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

be able to get a few words

you doing

he was trying to kill

he wanted to comprehend was the reason why Kevin would attempt to conceal their strength

such action

worry about such a

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

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

Crack—!

as the sound of bones breaking

my interests, and for that,

like that, the leader of the Monolith,

Thump—!

he did so, his limp trembled, and

"Pffff."

to spurt over his hand as his face began to

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

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

"Ugh…a

overcome the pain that he was experiencing. Every single second seemed like an eternity

as though he was being

tightly, he rolled

"Pffff."

limp. It took

couldn't allow himself

Not yet.

have

***

Human Domain.

all along the derelict streets and

Clank—! Clank—!

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

one could faintly hear the screams of desperation coming from

up above

Boom—!

you

belonged to a girl with orange hair who was covered in orange armor. The armor complimented her

at the elderly woman who was standing in the opposite direction from her, and as she did

"Y-ou…"

an angry look. Her white hair was all over her face, and her clothes were

did you

wasn't supposed to be

to be a trap set up for them in 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!

take such a

'Did…did he betray us?'

a little while back resurfaced in

she had 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 beeping sound suddenly reverberated

it! Damn

was saying before her

Booooooom—!

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

so strong that it lifted the ground from underneath it, resulting in a mushroom cloud of ash, rubble, and smoke filling the sky, which in turn made the day

from the explosion site, igniting everything in its path and destroying it. A desolate landscape was left behind after the explosion as a result of the shockwave

by an eerie silence, followed by what was