*cough* Big warning here. This chapter is basically an original chapter, so if it's trash... Apologies. As I've previously stated before... Original chapters are not my specialty. And apologies if it's short... Long, original chapters are also something I'm not good with.

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What was she to do now? She wasn't even sure if the man she loved was still in there or not. The one thing she feared had actually come. She believed everything would go without anything happening. Well, anything wrong, that is. But here her partner stood, having been taken over by the very thing that lives within his Teigu.

But even still. She refused to believe it. She refused to believe that her lover had fallen that easily, thinking that it was all a trick on her mind. And if it wasn't, she still believed that she could save him.

Akame: "Akira... If you can hear me, then listen to me. I know you're still in there. Come back to me... Please. We don't have to fight anymore. We can finally put down our weapons... Please."

Her tone was hopeful and sincere, the raventte hoping her soothing voice would reach him. The Lich within simply chuckled and sighed in amusement.

Lich: "You mortals never fail to amaze me. Latching onto a pointless thing like hope. I've told you already, girl. This boy's body is now my vessel. He can't hear you anymore."

Akame: "I'm not abandoning him."

Lich: "Very well. If you're that keen on taking him back. Then... Come and take him back. Entertain me, mortal."

Rage was slowly beginning to build up inside of her, but she knew she had to keep her emotions in check. If she were to recklessly attack, the Lich would have no problem ending her life. In fact, the so-called vessel was her partner's body, and she knew that he had quite the durability and was much stronger than her, adding in the fact of his ice abilities. Not only that, there was the Lich's own abilities as well. As demonstrated beforehand, he could shoot a green flames from his palm and summon more than one soul to aid in battle. She had to be cautious. What else kind of abilities does he have?

Either way, she made her move. Picking up Esdeath's rapier, the red-eyed girl ran at the Lich, aiming to damage him from the side. While it was the Lich she was fighting, it was still the body of her partner. The Lich chuckled, raising his hand as he snapped his finger.

Akame was about to thrust the rapier before she grunted and dodged back. A giant greatsword was slammed in front of her, it belonging to Artorias. The abyssal knight let out a guttering growl, almost eerie even. With the Lich keeping a grin on his face, he extended his arm. The ethereal knights received their orders, the knights with the daggers and lance rushing forward to meet the Revolutionary Army head-on, whilst Artorias and the bow knight would be facing off against her. She knew she was in trouble. Facing Akira was a big enough problem, but adding in the two spectral knights into the mix made it even tougher. Especially since the four knights were quite famed, these legendary warriors having served under one of the most famed Emperors of the Empire that went by the name of Gwyn. 

The Four Knights of Gwyn was what they were called. There was the one with the lance and his armor made to depict to that of a golden lion. His name was Ornstein, the Dragonslayer. He was believed to be the captain of the knights that served under Gwyn and one of the most loyal, his spear having been said to be able to split a giant boulder in two, his golden armor made to resemble a lion having been imbued with the power of lightning. Just from his equipment and the title alone he held was already enough to tell that he was a fearsome opponent. But there was no fierce warrior like the strongest knight of Gwyn, Artorias. Known to have a will of unbreakable steel, unmatched by his skills of a greatsword, his time-honored title as a legendary hero had built him a legacy that lasted for centuries. However, most people are unaware of the dark hero's time of when he fell into the darkness, all so he could save his most precious companion, the Great Grey Wolf, Sif. It is said that Fenrir, the wolf companion of the Ice Cold Reaper, is a direct descendant of this legendary wolf.

Hailing from the Lord's Blades was Ciaran. She was the only female among Gwyn's order of knights, famously known for her unique porcelain mask and the way she would lay waste to the foes of her lord, brandishing her daggers, the Gold Tracer and the Dark Silver Tracer. It is also said that she and Artorias were romantically involved, but no there was no specified evidence for such a suggestion. And lastly, the giant of the group, Hawkeye Gough. He was the leader of an organization known as the Dragonslayers, at one point during the Empire's history, they went up against dragons, this era eventually being known as the Age of Ancients. His greatbow was none like no other, only an archer as powerful as he was capable of pulling it's bowstrings. Just being an archer for show was no joke either, as the giant was blind, impaired by those who viewed him as a brutish giant and the eyes of his helm having been filled with resin. But despite all of this, he never lost his touch as a precision marksman. 

These four knights were worthy opponents indeed.

Akame narrowly dodged an arrow fired by Hawkeye Gough. Already, he was showing his skills as a master precision marksman, the arrow he fired having just cut her skirt and nearly damaged her. Adding on to the pressure, Artorias rushed down at her, the towering figure recklessly swinging his greatsword. He raised his broadsword overhead, the abyssal knight swinging it toward the ground, which shook itself. Such a powerful strike would leave a normal man to be staggered if they weren't hit by the great blade and left on the ground. However, being a knight of the Abyss, he gained powers from it. Akame was currently behind the armored knight and prepared to lunge herself and thrust with the rapier. But she was shocked when Artorias turned around, throwing some sort of dark sludge at her in a wide arc that covered a few feet in front of him. Not only that, she couldn't even react with another attack, the raven-haired girl left on the defensive as Artorias quickly followed up with multiple slashes, quickly spinning in a full revolution. Sparks had flown into the air as Akame had blocked all of the attacks, but gritted her teeth in response due to how powerful the attack felt, it having pushed her back. She soon coughed as she felt pain in her side, the Lich having dropkicked her when she was unaware. Akame tumbled to the ground with Esdeath's rapier at her side, the Lich walking up to her with a sadistic smirk whilst he trailed the bladed tip against the ground.

Lich: "Humans are so easily distracted, it's honestly amusing. Though it's a shame at how pathetic they are, especially when emotions like love come into play. I wonder how you were able to fall for a vessel pathetic as this one."

Akame: "Don't you dare talk about him like that!"

Lich: (chuckles) "Touched a nerve, didn't I?" (sighs contently) "Humans are so quick to anger."

As to prove his point, Akame quickly shot up and grabbed the rapier by her, rushing for the Lich again. The possessed Akira chuckled once more, grabbing his scythe as he twirled it in the air. The two were now engaged in battle, Akame slashing in from the side, but it was a strike that was easily blocked by Harvester's handle. She quickly backed off and ran around him, trying to get in a hit from the back. However, he sensed her presence easily due to him tracking her soul, turning around as he dragged the scythe across the ground, picking up dirt. It landed in her eyes, making her cough as it got in her mouth but it blinded her. She yelped in pain as the Lich elbowed charged into her, then followed up with an ice dagger to her stomach. She was no match for him, overpowered by the Lich as he quickly kicked her in her side, sending her to the ground once more. But she couldn't afford to be vulnerable here, rolling out of the way as she dodged another greatsword slam from Artorias and a large arrow narrowly missing her head from Hawkeye Gough. She was about to get up until she yelled in pain when the Lich created an ice blade, stabbing it into the area he previously stabbed her before, then gouging the area as he moved it around.

Lich: "How does it feel to be hurt by the one you love most? Agonizing, isn't it?"

Akame: "You...! Let him... Go! He's suffered enough!"

Lich: "Let him suffer. Consider it payment for his actions. I merely gave him a choice, and yet he still refused me."

Akame: "What you gave wasn't a choice, it was an order! You made him do it!"

Lich: "Say what you will. It doesn't change the fate that has been sealed for him... And for you."

He prepared to end her life, but his eyes widened. Suddenly, she retracted her legs, tucking them in before she thrusts them forward, kicking the possessed Akira in the gut. Her strength seemed to have increased, the Lich being launched into the air before he tumbled to the ground, but quickly recovered. He growled in anger, watching as Akame painfully took out the ice blade embedded in her, but kept pushing on. She was determined to win and take back her lover by any means necessary.

She yelled to the top of her lungs as she charged forward, ducking down as she went in between the legs of the wolf knight, Artorias bringing the greatsword close to his chest and thrust forward for a strike. But he missed, Akame completely bypassing him as she ran straight for the Lich. Hawkeye Gough drew back on his bowstring, loading in two arrows. He then let go, letting his arrows fly as they went by like streaks of light. Akame jumped, twisting her body as she dodged, the arrows just cutting off strands of hair and making small cuts on her body. But she still pressed onward. The Lich gritted his teeth, stomping his foot to erupt an ice barrier in front of him. However, Akame used the momentum of the barrier to thrust herself into the air, throwing the rapier down at him as it moved at high speed. The Lich swung his scythe upward, knocking it away from him. But it only served as a distraction, the ravenette having closed the distance as she was in front of the green-eyed demon. The red-eyed girl then did a flurry of attacks, inflicting slashes with the ice sword while also incorporating a few punches in. Akame then aimed for a kick, raising her leg up to strike him in his chest. But the Lich caught it, throwing her off as she was knocked off her balance. This seemed to be a fatal mistake, the Lich could've ended her life had he swung the scythe down.

However, someone interrupted them. Despite still being damaged from the fight of Esdeath, Fenrir had gotten up and ignored it's injuries. The wolf had jumped and lunged forward, latching onto it's controlled master and thrashing at it. The Lich grunted in pain, repeatedly punching the wolf's face to knock it off him. He was successful, but the wolf would recover and attack from another angle, attacking the leg. The Lich grunted in pain once more, the wolf clenching down on the leg as it dug it's fangs deeper into the muscle. With his other foot, he kicked the wolf off, which yelped in pain. This time, however, he wanted to stop the wolf for good. Creating an ice dagger, he threw it, which struck the wolf in it's side. But he didn't stop there, the Lich created a few more and threw it at the wolf, now rendering it unable to battle any longer, evident by the wolf companion's whining. Getting up, the Lich made for his scythe, the supposed Death god struggling to make his way to it. The injuries Akira had suffered from the fight with Esdeath and now the current fight with Akame was beginning to hinder the body, something the Lich having taken notice of. Weakly getting up herself, Akame struggled to go for the scythe as well, but paused when he heard a voice call out to her. It was Lubbock, who was amidst the fight between Ciaran and Ornstein.

Lubbock: "Akame! Aim for the scythe! Destroy it! It's your only chance at bringing him back!"

A detail the green-haired teen had failed to mention before was that the soul of the Lich was directly linked to the Teigu, explaining how it was living within it. But, should the scythe or the key, whatever form it had taken in, should be broken, the soul of the Lich is essentially dissipated, killing it. But no one had come close to doing such a thing, the most common occurrence being the user of the Teigu being killed.

However, she wasn't about to let him die. They made a promise that they'd be by each other's side and they would never be apart. As soon as the Lich grabbed the scythe, so did Akame, the two beginning to struggle against it. The Lich tried to use dirty and underhanded tactics, such as throwing dirt in her face. But Akame was calm and collected, trying to keep a level head. It wouldn't be long that the Lich would lose grip on the scythe, Akame kicking him down to truly give her the upper hand. Once doing so, she finally held the scythe it her grasp. Just touching it, Akame felt a surge of memories go through her mind. She could see everything. The atrocities he had done, the amount of pain he felt, the suffering he went through. She realized that every day of his entire life, the reason he kept this Teigu on him at all times was so that he never forgot the lives he took. Whether they were innocent or not. Aside from the Lich giving him constant orders, the voices were constantly yelling at him, telling him to hurry up and join him in the afterlife once his "contract" with Death was fulfilled.

Lich: "Stop! You don't know what you're doing! Without me, there won't be a balance between life and death! I am the Death god! Do you hear me!?"

She blocked out the noise. The only thing she was focused on entirely was breaking this forsaken Teigu. She opened her eyes, giving a hateful glare at the Lich below her.

Akame: "...Rot in hell."

Lich: "N-No! Noooo!"

The Lich outstretched his arms, hoping he'd reach her in time. But it was too late, for him, anyway. Akame snapped the Teigu in two, with surprising strength. 

Once it was done so, the Teigu began to lose it's green color, the glow fading. It was as if the Lich's world was falling apart, his soul leaving Akira's body as he began to go afloat, clawing down at his former vessel as he tried to reach out for it. However, a green portal soon opened, a hand coming out of it. The Lich looked to see it was Artorias, three more hands coming out of it to see it was the other knights. Once the Teigu had broken, they retreated back into the afterlife, but not before taking the Lich down with them. It screamed and pleaded, begging for someone to save it. But no one did, even more hands coming out of the portal, the victims of the souls he had collected coming forth to drag him down.

It wasn't long after that the Lich's screams were then drowned out, the portal disappearing as he was never seen again. Akame then ran over to Akira's body, hurriedly cradling it as she pressed her ear against his chest.

No heartbeat.

Her breathing quickly accelerated, having the boy's head resting on her lap as she quickly began to pump his chest, trying to pump his heart to start moving. She then did the procedure of mouth-to-mouth, providing an artificial air ventilation to keep him breathing. She then checked his heartbeat again.

Nothing.

She didn't want to believe it. Akame began to let out gutwrenching cries, sobbing into his chest as he didn't make any sudden moves. She couldn't believe it. He was gone, it being something that she didn't wish to accept.

What had she been fighting for? The freedom for the people and the establishment of a new peaceful government? Yes, that much was true.

But, no. Her true reason. Her true reason for fighting was for him. She wanted to live out the rest of her days with him, to grow old with him. Start a family with him. To live out in the little house near Rousei Village, the place of their cherished memories of where it all started. That was her dream. But that's all it was.

A dream. One that didn't seem to be a reality.

...Or so she thought.

She continued to sob into his chest, but she heard groaning. Did her ears catch that right? Akame slowly looked up, her eyes red due to the amount of tears she had shed. She then put her ear back onto his chest. She heard a heartbeat, her partner's heart beating slowly before it gradually increased into a steady heartbeat. She looked back at his face, seeing her partner's eyes slowly flutter open. Her face said it all... Happiness. The eyes of her black-haired partner weren't the ominous green color. The familiar blue glow of the icy blue had returned.

Akira's vision was hazy, blurry as it slowly began to clear up. Once it did, his eyes would focus on the face of his girlfriend, Akame crying tears of joy. He was confused.

Akira: "A... Akame...? What... Happened...?"

Akame: "You... You idiot... You big dumb idiot... You dumb and reckless idiot!"

She yelled it repeatedly, which only added on to his confusion. The red-eyed girl cradled his body, his head being pushed into her chest as she held him close. Everything was over. It was all finally over. The fruits of their labor had finally been accomplished.

The war between the tyrannical Empire and the Revolutionary Army was finally over. Retribution for the two had been obtained.