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!"

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

still seemed to be able to get

are you doing

was trying to kill

Kevin would attempt to conceal their strength

benefit would such action bring

such a

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

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

Crack—!

limped over Kevin's hand as the sound of bones

and

the leader of the Monolith, and

Thump—!

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

"Pffff."

began to spurt over his hand as his face began to turn pale, and

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

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

"Ugh…a

single second seemed like an eternity to

he

shirt tightly, he rolled around and supported

"Pffff."

rendered completely limp. It took everything that he had in him to

couldn't allow himself

Not yet.

have much time

***

Human Domain.

could be heard all along the derelict streets and buildings

Clank—! Clank—!

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

one could faintly hear the

above in

Boom—!

already, you old witch

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

the opposite direction from her, and

"Y-ou…"

white hair was all over her

did

wasn't supposed to be

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

It didn't make sense!

they take such

'Did…did he betray us?'

of what happened a little while back resurfaced in her

was the only explanation she could come up with at the moment,

"Don't tell me…"

Beeep—! Beeep—! Beeep—!

morphed dramatically as an alarming beeping sound suddenly reverberated throughout the

Damn it!

was

Booooooom—!

sky was suddenly illuminated by a blinding light, which was accompanied by a deafening boom that seemed

a mushroom cloud of

path and destroying it. A desolate landscape was

by what was