It was cold. It was cold and dark. He could tell his eyes were open, but he couldn't see anything.

The reaper groaned as he moved his head up, but grunted in pain as a sudden jolt of pain went through his head. He must've hit something. The boy sighed as he leaned his head back down, laying it against the cold, hard ground. It was funny to him to say the least. For the longest time, he was never affected by the cold at all, considering he also has ice powers as well. But if anything, many questions were just roaming his mind.

Was this place to be his final resting place? His last stand? Was that moment to be the last time he'd ever see her face, the girl whom he loved? It would seem so.

Akira: "So this is it then, huh... I knew this day would come... I just didn't think that this would be the ending I was thinking of." (choked sobs) "I'm sorry, Akame... But... It looks like I won't be able to keep that promise after all."

Just as he was about to accept his fate, he heard groaning, the sound of a guttering growl. The sound of debris and rock could be heard moving as a green portal had opened up next to him, an arm suddenly coming out of it. The arm was limp, and yet it was still able to lift up a considerable amount of debris. Akira's eyes widened, knowing whose arm it belonged to as he saw the familiar blue and tattered cowl that rested under the helmet of a familiar abyssal knight, helmet plume curving downward due to the ceiling above.

Akira: "What...? Artorias? But how... You aren't supposed to be..."

"Hear me, boy."

The icy blue-eyed teen flinched at the sound of the voice. But he knew what it was, whose voice it belonged to. It only caused him to narrow his eyes, a look of anger coming to his voice. Yes, that deep voice that had spoken belonged to the Lich that resided within his Teigu.

Akira: "You..."

"Indeed. It is, I, boy."

Akira: "What is it that you want..."

"A being such as I, a caliber of my existence... I refuse to be trapped down here under this pile of rubble. That will happen, should you die."

Akira: "And? It's better than having you up there. Monsters such as me and you don't deserve to live with the living."

"Fool! I was a menace, the people feared me! I devoured thousands of souls, millions before I was trapped within this abomination! I will not have my legacy stained, for me to be buried under the rubble of a failed Empire! ...I have a proposition for you."

Akira: "And what's that?"

"I will allow you to have a bit more of my power, such as being able to reuse the same soul. After all, the powers you have of this so-called 'Teigu' are because of me in the first place. And in exchange, you let my influence grow stronger."

Akira: "...If you ask me, that deal sounds kind of shitty. No, it is."

"Is that what you really believe, mortal? Are you willing to lay down your life here, and let the one you love face off her alone? What was her name... Akame--"

Akira: (laced with venom) "You keep her name out of your damn mouth."

The voice chuckled, very cynically. "Oh... Touched a nerve, didn't I? Fine. Do what you will, mortal. I have given you a choice. Should you not take it, then know this, her fate is doomed to die against that woman. And her very reason for her sealed death is you, and you alone. Her blood will be on your hands."

The boy gritted his teeth, closing his eyes as he was conflicted. He loved her, it was very obvious. He couldn't bear to see the sight of her losing to Esdeath, let alone seeing the sight of her bleeding out on the floor whilst she looked up at him, outstretching her hand out to him while she asked for his help. Seeing her hurt, let alone dead was the last thing he wished to see.

Cursing himself whilst clicking his tongue, he spoke up again. The Lich knew what made him tick.

Akira: "...I know there are other demands... What are they?"

"In time, you will know," the Lich said with his usual cynical tone. "The question is... Do we have a deal?"

He bit his lip. Opening his eyes, the blue glow within them began to dull. They then shimmered with a subtle green aura.

---

Present Day

Esdeath chuckled as she gazed at Akame with a grin. Akame had activated her Teigu's Trump Card, allowing herself to discard her humanity and have her heart become to that of a demon. Essentially, she became a demon herself.

Esdeath: "Oh, that sneaky Najenda. There never was a secret Teigu. It was you, Akame. From the very start, you were their countermeasure against me... In the whole fight, you're the only one who's wounded me."

Akame: "You are my final target, Esdeath... Rest in pieces!"

The blue-haired woman chuckled once more, Akame beginning to walk up to her slowly while analyzing her every move.

Esdeath: "You've increased your strength with the power of your curse. Would that be a more accurate assessment? Looks like this will be a fun fight."

Briefly returning her gaze to the Teigu user that held Spectator, Esdeath went to kill him with her ice sword, which was connected to the area where her arm once was. But much to her surprise, she found Akame behind her, oozing of killing intent as she prepared to swing Murasame. At the same time, Akira had removed himself from his post on top of some debris, now next to her as he held Harvester in his hands. The two swung their weapons, Esdeath surprised at their speed as she raised her ice sword up for defense.

Esdeath: "What!?"

Akame: "You're the one who's in the way of the new world."

Akira said nothing, keeping his stern, cold glare on his face as he was unfazed by such things.

Esdeath: (wide grin) "You've both cast aside your humanity."

Due to the strength that the two had with the swing of their weapons, Esdeath was flung back. She planted her foot on the ground to stop herself, the two assassins dashing for her. However, Esdeath smirked, jumping into the air as she lunged for the red-eyed girl, kicking her in her stomach. Akame grunted in pain, coughing up spit as she was sent backward, Akira yelling in anger as he sent a blast of ice from his palm. Something that was easy to be dodged, Esdeath moved her head out of the way slightly, thrusting her ice sword forward as Akira used his free arm to create an ice gauntlet, blocking the attack. His eyes then glowed a slight green, the blue-haired woman looking to her left.

Thundering footsteps could be heard from that direction as Artorias had freed himself from his ice prison. Raising his greatsword into the air, he slammed it down, Esdeath jumped out of the way and landed on top of the bladed edge. She attempted to rush forward and thrust her ice blade through the knight of the Abyss, but she jumped back, gritting her teeth as an arrow from the bow knight went past her head, narrowly cutting some of her light blue locks. Unexpectedly, Esdeath grunted, her eyes wide as Akira had quickly appeared at her side and kicked her face. While surprised, she was still impressed, her former student able to catch her off guard like that. Skidding across the ground, the blue-haired woman recovered, soon having to dodge once more as she dodged strikes from the female knight's daggers and a few thrusts of the knight with the lance. Esdeath clicked her tongue in annoyance, seeing that she would have a hard time to fight her former student, let alone Akame or the two of them if Akira's summons kept roaming about. In fact, they were keeping her on the defensive. However, Esdeath knew she couldn't be reckless, as just one wrong move can give her a fatal wound. She would have to deal with them one by one or two at once.

The first to rush forward were Akira and Artorias, the blue-eyed teen sitting upon the wolf knight's shoulders as he conjured ice daggers in his hands. He threw them, prompting Esdeath to cut them down with her ice blade and rush forward herself. She met the two in a clash, creating an ice pillar below her to thrust herself into the air, the wolf knight swinging his blade at the last moment, cutting the ice pillar down. Akira propelled himself off Artorias's shoulder, meeting Esdeath for a head-on encounter, the two trading blows and attacks in the air. Unfortunately for the Ice Cold Reaper, Esdeath had more of an advantage in the air, the blue-haired general sprouting ice flakes onto her limbs and artificial one to keep her afloat in the air. Dodging a few strikes from Akira, Esdeath retaliated, the boy grunting in pain as she kicked him a few times, making an effort in the last one as she jabbed her heal into his chest. Being sent down with great force, Akira was slammed into the ground, coughing up blood in the process.

That was one adversary taken care of, four more to go.

Using her ability to float, Esdeath dodged the bow knight's arrows with ease, although some were coming close to hitting her. It brought her remembrance of the Revolutionary Army general Nuge, remembering how incompetent he was and how easily she killed him. However, unlike Nuge, the bow knight she was facing was quite the worthy adversary. The bow knight took two more arrows and drew them back, firing the large arrows as they quickly flew through the air. He had curved them intentionally, one of them striking Esdeath's artificial arm. While the other one missed, the one that struck Esdeath's arm was a success and it caused her to fall slightly. This would've been proved fatal to her, had she not recovered quickly and recreated her ice arm with the sword, the other two knights having jumped with an insane height and met her in the air. Esdeath knew she had to quickly dispatch them.

Just in time, when the two knights attacked with their weapons, Esdeath dodged out of the way. The daggers struck the knight with the lance whilst the lance struck the lady knight into her chest. If they were normal people, they'd be dead. But they were warriors that have long been corrupted for years, their souls having been conquered and brought back to the land of the living as basically mere puppets. The three landed on the ground, the two knights taking their respective weapons and slamming them into the ground, bowing. A green portal appeared underneath them, the two heading back into the afterlife. However, she wasn't done yet, the icy general on alert as she dived to the side. Artorias rushed down at her and swung his greatsword with force, creating small tempests in the process as he swung it like a rabid animal. Like an uncontrollable wolf. Speaking of the wolf, Fenrir had recovered, abandoning Gin's blade as it had been shattered by Esdeath previously. The wolf lunged forward and bit her shoulder, attempting to drag her down with him. Esdeath hissed in pain as she shook herself, causing the wolf to be flung off her. Her next opponent was the bow knight, but she still had to be wary of Artorias. She attempted to do the same thing she did with the other two knights, but the bow knight was clever, having seen through the attempt, and would easily dodge Artorias's powerful, yet obvious sword slashes. At this rate, Akame and Akira would recover and take her down, giving them the victory, and she didn't wish for that. Esdeath dodged another strike from Artorias, ducking as the greatsword went over her. Getting in the middle of the two, she slammed her hand down onto the ground, erupting another one of those tree-like structures that spewed ice projectiles. The ice projectiles struck the two summons and like the other two knights, slamming their weapons into the ground as they descended down into a portal.

Finished with those two, the ice general returned her gaze to her former student, dragging the tip of her ice blade against the ground. The boy still remained there in the ground, lying among the rubble as he seemed to stare aimlessly at the sky.

Esdeath: "Such a shame. I expected more from you, Akira. You know, I always knew that you weren't easy to kill, but... For you to give up this easily... It's quite sad. I really did expect more."

Once she arrived at him, Akira didn't spare a single glance at her. Esdeath sighed as she brought her ice sword to his chest, preparing to drive it through him and end his life.

Esdeath: "Any last words?"

He said nothing. She scoffed in disappointment and went to drive the blade through. However, she grew shocked when Akira's hand suddenly grabbed the edges of the sword, the sharp edges driving into his hand as blood crept down the blade. Esdeath gazed into his icy blue eyes and noticed a green, but brief shimmer in them. And in an instance, Akira shattered the ice sword with brute strength, Esdeath soon grunting in pain as he quickly retaliated and kicked her in the stomach. She soon recovered from the attack, an excited grin coming to her face.

Esdeath: "Yes! That's it, Akira! I knew you wouldn't disappoint me! Come at me with everything you've got!"

Once again, he said nothing. Creating his own ice blade, he rushes at her, Esdeath recreating her shattered ice blade so she could re-engage her former student. Their ice blades clashed and parried, usually at the third hit, Akira's ice blade would shatter and be destroyed, prompting him to create another. But he knew, the more he kept creating more ice blades, the more it sapped his energy. Another one of his blades shattered, Akira ducking to dodge a slash from his former mentor. Esdeath reacted quickly to this, turning her attention to him and doing another swing, Akira backflipping out of the way. Once he landed, he created an ice dagger, rushing forward as he went to deliver quick and swift strikes. Surprisingly, he was able to land two of his strikes into her stomach area, his third attack being parried by Esdeath's icy forearm. With her other free hand, she grabs his wrist, attempting to disarm him. But Esdeath temporarily forgot about the fact that she's taught him some of her own techniques.

Akira slammed his foot onto the ground, Esdeath's eyes widening as she quickly released his wrist. She jumped up, an ice spike erupting below her as she just narrowly dodges. The boy quickly jumped as well, the two find themselves in another air fight, ice shards falling to the ground as they engaged themselves in another clash of ice blades. Constant ice shatters and the echoes of ice blades striking against each other filled the air. Esdeath did have an upper hand in swordplay, as she had more battle experience with such weapons, but Akira was able to hold his own. The icy blue-eyed teen raised his up his blade to block an overhead strike from her, his eyes grew wide, but should've expected it. Esdeath's strength was far more superior than his own, as shown with his ice blade being shattered. Just before the ice blade could even hit his own face, he crossed his arms together and created an ice shield to protect himself, which took the brunt of the attack but sent him crashing down, mirroring what happened to him before. A crater formed under him, the boy coughing up blood as he felt weak. Esdeath soon landed, descending slowly as she put a heel on his chest.

Esdeath: "That was fun, but your journey ends here. It's such a shame. You could've done more had you joined me, Akira."

However, she wasn't able to get the satisfaction of killing him. Akame had recovered and grasped her blade, dashing for the blue-haired woman. Esdeath clicked her tongue in annoyance, facing the raven-haired girl to engage in another clash of blades. But Murasame cut through the ice blade like it was nothing, Esdeath doing the same thing before, creating a small ice shield to block her attack and kicking Akame in the stomach. This time, Akame was prepared kicking off of Esdeath's ice protection to distance herself. Like Akira did, Esdeath slammed her foot, creating an ice pillar below the red-eyed girl. However, Akame used the ice spike to ride it into the air. But this all seemed to be a trap prepared by the blue-haired woman, behind her being several large ice spikes. Esdeath then launched them up above, the large ice spikes homing in on the ravenette.

But Akame had the superior speed, thanks to her Trump Card boosting it. Maneuvering off of each ice spike as a platform, she quickly made her way back down, coming in for a downward strike. Esdeath dodged, but had to sacrifice two of her fingers to get away, Esdeath quickly putting ice on them to prevent the curse from spreading further across her body. The blue-haired woman was breathing heavily, the amount of battling she's done only exciting her even more, her body shaking in arousal.

Akame: "You've gotten good at emergency first aid. Even if you don't stop time, you might still be able to treat your wounds. I hear you're a master torturer... I'm sure you've carved up your fair share of lives, but... This time, you're the one who's going to be carved up."

Esdeath: "Heh. Is your plan to wear me down emotionally? Don't waste my time! Come at me and fight!"

The blue-haired woman extended her hand, creating several more ice projectiles behind her. She sent them out, all of them traveling at the speed of a bullet. But Akame was unfazed by such an attack, swiftly cutting them down and splitting them in half. However, Akame was so focused on cutting them down that she failed to see Esdeath move, the woman quickly getting behind her and kicking her in the side. Akame grunted in pain, but she recovered, not tumbling to the ground and quickly faced the blue-haired woman.

Esdeath: "I'll give it right back to you. Good fight, huh? I don't want anyone to interrupt us!"

Esdeath put her palm onto the ground, erupting an ice barrier behind her. Now, Akame was separated from the support of the Revolutionary Army, leaving herself and Esdeath to fight, along with Akira, who continued to lay in his crater. Najenda looked to the soldiers and the remaining Teigu members of the special unit, ordering them to surround the barrier. If worse comes to worst, if Akame and Akira were to fall, it'd be up to them to take down Esdeath. But they had faith in them.

Back within the barrier, Esdeath would create another ice blade and the two would rush back at each other again, parrying and blocking each other strikes as they were engaged in a fierce duel.

Esdeath: "Isn't this fun, Akame!?"

Akame: "It's nothing like fun! Don't assume I'm anything like you, you battle freak! My kills promote people's happiness. That belief of mine has never changed. You speak of massacres and torture like they're just for fun! Someone like you must be brought down!"

As the two fought and traded blows, Esdeath grinned, backing up out of range of Murasame. She then extended her arm upward, creating several needles above the raven-haired girl. Akame saw this and readied herself, all of the needles coming down on her at once. She cut down most of them, but one was able to strike her thigh, Akame grunting in pain as she held the injured area. But this wouldn't be enough to stop her or slow her down.

Akame then dashed for the wall, soon running up it and constantly dashing off of it. She did this to confuse Esdeath, to make her have trouble as to where she was going to attack from whilst Akame waited for her opponent. However, Esdeath's eyes were able to keep up with her, Akame soon dashing off the wall and went to strike overhead. Esdeath retaliated and blocked, both girls' gazes locked onto each other as they gazed through the ice barrier Esdeath put up. She was impressed, Akame's speed not having dropped since the subtle injury or the sudden appearance of the blizzard. Akame then slices the barrier to pieces, once more the two of them exchanging strikes, a dance of blades occurring. But it only happened for a few seconds, their last strike causing Akame to back off as she was panting heavily, but Esdeath seemed to be fine still.

Akame: (thoughts) 'This power won't last long. I have to end this with the next strike.'

Esdeath: (thoughts) 'She's pushing her strength to it's limits... Fine.'

The blue-haired woman did the unexpected and dropped her rapier to the floor. Gathering her power for a final display, Esdeath then formed a large suit of ice armor around her, Akame's eyes widening in surprise. The ice was quite thick, Akame being unsure if Murasame would be able to penetrate it.

With a cackle, Esdeath raised the one of the ice armor's arms, raising it high and then slamming it down. Debris picked it up as shards of rocks flew, Akame able to dodge in time so it didn't damage her. But because of the large armor she created, Esdeath had slowed herself down, giving Akame's already speed advantage to be on another level. The ravenette manuevered herself to be positioned behind the icy general, soon leaping into the air as she went to strike the back. Akame was putting it all into this one, the finishing blow that would shatter the armor and hopefully end Esdeath's life.

But much to Akame's surprise, Esdeath knew where she was going to be. Shattering the armor herself, Esdeath turned around clamped down on the one-hit blade, preventing it from striking her. Esdeath knew that the more power you put behind a strike, the easier it is to predict an attack. Especially sword strikes. Freezing the entire blade, Esdeath applied so much pressure that she shattered the blade into pieces, surpising Akame. But this didn't stop her. Quickly landing on the ground, she ran over and picked up Esdeath's dropped rapier, then running to the wall. She then leapt off of it, soon rushing to the blue-haired woman, this being her last ditch attempt. Esdeath thought that Akame was going for a strike with her sword, but the pieces were all aligned. Just as Esdeath was about to defend herself, a black blur appeared in the corner of her eye. Esdeath's eyes widened as it all happened so fast, Akira having recovered from his wounds and summoned Harvester, swinging it as he cut her arms off. She yelled in pain, the boy dropping to the ground as she gave way for Akame to enact the final blow. Murasame's handle was still floating in the air, now beginning to fall down.

Yes, everything was aligned perfectly.

Using her own rapier against her, Akame uses it to push the end of the handle forward. Esdeath gasped, realizing what Akame's plan was. The red-eyed girl plunges whatever was left of Murasame, thrusting it through Esdeath's chest. And with her arms being permanently severed, she couldn't take the blade out. It was done.

Akame and Akira won.

Esdeath: (shocked) "Wha--!?"

Akame: "There. You won't be able to treat this wound."

The two dropped to the ground. Akame was panting heavily, the Trump Card soon ending as the dark areas in her eyes soon reverting back to it's white color. However, the marks that were upon her skin didn't fade.

Esdeath plopped on her side, blood pooling out of her injuries whilst she coughed up blood.

Esdeath: "I got too distracted... By Murasame..."

Akame: "Apart from that, you were already pretty sapped from fighting everyone else. That's where I found my opening. You've always been strong. This is how you lose in the end."

Esdeath: "...I lose. I suppose I die now."

With whatever remaining strength she had left, Esdeath lifted herself upright. She looked up, seeing the familiar Tyrant dragon flying overhead. Tatsumi was still alive.

Akame concluded that it was most likely someone's will, waiting for him to come how alive. This left the blue-haired woman bitter, but she was satisfied. Satisfied that she had an ending. A warrior's death. Closing her eyes, a small smile coming to her face. Esdeath encased herself in ice.

Esdeath: (thoughts) 'In this world, I've lived my life getting everything I wanted. But... I never once truly got your attention. That's my one regret... Tatsumi...'

Once she was fully encased in ice, she shattered herself. The small shards were soon whisked away by the wind, the handle of Murasame being the only thing left as it was embedded into the ground. The ice walls around her began to fade and dissipate, Akame turning her head around to see the sun setting.

The mission was accomplished. The war was over.

But something else had arisen.

When Akame faced the black-haired teen, her partner, her eyes widened as she jumped into the air. A pillar of green fire swept under her, it leaving from the palm of her partner. However, when she landed and turned around, the fire that was aimed at her had struck the soldiers behind her, the Revolutionary Army members writhing and screaming in pain as they were set on fire.

Akame then faced him with a look of pure shock, but anger welled within her eyes.

Akame: "Akira! Why turn against us now when the war is over!? There's no need to fight anymore!"

He said nothing. But he then spoke, but almost like it was a different person.

"Akira": "Finally... After several long years, I've returned to the mortal realm, this body serving as my vessel."

Akame: "'This body'?"

"Akira": "It is Akira no longer. The boy has merely handed the controls to me... Rather, I forcefully took it." (chuckles cynically) "I am he who has devoured millions of souls since my existence into this world, preying on those that enter in my domain. Until I was killed by that wretched man of an Emperor. But I still live to collect those of the damned."

The boy extended his arm, an green orb appearing. Four pillars of green light appeared in front of him as the previous knights that were once with him appeared in front of him, rising out of the green portals. However, they were not on the Revolutionary Army's side. Instead, they readied their weapons as they prepared for battle.

"Akira" turned around, his eyes no longer being an icy blue. They were now an ominous green, like the color of Harvester. Horns began to pertrude out of his forehead as black marks begin to appear all over his skin, three balls of green flames appeared around him. He then slammed the bladed tip of Harvester into the ground, sadistically chuckling as he gazed at his new enemies.

Lich: "The Death god has now arrived. Bow your heads down so I may collect the souls of you all. They must be ferried to the underworld, after all. But should you all go against me... Well... Let's just say, I won't be as kind as I am right now during our next encounter. ...Have you all made your decision? No." (laughs wryly) "Either way... Let the massacre begin. Death comes for everyone."