End the Cycles IV

Thus it unravels…

The dark fate of two generations who sought retribution for the pain inflicted upon them by a harsh and unforgiving reality:

He who found the way back to the light.

She who found naught but more reason to hate freedom and seek absolute order.

Between them… the one whose reason for being remains a true enigma veiled in the whims of a Goddess-Above-All.

"I refuse to believe that..."

"I know...which is why I shall show you by force what I wish to bring to fruition. All I need is the chance to do so."

No matter the age, no matter the outcome…

There will always be the personifications of order and freedom. Here they make their last stand.

Sakinah brought her book to bear as she opened its pages. Without delay, she summoned a tremendous source of energy to the palm of her hand. Before she could unleash it upon the remnants of the resistance a dark crimson portal opened up behind her. The energies of three familiar beings wafted out of it; those being the visages of Akaro Hajime and his wife Akame alongside Kimiko Hanate. The iconic glint of their crimson eyes radiated in the distance as they emerged.

"So the real challenge has finally arrived then? I am sure Arayashiki would rather deal with you, but I shall entertain you myself."

The dense ripples of power surrounding Sakinah spiked once again, stronger than it was before. As she began to walk towards her next fight, Raizo glanced over at his allies that laid across the battlefield. The nightmare he had been shown was coming true minute by minute.

"This...cannot be the end..."

"Raizo…" the voice of Kimiko caught up with the boy's ears in his moment of sorrow. Their gazes met for a brief moment, a sudden but heartwarming smile on her part putting his distressed heart at ease.

"Onee-...sama," he quietly muttered with the little strength he had left in him.

Kimiko then turned her attention towards the seemingly unstoppable hybrid of Primordial and Human. The hate Sakinah felt towards Kimiko could only be described as a silent yet deadly fury.

Yes… Sakinah was barely able to hold herself.

"Alas...the Great All-Mother makes her debut. Akasha… your world is a false reality. Merely a vision projected into our eyes. At the apoptosis of infinity, the monotony of your cosmos overwrites our sense of values and makes us blind to the truth. If a proud god like you is going to keep dominion over us… then I don't need any of it. I will give birth to a brand new zero and infinity, a wonderful new World.

This dream of yours called life is yet unaware that it's an illusion. I will be the one to dispel it all!"

Sakinah's oozing power flowed like a tidal wave of violet purple. However, Kimiko elected to remain unfazed.

"Akaro… Akame. Go after Arayashiki. Sakinah is mine," she voiced with a sharp sense of straightforwardness. The couple looked somewhat taken aback by this sudden decision given the great devastation and death surrounding them, but they ultimately nodded.

"I'd trust no one other than you with this mission…" Akame muttered under her breath before placing a hand on Kimiko's shoulder.

Akaro smiled before doing the same.

"As the leader of Team AKARA, I command you… for the feelings of the fallen that we carry on our shoulders and for the sake of the World: Kill Sakinah Vashti!" he proclaimed with the thunderous enthusiasm the Red-Eyed Hero was known for.

"Oho?" Sakinah almost gasped, "Do you two really think she can take me out by her lonesome when the armies of Heaven and Purgatory alongside their finest warriors could not put a scratch on me? I'd compliment your boldness if it wasn't so clearly a sign of idiocy."

Harsh words yet they were pointless all the same. With no hesitation at all, Akaro and Akame had their wings sprung free from their backs and together they took flight toward Arayashiki's great white castle. Sakinah in the meantime merely followed them with her eyes.

"As if I would let you… Absolution—..."

"You sure do like the sound of your own voice, don't you?"

Kimiko's voice came onto Sakinah's ears like a whisper yet it somehow shook her like the roar of thunder.

"You—"

It was too late. By the time she had turned back to face Kimiko, the legendary assassin was already standing behind her with a strangely thin katana with no tsuba under her ownership. An ominous breeze passed by the two soon afterward before Sakinah finally felt it.

A solitary stream of blood raced down her left cheek from a small cut.

"…"

Sakinah's eyes widened as she raised her hand to the wound and felt the blood drip onto her fingertips.

"What is… this?" she contemplated with a hint of confusion.

"You think yourself worthy to replace Akasha… yet you don't even know what that is?" Kimiko shot back without hesitation. Sakinah turned to face her back, but Kimiko didn't bother to do as much as look over her shoulder.

"That is your own mortality, Sakinah Vashti—your blood. Get well acquainted with it…" she further added.

"You dare treat me as a joke, Akasha?!" Sakinah roared with anger whilst swinging Vajra down upon the smaller female with more impetus than all of the attacks she used against Reina Arashi put together.

"Kimiko!" Raizo shouted from the sidelines with worry in his eyes.

Kimiko, however, just seemed to slowly make a singular, 180-degree turn on the time span it took Sakinah's blade to complete half of its intended trajectory.

"The name is Kimiko Hanate… and you better remember that!"

For the first time in a lifetime, Kimiko's words thundered with emotion before she stopped Sakinah's blade between her index and middle finger. Crimson rose petals had begun to ever so gently dance around the confrontation as if pushed by a supernatural breeze.

"You won't beat me. I have waited too long to fail here!" Sakinah shouted with genuine distress.

"Beat you? No, Sakinah… I'm here to kill you."

Almost in tandem with Kimiko's words, Vajra cracked apart. Its divine blade completely and utterly shattered into millions of pieces by the pressure between Kimiko's two fingers.

"Fly my blades of judgment… Art of Wind: Gale of Descending Demise: Vega!" Kimiko uttered with uncharacteristic fervor.

"What are you—..."

And then it hit her. First the left ankle. Then the right inner thigh. And alas an immediate and precise x-shaped slash to the center of her chest.

"GYAHH-RAH!" Sakinah howled in pain. In but a moment's notice her clothing was tattered and her blood gushed profusely from the wounds inflicted upon her flesh.

"That makes six…" Kimiko muttered as she turned to face the Goddess of Harmony who now stumbled back in pain.

Sakinah grunted, her wounds refusing to heal.

"What the hell are you talking about?!" she spat out in anger.

"You struck Raizo thirteen times… and so I give you the same kindness onto you!!"

Again it occurred. The wind of that realm raced against Sakinah with killing intent beyond her control. Like knives, the invisible blades cut through her flesh another six times at various spots across her chest and legs. Splashes of blood oozed from the invincible hybrid yet still she stood.

"True… Karma…" she muttered with a grin before dropping on one knee. All she had to do now was reverse this pain onto the vessel of Akasha several thousand folds — or so she thought.

Casually and without pause, Kimiko swung her odd blade through the air in a swift horizontal motion. Following this, the space in front of where she struck seemed to shift into something akin to a broken mirror before returning to its normal appearance.

"You… how?"

Kimiko sighed, somewhat dissatisfied, "Truth be told, Saki-tan, your Absolution and Rewrite tricks would be tough to deal with if I was the first one fighting it or was caught by surprise. But you're a writer, not a warrior. After observing what you did to our initial forces all I had to do was train my eyes to see how your skill, or more accurately sole skill work."

Kimiko pointed her blade at the kneeling goddess.

"Though incredibly versatile and unaware of limits, all you're really doing is forcing your will to overwrite reality with your imaginative mind to give rise to a new reality. Regardless of all the possible effects…it's just one ability. To stop it entirely… I just need to see it with my Eye of God and kill its concept before it takes effect."

Sakinah clutched her bleeding chest and breathed heavily. This appeared to be the limit for her as she was now.

"It seems a one-trick pony cannot beat a genius…" she muttered. It all made sense in a way. After all, Reina would not have fought her alone if she did not have an ace in the hole. For the first time in her lifetimes, Sakinah felt her heart throbbing with fear over the figure looming over her with those shining red eyes.

"But I refuse…"

The image of her mother—ravaged and lifeless—flashed through her mind. The thought of yet another cycle of death coming to an end, and ultimately her having to live that same fate again, it all overwhelmed her.

From the depths of her soul, the daughter of Relepagus roared with thunderous rage:

"Six paths manifest unto me… Progenitor of the Storm!"

Sakinah's power surged through the surroundings blowing Kimiko back a couple of feet. The deity once defeated now rose to her own two feet with an aura of golden lightning, hellfire, water, wind, chunks of earth, and dark matter merged together into a show of true power. Like Raizo's forms, tears formed under her eyes except hers turned into a pure, almost colorless white that reflected the various shifting colors in her aura.

The young man on the sidelines gasped. Unlike him, her strength gains seemed to curb the Soul of the Storm state and reach into a higher form that transcended it to the point where his mind could not fathom an end to her power.

"Onee-sama…"

The boy was worried and likewise, Kimiko seemed to be on edge as she did not turn her gaze away from Sakinah.

"It's time for the thirteenth strike… are you ready, Vashti?" she noted with a serious tone. Instead of responding, the goddess called forth her book: The Golden Ark. This time around it dripped chains of black lightning of the same kind that ruined Reina.

"Combination Arts: Cosmic Foundry – Obsidian + Kieru-sen Ascalon + Rain of Unyielding Eternity!"

Millions upon millions of copies of the Omniverse that was Sakinah's version of Cosmic Foundry were opened up simultaneously like she had hit the copy and paste commands way too much. Each of these Omniverses merged their infinity of blades into endless black lightning projectiles that would all rain unyieldingly upon Kimiko—each with the strength of a Kieru-sen enhanced beyond conceivable measure. If one was to compare it to anything, it would be Gilgamesh's Gate of Babylon except disgustingly strengthened to absolute overkill status.

"Looks like I struck a nerve…" Kimiko mused with a slight hint of sarcasm.

"Begone Akasha!" Sakinah's shout echoed before the endless projectiles were flung Kimiko's way.

Taking a deep breath, Kimiko lowered her posture into a braced position, leaning forward with her right arm and leg as if exaggerating a heater-shield guard stance, and shouted out:

"Art of Earth: Immutable Core!" all the while snapping her left hand behind her. A dark beige aura then sparked along her body with the motion.

Sakinah's onslaught fell from the heavens like an overwhelming storm.

What followed was a series of earthquakes as the land was taken by large explosions of black electricity. The gusts turned to hurricanes, the water in the clouds evaporated, and the battleground shattered—or rather disintegrated—into a wide crater.

At the core of it all was Kimiko Hanate. The beige outline surrounding her body acted like a force field that grew in radiance with each of the many explosions she withstood every instant until it alas outclassed the brilliance of a star.

When it all came to an end, Kimiko simply walked out of the deep crater with that intense glimmer around her.

"Tch… Rewrite – Fate of Origin!" Sakinah answered quickly, purely on instinct, but Kimiko was having none of it.

"Eye of Fiction!" the fearsome assassin articulated as her eyes shined with a deeper shade of crimson. Immediately reality around the two females cracked apart like glass once more only to then restore itself.

"I saw you use that against Hikari… did you really think that ridiculous trick would work twice?" Kimiko spoke whilst the beige energy around her began to pulsate like it was mere seconds away from an eruption.

With her sights dead set on Sakinah, the legendary assassin tossed her blade over to her left hand and pulled back her right fist.

"This one is for Raizo… Immutable Core: Complete Release!"

Kimiko's fist collided against Sakinah's nose before the hybrid goddess could even react; the mysterious beige power that surrounded Kimiko now unleashed into her fist and finally outward onto the intended target. The punch alone caused blood to splatter, but the energy unleashed did further damage as it flowed into Sakinah. A beam of dark light then disintegrated the right side of her face and proceeded to blow out the back of her head. What remained was disfigured husk of her former self.

"And this is for Altera!" Kimiko thrust her blade through Sakinah's gut causing what remained of the goddess to cough blood.

"This is for Lucy."

Another sudden strike came. This time one of the rose petals that had been encircling the ongoing fight stopped in place and shot out a strange blood-red ribbon that promptly and effectively enraptured Sakinah's waist. Another petal did the same this time capturing her legs. Alas, another came, and then another. In the end, the goddess was suspended mid-air while entangled in a web of red ribbons.

"Wha– what is this?!"

"Acid Demise…" Kimiko uttered without mercy. Myriads of razor-sharp small blades sprung from both sides of the ribbons. These blades cut open Sakinah's durable flesh like butter whilst coating her wounds in an acid that appeared to make the pain far worse.

"And this one is for (...)"

Sakinah's mind went blank before she could listen to the end of Kimiko's statements. All she could feel was the pain, the grueling pain of being sliced open repeatedly, beaten, and stomped by a person whose powers utterly countered her own. By the time she was able to regain consciousness the best she could do was heal her face as she struggled to get up off of the shattered ground.

The world around her burned, she had never felt such pain.

"It is just like that day…" she murmured under her bloody breath.

"I...read it...every single...page. You had...such a wonderful time...didn't...you? My Sakinah...my beautiful...little girl… Look at how much...you have grown. No...matter how much hardship...I had in...my life...you...are my greatest hope. I love you...so much..."

"Mother…"

Tears streamed down her cheeks. She could feel Kimiko's oppressive presence in the distance. Death was all but unavoidable if the Primordial Goddess were to remain still.

"To defeat a monster… I must become one it seems. I am sorry mother."

Emitting power once more, Sakinah allowed her aura to expand outward and shield her before reaching outward with her hand.

"Come to me… Rewrite—Fate of Origin: Pandora's Box!" she uttered. The realm shook violently as a singular portal opened up in front of Sakinah's hand. From the void within, a familiar item was unveiled. The power of all of the world's evils that were locked away once in forgotten times now broke free from the confines of established history. Instead, the large ornamented box slid open for none other than Sakinah herself.

"With the current state of history and the lack of a Counter Force… forcibly invoking this was child's play."

That was her last thought before being enveloped by the darkness. In that second, her pained voice echoed:

"RAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

The weight of all sins—it was overwhelming yet somehow irresistible. Unlike Rias Makiri, Sakinah was already an adult so her body did not undergo a great deal of change. However, her violet-purple aura dimmed and evolved to be denser as black lightning began to swirl close to her body. Further, all of the damage she endured disappeared; her body progressed to a state of being where such attacks could no longer be said to affect her.

"Look at what you made me do to myself, Akasha. You always guide those below you down a path of suffering," Sakinah's voice boomed with power as even her very words caused the World to shake and break like glass revealing the void of Ginnungagap beyond Arayashiki's realm.

Upon coming into view, Kimiko got a good glimpse of Sakinah's newfound strength and immediately seemed to be more thoughtful. The power of Pandora was beyond what she could handle back when Rias used it, but her training in Reina's Resolute Arts had proven enough to increase her powers to a degree so far above who she was before that even a true prodigy like Sakinah had trouble keeping up with her without giving into a darker source of power.

From the sidelines, Raizo did his best to move everyone that was defeated as far away from the fight as possible.

"Kimi… so this is the extent of your talent," he thought. Though he did not have a full grasp of it he could understand the basic idea of a few of her new skills. Those were:

1. Immutable Core (Art of Earth) – Firm and truly unrelenting, Kimiko's body, mind, and soul are unmoving fortresses that are simply unable to be affected by external attacks. From conceptual to the philosophical, it's all futile as long as Kimiko is to remain in a guarding stance. This technique is most useful employing quick but insurmountably deadly counters after absorbing the damage dealt by opponents.

2. Gale of Descending Demise: Vega (Art of Wind) – A secondary fighting style where the existing airflow is freely manipulated and used to create a breeze so thin and highly condensed that the wind itself becomes a series of infinite blades. Coupled with the Eye of God, these invisible air blades can be used to end a fight instantly.

3. Kiriichimonji — an ancient blade restored and passed down to Kimiko by Akame. This bizarre weapon can inflict wounds that can never be healed. It seems that due to Kimiko's sheer skill the weapon can now cut through even a being such as Sakinah.

Lastly...

4. Akai Ribbon—Now taking the form of a field of rose petals, the legendary Teigu could manifest from any of those and completely bind a foe in a bath of acid and sharp blades. Not to mention its other potential methods of use.

"But what now?" was the only honest question he could mutter as he saw those two incredible prodigies ready to reignite their ultimate battle.

"Sakinah… you act like you're a victim, but why does your suffering serve as validation for killing people who merely disagree with you?" Kimiko inquired harshly.

"And who are you to determine we must live and die, suffer in a world that will never be perfect, much less peaceful?" she shot back.

"Don't you get it? A lesson without pain is meaningless. That's because no one can gain without sacrificing something. But by enduring that pain and overcoming it, we can obtain a powerful, unmatched heart… a heart made fullmetal."

"It is all pointless in the end… those who walk with Akasha fall to Azoth," Sakinah retorted. She looked almost sad doing so.

"I'll stop Azoth, no matter how long it takes. I will also guide this World to redemption; but I'll never give up on life and force others to follow me. To do so would make me no better than a Devil."

"You have already failed six times…"

"And I'll keep fighting, failing, and getting back up on my feet for as long as it takes," Kimiko surmised with a confident glare.

Sakinah clenched her fists and sighed in frustration before alas summoning her Golden Ark with a mere wave of her hand.

"Then I suppose we simply cannot be allies. History shall know you as a failed goddess who died trying to chain her people to a doomed fate," she spoke with an ever so subtle hint of mockery.

Kimi chuckled.

"Yeah right, who the hell do you think I am? There's no way I'm dying before you do, you morally bankrupt bitch with a God complex!" she called out before the two darted at each other like missiles. Somewhere on the sidelines, Raizo could only really put on a smile after hearing the one he loved quoting him like that.

"You can do it, Onee-sama…" his prayer echoed into the world and into Kimiko's mind furthering her courage as her blade collided against the hardcover of Sakinah's grimoire.

"From the depths of the violent soul, your weakness is made tangible… Absolution – Banish!" Sakinah uttered during their clash. Immediately Kiriichimonji was enveloped by a purple miasma only to then be deleted from existence giving the hybrid goddess free rein to close her book and smash its cover against Kimiko's face.

"Art of Earth..."

But it was too late. Sakinah swung her book like a weapon from right to left then back the other way. Blood oozed and splattered out of the assassin's mouth and nose after each strike. Now enhanced by the power of Pandora's Box, the Progenitor of the Storm seemed to be able to actually harm Kimiko. At least as long as she could catch her out of the Immutable Core stance.

"Useless! Useless! Useless! Useless! Useless!" she asserted whilst enjoying every second of the beatdown with a grinning face. Sakinah had guessed that while targeting Kimiko herself was pointless, targeting her weapons would be a different story as long as she did it with her opponent off guard. She did not know if her plan would have worked, but it did and now she was collecting the prize for her efforts.

"Now disappear from this World! O Arkadia, Seed the Stars—Memento Mori!"

Kimiko's vision blurred as she felt Sakinah's hand pierce her chest and come out of her back holding her heart.

"Your strength is the resilience of affection. Thus I decree… Thou shalt not Love, Thou shalt not See, Thou shalt not Sense, Thou shalt not Live…" Sakinah coldly remarked before crushing Kimiko's heart and pulling her hand out of her chest leaving a hole in it.

Kimiko felt nothing. She couldn't anymore. Sight, hearing, the sense of smell, taste, and even the sense of touch. The assassin was a lifeless, hollow shell.

"Heh… you did not fall even in death," Sakinah remarked taking notice of the fact Kimiko was still standing. In the distance, she could also see a mad Stormbringer making his final attempt at an attack. Clad in the Soul of the Storm state, Raizo oozed with crimson and golden lightning. He had his Nirvana Eclipse Blade in hand.

"SAAAAAAKIIINAHHH!" he unleashed an earth-shaking roar. Sakinah in response prepared to quite casually snap her fingers and end his life—in this world at least.

That's when something impossible happened.

"...you?"

Holding onto her wrist, the empty shell of Kimiko Hanate seemingly moved despite having been deprived of her five senses, her emotions, and her life. Both Sakinah and Raizo were shocked by this to the point of stopping dead on their tracks.

"What… what the hell are you?" Sakinah inquired in frustration only to then break her arm free from Kimiko's grip and attempt to smack her down with the Golden Ark.

The grimoire was swung in a downwards motion, but to Sakinah's surprise the dead woman seemed to sidestep her move and proceed to perform an open palm strike to her heart. Sakinah was promptly sent barreling backward like a ragdoll before falling back first onto the ground.

"Art of the Void: Herrscher of the Abyss…" The emotionless, disembodied of a Kimiko Hanate lost in darkness echoed for all to listen. But something was off…

A sense of dread befell upon all present as the skies of the realm dimmed. A dark miasma seemed to swirl around Kimiko. Her body healed and her skin grew pale as dark veins seemed to flow under it. A set of four long, pitch-black angelic wings sprung from her back, two on each side. Moreover, the blind white eyes that existed because of Sakinah's abilities shifted to a dark, gray tone with black pupils.

Alas, her body rose a few inches off of the ground and just floated there. Kimiko's eyes then became dead set on the one who had hurt her. From her mouth a string of broken words echoed:

"I, who slumber in the darkness, am the bringer of the end,

He who has stolen the principles of sovereignty from God.

I perpetually despise the "infinite" and grieve for her dream.

I shall become the End and sink you to the depths of the abyss."

The atmosphere around the female grew more and more horrific as the thick dark miasma and smoke began to rot and rapidly age the rocky ground.

"Kimi…?" Raizo muttered only to disappear into a vortex of black particles right thereafter. Likewise, the world around Kimiko begun to further decay at an unprecedented speed. The castle in the distance, the sky, the earth, the defeated fighters around the battlefield and all that was, is, or will ever be cried in agony as demise was forced upon them.

"Child who brought me here… return to your maker and forever drown in the infinite black seas of nonexistence."

Sakinah did not have time to say a word before her body turned to nothingness along with the whole world.

"...?!"

Sakinah's eyes shot open.

"Yeah right, who the hell do you think I am? There's no way I'm dying before you do, you morally bankrupt bitch with a God complex!"

The scene unfolding before her was now the one she saw a few moments ago.

"I see…" the situation finally clicked within Sakinah's head.

"That was you warning me wasn't it, Golden Ark? If I deprive this girl of love, life, and her senses… the void left will leave an open door for Azoth to awake far earlier using her as a vessel."

Sakinah looked down at her grimoire with fondness.

"Even now you protect me… thank you," she muttered. However, that moment of contemplation was interrupted when Kimiko cut clean across Sakinah's right hand which held the book itself.

"Guh!" the goddess gasped in pain only to witness her hand flop onto the surface of the ground.

"Sorry, you looked so distracted that I just had to take the chance!" Kimiko remarked before swiftly grabbing a hold of the Golden Ark and jumping back a few feet.

Sakinah gritted her teeth.

"Very well then… all I have to do is make sure to annihilate you to the point where nothing remains," she declared. Immediately the Golden Ark flew out of Kimi's grip and back to Sakinah's hand. Thereupon Sakinah substituted her absent limb by means of an artificial hand composed of the same purple cosmic energy used to form her aura.

"Heaven's Divine Will…" Sakinah began to utter as the power surrounding her started to exponentially grow and whirl wildly. If not clear before, it was now apparent that she was planning on ending this.

"Going all out huh? Very well then… Art of Fire: Everlasting Sol."

The strength these two acquired was unreal.

If the Art of Earth represents Kimiko's resilient nature and the Art of Wind her prowess for the act of swiftly taking lives then the Art of Fire symbolized a rarely shown yet ever-present burning determination. Cloaked in the almighty brilliance of Akasha's blue flames, Kimiko's entire body acted as an all-consuming inferno, a blaze that could very effortlessly wash away concepts with its sheer presence.

Similarly, Sakinah wasn't far behind. Her energy continued to become denser and denser whilst at the same time rising to heights far beyond what she had shown previously. Whatever she was planning to unleash, the effects would be insurmountable.

But alas, it was not meant to be.

"Sakinah, it is time to act. Return to me and we will finish this once and for all…" the elegant voice of Arayashiki came over Legion. Though reluctant about it, Sakinah eventually elected to lower her power and return to her base state.

"I will admit it… you are strong, Kimiko Hanate. I acknowledge you as much more than a simple vessel of Akasha. Take pride in your victory today, heal your wounds, and get stronger… for next time, I will give you everything I've got."

With those daring words issued to her most powerful adversary, Sakinah vanished in a bright flash of purple light.

"...what the goodness…" Kimiko took a deep breath and then exhaled. As the blue flames that cloaked her physique died down, the blade of Kiriichimonji shattered apart leaving only the hilt behind. Though it endured a lot of action over the centuries, daring to cut open Sakinah drained the last life out of it.

"You did good, old friend," she muttered before letting go of the weapon and dropping it onto the scorched ground.

"Onee-sama!" Raizo came running over with renewed hope. His young, innocent smile inadvertently caused her to smile, but by the time he was within arms reach, she was hit by a deep sense of fatigue causing her to plummet into his arms.

"Are you okay?!" he cried out full of worry whilst holding tightly onto her.

Kimiko shook her head in order to clear her mind and then proceeded to regain her balance.

"I'm fine. I just had to use a lot of what I had in the tank to hurt Sakinah," she clarified.

"Thank g—"

Before the boy could finish, Kimiko stole away a kiss to the lips causing Raizo to tremble with joy for a moment. No matter how many times he'd feel her lips, his heart, and all that he is would fall for her all over again.

"There we go, all better now," she giggled confidently which made the young man blush.

"So… what now?" he inquired innocently as Kimiko looked over to her fallen comrades scattered across the broken mess of a wasteland that remained of the battlefield. Amidst the fallen, a particular redhead slowly got up and made her way to Raizo and Kimi.

"We stand together."

*****

"And so here we are standing on the precipice of what is to come, one last battle to determine the fate of all we've ever known. Even in the face of utter annihilation, you still elect to put up one last fight. I expect nothing less from you all. But alas, never would I have expected to have a pawn dare to betray me," echoed the voice of Arayashiki, apathetically twirling wine inside of a glass whilst staring at the frozen crystal of Esdeath's body hanging above her.

"Did you truly fear your life being taken at his hand more than the repercussions of turning on me? How foolish, yet amusing all at the same time. Killing you would be far too easy at this point in time. After all, I know you still have a sense of consciousness inside of that ice prison. I want you to bear witness to what is about to come to your savior. I want you to see just how weak the man you bowed to really is before he dies. Then I will ensure you suffer for your deeds, and after the new world is born...only then will you be permitted to die to serve as an example of all those who dare betray me."

"Arayashiki-sama," the disembodied voice of a woman echoed out in the hollow space before a cloud of lavender mist gathered in one spot. A split second later, a female with long purple hair materialized.

"Please allow me to deal with her. I can torture her extensively for her crimes against you. Besides, my old self desires such an opportunity for the deeds she committed in the Shatterpoint timeline."

"Ah yes, Famine...the only loyal horseman I have left at my side. Very well, in recognition of your faithful service, I shall bestow custody of the traitor to you. But I caution that you do not finish her off...for that task is mine alone."

"Yes ma'am, of course. I'll be sure to make her experience agony the likes of which she never felt before. Just as she inches towards the brink of death, I will resuscitate her and make her experience the nightmare over and over again."

"That brings music to my ears...then I shall leave you to it."

"At once."

The woman otherwise referred to as BB then cast a spell over the mysterious monolith before fading away as fast as she came. Just as Famine departed, the doors to the throne room were busted open. Arayashiki's crimson gaze was cast downwind towards the entrance as she saw two silhouettes step through the threshold and into her personal domain.

"Finally, the main characters of the play have come to take the center stage for the prelude to the final act. Welcome to my humble abode, I have been expecting you," Arayashiki spoke eloquently before taking a lengthy sip of her beverage before sitting it down upon a small table beside her throne.

"Look who decided to step up her game and land herself a big ol' house. So I guess you think you're fancy now with all the mannerisms and extravagant shit, right?" Akaro uttered whilst advancing further inside the room.

"That abrasive tone of yours never ceases to amaze me...my love," she said whilst placing a hint of disgust on that term of false endearment.

"You knew this was coming eventually. Isn't it time you removed yourself from your high horse and come to grips with the reality you face?" Akame tagged in whilst matching the walking pace with her husband.

"Ah yes, the other me...to say I have been waiting for this moment is an understatement of the end of days. So this is the version he chose...you of all incarnations. How mundane," criticized the harsh goddess.

"Mundane? Are you sure that wine hasn't dulled your common sense? Or do you genuinely fail at seeing MY husband's superior taste?"

"Taste? If hypocrisy is a flavor then I'm sure he chose quite well. I mean...honestly, it astounds me how he chose to stand by you of all people. The Angel of Death...she who has the capacity to judge all life and determine the fate of all souls, yet you chose to diminish your worth by becoming a slave to your so-called bond with this man. Tell me, you recall your words to the Son of Mercer right? How a "heavy heart weighs a steady blade?" Then does it not stand to question that the weight of love holds down your own?"

The couple stopped in their tracks just over 15 paces away from Arayashiki's throne. Akame's eyebrow was raised as she listened to the words of her corrupted counterpart.

"Color me intrigued...how do you mean?"

"Do you not possess a role similar to your predecessor? You judge the lives that affect the flow of balance in the Omniverse for Akasha's sake correct? Yet you chose to let the very man responsible for my birth to live. What if I put it this way? If Raizo Mercer was executed by your hand the moment Shatterpoint happened, then all this would never have happened...how would you respond? Think about it...really take the time to think. You are a being who reached a point where your powers allow your existence to transcend time and space itself; surely you thought that Raizo's actions rendered his life forfeit.

Because of him, Hikari Hanate was birthed...and we both know what she did back on his Earth even though she stands among you now to fight against me. Let's not also forget about the Second Primordial War either. And in a way, his continued existence brought about the Demon Gods' wrath, and Sakinah's Resurrection, plus all my actions thus far. All of these events happened because you allowed him to exist."

"I see..." Akame looked down with what appeared to be reminiscent of shame as Arayashiki's words settled into her mind. Akaro, meanwhile, just held his tongue.

"Maybe you have a point..."

The fabled assassin of legend looked at her hand before clenching it into a fist then raising her head once again.

"As if I would see your way of thinking. All you are doing is trying to deflect your actions and run away from the path you chose to lead. Raizo's actions may have been poor in judgment, but nevertheless...it was ultimately his decision and he had to live with the consequences of his actions. We all knew what he was going to do after the Pandora Conflict, he knew that we knew; but ultimately there was no way for us to deter him from it. Therefore, he had to suffer through the error of his ways first hand. And that suffering weighed him down and tormented him incessantly. Even now, I am sure that there is a part of him that still holds regret over his deeds. Yet he needed to learn from his mistake and so he did. Just because I am the Angel of Death does not make me judge, jury and executioner. Everyone makes mistakes, it is up to the individual whether or not they wish to atone. For that is the courtesy given to us all with Free Will."

"Is that so? Even when that freedom creates suffering for so many others? To people who don't even deserve it? Is it really okay to justify one person's learning experience when it cost others a chance to live life of their own making, to experience just a taste of happiness even when basked in constant darkness? Is it truly permissible to dismiss one man's sins when it cost others the opportunity just to know what it means to experience life's grace such as love?!"

"All you are doing is just trying to justify the weight of your actions by trying to hold another accountable for your decisions. Whereas Raizo accepted fate's rejection of his clan's existence...you cannot come to grips with your own. At the end of the day, Arayashiki…all of this that you pursued is nothing more than a temper tantrum you created because you could not handle being rejected by the man you desired to be with. We may share the same face...but our hearts could never be any more different. I fight for something that means everything to me...you fight for nothing."

"I fight...for nothing...is that so?" Arayashiki stammered whilst rising up from her throne and descending the steps towards them. The density of her aura began to shake the room which would then cause the foundation of her castle to quake under her weight.

"My entire struggle...is to rid the world of pain. So that no one may suffer the level of heartbreak that I feel. I shall give everyone a chance to attain their personal happiness for eternity...a life free of conflict and hate. A life free from the bonds that chain the people in endless chaos decided upon by a cursed cycle given to us by a being with no love in her heart whatsoever. All that is needed for that to come true is for this world to die first. I gave Akaro a chance to see things my way...to see the ideal I wish to bring forth and he rejected it. Now a woman who shares the same face as me wishes to stomp on it further? Come then, show me the lengths of your convictions...and know that all that you seek to preserve is nothing but a fabricated sense of duty born from the act of self-righteousness!"

The forbidden existence that desired to rewrite the Root rose from her throne and took a singular step forward before blinking through space thus instantly closing the distance between herself and the couple before her. Now standing just over six feet away from them, the female's clothing changed from her royal attire into a dark purple version of the classic uniform that Akame wore as a young assassin with a black trench coat over top. Lifting one hand up to the side, she summoned her weapon.

In a haze of dark miasma, a lone glowing tool manifested. It took the form of a royal purple, cylindrical object that was like a laser device used in a futuristic style movie, then it began to have black vines wrap around it with bright, steel-like thorns protruding outward giving it the shape of a cursed weapon.

"The power of the Root given life in my hand, for this is my Metanoia Murasame..." Arayashiki casually boasted.

Feeling the aura oozing from the foreboding blade, Akame and Akaro tensed up ever so slightly.

"Akaro...this is unlike my own Murasame," Akame spoke cautiously.

"Yeah I can tell...we're gonna have to be careful with this one," Akaro responded in kind. The married couple drew their swords and prepared for battle.

"Relax, I won't kill you just yet," Arayashiki uttered.

Regardless if she was telling the truth or not, the Crimson Envoy and the Angel of Death did not ease from their tense state. Metanoia Murasame was a blade that Arayashiki forged in secret prior to resurrecting Sakinah. The woman felt that if Legion ever turned on her after her rebirth, this device would serve as the perfect contingency plan. The sword was one of conceptual origin that imposed a limited lifespan onto immortal beings through the power of the Root. It could disintegrate the energy-rich base component of all heavenly bodies known as Grain and artificial magical energy—Ether—making it highly effective against Ultimate Ones, Primordials, and any such beings that exist beyond humanity. This was the essence of being the one shot killer to an unfathomable degree.

Arayashiki held the corrosive looking blade in her hand as her aura's density consumed the entire room. Then with a deep breath, the intensity of the atmosphere calmed before the space around them darkened and the trio of warriors were thrust into an empty, white space isolated from reality.

"Let us settle this the old-fashioned way. No special powers or gimmicks, just the skill of being a swordsman," the woman surmised before taking a battle-ready stance with her blade.

"Come..."

"Heh...not sure if I should feel relieved or be surprised, nevertheless...let's do this babe...we're gonna win this for everyone's sake," Akaro cracked a small grin.

"Indeed, we're all going home together after this," Akame nodded.

With a snap of the fingers, the confrontation between the trio began.

They kicked off of the ground towards each other at the same time. In a flash, the blank space was consumed by the explosive noise of three blades colliding together simultaneously in one vicious deadlock. Arayashiki held her blade with one hand as she stood firmly on the ground whilst Akaro pushed forward with Svarog and Akame with Murasame in an attempt to break through. As the blades screeched against one another causing sparks to fly about in every direction, eventually the deadlock broke as the combatants began to use their superior speed to attack one another.

The visible trails of slashing motions occupied the air as the whirlwind of attacks shredded through the air at unbelievable speeds. To keep an accurate count for the myriad of actions being exchanged between the trio was as impossible as trying to bare witness to the confrontation at hand. Regardless of the high velocity movement taking place, Akaro and Akame were in perfect sync with one another in terms of timing and strikes. They shared a rhythm that appeared almost like a perfect waltz in a ballroom never once needing to pass words between each other of intent.

If Akame rushed in for a combo of rapid fire slashes from the left, Akaro would follow up with a series of powerful, heavy sword swings from the right. When Akame sought to alternate her motions to rapier-like thrust attacks from below, Akaro would follow through with over head swings with his blade. The alternation of swift precision and deadly force was captivating and mesmerizing, yet their opponent did not waver either.

Arayashiki was holding her ground ferociously. She parried against her other self's attacks with ease whilst blocking the strikes from her "lover." The corrupt deity matched the Angel of Death's swiftness not only due to her skill, but also because of the Bleeding Effect that almost seemingly allowed her to know every action her opponent would take. As a result, she matched pacing with Akame effortlessly.

Using her vast combat insight, she knew that she would have to match the force of her defensive prowess against the might of the Red-Eyed Hero's moves. One simple misstep would cause an opening that could disrupt her rhythm. She knew what she had to do and had more than enough capability to do so; yet there was one thing that was biting at her.

"Look at them...their techniques are so calculated and precise...they need not speak. They just know. Does their love truly run that deep? Why couldn't I have that? Why did you have to reject me? Can I not hold a candle to this woman? Am I not superior to her in every way? Why do you vex me, Crimson Envoy?! I wanted that bond with you! I would have given anything for you!"

The tumultuous thoughts of the woman caused her to lose focus for the tiniest sliver of a second which led the married couple to capitalize on the opening instantaneously. Akame's flurry of attacks weakened the guard of her sinister counterpart which allowed Akaro the opportunity to cause some real damage to the woman's vessel. As a result, Arayashiki had several cuts all over her clothing. In spite of being distracted, she still managed to evade any serious or fatal injuries.

"I applaud you for taking the initiative just now. I let myself get caught up in unnecessary emotions. Allow me to correct the error in my ways and return the favor for your deeds," she spoke.

Faster than the pair could perceive, the woman rushed both of them simultaneously as she flipped her sword over in hand. In a whirlwind of motion, the female danced behind their guarded stances whilst forcing her way through to create an opening. In that moment, she smashed the back of her blade against their bodies at every conceivable spot she could hit whether it be in the sternum, across the collarbone, or near the ribs. Consequently, the Crimson Envoy and the Angel of Death were dropped to their knees, their blades slapped away from their hands as they were under the mercy of the Black Death.

Arayashiki stabbed the tip of her sword into the ground as she brushed her hands through her long train of hair. With a sly smirk across her features, the girl pressed two fingers to her temple.

"Sakinah, it is time to act. Return to me and we will finish this once and for all…"

*****

"Adena, glad to see you back up on your feet," Kimi nodded approvingly upon noticing the redhead's strength returned to her.

"Yeah, I'm not the only one either," the girl replied. Behind her approached three more individuals noticeably shutdown by Sakinah's earlier onslaught.

"That bitch punched a hole through my chest...what the hell?" Vesta sighed before placing a hand over the gap in her armor where she was injured.

"Oi, Benihime took care of ya so just walk it off. I got tossed like a rag doll too," said the sassy princess, Inari Akane.

"Hmph, I let myself get distracted. That is a mistake I intend to rectify. I have to admit, that was an impressive display you put on for us...sister," Hikari analyzed with a casual drop of that last word.

"Just because we share the same family name and birthplace origin does not make us siblings. I would prefer you not make that assumption again," Kimiko shot back.

"Oh come now, the thunder twins over there are in a similar position as us and get along just fine. Embrace the camaraderie for now," chuckled the Devil Queen. The One-Cut Killer merely relinquished her signature deadpan expression in response.

"I'm just glad you all are okay...my beating was nothing compared to what you all received," Raizo spoke plainly.

"She was kinda merciful to ya...oi...don't tell me you're expanding the harem to some psycho bitch with a severe God Complex..." Adena squinted suspiciously.

"EH?! What the hell kind of nonsense is that?" the boy blushed.

"Just kidding babe, figured I'd cut that tension on your face down to size."

"Right...thanks. But anyways, if you all are up and moving around then...maybe the others are okay..." the boy turned over his shoulder towards the remaining allies. In the short distance, he could see some people moving around albeit minimal.

The signs of activity were a great indicator for the group of heroes. As they rushed over, they noticed that some of their allies were in the midst of recovery while others were more docile.

"Her authority must have worn off...that's gotta be the only sound explanation," Raizo thought to himself before inadvertently looking over at Kimi for validation. The female merely gave him a curt nod as if reading his mind via his expression.

The Symphogears recovered their voices, but their Phonic Gain was disrupted to a degree that the ability to don their gears was temporarily unavailable. The members of the Mercer household were also freed from their confines as well. Alexis was no longer bound by a prison of blades, time was no longer sealed for Lucy, Jibril was freed from her own compulsion, and the King of Elysium was no longer a giant piece of mystic cardboard. Jeanne and Semiramis recovered some of their strength too. They maintained their composure and managed to help out with attending to some of the others too. Unfortunately, three of the Cardinal Four, including the Guardian of the Abyss, were still down for the count. Yaten-douji, Ashura Gozen, Zion, and Cthulhu were wounded internally to a degree that their respective healing processes was thrown out of whack. Garuda showed signs of regaining consciousness as she twitched slightly, whereas her neighbor—Raikou—was still limp at the moment perhaps due to her mana circuits being damaged by Sakinah's blow.

"The stakes were high...the casualties were even higher. Nevertheless, we still have a fight to win," Mercer said whilst patting his worried son on the back.

"Yeah...I know we can't give up here. But...to see her power and experience it firsthand...I'm...I'm scared Dad," Raizo reluctantly admitted.

"Fear can be a powerful motivator, son. It just depends on how you choose to let it impact you. You can either face it or run from it."

"Heh...what kind of choice is that Dad? There's no way I can run...not after all the things I've been through and all the people I've met and bonded with too."

"Precisely. So you know exactly what you have to do."

"Oh he does, he's mah kid after all," Lucy smiled whilst coming up behind the boy to jump up and ruffle his hair a bit.

"Of course Mom, I won't let you down either."

"I know ya won't...ya got the dank ass Mercer genes in ya!"

"Right," Raizo grinned before looking around at his allies that were still trying to recover. He knew that Sakinah could easily get the jump on them at any given point. Nevertheless, he did not want to risk an invasion of the castle with a group at half strength. If anything, Legion was deadlier now more than ever especially if she linked up with Arayashiki. There was too many factors to consider and the stakes kept escalating. As a result, he had to make a surprisingly call.

"Dad...I don't mean this in an insulting way to you or any of our family and friends here. But can you take everyone here to Elysium? Leave Sakinah and Arayashiki to Team AKARA...this is our fight to finish...and my personal war to win."

Mercer took a second to look his son in the eyes sensing the determination within them. He felt the passion within his words and knew that the boy did not say them easily.

"You really are like me in more ways than I previously thought," the renowned hero echoed within his mind. Yet as he processed that statement, he could perceive something deeper that was hidden within the youth's resolve.

"You feel responsible for everything that's happened thus far, don't you?" Mercer inquired cutting through his son's conviction.

The boy in question merely clenched his fists and bit his bottom lip and gave a sideways glance showcasing the correctness of his father's assumption. Lucy stood nearby before tipping her hat downward recognizing that exact display of emotions recalling her husband's attitude about things in the past.

"Of course I do...how could I not? I changed history which led to the birth of a complete psychopath hellbent on destroying the Root. Then I let myself get sent far away from my home world which led to getting tricked into gathering fragments of a stone that eventually led to the death of human history. And let's not forget that said fragments gave birth to greatest threat known to all of existence who is working with the aforementioned psychopath and wants to rewrite the natural order of things. One critical lapse in judgment after another on my part led to all of this. I have to take responsibility by being the one who ends this once and for all."

"Admitting your faults and taking responsibility for your actions are both essential traits into building character; however, you have to also realize that you cannot shoulder everything on your own. None of what all has transpired in this war can be placed as blame upon you. This was something that was going to happen with or without your actions. It was only a matter of time. One thing you have to realize about the world you've stepped into Son is this: these gods have long maintained their grasp on their ambitions for eons. Reina-san couldn't stop them all, neither could I. Eventually, some generation was going to have to deal with the remnants of the Age of Gods. Unfortunately, that is yours. Yet you cannot claim that this was all on you.

Regardless of the current state of affairs...look at what you managed to achieve. You managed to save 6 distinct worlds from the influence of the Arcana Crystal. In addition, you forged bonds with warriors and heroes of all kinds that can never be broken. You've saved countless lives across your journey and brought meaning back to others. Plus, you even liberated one of the greatest, legendary heroes recorded in the history of humanity and divinity from an eternal imprisonment. Regardless of where we are right now, the people you brought together for this battle and the trust that you share can never be broken."

"But...what about those that were lost?"

"That is the consequential result of war. People die, but I am sure that they have no regrets in fighting alongside you and the family you've discovered over the years."

"I see..."

"I've been where you are Raizo...I know exactly how you feel. It's frustrating...agonizing...and it will burn you up from the inside out. But, you cannot let yourself succumb to that feeling. Regardless of what was lost, you have to keep fighting...not just to win but for all those who are counting on you so that everyone can come out on the other side stronger than ever."

"Right Dad...I'm sorry."

"There's nothing to apologize for, son. You have a passionate heart that doesn't want to lose anyone else. It's only natural that you would get apprehensive over what comes next."

"Yeah...maybe you're right."

Raizo turned his gaze over to those who were still getting their bearings. The Symphogears noticed his stare and waved at him carrying the strength to carry on in their eyes. Semiramis and Jeanne—who were attending to them—also yielded curt nods of approval as well. Then he saw Addy and Vesta checking on Garuda and Raikou. Next there was the two royalties of Neveir and Mercury, Hikari and Inari, standing with their blades ready for the next fight. His eyes also saw Jibril and Alexis on standby too with soft smiles on their faces as they looked back at him. Lastly, Kimiko stood there off in the short distance helping someone else to their feet as they walked over towards the injured generals of Cocytus.

"Morana…" Raizo thought as he recognized the visage of the long-haired, dark skinned beauty that was steadily walking beside the young goddess. Though she took a beating at Sakinah's hands, she managed to get back up.

"Master...you still struggle to address me by my real name I see...Mou, must I train you over that as well?" the woman responded to his call telepathically.

The male could only relinquish a grin as he turned back to face his parents.

"Now son, do you understand?" Mercer asked him.

"Yeah...then allow me to reword my previous question. Dad, can you take our wounded back to Elysium so they can rest? They can sit back, relax, and watch as Team AKARA kicks some serious Primordial ass."

"Heh, now that sounds a lot better," Mercer nodded approvingly.

"Yeah, too bad that sass totally comes from me," Lucy chuckled.

"Very well then, I can oblige that request."

"Hold up, I'm staying too."

"As am I, I have a stake in this until it is finished."

"And I refuse to stand idly by and let Legion have her way. I may have created the opening, but this battle is far from over."

Inari, Hikari, and Reina came towards the Mercer family along with Vesta, Adena, and Kimiko after making sure everyone else was stable.

"Is everyone okay?" Raizo asked with concern over those that were currently decommissioned.

"Garuda will be, her magic can easily attend to the other generals of Cocytus as well as Raikou-san," Reina responded quaintly.

"The Symphogear girls are in more than enough capable hands too with Jeanne and Semiramis attending them," Kimiko reassured.

"Yeah, so they get to chill in Heaven while we take a ride straight into Hell," Adena smirked whilst pounding her fists together.

"Now let's go give Akaro-niisan and Akame-neesan some back up," Vesta declared.

"Right," nodded the red-eyed male.

"With that, leave everyone to us. We'll be waiting for you in Elysium," Mercer said with a casual smile.

"Oh hey wait...before we depart," spoke Alexis as she ran up to Raizo.

"Here, take this. I did a little tinkering again. It's not completely finished just yet but it should help you in the final fight ahead."

Raizo took the mysterious item and noticed that it was the familiar necklace that was identical to the one Akaro wore. The charm was strapped to a new chain that felt a little heavier than normal which caused him to tilt his head a bit.

"Trust me, it's a work in progress," Alexis shrugged.

The boy put the chain over his head and around his neck before he felt a strong pulse emanate from it.

"So...uh...is it gonna do anything?" he asked.

"Heh, trust me; when the time is right it will."

It was then that the Mercer family gathered up with the injured combatants and huddled together. A calm, blue aura began to wrap around them.

"Kick their asses, Sensei!"

"We look forward to seeing you soon!"

"Fight on!"

"Bring back the win!"

"Go-desu!"

"We'll be waiting for you!"

The various cheers from the Symphogears rang out as the servants waved alongside them. Smiles passed between both sides before they disappeared thus being transmitted to Elysium.

"Well then...looks like it's time to finish this thing," Adena said whilst turning her focus to the castle.

"Indeed, Sakinah Vashti and Arayashiki are waiting inside," Vesta responded.

"Hope Akaro and Akame isn't taking all the fun from us," Inari chuckled.

"Yeah, I wanna inflict some proper punishment on those vicariously annoying bitches," Hikari smirked with a faint evil grin.

"Here Master, take my hand for a second," Reina said.

"Um...okay then."

Doing so, he felt a pulse come from the female and flow into his left. In that moment, the blade of Morana in the Eclipse form took shape to match with Nirvana.

"Are we all set?" Kimiko asked plainly.

Everyone nodded together at once.

"Then let's go and win this for everyone's sake."

Without further delay, the heroes charged together into Stardust Castle.