Their blades clashed together once more, Amora's cracking along it's surface with each hit. She knew it wasn't long until her blade gave way and she was left with the hilt alone.
Clang! Click! Clang! Click!
With each clash, the blade would audibly crack, and this only made Shogeki swing harder and faster, a smile wide across his face.
Amora swung once more, attempting to cut through his defense and manage a fatal cut onto his neck or even his head, but doing so only left her more vulnerable, allowing Shogeki to swing hard once more, and when Amora went to block it, her blade finally gave way.
It took Shogeki not even a full second to jab his blade forward and through Amora's chest. The both of them froze in place, Shogeki laughing manically as Amora slowly sank to her knees, her expression of anger slowly turning into a blank expression as her sight slowly faded and the pain slowly subsided.
She could feel the cold embrace of death, carrying her away from everything. This was it, and she knew it, but something... no, someone stirred within her. She just didn't know whom, or why.
Death took her, as it took her parents and friends, and it did not discriminate based on power or how hard one or the other fought. It just took her away.
"Amora." A voice echoed, but Amora could not see anything other than the pitch black darkness that overtook her.
"Amora." Another voice spoke, and Amora could see light shining through her closed eyelids, but the power that it took to open them was lost on her. She couldn't even twitch them.
"Akermota." Yet another familiar voice rang out, this time, her eyelids slowly opened, and all around her was a bright, endless and yet empty space.
She slowly pulled herself to her feet, standing in the empty space alone. She lowered her head and stared into her hands, unsure of where she was. She almost convinced herself that this was the afterlife.
She quickly turned to face the direction that the voices from before were coming from.
Standing there, were those Amora held closest. On the right, Leon, and next to him, Reyon. On the left, Jackson, Aya, Shirley, Adrian, and even Andrew.
Amora stared in disbelief before slowly lifting her right hand, she weakly reached toward them all, her hand landing on her father's shoulder. They were... real.
"Giving up?" Andrew teased. "I never thought you'd quit when you always seemed so determined, Amora."
"I... don't know what else I can do. I can't beat him." She replied, lowering her head, feeling warm tears form in her eyes.
"But you can. Out of all of us, you were the one that had the strength to overcome any obstacle." Aya spoke next. "Until the day I died, I truly believed that."
"But my strength is spent... my blades are broken... I have nothing." Amora wept.
"Even if your weapons are broken, they can still be used, and your strength will be enough if you just push back hard enough." Jackson said, crossing his arms and smiling.
"I'm all alone... I can't do it..." Amora's head fell into her hands as she sobbed quietly.
"When did you hate being alone? I tried pulling you out of that house, but what did you do? You made excuses to stay home alone while Darkness was out." Shirley laughed, shaking her head lightly. "You thrive best when you're alone, Amora."
"But he... he got me... How could I possibly come back from this? He's killed me..." Amora spoke through sobs.
"No, my love, he didn't get you, he merely got the side of you that only knew violence." Reyon comforted, placing her hand on Amora's back.
"You were a kind girl, and that part of you retreated away when your mind split. The only you he killed, was the violent side. That sweet... kind and caring side still remains." Leon moved closer, also placing a hand on Amora's back.
As Leon's hand landed on Amora's back, more hands did as well, and as the rest placed their hand atop her back, Adrian finally spoke.
"You... are someone I fell deeply for, and despite the circumstances... I'd only ever choose you. My brother is... out of control, and if you let him win... he won't stop harming others." He said, placing both arms on Amora's back.
Amora could feel their words and power coursing through her, and she could feel the fresh breeze, the scent of flowers, her babies' first cries, the smell of Darkness cooking food in the kitchen... the good things in life that she took for granted, and that she forgot about while on her path of revenge.
They all came back to her, and with a deep breath in, she took them all in at once.
***
"Oh... how I wish things could have ended differently, Amora Akermota." Shogeki proudly spoke, turning to look at the bystanders. "Unfortunately, you were weaker than I took you for, and for that, you have lost."
He tugged his blade from her chest, letting her fall flat to the ground. She lay motionless as blood pooled around her body, pouring from her open wound and seeping into the ground below her.
Shogeki slowly crouched down to her, and placed his hand above her, and suddenly her body jerked to life, he smirked and moved a step back, still crouched by her.
"Rise." He said, and as he said it, she did. Her body rose to one knee, staring blankly at him, her pupils seemingly spinning. He had revived her, but only to control her.
"I simply wish to kill you again." He smiled wider, even if it didn't seem possible. "Take up your broken blade."
Amora's body slowly reached for her broken blade, picking it up and holding it there, still with that blank stare and swirling pupils.
"Put it to your throat."
And so she did.
"Slice."
And so she began to, but midway through, something changed. Her pupils stopped swirling and she took a deep breath in, and in a swift movement, she swung the broken blade at Shogeki, cutting through his neck as his smile faded and his expression turned to one of shock.
He fell back and clutched his throat, gurgling blood and struggling to breathe. His wound was too severe, and he had used too much energy reviving Amora that he could not heal.
Amora stumbled a little, dropping her broken blade and staring at her shaking hands, now covered in the blood that shot from his neck. Another shot out, this time a few droplets landed into her open mouth, and with it, she could feel a surge of power flow through her body. She knew now, that she had the ability that her other self so desperately sought. The power to revive the dead.
Tears began to form in his eyes, and his face quickly turned red. It was clear he couldn't breathe at all, and for once, he was feeling the fear that he inflicted upon others.
Amora quickly crawled up to him, sobbing from what she had just done, for this is something only the violent side of her would do so ruthlessly, and that was not who she was right now.
In the moment, she knew he would die if she didn't do anything about it, and perhaps that's what she wanted before, but now... she just wanted the violence to end.
She placed her hand over his wound and put pressure on it, and as she did, she could feel water flowing through her arm, into her fingers, and into his skin. After some time, his wound closed and he breathed heavily, falling onto his back and taking in as much air as he could.
Amora slowly moved away, just staring at him, unsure of what to do now, but knowing he could try to kill her again, she closed her eyes and accepted it.
"Amora..." He spoke, and her eyes opened slowly. "Why did you... save me?"
Amora just stared at him, her expression one of uncertainty and slight fear.
"I tried to kill you and yet you saved my life...?" As he spoke, Amora could pick up on the sound of him about to cry again. "I took everything from you... because I believed you deserved nothing less, and... you saved my life?"
"There's just... no need to fight anymore... no need for violence." She responded, her hands still shaking. "What happened to your family because of me... I'm sorry, and I get that it's horrible, but... this was never the right choice."
"Coming so close to death... I think I realized something. If my father had gotten ahold of you... he would have harmed you, and you were just an innocent baby. None of this was your fault." He began to sob, pulling his knees close to his body and sobbing into his hands. "I was just so lost and I only knew to take it out on you... your family and friends because I blamed them for something they never did."
By now, the bystanders were clearing out, with police and Elemental specialists rushing in to remove the civilians from the area.
Amora lifted herself to her feet, and slowly approached Shogeki. He slowly moved his hands away from his face, and she could see tear marks down his cheeks. He moved his hand to his blade, but only to push it farther away from himself.
Amora reached out her hand, and he took it, letting her pull him to his feet.
"I just want everyone that you took away back..." She said, her lip quivering. "Please..."
He stared into her eyes before giving a small smile and wiping his tears away. "That's the least I could do at this point."
He raised his left hand, and the remaining bystanders, be it police officers, civilians or Elemental Specialists all watched on as Shogeki closed his eyes and his left palm began to glow white, the white light grew and grew, but he was straining, and clearly struggling, so Amora placed her hand up to his, and together, their palms would glow a bright white light.
It was so bright, in fact, that the bystanders had to avert their gaze.
After some time, the bright light took over everything, and a blue butterfly landed atop Amora's hand. When the light faded, the butterfly was gone as well.
***
Amora, being escorted by Elemental Specialists, arrived at the hospital, and upon entering, was met with a sight she thought she'd never see.
Leon, Reyon, Jackson, Aya, Shirley, Clover, Cody, and Andrew all in hospital beds. Unconscious, and in different rooms, but alive nonetheless.
Amora checked rooms, asked nurses, but Adrian was nowhere to be seen. She had no idea where he could've been, but she knew he should've been revived like the rest.
For some time, Amora was unsure how Andrew was brought back, as Shogeki hadn't killed him, but after some time, she realized that she revived those she had killed in the past, meaning those innocent lives she took were alive and well now, even though she still lived with the guilt of what she took from them.
She wiped her tears away as she entered her parents hospital room, only to hear small chatter coming from the other side of Leon's bed.
When she crossed the room, she could see her two children, significantly older, most likely due to Elizabeth's abilities. They appeared to be six to eight years old, but they were still her children regardless.
On the stand near Leon's bed was a small mask, and with that, Amora knew it was from Mos himself. She wondered for a moment what form he must have taken to enter the hospital, which at this time was quite crowded with visitors, whether it be for Leon and Reyon, her friends' families, or for the victims of her and Shogeki.
***
Amora hadn't checked the news or social media, but she knew the public was going crazy about Shogeki and Amora's final fight, as well as the outcome that came with it.
The revival of Leon and Reyon would trend on social media for weeks, and would line the heading of local and international newspapers, as well as bystander images of Amora helping Shogeki up.
Footage of the fight, how it ended, and reporters discussing the whole thing stayed on the news until people got tired of seeing it and moved onto newer news, like the story about a small abandoned village being destroyed during a heated battle between two Elemental high school students.
Life went on, and those who were revived didn't come to for another couple weeks, but when they did, the truth was hard to hear, but they were thankful to Amora for hanging in as long as she did.
***
After everyone she loved was released from the hospital, she went to find Shogeki next.
He was locked inside a heavily guarded Elemental prison, and once Amora was finally in, they searched her thoroughly before allowing her to see Shogeki, albeit behind a very, very thick pane of glass. His hands were restrained behind his back with a heavy duty steel, a glowing crystal imbedded in them stopped him from using any elements, although it was obvious he had no intention to ever use them anyway.
"Well well well, it's nice to see you again, Amora." He spoke, smiling quite warmly, a welcome contrast to his cold and ruthless one from before.
"Save the pleasantries, Shogeki." Amora laughed, combing her hand through her hair. "Just wanted to stop by and let you know everyone is recovering alright."
"Even my dumb brother?"
"Well... not quite. I'm not quite sure where he is."
"Hm? Ah, that makes sense."
"What does?" She asked, tilting her head to the side.
"Adrian had a habit of never dying. I tried plenty of times and well... no luck." He spoke, rolling his eyes, but keeping his warm smile. "I'd say he's probably in hiding. It's likely he doesn't know you're alive, and thinks the world's come to an end."
"Where could I find him...?" She asked, swallowing her anxiety.
"Likely some forest, or somewhere remote where nobody could find him. Just start combing through areas like that, and you'll surely find him in no time."
"Thank you." Amora replied, adjusting the chair beneath her. "So... how are you feeling now?"
***
After some time, Amora left, and would organize search parties to find Adrian, but not much would come from it. It wasn't until one day, not too long after Amora visited Shogeki, that he just... showed up in the middle of the city, possibly finally emerging to see if the world had truly ended, only to be met with peace, and news that Amora had won.
It wasn't long until Amora was told of Adrian's location, and Amora and Adrian were finally reunited.
Leon and Reyon had their home rebuilt, and while Adrian, Amora and their kids found a place to live, they stayed at Leon's house.
One day, however, there was a knock on the front door.
"Amora, there's someone here to see you." Reyon called out, and Amora approached the front door. Reyon clearly knew who it was, but refused to answer until Amora saw for herself.
Amora pushed open the front door and gave a small smile.
"Ah... hello, Andrew." Amora spoke, and Andrew gave a small, yet awkward smile, looking away for a moment.
She invited him in, and for some time, the two talked about everything that happened, with Amora updating Andrew on what happened after his death, and Andrew apologized profusely, over and over again.
Once he left, Amora, Leon and Reyon took a small stroll through the city, this time without an fear, and without worrying about their lives being taken at any moment.
The sky slowly darkened as night arrived, and the pair went to a nearby fair. Leon and Reyon hoped to give Amora more of a childhood with them, despite her having her own kids and being an adult now.
The three explored the fair, looked at the prize-winning farm animals, tried snacks, and Amora even convinced the pair to ride some of the scarier rides.
As they walked toward the exit of the fair, something small rushed past their feet. They all stopped and looked down at it, but it was already gone.
The three once again started moving, only for Amora to lightly kick something and stop once more.
She looked down at the ground, and there was a small black blob with white eyes. It bounced up and down, and Amora's expression widened as she rushed to pick it up, tears filling her eyes.
"Is that..." Leon began, but Reyon shook her head, calling for a momentary silence.
"Darkness!" Amora cried out. "I'm so glad you're alright! I... I thought he got you!"
"Blee!" The small blob that is Darkness called out joyfully.
"Yeah... it'll take him a while to regrow his body and vocal cords fully, but... I'm sure he'll get there."
And with having met everyone she had originally lost, she finally did the only thing she felt could ease her guilty conscience. She managed to check herself into a prison cell. She wished to spend at least some time in prison, leaving her children in the care of her parents.
She felt that since she had harmed and killed innocent people, she should spend some time in prison, even if they were revived in the end.
And that's where her story would leave off. But as many people know... the Akermota family is never free from disaster.