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Chapter 6: Hunting the Hunter"Your target is the serial killer that's been terrorizing the streets at night. He already decapitated several people, seemingly at random. Though the current death count is unknown." Najenda explained with all of Night Raid that gathered around in the main room.

"A third of his victims are guards right?" Tatsumi asked.

"This is Head-Hunter Zanku's work. No doubt about it." Lubbock stated.

"Wait, who's Zanku?" Tatsumi asked.

"What? You seriously don't know? Man you're clueless." Mine said, turning to Tatsumi.

"Actually I don't think I've heard of him either." Sheele said, raising her hand.

"Really, Sheele? You probably just forgot." Mine said.

"Alright alright. Enough sass." Austin said, turning towards Mine and Tatsumi. He then explained everything about Zanku to Tatsumi. "Zanku was the executioner of one of the empire's largest prisons. It was there that executions were as often as breathing. All day, all Zanku would do was chop the heads off of every person sent before him as they begged for mercy, only to receive none. To him, it became like a drug addiction. Only worse."

"Man. That's enough to drive anyone crazy." Tatsumi commented.

"It gets worse. It then came to the point where killing prisoners just wasn't enough to that sick, bastard. Eventually he took his head chopping to the streets." Austin explained further.

"Zanku disappeared after an imperial force was dispatched to catch him. I can't imagine why he's come to the capital." Bulot added.

"Alright. Then let's go get this freak!" Tatsumi said, punching his fists together.

"Relax there, tiger." Bulot said, patting his head. "With Zanku out, it'll be really dangerous to go alone. We should go in teams of two, case it'll be a rough ride~." Bulot then said, holding Tatsumi by the chin, making Tatsumi give a creeped out face and making Austin chuckle.

"Hehe Bulot's right though. Going alone would most likely be suicide. Best we all be paired if we go and face him." Austin suggested.

"It's also known that Zanku is in possession of an Imperial Arms he stole from the warden of the prison. What it is exactly, we don't know." Najenda added.

"Hold on. What are these Imperial Arms exactly?" Tatsumi asked Najenda, only get an up close look at Akame's Murasame.

"Something like this." Akame said.

"That's not that much helpful." Tatsumi said with a sweat.

Najenda smiled and said, "Very well. Let's get Tatsumi up to speed." She then went onto explain the story behind the Imperial Arms as well as describe the abilities of the ones in Night Raid's position.

"So Akame's sword really is one of those legendary weapons?" Tatsumi asked, to which Najenda nodded yes. "B-but wait. What about Austin's sword?" Tatsumi asked.

Austin was equally curious. "Yeah you said something about Raiden here that I don't get. Like how it's the 49th Imperial Arms. What's that about?" Austin questioned.

"49th?" Bulot asked.

"Yeah that's what the boss said." Austin replied.

Najenda turned to Austin and said, "Yes Austin. You're sword is actually a very special Imperial Arms. Not only is it a secret Imperial Arms, but it's actually the first one ever created. By the emperor from a thousand years ago no less."

Austin was shocked by this revelation. "Whaaat?! No way is this rookie's sword that epic." Mine said in denial.

"On the contrary it is. And since it chose him to be it wielder, that makes him a vital asset." Najenda answered.

Austin drew the said sword and observed it in his hands. "Is it really that incredible?" Austin asked.

"More than you think, Austin. The first emperor designed it himself. As its name suggests, it gives the user the power to summon and manipulate lighting. The power you have unlocked so far is the basics of the sword, but there's much more to it. It has many hidden abilities that the Revolutionary Army believes that if a new user would be found, then the empire would be at a serious disadvantage." Najenda explained. "That is why I have high hopes for you. Why the resistance has high hopes for you."

"So I am like a chosen one or something." Austin thought. "But wait, you said it was a secret weapon right? Why was it made secret in the first place? And how did the big hats in the Revolutionary Army find out about it?" He asked.

"Well we aren't exactly sure why it went into hiding. You see some of our archivists discovered some ancient scrolls and books that dated back a thousand years. They all spoke of the hidden sword and it was said that the emperor feared a certain power that the sword holds that steers away from its elemental ability. Unable to change that and fearing what it could do, the emperor had it sealed in an old vault underneath the castle." Najenda answered. "However what that power is and whether he hid it, afraid of the power itself or if people could use it for evil, we couldn't discover. Eventually the whole empire forgot about it. As for it's vault, it was forgotten as well. Which made retreating it all the more easier."

"Damn. Well...I hope I don't screw up then. If this thing has some kind of super power that freaked the big man himself out, then I better watch it." Austin said, still observing the long sword.

"Highly unlikely. You see one property about the sword that diverts it from other Imperial Arms is that it has to choose you for you to even hold it." Najenda explained further. "It's said that if you're unchosen, you won't be able to even remove it from its sheath." That made Austin remember back to when he was held captive by the butcher. The fat man attempted to remove the sword, but failed and at the time, he was much stronger than Austin.

"That explains why it shocked me when I lifted it up." Bulot said.

"Well ain't you just lucky, hot shot?" Leone said, wrapping her arm around Austin's shoulder.

"So do I get one?" Tatsumi asked

"What? Do you think we a weapon to just give you?" Mine asked rhetorically.

"Y-you don't?" Tatsumi asked.

Najenda laughed and said, "Don't worry. I'm sure you'll get yours soon enough." She then rose and said, "That's all right tonight. Now let's go punish this scumbag."

~~Capital street, later~~

Since it was still the day for Austin to be working under Leone, she and Austin were paired up. The two patrolled one section in search of Zanku. "Damn. Son of a bitch just ain't showing." Austin said.

"We'll see something soon. Stay vigilant." Leone said to him.

"You think if wore signs that said 'Attack me, Zanku. I'm a helpless little victim' on our backs, he'll come out?" Austin sarcastically asked.

Leone laughed and said, "Nah that'll take the fun out of finding him."

Shaking his head, he said, "You know what I take it back. You're actually a little more like my old friend than Akame.", in reference to Layla

"Really? How?" Leone asked.

"Well once ya get to know her, yeah you hand her are really similar. But if your a stranger she never met, then she's a lot like Akame with you." Austin replied.

"Oh I get it. So she's a mix. She go bonkers with food though?" Leone asked.

"Ha! The better question would be what food doesn't make her go bonkers. You could put the most disgusting looking food on a plate she never even ate before and she'll scarf it down like it's her favorite thing ever." Austin replied.

"Haha definitely Akame." Leone responded.

The two walked down the deserted streets as Zanku watched from above and then decided to pick Tatsumi.

"So Mr. Raiden, think you can master that badass sword of yours?" Leone asked with her hands behind her head.

Austin looked down and wasn't sure how to answer. "I honestly don't know really. The way the boss says it, makes me feel like...like the weight of everything is on me. Like if I screw up even a little, then everything's ruined." He said.

Leone smiled and pulled him close as they walked. "But it's not. All that weight. It isn't just on you. It's on all of us. Every one in Night Raid and even in the Revolutionary Army. We all carry that burden. So let's carry it together, k?"

Austin looked up at her in slight surprise. He didn't expect that from her. "Thanks Leone." He said.

The two mixed between roofs and street patrols. After a while, it got really dull waiting for him. "AAAAGH! I'm so booored!" Austin said as his legs swung from the edge of a roof.

"Yep it is pretty dull when you can't find the guy." Leone said, laying down on the roof.

Austin took the second to ask Leone something he wanted to know since he joined. "Hey Leone, do you know what this 'weakness' of Akame's is?" Austin asked.

Leone chuckled and said, "If this is to help you in your future duel with her then no."

"No no. It ain't that. You see, before you stopped her, Akame said something about me discovering a weakness of her's. But I don't know what I did." He explained.

Leone held her chin and wondered. Then she had a presumption. "Did you touch her by any chance?" She asked.

"Not on the boobs, groin, or butt. She was choke-holding me. But I did touch her." Austin answered.

"Uh ohhhhhh. Hehehe you dog!" She said.

"What?" Austin asked, looking back at her.

"Let's just say you both share a weakness." Leone said and the. She whispered something into his ear that really shocked him.

"Get out! Her? Her?" Austin responded with a shocked face.

Leone just nodded and smiled. "Though I don't recommend trying anything. I did once and I nearly kicked the bucket for it." She suggested.

"Ehehe don't worry I don't plan on it." Austin said with a nervous smile.

"Oh and speak of the devil." Leone said, standing up on the roof edge.

Austin looked confused, but then saw Akame running bellow them. However, she was alone. "Wasn't she suppose to be with Tatsumi?" Austin asked.

Leone then shared in his concerns and decided to go ask her. "Come on." She said as she jumped down and then Austin with her.

Leone landed right behind Akame and then asked, "Akame, where's Tatsumi?", before Austin landed next to her.

"He's gone! He went to take a restroom break, but then vanished. I think it's Zanku." She answered, with a worried tone in her voice. Not good.

"Oh shit. Maybe he didn't go that far." Austin said.

"We have to find him. Quick." Akame added.

Leone went into beast mode and started sniffing the air. "There! I'm picking up his sent in that direction." Leone said, pointing at the specified area.

"Alright let's go!" Akame said.

Austin however, had another idea. "Wait. Leone, go get the others." Austin suggested.

"What? What do you mean?" Leone asked.

"If Zanku's as dangerous as the rumors and stories make him out to be, then we're gonna need all the help we can get. You go gather the others and come after us while Akame and I go help Tatsumi." Austin explained.

Leone was about to argue, but Akame stopped her. "Leone, do as he says. Please be quick." She said.

Pouting, she answered, "Oh alright. But you better save me some!" She then leaped into the air to ten roofs again and ran in one direction while Akame and Austin went after Zanku.

After a short while of running, they came across a clear area with Tatsumi, battered down and cut up on one side and a tall man in rugged coat on the other with a device on his forehead. Zanku.

Before they coul asess anything, Zanku began rushing Tatsumi. Without wasting another second, Akame jumped onto a tall building and threw her blade at them. The sword landed between the two and she began to fall from the sky as she leaped after she threw the sword. Upon landing, she grabbed her sword and got ready to fight. "He looks pretty upset. You must've used some of your own psychological tactics." She said with a smile.

"Akame!" Tatsumi said in surprise.

"Tatsumi!" Austin yelled as he ran forward to them.

"A-Austin? You too man?" Tatsumi asked.

"Yeah...whew that was bit of a run." Austin replied, panting.

"Austin, go help Tatsumi. Leave Zanku to me." Akama ordered Austin, who nodded and ran to his friend's aid.

With a devilish grin, Zanku threw off his rugged coat and spoke to his new opponent. "Well if it isn't Akame and her infamous Murasame. How delightful. Nice to meet you, my dear." Zanku said.

"So nice to meet you as well, since you're my next target." Akame replied.

Zanku then activated the eye shaped gadget on his forehead. "That's Spectator!" Austin said, recognizing the Imperial Arms as he pulled out a roll of bandages for Tatsumi's injuries and started by rolling it on his arm.

"Akame be careful. That eyeball thing can read your mind." Tatsumi yelled to Akame

"I see. I was wondering which Imperial Arms he'd be using. No matter. It doesn't matter if he can read my mind if he can't keep up." Akame replied and then she rushed in at Zanku and clashed her Murasame against his katars. They both had on determined faces as they dueled. The rapid attacks to each other ended with Akame delivering a kick to him that he was able to block with his katar blades.

As both Austin and Tatsumi looked on in awe, Akame moved in to deliver a downward slash at Zanku, but he was ready for that and blocked it with his blades and countering with his own, scratching Akame as she jumped back. "Wow. This fight's even more epic in person." Austin thought.

After another moment, Zanku asked Akame his question. "So Akame, how do you deal with the voices?"

"Voices?" She asked.

"Listen. You can hear them when you're quiet. The people are screaming at me from Hell. Oh how angry they sound. And always telling me to hurry up and join them. It all started when I got this job and it keeps getting worse. I usually keep talking to drown out the noise. So tell me, what do you do about it?" Zanku explained.

"He hears the voices? Of the people killed?" Tatsumi pondered out loud. Austin then found himself holding his heart with his left hand after bandaging up Tatsumi. "Austin, are you alright?" Tatsumi asked in concern for his friend, but got no answer.

Back ca at the fight, Akame gave her answer. "I don't hear them." She said, confusing Zanku. "Your voices, I don't hear anything like that at all."

"Interesting. I was hoping you would understand, given you're such an infamous assassin." Zanku said. He then lowered his head and opened the eye again. "YOU HAVE DISAPPOINTED ME!" He yelled and then the eyeball began to glow. It was then that the final sight of Soectator was revealed. Illusionary Sight.

"Kurome?!" Akame said, believing it to be her sister.

"Akame?! Don't look! It's just an illusion!" Austin yelled at her, aware of what has been done.

"Illusion?" Tatsumi asked.

"Pretty much Spectator's trump card. The fifth sight, Illusion. It makes the person it's used on see the person they care about most." Austin explained.

"What?! Oh crap! Akame!" Tatsumi then attempted to yell Akame out of it.

"Don't bother trying. Illusionary Sight is extremely hypnotic. And no matter how skilled they are, no can make themselves kill the one they love the most, can they?" Zanku said as he rushed into deal the final blow.

Austin saw this knowing the outcome. Akame was going to slash at Zanku and end it with an epic final duel with epic music and everything. But for some reason, Austin felt...anger. Why? Why did he feel he needed to stop this? What was going on through his head that made him want to jump in the way. Was it to show off? No, he was never the show off person, even with his new skill. It was...something else.

"This is it Akame!!!" Zanku yelled as he jumped at her, ready to impale her on his blade.

Without another thought, Austin rushed in at Zanku. Just as Akame was winding up for a slash, Austin dived into Zanku, stoping the man and sending him away from the assass and tackling him to the floor. He and Austin rolled for a second, but ended with Zanku on top. However, Austin placed his feet on Zanku's stomach and launched the executioner off of himself. This course of action broke the illusion and then Akame along with Tatsumi looked in shock.

Austin then stood back up and got into his fighting stance. He then yelled out, "Kono oroka-sa no jūbun'na!" Which was Japanese for, "Enough of this foolishness!". A new side to Austin was suddenly brought out. What caused this, even he didn't know.

Zanku then stood up, looking quite angry at Austin. "Dammit. I almost had her if it weren't for you, ya little shit!" Zanku said.

Austin was looking serious, which wasn't abnormal. Night Raid has seen him give serious looks such as when he was training and when he and Akame had their practice duel. But this was different. It's like he's a completely different person. "No head chopping, lunatic steals my thunder. If anyone's gonna be the first one to defeat Akame in a fight, it's going to be me and only me." Austin said.

Akame and Tatsumi's eyes went wide. Did Austin seriously just say that? "He wants to defeat me? Why?" Akame pondered in thought.

"Aw did I walk on your turf, boy? So sorry. I didn't realize this specimen was already taken." Zanku said, taunting Austin.

"I don't seek to kill her you fool. I want to be strong. I want to be strong like her. If I defeat her, then I'll know I have that strength needed to bring the change this world needs." Austin said, still in an angry tone.

Zanku only laughs. "Hahahahaha! You think you can change the world. You and the rest of Night Raid are nothing but mudrerous fools. There's nothing in this world you can ever be able to change. NOTHING!" Zanku yelled as he pointed his katar at Austin.

"I may be a murderer. But I'm no monster like you." Austin plainly said. Things were clearly heating up.

"Monster? Hahaha! Don't delude yourself, boy. This was a lovely chat my boy. Really it was. But I think I'll be taking your head now." Zanku said, raising his katar.

"No. I think I'll be taking yours." Austin said, reaching for his sword and drawing it out.

Upon seeing it, Zanku was in a state of shock. "No way. There's no doubt about it. That's Raiden." He thought.

While the two had their chat, the rest of Night Raid showed up with Leone at the head of them. "Tatsumi! Akame!" Leone yelled.

"Oh good. It's the rest of them." Akame said, acknowledging their arrival. When they got there, they instantly went to the downed Tatsumi.

"Oh no are you okay?" Sheele asked, kneeling at Tatsumi.

"I'm fine. I'm fine. But we gotta help Austin!" Tatsumi said sitting up.

"Damn right we will. Zanku might be too much for him. Let's go!" Bulot said, standing to go help Austin, but Akame only raised her hand to stop him.

"No. This is his fight. Not ours. We only help of he truly needs it." She said to Bulot.

"You can't be serious." Mine said with her Pumpkin ready.

"I am. Look at him. He's actually different than before." Akame said to them.

The he group did take a good look at Austin and came to an agreement on that. "Hold on. I think she has a point. Look at him. He's got that same look on his face as Akame." Lubbock said.

That at statement caught Akame's attention. "I suppose so." She said.

Back with Austin, Zanku was in a state of disbelief of what was before him. The legendary 49th Imperial Arms. The Bladed Thunder, Raiden. Austin noticed his face and looked to his sword. "You've seen this before?" He asked.

"Only in a book I read trying to drown out the damn voices. What I read about it really got my spine tingling. And now I know. I must have it." Zanku answered. The madman then raised his katars and got ready to charge. "And now not only will I get it, but also the head of its current user! Your head will make a fine addition to my collection!"

Austin, somehow unfazed, stabbed his sword into the stone ground, grabbed his trench coat, and threw it off of him (which surprisingly passed through the strap of his sheath). Upon doing so, he drew his sword, twirled it into place and got into his fighting stance. "You want my head? Then come and get it!"

TO BE CONTINUED