"I have not been a general for a long time. Ever since Lady Esdeath saved me, I have become her servant."
Liver placed his hand over the emblem hanging on his chest, his expression full of reverence.
"Is that... the person Big Bro told me about?"
Tatsumi didn't know what to say about the situation; was such a coincidence really necessary? Bulat and Liver stood in silence, looking at each other. The only sound was the wind blowing across the river and the fluttering of Bulat's cape. Finally, he spun his spear in his hand, swept it in an arc, and pointed it straight at Liver.
"We could have shared a drink to celebrate this reunion... but since you've become my enemy, I am forced to kill you!"
"I must complete my mission!"
"As must I. I also have a mission to fulfill. And it shall be accomplished with the Teigu..."
He pulled off his glove, revealing a ring set with a deep blue gem that emitted a mystical light.
"...that my master bestowed upon me!"
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
The lids of the water barrels on the deck suddenly burst open. The water inside shot out, forming pillars over ten meters high, held in place as if by an invisible force.
"Teigu: Black Marlin. Crafted from the parts of a dangerous aquatic Danger Beast with the ability to control water. Because of it, the user can freely manipulate the liquids around them."
"Indeed, it is quite fortunate that our battle takes place here. Upon this vast river."
Despite the disadvantageous situation, Bulat did not flinch. Instead, he taunted Liver back.
"Water manipulation? How fitting for a servant of the one who uses ice."
"Lady Esdeath can create ice from nothing. She... is on an entirely different level."
"That is the true terror, Bulat! Water Cannon!"
The pillars of water from the wooden barrels began to shift, twisting into swirling water cyclones that lunged at Bulat from multiple angles.
"How shameless!!"
Bulat showed no fear and charged head-on. His spear spun at extreme speed, forming a shield that blocked the water cyclones.
On the other side, Nyau scrambled up from the wreckage after being kicked away by Bulat. He hissed in pain while watching the battle between Bulat and Liver.
"Terrifying. Even if he lost to Lady Esdeath, this man is still too strong. Luckily we're on the river; Liver can defeat him."
"I should lend him a hand as well."
Nyau stood up and reached for his black flute. But before he could do anything, a blade swept in from behind, forcing him to block with the body of the flute.
Clang!!
Tatsumi was pushed back, but he didn't look dissatisfied with the strike. He was still too weak—at least compared to Esdeath's personal attendants, the Three Beasts.
"I can't join that fight over there, but I won't allow you to interrupt them either!"
Tatsumi acknowledged he wasn't a match for the Three Beasts, but this small guy didn't look like a direct combat specialist like Daidara. Even his Teigu seemed to be a support type. He might not win, but he would pin Nyau down.
"Night Raid brat! You're far too arrogant!"
Nyau lunged at Tatsumi, using his flute as a club rather than playing it. Flute and sword collided repeatedly. As they fought, Tatsumi felt his hands grow numb from the impact, and he was constantly forced backward. Meanwhile, Nyau grew more aggressive, his small frame bursting with unimaginable strength.
"Ha ha ha ha! Night Raid, is this all you've got?"
"Damn... it!!"
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
Tatsumi had to tilt the blade to defend—a poor stance that prevented him from launching any sword techniques. He was forced to dash away to reset his guard.
"This guy is too fast..."
It wasn't just speed; the strength of the person before him surpassed his own. But Tatsumi didn't waver.
"...but Akame is much faster!"
"Don't compare me to those assassins."
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
The harsh sound of clashing metal rang out again as Tatsumi and Nyau engaged in close combat once more. They struck so fast and hard that shockwaves radiated outward. Ignoring the pain in his hands, Tatsumi poured all his strength into maintaining a stalemate, utilizing everything he had learned during his training.
Thud!
In the end, Tatsumi was pushed away again, but this time it wasn't a total loss; Nyau was knocked back as well.
"This brat... if I hadn't been injured by that kick earlier, he'd be nothing!"
"The Three Beasts... even after being wounded by Big Bro Bulat, they're still too strong! Compared to them, Ogre was just trash."
Both were breathing so heavily their chests heaved, taking every precious second to recover their strength.
On the other side, the battlefield was no longer confined to the deck. From the river below, the water rose to form the shape of a giant serpent. Liver stood atop its head, looking down at Bulat.
"That thing is terrifying..."
"Hmph, you can say that again. As long as there is water, Liver is guaranteed to win!"
"Heh, isn't it obvious Big Bro is going to win?"
"It's Liver!"
"It's definitely Big Bro!"
Liver waved his hand, activating the ring and making it glow.
"Be crushed under the pressure of the water, Bulat!!"
"Abyssal Snake!!"
The giant water serpent opened its wide maw and lunged at Bulat. He didn't dodge; instead, he built up momentum and leaped straight up, holding his spear steady to part the water with unstoppable force.
"Aaaaa!!!!"
Slash!!!
The water serpent Liver created was sliced in half. But Liver broke into a smile; he had successfully lured Bulat into a trap.
"I knew you would face it head-on instead of dodging. Because there would be massive casualties if it hit the ship."
"But because of that, you are suspended in mid-air. And with the next move, you won't be able to escape!"
"Black Water Spear!!"
Five or six water pillars shot up from the river's surface, piercing toward Bulat in the air. Unable to dodge, he was forced to grit his teeth and resist. The pressure was so intense that even Incursio couldn't fully withstand it; the helmet piece near his face shattered.
"This measly water... isn't enough to douse my passion!!"
"Indeed, it isn't enough to defeat you."
Liver had returned to the deck, surrounded by numerous currents shaped like dragons. He looked up at the falling Bulat.
"I know very well. We've been through countless battles together. I understand your strength and determination better than anyone else."
Liver's eyes briefly flashed with images of the past when the two fought side-by-side on the battlefield. But the nostalgia vanished in an instant.
"That is why I shall treat you to my favorite technique!"
"Raging Water Dragons!!"
Liver raised his hand high, and the ring glowed once more. The surrounding dragons began to twist and lunged to devour Bulat. The first one slammed into him, trapping Bulat in its belly; the second lunged through the first to bite him. Then the third, the fourth... the horrific water pressure continuously stacked, causing Bulat to scream in agony.
The water dragons vanished, scattering into droplets in the air. Liver gripped his hand tightly, his breathing erratic.
"Is he dead?"
"If that was your final move, it wasn't enough to defeat me, Liver!"
"You! How is that possible??"
Bulat plummeted down, his spear sweeping in a horizontal arc. Liver, nearly exhausted, struggled to retreat. But just as Bulat was about to finish Liver, Nyau charged in from another angle, forcing Bulat to shift his attack. He swatted Nyau away before landing on the deck.
"Too bad, isn't it? You lost your chance to kill Liver."
Despite having his internal organs nearly rattled up to his throat, Nyau spoke with a challenging tone.
"Big Bro... I'm sorry..."
"Tatsumi!"
Bulat saw Tatsumi standing not far away, leaning on his sword. His new suit was torn into rags, revealing bruised and bleeding flesh. His entire body trembled as he gripped the hilt, yet he stubbornly refused to fall.
"I couldn't... hold him back any longer..."