*Spark!*
Suddenly, a heavy buzz coursed through everyone’s body before a blinding light exploded into the distance.
The day turned into night.
The vast area above the Earth’s base turned black as space shattered, but no suction appeared as the Grimworld prevented it, bit visual terror was still there as everyone saw the darkness that devoured the Earth’s base entirely.
“Retreat!”
Zanathriel shouted as he turned into a black streak and entered his large chariot.
The remaining people of the three armies who were barely 20% of their original numbers ran away.
Neo glanced at Almond who was frozen and turned away.
But suddenly, his heart skipped a beat, and danger bells rang in his head.
His body froze, and a shade covered him.
Almond floated there, his eyes consumed with fury as his right arm blurred, the sword in the hand buzzing as the space around Neo shattered.
It only lasted for one second, and Almond’s right arm was gone as it couldn’t bear the burden of what Almond executed.
But its result was evident for all, as Neo Elvergarde ceased to exist, utterly and completely.
Except for his will which became Almond’s servant.
And then, a notification rang in everyone’s head, bearing heavy news.
[Earth has lost. Therefore, half of its population will be decimated. Decemation begins in three seconds.]
A silence descended along with this notification as every resident of Earth on the Battlefield suddenly appeared in the Sanctuary Area, on the Hanging Cliff, where the Adventurer’s town and number one Throne territory was located.
Hundreds of people looked at each other, their faces blank as the realization of loss hadn’t settled yet.
“NO!”
Everyone looked at Almond as he shouted, he raised his hand as he encased everyone in a spatial cube, detaching their connection from the material world completely.
“This shouldn’t happen!” Almond shouted as he looked up, his eyes bloodshot.
“YOU ARE HEARING, RIGHT?! STOP THIS!”
“YOU CAN STOP IT!”
“STOP THIS BULLSHIT!”
“WHY YOU MUST DO THIS?!”
“I WILL KILL YOU!”
“STOP!”
The more Almond felt his cubes getting oppressed by the power that felt utterly irresistible, the more his desperation and anger grew.
And it was at Almond’s last word that everything suddenly froze. The entire Earth and Sanctuary froze as a pair of giant eyes with a hazy outlining of a face oozing out utter reverence of power and divine appeared.
It was so overwhelming and powerful that it tricked everyone’s brain into thinking it was god, producing a feeling of utter reverence for it.
And when their logic denied this reverence, the overwhelming power of the mysterious divine flooded their brain, tricking them forcefully, and calming them.
They just stood in a daze, unable to move, unable to think, simply standing in a daze that invited them for a peaceful eternity.
Of course, not everyone was affected, and many were trying to stay conscious.
But most of them failed to even understand the voice as it rang. It was as if their eyes, ears, and other senses were not worthy of perceiving this existence’s voice and appearance.
However, Almond saw the being clearly, his bloodshot eyes were desperate yet defiant.
“I can stop this, indeed.”
“But it is too boring to stop this. How else would you feel another loss? How else would I know if you will rise further.”
“I want to see you break because there is no one that cannot break. That lass I put in charge decided to make a bet with me, and I don’t like to lose because I believe there are only those that remain broken or become renewed.”
“To prove myself right, you shall break.”
Almond felt heaviness in his heart and fury in his mind. “Just because of that?! Why must you kill so many many people?!”
“What is death? What is life? They are nothing but an illusion for souls to tread. The souls vanishing here will be devoured by Grimworld and will part from you forever.”
“Now, let us witness the parting. Say goodbye to them with your eyes, Almond Crowshade.”
The cubes protecting everyone suddenly vanished.
Everyone returned to normal and the strange entity disappeared.
“We lost?”
“I feel strange, man. It’s strang-” Silvester spoke as he looked at his hand, but his head suddenly scattered away before his body.
Admiral Rudra trembled as he looked around.
“Al!”
Lily rushed into Almond’s arms, holding onto him tightly.
Almond hugged her.
“Guys, it’s over?” Natalia said as she looked at them.
Lily and Almond turned to her, their eyes trembling.
“No, no, no! No!” Lily shouted, her eyes red and cheeks wet as she rushed at Natalia.
Natalia grinned, her cheeks straining with tears, “I feel like I-“
“NOO!”
Almond’s eyes blanked.
*Thud…*
His knees weakened and slammed down, a numb sound echoing in his mind.
“I don’t to die!”
“NO! Help Ple-“
“God, save-“
He could see everyone’s mouth moving, and people shouting, but no voice reached his ears.
“Brat,” Admiral Rudra turned to Almond, his face smiling.
“Almond…” Lily turned to Almond, feeling a sudden strangeness.
Almond’s eyes shook. “No, not you…please…”
And it was at that moment that Almond broke, but he didn’t give up.
“NOT YOU!”
Almond suddenly burst out with an influx of mana that soon transformed into blades, killing everyone, including Lily and Admiral Rudra.
“I can revive you!”
“I can revive you if I kill!”
Almond stood up, speaking with a maddening expression as he waved his hands, executing his powers.
“Spirit Animation…devour them! Devour them, completely and turn them into true Spirits!”
“YOU WILL NOT DIE!”
…
“What?! Damn, he is cheating!”
The overseer saw what Almond was doing in the Sanctuary and jumped in shock.
“Spirit Animation…why the fuck must he learn something like that?!”
“Fuck, fuck, fuck! Now that bitch will continue to stay by his side!” Reiara pulled her hair in frustration.
But after a second, she calmed down and took a deep breath.
“I have to inform Lord ab-“
Suddenly, her voice was interrupted by a presence as a glowing figure, not perceived with normal senses appeared in front of her.
“Do you think I don’t know?”
The figure turned to the screen showing Almond and smiled.
“Well, this is interesting. To think he would be able to take this step amidst this situation. I can’t say I am not impressed by his tenacity and the fact that he will save those with his own logic and won’t let himself break.”
“W-what now, my lord?”
“Nothing. He is officially one of those who defies the world and still rises. So I shall observe his journey until he reaches us or die trying.”
“It’s going to be fun.”
…
“Shit…” Big D cursed while looking at the mirror in the room.
Madam Ruby was nearby, silent and thoughtful. “To think someone created a bomb like that. That Neo guy is crazy, but he is dead and Almond’s servant now.”
“It’s not him. It’s his son,” Big D said. “Neo’s death will rewrite his son’s path.”
“Does his son have the potential to become an Arcane Champion?”
“Not just Arcane Champion, but to stand where Almond is standing.”
Madam Ruby looked at Almond. “So he really became an Overrider like you…”
She then muttered, “If Neo’s son also becomes Overrider, he will come for Almond to take back his father’s will.”
“I did expect him to gain the status of Overrider, but not this soon. Anyway, he managed to save important people and he is sane.”
“Not just sane, but also filled with wrath for the third layer and Grimworld,” Big D’s eyes glinted as he added. “He is ready for a new beginning to create a desired end.”
“Well, I hope so,” Madam Ruby wryly smiled. “No new Overrider has replaced any of the seven Thrones for thousands of years.”
“So what?” Big D suddenly jumped on Madam Ruby’s head and snorted. “It doesn’t matter. We’ll replace the throne, we just have to work for it and reach there.”
“Anyway, let’s go and visit him with our clones. I want to see what he is doing.”
“He killed everyone and absorbed everyone, every atom to every mote of their souls. Even if he revives them, would they be the same?” Mada Ruby questioned.
Big D slapped her cheek with his tail, “Of course. That’s how Spirit Animation works. Their souls are complete and metaphysically present in him. The main question is, will Almond succeed in making it work before time runs out?”
“Time?” Madam Ruby raised her eyebrows.
“He cheated in a sense, but that’s also his achievement, so Grimworld will act and pass a fair judgment. Almond will likely get a time limit, so he won’t be able to save everyone. But concludes it. He and Earth will ascend to the second layer once they clear the 30th Floor of the Labyrinth.”