Episode 23: Didn't we make a promise?!
In the scene...
『 "Tatsumi!" His friend beside him cheered for his victory.
However, at this moment, Tatsumi looked at the Supreme Teigu he had defeated beneath his feet. He saw black smoke rising from its body, and its massive frame, like a small mountain, began to fall.
Underneath its falling path stood dozens of innocent civilians, desperately watching everything. Unless they grew wings, they couldn't escape this calamity.
As the Supreme Teigu was about to crash into the civilians, Tatsumi flew out without hesitation, not even having a moment to celebrate his victory...
Even though he was battered and bruised, his consciousness blurred, even though... he couldn't fulfill his promise.
But, so what?
I, at this moment, am a hero!!
Who says that someone covered in mud can't be a hero?
Tatsumi rushed under the Supreme Teigu's chin, propped up his hands, and used all his strength. Behind him, a blue stream of air erupted—the immense power tore his arm muscles, and the hero's blood stained the sky red once again.
Dark red blood seeped from the corner of his eyes...
Tatsumi gritted his teeth, his heart filled with unwillingness.
I must save... I must save them, ahhhhh—!
"Stop for me, ahhhhh—!"
The Supreme Teigu, hundreds of meters tall, continued to slide forward after collapsing; the energy released upon impact was terrifying.
Everyone in the Imperial Capital heard the deafening roar and saw... the rising dust.
The dozens of innocent civilians were filled with despair. Why, why... wasn't it over already?
Why won't it let us go?
We just yearn to survive; what did we do wrong? 』
『 ..... 』
~Chat Room~
[Haibara Ai (Detective Conan): "ε=(′ο｀*))) Sigh, they were so close to victory, but they still encountered something like this."]
[Marie Tagaru(????): "How could this happen?"]
[Light Yagami (Death Note): "As expected, just as I predicted."]
[Esdeath (Akame Ga Kill): "Why would you do something like this for those weaklings..."]
[ ..... ]
『 Tatsumi's arms were too weak to support it. He decisively changed his strategy, turned around, and used his back to brace against the Supreme Teigu, using the strongest legs of mankind to exert force...
He used his flesh and blood to increase the friction between the Supreme Teigu and the earth, attempting to stop it.
Scalding hot blood gushed out of his body, and his entire being was soaked in blood.
The broken floor tiles were covered with the hero's blood.
"Ahhhhhhhhh—!"
Within Tatsumi's sight were dozens of faces filled with despair.
But when the civilians looked at their brave hero, Tatsumi, everyone's tear ducts instantly collapsed.
Everyone was heartbroken...
They were saved by the hero once again.
Some people's hearts ignited with a spark of hope when they saw Tatsumi, but others secretly prayed that he wouldn't come near.
The injured man lying on the ground witnessed this scene and tried his best to crawl out of the dirt, eager to join Tatsumi and jointly stop the Supreme Mechanical God.
Under the painful gazes of the crowd, the Supreme Teigu stopped.
They survived.
But Tatsumi's life froze at this moment.
Tatsumi's body was tattered and broken, his silver-white dragon wings were fragmented, and the flowing blood... had almost exhausted his life.
The Supreme Teigu stopped just a few steps away from dozens of civilians.
The couple hugged each other tightly, their eyes filled with bitterness as they looked at Tatsumi, their hearts aching like knives.
The price of their rebirth was Tatsumi's life.
At this moment, Akame ran over and appeared before Tatsumi, her eyes losing their usual radiance, looking at this scene that broke her heart.
Under the clear, cloudless blue sky, the sunlight shone down. Tatsumi seemed to hear Akame's footsteps, slowly looked up at her, and said apologetically,
"Sorry... I couldn't keep my promise..."
The smile on Tatsumi's face was exactly the same as when he first arrived in the Imperial Capital...
As Akame slowly stepped forward, Tatsumi staggered away from the Supreme Teigu, leaning his weak body into Akame's arms.
Tatsumi rested his head on Akame's shoulder and slowly closed his eyes...
Akame felt Tatsumi's body gradually cooling down, the once-boiling young soul was turning cold. She cried out unwillingly,
"Didn't we make a promise?! You promised... to return safely..."
Tears welled up in Akame's eyes like a spring, her heart filled with pain, "Tatsumi..."
Akame quietly held Tatsumi like this, holding his gradually cooling body, and azure starlight rose from Tatsumi's body, pouring into the sky.
It was as if Tatsumi's soul was setting off, as if... all the souls were coming to welcome him.
Tatsumi, may you rest in peace... You won't be alone on your way to the other shore, your comrades are waiting for you there.
It's just that if Mine saw you at that time, she would probably angrily punch you, while complaining, "You idiot." 』