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

roared, his

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

down from the skies, his armless body looking like an

opened wide, skin flaking and falling from

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

for her to react to. She didn't even have time to

she was going to die

a shame… that his head was covered in

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

for blood, needing that taste of

After having gone so far and with the unification of this world right at his finger tips, how could he

Even if he couldn't use Spatial Force anymore, he still

plummeted from the

his Divine Armor to sink into his skin, bursting

leap over another building, he could only watch as

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

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

Rollan die. Somehow, what he

torn out much like Gertrude before him, Goggles kicked him out of the way, appearing before Alexandre

"Goggles!" Rollan roared.

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

completely

his mind in a flash. And yet, this time, he hardly