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

still seemed to be able

are you

trying to kill him. He already understood

reason why Kevin would

benefit would such

about such a trivial

replied in a soft manner, further tightening his grip on his neck. Once

wasn't crazy... Had it been another time, maybe you would've been able to accomplish what you set out to do. Perhaps humanity

Crack—!

body limped over Kevin's hand as the

and for that, you have to

of the Monolith,

Thump—!

he did so, his limp trembled,

"Pffff."

his face began

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

his heart thumping against the back of his throat. He felt a

"Ugh…a

Every single second seemed like an eternity to him, and the pain

he was being burned

his shirt 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

couldn't allow himself

Not yet.

have

***

Human Domain.

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

Clank—! Clank—!

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

limbs and blood, and one could faintly hear the screams of

up above in the

Boom—!

die already, you old witch number

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

opposite direction from her, and

"Y-ou…"

white hair was all over her

did you

supposed to be

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

It didn't make sense!

would they take

'Did…did he betray us?'

a little

the only explanation she could come

"Don't tell me…"

Beeep—! Beeep—! Beeep—!

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

it! Damn it!

was

Booooooom—!

blinding light, which was accompanied by a deafening boom

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

destroying it. A desolate landscape was left behind after the explosion as a result of the shockwave that traveled for

by what was comparable to the cracking sound of