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!"

staring deeply into Hemlock's eyes, which shook with what appeared

seemed to be able to get

are you

asking why he was trying

Kevin would attempt to conceal their strength and only act

would such action bring

such a

neck. Once again staring deeply into his eyes, his gaze softened for a

time, maybe you would've been able to accomplish what you set out to do. Perhaps

Crack—!

as the

my interests, and for that,

of the Monolith, and

Thump—!

so, his limp trembled, and he quickly brought his hand up to cover

"Pffff."

as his face began to turn

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

struggled to breathe and move, 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

moaned out in agony, unable to overcome the pain that he was experiencing. Every single second seemed like an eternity to

felt as though he was being

his shirt tightly, he rolled around

"Pffff."

came up in his vomit, and his arm was nearly rendered completely limp. It took everything that he had in him to

couldn't allow himself to

Not yet.

have much

***

Human Domain.

all along the derelict streets

Clank—! Clank—!

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

blood, and one could faintly hear the screams of desperation coming

above in the

Boom—!

die already, you old witch number

with orange hair who was covered in orange armor. The armor complimented her body perfectly and covered all areas

opposite direction from her, and as she did so, a soft hue floated

"Y-ou…"

white hair was all

How did

supposed to be

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

It didn't make sense!

they take such a

'Did…did he betray us?'

memory of what happened a little while back

an abrupt realization about something. It was the only explanation she

"Don't tell me…"

Beeep—! Beeep—! Beeep—!

woman's expression morphed dramatically as an alarming

it! Damn

finish what she was saying before her

Booooooom—!

suddenly illuminated by a blinding light, which was accompanied by a

it, resulting in a

rushed outward from the explosion site, igniting everything in its path and destroying it. A desolate landscape was left

was followed by an eerie silence, followed by what was