Where the Goddess Dwells.
Some time has passed since Byleth and Akame had recovered enough from their grief to go back to their normal activities. However, something had just happened. Claude had quickly looked up Byleth, and they were now standing in the Entrance Hall. Safe to say what Claude had to to say was something Byleth had been waiting to hear for a long time now.
"Teach! Tomas… I mean…Solon and his lackeys. Their whereabouts have been discovered. Apparently they're lurking in the Sealed Forest, not too far from the monastery. Rhea has called back all of the knights who were out searching to round them up. Seems like it could take some time for them to make it back here…but she didn't ask for our help" Claude said.
"Why keep it a secret?" Byleth asked.
"Perhaps to prevent you from running headfirst toward revenge? It's only natural that you would leap at the chance for it. Anyone would" Claude answered before Rhea, Seteth and a Knight entered.
"No. I will not allow it" The Arch Bishop said sternly.
"This discovery comes just when the knights are at their busiest. It is all too likely that our foes revealed themselves to lure you out there. They are the ones who took Jeralt from you… I know how you must despise them, but I must ask you to rein in your personal feelings for now" Seteth said.
Byleth glared a little, showing a rare moment of anger "You can't stop me".
"Please, Professor. Do not act carelessly. I ask that you leave this to us. Losing you so soon after losing Jeralt would be unbearable" Rhea pleaded.
"Save your breath, Lady Rhea" Everyone looked and saw Akame walk out of the shadows "I apologize for eavesdropping. And I am sorry for what I am about to say. But if the murderer of our father has been found, we are going to find her. You know you can't stop us. We will fight our way out if we have to. We're going, whether you allow it or not".
"Be reasonable Akame. Jeralt wouldn't have wanted this" Rhea said.
"Maybe, maybe not. I will never know what he wanted now thanks to that witch" Akame said. She didn't care if she was being disrespectful, not even the Goddess herself would keep her from her revenge.
Luckily Claude stepped in before the situation could get any worse "Listen, Rhea. Erm, Lady Rhea. This move is the most strategic. The military strategy I'm devising will soon echo across Fódlan's history. I'm sure of it. Just think about it. Most of the knights are still far away, and we can't afford to have Seteth and friends abandon the monastery. So the only person who can take action now also happens to be our best commander. It's Teach, and wherever Teach leads, we'll follow. And since you've taught us that this sort of thing is always a possibility, we're already prepared for battle. We can buy the knights more time. Not for revenge, but for a defensive attack on behalf of the monastery".
Rhea thinks for a moment before looking at Byleth "Byleth… Do you agree with this strategy?".
Byleth nods "I do".
"And you Akame?" Rhea asked.
"I may want revenge but I am not stupid. I am not just going to charge in unprepared, can't avenge my father id I'm dead. So if Claude's plan works, I will follow it" Akame said.
"Understood. I will give you the order. Destroy the enemy that is hiding in the Sealed Forest… You have the protection of the goddess on your side. Whatever happens, you shall overcome" Rhea said.
"We have our orders, Teach. Now all that's left is to pull out a miracle" Claude declared.
Akame looked at Rhea and Seteth "I would be grateful if one of you told Esdeath and my classmates that I will be leaving with the Golden Deer for this mission".
"I will inform them right away. Be careful out there" Seteth said.
Akame nods "Thank you Seteth. I swear, I will not die before the monsters who did all this".
With everything set, it was time to head out. To finally confront the enemy and make them pay for everything they have done.
Later, the Golden Deer plus Akame, had arrived at The Sealed Forest. The forest had an dark aura around it, like it was ready to kill anything that dared to enter. Regardless, everyone where prepared for battle.
"The Sealed Forest is up ahead. Visibility is awful there, so everyone needs to be extra cautious" Claude said.
"You seem to know a lot about it. It is just a forest, isn't it?" Hilda asked.
"Have you been there too? Oh… Never mind. Listen, just like I told the archbishop, this is not a war of vengeance. It's a riddle, so to speak. Those guys are undoubtedly planning something terrible. We need some kind of clue as to what. The attack on the Holy Mausoleum. That foul business in Remire. The Demonic Beasts at the chapel… It can't go on. We need to figure out their objective and stop them from achieving it. That's our mission" Claude explained.
"So, we have our mission now. We had better not fail" Lorenz said.
"It is a difficult task, but we will succeed" Lysithea declared.
"It is time to repay the kindness of the professor who saved my life!" Flayn said in high spirit.
"An enemy whose objective you don't understand is a frightening prospect" Ignatz said.
"We're gonna destroy 'em! It's our mission!" Raphael declared, no sign of fear.
"I will have my revenge, whatever it takes. On that, I will never budge" Leonie declared, making it clear she was not going to miss the chance to avenge her idol.
"On that, we agree. One way or the other, that girl Monica is going to pay for what she did. With her life" Akame said, earning a nod of agreement from Leonie.
Marianne looked at them "Leonie… Akame... You will both have what you seek".
"Yeah! Many people will be avenged today!" Leone declared while giving the girl who's name was almost the same as her own, a good pat on the back.
"I'll admit, vengeance sounds pretty nice. But don't forget that we're here for information. Luckily, we can easily find what we're looking for while getting revenge for Jeralt. Right, Teach?" Claude asked.
"Yes... get ready everyone. We are not letting any of our enemies get away. Not this time" Byleth declared.
As they got ready to face their enemies Claude noticed something "How kind of them to welcome us with Demonic Beasts. They're not playing around".
"Hello! You're here! Welcome to the forest of death! My name is Kronya. This weakling girl was just a borrowed look for me" The girl everyone thought was Monica said as she reveals her true form, a form that now showed he monster she was hiding "This is what I really look like! Now, you vermin... I'll take down every last one of you!".
The enemies along with their demonic beasts began to move towards them. But Byleth, Akame and the Golden Deer were not going to turn back now. Remembering their training, and prior experience with facing Demonic beasts, everyone charged. Akame held Murasame tightly, she didn't want to waste time on these petty worms. Her target was Kronya, anyone else was just in her way.
She cut through several enemy soldiers, the armored ones were annoying, but all she needed to do was strike at a weak spot in their armor. Akame stopped when one of the Demonic Beasts where storming towards her. She growled, she didn't have time to deal with this thing, Kronya was the one she was after. But this beast didn't seem to have the brain function to get out of her way.
"If this takes too long, I might be forced to escape. Oh, or do you simply intend to let me go? How accommodating of you! As for me, I intend to kill you all" Kronya said as she laughs.
"OUT OF MY WAY!" Akame screamed as she stabbed the Demonic Beast in the eye, making it reel back in pain. The curse of Murasame seemed to have a much slower effect on the dark creature, as it wasn't dead yet.
However, as it was reeling back, it was left wide open for the archers and magic users to hit it with everything they had. The combined assault made the beast fall down. Akame took this chance to continue towards Kronya. But somehow, Leonie had managed to reach the evil girl while Akame was busy with the beast. Leonie glared at Kronya with pure hatred.
"Monica. You'll pay for what you've done" She declared.
Kronya glared at her "I told you! I am not Monica, I am Kronya! Do not call me by that fake name!".
"I don't care what you're called. I don't care if it takes my last breath. I'll kill you" Leonie swore.
"Please! My powers are beyond your comprehension. You're just a filthy worm!" Kronya said as she readied her blades.
Leonie let out a battle cry as she charged at Kronya, ready to impale her with her spear. Kronya simply side stepped the charge, but Leonie was not done as she attacks Kronya with several swings at stabs, but each attack was either dodged to simply knocked aside. Kronya smirked, Leonie's anger left her completely unfocused. She dodged another stab and landed a small cut on Leonie's arm, deep enough to hurt, but not enough to cause any serious damage. Leonie hissed in pain but was still determined to kill Kronya, but the evil woman just continued to dance circles around Leonie, delivering several small cuts, but never going for a kill shot. Finally she landed a kick to Leonie's chest, knocking her down.
"Pathetic. You aren't even worthy to be my toy. If you miss that stupid old dog that much, allow me to send you to him!" Kronya said as she was ready to kill Leonie. However, she was stopped when she was forced to block a strike from Akame "Oh, who do we have here? One of the old man's brats?".
"I will cut of your head for what you did!" Akame said as they entered a blade lock.
"Oh, I like you!" Kronya said before flipping over Akame, landing behind her before grabbing her from behind and put her blade to Akame's neck... she even licked Akame's cheek "I can taste the darkness inside you, and you can even wield the Murasame. Oh yes, I will enjoy playing with you. Maybe I will even let you live, just so I can keep you in my darkest chambers, where we can have some wonderful time together. Mainly me listening to your delightful screams".
"SHUT UP!" Akame screamed as she broke free and swings at Krona, who jumped back to avoid the attack "I will have revenge for what you did to my father! No matter how much pain I have to endure!".
Kronya giggled in twisted excitement "Oh yes, you will provide me with endless entertainment!".
Akame attacked and their blades clashed. For a while, they were evenly matched, neither able to land a direct hit. Kronya had to be more careful, as even one cut from Akame's blade could kill her. Sparks flew from their blades as they clashed several times, before Akame managed to kick Kronya in the gut, sending her sliding back. Kronya growled in annoyance, but before she could attack Akame again, Byleth showed up, sword of the creator in hand.
Kronya tried to block a strike from Byleth, but the blow from her powerful sword sent painful vibrations through Kronya's arms. And as if that wasn't enough, Akame charged her from the side, almost taking her head of with a swing from Murasame. Kronya was forced back, and quickly realized she couldn't defeat both of the blood lusted sisters at the same time, so she had no choice but to run. Kronya ran through the woods, only to trip and fall in the middle of the ruins.
"But how? How could I really lose...to a lowly creature like you?" Kronya starts shaking in fear and Byleth raises her sword.
Suddenly Solon appears right behind Kronya "Well".
"Solon! Don't just stand there and stare! I need your help!" Kronya said.
"Yes. You most certainly do" Solon said as he walks up to Kronya. She looks confused until Solon extends his hand and sticks into Kronya's chest, grabbing her heart as Byleth and Akame gasps in shock. Kronya shrieks in pain "Have no fear, Kronya. Your sacrifice will help to rid of this world of the filthy vermin that have long infested it".
Dark flames consume Kronya and the four pillar corners surrounding the ruin. Kronya cries out in pain, while the dark flames began to surround Byleth and Akame who were standing in the middle of the ruin, as they prepare themselves and attempt to fight off the fire. But Byleth sensed something was going to happen, and quickly used a spell that sent Akame out of the ruins.
"Byleth!" Akame called out, but the flames kept her back.
"Solon... Stop this!" Kronya begged before Solon rips her heart out.
"The time has finally come...to unleash the Forbidden Spell of Zahras upon our enemies!" Solon crushes Kronya's heart in his hand and casts the spell as Kronya falls to the ground.
She extends her hand out to Byleth while begging for mercy "Please...help me...".
Solon's spell consumes both Kronya and Byleth in darkness. The screen fades to black, cutting to Solon standing outside the ruin by himself, having successfully erased Byleth. Much to Akame's horror.
"BYLETH!" She screamed loudly.
Solon smiles "Begone with you...Fell Star".
"Sister..." Akame whispered before looking at Solon "You! What did you do to her!?".
"She were swallowed by the mystical darkness of the forbidden spell. An eternity wandering in a void of darkness, never to return to this world… To think we almost had the Sword of the Creator…" Solon said, a little disappointed he couldn't retrieve the sword.
"Bring her back!" Akame demanded.
"It's not that easy, child. It is possible that death has yet to find your sister. But there are worse things than death. Drifting through the darkness with no chance to escape…Overwhelmed with hopelessness… It must be torturous" Solon said.
"BRING HER BACK!" Akame screamed.
"Such hatred. You would make an excellent servant to our cause. And being the first in years who can wield Murasame without dying. Would be a pitiful waste if you were to be added to the realm of the dead. But if you desire pain, then so be it" Solon said as he motioned his hand and several enemy soldiers arrived "Take her!".
The soldiers charged at her... but were suddenly sent back and dark power flared around Akame. She let out out a loud and almost animal like roar as the darkness flew from her body like deathly smoke. When it vanished, Akame had changed... her eyes were a lot darker, and red markings had appeared all over her body.
Solon had wide eyes "That's... the true power of Murasame. Impossible! No one has ever managed to tap in to it".
"You... took her away from me... she was all I had left... AND YOU TOOK HER FROM ME!" Akame screamed "I WILL KILL YOU! EVEN IF IT'S THE LAST THING I EVER DO IN MY LIFE! I WILL KILL YOU!".
Solon actually looked worried before allowing a demonic beast to fight Akame for him... but as it went to bite her, she dashed under it, before slashing up it's entire underside, from throat to belly. She was even faster and stronger than she was before. Solo backed away as Akame slaughtered everyone in her path. Even the Golden Deer looked scared of her now.
"Is that... really Akame?" Leone asked.
"I don't want it to be" Leonie said.
Claude was shocked by what he was seeing. What happened to Akame? He had never heard of anything like this before. Solon continued to back away as Akame advanced towards him. He put up a magical barrier to protect himself, but Byleth cut clean through it, only narrowly missing him, and making the evil magic user fall down.
Akame looked down at him before raising her blade in to the air "Eliminate...".
But before she could finally kill him, Akame stopped... she felt massive amount of pain shoot through her body. She dropped Murasame and fell to her knees as she began coughing violently. Even some blood came out as she held her body in agony. Solon was surprised for a moment before a relieved smile appeared on his face as he stood back up.
"Yes, of course. A mere child like yourself wouldn't be able to master such power on your first try. I admit, I felt a touch of fear when I saw you like that. But now, there is nothing left that can threaten me. Now, farewell, child" Solon said as he prepared to kill Akame with a spell, but before he could a glowing fissure appears in the air in front of him "So the Fell Star consumes even the darkness itself...".
Byleth jumps through the fissure and stands up. She looked different, her hair and eyes had changed color to light green. Instead of the darker color she had before. Akame slowly looked up and saw her sister was alive.
"Sis..." She said weakly.
"Get away from her" Byleth warned as she advanced at Solon. All his troops had been slain, and he wouldn't be able to warp away in time.
" What did you see in the darkness of Zahras? This should be impossible. The only being that can withstand that darkness is... Unless I dispose of you myself, I may never have the chance to send you back there! I am terrified by you... Even though an emotion like fear has no place inside me. That means you must be eliminated" Solon declared as he prepared a spell, but Byleth extended the Sword of The Creator, which was even more powerful than before... the blade easily pierced Solon's chest, making him cough blood "To think...that I would lose to mere beasts. But this is not the end... Thales will carry out our mission, somehow...".
Byleth frees her sword and Solon fell down... he was finally dead. Byleth quickly ran up to Akame and held her up "Akame, are you alright?".
Akame looked at her, and despite the pain she hugged Byleth around the neck, with all the strength she could muster "You're back... I can't believe it... you are back... but how?".
Byleth hugged her back "It's a long story, one I would prefer to tell you at a later time. For now... let's just enjoy the moment. We did it Akame, we avenged father".
Akame smiled as tears ran down her face "Yes... we did... I am so... tired".
"Me too..." Byleth admitted.
After that both sisters ended up passing out in each other's arms, their new power having strained their bodies to their limit. But the danger was over... and Byleth's students were more than happy to help them. Today, they had won.
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Tell me what you think.