Chapter 16: Kill The Chessmaster III

Forest

"Fallen of the Empire? Oh millions of soldiers!," whimpered Shroom as the figures rose from the ground.

Cigarillo put his hat over his eyes as he said-

"An army with THEM may be in the mix is too much. Hope you succeed."

"What are you doing? You have an obligation to serve me.," Solar-Flor noted as he generated tendrils to block them.

"That was the case...before we outnumbered. The White Faction always chooses life over death. See you later...It's not like I'm planning on taking your seat in case you fail.," replied Nerium as he looked to the side.

"And it looks like you're gonna be in big trouble either way.," noted Sakura.

"After everything I did for you! You don't get to-," he said as he flung his tendrils at them, but they warped away in time.

Solar-Flor furrowed his brow as he looked confused at the resurrected parties.

A young girl with long, blond hair decorated with a dark hair band. She wore a black shirt with a miniskirt, black tights, and light-colored boots. she also wore a long jacket. She looked around nervously.

Remus- Group of Terror.

A young girl with dark brown hair cut in a bob style. She wore a pair of glasses, a white shirt with a dark vest, a tie, and a long skirt. She pressed the glasses to her head as she looked around.

Womyn- Group of Terror.

A young girl with silver hair worn in a long ponytail. She wore a sleeveless trench coat with a dark belt, black tights, boots, and gloves. She gave a scowling expression.

Gin- Group of Terror.

A young man with short, blond hair and blue eyes. He wore a zipped-up jacket with a belt with several pouches attached to it, as well as regular pants and shoes. He carried his spear-like weapon with him. He looked around, curious as to what was going on.

Natala- Group of Terror.

A young girl with long, blonde hair and blue eyes. She wore a long, white shirt with black pants and shoes. She also wore silver hoop earrings. She scowled at the sight of a muscular young man. She looked around before scowling at the young man with a muscular build.

Cornelia- Elite Seven.

A tall, young man with a sturdy and muscular build. He has short brown hair and a scar on his left cheek. He wears a brown vest with white sleeves and a white collar. His pants are also white.

Guy- Elite Seven Seven.

A young man with black hair and green eyes. He wears a green jacket with a black T-shirt and black pants. His shoes are also black and he wears glasses. He wears a necklace with a gem around his neck. He instinctively looked at Murasaki, sensing some part of her was familiar.

Green- Elite Seven.

A young girl with amber eyes and short light brown hair. She also has a curvaceous figure. She was dressed in a brown and white dress and brown boots. She looked at Murasaki as if she was familiar.

Tsukushi- Elite Seven.

Capital

In the Capital, several people were revived as the buildings restored themselves.

A woman who had long, light brown hair and purple iris eyes. Next to her was a girl who had golden blonde hair and blue eyes - both traits inherited from her father. Both wore plain dresses.

Kije and Logue- Bols' Family

"What's going on?" asked the woman as the last thing she remembered was being rescued from a clown by assassins.

Near them was a young man with short, somewhat unruly dark brown hair, and brown eyes who wore a white martial arts headband.

"Where's Tatsumi? Did we get him out of the shack?" asked the young man as he pinched his cheek. He then looked to the side. The scenery looked familiar yet was alien to him.

Ieyasu- Tatsumi's Friend

Next to him was a young girl with long, black hair and black eyes. She wore a white butterfly or flower hair accessory and was often seen in plain cream-colored robes.

Sayo- Tatsumi' Friend.

A trio of young girls-

The first had shoulder-length, golden blonde hair and amber iris eyes. She wore an orange raincoat and a pair of matching boots.

Fal- South Tribe Girl.

The second had long, pink hair with her bangs hanging just above her pink eyes. She wore a pink raincoat with a matching hat and boots.

Air- West Tribe Girl.

The last had neck-length dark blue hair and light blue eyes. She wore a blue raincoat with bunny ear-like attachments on the hood and a pair of matching boots.

Luna- North Tribe Girl.

The buildings had repaired themselves via the ice.

Across the Empire

The deaths across the continent that had been unfairly taken by the Empire suddenly emerged from the ground and confused about what happened.

Forest

Solar-Flor began to seep out as black steam as he cried in agony.

"This country...is healing!," he shouted.

Solar Flor began to foam at the mouth uncontrollably.

"Why did you go to such lengths to corrupt this nation and make sure it had a legacy of malice?" Murasaki inquired.

Solar-Flor twitched uncontrollably as he struggled to remain conscious.

"You revived these maggots to lessen the hatred of the country? What a waste. You could've had an army.," he noted.

"Don't change the subject.," She retorted.

Murasaki stepped closer to Solar-Flor, her eyes narrowing as she answered her own question-

"It wasn't about for the kicks, it's about sustenance.," she explained. "You're a gardener maintaining a garden, making sure it's well-nourished. Just as plants require sunlight and nutrients to flourish, so does your garden thrive on the suffering and despair of the nation along with other nations."

Solar-Flor chuckled mockingly, his teeth bared in a sinister smile. "Yeesh you got me, fear and anger are the finest fertilizers for my kind. The more the people despair, the more power we absorb. It's a symbiotic relationship, really. The Empire's corruption isn't just for show. It's my life force like it is for any other Evil Being!"

"So that's how it is.," she remarked. "But, you've made a mistake. You're not the main flower that everything revolves around. You're just a weed dressing itself up."

Solar-Flor's smile grew wider as his angry veins dominated his face as he remarked.- "You're feisty. I like that. But I've been here for millennia, watching kingdoms rise and fall. while being the architect to work for the winners. Even if I'm on the losing side, it's just a setback as I can just blend into the ruling faction to take root. You're just a temporary inconvenience that's in the way."

"No, you're in the way of the world, we're trying to create.," Murasaki replied- both Akame and Esdeath coming to an agreement as symbolic illusions of her components hovered over her.

"Oh, this anger can't be for justice or righteousness for the people? It's very personal. is it because I tried to orchestrate the deaths of your sisters to be at your hands? I succeeded with one, but I'll have Kurome suffer a horrible-," he said before an icicle pierced his mouth, generated by Murasaki.

Murasaki glared at him as she told him coldly- "We're not better than you, but don't threaten our cute little-"

Suddenly, Murasaki glowed with an indigo light as she split extemporaneously back into Akame and Esdeath, both looking confused.

Solar-Flor then smirked as he said-

"Seems like time's up. And it's not likely I'm letting you have the chance."

He then signaled the Cadmus to fire on the two.

Suddenly, members of the Group of Terror and the Elite Seven generated odd weapons to block the beams.

"You're not the Akame I know, but I'm not going to let you go away again...besides your arm...you know...," Green said.

Akame was confused at why he said that inside of being glad of being alive.

So it's not resurrection, but something else..., Solar-Flor thought as he then noticed Esdeath generating ice to have herself hover over the ground.

"This is pathetic. You turned a leaf after the deaths you caused?" he mocked.

"I sense they're alive- at least, the people will live the lives that were taken from them. But I'm no longer interested. But I don't feel the need to exercise sadism on those who can't handle it...you're a much better target.," she remarked as she generated a morning star to slam into his head.

He used Fraas to phase through the attack.

How are they able to move separately? He thought before noticing that they shared the same markings.

Soul Resonance? he internally concluded as he then looked around to see his proud army being reduced to nothing.

Guy managed to pummel several of the soldiers into submission, Natala sliced some in half, Tsukishi blasted more to bits, etc.

Solar-Flor prepared to phase into the ground, but Akame noticed something glinting in the distance. His anger had caused his usual nature to reveal vital weaknesses, which were going to be exploited.

"You're half Human.," she said.

"An upsetting fact. What's your point?," he asked before noticing Akame whispering to Esdeath.

She nodded as the blue-haired woman proceeded to generate ice platforms for Akame to walk on in a particular direction.

Which caused Solar-Flor to panic.

He attempted to rush toward her, but his feet were frozen in place by Esdeath's ice.

"I found out I had a sister, that had greater strength than me yet a kinder heart. Why didn't you corrupt the both of us? A two-for-one deal would've made things easier. The fact you had the weaker one be the one in power instead of turning the stronger one to your liking shows how short-sighted you are.," she noted.

"H-hey let's not get hasty. S-so you've discovered the truth.," he said as he then generated pollen, which caused Esdeath to see visions of the dead she slain, but she generated ice to pierce him, canceling the illusion.

"You're avoiding the subject. Now, answer me.," she said as she froze a finger and ripped it off as he regenerated, causing him to scream in pain.

"Fascinating. This is more engaging. Humans can only lose when they're tormented yet you can restore it easily. I want to see how much you can endure.," she said as she froze his eyes and then tongue- ripping them out as he regenerated them.

He summoned tendrils to attack her, but she froze them.

"It seems like being out of the battlefield has made you stale. And your scheming to eliminate without taking center stage as a true leader of evil pisses me off.," she remarked.

Solar-Flor snarled as he grew more angry. "You think you can match me in intellect, you half-breed? You're just a pawn in this grand game! I once was a king, but I was humbled in the face of true power. And I realized that it's better to control from a lower position than rule myself- pin the blame on others so I can go free. And if there's someone strong, eliminate them to remain in power rather than acknowledge them as a potential threat."

"This isn't about wits. It's about being strong. Honest was honest about being a parasite using others while wearing a mask, but you're two-faced- controlling both sides shows your lack of commitment. And that makes you weak. And it's rich that the kettle is calling the pot black.," Esdeath noted.

Akame stepped closer to the location, her heightened senses caused her to realize a truth that most ignored due to focusing on the illusion of his seemingly perfect nature. Her eyes filled with a determination that could cut through steel, as she said in a sharp tone with a blade edge, "You don't get to hide behind your puppets forever. You're going to face the consequences of your actions."

She cut the bush to reveal a short yellow-green man with strands of hair in his otherwise balding head, wide eyes, and a gaunt face wearing oversized clothes.

"Don't y-you harm lord Solar-Flor!," the man begged as he prostrated before her.

Akame wasn't convinced as she readied to strike him.

He then burrowed into the ground and appeared inside "Solar-Flor"- revealing the body to be a mere marionette.

"I don't understand why HE got the benefits of longevity while I get to age like a prune. Only the Great One knew my secret while I played the role as the unstoppable hybrid. Now that you know my secret, you'll die!," Solar-Flor's diminutive face cursed as Akame leaped back and she used the platforms to go back to Esdeath's location.

"I don't care who or what you are. You hurt Najenda's heart. Made my friends and cute little sister suffer. Made countless people agonize. And countless actions I can't even imagine. You're going to die.," Akame said.

"And I want you to pay for playing me like a fiddle and tricking my heart.," Esdeath replied.

Akame and Esdeath then noticed their markings glowed as they collided with each other, their bodies glowing as it then dimmed back to Murasaki.

"We'll make you rest in pieces and make it the most painful way as you go to hell.," she said in their dual voice, not aware of why she combined again.

"Gula: HELIANTHUS!," he shouted as his form burst into a green body comprised of green vines melded together to form a muscular torso with roots serving as the lower torso. His demonic black skull burst from the handsome face as demonic sunflower monsters emerged from his back. The diminutive face was still in the center of the face.

Green and the others dashed away as the fight became more intense.

He generated a miniature sun from his sunflower heads as they generated powerful solar winds meant to ward them away, but the fused warrior generated snow wings to fly forward.

Solar-Flor generated corona flames to incinerate them, but she easily froze them. He used electromagnetism and gravity combined with Avarita to propel her into trees, but she pressed forward. Haeresis to paralyze her before using Vehemens as a distraction as he generated a black hole to suck her in.

Murasaki's eyes grew wide with rage as she thought of Najenda, her father, mothers, sister- Pacifi, sister- Kurome, her associates/friends as it caused her to be able to withstand the gravitational pressure.

"Eliminate," she said as she sliced through the black hole with her own power to his shock.

He then had his sunflower generate solar flames from each "head" as they fired creating a supernova. However, she got out of it unscathed.

"You're not the first to think you can beat me," he said with a smirk as the sunflowers grew back, only for them to freeze up.

Murasaki was not playing around anymore. She proceeded to land a barrage of strikes too fast for him to see.

"Kālasūtra.," she declared as she finished with a sheathing of her blades it caused an explosion.

As the Fight commences- this song plays- Skyreach plays

I quietly carve down with words, the feelings concealed within my heart,

And set forth on, feeling out the rise of a new day, with unwavering resolve in my eyes!

I strive to be a person who takes head on any kind of future that may come,

So there's no more turning back.

I'll let my racing impulses lead the way, toward a boundless world,

Believing this changing fate holds the answer.

With the unchanging dream, I vividly drew out that day,

I will, by all means, surpass all the limits I felt in me.

Using an unyielding voice, I'm sure it will be heard loud and clear;

I'll someday reach there - so wait for me until then!

With all the countless answers out there, I check to see if my wish still remains,

And give birth to a pure song, as I leave my footprints, stumping with all my force.

I'll let go of the me that lived on, putting a tough act,

And simply seek out places I can shine in.

Connecting the gap between my wavering emotions and my tears,

I go beyond the scenery I drew along that distant straight line.

Even if the illusions and sufferings I held so dearly are back-to-back,

I'll make it so I can grasp them, no matter the cost.

So over and over again, in hopes of getting even closer

I extend out my hand to the out-of-reach, cloudy sky.

Standing in this misty rain, my heart beats well up, gently enveloping me.

The promise we made back then, the one I've always lived by so much it hurts, lingers on...

I'll let my racing impulses lead the way, toward a boundless world,

Believing this changing fate holds the answer.

With the unchanging dream, I vividly drew out that day,

I will, by all means, surpass all the limits I felt in me.

Using an unyielding voice, I'm sure it'll be heard loud and clear;

I'll someday reach there - so wait for me until then!

"It wasn't me that did it!"

Forest

Murasaki then saw a very vivid vision-

A man who resembled Najenda and the Incursio user impaled a pair of horned pregnant women and placed them in caskets near the brain.

"T-this is wrong.," the armored man said before the silver-haired man slapped him.

"The path to peace requires us to harden our resolve. Devi said they were evil and no matter how nice they seemed, judgment was necessary.," the man said.

"We're going to go to hell for this.," the armored man remarked as the silver-haired man walked away.

Centuries passed as members of his family went underground to torture the barely conscious women.

She then snapped back into consciousness as she felt a splitting headache as she looked up at the sky- seeing a rift where the explosion occurred.

"Kālasūtra. The punishment of committing senseless murder, robbery, lying, and those who were bad sons or two-faced.," she explained.

Unknown Location

The now-aged Solar-Flor noticed everything was very humid. He realized he was on a molten rock black rope as his body was covered in black markings as fiery weapons impaled him, causing searing agony.

"I'll just get there and get out so I can get back at that bitch.," he said before he saw a demonic bird of flame knock into him and caused him to fall into a boiling cauldron. He changed into several of his countless guises to escape, but each time he got out, the birds would grab him and toss him back in.

He thought of Susanoo uncharacteristically mocking and smiling at him- a hallucination of his implied envy.

"It's because I told that silver-haired bastard what to do! Everything has been for my kingdom and eternity! My et-," he said as his consciousness faded.

A Few Hours Later...

Capital

The Capital had been restored due to the sudden influx of life energy, and people began to regain their senses. The once chaotic city now buzzed with confusion and disbelief as they saw their lost friends and family members standing before them. Among them, Kije and Logue walked around as if trying to find someone.

Tatsumi's Village

Tatsumi felt a familiar presence in the capital and smiled...

The others were adjusting to the village while Najenda and Leone sighed at the loss of Mine.

Suddenly, he was stabbed from behind by a currently obscured figure.

Next Chapter: Last Kiss- Murasaki gets something she wanted, but at a great cost...

Author Notes: The revivals here are not technically the people from the main story yet they are in a manner of speaking- I will elaborate further.

Murasaki dividing back to her components might hint at something- maybe different combinations of fusions.

The vision that Murasaki did will be elaborated in the next chapter.

But the main takeaway is that Solar-Flor is finally gone, being subjected to the 2nd of the 8 hot hells of Naraku. The song that plays in the background is the first opening of Akame Ga Kill to commemorate a milestone in making sure the goals of the Revolution in dealing with one of the true roots of the problem is finally done