The Author's POV

Booom—!

Large portions of the hall collapsed inwardly, crashing against the ground beneath them as the sound of a significant explosion reverberated through the air.

Boom—! Boom—!

The hall continued to shake, and dust continued to fly into the air, creating a veil that obscured what was taking place behind it.

In the midst of the veil, bright white lights flashed while muffled explosions accompanied them.

Each impact was felt throughout the entire headquarters, as buildings collapsed and the dome protecting the facility continuously flickered. Cracks soon started to form, and alarms started to ring.

This didn't last for long, however.

Silence soon returned to the headquarters in the aftermath of the short conflict.

A great number of figures were seen lying on the ground as they took their final breaths, and those that were still alive did not even dare to move an inch.

They were helpless in the face of the overwhelming power that radiated from the hall, and they dared not even consider the events that had transpired there. Whatever had taken place was beyond their comprehension.

Within the destroyed hall.

"Uakh…h-how is this possible?"

Hemlock had a difficult time catching his breath. He looked up at two crimson red eyes that shone menacingly against the dark backdrop of the hall as a hand clenched tightly around his throat.

"How are… you this s-strong?"

It made no sense. It was impossible!

'This can't be real. How is this possible!?'

He, who had just broken through rank was supposed to be the strongest human in existence.

Apart from Octavious, there shouldn't be anyone else that could pose a threat against him, so…

How?

How was this possible?

"I-t makes no sense!"

"Of course, it doesn't."

The mute sound of Kevin's voice gradually made its way to him. Shivers ran down Hemlock's spine as he noticed his calm gaze pause on him.

He continued.

"The sacrifice and pain I underwent to get to where I am isn't something that the likes of you can ever hope to understand."

His power wasn't something he had acquired over the course of a couple of decades.

Far from it.

It was a skill he had acquired through a million distinct regressions. Throughout the centuries, he died over and over again. Endlessly.

To the point where death was merely a number to him.

All of it was for this one moment.

"Be glad you got to live as long as you did. If not because I allowed it, you wouldn't have lived as long as you did."

Had he not recovered his memories and power this late, he would have long since killed him. What he was doing now was something he should've done a while back but didn't.

...It was the last thing that he needed to do.

"Ukh!"

grip on his neck, staring deeply into Hemlock's eyes, which shook with what appeared to

seemed to be able

are you doing

asking why he was trying to kill

reason why Kevin

would such action

such a

in a soft manner, further tightening his grip on his neck. Once again staring deeply into his eyes, his gaze softened for

know, your approach wasn't crazy... Had it been another time, maybe you would've been able to accomplish what you set out to do. Perhaps humanity wouldn't really go into extinction like you

Crack—!

as the sound of bones breaking reverberated

directly conflicts against my interests, and for that, you have to

of the Monolith, and an

Thump—!

side, and as he did so, his limp trembled, and he quickly brought his hand

"Pffff."

began to spurt over his hand as his face began to turn pale, and he

Bu..thump! Bu..thump! Bu..thump!

he was almost able to feel his heart thumping against the back of his throat. He felt a sense of powerlessness wash over his body, and he fell to the ground

"Ugh…a

he was experiencing. Every single second seemed like an eternity to him, and the pain in his chest increased with every breath he

though he was being

his shirt tightly, he rolled around and supported his body

"Pffff."

completely limp. It took everything that he had in him to prevent himself from

couldn't allow himself

Not yet.

don't have much time

***

Human Domain.

metal could be heard all along the

Clank—! Clank—!

was a fierce battle going on between the members of the alliance and the members of the Monolith. There was blood everywhere on the ground, and significant casualties

covered in severed limbs and blood, and one could faintly hear the screams of desperation coming

above in

Boom—!

die already, you old witch number

through the air. It belonged to a girl with orange hair who was covered in orange armor.

who was standing in the opposite direction from her, and as she did so, a

"Y-ou…"

white hair was all over her face, and her

did you

wasn't supposed to

order to eliminate their forces. How was it possible for someone of Monica's stature to show up? She wasn't supposed to be here! She

It didn't make sense!

would they take such

'Did…did he betray us?'

of what happened a little while back resurfaced

midair after she had an abrupt realization about something. It was the only explanation she could come up with at the moment, and her eyes

"Don't tell me…"

Beeep—! Beeep—! Beeep—!

an alarming beeping

it! Damn it!

what she was saying before her body

Booooooom—!

blinding light, which was accompanied by a deafening boom that seemed to travel in waves and shook

it, resulting in a mushroom cloud of ash, rubble, and

it. A desolate landscape was left behind

by what was comparable