Finally, Tatsumi and Esdeath face off, though with the latter not knowing who's under the clad of Incursio. Despite being protected by his Teigu, Tatsumi still exercised caution considering the fact he was now facing the Empire's Strongest.

Tatsumi's thoughts: "...So this is the overwhelming pressure of the strongest human being in the empire... She doesn't have the slightest openings... Where do I even begin attacking!?"  However, Tatsumi wasn't the only one struggling to attack as Esdeath, strangely had the same feeling too.

Esdeath's thoughts: "Strange... It's difficult for me to attack... No... A part of me doesn't want to attack...? There are plenty of openings, though. This is a first... Just who is that...?"

CHAPTER 33: KILL THE DESPAIR

With the grounded aerial team, they were still occupied by the vengeful Wave as he leaped into the air towards Lubbock. He threw a downwards punch, which the Green Haired assassin managed to narrowly dodge by leaping back, but Wave caught him off guard by sweeping his feet and kicking him back. Soon after, Akame and Kuraime charged together, swinging their respective weapons, however Wave just blocked with his armored forearm, showing that he had full confidence in Grand Chariot to protect him from the One Cut Demon Sisters. He effortlessly managed to take both one cut assassins on, though out of the two, Akame seemed to be having more trouble mainly because she's more vulnerable to his attack, rather than Kuraime who can take one hit.

As Akame dashes back, Kuraime sped up, using her >Raven Blitz< to circle Wave, who was looking for an opening.

Wave (Grand Chariot): "You may be faster, but that won't matter!!" 

He punched the ground, sending ruptures through it and a shockwave that throw Kuraime off balance. Now that she was vulnerable, Wave charged and was about to punch her, only for some Ninja Kunai to be thrown at him. He back handed them before dashing back from Dairoku's incoming Yoake Scythe swing, which he narrowly dodged. Both he and Levi stood side by side as Wave glared at them, however he was always keeping an eye on the pink haired sniper to his right.

Mine's thoughts: "Tch... This enemy is keeping an eye out for a shot from me too.."

Dairoku and Levi fell back towards Kuraime and Akame, the latter holding her badly bruised stomach from one of Wave's earlier attacks.

Wave (Grand Chariot): "What's wrong!? Are you just going to keep running away from me!? Then I'll come to you!"  He began to approach them again, only to be stopped by some threads wrapping around him, holding him in place.  "What is this...!?"  It was from Lubbock who had tied him to a tree as he was sat down next to it, battered up badly.

Lubbock: "I... I wasn't just dodging your attacks... I've bound your body with my threads... and tied you to this tree..."

Wave (Grand Chariot): "Then I'll just break the threads like I did just now..."  He began attempting to free himself but realized that they weren't breaking or even budging.  *Thoughts* "It's not breaking. What is this thread...? It's strength is on a completely different level..."

Lubbock: "Realm Cutting Thread; it's my best thread..."  Then he looked towards Aka me and the others.  "Go on ahead, Akame, Kuraime!"  The two looked on with a bit of shock, but he had on a face filled of resolve.

Levi (Srivatsa): "Go on. I'll watch over him.. Besides..." 

They looked towards the armored Ninja, who limped a bit over to the downed Lubbock. Srivatsa was badly damaged before it vanished off of her, revealing her bruised body underneath, with blood running down the corner of her mouth. She looked at them and gave them a weak thumbs up with a grin. 

Levi: "Can't really fight in this condition, now can I? Heh.. Heh.."

Everyone watched as she sat down next to Lubbock before Dairoku finally spoke.

Dairoku (Barbatos): "Come on."  He placed a hand on Kuraime and Akame's shoulders who both looked at him before nodding. The three of them, plus Mine began to make a break for the Cathedral as Wave tried to free himself.

Wave (Grand Chariot): "STOP!"  He demanded as Lubbock slowly looked at Levi, who's hair became undone, as she now had longer hair that reached down to her upper back. 

Lubbock: "Heh... Heh... Gotta say, you look hot with your hair down.."  the Ninja glanced at him and lets out a weak giggle.

Levi: "Hehe... maybe if you tried to peek at me in the hot springs, you'd get to see me with my hair down more often and some more..~"

Lubbock: "Hah.. Maybe I will.. Thanks for the reminder.."

The two let out a small laugh before falling unconscious while leaning against each other, all the while Wave let's out a 'Tch' as he struggled to free himself. However, after tugging and pulling with all of his might, the enhanced strength that Grand Chariot grants him allows him to uproot the tree and free himself.

Wave (Grand Chariot): "Alright! I can move again!"  Immediately, he began dashing after the fleeing assassins.  *thoughts* "I should be able to catch up if I hurry! But considering that two of them have Zodiac-Armors, it'll be difficult, but I won't let them reach Kurome, Akaruime and the others!"

Soon enough surly, he began catching up, spotting Akame and Kuraime running up a head. Seeing his chance, he leaped into the air and prepared his...

Wave (Grand Chariot): "GRAND FA-"  He stopped himself as he noticed something was off. Seeing a pink light from his right, he spotted a shot from Mine. However he managed to move out of the way slightly, despite being in midair.

Mine (Pridwen): "What!?"

Wave (Grand Chariot): "Nice try-Huh!?"

Dairoku (Barbatos): "Vengeful Sonic Boost Knight! Armor Release!"

"Change Star Sonic!"

From his left, Dairoku was boosting towards him, with his Barbatos armor in its Knight Promotional State. He rammed into Wave, pushing him away from the others at super sonic speeds.

Akame: "Dairoku!!"

Dairoku (Barbatos): "Don't worry about me, Akame! I'll keep Wave occupied! Get to the Cathedral and kill Borick!!"

The crimson eyed Assassin watched helplessly as her armored boyfriend pushed Wave back quite a distance. Her hands slowly clenched before Kuraime touched her shoulder.

Kuraime (Ajax): "He'll be fine. Let's hurry."

Akame: "... Right"

However before they could continue forwards, they heard the sound of grass rustling. Turning around, they were met by a very small squadron of Imperial Soldiers, the man, Holimaca being the most distinctive and his Scythe-Type Teigu; The Mysterious, Adayusu.

The Mysterious, Adayusu
Teigu Type: Scythe
Wielder: Holimaca

"Adayusu is a generic looking Scythe with the ability to fold its Scythe Blade close to it's shaft for defensive. Not much is know about this Teigu's abilities. It is said to be Borick's Trump Card."

Imperial Soldier 1: "Bingo! It's Night Raid!"

Holimaca: "Don't underestimate them because they're girls. Take them down!"

Imperial Soldier 2: "Yeah! Formation Genbu-jin!"

Holimaca: "Wielder of Ketsuekime!"  He pointed at Kuraime with a smug grin.  "I challenge you to a duel, Scythe against Scythe! I will bury you with my scythe! It'll be certain death!"

The three girls watched as Adayusu unfolded it's blade into the typical scythe style. Adayusu, in terms of aesthetics, was as basic as Teigu come. From a first glance, you could mistaken it for just a normal scythe. He flashed it in front of the assassins with Kuraime rolling her eyes underneath her helmet while Akame wore an unimpressed expression. This seemed to have ticked off Holimaca as he commanded the other guards to attack.

Kuraime (Ajax): "Oyasumi."

However before anyone could react, Kuraime blitzed directly through the soldiers, cutting them all down instantly before she struck Holimaca who, by folding Adayusu's blade over the shaft for defense, blocked the strike. Unfortunately for him, Ketsuekime's jagged blade just barely scratched against his chest. Akame let loose a small grin as Kuraime backed away from Holimaca while holstering the demonic scythe on her back.

Holimaca: *relieved.* "That was close..."

Mine (Pridwen): "It's not 'close'. It's already over." 

Holimaca: "What?" Akame slightly smugly pointed to his slightly exposed chest. He looked at it, seeing a slight graze mark as the black flame markings began creeping onto his skin.  "W-What...? Just from a scratch like this...?" 

He fell over completely limp as Akame and Mine exchanged smiles and nods. They heard metallic footsteps however as she looked towards the armored Kuraime to see her walking over to Holimaca's dead body before prying Adayusu from his hands and looking at it. Then she glanced back at him.

Kuraime (Ajax): "You don't deserve such a beautiful weapon."  She spat at him before holstering Adayusu on her back with Ketsuekime before walking towards Akame and Mine.  "Let's move."  She said before dashing off. The two exchanged glances before nodding and following after, though Mine decide to pose a question.

Mine (Pridwen): "Come to think of it, that weapon... Do you think it was a Teigu or Zodiac?"

Akame: "Perhaps. But it wasn't as beautiful as Yoake or Ketsuekime."

Kuraime (Ajax): "Maybe so. But either way, a scythe's a scythe, which are beautiful weapons. Now let's hurry to the capital"  She said in a bit of a blank tone as Mine seemed to have taken notice of it. She whispered to Akame.

Mine (Pridwen): "Hey, don't you think Kuraime's acting a bit weird?"  The scarlet eyed assassin glanced at her, then at Kuraime before realizing what she was talking about and frowning in slight sadness.

Akame: "Yeah..."

Meanwhile with the fading Ground Team, with Leone, Saber and Susanoo down and Tatsumi facing Esdeath while Lieselotte, Kurome and Akaruime watched over Borick, Najenda was just starting to wake up as she was on her knees, looking down at the ground with her eye widened.

Najenda's thoughts: "How pathetic. Even if it was for a moment, I allowed myself to be knocked out. Just now, even if I could mentally process what was happening, my body couldn't keep up. It's possible that I've become weaker. But Esdeath has definitely grown stronger. She's even more powerful than she was when I was with the Empire...!! I'm in no place to keep saving this. I have to use it now!!"

She lifted up her mechanical arm as she slowly stood up and pulsed in golden energy with Susanoo doing the same.

Najenda: "MAGATAMA MANIFESTATION!!!"

Esdeath: *surprised* "Najenda? What are you doing..?"

Najenda: "We're all alive and tenacious.. You shouldn't relax just because you've frozen one of us.. Go Susanoo. Bring down Borick!!"

With an angry glare on his face, Susanoo broke free of the Ice as Esdeath had an amazed expression on her face.

Esdeath: "My ice... So this is your Trump Card! And it's impressive you activated it from that state."

Immediately after, Susanoo blitzed towards the Icy General throwing a punch that she managed to dodge, seemingly easily before Tatsumi joined on the attack. The armored Tatsumi and biological Teigu both began to simultaneously attack Esdeath who seemed to be enjoying the fight more than anything.

Esdeath: "Impressive! This is really entertaining. But, that won't be enough to defeat me!" 

She twisted her body, striking both attackers simultaneously, with Tatsumi receiving her heel to his chest and Susanoo being dealt multiple slashes to his chest. As this was happening, Saber who was still restrained by Lieselotte's magic bindings. She had her eyes clothes as she tuned out the sound of the battle in front of her as she was trying to contact...

Saber telepathically: "Dairoku... Are you there?"

Meanwhile with the Armored Vampire, he was still in a heated battle with Wave, quite a bit away from the Cathedral from where they ended up.

Wave (Grand Chariot): "GRAND FALL!!!"

Dairoku (Barbatos): "VENGEFUL DRAGONIC ROOK!"

"Change Solid Impact!"

As Wave crashed down on him with his Grand Fall attack, Barbatos converted to its Rook Promotion before flames jet out from the back of his left rocket booster and he met Wave's attack, creating a large shockwave that shook the ground violently and caused ruptures through the ground, pushing them both back. As Dairoku steadied himself, the command seal under the armor on his left hand glowed as he heard her voice.

Saber Telepathically: "Dairoku... Are you there?"

Dairoku telepathically: "Saber..?? What is it? I'm busy right now." He replied, barely dodging a strike from Wave due to him still being in the Rook Promotion.

Saber Telepathically: "I need you to activate my Trump Card, because at this rate, the mission will be a failure if we don't take care of Esdeath."  At this, the Vampire froze up slightly from hearing what the Zodiac-Spirit had to say. Seeing the armored assassin frozen, Wave saw an opportunity to attack.

Wave (Grand Chariot): "You're wide open!!"  He charged forwards and leaped up, preparing for his Grand Fall attack, only for his eyes under his helmet to widened.  "W-What!?"

"Change Fang Blaster!"

Dairoku (Barbatos): "Barbatos... BLASTER!!!"

The newly formed cannons on his back fired off a red beam at Wave, crashing against him and sending him away into the far distance. With a sigh, his armor reverted to normal and wings sprouted as he began flying towards the Cathedral, with his armor slimming down to..

"Change Star Sonic!"

Dairoku telepathically: "Alright Saber... Use the Trump Card. I'm on my way!!"

Back to the Cathedral, Esdeath turned her attention to the Incursion Wearer, summoning multiple icicles that crashed against him, sending him crashing into some benches. As Susanoo stopped himself, he spotted the bright golden glow coming from Saber, causing him to grin. Esdeath also saw as she hummed in curiosity.

Dairoku telepathically: "King's..."

Esdeath: "Oh..?"

Saber: "FURY!!!" 

Bursting into golden energy, Saber broke the magic binds of Lieselotte and rose up into the sky, transforming into her Mecha King form with her angel wings sprouting from her back, causing feathers to drop to the ground.

Lieselotte: "Oh? That's cool.."  She said, looking up at the mecha-king as she leaned against Borick's chair. The man in the seat was shaking a bit before he tried to grab at the blonde's breasts to 'calm' himself, but she smacked his head away.  "Nope~ Hands off~"

Esdeath: "Oh! You also have a Trump Card? Splendid!" 

She grinned excitedly, however, her attention quickly turned back to Susanoo as she saw him with his giant blade in his hands. He swung horizontally towards her, with his massive blade chipping off the tops of the Cathedral benches.

Susanoo: "AME NO MURAKUMO!!!"

With a small grin, Esdeath created a large and thick wall of ice to her right which Susanoo's blade collided with. It slowly began to slice through it before the wall of ice managed to finally stop it, creating a large shockwave that shook the entire place.

Susanoo: "So you guarded yourself by immediately raising tens of ice walls."

Esdeath: "I'm impressed by your strength, but it won't reach me."  This only caused the Biological Teigu to smirk.

Susanoo: "Yeah. It won't. But I was just distracting you. You're having too much fun, fighting."  The Icy General pondered on his words before her eyes widened as a golden light shined from her right.

Esdeath: "No...!"  Turning to the light, she saw Saber floating in mid air with Excalibur pointing to the now exposed sky, thanks to the hole the giant energy blade created in the roof, and she was aiming for Borick.

Saber: "Ex... CALIBUR!!!"  She swung downwards, crashing the blade down on them

Lieselotte: "Shit... Not today!!"  She yelled as she used the magic from Gleipnir to conjure up a barrier around her, Borick, Kurome and Akaruime, blocking the strike but they were all engulfed by the explosion and the barrier shattered underneath it.

Esdeath: "Kurome, Akaruime, Lieselotte! Are you alright!?"  Behind her, the smoke cleared as the figures of Kurome, Akaruime, Lieselotte, Borick were seen. Kurome and Borick were holstered under Natala's arms while Akaruime and Lieselotte were under Pyro's arms.

Kurome: "We're all fine!"

Lieselotte: *coughs* "Damn that chick's got power... She tore right through the barrier.."  Though soon after, a wound on the backs of Natala and Pyro caused them to fall forwards.

Akaruime: "Natala! Pyro!"  Seeing her situation crumbling before her, Esdeath let's out an annoyed 'tch' as she held the end of her captain's cap.

Esdeath: "So I can't even enjoy fighting... This is my last time on guard duty."  She growled as a spiky ice ball appeared behind her, growing in power. Leaping into the air and with a target symbol in her eyes, Esdeath lets her frustration roam free.  "I won't just capture either of you anymore. I'll pulverize you both down to the core! Experience the greatest attacking power with your bodies!!!"

She launched a barrage of much larger Ice Crystals at both of the powered up relics. Saber reflected them by folding her larger main wings in front of her body that acted like a shield while Susanoo prepared the giant disc on his back.

Susanoo: "Yata no Kagami!"  With her attacks being reflected by both Susanoo and Saber, Esdeath began to sweat slightly from the rising tension of the situation.

Esdeath: "Ugh! Reflective techniques..."  Seeing the Icy General not focusing on defense, both Susanoo and Saber made a mad dash towards Borick with the Biological Teigu yelling,

Susanoo: "Yasakani no Magatama!" 

Increasing his speed and strength, both Susanoo and Saber got extremely close to Borick, with Kurome, Akaruime and Lieselotte helpless to stop them. Seeing as there wasn't any other option, Esdeath finally decided to use her Trump Card. With a blue glow shining from Demon's Extract's symbol on her chest, she chanted...

Esdeath: "Everything freezes before me. Mahāpadma!"

Suddenly, everything surrounded her was coated in an icy blue hue as everything and everyone completely froze in place.

Esdeath: "I've frozen time and space. This Trump Card was developed to never let Tatsumi run away again, and to defeat any opponent without fail..."

Demon God Manifestation—Demon's Extract
Teigu Type: Elemental Type
Wielder: Esdeath

"An Elemental-type Teigu that gave its users the ability to instantly freeze anything by reducing the kinetic energy of atoms, meaning they effectively make things colder, ranging from slightly chilly levels to absolute zero."

Trump Card: Mahāpadma

"The only Trump Card to be created by anyone who wasn't the original creator of the Teigu. The trump card of Demon's Extract which froze space and time. When used, space and time are frozen and only the user can move for short period of time. This ability was very taxing on its user and can only be used once a day, similarly to Absolute Zero. Esdeath originally developed this technique to prevent Tatsumi from escaping again."

Esdeath: "Because of how much energy it takes, this technique can only be used about once a day. She turned and began walking towards the frozen Susanoo and Saber, while unsheathing her rapier.  "But that doesn't matter now, does it?"

She slashed off Saber's right main wing before stabbing Susanoo through the back, her blade coming out just under his Magatama. Suddenly the effects of the Trump Card wore off with Saber crashing into the ground and Susanoo suspended as Ice Slowly began to coat his lower half.

Susanoo: "Wha... What...?"

Saber: "What... happened...? Did she just..."  She shook her head as she slowly stood back up, finding her dismembered wing on the ground. Then she looked back towards Susanoo, before gasping.  "Susanoo!!"

Esdeath: "Mahāpadma is the name of an Icy Hell in a religion... it doesn't match my other technique's names, but it suits it perfectly."

Najenda: "Susanoo! Get out of there!!" 

Saber got back up and dashed towards them to free Susanoo, only for a strong kick to her head from Esdeath to knock her out of the way, then she dashed towards the half-froze Teigu.

Esdeath: "I won't let you escape that easily!!"  She yelled before delivering a powerful kick to the ice, shattering Susanoo's entire lower half in the process.  "I commend you for forcing me to use my Trump Card." 

Susanoo's red Magatama, which is his core flew from the rubble and onto the ground. However, immediately as it settled, it was stomped to pieces by Esdeath, causing Najenda's eye to widen in shock and disbelief.

Esdeath: "You've gathered an interesting group, Najenda. You never cease to amaze me. It saddens me to eliminate an enemy that can stand up to me... Though, you can still entertain me.."  She said, glancing over at Saber, who struggled to stand up due to her damage, as her regeneration was taking time. She then looked back at Najenda before her. "But I can't allow you to escape, now that you've become the leader of Night Raid."

Suddenly, the rubble of Susanoo's shattered core began trembling a bit, catching their attention.

Esdeath: "Oho. It still moves, even after the core was already shattered. Your Trump Card is definitely resilient... I will admit that."

Najenda's thoughts: "Susanoo you... Even after you've been reduced to that state...!" Esdeath took a glance at the remaining limp top half of Susanoo, which twitched slightly.

Esdeath: "But it doesn't look like it has the power to regenerate. It's over."  All hope seemed lost as Najenda slowly began accepting defeat, while looking down hopeless.

Najenda's thoughts: "So... This is how it ends... With this... there's no one who can fight anymore..."

Esdeath: *tips hat* "Let me show you the way to the torture chamber."

END