Chapter 52: Demerit
The obstacle isn't even an obstacle, It's a game of cat and mouse.
I rushed Professor Port, The grape shots made me jump back.
I target Oobleck but his flames are hot enough to melt metal.
Professor Goodwitch is turning the whole course into a cyclone of steel and debris.
We were at it for 10 minutes straight. I have 20 minutes left and made zero progress.
I can't even use the metal around me to my advantage because Goodwitch and Peach knew I would.
Professor Peach does nothing besides occasionally firing explosive arrows at me.
I could take the hit if I weren't trying to conserve my aura. On paper, Port is the safer option because his blunderbuss doesn't have a good fire rate compared to the consistent burn of a flame staff. The issue is the rumors surrounding his exploits in his prime.
This man uppercutted a Goliath. I can't do that even with my semblance active, I think? I never bother to risk breaking an arm to find out. Even if he's half the strength of his prime, I don't want to be sent to a lower orbit.
Oobleck flames would stick to me. He mixed fire dust, wind dust, and some kind of slow-burning gel. The fire refuses to go out even after the first engagement.
Those two are the vanguards I can't get past no matter what I try to pull.
I know how Goodwitch fights. She isn't shredding me with all the junk she has floating around. She doesn't have to because beating me isn't the purpose.
Maybe I can keep grasping for a metal shield until Peach runs out of arrows.
I abandoned that idea once another sheet got blown to smithereens.
19:00
18:59
18:58
This is pointless.
They'll goal is to stall and they are perfect at it. Peach is careful with her arrows. She only fires if Goodwitch can't flick away my protection in time.
I narrowed my eyes on her. She moved her wand like a conductor of an orchestra, a stern look on her face.
I fought her before and she is capable of so much more.
It shows the major difference between students and trained professionals. They have an objective and stick to it instead of aiming for more. I doubt they worked together to such an extent yet flow seeinglessly like a band. Even more frightening is their efficiency. They're barely moving compared to me while I need to keep my guard up against Goodwitch telekinesis.
"Time is a virtue, Ms. Branwen," Oobleck nodded," You can give up."
I'll still pass. It's tempting but I dug a deep hole for myself. I can't climb out of it without losing some respect.
I will analyze the situation further.
There must be a way to knock the vanguards out of the battle.
A strategy that hadn't been explored yet.
An aura slash?
No, those could be countered and dodged.
Professional huntsmen would see the wind-up and take proper precautions. More importantly, it is wasteful if I miss.
What other range option do I have on me?
I glance at my sheath.
The hell didn't I think of this?
17:00
16:59
I practiced shooting hundreds of rounds out of Rosetta and even got practice swings in its kanabō form.
I wouldn't have shot the bells off their hips even if I was a skilled shooter. They would have intercepted my shot. It's one of the most basic skills of anyone even near the standards of a trainee huntsman. A fully trained professional could block multiple rounds coming at their face. It doesn't mean guns are useless in this world.
I discreetly set Rosetta to full auto. I intend to get in close. I can't fight those two all at once. I need a brief window of opportunity where I can focus on only one professor.
I focus my aura on my legs and arms.
Normal PoV
The most used phrase on Remnant doesn't come as a surprise.
It's also a gun or it can shoot is common when showing your weapon to someone.
Regardless, What happened next caught everyone besides the maker of the sheath and her family off guard.
Akame got into a stance as if she was about to throw an aura slash. They got ready to defend against it. Goodwitch pulled metal forward to soften the blow, Port was going to switch to his double blade-axe to counter with his slash, and Oobleck planned to dodge if needed. Peach stood confidently knowing her colleague could handle it.
It was a bait.
She flung her sword, handle first, at Port.
Akame darted toward Oobleck slightly faster than the sword.
Naturally, Oobleck raised his fire staff but Akame drew her sheath first.
The sheath quickly shifted into handgun mode. The barrel of Rosetta is already leveled dead center on the green-haired professor's face. The staff still was not high enough as she leaped forward.
The flames would only burn her heel at most.
Professor Port's eyes widened and turned to respond, ready to blast Akame Branwen away. He took his focus off Shusen as it came just in time to hit him in the elbow, forcing him to make a last-millisecond decision not to fire.
He'll hit both of them with the grapeshot.
Akame isn't a skilled shooter. She is extremely proficient at quickdraws because it translates from performing laido with her sword. The issue starts the further away her target is.
But her enemy is within point-blank range, barely an arm's length between them.
The fire staff is still rising but it won't make it in time.
Akame squeezed the trigger. All 20 rounds were expelled in seconds. Her bullets are empowered by her aura as a substitute for dust.
All of it impacted the professor's face like the force of a high-caliber round of an assault rifle instead of a pistol.
They all moved to react.
The gun clicked.
She kicked the green professor in the chest, moving to her next phrase.
Akame grabbed her sword before it hit the ground. She swung around to launch an aura slash right at Port.
He raised his blunderbuss to block. The slash impacted against his weapon and dispersed successfully. Then he felt the wind rushing past him.
An arrow shoots in between the professors as it tries to intercept Akame.
The history professor looked behind him to see two bells in her hand.
She turns around and gives them a respectful bow.
Professor Port and Oobleck have been eliminated.
There was a brief moment of respite to allow the two professors to leave the area. The time stops at 15:30. They congratulate Akame and assure her they're fine. Akame's surprise attack only took down a third of Oobleck's aura and gave him a bloody nose.
Akame knew she would have lost a sizable chunk of her reserve if she blunt force those two.
She turned to face her final two opponents; Rosetta in one hand and Shūsen in the other. Akame is taking a moment to recover some aura before the next part.
15:30
15:29
15:28
The battle resumed as Akame aimed Rosetta at Goodwitch-
"I surrendered," Professor Peach suddenly raised her arms, folding her bow into its compact form—a concerned look on her face.
She put her bow away and unhooked her bell. She jogged over and handed it over to me.
I wanted to question why she gave up so easily. I know Ms. Peach isn't a fighter and losing two of their best in an instant doesn't bode well for her fighting style.
She placed it in my hand and tapped me on the shoulder. I felt a pulsing sensation throughout my body.
"Glynda is going to go all out now," She whispered in my ears," Sorry, I have a flight to catch!"
She sprinted away before I could question her about what she did to me. I felt it affected my aura. Ms. Goodwitch called out to me before I could investigate further.
"The match is about to resume," She said with a smile," Your people are waiting."
I look around to see the crowds and the camera still rolling. This is a difficult decision. I can't complain about Peach's actions without knowing what she did to me. It was an innocent touch. I need to maintain an image and play it off. I'll figure out what she did to me later.
"Look like this is round 2," I nodded, readying both my handgun and sword in each hand.
"Sober and no outside help," Goodwitch flick her wand.
The sheet metal molded and wrapped around her waist turning itself into a metallic combat skirt. It covered the bell in a layer of armor. Next, She did the same for her arm and chest.
The sheet metal she used isn't the same as the rusted and dirty junk surrounding her. It shines and reflects with very little impurity in them. It's quality metal shaped into armor.
"Is covering the bell even allowed?" I growled. She begins to levitate more junk around her.
"Yes, there are no rules beyond taking the bell. Don't want to yield?" she asked.
"It would be a disservice to you," I gritted.
"Time will resume," She nodded.
15:27
Damn it!
15:26
She wants me to defeat her.
Fine…
I need to use my semblance. I reviewed the speech I gave a month and a half back. I did activate my semblance near the end of my speech. It was around the time I vowed to be the Huntress of Hope.
What was I thinking around that time?
First things first: My defense will be gone. I will be vulnerable to attacks which is why I opted to go all black. I'm wearing it to hide my wound. If I bleed, I'll stop the match immediately.
My semblance disgusted me at first.
A trigger and a target are needed for it to activate.
Martha dies so Aaron needs to die.
Umber is dying so that soldier shall join her.
I thought Vernal was killed but that was a lie. I convinced myself that I needed to kill my mother and thus, my semblance refused to turn off.
Because deep down, I refuse to let go.
Because of who I am or…who I once was.
Because I could never see another option.
An option that doesn't involve bloodshed.
Goodwitch is an opponent worthy of me going all out.
The trigger…Unknown.
The target…Glynda Goodwitch.
Trigger…
I shouldn't be the old me.
The specific trigger is becoming a huntress. A paragon of heroism and righteousness. It sounds broad, but the ideals are straightforward.
Yet, I can't get my semblance to activate.
'Because it shouldn't be a dilemma to do the right thing!' A voice flashes through my head.
That voice…
It sounds like Ruby?
Ruby?
The voice sounded deeper, more mature.
I look around trying to sense her, She isn't nearby.
Odd? My mental state must be hallucinating again.
I thought about Ruby and her dreams. It aligns the most with becoming a huntress even compared to Yang. A genuine desire to help others to the best of her abilities.
I smiled.
She's my trigger.
I triggered my semblance thinking about Ruby Rose, the silver-eyed warrior. My sister is destined to die for humanity. That can't happen.
The world suddenly becomes a shade of red yet enhanced to greater details. I can sense all that is around me.
The beating of hearts.
The color of the soul.
The smallest change of motion.
The slightest twitch.
The world slowed so much that I thought my heart stopped.
I did it!
I activated my semblance and immediately felt something was off. I couldn't explain it. It was an emptiness spreading throughout my body. I concentrated on myself. It was as if a candle was rapidly melting away.
What the hell?
Goodwitch hasn't attacked me even after time resumed. She pointed at a board actively measuring my aura level.
"How?" I was stunned.
Only 76% of my reserve is left.
And now 75% is left in the next second.
I shut off my semblance immediately. I didn't want to lose another percentage. It's merciful for Goodwitch to warn me. I would have burned out my vast reserves in a minute.
The first and second obstacle courses took nothing from me. The third took ten percent of my aura, which is roughly one veteran huntsman's worth. I was able to recover five percent on the short trip back. My aura regen is amazingly high but it doesn't scale to my reserve.
It's like having a water hose at full blast but the hose is filling a luxury hotel swimming pool.
The final course(Atlas) undid those five percent. Which means it should be sitting at 90% of its original reserve. The regen rate and the loss would be at equilibrium when my semblance is active.
It's like a small sinkhole opening up in the pool but instead of a hose, it's a waterfall large enough to fill the pool slightly faster than the escaping water. This example doesn't account for the intensity of battle or healing wounds affecting the regen rate.
I had 90% and lost 15% in seconds of semblance activation. I didn't know my semblance was that aura intense. This semblance is meant for me and only me.
Now that the example is out of the way, Why did it go down? I haven't done anything yet.
"Do you want the answer?" The combat professor offered.
"What did Peach do to me?" I pointed Shūsen at her," Give me a straight answer!"
"Professor Peach's semblance stops aura regeneration," She told me," It was a gamble whether it extends to your semblance but it did work."
"Y-You all knew I could use my semblance," I tightened my grip.
"You activate it briefly during your speech."
"It could've been accidental."
"True, although I doubt you wouldn't experiment on yourself," She motioned," It isn't permanent, 24 hours at most. But it can be undone either by breaking your aura, breaking hers or if she removes it herself. Unfortunately…"
I look up to see a civilian bullhead leaving the city limits. An escort of Vale aircraft escorted it out. She's gone. I want to order my men to shoot that aircraft down but that would be asking for a war.
Mistral and Atlas now seem like a road bump compared to what Vale did to me. No, it isn't Vale. The council handed their trial to Ozpin for both rounds. Suddenly, I fear what they're planning for their battle.
The timer is still ticking down. I have been wasting too much time trying to figure out what happened to me.
13:34
13:33
I'll defeat Goodwitch.
The cameras are still rolling and the world knows what Peach did to me. Sure, I can complain, demand she release it after this obstacle course. Why should a demerit carry on to the next stage?
We are here to have a fair test. The obstacle and the combat section, blurred as they are now, are two separate parts. They shouldn't intermix. I'll keep it for only this round but my match with Winter and Akari needs my semblance. Those two are too much of a threat.
I opened my mouth to speak out against unfairness but someone beat me to it.
It was Vernal from on top of the walls. That semblance of hers is drawing everyone's attention making her voice heard even without a microphone.
"That means nothing! Akame can handle a limited aura just fine!"
What the-VERNAL!
Shut up!
"You can send another army. You can send your finest warriors but the ending will be inevitable! Akame is a whole army on her own and all you did was stop the reinforcement."
13:00
12:59
"Pause the time," I sighed.
Vernal, you idiot. I understand why Jinn wanted Vernal to be gone for most of my exam. She must have been coerced by someone. This is also my greatest fear with Vernal. It is easy to trick her if the outcome seems favorable.
She kept mouthing off.
"Akame Branwen is leagues beyond all of you. A mere debuff isn't going to slow her down!"
"Ya!" The crowds go wild.
"Isn't that right Akame?" She pointed to me.
I closed my eyes.
"Resume time," I uttered.
"She said yes!"
And so the crowd cheered.
I wish Militia was here to control her. I physically can't be around to babysit that dumbass. It is strange how this girl can go from a genius in a new field to a fool. There's no way I'm letting this demerit stay on me.
DAMN IT!
I rushed toward Goodwitch and continued our duel.
Normal POV
Pyrrha Nikos felt jittery.
She is going to lose no matter what and it strangely excites her.
The four-time champion has faced many powerful opponents several years older than her and won. She even beat adults. Akame's accomplishments in the last hour made her seem minuscule by comparison.
She defeated an army that would even overwhelm her father. Akame outwitted a team of professional huntsmen and the last one standing turned it into a one-on-one battle. The battle is still raging behind the city wall.
Pyrrha is watching the match from a live feed, analyzing every small detail.
"Honey," A deep voice called to her.
"Dad?"
"Normally, I would tell you victory is assured but this opponent is a different beast," He crossed his arms," I need to get it to you straight sweetheart."
"I can try your best," She said.
"I know you will!" He chuckled proudly," Which is why I want you to go all out and use the environment to your advantage."
"Is that why I'm the only one who can abuse a ring out?" She motioned to the arena.
Their battleground is on top of a limestone tower reinforced with steel beams. It was built within a few weeks and stands ten stories high. There were dozens of swords stabbed into the arena and hundreds more lining the inside. The arena itself is made of a stronger material with only one entrance and exists. A spiral staircase leads up to the top.
It is close to Akame's next match on an Atlesian airship.
The intent was clear to the Mistral Champion. She was going to use her semblance to control swords. Pyrrha needed to go all out.
All of this setup isn't going to stop Akame but hopefully weaken her before she reaches the top.
"Can't we just fight a fair 1v1? If I'm going to lose, I want to do it without needing to risk my next win."
"You will lose, that's a fact," he said softly," But who's to say you'll keep losing after the world knows of your polarity? The skill, your prowess is all your own."
"My next opponent will find a way to counter it."
"Counter with what? Bare fists and wooden swords? It would be a greater insult to hold back now."
"But she is holding back too."
"She wasn't. That girl tried but got it restricted. It will stay restricted because her people are foolishly convinced to believe it. That's all I needed to know about Akame's mindset."
"Your mother and I talked last night."
Pyrrha knew it was coded for they had a heated argument. They love each other very much but even Pyrrha wonders how two opposites can attract. She got her mother's heart and father's hunger for combat.
"I came to apologize for pushing you too hard. Glory is great, but do you want to take a break from it?"
"Break? Dad, We have Pumpkin Pete after and-"
"Reschedule it," he motioned. I spoke with Akame's father. I thought his method was the same as mine—a kindred spirit with an exceptional daughter!"
Pyrrha raised her brow. She was about to correct her father only to realize the existence of Akame's sisters are top secret. Vale laws are strict in regards to Huntsman and their family compared to Mistral's.
They watched the match between Goodwitch and Akame come to a close.
Akame Branwen defeated Glynda Goodwitch. The future Huntress seems to be badly injured with rips in various parts of her outfit. The red-eyed girl limped momentarily before slowly picking up the pace. The cheer of her people was deafening as she took off into a run moments later.
Pyrrha got out of her tent and walked with her dad. The crowds around her are parted by barriers and bodyguards. There are varied camera recording and snapping pictures. Reporters and fans pushing each other to get a quick interview or autograph.
Pyrrha wanted to give a few autographs but her dad pushed her ahead. They're on a timer.
Once they got to the entrance of the tower, they started talking again.
"You're still my special girl whether you win or lose. All I ask is to not be discouraged by your imminent defeat and strive to be stronger after," He walked forward and roughly patted his daughter on the back, the smaller girl almost falling forward," I think that girl isn't all that. She lost more than 15 percent of her aura to Goodwitch and an underhanded tactic cost her the other 15."
"What do you mean?"
"She is worth 10 huntsmen and an army took down one of them. She lost three against Beacon Professors. By that logic, If she had the same amount as all of us, She'd stop at Atlas," He explained," Maybe at the professors if Atlas didn't play dirty."
Truth be told, Akame wouldn't lose as much aura against the Atlas base. She needed to run across an open field with no cover, explosives, and enough gunfire to wipe a horde out. That not even getting to the part of fighting a professional army. The men and women of Atlas are the best of the best on Remnant.
They forced her to stand and fight at a major disadvantage and she still won.
"But that's still an army," Pyrrha added.
"A well-trained Huntsman could take down armies," He added," It is required when our lifelong enemy always has the number advantage. This is why I paid out of pocket for this tower."
"I see," She nodded.
It was another change of plan. She was supposed to fight at a local arena but her father wanted to make it as big of a spectacle as possible. So thus, the tower was created to show off her daughter's full potential.
"She seconds away," He placed a hand on Pyyrha's shoulder," You will get stronger, I believe so. I've already gone over what you must do to damage her as much as possible."
"I know," She smiled.
"Make it rain swords," He smiled as the opponent approached. Alexander stepped away leaving his daughter with her shield held in front and spear pointed toward her opponent.
Akame sported battle damage on her outfit. A few tears at her leggings and arm sleeves. The skirt of the dress has a few bullet holes and minor cuts. She is breathing somewhat heavily but is still standing straight. Even her long raven hair became a mess of split ends.
She hid it well but Goodwitch took a lot out of her.
"You can take her without a semblance!" Shay D. Mann shouted from the PA system of the tribe airship.
"If they're cheatin', they're sweatin'!" A tribe Crownguard screamed.
Vernal walked beside Akame with a hat hiding the large bump she got on her head. Akame narrowed her eyes at the Spring Maiden causing her to recoil. She regretted putting Akame into another mess.
"She'll kick your ass with a wooden sword!" Brawnz got on top of a cart and roared.
The rest of the tribe and fans cheered in agreement.
Pyrrha caught the brief moment of rage and annoyance in Akame's eyes. Before the corner of her lips twitched into a smile. The former tribal leader had to put up an act.
Akame knows it's stupid to go on with a demerit. She is going to have to give them, especially Vernal, a strong lecture if she survives the next 2 matches.
"It would be an honor to fight you," Akame lifted Shūsen.
Wordlessly, Pyrrha took a step back into the tower.
She wanted to say something but couldn't. She felt cold sweat dripping down the side of her head, a hollow feeling in the pit of her stomach, and, finally, a burning in her heart.
As if a fiery arrow was shot into it.
'Do you believe in Destiny?' She almost said those words to Akame.
Pyrrha couldn't understand why but looking at Akame gave her an odd premonition.
As if she's looking at death itself.
A/N: I apologize for taking too long but I have a habit of writing and writing way past the word count limits I set for myself.
I skipped out on Akame vs. Goodwitch round 2 because It would be a rehearsal of the first time they fought. Pyrrha is going to fight the same way but with a lot of flying swords. I wish I posted this a little quicker because of Shirou Day. The flying swords would make a good callback to Shirou Emiya.
I did say Beacon professors against Akame was supposed to be 1,000 words but it just kept going. Now the next chapter going to be completely Akame vs. Pyrrha.
This is a tournament arc now that I think about it.
I may come back and reedit this but I need to head to work soon.