Nagaria's anguished screams echoed across the seabed, her body trembling as if on the verge of breaking apart. All the serpentine heads that had once surrounded her had vanished. Now, she knelt in the shallow waters before Akira and his team, tears streaming down her face like a dam finally giving way.
"I… I didn't mean for this to happen…" she whispered, her voice trembling. Her blue eyes shimmered with sorrow. "I only… I only wanted to be loved again… that's all I ever wanted…"
Yue took a cautious step forward, her expression soft with compassion. "Princess… we understand your pain."
"No!" Nagaria shook her head violently, her voice raw with anguish. "You could never understand! I was loved by everyone, but they abandoned me. They turned to admire someone else! I didn't want anything else… I just wanted them to see me as they once did. Even if he didn't love me… I could have accepted it… but why did they all have to leave me?!" Her voice broke as fresh tears poured down her cheeks.
Yue knelt before her, gently taking the princess's trembling hands. "You're not entirely to blame," Yue said softly. "The love and admiration you once had were immense, but when they faded, you didn't deserve to bear this pain alone."
Mirelle stepped closer, nodding. "You've made mistakes… but recognizing and atoning for them is valuable. You can still start anew."
Draco approached, his voice firm. "That's true, but what you did was awful. You should—" He froze mid-sentence as the others turned to glare at him, prompting an awkward scratch of his head.
But Draco's words seemed to ignite a spark within Nagaria. She rose to her feet, her tears stopping as her eyes filled with fury and jealousy once more. "What gives you the right to judge me?!" she roared, her voice reverberating like a tidal wave. Dark energy surged from her body, spreading out in tendrils of chaos.
From behind her, six shadowy serpents formed once again, writhing and twisting as though alive. They began to spiral, drawing in water and chaos from the surrounding area. The battlefield darkened as an ominous presence filled the air.
"She's charging up!" Akira shouted. "It's like the ultimate attack from the Flame Lion back in Draken! If she releases that, we're done for!"
The team scattered in panic. Yue and Draco immediately recognized the danger and swam to evade, but Mirelle hesitated, unprepared for such an overwhelming display of power. One of the serpentine shadows locked onto her, its focus unrelenting.
"Mirelle, watch out!" Akira shouted, propelling himself toward her as fast as he could.
The sound of water cannons roared once more. This time, the blast was so powerful that the ocean floor trembled. A high-pressure stream of water shot straight at Mirelle, but Akira reached her in time, interposing himself. With both his white and black swords drawn, he channeled their opposing energies to deflect the attack.
Despite his efforts, the beam's force was overwhelming. Though he managed to redirect part of it, the beam still carved through half of Atlantisino and surged upward, splitting the sea above as if cleaving it in two.
Akira's body was thrown violently by the impact, crashing into the ground. He lay there, battered and bloodied. Yue swam to his side, tears streaming down her face.
"Brother! Don't leave me! Please stay with me!" she cried, her hands glowing as she poured healing magic into him.
Akira smiled weakly, despite the pain. "I… I'll be fine, Yue," he murmured, his voice barely audible as he fought to stay conscious.
The team prepared for a counterattack, but Nagaria's form began to fracture. She stood amidst the chaos, tears returning to her eyes. Her voice trembled as she looked at the team. "Can you… forgive me?"
The question hung in the air, heavy and uncertain. Yue, still kneeling by Akira's side, wiped her tears and nodded firmly. "We forgive you. This wasn't what you truly wanted."
Mirelle stepped closer, her voice calm but resolute. "You've committed terrible wrongs, but I can see your regret. I am willing to forgive you."
Draco scratched his head awkwardly but managed a soft, hesitant reply. "Uh… yeah, I mean… we've all made mistakes…"
Nagaria's gaze shifted to Akira, who lay weak and wounded. Her voice wavered as she asked, "And him? Can he forgive me, after what I've done to him?"
Akira's eyes fluttered open, and with a faint, pained smile, he replied, "I forgive you… because no one deserves to be left alone in the darkness."
Nagaria's tears fell again, but this time, they carried a sense of release. She looked around as the spirits of the fallen began to appear, their forms shimmering with a gentle light.
At first, the spirits hesitated. But then, a young child stepped forward, smiling brightly. "We forgive you, Princess."
With the child's words, the other spirits began to nod, their ethereal forms glowing brighter. They coalesced into streams of light, floating upward like fireflies ascending to the surface.
Nagaria's fractured form began to dissolve, revealing her true self—a serene and beautiful princess untouched by chaos. She approached Akira, her body glowing with a soft luminescence. In her hands, she held an orb of swirling light, resembling a galaxy in miniature.
"This… is my blessing," she said, her voice steady and filled with gratitude. "Thank you for showing me mercy and granting me peace."
Akira accepted the orb, its light enveloping him and mending his wounds. Nagaria turned to Yue, Draco, and Mirelle, offering each of them a small fragment of her power.
As her body dissolved into countless glowing fireflies, she smiled—a genuine, peaceful smile that radiated her gratitude.
"Thank you… thank you for freeing me… thank you…"
The light of her essence lingered for a moment before drifting away, leaving the ocean calm and still once more. Akira and his team stood together, their hearts heavy but hopeful, knowing they had not only won a battle but also helped bring peace to a soul long lost in the shadows.