Gina smiled.
Not the confident smile she used in meetings.
Not the calm, calculating one she wore when observing others.
This one was different.
Twisted.
Heavy.
Like something behind her eyes had finally been given permission to surface.
Jess stepped forward—
—but stopped.
Her instincts screamed.
Not danger.
Wrongness.
Gina's lips parted slowly.
Her voice came out softer than usual…
Yet it echoed unnaturally across the battlefield.
"Circuit sequence zero…"
The air tightened.
The ground beneath their feet sank slightly.
"…Queen of the underworld—"
A pause.
A breath.
"…Persephone."
Darkness bloomed.
It didn't erupt.
It grew.
From her chest outward—like ink spilling into water, swallowing everything it touched.
Her body was consumed.
Layer by layer.
Skin.
Aura.
Presence.
All of it wrapped and compressed into a single point—
Then—
SHHHHHRRRRK.
A black cocoon formed.
Not smooth.
Not perfect.
It pulsed.
Veins of dark crimson energy ran across its surface like roots searching for something to devour.
And then—
A shockwave exploded outward.
The force slammed into everyone present.
The ground cracked.
Windows in distant buildings shattered.
Trees bent violently.
Denma dug his feet into the ground, veins bulging.
"Tch—!"
He gritted his teeth as the pressure tried to push him back.
"And you called yourself humanity's hero while relying on artificial circuits…"
His voice was low.
Disappointed.
"I'm disappointed."
Kimotsu stepped forward into the wave, coat whipping behind him.
His silver eyes remained calm.
"I get why Kaelen's considered number one…"
His grip tightened on his sword.
"No matter what…"
The pressure surged again—
"…he'll always put those he protects first."
Jess raised her hand slightly, stabilizing her stance.
The force pressed against her—but she didn't move.
"Then if we didn't do anything in the past…"
Her wings flickered faintly behind her.
"…from now on let's be proper heroes."
Faith stepped beside her.
A soft glow radiated from her body, pushing back against the dark pressure.
"I couldn't agree more."
Gene yawned.
Actually yawned.
Even now.
"I sleep a lot…"
He scratched the back of his head, stepping forward casually.
"But when I'm awake…"
His eyes sharpened.
"…I do what's needed of me."
A beat.
"And none can deny that."
Kaelven stood with his arms loose at his sides.
The pressure washed over him—
—but didn't move him an inch.
He exhaled slowly.
Eyes narrowing.
Even June—
Though standing slightly behind—
Held his ground.
His coat flapped violently, but his smile never left.
Kimotsu adjusted his stance.
Slow.
Precise.
His blade angled forward—
Perfectly aligned.
Ready.
And the cocoon—
Pulsed again.
The sound it made this time…
Was deeper.
Like something inside had grown.
Evolved.
Awakened.
CRACK.
A thin fracture appeared along its surface.
Then another.
And another.
The veins of energy began to glow brighter.
The air itself started to distort.
CRACK.
CRACK.
CRACK—
And then—
SHATTER.
The black cocoon broke.
Not outward.
But inward.
Like reality itself had folded.
And what followed—
Was a wave.
Not just energy.
Not just force.
It was something heavier.
Something that carried intent.
Corruption.
Decay.
It surged forward—
Straight toward the city.
Buildings.
Civilians.
Everything in its path—
Would be erased.
Denma's eyes widened slightly.
"…Shit."
Jess stepped forward instinctively—
—but she knew.
They wouldn't make it in time.
Faith clenched her fists.
Gene's expression hardened.
Kimotsu's blade twitched—
Too far.
Too fast.
Kaelven clicked his tongue.
"…Damn it."
And June—
Watched.
Then—
BOOM.
The ground at the edge of the Association—
Exploded inward.
A crater formed instantly.
Stone collapsed.
Air compressed.
The incoming wave—
Hit something.
And stopped.
No—
It didn't stop.
It was overpowered.
The energy split.
Forced apart.
Crushed into nothing.
Standing in the center of the crater—
Was Kaelen.
Wings slightly spread.
Tail swaying behind him.
Axiomfall in his hand—
Glowing.
The air around him was calm.
Stable.
Untouched.
Like the chaos itself refused to approach him.
Silence fell.
Heavy.
Absolute.
Kaelven looked down at the crater—
Then smirked.
"He's here."