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.

like a hellish descent coming to reap all

Leonel suddenly roared, his body

appeared again, he had traveled less than half the distance he had

range, Alexandre had shot down from the skies, his armless body

opened wide, skin flaking and falling from his skull

Gertrude smiled. Even from so far away, Leonel could see

her to react to. She didn't even have

were quite simple, really. If she was going to die anyway, wouldn't it be

just a shame… that his head was covered in that

teeth in that moment. As though a man dying of thirst, he sucked with all his might, leaving her withering until she breathed

body flickered again, fiending for 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 this world right at his finger tips, how could he die

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

he plummeted from the skies, crashing into

into his skin, bursting with whatever Light Elemental Force

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

hear every one of Rollan's laughs, he could still feel every time he patted his shoulder, he could still

his death to Elise, or if he would

Somehow, what he saw instead shook him even

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

"Goggles!" Rollan roared.

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

world completely lost

had gone on a convoluted rant played in his mind in a flash. And yet, this time, he hardly got to finish a single sentence