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.

looked like a

suddenly roared,

again, he had traveled less than half the

skies, his armless body looking

opened wide, skin flaking and falling from his skull even as he bit

smiled. Even from so

to react to. She didn't even have

final thoughts were quite simple, really. If she was going to die anyway, wouldn't it be nice to see his

was just a shame… that his head was covered in that

man dying of thirst, he sucked

body flickered again, fiending for blood, needing that taste

he had been able to gain such great regenerative abilities was by sacrificing his own son. After having gone so far and with the unification of this world right at his finger tips, how could he

red, his body driving itself forward. Even if he couldn't use Spatial Force anymore, he

plummeted from the skies, crashing into the buildings

his skin, bursting with whatever Light

time he managed to leap over another building, he could only

though his heart was being ripped out. These last two years couldn't have been any realer to him. He could still hear every one of Rollan's laughs, he could still feel every time he patted his shoulder,

possibly explain his death to Elise, or if he would even ever get a chance to, tore him

die. Somehow, what he

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

"Goggles!" Rollan roared.

hid the trembling in his voice. "I won't let this bastard be the reason my

completely

gone on a convoluted rant played in his mind in a flash. And yet, this time, he hardly got to finish a single sentence before the rest was filled the gurgling sounds