Chapter 51: Invincible Girls
A/N: Did anyone notice?
Akame is more sociable. Even a year ago, she would never have willingly approached someone. Anime/Manga Akame isn't as talkative as fanfic Akame because life on Remnant is changing her. She is also in a good mood.
No one should be awake at 3 in the morning.
I planned to return to bed while Ms. Niko woke up 10 minutes before I met her. I told her I was running errands, and she told me it was last-minute practice.
We found a quiet place in the corner of the courtyard. We sat on a single bench near the academy's walls. No one was nearby, making it the perfect spot to talk and detect potential eavesdroppers.
"Isn't your first test starting at noon?"The Mistral Champion asked.
"I got time," I said," I heard you're undefeated?"
"Well kinda? In the context of an arena battle, I am," She revealed.
"Let me guess? A family member or your mentor?"
"Yes, I could never beat my dad."
"What a surprise I could never beat my uncle."
"Sorry, no, pardon me if it is too personal but how does it feel to be seen by everyone?"
"Huh?"
"It's just that…I wanted to get a peer's opinion on what it is like to be at the top."
I didn't know how to explain it. This fame and infamy isn't what I wanted but fate be damned. If I can change it, I'll want to live a relatively mundane life with low stakes.
"Before or after I reveal myself?" I asked," Because there is a stark difference between when I was six and now."
"Sorry for intruding."
"It's fine, Pyrrha. When I first got famous, I was treated as a monster and a tool of war. Luckily, My mother never forced me to take the spotlight and used doubles in my place," I revealed.
"Doubles? That would mean…"
"A lot of kids took my place while I hid like a coward," I looked down," It wasn't a great time from age six to ten. Even the tribe started questioning my lack of presence."
"Akame…You're telling me you never got forced into the spotlight even back then?"
When she says it like that, yes.
My mother wanted me to lay low for the first three years. The fourth year is when the tribe didn't want to cover for me any longer. It is like having a powerful weapon but never using it. Hence, my mother insisted on me joining that year.
That mission my mother sent Vernal, Umber, and me on was low risk. I didn't think much of it either. It was just to sneak onboard and steal anything of value. It was a simple mission to make it seem like I was doing something. I wish it went according to plan. Salem and the traitors had other plans.
One of them is dead(Theodore) and the other is still in Solitus(Flaxen).
"There was one mission but it ended badly," I said, wondering if I should even reveal this detail," But then that event happened."
Even Atlas gives an extremely skewed report of the event never mentioning the girls. They didn't want to admit to any war crimes like shooting Umber, an unarmed child, who is also an Atlesian civilian. But I won't put Umber through the drama. She went through enough already.
That's why I never asked her about Martha's suicide…
She was there and she saw everything.
"The swarm?" She clenched her fist," I remember that day, too. You were heroic. What you did made it more manageable for everyone there!"
She smiled happily now.
"Why are you smiling?"
"Because you unknowingly saved my father," she put a hand on my shoulder," Thank you."
"That wasn't heroism driving me to fight a million Grimm," I pushed her hand away," I was in a dark place at the time and offered my life. Saving Mistral was just the side-effect."
"Akame…"
"I'm alive aren't I?" I lied.
I wasn't sure if Yang or Ruby knew who I was back then. My dad and uncle would know and it would hurt them the most. Suicide disguised as self-sacrifice.
I died, got resurrected, and through divine intervention, escaped. My semblance refuses to turn off until my target is killed. I was a dead girl walking at the time so nothing mattered at all. It was hopelessness disguised as self-sacrifice.
It was Fang who leaked the video and skyrocketed my popularity. Fang is the one who gave me valuable intel on Vacuo. He's the one who funded the tribe initially. The headmaster of Haven did so much for us. I figured out why. He did all this to have an indebted ally to fall back on. It was fortunate that Ozpin backed his plan.
Otherwise, He would be at the mercy of Ms. Malachite.
My mother never forced me to do anything in those four years until that low-stake mission. She loved me and I hated her. I killed her. Raven sacrifices others but never me. In the end, I sacrificed her for my path forward.
What a tragedy.
"Are you going to be okay?" She asked with sincerity.
"Yes, You wanted my answer so here it is. It felt like the world wanted to use or kill me. That video wasn't meant to be released," I pointed out," It was leaked."
"It helped your image a lot," She nodded," Even if it is true it was a suicide attempt, It inspired people."
"You're right but both in good and bad ways," I leaned back," Which is why I'm here. I'm here to set everything right with a more active role."
"That's great to hear," Pyrrha clasped her hands together," I bet your family is supporting you! Do you have another family? Right?"
She fumbled on those words. Pyrrha may have thought my tribe affiliation was my only family. While technically true, I wanted to kill all of them once upon a time. Thankfully, The general public isn't aware of my father.
The media assumed Branwen tribe members were hiding out in Patch, which was somewhat true. My grandfather and previous tribe leader before my mother, Jay Branwen, attempted a terrorist attack on Beacon a few weeks before I was born. AABU and a team of Huntsman quickly put him down. Splinter cells of bandits would be a believable lie.
In reality, there were only two Branwen in Patch; my uncle and mom.
"Yes, My dad, my uncle, and three sisters," I told her," They welcomed me home once I returned from my battle with the Grimm Swarm."
"Speaking of swarms, How did you escape?"
"The final bit of strength my mother had was to open a portal to safety," I lied again.
This one hurt so much to lie about.
I killed her. Salem knows I killed her. Cinder knows I killed her. She knows I killed her.
What the hell am I thinking? I didn't do it. Cinder did and I will execute her on sight.
"My turn to ask the questions," I cleared my throat," What is it like for you? What motivates you to start early?"
"I also have potential. My dad wanted the best for me and the family."
"Age 10 is too early."
"What about age 14 and becoming a huntress?"
"That is my decision and my alone. My father doesn't want me to be a huntress. My mother hype me up but didn't want a leadership role until I came of age," I expressed," It's all self-inflicted."
Yes, That's the truth. I train myself beyond my mother's expectations. It seems like abuse from an outside perspective but that is because I keep exceeding my limits for a mere child.
"It can't be, you have this drive all by yourself?" She was flabbergasted.
I nodded.
"Pyrrha, Why don't you take a step back and enjoy a normal life first? Find some friends that genuinely like you as you," I told her. My family wanted me to be normal. I can't afford to do so, thus we compromised. I can enjoy life and work hard toward my goal.
"Those are…hard to come across. From your tone, it sounds like you found a few," she motioned," Vernal, Militia, and that girl standing further back?"
Pyrrha must be training consistently and the only interaction she has is in a sterile, controlled environment. I would be livid if my only friends were a bunch of Drews and Brawnz's; A leech and a yes man.
"My sister," I said proudly.
"Sister?"
I bought out my scroll and showed her a group photo from a few hours ago.
"You have three sisters! All of you look nothing alike," she squinted her eyes," You have a brother too?"
"Mercury is a family friend," I pointed at the picture," This is my little sister Ruby, twin sister Yang, and adopted sister Umber."
"No way!" She exclaimed," She's your twin?"
"Yes, We get that a lot," I beamed," If you ever meet her and she said she's the oldest…She's a liar."
"I-I see," She giggled," It appears you have quite a lot of people keeping you grounded."
"They are amazing," I said," After I beat you, do you want to hang out some more?"
"I-I don't know. Afterward are after-battle interviews, my sponsors, umm even my next destination is showing up to a podcast," She sighed," If I'm not fighting, I'm advertising myself."
Well, This sounds awful. I don't have room to speak on the matter but at least I try to budget my time. I also try to avoid interviews, brand deals, and public speaking. Those aren't my style. I am a huntress after all. It would send the wrong message if I hyper-focus on my celebrity status instead of being out on the field.
"Do you have siblings too?"
"No…but I am curious what it's like," She said," It seems like a splendid time!"
It's somewhat true. Once the honeymoon phase wore off, I realized those two can sometimes be insufferable. Ruby is a ticking time bomb that can't keep a secret. Yang had almost gotten herself killed running headfirst into danger. The story where she almost got Ruby and herself killed looking for me and my mother got me genuinely mad at Yang.
Yet, They're still precious to me.
This is why it is part of my plan to tell Pyrrha this info. She's a righteous person who has a strong sense of honor. I watched all her matches and she was the pinnacle of good sportsmanship. I never gave anyone information about Yang being my twin sister. My twin will have a target on her back from both my enemies and the tribe.
A champion can fight off potential threats and become a reliable bodyguard.
"They can be a handful," I smiled before changing into a serious expression," This is a huge secret that should only be between us. You know my status would invite unwelcome guests. Please, They're all I have."
She stood up and got on one knee. She bowed her head before me, an arm crossed across her chest and another behind her back. She is performing an Argus salute.
"You have my promise that this secret will remain as such," She stood back up and a bright idea came to me.
I forced myself to blush. The dim light illuminated enough of my face for her to see.
I didn't know which way she swung but wanted to see how she reacted. Pyrrha got up calmly without breaking eye contact.
My blush was originally fake but now it's for real.
"Thank you, Pyrrha Nikos," I smiled, forcing any extra display of emotion down," Quite the knight you are."
She still has zero reaction.
"Right," She cleared her throat, quickly turning her back on me," I'll get back to training and you'll get back to sleep. See you in the afternoon."
An ally secured.
"Sorry, Akame if I sound rude. Please wear a less see-through nightgown," She turned around," I could see your bra. Sorry again, I just need to point it out before the media catches on. Umm, sorry! Bye!"
I bend forward with both hands covering my face. This girl loves to say sorry.
Why am I the one getting embarrassed?
Normal PoV
Akame was right not to worry.
She slept at 4 am and woke up at 10 am, in time for breakfast, consuming all the aura leaves, paying off a few assets, and last-minute practices. The obstacle course starts at 4 pm. She knew all the objectives beforehand.
It was a four-part challenge designed by each kingdom. Which one wanted to make it the most difficult was obvious. Whichever kingdom bought the most 'organizers' wanted Akame to fail the most. It causes security issues initially. But for every 'organizer,' ten warriors are shadowing them.
She was escorted eastward of the city.
Vacuo obstacle was located in a canyon and furthest away.
Atlas was a military base.
Mistral was a town rented out for the occasion.
Vale was outside the city walls.
She needed to sprint to each new location after each completion.
Vacuo has her parkour through a canyon outside the city, collecting 10 rings. Akame finds the entire experience to be fun. The rings are made with real gold and can be kept. The organizer told Akame she could take it to a Vacuo Jeweler to add more valuable gems or trade them for another piece of jewelry. Overall, Akame had the time of her life. They even give her refreshments and breaks.
Mistral turns it into a sheath mission using a whole town and countryside. She needed to steal a relic from a vault. If she gets caught once, it's game over. Of course, everyone knew it didn't matter in the end. She passes it without the camera's detecting her.
She put the ransom money to good use. Ms. Malachite wanted to cheat and Akame made sure it didn't happen. She happens to have some leftovers to donate to 'charity'.
Atlas threw away all the subtleties of making a fair obstacle course or anything resembling it. They used their temporary base for the battleground. It was the only base Vacuo permitted Atlas to build as a middle ground to return POWs. Only one land route allowed the base to resupply and personnel to exit. In order words, They're surrounded.
It was an attempted execution involving hundreds of soldiers and many more Atlesian knights. Akame's goal was to find four keys and exit from the front of the base. It was the first time Akame took substantial damage. She needed to fight through the entire base.
Akame left the location leaving every single machine destroyed, the defense gutted, and soldiers unconscious or too injured to fight back. She only lost 10% of her aura from it. The tribal army cheered and celebrated her victory as they ran with her to the next obstacle course/battleground.
Ironwood watches from the safety of his airship with a defeated expression.
Those men are his most battle-hardened. They're strong enough to fight their way back to Vale if needed. He didn't expect them to defeat her but weakened Akame enough for his greatest huntress and prodigy to finish her off. They only took ten percent.
The initial speculation was right. Atlas would need to fight her like they're fighting a horde of Grimm. Which in itself doesn't account for outside help and Akame escaping the army. Mistral's trial proved she could pull it off.
Ms. Malachite sat across from him. They decide to collaborate once again to take down Akame before the matches. Milly made sure of it.
Malachite is beyond livid. She oversees the setup of the town security details. She knows where to look and what's the most likely place for Akame to enter. Mistral has the most comprehensive spy network and surveillance state for a reason. Milly would know if someone ordered coffee instead of tea even if they're in another city.
It shouldn't be possible unless…
"I can't report this in," She sighed.
There are rules on the stealth course. There aren't supposed to be hidden cameras nor could they be used to find Akame. Anything unseen would be unfair in a test setting.
Akame bribed some of the security details ahead of time. She scouted out the weakest link, the least loyal and the most desperate. Akame offers them a better deal, a home in Vale or Vacuo. The bribe was just an upfront payment. She turned Malachite's heavy-handed method against her by telling them their boss would find out eventually. They know how trigger-happy their boss gets over betrayals.
Suffice it to say, Kindness won over.
Akame dodged a bullet and waved at May. She continues sprinting to her next destination like nothing happened.
The Vale guests seem surprisingly tame.
Akame knows Vale hates her less as of late. She turns Patch into a sanctuary and never directly harms Vale. Besides what her grandfather tried to pull, the people came to slowly respect the Branwen. Uncle Qrow is well-liked and an active opponent against the tribe back in the day. It doesn't mean they'll take it easy on her.
The obstacle course is covered in heavy metal and junk. Akame didn't understand what Vale was trying to pull until she saw them.
They're four professors from Beacon Academy.
Professor Peter Port is an old man with gray hair and a mustache. He wore a burgundy, double-breasted suit with gold buttons and trimmings. He has gray pants tucked into his olive boots. He brandished his weapon, Blowhard, a blunderbuss with the stock being a double-bladed ax.
Professor Bartholomew Oobleck is a middle-aged man with green hair covered by a safari hat. He wears a khaki vest, a green shirt underneath, and khaki shorts with brown hiking boots. Oobleck's weapon is a flame staff called Antiquity's Roast.
Professor Thumbelina Peach is the newest professor who teaches plant science. She is a young woman with antlers, gray eyes, and orange hair. She wore a green cloak with the hood down, a lime blouse with a silver lining, and a long skirt hiding lace sandals. She is using her bow Failnaught.
Finally, Professor Glynda Goodwitch, No description is needed.
'There no way in hell I'm fighting all of them, am I?' She gritted her teeth. She analyzes the situation further and breathes a sigh of relief.
"Welcome to your fourth and final obstacle," Goodwitch walked ahead of the group, bell dangling from her waist," Your goal is to snatch the bell on our waist away before time runs out."
She pointed to a monitor on the city wall. It was counting down already.
29:40
29:39
29:38
Akame rushed at the professor immediately without being told the battle had already begun the moment she saw them.
Extra
Last minute changes
"Why Peach?" Goodwitch questioned the headmaster," Ann is the perfect candidate to counter Akame."
Ann Greene is a fellow professor specializing in stealth and security. She would've been the best in this type of challenge. The professor is the master of her craft and could have outlasted Akame even if she captured the other three bells.
Professor Peach, on the other hand, isn't a fighter. She is a wilderness expert and scientist. There is no chance of Peach keeping her bell from Akame for 30 mins.
"These obstacle courses are meaningless and act as nothing more than a spectacle for the audience. She would have to fail twice and I knew that's impossible," The wizard continues," Vacuo is giving her the victory, Mistral is using her specialty on her territory…again, and Atlas is strength against strength."
The combat professor folded her arms. A slow realization crosses her mind. They're using their turn as a setup.
"Oz, You want her to succeed," She pointed out," Why are you handicapping her further?"
"The answer is simple. She is designed with unfairness in mind."
From a greater power beyond the stars was what Ozpin wanted to add. He can sense the mark of the Dark God. It's a feeling he only experienced fleetingly as his body disintegrated by Light and was brought back by Dark.
"I want her to succeed but I want her to earn it. This is my attempt to limit her semblance."
"Limit it? How? Are you certain she'll use it in a controlled setting?"
"There was an addendum to the rules last week. She'll stop fighting if first blood is drawn or a bone is cracked. I suspect she requested it to allow her semblance to be used," Ozpin revealed," She must have figured out how to control it."
"Yet, she never used it against Marcus."
"Would you use your semblance against him? You're one of the worst matchups if you two fought," He countered.
"What is Peach semblance?"
The moment the wizard explained it was when it all clicked into place.
A/N: I skipped the first three obstacle courses because I didn't need it to be long. The Vale one is going to be summarized too. Which is under 1k words in the next chapter because the main course is Akame vs Pyrrha. Those two have a lot in common but at the same time, the context is completely different.
I didn't have time to work on the story as of late. Besides work, I've been focusing on real-life situations. I could add a bit more meat to this chapter but I'm falling behind schedule.
But there is one guarantee besides further suffering.
This story isn't ending like a certain manga. I'm not naming it because it is objectively true. I owe Hirokoshi(MHA) and Isayama(AoT) an apology.
Side note, Wuthering Waves 1.3 is so peak. I'm a sucker for romance. The same with Firefly in HSR and Lucia in PGR. I've been experimenting with different subgenres in this story but that's the one I align to most.
Which brings me to my next point. I don't intend to give Akame a harem ending because, at the end of the story, She'll end up with only one person. I'm giving her options with people who genuinely care and support her. Akame doesn't understand the concept of romantic love. She never felt strongly about it nor had the time to ponder even in her anime/manga.
It is tied heavily to her semblance.
