Chapter 21
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Give me the stones.
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AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Another shout from Bishop, cut across my ears, making me cringe involuntarily. Esdes was on a rampage, with each new torture, committing more and more subtle ways of inflicting pain.
I, meanwhile, was methodically sawing the bone in Taiga's right arm with the blunt saw Esdes had brought. She had long since gone hoarse, and was making only wheezing noises, drowning in tears at the same time.
I made a pass of my hand, ordering Esdes to stop.
- So... shall we talk? - I asked Bishop, smiling.
He answered me with silence and a look filled with hatred and bloodlust.
- Huh... Esdes, honey, go ahead. - I said, turning to Taiga.
She nodded her head furiously.
- Good girl. - I grinned, eyeing the girl's figure with a hungry gaze.
There were hardly any clothes on her, as most of the sections of fabric had simply fallen to the ground, torn out in the process of slicing the girl. Her entire body was covered in cuts, which, by the way, were in no great hurry to heal. Bishop's, regenerating much faster. The same side that had been torn off had regenerated about half as much by the time we got to the base.
- Esdes, you keep torturing that stump while I go get Dorothea. She's sure to have some remedy to bring back the voice.
As if the girl hadn't heard me, she didn't stop at Bishop's shushing. I sighed and went in search of our alchemist.
***
- So, the first question would be 'who is Dr Rynes? - I said, sitting down in the chair I'd dragged from the dining room.
- Dr Raines... he's the head of the Revolution's science department. - Taiga replied in a doomed tone.
- Oh, good. What's the science department?
- Only the Commander-in-Chief and his top advisors know about it. There, the development of bioweapons and other branches of armaments, for the suppression of the Emperor and the subsequent retention of power. The main project is the G-41. Bishop and I are the first deliberately obtained, successful samples.
- Consciously? - I asked again.
- Yes. There's another girl that Dr Rynes obtained by some means unknown to anyone. At one point, she just appeared in the lab. In her likeness, we were meant to be created, and that's what happened.
- Mm-hmm... And what's her name? - I asked thoughtfully.
- I don't know. She's always called Object #1, or the First. I'm object number two, and Bishop is number three. You're called Subject Four.
- So... Where's the doctor's base? - I looked up, staring into Taiga's eyes.
- It's... in the Kruenderger Mountains. In the house of the head of the village that is located there, there is an entrance to the underground base itself.
So, what have we got? Some doctor dug up a Ghoul, and in a way I don't understand, transferred its kagune to two other patients, changing the type of kagune itself. Ukaku and koukaku. Next. The doctor himself is holed up in his base, surrounded by guards. The whole village must be those guards. Next, I'll go. By the way.
- What were the orders for me?
- To deliver me to Dr Rynes. In case of danger, kill and deliver the corpse. - Taiga answered clearly.
- Good. - I nodded, and then I turned to Dorothea. - Tell me, how did you manage to get your fakes?
- I used alchemical copying. - Dorothea shrugged her shoulders in surprise, as if there was no other way.
- How many can you copy?
- A hundred. But then the effect will be almost nothing. And if you take one... then it will be almost a complete copying of any object.
- And you copied into their bodies the organs of that Ghoul from the roof? - I raised an eyebrow.
- Yeah. - Dorothea nodded, then continued to drool over Tyga and Bishop.
- Okay, the guy's yours. - I nodded. No touching the girl.
***
- Kaneki, Balls, his family, Leone and I are going to the Capital to get some air. We'll be back tonight. Is that okay? - Lubbock's head asked, peering through the gap between the door.
- Yes, go on. - I waved my hand as I continued to look at the map of the country.
The mountains were on the very edge of the country, almost ten thousand kilometres away. Such a distance is not even for me, and anyway... Okay, I'm not thinking about that.
- COME HERE! - I heard Maine shouting angrily from the dining room.
I hastily got up from my chair, almost running towards it. I don't want any conflicts in the group.
- GET AWAY FROM ME, YOU FLATFOOT! - I heard Wade's voice, which made me run even faster. If you insult me like that, Mein can kill me. Tried and true.
I burst into the room just as Main was pointing Calandor's muzzle at Wade while he was trying to escape out the window... Except he was being held by Kurome's scruff, with a very displeased look on his face. Ahem... Yeah, the insult was kind of directed at her as well....
- Mein. Put the Calandor down. - I said coldly, staring into the girl's eyes without blinking.
She saw me, but she lowered the rifle, and then immediately began to justify herself:
- Kaneki, it wasn't my fault! He insulted me! - Then she pointed her finger at Wade.
- Affirmative. - Kurome nodded.
- Also, he bullied me!
- Affirmative.
- And he called my Pumpkin a rat weapon!
- Affirmative.
- NO MORE BACKSTABBING! - Mein shouted sharply.
- I understand the situation. - I nodded. Wade, what about you?
- She had me bring her ice cream from the kitchen! And then she started praising her cannon, declaring my chariot worthless! - Wade exclaimed indignantly, freeing himself from Kurome's grasp.
- Mm-hmm. - I nodded. I'll punish you personally if I ever hear of you fighting again. I suppose you heard the screams from the torture chamber? - Mein and Wade turned pale as they looked at each other. - Good. And for the first time... Kurome, is Akame here? - A nod from the girl. - In the kitchen? - Another nod. - Good. You'll go to Akame's place together, and for... three days, you'll help her peel potatoes, cut meat, wash vegetables, and the like. Got it? - The couple nodded frantically, then dashed off in the direction of the kitchen.
- Brutal. - Kurome remarked.
- But effective. - I shrugged, sitting down on the chair in front of Kurome. - How's it going with your sister? I heard you two made up?
- Yes." the girl smiled. But the next second, her smile faded a little. - Tell me... did you kill Ran?
- Hmmm..." I lowered my head.
- How? - Kurome asked a second question. - And why so brutally?
- I was having lunch, I remember. And he attacked me. Why so brutally? I don't know... I guess because he ripped me away from my meal and it pissed off my animal part.
- I see." the girl nodded. - He and I didn't really know each other, so I don't hold a grudge. Yeah and we were enemies back then.
- That's good. - I smiled.
A couple of days later...
- Lubbock, Leone and Balls and their family don't come back. It's been day 3 and they're still gone. Don't you find that suspicious? - Akame asked glumly, sitting in the corner of my makeshift office. Specifically, this is where I put the desk, the couch, the safe where I moved the teigu from the stash, and the map of the Empire.
- Indeed. - I nodded, reading another report of Leone's observations of the Revolutionary Army, which was four days old.
By the way, it is already 3 kilometres from the Capital. They're moving fast... According to the plan, they should already be a kilometre away from the capital, which means we need to quickly drive their own into the base, so as not to get caught in the crossfire. Or else their inner fighters for human lives will awaken and it'll be a total...
- Maybe you and I should walk to the capital and get them out of there. I'll still hope to the last that they're just "rested". - I said, throwing the paper on the table and getting up at the same time.
On my way out, I gave one last shout:
- Akame and I are going to get ours out of the Capital! Esdes is in charge!
- Just don't die! - came Dorothea's reply from the lab.
- I promise! - I replied with a chuckle, after which, Akame and I headed outside.
***
I looked glumly at the hordes of Revolutionary soldiers surrounding the Capital, actively forming into lines.
- It can't be..." Akame whispered dazedly.
- Quickly. - I gave a short order, but Akame understood perfectly well, jumping on my back. The next second, we were already speeding away from the squads, getting closer and closer to the wall.
Somewhere in the distance, the first trumpets sounded, signalling the beginning of the battle. The crowds of soldiers rushed to the attack, completely oblivious to Akame and me. In the next second, Akame and I swung over the wall, snapping the neck of one of the guards on the wall who tried to put us on his sword.
After running away from the wall, changing direction a couple of times due to the squads of soldiers running towards us, I stopped, sniffing.
- Well? - Akame asked impatiently.
- There's a smell in the next street. - I replied, heading towards the house, where the bright lavender scent that was ever-present in the Balsa family was wafting away.
There was a particularly loud bang in the distance, which made me run even faster. When I reached the door of the correct building, I could hear the rough voices of the soldiers inside, bordering on women's and children's cries.
Akame instantly jumped off my back, then flew inside. I hurried after her. From the conversations I had heard, the girls were going to be killed, and that couldn't be allowed to happen. Still, I had promised to protect them, and I wasn't in the habit of breaking promises.
By the time I ran into the room on the first floor, Akame had already killed three of the soldiers, and the remaining two had been killed by my rinkaku.
Two frightened pairs of female, crying eyes looked up at me. Recognition flashed, and then Bolsa's wife instantly jumped to me, falling to her knees.
- I beg you--save my husband! - she said in uncontrollable tears.
- Where is he? - I asked, sitting down in front of the girl.
- He was with Mr Lubbock and Leone near the main square when we were recognised by the guards running to the walls. Balls shouted for me to run with my daughter, and we stayed behind to fight the guards.
- IDIOTS!!! - I exploded. - I told you to stay out of the conflict! Akame, calm them down and I'll run after those underdeveloped people.
***
I raced across the rooftops, trying to smell/hear/see Lubbock, Leone, and Balls. It was only a short distance to the square, but I was already disliking the suspicious mana emissions from the palace. Even though I don't have mage vision, I still manage to feel quite strong mana emissions. And I have to say, judging by what's going on, the Emperor wants to use something that will be... well, his main wunderwaffle.
Well, here come the urchins. They're trying to overpower Shura, as I learnt from Dorothea, the Minister's son, and the two guys with katanas.
They weren't doing a very good job. The swordsmen were all pissed and breathing hard, but Shura was as good as new, beating up Lubbock at the same time. Balls, by the way, had just burned one of the swordsmen, but Leone, who had fallen unconscious from a blow to the head with a katana hilt, stabilised the number of squad members on their feet.
I flew towards Shura from behind, trying to stab him with a rinkaku, but he managed to move behind me at the last second. I ducked down, missing his leg above me, while trying to reach his leg with my tentacles. He teleported again, coming at me with his fist in front of my face. I manage to intercept his arm, and then move in close to him, closing the distance and piercing him with my rinkaku.
- Kha!!! - Shura spat out a blood clot.
And at that moment, a knife woven from Lubbock threads pierces his head. At the same time, I notice that the other swordsman is similarly roasted. At that moment, a particularly powerful outburst followed from the palace.
- Phew... you wuv..." Lubbock began.
- VALIM!!! - I yelled... and a moment later I realised it was too late.
The areas near the walls, a huge beam of light dashed across them, leaving behind... nothing. In the places where it hit, there were just huge explosions, destroying everyone and everything.
And when I looked at its source... I was simply stunned at the realisation of the situation. A huge figure, something resembling an Imperial outfit, was towering over the Capital City. On his forehead, a small stone glowed with scarlet light and...
There was another volley of the beam, which passed not far away from us. And in the next second, the First Teigu's head turned slightly... aiming clearly in our direction. Damn, that thing must have enormous magnifiers in its eyes....
The thing on Teigu's forehead lit up again, and the beam came straight at us. By this point, I was already dressed in kakuja... "Heh, what a softy goody-goody I've become after fully merging with Kaneki's canon soul..." - was the last thing I had time to think before my kagune, and myself, blocked Leone, Lubbock, and Balls from getting shot.
An outsider's view.
The burnt humanoid figure, composed entirely of flesh and muscle, fell to the ground. Lubbock, disbelieving, could not take his eyes off Kaneki, who seemed invincible. A few seconds later, he saw a murky, green stain of liquid spreading across his stomach, which was being drawn into his body with each passing second.
It took a couple of seconds for the liquid to fully absorb into Kaneki's flesh... when suddenly, in an instant, he was covered in skin, hair, and clothing, revealing Labbok's familiar scarlet eyes with black whites.
Kaneki silently stood up... after which he looked up at the huge, First Teigu. From its loins, dozens of tentacles began to burst forth at a furious rate, growing in width as well. They grew bigger and bigger, and did not think of stopping. Five seconds later, the entire street was filled with the scarlet mass, flowing further and further away. The first teigu released another beam, but it was shattered by a huge stream of Kaneki's tentacles, which, as the beam expired, darted towards the figure of the teigu. Balls, Lubbock, and the waking Leone, along with Akame and Balls' family on the roof of a neighbouring house, watched as Kaneki's kagune, which had already filled half the city, pierced through the first and strongest Teigu and then froze. Seconds stretched on, during which no one here could move.
Just then, Kaneki's kagune began to rapidly disappear in the opposite direction, and the First Teigu shimmered suspiciously... then began to fall towards the Apostates. Lubbock instantly realised where this was going, and so he rushed towards Shura's body, snatching the teigu of the already dead, son of the Minister from him.
- ALL TO ME!!! - shouted the boy, running up to Leona.
Balls also ran towards them, but then he remembered his family, and was about to turn around when suddenly those who were occupying his thoughts hung on his back. Kaneki, meanwhile, didn't even move, standing with his back to his comrades.
- AKAME, GRAB HIM AND LET'S GET OUT OF HERE! - Lubbock yelled again, focusing on the second teigu.
The girl instantly jumped to the white-haired man, grabbing his shoulder... as suddenly the guy's body just turned into blood, which immediately fell on the stony road.
- No... - Akame whispered, but then she was grabbed from behind by Balls' big, strong arms... And a moment later, the company found themselves in the forest, on a mountain near the Capital. And before their eyes, the figure of the First Teigu fell.
- No... no... no... no... no... NO!!! - Akame screamed, falling to her knees. Tears were pouring from her eyes, but there was no hurry to comfort her... Simply because everyone was in a similar state. Tears flowed from the eyes of the ever cheerful Leone, while Lubbock just stood there, staring at the Capital with a disbelieving gaze.
- He... for all of us..." whispered Balls' wife, also looking at Capital. The flamethrower's own face, was covered by a mask, making it hard to tell what he was feeling.
The next day...
The slamming of the base's iron door was heard, causing Esdes to jump up from her chair and joyfully rush to greet the new arrivals. There she turns into the lobby... and freezes, looking into the crying eyes of Akame and Leone, and the sad looks of Lubbock and the Balls family.
After a couple of seconds, Esdes realises that Kaneki is missing from the room.
- Where is he? - The girl asked coldly, continuing to shrug off the logical thought of where Kaneki had gone.
- He... he... - Akame whispered, after which a tear came out of her eyes.
- 'No...' Esdes recoiled in disbelief, feeling her heart begin to whimper.
- Kaneki was dead. - Lubbock said briefly.
- No... maybe... He's not..." Esdes whispered.
- Kaneki..." she heard Akame crying. This sight, finally put a nail in the coffin of Esdes' doubts.
After all, Akame had never allowed herself to cry in public. None of the former Raiders had ever seen the girl cry.
- Dead..." finished Akame's sentence.