Power...

Kazu was hurrying up down without making any loud sound and reached the left side of the castle, while the Three Beasts were looking up towards the window from where Billy spoke, meanwhile, Sally also prepared for an assault while Billy held on his Meat Grinder.

He can't make any fast movement, but using the weight of the greatsword was one of the basics about wielding one.

Liver: ...Well, if I knew someone lived in this castle beforehand, I would not have gone here, but we don't have much time. Guys, let's go to kill him.

They made a step forward and Kazu used this moment to throw 3 poisonous daggers at them. But before they reached their target, the big man, Daidara, turned around and took out a double-edged axe, deflecting the daggers.

Kazu's eyes widened for a moment before him, Sally, and Billy started to attack, Sally and Billy were the only ones wearing a mask, they didn't know if someone would escape and tell someone about their faces.

Sally rushed from the entrance towards Liver, who prepared to attack when Sally tried to twist his left arm. However Liver was too much out of her league and caught her arms, before snapping them.

Sally: AHHHHHH!!

Liver: Nyau, play the flute.

Nyau: Yeah, yeah.

Then the small man took out a flute and played it, a nice song came out, but it made both Billy and Kazu a bit sleepy, Billy used his own willpower to be awake for that little time he has while he fell from the window to strike them, as for Kazu, he used a normal dagger to injure himself and remain awake.

Meanwhile, Sally was screaming in pain for having both of her arms snapped out. And before Billy and Kazu knew it, Daidara beheaded her with a single strike.

Billy was angry with it, which, coupled with his willpower, erased the flute's effects on him, while Kazu remained apathetic to this.

Kazu dashed towards the Three Beasts, more specifically the little one, while Billy reached the ground and slammed his Meat Grinder there, causing a giant crack to appear, the earth slightly shook, as if an earthquake arrived, and it stunned for a moment the Three Beasts.

But when Kazu reached the smallest one, Nyau, he surprisingly used the flute to block Kazu's dagger, before striking him with a kick, obviously since Kazu was wearing an armor made of poisonous daggers, he didn't feel anything.

He took out another dagger for his other arm and two more for his legs, before he started to throw a long combo of attacks at Nyau, who slowly backed away, meanwhile, Billy was fighting alone against Liver and Daidara.

Daidara blocked Billy's strike and sent a kick, which Billy blocked with one arm, before twisting his body and delivering a vicious strike at Daidara, which was also blocked with his axe before Liver kicked Billy's stomach and sent him back to the entrance, surprised from how strong the kick… No, how weak he became from the paralysis…

Then Liver raised one hand and a water snake came out from the river around the castle, and sent the pressurized water towards Billy, who used his Meat Grinder to block the attack, the snake sent Billy crash against many walls, causing the castle to slowly fall apart.

Liver: Tch, it was so fragile?

Daidara: *Sigh* What do we say to General Esdeath now? That we destroyed the castle?

Liver: ...We'll plan it at the moment, for now let's take care of them.

Liver turned around and saw Kazu fighting against Nyau, he was a bit impressed from Kazu's speed, but he noticed he lacked power, soon, he felt a connection with him, as if he was made of water.

He snapped his fingers and Kazu stopped immediately when a strange liquid pierced his stomach, he gritted his teeth and turned back to the castle.

Liver: So he uses liquid Poison…

Kazu rushed in random directions inside the castle, to make them unable to find him, and soon he met with Billy, who was at the other side of the castle as the walls were falling apart…

Billy had a wound on his chest and his Meat Grinder snapped in half, it couldn't bear the pressure from that water snake.

Billy: Kazu, report.

Kazu: ...I was hit from my own poison, even with my resistance, I would survive only for 5 minutes…

Billy: Fuck!

Billy looked around, a path was slowly opened in front of them, if they could escape from there…. They will be easily hunted down from the Three Beasts.

Kazu and Billy stood for some seconds without talking, before Billy's eyes turned dark, as if he lost any hope, or reached a terrible conclusion. Then he turned towards Kazu.

Billy: ...Kazu… This is an order…

Kazu just looked back at Billy, having an idea about what Billy wanted to say.

Billy: ...Die here.

Kazu: Yes.

Kazu and Billy stood up and looked at each other for a moment, before Billy was surprised when he found a small smile on Kazu's face.

Kazu: I understand, I will die anyway, so this is the most useful thing I can do for the moment… Billy, can I use the favor I asked before?

Billy looked at Kazu, who hesitantly spoke.

Kazu: ...I want to see Bols with me in hell, and if you find Chelsea, please take care of her.

Billy: I will do it.

Kazu nodded and saw Billy leave from the entrance as fast as his body could currently go, meanwhile Kazu turned around and unsheathed his other daggers… This will be his last fight.

Kazu's expression turned back apathetic as he dashed back to where the Three Beasts should be, in a dozen of seconds, Kazu met with them and dashed as fast as he could towards them, taking them by surprise.

Kazu slashed horizontally with both of his daggers, the three of them jumped away from each other and dodged his strikes, then Kazu started to attack Liver while he threw other daggers at the other two.

Liver took out a sword and started to block Kazu's slashes, who were getting faster within seconds, especially when he started to use his legs too.

Daidara: Tch, Liver seems to be in difficulty.

Daidara and Nyau looked at each other before nodding and rushing towards Kazu, who was attacking all three of them at the same time, pushing himself to the limits, he felt his body breaking under the pressure he was.

He would throw daggers at them when he could, use every opportunity to strike them, not letting anyone of them to catch a breath. Soon, his body started to get slower… The poison started to take effect.

Liver: Guys, go to search for the last one, I will deal with him alone.

Daidara and Nyau nodded and then they sprinted away from Kazu, who gritted his teeth and threw daggers at them, they were stopped for the moment, before Liver found an opening and striked Kazu with his sword, which was slightly deflected from his armor as he continued his attacks.

Liver: 'What an admirable man… There aren't many people who just accept death like that…'

Liver used his teigu, that permitted to control liquids, to attack Kazu with more liquid poison on his body, this time Kazu stopped moving and spit dark blood as he fell on his knees.

Kazu: '...Boss, I did it… Was… Was I helpful…?'

He slowly closed his eyes, and Liver left him as stone bricks fell upon him, burying him.

Meanwhile, Billy just came out from a forest and removed his mask, revealing a face full of tears.

He let go of his shattered Meat Grinder to gain more speed and took the straightest way out from the forest, so then he would hide somewhere else.

Billy: I'm a fucking bastard…! FUCK!!

Billy kept insulting himself as he ran away, tears were flying out from his face while he ran blindly.

Billy: Sacrificing someone just for live longer… I just added another person in the list of sacrifices made for the survival of the Revolutionary Army, and we don't even know if we can win… How long do we need to keep killing one half to save the other?!

He stumbled in a stone and fell down, he slowly got up and continued to run away… He lost his weapon, his body was slightly paralyzed, he sacrificed Sally and Kazu just for a chance for himself… 

He continued to run the entire afternoon, and at evening, he reached a village, he asked for help and the Chief of the village let him stay on the guest room after his chest was bandaged.

Billy reached the bed and started to sleep with a heavy burden on his heart… His flames were turned off once again, just like almost 5 years ago…

It's the Emperor's fault? Or is it the Prime Minister's fault for everything that happened? 

No, it's his fault… If he didn't accepted Bora's offer to leave for 4 years, he might have a chance to save Alice… If he just gave out the castle to the Three Beasts, then they would not be killed one after another…

At this point it was the best for him to not be reincarnated, if he didn't, he could have taken other decisions, and maybe even live peacefully…

He didn't even have any more tear in his eyes… Not only that, he couldn't even realize Kazu's wish because he lost his weapon… It is almost impossible to kill a capable Teigu user with a normal weapon…

If… If he could have a Teigu for himself… or a weapon at the same level or higher… He could realize Kazu's wish…

He just wanted the power to do that… He might even do it alone, take his left or right arm away… Just… He just wants power…

He got too tired with his thoughts, and started to sleep like a rock…

...Billy… Use me…

...Use me!

Billy woke up, it was already morning… He was surprised when he felt something calling for him, he checked around and recognized the room he currently was…

Billy: What the fuck…?

He almost got up from the bed, when something sharp cut his finger, he retracted the finger immediately and looked at what hit him, and saw… a blade… An ownerless blade…

Use me…

He heard that coming from the blade, and analyzed it. It was a standard katana with a dark purple hilt and a circular handguard. He held the hilt, and his mind felt like it was exploding with informations, but Billy could answer to it with a single word, filled with amazement.

Billy: Power…

That katana wasn't a Teigu… It was the thing he wished yesterday night…