AgK chapter 56: Fatal Gambit
Why do I put up with them?
I sometimes ask myself the same questions over and over again.
Nowadays, why are we so loyal to each other?
It's always going to be the same defined answers between those three.
Vernal is my accomplice.
Umber is my morality.
Militia is my…
Nowadays, I have no clue why we are together.
I'm in the middle of an intense battle but I can't stop thinking about her. She got to be here. I want to find her again and give another final goodbye.
I dodged a massive hammer flying over my head.
That was unexpected.
The hammer soars past me and embedded itself into the walls.
I lifted my swords to block a thrust.
I miscalculated and Winter ended up stabbing me in the forearm.
I backtracked once again. Winter rushed like a feral animal. It gives me very little time to breathe. Even Akari is struggling to catch up with her mentor.
What did the war do to her?
I suspect it is because of the casualties. Some of her closest comrades, possibly friends, are killed in the fighting. Sky had the same hatred in his eyes but I did personally kill his uncle.
"Winter! Calm down!" Akari screamed.
She kicked me in the stomach, slamming my body against a pole holding up a walkway. It shook violently, scaring the new crews on top.
Of course, She paid for her aggression. I stabbed her in the thigh before I went flying.
I got to my feet and scanned my surroundings. Even the soldiers in the hangar are scattering like roaches from the insanity of our battle. I need to end it fast or clear her head.
I sidestep an overarching slash and grab her wrist when she tries stabbing my neck with her dagger. I dropped my sword and lifted my hand.
I used this forbidden move to reset Yang whenever she got too angry in battle. It doesn't always work but it does something.
I lightly slapped Winter across the face.
The entire room froze immediately. They're shocked by how outlandish it was. The rage was quickly replaced with confusion, irritation, and embarrassment.
"What in the hell was that?"
"I want to win but not like this," I stepped back. I let go of her wrist and she immediately went back to trying to stab me in the neck.
Another hand intercepted it mere centimeters from my jugular. My aura was ready to intercept the underhanded attack.
"Winter…Mentor, She's right," Akari nodded and pulled Winter away. Then, she walked forward, arms raised.
Heterochromic eyes…
One is silver and the other is blue.
The God of Light serves Atlas's downfall on a silver platter, literally. I can feel it; A part of me, my soul fragments and memory, inside her. It's a shame I must kill her someday. I push down the dark impulses in my mind to gut her this very instant.
She seems kind yet there is something about her. It must be the silver eye driving my killing intent again but it is never this intense with Ruby's.
"She's right, Atlas upcoming prodigy I heard?"
"Yes Ma'am," She gently bent down to pick up my sword.
Akari awkwardly patted me on the shoulder with her right hand and returned Shūsen's.
I didn't turn my back to them. Winter's aggression would come back to bite her and would be a bad look for Atlas. I ran the scenario in my head and concluded I would win. If she lost due to being emotionally compromised, she would bring shame to her title of war hero and Atla's finest soldier. Winter success will pave the way for Akari's. A well-fought battle will be less damaging to the kingdom's ego. If I damage their ego too much they might do something risky.
It helps give my image some nuances, too.
A powerful yet reasonable warrior.
The battle was soft reset, and Akari switched to another weapon and stance. This time, it's arm braces with metallic gloves with a southpaw stance. It seems my report on her weapon isn't accurate.
That can't be effective. Unless her fighting style is a form of weapon mastery and a way to retain it. This could be her semblance.
"Before we restart, Do you have a copy semblance?" I asked Akari.
"No? I-It going to sound weird but-" She got interrupted.
"No exposing secrets," The Specialist said.
It isn't a semblance? Now I'm even more curious. These fighting styles aren't sustainable for someone her age. It could be a bluff but the clashes tell me otherwise. She is proficient in all of them.
I look around and notice something off-putting. A soldier would have standardized gear and weapons to make logistics easy. That's true for most soldiers in the room. I counter thirteen soldiers carrying different weapons besides side arms and standard knives. They have large scissors, spears, mecha-shift weapons, briefcases, swords, and many more.
I swing downward as Winter comes near me. She blocks and—Rosetta gets pulled away from my hip.
It happened so fast.
The hammer came flying back at me and I took the hit directly to my side. At the same time, my gun flew toward Akari like magic.
Is she using the same magnetism as Pyrrha?
I looked closely and it hit me.
Those gloves produced strings as thin as hair.
Strings.
Glove with strings.
Lubbock!
Who is Lubbock?
Yet another name without context.
I know the hammer belongs to Elm Ederne and the fishing sword is Clover Ebi. Who the hell does that string belong to?
I cut the string loose and threw the war hammer straight up into the ceiling. It punches through the top and cleans onto the deck. That crap isn't allowed to come back down.
That bitch snatched my weapon.
When the hell did she do that?!
Winter and Akari looked at each other and nodded with a wide smile. She must have slipped it on when I was reaching for my sword. I've been tricked again.
These two!
Winter was never losing her mind in the first place!
"Can I have my gun back?" I raised my hand.
Akari looks at the ceiling where I toss her war hammer away. She examines the handgun and with very little effort, disassembles it into individual pieces before dropping it on the ground.
Rosetta is a sidearm Ruby made with love and care. I cherish it as much as Shūsen and this silver-eyed bitch just disassembled it and dropped it on the dirty floor.
I am glad my mask is hiding my expressions. I'm going to break her God's damn bones. I was being nice to her and now they pull this crap. I didn't snap that hammer of hers and she was going to cycle through weapons anyway.
One step and I blinked in front of Akari. The smug smile dropped immediately as I slammed her into Winter.
I grabbed her ankle and dragged her back for another round.
I swing her around in a circle, using her as a bat to hit Winter. The Specialist ducks underneath her student, and for a brief moment, I hear a faint 'hi' from my bat.
What the hell is going on? I'm supposed to be the one making a fool of them. I was forced to let go of Akari as Winter attempted to stab beneath my jaw.w
She recovered quickly, reaching out and grabbing a new weapon while abandoning that string-manipulating gloves.
It was a red spear with a spade-shaped head and two small pronged points at the side.
Incursio?
The dragon spear?
Bulat—Tatsumi—What the hell are these words?!
"Eyes up!" Winter shouted.
She slid past me at the last second, my sword passing over her head. She came to a stop behind me and I turned to parry a thrust aimed at my lower back.
We engage in a brief dance. I swung my sword back to parry Akari's shaft without even looking at her. I bobbed my head as Winter targeted my face.
I swung a leg up and struck Winter in the chin. She stumbled back.
I switch my focus to the prodigy. She stabbed the spear into the ground and used the shaft to dropkick me. I blocked it with my forearm.
I slash, she rips the weapon out of the floor.
We lock weapons, and I push her away.
My eyes snapped over to the Specialist when I heard the telltale sign of glyphs being used.
She fired a pale construct of a sword; I caught it and used it to parry more of those constructs. They came fast like hypersonic arrows.
A pause.
I threw her summoned sword back at Winter, hitting her shoulder.
"How dare you use my summons against me," She spat out.
I unconsciously slash to the left of me. A raging Boarbatusk got sliced in half. I cranked my neck to the side as a spear flew by.
There goes the dragon spear(?)
What's the new weapon she is going to pull next?
I look at my waist to see two blades rapidly closing together. I focused my aura on my foot and with a simple tap, I jumped over the attempted bisection. I landed on those—Giant scissors?
I landed on them the moment it closed.
Sheele?
I could see a faint hint of Winter's aura on her. I swung a leg around and kicked her away. She skidded on the floor until a glyph stopped her.
"The hell? Is she still that fast?!" A soldier vocalized.
Akari dragged herself up.
"Time dilation is a failure," She huffed and nodded at Winter.
"What plan are we on now?" Winter growled.
"Plan C I think," She tosses Extase to a soldier.
Another one tosses her a pair of gauntlets that look like the paws of a lion.
Leone…Leone?
There it is again: Words without meaning.
I wasn't going to let her put it on so I engaged. Winter intercepted me from behind. I kicked her away. A few inches away from my target, I raised my sword high over my head.
I swing down but then phantom pain spreads in one of my arms.
I saw one of the soldiers with a strange rifle. The briefcase it came from is at his feet. The rifle, if you could even call it that, is shaped like a massive, single-edged sword. I lost my focus seeing all these weapons.
What the hell is the meaning behind all these empty words? I can't even recognize them as objects, events, or names. They got to be named.
Why am I so transfixed—
—It felt like I was dying.
I didn't know what happened.
I couldn't understand why I could see a horizon with the sun slowly setting. The beautiful shade of orange and yellow in the distance. I toss that warhammer onto the deck so why is it part of my view?
Am I dead?
My torso felt like a hole was punched through it. I can't even feel my lower body.
I felt a jab in my lungs and a muffled voice. The sensation of warm liquid running up my throat was stopped. My mask isn't sealing that much blood, it will leak out.
It took me a few seconds to readjust all my senses. Another moment for my spine to realign again and for the sensation in my lower body to return.
I rolled over and pulled myself up. I looked around and spotted a hole in the floor. Now it is coming back to me.
I wrapped an arm around my stomach making sure nothing was falling out. I'm still intact. I feel so weak and tired. My regeneration, my stamina, has been sapped away.
Now I'm suffering over meaningless words.
My aura is still worth several people's but if my body gives out I may as well be a punching bag!
I don't think I'll survive the final match with Vale.
I stood up and sheathed my sword into nothing. My opponent dismantled my sister's gift. I shifted my sword behind me and into a lower guard.
I can't bounce around or pull off acrobatic moves anymore. I need to be precise with all my hits starting now.
Akari was upon me first the moment she propelled herself from the opening. Winter must have used glyphs.
She got a gauntlet ready to clobber me. I was done playing with my food.
I focus my aura on the edge of my blade, flick it, and send a wave. It slices through nothingness.
"What the hell?"
I slice again with Winter appearing(?) behind me.
Appearing?
More copies came out of nowhere and I kept attacking each one of them. I didn't have the time or focus to decipher the illusions at first. I just reacted automatically.
I stop swinging and let the illusion phrase through my body.
"Hahahaha!" A mirage dissipates right in front of me," What hideous mask you got on and that outfit! Are you that scared to bleed?"
Melanie stepped forward with her arms to her side. It wasn't high enough to constitute a surrender gesture. Another girl I don't recognize peers from behind her with pink and brown heterochromia eyes and brown hair. She had a worried expression on her face in contrast to Mel's carefree attitude.
There is a rule on attacking someone who attacked me first and these illusions are made with the intent. Attacking her would hold no ground if she made illusions and had them stand still. Which means she is now a valid threat.
"Third partying my match?" I was upon her in an instant but somehow, She was faster.
Melanie grabbed the little girl from behind her and swung the girl in the path of my blade. I stop mere inches from splitting the heterochromic girl's head.
The girl froze in fear, her life flashing before her eyes.
Melanie, you bitch! How dare you use your friend as a meat shield.
"Akame, How barbaric. I didn't attack you, those were harmless illusions," She warned," I'm not as good as my dear friend Trivia."
'Trivia' scattered into glass.
What the hell? Am I slipping this badly?
The girl in question poked her head from behind Melanie, again. Silently laughing this time.
"Where is your sister?"
"Being carefully watched by a dozen or so guards," She revealed," We don't want another slip up again."
"So? What about you? Why aren't you as protected?" My vision blurred momentarily.
I just wanted to sleep, lay down anywhere.
"I'm a capable young lady," She waved but not at me.
Another illusion?
Winter(?) came at me from behind. I sighed as she came closer, saber ready to behead me. I was about to let it happen since I assumed it was another illusion.
That wasn't until I looked closer and focused on—AURA!
The saber came within mere centimeters of my face. I parried with my sword and threw an uppercut into her stomach in that same instant.
I knocked the air out of her before coming in for another slash.
I leaped away.
A flash of silver light(?) streaked past me.
Silver?
I measured the speed at a glance. It is fast but isn't as fast as Vernal's lightning. I can dodge it if it is the only attack to be concerned about. That isn't the case with Winter diverging my attention.
I looked over to the roof of the ship bridge to see a lone sniper.
Impossible!
Akari can snipe too.
I couldn't get a good angle to see her new weapon yet one word came to mine.
Mine.
Mine?
Is it mine like in procession or mines as the explosive?
It didn't matter. I immediately charge toward her. I wanted to stay on the defensive to conserve my energy but now that has changed. Winter is capable of wearing me down for Akari to get a few lucky shots. Their teamwork has been impeccable.
I can't risk it in these conditions.
She fired again but it went wide.
Winter summons a Ursas to block my path but I effortlessly slice through it. She was too far back to reach me before I reached Akari.
A searing hot pain hit my lower back. The same pain somehow transferred to the rest of my body. That isn't right. I've been hit by dust ammo before but this didn't feel like the typical impact.
I glanced behind me to see if Winter had a gun on her.
Another beam of light hit the war hammer and it bounced toward me. I sliced through the light as Winter was upon me once again.
The specialist saber kept up with Shūsen. The dagger occasionally lunged forward but my footwork kept it from connecting.
I breathe heavily, feeling the sweat roll down my face. I kept moving back so I could reach that damn sniper yet unable to go into a full sprint without exposing my back to the specialist.
They're tiring me out. Everyone is pulling that tactic in their match instead of outright going for the win. The world is adapting to me.
I rolled to the right and watched the beam of light come close to hitting Winter. She redirects it toward me, forcing me to roll out the way again.
I hit a black glyph and got stuck on it.
DAMNIT!
I broke through the glyph within a second but still wasn't fast enough. A sword stabbed me square in the back and a silver beam struck me in the chest.
That would have killed me without my aura. A lot of hits were kill-worthy without this personal shield.
I gritted my teeth and spun around, sweeping Winter's leg from under her. I spun around again, deflecting another round. I have contempt for that silver-eyed girl.
I took a few steps forward but got stopped by a summoned Nevermore and a pair of Alpha Beowulfs. Its feathers came at me like missiles, I calmly sidestepped and parried. I dispatch the Alphas with a few strokes and send an aura slash toward the flying Grimm.
Winter recovered and came right back to fighting me.
"Where was that showboating early? Do you need to sit on my back again to catch your breath, demon?" Winter insulted, our blades locked together.
"I see," I get it now.
They have a good chance of winning this match unless I go all out, restriction be damned.
Unfortunately, I never figured out who my fourth opponent(s) would be. I doubt those third-year students are my only opponents. Ozpin wouldn't feed me appetizers without the main course.
I'm fighting a woman with a versatile semblance and a girl who seemingly mastered every weapon she touched.
I don't know how much aura I have left now. My nonexistent stamina isn't connected to my massive aura pool. It should only be a minute of usage at best. I need it to cross the ship. I wasn't moving fast enough at this rate.
I kicked Winter away and deflected another beam. I stopped moving, sheath my sword, and shifted my foot. The specialist rushed at me once again.
A sword came to bisect my midsection. A beam of light warms the back of my head. The shot from Akari would pass clean over Winter and the slash won't conflict with the beam. They weren't taking a risk even when I stopped.
I will activate my Semblance.
A semblance I never give a name to besides calling it Demon Marks or a curse. I don't know what's the name of this power in my old world. I guess it's best to give it a new name, not tied to a forgotten past.
What is the perfect name for a semblance empowering my every attribute with a massive demerit?
Fatal Gambit
No, Let me push it even further.
Fatal Gambit is still perceptible to a skilled, experienced huntsman. Winter would aim to draw my blood to bring an end to the match. She is willing to run into my sword if she could get a good stab in. I know she would.
I need to push my semblance even further.
How far?
Enough to break this stalemate.
If aura surpasses human limits.
If Fatal Gambit surpasses superhuman limits.
What if I push it further?
My resolve must be unquestioned because I refuse to lose here.
I want to redeem myself. I want the freedom of becoming a huntress. I want to bring my mom home. I want to fight for a fairy tale life.
I know it is hard to see the end but I will make it out.
Fate and the Gods be damned.
It felt like something inside me snapped.
Fatal Gambit: Overtuned
The most basic skill of a huntsman is being able to dodge a bullet from near point-blank range. Even a trained soldier of Atlas can perceive a round if far enough before impact. The distance from the bridge and the halfway point of the airship is 125 meters.
The blink of an eye, fluttering of insect wings, would still be too slow.
The world came to a standstill, but not quite a time stop, as the beam of silver light came closer to the back of my head. I could smell a few strands of hair being burnt, so I ducked out of the way.
I looked at the tear in my arm sleeves and saw the black markings underneath. There they are, my demon markings.
The world is still moving but I'm just that fast. My aura is burning up at a must faster rate under overclocking. I slashed across Winter's torso multiple times before running toward the next opponent.
She was there on the roof of the bridge.
A single leap cleared the distance and another for me to fall from the sky above.
She wouldn't know what hit her as I came down like a meteor. Akari didn't even look up from her scope when it happened.
The finger is still pulling back the trigger and the sword-shaped sniper rifle barely lifts off the ground.
I turned off Fatal Gambit: Overtuned.
Dust and debris shot out from the newly formed hole on the roof. I grabbed a hold of the strange rifle before it got sent flying elsewhere.
The design is familiar but I could never put a finger on it.
I could hear the panic screams of the crew underneath my feet. The faint groaning of my opponent.
Further away is Winter roaring in anger and pain as she feels the near-simultaneous slashes.
I nearly stumbled into the hole. I held myself together hoping I didn't overdo my semblance.
"Akame!" I heard someone yelling from afar.
I looked down to see Lisa frantically pointing at her tablet. I narrow my eyes and nearly give myself a heart attack upon seeing the screen.
Akame: 15%
Akari: 45%
Winter: 20%
It went from 40% to 15%. Fatal Gambit: Overtune was not worth it in my current state. I know Winter and Akari landing a few good hits and throwing me onto the deck isn't worth two-and-a-half veteran huntsmen.
I sighed mentally.
The namesake of my semblance cursed itself.
I leaped straight down, rifle in hand. I passed the panicked soldiers on the bridge, the maintenance bots and engineers on the next floor, a hallway with a few soldiers running around, and landed in what I assume is a soldier quarter.
I dropped the rifle for a few seconds.
Akari was still recovering when I twisted her arms behind her back and kicked her through the walls. I rushed at her and dragged her back into the quarter. She threw a few punches and kicks but it was too late.
I heaved her through the hole in the ceiling and back out onto the deck.
Good, She's gone for now.
I could have brutalized her until her aura broke but there was something more interesting nearby.
I examine the strange rifle. It doesn't look like any Atlesian weapons I recognized suggesting it's either a custom huntsman rifle or experimental.
I'm leaning on experimental because the energy pack glows a familiar silver.
It can't be?
I need to investigate further. I picked up the rifle and began to disassemble it. My hands probed and easily disassembled the unfamiliar weapon until I pulled out an object of interest.
It was a silver dust crystal.
I quickly reassembled the rifle and pocketed the dust. Atlas must be getting sloppy with hiding its secret weapons. If Vernal comes back alive, I hope she can figure this out. This crystal could spell the end of all Grimm on this planet.
I looked up at the hole in the ceiling. My legs feel so numb and my lungs are burning. When will these two give up? I wish Vernal was here. She would go on about unlocking 120% of my potential.
I need to keep pushing myself.
I leaped several stories out of the ship and onto the top deck.
Akari is using an odachi with one hand. Winter still has her saber and dagger combo. I held Shūsen in front awaiting another exchange.
"Are there any more tricks both of you like to pull? I know those soldiers have more weapons in stock," I asked.
More soldiers and new crews are coming to the top deck to watch the final act.
"Count yourself lucky, Branwen," She growled," I have to pull back."
"Is it because you're all walking home if this ship goes down?" I pointed out.
"Wrong," Akari smiled," Mentor, I'll handle everything from here. Final battle plan F, Atlas Arsenal."
A squadron of soldiers ran onto the deck and formed a line. Another group ran to Akari with various weapons and armor. I watched a pair of soldiers bring a…tarp.
I got ready to take them down.
"I wouldn't do that!" Ironwood's voice boomed through the loudspeaker. There is one rule we have in place, and that is that if you intentionally attack any of my forces not sanctioned to fight, we will respond."
"I just wiped out an army not too long ago," I said. What could 50 or more soldiers do to me that a full company with an overwhelming advantage can't?
"They're specialists despite the uniforms," He revealed," You're on fumes, Branwen. Consider your next move lightly."
"Right back at you," I stared at the three airships above us. They know what to do if this goes south. The guns are for show but hundreds of my men would love to have a fourth airship.
They are all specialists? No wonder the Ace Ops aren't here. This means a hostile takeover isn't easy for my forces. For once, I'm the dead weight in the scenario.
"This isn't fair. The rules are a 2 vs 1 match with either first blood or aura depletion for your victory," I raised my voice, turning around to see the general at the ruined bridge," Is Atlas so desperate to win? You can't even play fair."
"My last 20% to you," Winter brought the saber close to her face and then pointed it at the tarp.
I could see the glow of various glyphs beneath the tarp, most of which I didn't recognize besides time dilation. She cycles through different symbols in rapid succession until she stops. The Schnee exhaled, and a light blue aura flashed on her body before cracking.
I was about to jump over the line of specialists but then a pair of mechanical wings ripped the tarp apart. The specialists saluted Akari and retreated.
I looked over to Lisa who showed me the aura board on the tablet.
Akame:15%
Akari:40%
Winter:0%
Akari flew into the sky with silver and black, blade-like wings. A low humming sound emitted from her back. It must be a jetpack keeping her afloat The wings must be for combat and/or balance. She has white and silver armor that is still form-fitting. A pair of pointed earpieces made her look like a mechanical elf which I assume is a form of communication.
I could still see some unprotected areas; bare shoulder, upper arms, neck, a bit of cleavage, and thigh.
A white ruffled skirt protects that area, and it isn't even that long. The anti-up skirt tech must be working overtime.
If Atlas is going to show off new tech why does it come off as…How do I describe it?
It's flashy and cute. They even did her hair into twin tails. Could I pull twin tails off?
…
What the hell am I thinking? Twin tails are too juvenile for me.
The breastplate is just that. I would describe it as a metal corset at best and the leg armor is legging mixed with plating only up to the knee. She even got six-inch heels, no platform.
Was she having a full outfit change underneath the tarp? I could have sworn she was wearing an Atlesian military uniform. Those aren't known to have short skirts and exposed shoulders.
"Top talent deserves top perks," Ironwood said, but not just to me. He advertises his latest creation to the world," Akari Efnysien is wearing a Valkyrie-1 battlesuit. A prototype gear of the next-gen huntress. I won't name all its features but our pride and joy, the prodigal child, will show the world we are its true protector!"
How many features could you shove into such dainty armor?
"Doesn't seem to protect everything," I deadpanned.
"I know," he somehow heard me, a blank expression on his face.
He didn't have to say a single word but I knew what he was thinking. Suddenly, Ironwood reminded me of my father arguing over my choice of clothes. I want to look nice on and off the battlefield.
'Those skirts are too damn short, little lady! Who taught you to wear them? Qrow?'
'That's not far Dad! Uncle Qrow said you leered at my mom when you saw her legs.'
'And I vomited inside when I saw Qrow's!'
'Your daddy is just mad he doesn't have the Branwen genetics for fine, smooth legs.'
'Unbelievable, both of you.'
Akari and I chuckled innocently. It was like we were thinking of the same thing.
I see.
She wanted to look pretty and badass in combat. I can respect that. It makes my battle that much easier. I doubt it is easy to master the ability to fight in heels or a cute skirt.
The color seems too clinical for my style.
Those heels look like they can crush skulls and walk a runway.
I wonder what material the metal is and who designed it. The way it contours screams beauty first, military standard second.
…
Are they selling it? Anytime soon? Does it come in red and black?
…
Focus, damnit.
I could steal one later.
She tosses something over to me. I caught it when I recognized the shape. The prodigy gave me back Rosetta, which was fully assembled. I checked it to make sure nothing was tampered with and was satisfied.
"Finally, An honorable duel on equal grounds," She tapped the side of her earpieces: A visor made of hard light dust formed and covered her eyes.
Another specialist ran up and tossed a cylindrical object with a trigger to the flying girl. Akari caught it and brandished it toward me. She flicked the Odachi and it crackled with electricity.
She now has an electric Odachi, bladed wings, and a cannon. It all makes her look like an angel coming to smite me. This is what they must be going for.
I am their demon after all.
I did an ammo check and gathered myself for the final engagement. I want to hate her but there's another part of me that is glad she is my final opponent.
She fired down and I leaped into the sky.
A/N: I hate holidays so much, but they are also how I make extra money to buy nice clothes and fund my gacha addiction.
I should mention that Akari looks like a mix between Esdeath and Akame, with a few obvious differences, like heterochromatic eyes. Akari is still Esdeath but with a different upbringing. At a different time, Akame and Akari would be best friends with a healthier relationship. Akame's and Vernal's relationship is getting worse together.
My story has always been based more on gacha and video games than anime. Akari's whole getup is Honkai Impact coded. The Odachi and hand cannon are a reference to PGR, Alpha, and BRS. Even the setup for the final confrontation is taken off of video games.
I like to have fight scenes constantly moving to different locations. I'm writing fight scenes without too much thought and letting it flow naturally. Winter being the first one out was part of the plan but the battlesuit and Akari's constant weapon changes weren't.
About Akame semblance. It does have two forms. Fatal Gambit is a glass cannon build. Fatal Gambit: Overtuned burn through aura quicker even with rapid regen. It's only used if Akame wants to win or overwhelm someone fast.
The vernal part was going to be written here but it is very graphic. How graphic? Please look up, "The Suit-Bad Space Comics."
Vernal is a character who fits as a horror monster and unlike Akame would have a negative character arc. In most perspectives, Vernal is the most vile monster that ever walked Remnant even on par with Salem.
The one to contrast and complete Akame the most, not in a romantic way. Vernal is better written from the 3rd person or the perspective of others. It's going to make a lot of sense in the next chapter. I tried writing in first person but it felt odd. Almost as if her semblance is breaching the 4th wall.
As if I'm suddenly not writing a character but a school subject I never cared about. Weird.
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