Clang!
Sparks flew as two blades clashed violently, their edges sparking with the intensity of the collision.
"Die, you pervert! Just die already!" Akame snarled through gritted teeth, gripping Murasame tightly. With a furious cry, she swung her blade in a deadly arc, cutting through the air with the speed and precision of a lightning strike.
Her attack was swift and lethal, but Kaguya met it head-on, barely managing to parry the strike with her Kusanagi Sword. The force of Akame's blow sent a tremor through Kaguya's arm, and for a moment, her usual playful expression was replaced by one of genuine surprise.
With Akame unleashing the full power of her secret technique, her strength had grown exponentially, making her a far more dangerous opponent. Even Kaguya, with her vast array of abilities, could sense the threat Akame now posed—this was likely the same strength that had allowed Akame to defeat someone as powerful as Esdeath.
Realizing the seriousness of the situation, Kaguya gripped her sword more firmly, swinging it upward to deflect another of Akame's attacks. The clash of their blades rang out like a series of chimes, filling the air with the sharp sound of metal on metal.
Akame, undeterred, flipped backward, gracefully landing on her feet. The instant she touched the ground, she propelled herself forward again, becoming a blur of motion as she launched another fierce assault.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The sound of their swords clashing echoed continuously, like rain striking a tin roof. The force of their battle was so intense that the surrounding trees and rocks were cleaved in two, their smooth, mirror-like cuts a testament to the sharpness of Akame's blade.
Akame's attacks were relentless, her blade slicing through the air with a speed and ferocity that seemed unstoppable. But despite the onslaught, Kaguya's graceful movements allowed her to evade or parry each strike, her demeanor as calm and composed as ever.
Just as Akame seemed poised to land a decisive blow, Kaguya suddenly vanished from sight. Akame's sword cut through empty air, leaving her momentarily off-balance.
In that instant, Akame reappeared behind Kaguya, her hands gripping Murasame with deadly intent. The blade of Murasame began to glow with a dark, malevolent energy—the curse that would inevitably kill anyone it wounded.
With her target seemingly unaware of the danger, Akame's eyes flashed with determination. She swung Murasame down toward Kaguya's back, aiming to end the fight with a single, fatal strike.
But just as the cursed blade was about to land, it met resistance.
Clang!
Sparks flew as Kaguya's Kusanagi Sword intercepted Murasame, blocking the attack at the last possible moment.
Akame's eyes widened in shock. How had Kaguya anticipated her move so perfectly?
"That was close," Kaguya said with a slight smile, turning her head to look at Akame. "You almost had me there."
A chill ran down Akame's spine as she realized that Kaguya had been aware of her every move. But before she could react, Kaguya suddenly appeared in front of her again, faster than Akame could process.
"Oh, you noticed?" Kaguya said, her voice laced with amusement. "Too bad you're already too late."
With those words, Kaguya drove her fist into Akame's abdomen with brutal force.
Thud!
The impact was devastating. Akame's body bent sharply around Kaguya's fist, a stream of blood spurting from her mouth as she was sent flying backward.
As Akame flew through the air, her blood splattered onto Kaguya's face, momentarily blinding her.
Seizing the opportunity, Akame gritted her teeth through the pain, grabbed hold of Kaguya's arm with her left hand, and with her right, she drove Murasame directly into Kaguya's chest, piercing her heart.
Blood sprayed from the wound as the cursed blade sank deep into Kaguya's body.
Thud!
With a powerful kick, Kaguya sent Akame crashing to the ground, where she lay in a cloud of dust, battered and bloodied.
Kaguya coughed, pressing a hand to her mouth as blood trickled from her lips. She looked down at the blade embedded in her chest and smiled, even as the pain coursed through her.
"It's been a while since I've felt pain like this," Kaguya remarked, her voice calm despite the severity of her injury. "I didn't expect you to actually manage to hurt me. I'm impressed."
Akame, struggling to her feet, met Kaguya's gaze with steely resolve. "You were too confident. Overconfidence in one's abilities leads to carelessness. That's how people die."
Though Akame had sustained serious injuries from Kaguya's earlier attacks, her determination had not wavered. Her ribs were cracked, and her internal organs were bruised, but she refused to back down.
Kaguya coughed again, blood spilling from her mouth. The red liquid soaked into her clothes, staining them a deep crimson. "It seems I underestimated you."
"Princess!" Kurome shouted, rushing over to Kaguya's side. When she saw the extent of Kaguya's injuries, her eyes widened in disbelief.
"This can't be happening…" Kurome whispered, her voice trembling.
"It looks like I messed up this time," Kaguya said with a faint, wry smile. The blood on her lips made her look even more otherworldly, adding a touch of eerie beauty to her already perfect features.
At that moment, dark curses began to spread from the wound in Kaguya's chest, slowly creeping across her pale skin. These were the deadly effects of Murasame's curse—a curse that guaranteed death to anyone it touched.
"How could this happen…?" Kurome murmured, taking a step back, her face a mixture of fear and anger. She knew all too well the consequences of being struck by Murasame—no one had ever survived its curse.
With tears of rage in her eyes, Kurome turned toward Akame, drawing her sword and charging at her with lightning speed, determined to avenge Kaguya.