Akame Ga Kill - Split The Earth In Two, Quake

Chapter Forty Four: Kill the Past

Late at night, Run is returning to the Palace after his battle with Minazuki. "What should we do? If what he said is true, then we're all in serious danger...", he thinks to himself as he walks into the Jaeger's base of operations. When he walks through the door, however, he sees Shol standing there, talking to Wave, who's hanging his head in shame. Wave glances over to the door and when he sees Run standing there, he smiles. "Good to see you made it back, Run. When I got back and you waiting to scold me for running off, I thought something might've happened or something. What took you so long?", Wave says to him, but Run doesn't have time to answer before Shol scolds him. "Don't change the subject, boy. I want to know exactly what happened while you were gone. You mentioned Night Raid, but who exactly were you targeting? Answer, now.", the towering warrior demands from him, causing the boy to gulp in fear. He disheartenedly answers with, "It was Akame. She eliminated General Nouken and escaped. From the reports coming in from the other guards, she also eliminated five other high ranking officials inside the Capital before fleeing. Though I tried to eliminate the assassin, I ultimately failed. I'm sorry, sir." Awaiting the Great General's punishment, Wave looks down with his eyes closed, but only hears a reluctant sigh from the man. "Akame, from the amount of time I've had to fight the girl, is beyond your ability. I'm more than impressed that you managed to come back alive at all against such an enemy.", he says, causing Wave to look up at him in confusion. The General puts a hand on Wave's shoulder before saying, "If you want to defeat such opponents, then you'll just have to become stronger, Wave." "But, my power's already at its peak! I can't get any stronger! The Captain even said-", Wave begins to exclaim in frustration, but gets cut off when the General shouts, "Just because you've hit a peak doesn't mean you're at your very limit, Wave!" He looks to Run and says to Wave, "As you know, there are ways to go beyond that peak of your human abilities. All you have to do is find a way to reach that point." "Melding.", Run says under his breath, but Shol still hears him. He raises a slightly confused eyebrow at the boy before saying, "Is that what it's called? What an odd term. Yes, this melding could certainly push you beyond your physical abilities." "Melding...with Grand Chariot..?", Wave asks himself, lost in thought as he looks down at his open hand before clenching his fist in determination. As he ponders the idea of melding with his Imperial Arm, he thinks, "Can I do that? Grand Chariot could be alive inside my armor, like Incursio, but is that even possible? No, I can't be thinking about that right now! I have to get stronger! If I'm going to help Run and fix this Empire, I need to get stronger! I must!!!" "It's completely possible. Even I went through the process. And from what I've observed from your Imperial Arm, it's still alive in there. Well, it's soul is still alive, that is. If you do this, you will become much more powerful than you could ever imagine. But with this great power requires a great amount of control. I could help you achieve this goal, boy.", Shol suggests with his hand extended to the confused boy. The sudden helping hand from the Great General causes Wave to smile before going to take his help, but Run quickly walks up to him and says, "We should be going now Wave." This earns the blonde a raised eyebrow from his friend. "We should get back to our rooms. Kurome is probably worried sick about us.", Run suggests as he tugs on Wave's arm. Shol glares at Run before scolding the boy, saying, "That'd be all for not. She isn't in the Palace walls anymore." "She's not in the Palace? What do you mean? Where is she?", Wave asks in a panic and Run raises an eyebrow at Shol. The General simply rolls his eyes at the now confused boys before explaining to them, "Kurome left as soon as I returned to the Palace. The Dark Squad requested her for a mission to eliminate as many of the Revolutionary camps as possible in the night. I believe it's in retaliation for the murders that the Revolution's assassins got away with today. They won't be back for some time, so you have no reason to return home. If you truly want to get stronger, Wave, you should start your training as soon as possible." Wave looks to Run, who gives him a concerned look, before turning back to Shol and saying, "Great General Hitzugaea, I beg of you, train me and help me meld with Grand Chariot!" He places a hand on Wave's shoulder before saying, "I'd be happy to help you, Wave. I'm certain with more soldiers like us, we'll be able to push back this Revolution and restore order sooner rather than later." Wave's face becomes ecstatic as he hears this and he quickly glances over to Run and says, "You go on home, Run. I'll catch up with you and Kurome later." "Well then, we'll start right away, Wave.", Shol says with a smile before thinking, "Perfect! Once I bring this boy's abilities to their peak, then I'll absorb his power! It might not be much, but every bit of power is worth having!" Run fakes a smile before saying, "Well, best of luck then. I'll be waiting for you at home when you're done.", and leaving to go home. As he leaves the two alone to their training, he thinks, "This isn't good. Shol is probably planning on taking in Grand Chariot like he did Aquarius. I need to stop this. But, if I do, he'll figure me out and we'll be killed without any effort. I need to find a way to deal with this quietly and tactfully. I'll figure something out eventually... I just hope Kurome comes home alright."