Akame ga Kill: Starting with Dual Kamui Chapter 2: Esdeath

Esdeath’s intuition, sharp as a blade, suspected that Blayn’s abilities stemmed from the Mangekyō Sharingan’s Double Kamui, even though it wasn't a Teigu.

Under Esdeath’s prolonged, intense gaze, Blayn felt a flicker of unease, yet he maintained an unreadable, composed front. Esdeath, however, was not entirely satisfied, failing to glean significant insights from merely observing him.

A subtle shift in Blayn’s gaze would have solidified her suspicion that his eyes were indeed a Teigu.

Reaching the ravine’s base, Esdeath, while acknowledging Blayn’s power, remained guarded. The possibility of him suddenly releasing her, sending her to her doom, lingered. After all, this was their first meeting, and such caution was essential for an Imperial general.

Only upon landing safely on a river’s surface did she permit herself a slight relaxation.

“A river? We’re floating on its surface?” Esdeath inquired, her voice cool and elegantly modulated.

“Yeah,” Blayn replied casually, his grip on her wrist firm as he steered them toward the bank. He released her only after they were on solid ground, deactivating Intangibility.

“My apologies for my forwardness. The situation was quite urgent…”

He felt it necessary to apologize for grabbing her wrist, mindful that she was a woman. Esdeath, however, seemed unconcerned with such minor courtesies.

She approached a large boulder and drove her sword into it, testing its integrity. The effortless penetration, leaving no mark on her blade, confirmed that normal conditions had been restored.

This event also served as a reminder that her sword, while not a Teigu, was exceptional, its quality allowing it to cleave through solid rock without a scratch.

This very blade had been her companion through countless campaigns, right up to her final moments.

“It seems everything is back to normal. So, it truly was your ability,” Esdeath stated, her gaze shifting back to Blayn.

Blayn, for the first time, took a proper look at her, having lacked the opportunity—or the motive—to do so earlier.

Beyond her striking beauty, she possessed an undeniable, commanding presence. Standing around 1.7 meters, her heeled boots brought her nearly level with him.

Her military uniform was far from standard issue, and the aura she exuded spoke of dominance and potent power. Blayn briefly questioned the practicality of high heels in combat but kept the thought to himself.

Regardless of her identity, her sheer presence declared her to be no ordinary individual.

From Esdeath’s viewpoint, it wasn’t Blayn’s youthful, handsome features or his lean physique that captured her attention most, but rather his unusual, blood-red eyes.

“Something like that,” Blayn responded with indifference, taking a seat on a nearby rock to rest.

The simple act of using Intangibility had significantly depleted his energy.

Double Kamui demanded a massive amount of energy. Even Obito required Hashirama Cells to utilize a single Kamui effectively, making the toll of Double Kamui even more substantial.

Without specific enhancements, wielding such power effortlessly would be impossible for Blayn.

With a moment of respite, he turned his attention to the System within him. A thought brought the System Panel into view.

[Host: Blayn]

Age: 18

Strength: 20 (Average adult male: 10)

Agility: 20 (Average adult male: 10)

Constitution: 20 (Average adult male: 10)

System Points: 0

System Shop: Lv1

All his primary attributes registered at 20, double the average for an adult male. These were, naturally, the initial bonuses provided by the System.

His 20 points in Constitution had prevented Intangibility from completely exhausting him.

The System had adapted his Double Kamui for this world. Lacking chakra, he couldn't have used it otherwise. Instead of chakra, the ability now consumed his body’s cells.

A higher Constitution enhanced cellular activity, facilitating full-body regeneration and boosting endurance.

This regeneration applied to his physical form, injuries, and even his ocular power, meaning recovery was possible over time unless he suffered instant death or blindness.

Strength governed his raw physical power. Agility influenced his speed, reaction times, and perception. However, System Points were paramount, serving as currency for upgrades via the System Shop.

According to the System’s guidance, points could be earned by hunting Danger Beasts or vanquishing foes.

Without this clarification, he would have been unaware of what constituted a Danger Beast.

The System had also helpfully outlined their threat levels, from lowest to highest:

Class Four

Class Three

Class Two

Class One

Special Class

Super-Rank 

The greater the Danger Beast’s power, the more points awarded.

At present, Blayn remained seated, allowing both his body and his special Eye Power to recuperate.

Regarding the tiger-like Special-Class Danger Beast encountered earlier, it was improbable that it would descend after them. Should it dare to, the fall from this elevation would likely prove fatal or incapacitating, turning it into easy prey.

“The sun is already descending. We should establish camp here for the night,” Esdeath declared at last.

During her recent engagement with the Special-Class Danger Beast, her horse had been slain, preventing a swift return to the capital.

Drawing upon years of experience in hunting Danger Beasts, she understood the perils of nighttime travel. Numerous beasts reached their peak ferocity after dark, while humans became significantly more vulnerable.

Furthermore, she was still in the process of recovering from her wounds—a respite here was a prudent choice.

“Are you not a soldier of the Empire?” Blayn inquired casually.

His comprehension of Akame ga Kill! was limited to its setting within an empire—an empire that was demonstrably malevolent. This constituted the extent of his knowledge.

“Indeed. More precisely, I hold the rank of General. My name is Esdeath. And you are?”

Esdeath’s voice carried a gentle cadence.

While known for her ruthlessness towards adversaries, she was also acknowledged for her kindness and approachability towards her subordinates and the Empire’s populace. Given that Blayn had just secured her safety, her lack of hostility was entirely understandable.

“Blayn.”

As he responded, Blayn's sense of caution intensified.

Based on his limited understanding, the Empire was hardly a paragon of virtue. It was impossible to ascertain the trustworthiness of its generals.

Owing to his inherently cautious nature, he was disinclined to lower his defenses.

“Blayn, is it? I shall bear that in mind.”

Esdeath, conversely, found her initial impression of him to be quite favorable.

His name suggested an origin within the Empire rather than being an outsider.

The fact that he did not recognize her—despite her considerable standing—implied that, much like herself, he might hail from the Empire’s frontiers instead of the capital, where her name resonated widely.

His presence in this remote area, encountering a Special-Class Danger Beast, indicated a likely pursuit—a testament to his bravery.

And, naturally, he had just preserved her life.