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!"

neck, staring deeply into

still seemed to be able to get a

are you

wasn't asking why he was trying to kill

reason why Kevin would attempt to

benefit would such action bring

worry about such

his grip on his neck. Once again staring deeply into his eyes, his gaze

able to accomplish what you set out to do. Perhaps humanity wouldn't really go into

Crack—!

as the sound of bones breaking reverberated throughout the

and

leader of the Monolith, and an

Thump—!

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

"Pffff."

hand as his face began to turn pale, and he fell to the

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

the back of his throat. He felt a sense of powerlessness wash over his body, and he fell to the ground while in excruciating

"Ugh…a

pain that he was experiencing. Every single second seemed like an eternity to him,

as though he was being burned

he rolled around and supported his body

"Pffff."

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

himself

Not yet.

don't have

***

Human Domain.

all along the derelict streets and

Clank—! Clank—!

alliance and the members of the Monolith. There was blood everywhere on the ground,

could faintly hear the screams of desperation coming from

above in the

Boom—!

die already, you

high-pitched voice echoed through the air. It belonged to a girl with orange hair who was covered in orange armor. The armor complimented her body perfectly and covered all areas of her body. Not leaving

in the opposite direction from her, and as she did

"Y-ou…"

an angry look. Her white hair was all

did

supposed to be

meant to be a trap set up for them in order to eliminate their forces. How was it possible for someone of Monica's

It didn't make sense!

would they take

'Did…did he betray us?'

what happened a little while back resurfaced in

something. It was the only explanation she could come up

"Don't tell me…"

Beeep—! Beeep—! Beeep—!

an alarming beeping

Damn it!

finish what she was saying before her

Booooooom—!

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

lifted the ground from underneath it, resulting in a mushroom cloud of ash, rubble, and

the explosion site, igniting everything in its path and destroying it. A desolate landscape was left behind after

followed by an eerie silence, followed by