went into his backflip while also landing a glancing cut in the process. Then, with all the speed and power he could, Tatsumi finished the flip and brought both feet up and into Vetto's chest as he was above him in the air.

The tips of the clawed feet on Tatsumi's new armor slammed into Vetto's chest with a boom and a displacement of air that exploded around him causing wind to whip around the cavern for a moment. As it did the Beast Mage was launched upwards and into the ceiling with a crash that rocked the stalactites there and sent several crashing down to the ground to explode there though thankfully no one was near the fall zone as dust covered the area above and below Tatsumi.

It wasn't enough to take down Vetto though, Tatsumi knew it as he'd sensed Vetto ki and knew that he'd concentrated his mana over his chest to take the blow so he was only lightly hurt by it. However, the blow had put distance between them which was what Tatsumi really needed out it.

That was because he used the impact to instantly fly away from the brief exchange and arc around the chamber building speed now that he was flying freely and not hovering, his wings wide and parallel to the walls as he flew and dust and broken rocks rained down from the ceiling. The entire time Tatsumi was reading Vetto's ki and so when the man began to fall, which judging by his ki was a controlled fall, Tatsumi turned sharply and with a kick to the wall that cratered it from his speed and power he shot across the cavern and at Vetto on an intercept course.

Vetto of course wasn't idle and he sensed the savage magical aura of the Armor Mage, it was bestial so very easy for him to sense as his own magic seemed to be interacting with it on some level. Whatever it was, it made Vetto's skin crawl because it felt like apex predator but to Vetto he was at the apex so he pushed away the sensation and turned, his Bear Claws still active, to face Tatsumi as the boy flew at him. He didn't have time to do more, the boy's speed was indeed impressive, but this was more than enough as he got his arms up just as Tatsumi reached him his own arms out and ready.

There was another boom that displaced even more air as the two combatants clashed and Vetto was blasted backwards in midair by Tatsumi, who was now a golden blur, and the pair flew across the cavern in a split second before slamming into the far wall with a colossal crash that kicked up a massive amount of dust and debris that obscured them for a moment. When it cleared everyone stared at what was going on.

Vetto was pinned to the wall in the center of a deep crater that was more than hallway through the stone with cracks all around him that were slowly getting bigger as he was pushed deeper into the wall as Tatsumi pushed, wings wide and body parallel to the ground. What was pinning him there was the claws on Tatsumi's hands that had pierced his shoulders and were now an inch or so in them, the broadness of Vetto's muscles helping avoid a worse injury, along with his mana skin.

He'd known that there wasn't time to stop the impact so Vetto had focused on his mana skin there to blunt the attack. However, even that wasn't enough as Tatsumi's magic had adapted to his enough to push through to his skin and enter Vetto's body.

Regardless, that was fine with Vetto as it wasn't enough to immobilize his arms so he'd taken the hit to keep Tatsumi close and allow for his next move to land without an issue. That he'd done in the split second before they hit the wall and gotten his magic coated arms up and grabbed Tatsumi's forearms holding them there and squeezing using his magic and strength to slowly buckle the armor as he tried to get to the arms below and break them before he ground the boy's bones to dust.

From there he could rip them off and begin slowly killing Tatsumi. He wasn't using his Demon Beast Magic, he hadn't needed to use it all battle, so he couldn't put an ancient curse on Tatsumi and ruin his arms for good. However, this was more than enough to beat the Armor Mage.

"Not bad, you've got a predator in you that you've kept under wraps until now, but it's nothing compared to me." Vetto said grinning as he bent Tatsumi's armor all the way so that he could start braking the boy's bones. "Now you'll loose your arms, then your wings as I pluck them before I slowly…"

"Yeah that's not happening bastard." Tatsumi said pain in his voice as he felt his bones begin to grind under Vetto's grip but he pushed past it and pumped his magic into his arms reinforcing them and increasing the speed of his adaptation to Vetto's magic which was nearing completion. "Thanks though, this is nice and direct."

"What the…" Vetto begin surprise on his face as the armor on Tatsumi's arms thickened and unbuckled as it protected Tatsumi once more.

Vetto's grip hadn't changed, he was still tightening it as hard as he could but now it wasn't working. Tatsumi had adapted to Vetto's Beast Magic's strength and properties and as such his armor was repairing itself now able to withstand Vetto's power.

That had always been the core of Tatsumi's strength, his adaptability to other mage's magic after it made contact with his shields or armor, but this was on a new level likely due to the evolution of his armor. Vetto could sense that there was more at play but he didn't have time to find out, all his instincts were screaming at him to end this fight now before the boy became a true threat and he was forced to use his Demon Beast Magic.

Vetto listened to his instincts and with a roar he kicked off the wall with all his strength, overcoming Tatsumi's with ease and blasting them back into the air in the center of the cavern, the force of the move sending the cracks fully through the wall and showing what was behind it in places. Neither combatant noticed as they soared into the air, power and flight battling as they flipped through it in a yellow and burnt orange blur but Tatsumi knew that he wasn't going to win this so he changed tactics.

With a roar of his own, Tatsumi broke the claws at the base were they connected to his armor as he wrenched his hands down to free his arms and then moved them so that his hands could grab Vetto's biceps. Then, rather than fight the man's strength, Tatsumi used it to pull himself in, cocking his head back in the process, and drove it forward to slam the crown of his helm right into the center of Vetto's face.

There was a loud crunch and a howl of pain as Vetto reacted instinctively. He recoiled from the impact and flipped back out of instinct. However, that was all as Vetto quickly recovered from the blow, blood streaming down his face from his now broken nose, and used the flip to his advantage by tossing Tatsumi off him and down to the ground, gaining height and stability as he did.

Of course that was just what Tatsumi wanted as he flipped in the air, rolling with the toss to land on the ground in a crouch that cratered the ground around him and sent rocks into the air, his arms and wings wide as he did. The rocks were still rising as he pushed off the ground and at Vetto with a roar, his right arm up though his claws didn't reform as Tatsumi didn't have enough mana to forcibly repair his armor. That was fine as the speed and power that Tatsumi was going at meant that he didn't need the claws to impale Vetto. He was just going to punch through the man's body instead.

Vetto knew this as well, his animal instincts were screaming now, so the moment that he'd tossed Tatsumi off him he'd activated his Rhinoceros Armor so that it formed around him as Tatsumi pushed off the ground. Between the dust, debris, and speed of everything going on Tatsumi didn't notice this until he was on Vetto.

Still, he pushed through it and slammed his fist into the armor. It held for a brief moment before it shattered, Tatsumi's own armor now adapted to the point that Vetto's couldn't match it and his speed and power lending to everything ensuring that he punched through the armor and into Vetto's gut. The blow was slowed by the armor so it didn't impale Vetto as planned but it did wind him and Vetto gasped, spittle and blood splattering Tatsumi's faceplate as Tatsumi forced him higher into the air from the blow.

Vetto was impressed that his Rhinoceros Armor had been broken, no one had done that before as even Akame's blade had only cut through it, but it had done it's part and saved him which meant that Vetto now had an opening. With a growl, he reached down and grabbed Tatsumi's extended right arm before he could pull it back and heaved him up as he concentrated his magic into his right arm and formed a dense, sharp, bear claw there as he cocked his arm back. It was just like he'd tried to do to Akame earlier only now it there was no way for his opponent to avoid it.

"This is how you impale someone!" Vetto roared as he drove his arm forward.

Tatsumi sensed it and at the last second created a shield there but Vetto shattered it so that all it did was slow the attack slightly before the claws of his Bear Claw slammed into Tatsumi's gut. His armor held for a moment, cracking on impact, before Vetto pushed through it and drove his claws into Tatsumi's gut as they reached the apex of their ascent. It wasn't enough to impale the boy fully like Vetto had wanted but it went in deep enough that there was no way that he could continue this fight. Sensing the magic already adapting, Vetto pulled his claw out with a wet plop that sprayed blood and spun in the air.

Tatsumi was flung around like a ragdoll, blood coming from his gut and flying around the cavern, as Vetto laughed and then through him at the nearest wall. It was a fair distance from the others who were already out of the fight but not too far from Akame's current position, she'd never had an opening, so they could all see as Tatsumi slammed back first into the wall with a boom.

His limbs and wings were splayed from the impact, a bloody hole clearly visible in his gut as his head snapped back into the wall. As soon as his head hit the wall Tatsumi's faceplate shattered so that it exploded outwards revealing his blood covered face and wide eyes as more blood was expelled from his mouth on impact.

He held there for a moment as Vetto watched, grinning as he fell to the ground before gravity took over and Tatsumi pitched forward and out of the wall. He fell at the same speed as Vetto and hit the ground on his chest as Vetto landed as well, his armor holding for a second more before bursting in a flash of golden magic and his grimoire falling limp next to him though it wasn't disintegrating so that was a good sign.

"Yes, time to feast on your despair!" Vetto bellowed as he set himself to charge and finish Tatsumi off. "I will…"

"Tatsumi!"

The roar was expected just not from who Vetto had thought it would come from. Rather than Akame, who herself was about to act and fling herself back into the fray with murderous intent despite her injuries, the roar had come from Asta as he could no longer stand idly by. Already four of his seniors had been injured and either knocked out of the fight or otherwise recovering in Akame's case, and now it was his turn to take up the mantle as he roared and leapt at Vetto the force of his leap cracking the ground as he brought his great sword around and down on Vetto's back.

Vetto had sensed him coming though and had turned to Asta and raised his right hand, his Beast Magic coating it, and blocked the blade with his palm. As he'd expected, the Anti-Magic swords cut through not only his magic but also Akame's thus ending the effect her final cut had caused and his bleeding began to stop as he looked down grinning at the brat before him.

Akame had also sensed Asta's charge via his ki and knew that he'd reach Vetto first, and sensed the male Temple Mage moving to help out, so she had abandoned her own planned attack. She knew that she could leave the fight to Asta and the male Temple Mage left for the moment so instead she pushed herself up and moved around the wall to check on Tatsumi knowing that he was alive but still very worried given the final blow he'd taken.

"I was waiting for you, the little magicless knight with the Anti-Magic sword." Vetto said as he held the block there for a moment while Akame moved towards Tatsumi, his voice loud enough that Akame could hear him. "We meet again and I must thank you, you've nullified that bleeding Kurome's sister caused with her new blade. That was starting to get annoying."

"That doesn't matter, you've hurt my superiors and now it's my turn to take you down!" Asta roared as he pushed against the block while his grimoire moved to be in position behind him. "I owe it to them to finish what they started!"

"You can try but you won't succeed, if those two couldn't beat me even with their tricks you won't either." Vetto said with a chuckle still standing tall and proud despite his wounds and the claws from Tatsumi's armor that were still in his shoulders. "But this is a stroke of luck for me. Now I can repay you for all the pain you inflicted upon Licht. I've already started that with your Blade Mage, now it's your turn to pay up for what you did. You'll wind up like everyone else here and all your despair will season things nicely for when I finally come for your Captain at the end."

"No I won't, I'll live up to and surpass my superiors!" Asta roared as he used that to pull out his standard sword and slash Vetto across the gut with it, the force of the blow sending him sliding back a few feet before some of the rubble on the ground stopped him. "They were supposed to take you down and they did it well but now it's my job. That is teamwork and I won't let that go to waste!"

"Not bad brat, you've added a scratch to me just like the last two so you've done more than the first two who tried to face me." Vetto said looking down at the line on his gut as he used the moment to reach up and yank out the claws in his shoulders blood starting to run down his chest though it wasn't much. "If that had been the girl it would have bisected me but still, not bad. Come at me, though you won't fare any better than your feeble friends and certainly not as well as the last two. You're garbage to me, a brat unloved by mana who dares to wield those swords."

As all this was happening Akame reached Tatsumi and rolled him onto his back. He was a mess; his face was covered in so much blood that she wasn't sure where the injuries were and even more was bubbling out of from his mouth. His clothes were ripped in places but for the most part in good condition thanks to his armor. The exception was his abdomen where there was a hold in his vest and the light brown color was now dark reddish brown thanks to his blood. However, it wasn't spreading which surprised Akame.

"Tatsumi?" Akame asked, her voice and worry reaching him and he opened his eyes with a groan of pain as Asta and Kiato launched their own attack on Vetto while Kahono and Noelle stood back both ready to act if you need me. "How bad is it? Tell me, is it…"

"I'll live but I may have a scar to match Asta's." Tatsumi said cutting Akame's trailing words off though as he spoke he coughed and expelled flecks of blood, some of which hit Akame's face but she ignored them as she looked down at her beloved worry in her red eyes, a worry Tatsumi saw and tried to alleviate. "It's mostly bruises and cuts but my ribs are shot and a lung is definitely punctured but I'll live."

"But your gut?" Akame asked. "That was a seriously heavy blow."

"My armor protected me enough to prevent it from going all the way through." Tatsumi groaned as Asta and Kiato engaged Vetto using their swords but he easily blocked them without magic and even punched Asta back for a moment before finally using it with a palm thrust that sent both boys skidding back over the ground, Asta slamming one of his swords into it to stabilize and slow himself. "Lift up my shirt and see for yourself my love. I've still got enough magic left for this."

Akame did just that as Asta and Kiato panted for a moment before they exchange a bit of trash talk with Vetto who was barely moving to counter them. Akame was keeping an eye on them by reading the three combatant's ki, as well as general senses around just in case the rest of the squad was able to back them up, but her focus was on Tatsumi so as Asta and Kiato launched their next attack on Vetto she lifted Tatsumi's shirt and sweater vest.

What Akame saw caused her to blink. Tatsumi's entire chest was covered in a tight, metal breastplate that was pressed up against his skin in a very constricting way. It looked painful as it was there and she let go of his shirt and looked at him confusion in her eyes.

"It's a crude tourniquet of sorts but it's the best I can manage." Tatsumi said with a slight wheeze, blood bubbling out as he spoke. "After I landed on the ground I focused my magic on creating it. Remember it's not just shields that I can create, I can create armor without my grimoire so I did that. It's not comfortable and right on my skin but the interior is made from a thick cloth armor as I can create that if it's a legitimate form of armor. That is absorbing the blood and the tightness is staunching the wound as much as possible while holding my ribs in place."

"Oh good." Akame said smiling as she wiped away the tears that she hadn't realized had been in her eyes, her own wounds hadn't been too deep and most were at least clotted by now though they could reopen if she moved too much which would be a problem but they paled in comparison to Tatsumi's injuries. "Can you move?"

"Not well." Tatsumi admitted as the fight raged on. "But with your help I can get to the others and be under Noelle's protection."

"Of course my love." Akame said as she held out her hand. "I'm always here for you."

"As am I." Tatsumi said smiling at his girlfriend and beloved as he slowly took her hand and let her haul him up though the move made him cough in pain which naturally brought up even more blood. "This will be slow and painful but I can manage."

Akame understood and vowed to be careful but as she did there was a shift in the fight and Akame and Tatsumi turned in time to see Vetto landing a punch as Asta and Kiato charged following another exchange between them. It was clear that Vetto had figured them out, at least deduced enough of their style to counter, and the blow struck both of them with his right fist hitting Kiato in the face and his elbow hitting Asta in the chest.

To add to it Vetto's arm was coated in Beast Magic so there was even more power to it so both boys were blasted back and into the wall with enough force to imbed into it as debris rose from the impact sights. It looked bad but Akame and Tatsumi knew that this was nowhere near enough to stop Asta.

That was shown a second later with a loud roar of 'not yet' from him as the dust cleared to show Asta panting there, blood running down his face from his brow and mouth, his swords in his hands. Something as trivial as being blasted into a wall wasn't nearly enough to take Asta down.

"Looking at you disgusts me to my core." Vetto said the scorn in his voice as Asta stood defiantly before him. "Standing there with swords you're not worthy to touch let alone hold. You have no hope of beating me, and do you know why? One you're only good at close combat so you're weak to long distance attacks especially when they come from non-magical objects."

As Vetto had been speaking, and Akame and Tatsumi watching, Vetto had managed to get a massive boulder from somewhere in the cavern into the air with his magic which he hurled at Asta when he finished speaking to prove his point. Asta dodged it and rushed in to close the distance with Vetto to negate that weakness of his but as he did Vetto explained a second weakness that he'd noticed in Asta.

"Two, your may be physically strong, stronger than almost anyone other human I've met, but that is nothing compared to someone whose strength has been magically enhanced." Vetto said his Bear Claws flashing as he struck at Asta, avoiding his swords, and opening up cuts on Asta's arms and legs before he forced Asta back. "No matter how hard you train your body you will never compete with magic, that is the natural order of things in the world."

"What's your point!" Asta roared as he stopped his slid with his sword and pushed off the ground, again cracking it with the force of his move, and at Vetto. "I'll…"

"And three." Vetto said revealing a third weakness he'd noticed as he suddenly broke Asta's left arm so fast that no one saw it until Asta let out a scream of pain while Vetto grabbed Asta's upper forearm to haul him up and off the ground causing Asta to drop his great sword. "You don't know when to give up."

Asta growled at that but Vetto wasn't done yet, his eyes glaring into Asta's. He was going to make it clear how inferior this brat was to him so that he would give into despair which Vetto would then feast on.

"You think that if you can keep fighting you'll find some way to shift the fight to your advantage." Vetto continued as Asta let out a yell of pain. "That's why you persist in your reckless attacks against foes who are superior to you. That recklessness leaves you open to mortal wounds. It sickens me to see the Demon-Slayer Sword and the Demon-Dweller Sword in the hands of garbage magicless scum like you."

"He's not wrong." Akame said as Asta grunted in pain while she and Tatsumi watched, neither feeling despair at all. "But that last point is exactly why Asta wins."

"His magic is never giving up." Tatsumi agreed as Vetto began to taunt Asta about never having a chance of defeating him as he slowly squeezed Asta's forearm more to make him scream and thus, in Vetto's mind, embrace his despair. "That's why we'll win this fight, Asta makes us all better."

"Don't sell yourself short my love, you're the same only less forgiving than Asta is." Akame pointed out as Asta yelled turned from one of pain to one of defiance right before he bit down on Vetto's forearm. "And there you have it, Asta's not despairing at all, he'll go until the very end."

"No one protected anybody by giving up!" Asta said his voice muffled as Vetto looked at him in confusion the defiance clear in Asta's eyes.

"What was that brat?" Vetto asked confusion on his face. "What the…"

Before he could finish there was a musical note, no words but clearly the sound of a person singing nonetheless as a blast of magic come in from the side and washed over Vetto as he held Asta. It wasn't enough to really affect him but it did cause him to drop Asta and turn to it towards the source of the sound. Thankfully Akame and Tatsumi were out of the way of the attack, between their own movements and Asta and Kiato's fight with Vetto they were out of the spell's area of effect, but they too paused to look over to the source of the sound.

"And here I thought animals were supposed to have good hearing." Noelle said her wand up and leveled at Vetto as she and the female Temple Mage, who had been the one to attack and who the couple would later learn was called Kahono, stood next to each other facing Vetto having chosen that moment to enter the fight themselves now that everyone else was injured. "What he said was, 'no one ever protected anybody by giving up!'"

The last part had been said by both girls as they both glared at him, neither one of them showing any despair at the situation. It was now their turn to protect their friends and the Undersea Temple and they'd do just that as the fight against Vetto the Despair shifted once again.

As with other chapters in this story (and my other ones for that matter) I had planned on this going all the way to the arrival of Finral and Vanessa but it was already at a good length, could be broken up at this point, and really the focus was Tatsumi and his magic's evolution and that has ended now that he's been knocked out of the fight though he did surpass his limits and gotten stronger. In terms of the exchanges in this chapter after Tatsumi was bested, those followed canon so I just glossed over them for the most part and focused on Akame and Tatsumi rather than just rehash canon stuff though where applicable I gave their reactions. This will be the same in the next chapter as well though there is one reaction I'm sure y'all can't wait for. Lastly, in case anyone is wondering, there is a reason why I didn't call Tatsumi's new armor spell 'Tyrant' and it will become clear when the time is right but that isn't now so I won't say anymore about it you'll just have to wait and see on that front. That is all that I have for y'all though so I will leave this chapter off here. As always, 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