213. Akame Ga Kill : War Between Paradise City and Empire. (3)

Looking at the excited Esdeath, Kaito admired her innovation to get stronger. If Kaito didn't know any better, he thought that Esdeath had mastered haki right earlier to block his attack. However, after a careful observation with haki, there's some cold air around Esdeath, which acts as a sort of detector for any movement in the air, allowing her to react quickly.

In a way, this cold air she released acts like a makeshift observation haki, albeit this trick only works because Esdeath has a terrifyingly fast reaction to accommodate it.

"You have a terrific combat instinct. I admire you for coming up with this trick." Kaito praised while holding her attack with ease, "You came out with this trick after confronting me?"

*CLANK*

*CLANK*

*CLANK*

"Are you impressed, Kaito?" Esdeath grinned, "Don't worry, if I win, I won't kill you. After all, you spared my life once back then in the Capital."

*CLANK*

*CLANK*

"Oh well... I am not concerned about that." Kaito answered nonchalantly while also blocking all of her attacks, "There's no chance you guys would be able to defeat us."

*CLANK*

*CLANK*

"Really? Are you really that confident?"

*CLANK*

"Yeah?" Kaito nods nonchalantly, "To muse you, I promise to spare your life once again, Esdeath."

"Though that wouldn't be applied to your subordinate."

*CLANK*

*CLANK*

"What do you mean?" Esdeath suddenly had a bad feeling, took a step back to retreat. "Answer me, Kaito!"

"Don't care about your opinion. [ZA WARUDO!]."

Unlike most of his previous fights, Kaito this time doesn't have an idea to play with his opponent or test his "close combat" skill with Esdeath. From the very beginning, Kaito decides to go all out against Esdeath and finish things quickly, as it would be irresponsible for him to 'play' right now.

After all, they still have former cursed children waiting for them... and Kaito himself also didn't have the mood to play around while her family participates in a big war outside the city. 

Even though he was interested in the Teigu that Wildhunt members used and what they could do, Kaito could always find it out later after picking it up from their corpses. Putting out the golden watch props back in his pocket, Kaito immediately activated them, and then... immediately, it worked; the time in the area suddenly halted.

*CLICK*

...!!!

Since none of the Wild Hunts or Esdeath could move in time to stop, all of them were also affected, leaving Yuu and Kaito still able to move in the area.

"So, this is time stop... amazing ability." Yuu, who has watched the fight from the sideline, complimented his props effect sincerely. From the sweat water stopping in midair, even a bird standing still in midair, Yuu had never seen something like this before in her long life.

"It's the power of my props, but yeah, I was inspired by Sakuya's ability." Kaito nodded and then said, "Well, let's finish them off."

As the prop owner and holder of Imagine Breaker, Kaito naturally has no issue moving in time to stop, while Yuu has enough raw strength to break a small conceptual ability like this. Kaito isn't surprised about this fact, as he feels any 6* strength member in the chat group should be able to break his 'time stop' method one way or another.

...

"I will leave it to you. My ability would affect the environment, and neither of us wanted that." Yuu compromised.

"Understandable." Kaito nodded as he approached all Wildhunt members calmly, "I'm just gonna kill every Wildhunt member and leave Esdeath behind~" 

Clad in his sword with Haki and soul attack, Kaito slashed toward all Wildhunt members one by one without hesitation, inflicting deadly attacks on each of them without they being able to react whatsoever in this stop. 

*CLICK*

...!!!

After finishing the job, Kaito quickly deactivated his time stop props and let the time flow normally again. Although the energy is no longer an issue, it's still draining him mentally to use it for a long time.

And just like that, the 'fight' was done... or if you could even call it a fight. One second, they were just watching Kaito... and another second later, each Wildhunt member suddenly cut into mincemeat without any of them able to react as a dozen multiple fatal slashes cut them off!

*SLASH*

*SLASH*

*SLASH*

*SLASH*

*SLASH*

*SLASH*

...!!!

Poor Wildhunt, Kaito didn't even let them react or attack him. Not that they could do anything to Kaito, who has such a bug ability to stop time.

"Alright, that's it."

Naturally, watching this weird phenomenon where all of her subordinates were getting murdered instantly, Esdeath stopped her attempt to attack and was now confused (alongside fear) about what was going on.

Although Esdeath likes to fight strong people and enjoys it, she always knows how to stop; otherwise, she wouldn't have survived until now.

All of her subordinates were still alive a few seconds earlier, but they were suddenly "killed" just like that. This fact terrified Esdeath, especially when she couldn't detect Kaito's move whatsoever.

"Instant movement? No... I can feel any movement..." Esdeath observed, while keeping herself calm, "...What have you done to them?"

"Why do you spare my life?"

"It's a time stop ability of mine. I just killed them in the time stop moment~" Kaito answered her with a joking tone, "Are you afraid now?"

...??!!!??!!

Listening to Kaito's casual explanation of what he did, Esdeath's eyes were widely open in shock, and she asked, "Time stop... isn't your Teigu spatial movement like Syura?"

"I never said that, Esdeath-san."

"Interesting."

Esdeath asked while frowning, but there was also hidden excitement in her eyes as the stronger Kaito was, the more she was convinced that Kaito seemed to be attracted to her. After all, with such ability, it's not an exaggeration that Kaito could kill her anytime she wants without talking-- like he did with Scummy Syura and his subordinate.

'Perhaps, no matter what I do, I would never be his opponent... but why does he keep sparing my life? Perhaps he likes me?' Esdeath thought excitedly.

Esdeath didn't mind if she lost this fight and even became Kaito's slave. Esdeath always believed the weak will naturally perish and the strong will strive and dominate.

If she really lost this fight, she wouldn't mind changing sides and destroying the Empire for Kaito and Paradise City behind him.

...

Come up with a conclusion behind Kaito's merciful act, Esdeath finally put her sword down and asked him seriously, "...How many abilities do you have, Kaito?"

"A lot. It could be unlimited. All you need to know is that you can't defeat me. You will never defeat me. Trust me."

"...You are really overconfident."

Kaito shrugged, considering he could create any props with skill he wanted, it's not exactly an exaggeration to say unlimited. "So, after knowing your situation, can you surrender to me, Esdeath?"

"I don't want to harm you, for our group's future interest. Surrender to me, Esdeath... and join us!"

With her reputation in this world and how amazing her combat talent is, Kaito feels it would be extremely regretful if he killed her. Crocodile has said that her reputation is extremely useful to stabilize the Empire after the Team 2 takeover, and Kaito agrees with that opinion..

"Group? Not you?"

Kaito scratched his head and said, "Well, I also don't want to kill you, and I would rather stop the meaningless war as soon as possible... so yeah."

Unfortunately, although Esdeath couldn't see how she could win against Kaito, she's never a coward who just surrenders to the enemy even if they were stronger than her: "I am sorry, but I can't just surrender to the enemy just like that."

"Before a woman, I am the General of the Empire!" Esdeath stared at Kaito's eyes seriously and declared, "I won't go down without a fight, even if we like each other!"

"Eh?" Kaito was stunned before yelling in panic, "What are you talking about?!"

...!!???!!

Hearing such a bold declaration, both Kaito and Yuu were stunned as they didn't understand what they were talking about. Since Kaito never wanted to kill her and just wanted Esdeath to surrender, Esdeath mistakenly thought that Kaito had some affection toward her (which she did).

"Kaito, it seems you flirted with Esdeath behind us. I will report this to Aika." Yuu commented with a smirk, which gave Kaito a shudder, knowing what was coming to him later.

"Esdeath, are you nuts?!" Kaito facepalmed, "I never said that I like you!"

"But you spared my life, you are stronger than me, and your smile isn't that bad either," Esdeath confessed, "So I like you! And I am sure you like me too!"

"That's... did I accidentally steal Tatsumi Rizz? Just my bad luck!" Kaito complained.

Naturally, Kaito is still really confused about why Esdeath thought he liked her, and Esdeath seems to like him too, even though their last meeting literally Kaito almost killed her!

Kaito couldn't comprehend this crazy woman's thoughts at all and began to regret why he chose to confront Esdeath in the Imperial Capital instead of running away directly.

"Anyway, I like you, and I am willing to become your slave if you defeat me!"

(-_-)

Hearing Esdeath's request, Kaito's face quickly darkened as he complained, "...Is there any other way besides becoming a slave?!"

"A wife?" (Esdeath)

"Wife? You want to kill me!?" (Kaito)

"Yes, I do!" (Esdeath)

After answering that with a grin, Esdeath suddenly activated her Teigu at full power, and Kaito, caught off guard, panicked as it was too late for him to touch her with Imagine Breaker.

...!!!

A giant iceberg suddenly appeared in the middle of the city in a split second, and given Esdeath's power, Kaito had no doubt she could freeze the entire city!

Fortunately, Yuu seems already anticipated what Esdeath was about to do and took action before she could destroy the city in seconds.

[[Stop]]

....!!!

Instantly, Esdeath's ice growth stopped—because Yuu stopped "everything" happening in the surrounding area. Not only that, birds in the air fell from their motionless state, fish can't swim and breathe, cause they drown in the water, and naturally, Esdeath's heart and breathing stopped... causing her vision to darken almost instantly.

"Kaito, quickly knock Esdeath unconscious!" Yuu warned, "You know my ability is too dangerous for the area around!"

"Got it!"

With advanced observation haki, Kaito is aware of what's happening and is terrified by Yuu's local conceptual ability. Although a stop isn't as strong as death, it's still capable of destroying because it stops any creature's moves, including breathing and heartbeat.

*BAMM*

After that, Kaito quickly punched Esdeath to the ground-- directly inflicting pain to her soul, which will force her to go unconscious for a long time. After making sure Esdeath's insanity has been stopped, Yuu quickly cancels her ability by [Return], but the harm to any creature in the area has been done.

Like her subordinate, Poor Esdeath can't even finish her move before getting knocked out by 2 super-strong people in front of her.

"Thank you, Yuu!" Kaito bowed his head slightly, very grateful for Yuu's quick response. "Hyuh~ That was very dangerous... I forget how crazy this woman is."

"And this crazy woman likes you, Kaito." Yuu snickered.

"..."

"Pfft... I was kidding. I also don't want this city getting destroyed, my king." Yuu shook her head calmly.

"Your joke was terrible... Yuu..." Kaito complained again.

Even though this should be easy, Esdeath's confession gives him a lot of trouble, knowing how reactive the woman around him is.

"Why does this woman like me again? Though it would be a lie if I said Esdeath doesn't interest me."

With her terrifying combat instinct, Kaito thinks she's even scarier than Miya pre-joining the chat group, and don't forget her bullshit Teigu that could easily turn the area into an icy wasteland.

She's no doubt one of the purest and strongest fighters he has ever faced, and it would be a shame if Kaito were forced to kill her.

...

"You are interested in her, too?" Yuu commented, "Should I report that to Aika?"

"Yuu, stop trying to make my life miserable," Kaito begged, "I beg you!"

"I'm just doing my job, Kaito. Let's send Esdeath to Aika and Crocodile quickly so we can finish the war as soon as possible." 

"Just my bad luck, I guess."

Knowing he can't escape, Kaito just calmly accepts his situation and starts picking up Esdeath's body. However, suddenly, a familiar, bright light enveloped Paradise City, blinding all the residents and the soldiers fighting outside.

Realizing the light was coming from the direction of the Imperial Capital, Kaito quickly requested the group chat system to protect Paradise City within 10 seconds from the shockwave, realizing what was happening.

"System, please protect the entire area of Paradise City from the aftermath of the explosion coming from Capital City!" Kaito urged.

[Affirmative. It will cost you 40,000 Points to do that.]

'Just do it!'

[The Points have been deducted]

...!!!

Instantly, an overprotective magic barrier went up to protect the entire Paradise City area, extending to the City Wall. And just like thunder, where the lightning comes before the sound and its effects, the moment the light shone, a powerful tremor and strong winds immediately struck the whole area.

*WHOOSH*

...!!!

"AAARRGHH!"

"HELP!"

"WHAT'S HAPPENED?!"

*RINGGGG*

...!!

Fortunately, Kaito was quick to take action, and Paradise City only suffered minor tremors that didn't damage the buildings at all.

But the same couldn't be said for the Empire soldiers outside Paradise City's walls. In a way, the aftermath of the explosion acted similarly to a natural disaster... and like a natural disaster, it was devastating and unavoidable. All the Empire soldiers were affected, the powerful winds blowing them away, and the cracked ground created a hole that swallowed the soldiers into the abyss.

"What a disaster... This must be what Saitama-sensei did." Kaito saw how violent the sky and earthquake outside Paradise City were, "I guess Est's soul fragment is hiding in Imperial Capital."

"Good job, Kaito." Yuu complimented, realizing what Kaito had done, "And the faint aura, it must be your curse..."

"Well, not anymore." Kaito shrugged, "I guess the curse is having bad luck to meet Saitama-sensei in the first place."

"Pffft." Yuu chuckled, "And I guess there's no way for the Empire to continue to fight after this."

"Of course. Their General should have fallen. The whole army has suffered major losses, and now I am afraid the Capital is also in chaos." Kaito commented, "With Saitama on that side, at least the process must be very smooth, right?"

"Who knows?"

...

What Kaito didn't know was that the process wasn't that smooth... besides the quick end, it can be said that the process is quite difficult.

And to know what's going on in the Capital, we need to turn back a little bit on there with Saitama, Misaka, and the Night Raid group raiding the Emperor's palace.