Here is the fifty-first chapter in this story released in accordance with the release schedule. The mission to the Underwater Temple is officially over and the Black Bulls have left it but there's no time for rest for some of them as they still have prisoners and a body to deliver and a report to give so it's time for Yami and few others to do that. It's just a report though, nothing else could possibly happen while they're giving it, right? Well let's see as that is all the administrative stuff I have for y'all and there are no questions to to answers or guest reviews that need a response 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 fifty-first chapter in Akame ga Clover.
Disclaimer: I own nothing related to these two great animes.
Chapter 51: Report
"Everyone was amazing on the recent mission!" Asta roared star in his eyes as everyone settled back into the common room having finally returned from the Underwater Temple with a brief stop at Raquey on the way back so that Finral could recover a little magic before the final portal. "You all did a great job down there!"
"And yet you're the one who ended up the most seriously injured for the third time at least." Noelle said as she ate a piece of bread on the sofa next to Asta though Asta himself was kneeling on the back of it. "How can you still have this much energy?"
"What Noelle means is that you did the best job down there but she'd concerned that you got badly hurt, again." Akame said she sat at one of the tables awaiting the latest feast from Charmy's sheep cooks causing Noelle to choke on her bread as. "Ah land meat, been too long since I last had some."
"It's been less than a week." Tatsumi pointed out sitting at the table with Akame while Finral complained the same sofa that he was so exhausted and Gauche creepily stared at a picture of his sister with a heavy nosebleed while noting to the picture that he'd completed his mission and come home so now they were breathing the same air. "That's not a while."
"It is for me." Akame said simply. "The fish, crabs, squid, octopus, and other underwater delicacies were amazing but I could do with some boar meat. I need a balanced diet."
"Yes that sea food was delicious, there were so many new delicacies that I'd never had that I got to munch on, but I've got an extra stomach just for meat!" Charmy said excitedly as the sheep cooks arrived and she began to dig in with Akame diving in right behind her and Tatsumi felt that it was best to not point out that Akame's 'balanced diet' was basically meat and sweets. "Keep it coming sheep cooks! We're nowhere near full!"
"Asta did a lot, that's true." Noelle said as she finished coughing on her choked bread, her cheeks flushing as Akame hit the nail on the head regarding what Noelle had actually meant though she'd never say it in those words to Asta while Akame inhaled a plate of meat only slightly slower than Charmy did. "But he was reckless as always. Same for you Akame. Tatsumi how can you be ok with that? She got wrapped in bandages from neck to knees again."
"I'm not really in a position to complain." Tatsumi said as he slowly ate some food, he was still recovering from his gut wound, which was still bandaged under his shirt, while Akame finished a second plate of meat and moved onto a third though she was now already a plate behind Charmy. "I got pretty badly hurt as well. Besides, I know that Akame can handle herself just fine. A few cuts and some claw punctures won't slow her down."
"Thanks my love." Akame said as she finished her third plate and a sheep cook stacked a fourth on top of it as they worked with their usual fluid efficiency. "Though I was worried after everything with your injuries. It takes a lot to take you out of a fight, Tatsumi."
"I know, I'll be more careful next time, sorry." Tatsumi apologized as Vanessa sighed from where she was lounging in her bra and panties like usual and having just finished her third bottle of wine that she was drunkenly commenting on the satisfaction of it. "I kinda got lost in the moment and savagery of that new armor. It's like the one I died in but back then I didn't have time to focus on it, now I do and I know that I need to train in it to master it."
"Hurry up and do so Tatsumi, I want to face you in it!" Luck said his energy still high and getting higher at the idea of battling Tatsumi in this new armor that he wished that he'd seen. "Completing an important mission is a win for the whole squad! That means that we're going to be getting bigger and harder missions from now in so I need to toughen up for stronger foes so face me already Tatsumi!"
"In time Luck, I don't think that use that spell until I'm fully healed up." Tatsumi said. "Then sure, you're speed and senses are a good thing to train against and test the speed of my new armor. That and Lightning Magic isn't that good of a matchup for me so always good to train against your weaknesses."
"Accomplishing something this big has got to improve our standing." Finral said still laid out on the couch. "This time our impact can be recognized and I can finally land a few dates."
"It's only Tatsumi and I who do the kind of work that can't be recognized." Akame pointed out as she finished off her 5th plate of meat. "But yeah it does feel good to finally do something that we can publicly be acknowledged for. It's strange feeling for me."
"Embrace it my love, this time around we can get recognized for our work." Tatsumi said and Akame smiled at him but before she could respond a 6th plate of meat was put in front of her and she got distracted by it. "Well, some of it at least."
"Who'd have thought that we'd actually pull this off, but it turns out that most of us aren't utterly hopeless after all." Magna said from the couch most of them were on as he repeatedly slapped Grey in the back while Grey sat there in her true form her hands over her face though she was at least remaining in her true form. "We're coming for you Tatsumi and Asta, soon it will be the age of Magna."
"Only in your dreams." Tatsumi said with a grin. "You've got a long way to go to reach me in Intermediate Class, though Asta is already there I'd say."
"Isn't Akame also that Class?" Asta asked calling out having moved down from the top of the sofa to sit on it next to Noelle. "And don't forget about Noelle, Magna, you should have seen the spell she used on Vetto. It was freaking amazing!"
"I'm good at killing so there aren't many sanctioned missions that I can do that and shine short of an invasion from the Diamond or Spade Kingdoms." Akame said while Noelle went bright red at Asta's praise and fought the joy in her at it with her constant denial that she wanted him to praise her even more. "I'm not exactly a high star earner unlike you two. That and I can't advance past Junior Class until I've been pardoned for my crime though yes if I wasn't on probation I'd be the same rank as Tatsumi. Magic Knight class doesn't matter though and we're proving that."
"We've gotten better that's true but with our historically bad record we're still dead last out of all the Magic Knight Squads." Finral said having finally managed to sit up. "And by a large margin which isn't good for our reputation or my dating life. We've got…"
"Hold up." Gauche said noticing something as they were all talking likely because all he was doing was looking at a picture of Marie and not partaking in the conversation so he was the first to notice Gordon sitting on the ground surrounded by several rocks with faces drawn on them. "He, er, he wasn't with us, was he?"
"Shit, we completely forgot about Gordon." Magna said quietly while Gordon mumbled sadly about how much he'd been looking forward to the mission and bonding with them but still glad that it had gone well while Magna whispered. "Grey turned into him a few times so I didn't realize."
"Somebody should talk to him." Gauche said showing a rare moment of insight. "He looks depressed."
"Listen to his mumbling." Magna said. "He's pissed off not depressed."
"I'm not so sure, isn't Gordon always mumbling." Luck said. "So it's hard to tell what he's feelings."
"It's creepy never having an idea what's going on in his head." Gauche said.
"And yet it's much creepier knowing what's going on in yours." Tatsumi said as Gordon kept mumbling. "We'll do something as a Squad to cheer Gordon up though but that might have to wait seeing as Yami's coming and I got a feeling some of us are about to head out again."
"Good to see you're constantly sensing ki Tatsumi, you're right I've gotta give our report to the Wizard King right away." Yami said walking into the room not surprised that at least one of the three knuckleheads who knew ki, and the fourth with exceptional mana sense, had sensed his arrival and the mood that he was in. "This will be fun. Charmy, grab the prisoners and body that we brought back and bring them seeing as it's your binding spell that's holding them."
"Will I get a treat for going with you?" Charmy asked.
"Nope." Yami said causing Charmy to gasp. "Akame, Tatsumi, you two come as well. You killed one of the invaders so probably best to report that and you never know what Julius might have in store for you. Hopefully it's time off but you know how your special missions are."
"Do I get a treat?" Akame asked.
"Nope." Yami said though Akame didn't groan or gasp she just looked at Tatsumi with puppy dog eyes and he just smiled back and nodded, they'd go on a date in the Capital when this was done and have something nice there. "Finral, get off your ass and make a portal. You're on duty now."
"Will there be pretty girls?" Finral asked. "That I have a chance with?"
"There won't and even if there are you won't." Yami said answering both of Finral's questions and causing him to groan.
"Marie is a perfect angel." Gauche said suddenly next to Yami still holding his picture of Marie.
"And?" Yami asked.
"Can I go visit her?" Gauche asked.
"No." Yami said bluntly.
"Oh I want to go too Captain!" Asta shouted standing up. "Please take me as well!"
"You know that you're a little too much of a go-getter sometimes." Yami said as Noelle had gotten up as well concerned with Asta leaving in the state that he was in, well that's what she told herself as she didn't want Asta to go without her as well but she'd never admit to that. "You need to learn to relax sometime."
"Also the main thing that you should be worried about right now is resting and getting all healed up." Noelle said before she realized that she'd said part of what she was thinking aloud and turned to not look at Asta and flushing as she tried to cover up her concern. "Not that I'm even the tiniest bit worried about you, not at all, not one bit, because I'm not. Just do whatever!"
At that Noelle did what she always did when she was trying to deny how concerned she really was for Asta and thrust out her arm without looking where she was thrusting. As such she hit Asta and knocked him back, his arms still broken and in slings meaning he couldn't balance.
"What was that for Noelle!" Asta wailed as he fell back but Yami grabbed his head and steadied him. "I've got no way to balance myself right now!"
"Just ignore it Asta." Akame said as she, Tatsumi, and Charmy came up to them. "Noelle may act like that but her ki is the exact opposite, she's really worried about you."
"Akame!" Noelle shouted turning to the older girl her face red but Akame just looked at Noelle impassively, which between that and what Noelle knew of Akame's skills did manage to calm her down a bit as it was natural to be worried about a friend. "I, well, yes I'm worried, he was badly hurt after all. We're a team, we all need to be fit and healthy."
"Thanks Noelle." Asta said smiling at her which made her both pleased and triggered her denial so she let out an eep and turned away blushing furiously as she fought to get whatever was going on in her head and chest under control. "It means a lot."
"Yeah even I'm seeing this now." Tatsumi admitted sensing Noelle's ki and the war within it. "Hard not to at this point."
"Noelle's right, Asta, what with those gnarly wounds of yours it would be best for you to stay put and heal up." Yami said missing exactly why Noelle was like this but then again he was only slightly less dense than Asta was. "Though if I want to be fair, you were with me when the Wizard King gave us this mission and I'm taking Akame and Tatsumi with me who were also with us as well so alright you can come. However, after seeing Julius we're going to go see that quack Owen and get a full evaluation on your arms. Tatsumi, you're going too to get that gut wound examined. It may be healed up but if there's a situation needing your unique expertise in the coming days it would be best to have you at full health."
"Awesome Captain!" Asta said happily.
"I understand though Incursio can stabilize me to be at near max efficiency if there is an emergency." Tatsumi said as they began to leave. "And with Akame there with me we won't fail."
"Good to know, alright we're off, the rest of you get some sleep, that's an order." Yami said as snoring began to fill the common room. "Never mind, seems like you've got that covered already. Good to see that you can follow orders sometimes."
It had been a long and tough mission so it wasn't a surprise that the squad was passed out as those going to the Capital left but they'd earned this rest so no one was complaining. There was one more person coming with them, however, as the moment they were outside Nero flew down and landed on Asta's head to perch there the way she always did.
"Oh hey Nero." Asta said as the bird landed. "You're coming with us?"
Nero didn't respond, she just sat there. She had her own reasons for going and as she was still sealed in this bird form she couldn't say why she was joining them even if she wanted to. However, her presence and the reason why they were going to see the Wizard King triggered something in Asta's memory.
"You know you coming with us reminds of something that I've been wondering about." Asta said as they walked and Asta came to a halt thinking on it. "You found a shiny pink thing back when we were in Saussy Village and used it to peck me. Now that I think about it, it kinda looks like the Magic Stone that we got from the Temple only a different color and shape. Is it…"
"Asta!" Finral called out distracting him from his thoughts before he could voice them and causing Asta to forget what he was about to say. "Come on, we're about to leave and I can't keep a portal to the Capital open for long!"
"Right, sorry, I…" Asta began but before he could finish Yami grabbed his head in his right hand.
"Quit your dilly-dallying, we've got to report in and you don't want to keep the Wizard King waiting now do you?" Yami growled. "Well?"
"Sorry, Captain Yami, no I don't." Asta said.
"Good now Finral make us a portal to the Magic Knight Headquarters so we can drop off the prisoners and body first." Yami ordered still holding Asta's head. "Then it's onto the Palace as Julius is in that office today."
"One portal coming up." Finral said and with that he made them a portal to Magic Knight Headquarters. "Let's go."
The trip to the Magic Knight Headquarters was a simple and straightforward one. They got there, met with Mushroom Head who was waiting for them having been told that Yami would be bringing prisoners from his recent mission, handed over the cotton balls and corpse to Mushroom Head, and left. Once they were clear and the prisoners had been transported to the VIP prison, Charmy expanded the balls but didn't dispel the spell while the body was laid out next to them and Marx contact Julius with his preliminary assessment and praise for the strength of the Cotton Magic being used to bind them.
As he was doing this, Finral made a portal as close to the Palace as he could manage and they all exited it under an archway several yards from the base of the first large set of stairs up to houses of lower ranked nobles that encircled the plateau around which the Capital spread out. Beyond that they could see the lower wall of the Palace separating the Capital from the Palace proper that was built atop the plateau overlooking the Capital with high walls dotted with towers surrounding it and more steps leading up to it.
"Man it's just as big as the last time I was here!" Asta said excitedly as the portal closed and they all looked up at the Palace. "It's still crazy to see it."
"Shut up." Yami said.
"It's big but I'd say the Empire's was bigger." Akame said. "Right Tatsumi?"
"Taller and grander for sure though the style was very different there and if I recall it was mainly white buildings with green domes and towers that had gold in places, not brown bricks and red roofs." Tatsumi mused as he looked up and thought back to his and Akame's past life. "But I think this is wider, circumference wise that is, with lower walls than the Empire's Palace had. I'd need to see it from the air to confirm though."
"Man that must have been a sight." Asta said.
"It was something at least, until it was destroyed by the Emperor when he used his Imperial Arms." Tatsumi said. "That's not relevant though."
"It's not." Yami said cutting off any chatter. "Let's move. Finral, thanks for the ride."
"Huh?" Finral asked.
"I said thanks for the ride." Yami repeated looking at Finral as he took the cigarette from his mouth. "Now go do whatever you want here, we'll come find you when it's time to head back."
"Hey! That's not fair!" Finral said. "The rest of you are meeting the Wizard King, I want to meet him too! I proved that I'm more than just your chauffer when I helped Asta in the Temple you know! I should…wait I'm free to hang out here?"
"Er yes that's what I said." Yami said.
"Alright then I'm good." Finral said as he turned and waved planning on flirting with as many of the local ladies as possible and try to land a few dates in the process. "See ya later! Ladies here I come!"
"Some things never change." Tatsumi said as Finral ran off up the stairs while Yami sighed. "He's stepped up and found his fighting style but he's still gotta be Finral at the same time. Best of luck Finral, you'll need it."
"He wouldn't be him if he wasn't." Yami said as he turned to the stairs. "Alright come on, we shouldn't keep Julius waiting."
The others nodded and they proceeded to make their way up the stairs, through the noble houses, and to the Royal Palace without incident or comment. It took a few minutes given all the stairs but finally they reached the Palace and were swiftly escorted to Julius's large office there as soon as they arrived. The Wizard King had sent word to the entrance that Yami would be arriving and to escort him and any Black Bulls with him to Julius right away after all so the moment they showed up they were hurried to Julius.
As expected, the Wizard King was waiting for them at his official desk, the surface neat and clear but for some books and a few quills. This wasn't where Julius did most of his vast amount of paperwork, this was just where he conducted official meetings such as this one, as well as clandestine and off the books ones as well for that matter, and as he'd given the Black Bulls this mission here it was the best place to receive their report on it.
Yami did just that once the door was closed, giving the Wizard King the full report on what went down in the Underwater Temple. He didn't hold anything back and told Julius everything that had happened from the moment they arrived through the Battle Royale game, Vetto's attack, the fight with Vetto, his defeat and then death at Yami's hand when he tried to blow himself up, and the retrieval of the Magic Stone. Julius said nothing, he just listened intently to the report until it was over thinking over everything that Yami told him.
"I see." Julius said once Yami was done and he had a moment to process everything and respond to the report. "So it was as we expected, they sent someone to retrieve the Magic Stone at the same time we did. A member of the Third Eye no less, that just shows how important the Magic Stones are to them."
"That's right, as I reported, they sent the one called Vetto the Despair." Yami said. "Along with 5 lackies. We beat 4 of the lackies and captured them though I had to get a little rough with the one that trapped me for most of the battle, Akame and Tatsumi killed the fifth, and engaged Vetto. It took the whole Squad but Vetto was beaten before I could join, I just ended the threat he posed for good as he was about to blow away the whole Temple and takes us with him."
"That seems fitting seeing as what little I've heard of the man has shown that he earned his title." Julius said rising his tone serious. "Given what you reported happened regarding the changes to his magic and appearance we'll examine his body here to see what we can learn from it as I've never heard of Mythical Beast Magic. We'll also interrogate the Midnight Sun minions that were captured, one of them being killed isn't going to change anything as I doubt they'll give us much but we'll see what we can learn from them. After all, we did find the location of the Magic Stone in the Underwater Temple from the two we caught during their attack on the Capital so they might have a lead on one of the two remaining Magic Stones."
"Yeah that's what I figured." Yami said as Julius walked around his desk and approached Charmy who was eating ome bread that she'd brought with her. "Hence why we dropped them off at Headquarters."
"Yes I got the report of their arrival from Marx just before you arrived." Julius said as he stopped in front of Charmy. "And I must say, your Binding Magic is truly amazing. That fluff you make is surprising strong and resilient in keeping the criminals in while protecting them for transport. I've not seen a spell like it."
"Huh, who are you again?" Charmy asked looking up from her bread at the man addressing her having been too distracted by her food to realize who Julius was.
"That's the Wizard King Charmy." Akame said with a sigh as Julius didn't take any offense at this and instead just lifted Charmy into the air causing her to let out a happy noise at the action. "He's who we're here to see."
"I gotta admit Yami, I wasn't aware that you had a child." Julius said turning to Yami while Akame and Tatsumi tried to not snigger at the misconception that was clearly based off Charmy's size and hair color. "Though she'd pretty big and you're only 28, when did this happen? You've been here for 15 years and she's got a grimoire so that would mean you had her almost as soon as you arrived. Who's the…"
"Woah reign it in, she's not mine." Yami said. "If any of my Squad's going to have a child anytime soon it will be Akame."
"Hey!" Akame said flushing. "T, Tatsumi and I aren't ready for that yet, or you know…"
"Er, Akame, best to avoid this." Tatsumi said also going bright red. "I'd rather not have the Wizard King know about our personal life."
"Hey mister, do you have any yummy num-nums for me?" Charmy asked thankfully sparing any embarrassment or further questions from Julius who would no doubt ask and theorize about what kind of magic the offspring of a Blade and Armor Mage would have. "You're dressed fancily so you've gotta have something really tasty here."
"Just drop it." Yami said and Julius literally did just that and dropped Charmy who made herself a cushion of cotton to catch herself in time. "Anyway, here you go, one Magic Stone as requested. It took a lot to get it but my Squad surpassed their limits to do so, so I don't mind."
"Yes I'm intrigued by Tatsumi and Akame's new spells, to think their magic evolved and replicated things from their old lives even more accurately than before, it's fascinating to learn and I wonder why that's the case but alas right now I can't ponder that." Julius said as Yami dropped the Magic Stone into Julius's palm and he looked at it. "Thank you for this, I know that the battle down there wasn't easy to retrieve it but we have it and our enemies don't which is a blow to them. You also killed one of their top members, that will certainly hinder their operations."
Julius paused as he looked at the Magic Stone in his hand his expression somber thinking on the whole mission and what it had cost. When none of the Black Bulls spoke he continued.
"I am sure that you are aware but in case not, there were many casualties among the Magic Knights who were in Raquey and tried to stop Vetto from going to the Underwater Temple." Julius said and while they didn't show this the Black Bulls were aware of something going down in Raquey. "It could have been worse, three Green Praying Mantis members helped get several to safety prioritizing the lives of the Magic Knights over confronting Vetto thus saving many in the process. The ones who did die may now rest in peace at least. The Black Bulls received many injuries on this critical mission but you successfully completed without losing a single member, that's nothing short of marvelous."
"It's rare for us to not lose friends." Akame said sadness in her tone at the countless missions she'd been on in her old life where one or more of her friends didn't come back with them. "But we managed it, I, I'm glad that that could happen."
"Same." Tatsumi said. "I've seen too many close friends die in front of to count and you never get used to it. We may have a second chance now but that doesn't change the fact that it has happened before and can happen again. To complete a mission of this magnitude without anyone dying is something I've not seen in a while."
"I am sure that for you two in particular this is meaningful on a level none of us can truly understand." Julius agreed. "And through all of this your entire Squad grew stronger. You've done well, all of you. I'm truly proud of the amazing Magic Knight Captain that you've become Yami, and you've formed a Squad that the Kingdom can be proud of even if they don't understand, or in some cases know, how you serve the Kingdom."
"You just remembered that I'm 28, I'm not 12 so you can cut it out." Yami said. "You're embarrassing me."
"Yes sorry about that." Julius said apologetically.
"Tell me if you remember this." Yami said getting serious as he closed his eyes and took his cigarette out of his mouth. "'If you wanna say you're right, get results from doing things your way.' Those were your words Julius. Just like I told you before we left on this mission, I accepted this to prove that you weren't wrong about me and that you hadn't made any mistakes when you gave me a Squad of my own. I can say that you didn't because the way that my Squad fought against that monster down in the Underwater Temple proved that you weren't wrong. In the process they also proved that I wasn't wrong in choosing them either."
At that Yami slapped his arm around Asta who let out a yelp of pain at that as his arms still hurt while Charmy just ate happily and Tatsumi and Akame simply took it all in. They knew what the Black Bulls were, they were the misfits who didn't fit any of the other Squads and who used to always mess things up worse than they were before the Black Bulls arrived. As such the Kingdom looked down on them but they'd shown themselves what they were truly made of against Vetto and that was just the start of their rise, they knew it.
"Yes." Julius said stepping forward and putting his hand on Asta's shoulder. "Asta, you've had another impressive showing. You're doing well, very well. I expect we'll see a lot more from you going forward."
"Thank you sir!" Asta said stars in his eyes. "But I wasn't alone down there. I had help from my Squad and Akame and Tatsumi did a lot as well."
"I am aware of that but by the sounds of it you were the uniting force for everyone." Julius said. "And besides, I am well aware of Akame and Tatsumi's skills just as you are, they know that in the end they won't be the ones who the Kingdom looks to the way you could be looked at some day."
"I did say as much to you." Akame pointed out. "We have our role in the Kingdom and you have yours Asta."
"Yes you do and I'm grateful to have you two on my side in my endeavors to change the Clover Kingdom for the better." Julius said. "As distasteful as what I have to ask you to do is, sometimes this is the only way to counter corruption that can't be punished due to how the system currently works. The changes I can make thanks to you will be immeasurable down the line though and for that you have my thanks for doing what you do. The fact that you don't enjoy it and know what you are and what I ask of you proves that you are truly good people."
"We know sir." Tatsumi said seriously. "And we've accepted our additional role in helping make this Kingdom a better place and understand that our actions can never be known and we will not get any accolades for them. That is fine with us and do our part while Asta does his, his results are already speaking for themselves."
"That they are." Julius agreed.
"Er, Wizard King, there was, um, something that I was wonder." Asta said flushing at all the praise he was getting, especially from the Wizard King, and not looking at him. "I know that you're super busy and all and I don't wanna bother you, but maybe…"
"Of course what is it?" Julius asked.
"Well, if it isn't too much trouble." Asta said. "Could I please have your autograph Wizard King sir?"
At that Julius collapsed as Yami turned to Asta and glared down at him. Tatsumi just chuckled while Akame sighed, Charmy ate watching the show, and Nero remained sitting on Asta's head unbothered by the situation.
"Tell you what, how about I give you mine instead." Yami said producing a quill from somewhere and holding it up to Asta's face. "Right on your face. Would you like that?"
"No thanks, I'll pass but thank you." Asta said nervously as Julius got up.
"Be nervous around me for once." Yami said.
"I am I swear it!" Asta said his voice and ki confirming that.
"Please forgive the intrusion sir but we've got a major situation on our hands!"
The sudden interruption was caused by Marx's voice as his face appeared in a white magical transmission image that he created for such long range communications using his Memory Magic. The fact that he'd suddenly barged into the meeting like this showed the urgency of the situation as he shouldn't be interrupting Julius for anything less right now.
"Hey it's Mushroom Head." Yami said turning to the image. "What do you want?"
"I've told you before, it's…actually no, now's not the time for that." Marx said and the fact that he'd stopped himself from correcting Yami only adding to the seriousness of the situation. "This is more important."
"Go on Marx, what is it?" Julius asked his tone once again serious.
"It's Kiten, the border town that's often the sight of skirmishes between us and the Diamond Kingdom." Marx said and just the mention of Kiten in such a context meant that whatever was going on there was something worth interrupting Julius for but Marx continued with his report before any of them could ask for more details as Marx confirmed what they were all thinking with his next few words. "A Diamond unit is attacking it as we speak!"
"Of course they'd choose now of all times to strike, fate has a way of doing this when we least expect or could afford it." Julius said as Asta and Charmy gasped while Yami, Akame, and Tatsumi grit their teeth. "Show me."
Marx did just that changing the image from his face to that of an invading Diamond Kingdom force flying towards Kiten, one easily strong enough to capture the border town and set up a foothold that could be reinforced and strengthened for a greater invasion. At the front of the invasion were three men in fancy outfits, one a light blue haired man riding a bird made of lightning and holding a lance, another a beefy redhaired and bearded man riding what looked like a boar made of clay or mud, and one an older looking man in a black cloak with long gray hair under a top hat riding a yellow, viscous cloud.
The rest were just standard hooded soldiers one brooms or carpets save for a black haired man on a smoke creation but that didn't matter. What did was the sheer scale of the attacking force.
"There are so many of them." Julius said as Yami grit his teeth and Charmy wailed.
"That looks like a whole army!" Asta said his eyes wide. "This isn't a skirmish, it's an invasion!"
"No, that's not an invasion." Tatsumi said. "It's the advance party for a potential invasion. They've brought enough forces to capture Kiten and judging by the outfits there are at least three high ranking officers are leading them, which could be a problem. If I had to guess they're goal is to take the town that is our main point of defense against the Diamond Kingdom before we can stop them."
"That is an accurate assessment as this is a far cry from the usual skirmishing with the Diamond Kingdom." Julius noted. "Especially when you consider those who appear to be in command. They're three of the Eight Shinning Generals, aren't they? They look familiar to me."
"Yes, our reports indicate that they are Lagus, Brocks, and Yagos." Marx said. "Our informants have provided descriptions of them and their magic. They use Lightning, Red Clay, and Mucus Magic."
"Then I was right they are three of the Eight Shinning Generals." Julius said. "This isn't good."
"Who are the Eight Shinning Generals?" Asta asked. "I've never heard of them before."
"You've only met a few people from the Diamond Kingdom period." Yami said. "So you wouldn't know because they wouldn't send someone that important to the dungeon unless they knew that it was worth it."
"They're the eight most powerful people in the Diamond Kingdom." Akame said none of them aware that the soldier the Diamond Kingdom had sent to the dungeon was in fact very important but Asta didn't even thing about that as he and Charmy yelped at Akame's assessment of the Eight Shining Generals. "I'd say they're the Diamond Kingdom's equivalent of our Magic Knight Captains, right Captain?"
"That's how I'd rank them." Yami said with a nod. "At least in terms of rank and importance within their Kingdom, but power wise I can't say as I've never tangled with those three."
"That's super not good then." Asta said.
"It's worse because as Tatsumi pointed out, Kiten is the linchpin of our border defense." Marx said his voice coming through the transmission though he kept the images coming from Kiten so they watched the Diamond Kingdom forces close in on the town. "Losing it opens us up to a full scale invasion while giving them a staging point within our territory. I wouldn't be surprised if their full army is not far behind them waiting for Kiten to fall to press forward while the advance force secures the surrounding area. This is an attack to take it before we can mobilize our forces to defend the Kingdom."
"No doubt their spies have informed them of our conflict with the Eye of the Midnight Sun which has stretched our forces on top of the Diamond and Spade skirmishes that we've had." Julius said as Asta grit his teeth and they watched the Magic Knights, members of the Purple Orcas judging by their robes along with general Magic Knights that were stationed in Kiten, prepare to defend it while deploying a magic barrier. "For all we know the Eye of the Midnight Sun themselves are the ones who told them. We know that they have some level of contact with the Diamond Kingdom as you reported that both Kurome and Seryu's grimoires bore diamonds on them."
"Yes my sister said that that was where she was sold." Akame said as the defenders attacked Lagus. "But if I recall what she said in the cave she faked and Seryu faked their own deaths so they might not have contacts there anymore."
"Still to get recruit two people from that Kingdom the Eye of the Midnight Sun must have some contacts." Julius said as Lagus ignored the attacks and countered with a Lightning Magic Spell that sent arrows of lightning through the barrier and into Kiten itself where they landed and blew up causing damage and chaos within Kiten. "Whatever the case, the Diamond Kingdom clearly knows of the turmoil here and have chosen now as their moment to attack. This isn't good."
Julius was right as a second later the barrier fell and quickly but with discipline the Diamond Kingdom army invaded the city and began to attack the defenders. Well for the most part it was with discipline as shortly after the start the General known as Brocks enlarged his red clay boar as he landed on the ground and used it to charge through the wall to lead a personal attack.
Clearly the three Generals had three different battle styles which could be a coordination issue during the battle but their power was no joke. That and even with their different styles they still had one General at the front, one commanding from a good vantage point, and one providing powerful ranged attacks supporting the attackers so things weren't looking good.
"This isn't going well for us." Yami said as they watched the opening attack and heard the cries of the Magic Knights there saying that this was too much. "Those are the boneless ham's men and clearly not his best. Though with how he ran that Squad it's hard to say what the quality of the Magic Knights he recruited is."
"I've initiated an investigation into the Purple Orcas so as to ascertain the extent of the damage that Gueldre's corruption caused but their prerogative was always border defense." Julius said. "They should be better than this. This is a bigger mess than I realized, just what exactly was Gueldre doing?"
"That can wait seeing as Kiten's defense has been shattered." Marx said. "They're in serious trouble. Help needs to be sent right away."
"No kidding!" Charmy said as they all watched.
"Hold on? Is that…" Marx said before cutting off.
"Damn it Mushroom Head don't cut off!" Yami said. "Speak!"
"It's them, they've come to the aid of Kiten." Marx said a slight note of awe in his voice. "Back up has arrived in the form of our mightiest Magic Knight Squad. The Golden Dawn has arrived!"
The transmission showed a group of Golden Dawn members landing in Kiten with Yuno at the front of it in full Golden Dawn regalia like the rest of the squad, which was clearly new as the last time Asta had seen him he was still wearing his usual clothes under his robe, with a fairy creature over his right shoulder. Their Captain was at the back of the group but clearly their elite was here to back up the defenders of Kiten and help out the citizens at the same time.
"Yuno!" Asta said his mouth open and eyes wide.
"My savior of sustenance! My Prince of Provisions!" Charmy said with a similar expression. "He looks great in that outfit!"
"Huh, he's got some new threads." Akame mused.
"Who is he?" Tatsumi asked.
"Asta's brother I think." Akame said as they watched the transmission and the boar general, Brocks, charge towards the Golden Dawn. "Well foster brother who he was raised with at the orphanage. We saw him at the reception and then I saw him again when his senior almost saw Noelle naked and I…wait best not to mention that."
"Oh right yeah he's upgraded his outfit." Tatsumi noted as they all watched Yuno get in the way of the charging bull and send out a Wind Magic spell that destroyed the bull and send several of grunts flying which was impressive and distracted Julius enough to not hear what Akame had stopped herself from saying. "Not bad but that won't take down a Shinning General."
"It won't be but it's impressive." Akame said as the General was clearly fine but looked thrilled to facing an opponent who could challenge him. "And he's not the Captain which just shows how strong that Squad is."
"My Prince of Provisions prevailed!" Charmy cheered while Julius went stary eyed next to her. "Just as I knew he would."
"It looks like Yuno's fielding the Wind Spirit Sylph! I can't wait to see her in person!" Julius said excitedly before calming down a bit. "His power has certainly been increasing as of late, swiftly in fact. I'm so happy I get to see this!"
"No wonder someone like him made the Golden Dawn." Tatsumi noted as they watched the Golden Dawn take to the battlefield. "But are they enough to turn the tides back in our favor?"
"They're even things up a bit but the enemy still has three Generals and their forces outnumber ours even with the Golden Dawn reinforcements." Julius said getting serious. "There are a few in the Golden Dawn who can stand up to the Generals so we can probably counter them but I'd like to send in reinforcements to aid them just in case. However, I'm not certain who we have available."
"Neither am I sir." Marx said. "The Crimson Lions are in the Ioto Mountains while the Silver Eagles and the rest of the Purple Orcas are tied up with the Spade Kingdom at the northern border. The Blue Rose Knights are busy with a major human trafficking investigation that's turned out to be larger than we anticipated and the Green Praying Mantises are dealing with the aftermath of Raquey. The Coral Peacocks could be called in but I fear that they are too far out to get there in time and the Aqua Deer lack the experience for something like this."
"Well then there's a simple solution to this." Yami said. "You've got three skilled warriors here with more battlefield and war experience than anyone in Kiten right now. Send us. I'm your best option against those Generals and this is clearly an invasion so you can truly unleash Akame and Tatsumi without any fear of blowback or subterfuge. This is their chance to truly show the kingdom what they can do. Plus I'm pretty sure that Finral's been to that village before so we can get there right away thanks to his magic."
"I pledged my grimoire and blades to you and Captain Yami when you freed me from my past and allowed me to become a Magic Knight despite trying to kill the Captain." Akame said looking at the Wizard King as her grimoire floated up and opened so that Murasame's handle appeared. "I serve as you command sir, so please let me and my love go to the frontlines and show these bastards who dare invade our home what we're made of. We've fought for you and the Kingdom in the shadows, now let us take to the battlefield in the open without holding back and make it clear that the Black Bulls will do their duty!"
At that Akame grabbed her katana and drew it from her grimoire in a flourish, spinning it before swishing it down and to her side as she stood at the ready her eyes deadly serious. Tatsumi's were just the same as he stepped forward.
"We may be assassins sir but we are more than that, we are warriors who will fight and kill for this kingdom." Tatsumi said as he reached up over his shoulder and drew his own sword to make his point. "Be it in the shadows against internal enemies or on the battlefield against external ones, we will protect the Clover Kingdom with all our power and show those who threaten it no mercy."
"Are you three sure?" Julius asked looking at them. "Your Squad only just returned from the Underwater Temple and both Akame and Tatsumi suffered serious injuries according to your report, especially Tatsumi."
"Incursio is more than just strong armor that boosts me, with it on my gut won't be an issue." Tatsumi said. "And I have a spell that will do the same for Akame if she needs it."
"I'm good to go sir." Akame said. "Don't worry, my wounds have been healed and most of those soldiers won't be a threat to me."
"Don't worry about me, I can handle it." Yami said. "Hell right now I'm feeling damned near invincible after the Underwater Temple, that and I barely did anything down there. Besides, there's someone I need to have chat with who just so happens to be in Kiten right now."
"Well then in that case I gladly accept your offer." Julius said grateful for the backup of three talented Magic Knights. "I just wish that I too could join you on the battlefield."
"That's not possible sir, we need you to remain here." Marx said. "We've theorized that this is too get a foothold in our territory but it could just be a diversion to lure you away and launch an attack on the Capital."
"I know that that could be the case and as such we can't be rash right now." Julius said agreeing with Marx. "I must take the King's safety into consideration so the best place for me is to remain here."
"Sir, as this is an invasion…" Akame began.
"This is an attack from an enemy nation, the laws of war and engagement apply." Julius said seriously. "Lethal force is fully authorized. Fight to kill. Your priority right now is defending our Kingdom, anything else is secondary so take down anyone wearing a Diamond Kingdom robe."
"Understood." Akame said nodding.
"It's settled then." Yami said. "Too bad I let Finral go wander around, should have brought the lousy good for nothing with us to this meeting. He's never here when you actually need him."
"Captain Yami!" Asta said approaching him. "Please take me with you!"
"Your arms are broken; you can't wield your swords right now." Yami said. "Tatsumi's got his armor to reinforce him, as well as extensive war experience, you've got nothing."
"So, even if I can't fight maybe I can help evacuate people!" Asta said. "Finral's magic is perfect for that and I can be of assistance there."
"While I'd like to get you some battlefield experience I can't take you." Yami said. "Someone with your injuries would hold me back and Akame and Tatsumi are needed on the frontlines so they will be in the thick of it and can't babysit you on this mission. I'm sorry but you're going to have to sit this one out back at the base."
"But Captain, I can…" Asta began before suddenly an arm shot out in front of him as to everyone's surprise Charmy had moved to stand before Asta and support him.
"Captain, as his superior and not a front line fighter like Akame and Tatsumi I am willing to accompany Asta and make sure that he remains unharmed." Charmy said her head bowed and eyes closed. "I can look out for and protect him and the residents of Kiten at the same time with my Cotton Magic while Finral evacuates them with Spatial Magic."
"You'd do that for me Charmy?" Asta asked surprised.
"What do you say? Will my idea work?" Charmy asked Yami not responding to Asta.
"That's actually a good idea." Tatsumi said coming to Asta's aid though he was thinking about it more in the sense of how Charmy's presence would be useful in Kiten. "Charmy's magic is some of the best defensive magic that we got after mine and I need to be on the front. If anyone can protect not just Asta but the non-combatants as they're evacuated, it's Charmy."
"Oh really, you're volunteering for this mission Charmy?" Yami asked not really hearing Tatsumi's support as he was surprised by her declaration though Akame had a feeling that Charmy's willingness to volunteer, while partially because of how Asta had improved the Squad as a whole, was also motivated by something else entirely, or someone else to be precise. "Alright then, that works. Guess you two idiots and Finral are coming with us as well. Wait where is Finral?"
"Awesome! Thank you sir!" Asta shouted.
"All right!" Charmy said thrusting her arms in the air while internally cheering at getting to see her Prince of Provisions and squealing at finally seeing him again after falling for him when he saved her food during the attack on the Capital. "Let's do this!"
"Then we need to move out and now!" Yami ordered as he turned. "As soon as we find Finral we're going to Kiten."
With that he strode out of the room with Akame and Tatsumi flanking him their swords still drawn and Asta and Charmy rushing to catch up. They'd given their report and because of that had been in the right place at the right time to learn of the Diamond Kingdom's attack on Kiten. Now some of the strongest, and the deadliest, Black Bulls were heading to Kiten to defend it from the latest attempted invasion by the Diamond Kingdom.
The mission to the Underwater Temple is over and the report and Magic Stone have been given to Julius but just when it seemed like they'd get a break the Diamond Kingdom decided to change that for Yami and some of his Squad which was bad timing, for the Diamond invaders that is. It's off to Kiten to help with the defense, see old friends or her Prince of Provisions in Charmy's case, and repel the invaders, just the kind of mission where Akame and Tatsumi can let lose on the record. No rest for our heroes as they head to Kiten to defend it. That's all that I have for this chapter and the only thing that I have left to add is that after a good suggestion and how it works with my outline, I will be doing another chapter after Kiten and before Akame and Tatsumi's personal mission to find a cure for Asta's arms that shows what the other members of Night Raid are up to so that means a look at Sheele and Bulat's respective investigations, Mine and Chelsea's mission for the Wizard King in the wake of Gueldre's betrayal, Leone doing Leone things, and whatever Lubbock and Najenda have been up to. This will come in a few chapters' time and be a long look at the others but with some of them that does mean the use of OCs so if anyone wants to suggest an OC who's entire purpose is to either be killed or captured by a member of Night Raid feel free to make them. I don't use OCs unless they further a character's arc and have rules for including them when suggested and this is one of those times so if you want to suggest someone who will be killed or captured feel free and I'll see if it works. Anyway, that's it for this chapter so I'll leave it 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
