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 Hemlock's eyes, which shook with what appeared to be...

be able to get a few words

are you

asking why he was trying to kill

Kevin would attempt to

would such

about such a

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

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—!

over Kevin's hand as the sound of bones breaking reverberated throughout the

against my interests, and for that,

of the Monolith, and an ranked

Thump—!

as he did so, his limp

"Pffff."

spurt over his hand as his face began to turn

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

to feel his heart thumping against the back of his throat. He felt

"Ugh…a

second seemed like an eternity to him, and the pain in his chest increased with every

felt as though he was

tightly, he rolled around and supported his body

"Pffff."

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

allow himself to

Not yet.

don't have

***

Human Domain.

metal could be heard all along the derelict streets and buildings that were

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 were sustained

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

above

Boom—!

already, you old

who was covered in orange armor. The armor complimented her body perfectly and covered all areas of her body. Not leaving a single

the elderly woman who was standing in the opposite direction from her, and as she did so, a soft hue floated out of the corner

"Y-ou…"

shot Monica an angry look. Her white hair was all over her face,

did you

wasn't supposed to

it possible for someone of Monica's

It didn't make sense!

they take

'Did…did he betray us?'

a little while back resurfaced in her

in midair after she had an abrupt realization about something. It was the only explanation she could come up with

"Don't tell me…"

Beeep—! Beeep—! Beeep—!

woman's expression morphed dramatically as an alarming beeping sound suddenly reverberated throughout

it! Damn

she was saying before her body began

Booooooom—!

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

in a mushroom cloud of ash, rubble, and smoke filling the sky, which in

everything in its path and destroying it. A desolate

followed by