Dimensional Descent

The fire reflected in Leonel's irises. He didn't know what was happening. He didn't know why or even how the Oryx King sacrificed himself. He didn't know if this was an ability of World Force, if it was a Lineage Factor, or even if this was the Oryx King's original ability being fueled to a new level by his World Force…

Even with all his intellect, even with all his senses, he just couldn't understand…

But maybe that was the way things were meant to be. When those at the top took on the greatest burden for themselves, wasn't it all to allow those beneath them to live on in ignorance?

The flames, despite never touching the city below, seemed to engulf it whole. Whether it was the heat or the moment, it was all ubiquitous. This was likely a moment they would never forget… And yet, maybe the greatest irony was that they had treated this man as an enemy just moments ago.

It was yet another bittersweet moment. But, it was one filled with an underlying respect that pounded through their hearts.

Maybe, though… Life wasn't filled with such fairy tales. Sometimes, even when the greatest sacrifice is made, even when all the tears are shed and all the hearts were broken… It still isn't enough.

As the fires even Leonel didn't dare casually touch began to die down, the image of a singular man still standing in the air became clearer and clearer. By the time the flames faded away completely and they saw what remained, a horror could only grip their minds.

There, Alexandre stood.

His skin was burnt black, flaking off to reveal bloodied, mangled flesh beneath.

Both of his arms were nowhere to be seen and his once handsome features had all been burnt away to the point that one could make out bits and pieces of his skull.

At that moment, the manic laughter appeared once again. As the rain sizzled and boiled, coming into contact with the supposed king, this laughter only grew.

"Kill me?! I AM THE APEX!"

Alexandre's voice boomed, the projection of his voice tearing a cyclone into the thick, black, cumulonimbus clouds coating the sky.

lightning flashed and thunder boomed. It looked like a hellish descent coming to reap all

roared, his body

he appeared again, he had traveled less than

of his range, Alexandre had shot down from the skies, his armless body looking like an arrow

opened wide, skin flaking and falling from his skull

moment, from across the battlefield, Gertrude smiled. Even from so far away, Leonel could

too fast for her to react to. She didn't even

If she was going to die anyway, wouldn't it be nice to

shame… that his head was covered in

Alexandre's teeth in that moment. As though a man dying of thirst, he sucked with

blood, needing that taste of life to grace

abilities was by sacrificing his own son. After having gone so far and with the unification of

forward. Even if he couldn't use Spatial

Force, he plummeted from

allowed his Divine Armor to sink into his skin, bursting with

another building, he could only watch

have been any realer to him. He could still hear every one

if he would

die. Somehow, what he saw instead shook him even

was about to be torn out much like Gertrude before him, Goggles kicked him out of the way, appearing before Alexandre with a dagger wrapped by both hands and plunging down with all the strength he

"Goggles!" Rollan roared.

voice. "I won't let this

world completely

gone on a convoluted rant played in his mind in a flash. And yet, this time,