RUMBLE—!
Terrifying tremors and explosions roared into the ears of everyone present. From the colossal warships hovering in near-Earth orbit to the ordinary civilians cowering in the corners of cities, the entire Northern Hemisphere's field of vision was swallowed by a massive fireball that pierced straight into the heavens.
Like the incarnation of a god of destruction descending upon the world, only the radiance of a dying star could rival its brilliance.
Earth and sky alike—cloud layers high above and land below—were ignited and reduced to ash beneath that rapidly expanding light of annihilation.
The spreading shockwave solidified into visible force, forming a ring-shaped wall of flame around the blast. Ash-like fire-mist surged in tidal waves, one after another, as the atmosphere's temperature spiked violently.
From outer space, upon the surface of the blue planet, a second sun abruptly flared into existence—its brilliance eclipsing even that of the true star.
...
North America—Anti-Entropy Headquarters.
The once-prosperous metropolis had fallen into deathly silence. Psychedelic neon lights were buried beneath layers of frost and snow. Abandoned vehicles littered the streets.
Under the drifting blizzard, the city was bathed in icy blue. Amid the stillness, the roar of bolt shells and various plasma weapons interwove with one another. Explosions flashed constantly, yet snowflakes continued to fall like willow catkins, like cotton, like goose feathers.
Atop the Anti-Entropy headquarters building, now encased in ice crystals, Esdeath unleashed a beam of extreme frost, freezing a nuclear warhead attempting terminal supersonic penetration.
Suddenly, a flicker of surprise crossed her face. She turned her head, her ice-blue eyes gazing toward the Far East.
Scarlet radiance reflected within her pupils.
"Judgment of Shamash? Is that Roboute? Doesn't seem like it... Hm? I can also sense Her Majesty's energy fluctuations?"
In that distant direction, the sky itself seemed flammable—ignite it, and it would burn. Flame-laced clouds were split apart, revealing the steel constructs of outer space beyond.
They trembled. Their shield fields distorted and flickered, rippling in waves.
"How frightening~ That's the war zone under Great General Budo's command. Must be quite the troublesome opponent." A leisurely voice drifted over.
Esdeath shot a helpless glance at Liver, who stood beside her stroking his small mustache with one hand while holding a teacup in the other, watching the spectacle with idle curiosity.
She clicked her tongue, looking thoroughly exasperated.
"General Liver, where did you learn to speak in that tone? It's... strange." After pondering briefly, she nodded solemnly. "Yes. It makes me want to punch you."
"Er..."
Liver fell silent.
"Sorry, sorry. Couldn't help it... Hm?! No, that's not right." Covering his face, he muttered, "It's Borsalino. I caught it from him. That man's infectious."
After a pause, he asked, "Is it really that irritating?"
"Without a doubt. Extremely irritating."
Esdeath looked down over the city below.
Skyscrapers, long avenues, narrow alleys—layer upon layer formed a steel forest capable of swallowing humanity whole. Yellow laser beams flared wildly within it.
Then she added with certainty, "If you spoke like that in front of Her Majesty, I guarantee she'd deal with you."
"Ahem..."
With an awkward chuckle, Liver quickly set down his teacup and straightened.
"Organized resistance in the Americas has basically been wiped out. What remains are scattered pockets of rats."
Aside from the fact that Anti-Entropy had been reduced to a handful of stragglers—making it the weakest of the three major organizations compared to Schicksal and World Serpent—it was worth noting that the American theater under Liver's command had progressed rapidly, with minimal damage inflicted upon cities, industry, or population.
After all, aside from the Dead Sea Scrolls technology and a few ready-made Titan production lines, Anti-Entropy seemed to possess nothing that drew Selene's particular attention.
As for those obstructive congressmen dragging things down—Liver found no reason to waste time negotiating their surrender.
Unlike Schicksal, which possessed numerous Saint Research Institutes specifically highlighted by Selene for attention—such as Master Swordsmith Nagamitsu, director of Saint 1504 Research Institute—and its Valkyrie forces that required careful pacification.
Unlike World Serpent, which harbored numerous troublesome hostile targets—especially the existence known as Kevin Kaslana.
There was no need here for lengthy negotiations, handovers, or appeasement.
Surrendering before being killed by the Imperial Army was their only chance of survival.
Even if the governments of the Americas wished to resist—Liver could not help but scoff—they simply lacked the capability. They were far less cohesive than Schicksal or World Serpent.
He had, without question, drawn the easiest opponent.
"Since even Her Majesty has taken action, we should accelerate our progress as well."
The laziness vanished from Liver's face as he clasped his fists and spoke solemnly.
"Mm..."
Esdeath flexed her fingers.
My hands are itching. I really want to head over there and fight properly...
...
Mediterranean Sea—Schicksal Headquarters Floating Island Cluster.
In the heavy silence, labored breathing betrayed their unrest. The Valkyries stood frozen, staring at the projection on the massive screen.
Since Schicksal's orbital satellites had been destroyed by the Imperial Navy the moment Imperial forces landed, and all of Schicksal's armed forces had been disarmed, the footage they now watched came entirely from Imperial Navy vessels in near-Earth orbit.
It would be a waste not to utilize Schicksal Headquarters' comprehensive infrastructure. From the moment of transfer, Imperial technical personnel had landed alongside the troops.
Loss of communication and global monitoring capacity due to destroyed signal stations and satellites?
Simple.
Switch channels.
Replace satellites with warships. Share the Imperial Navy's observation systems.
From space, the sea around the Far Eastern metropolis had become a boundless inferno.
Everyone observing that sight stood with mouths agape. Shock was etched upon every face.
The observation point was outer space.
To see such an immense crimson expanse so clearly from here—how vast must the burning area be?
If it had been nuclear warheads, Honkai fission bombs, or the steel behemoths of the Imperial Army responsible, they might not have been so stunned.
But the one who unleashed that attack—was a human.
Some staff members, even Valkyrie warriors, collapsed to the floor. They stared upward at the screen, pupils dilated, jaws slack.
"Judgment of Shamash... Siegfried..." Theresa murmured.
Raiden Mei shook her head, pointing at the region saturated with dense Honkai energy on the screen.
"It's not Siegfried Kaslana."
"It's Kevin Kaslana."
That's right. It was Raiden Mei.
Selene had given the two sisters—and the little cook—a choice: remain aboard the flagship to study Imperial records and deepen their understanding of the Empire, or return to the surface to assist Theresa in completing Schicksal's surrender.
There was no need to guess. With Kiana's kindness, she had naturally chosen to return to the surface and help Theresa.
Durandal, on the other hand, remained aboard Selene's flagship to review Imperial materials and gain a clearer understanding of the Empire.
As for Raiden Mei...
It could only be said that her heart and body both belonged to Kiana.
In such a dangerous situation, she chose to stay by Kiana's side. Wherever Kiana went, she would follow.
"And his opponents are Great General Budo and the Thirteenth Legion's Legion Commander, Roboute..." Raiden Mei said softly, her mood visibly heavy.
After speaking, she cast a complicated glance at Alex and Sanguinius standing not far away. Upon their gorgets, entwined in golden olive branches, the numerals 'Ⅰ' and 'Ⅸ' gleamed conspicuously.
Only those who had felt that overwhelming power at close range could truly understand how small they were.
Kiana's expression darkened. "Kevin Kaslana... The surrounding areas are all densely populated metropolitan zones. Such a concentrated Honkai energy eruption could very well cause—"
"Any casualties would be his responsibility."
Before Kiana could finish, Alex smiled indifferently.
"Quite ironic, isn't it? This time, he's the destroyer—and we're the ones protecting the city."
He spoke gently, yet his words were utterly cold.
"We don't have spare manpower to evacuate civilians who are not yet Imperial citizens. If dogs bite dogs, that's his own doing."
His eyes were calm, almost warm, but devoid of pity.
"In fact, it will help us divide and dismantle them. More convenient for Imperial rule."
Sanguinius nodded in agreement.
Yes, they might be considered the more moderate faction among the Astartes Legions—but that depended entirely on whom they were compared to.
To assume they were naive saints would be a grave misunderstanding.
"It seems Great General Budo's side is entering the final phase," Alex said, turning to his adjutant. "We should accelerate our own progress."
Suddenly—
"Hey, Alex. That's Her Majesty's ability."
"Hm?"
Following Sanguinius' line of sight, Alex narrowed his eyes.
"...Imaginary Barrier."
On the screen, as the blinding radiance of flame gradually dimmed, the metropolitan area where World Serpent's headquarters stood came fully into view.
It had not been destroyed.
A vast pale-blue diamond-shaped light curtain enveloped the entire region, protecting it firmly within.
"Selene-sister..."
...
Amid the fading thunderous rumble, once deprived of energy supply, the sea of fire that had filled the sky became rootless—like drifting duckweed.
The flames, comparable to the explosion of a dying star, slowly began to recede.
The burning sky did not fall.
Embers like stellar sparks drifted downward. It was strangely beautiful.
Yet none of it compared to the gradually unfolding radiance of Finality.
Within the cloudless sky, ripples spread through the thin atmosphere. Violet-red motes of light rotated irregularly like cosmic dust.
Then Kevin saw it.
Accompanied by drifting light-wings and Subspace Lances, a terrifying figure shrouded in faint crimson mist stepped out from a rift in space.
Though there was no sound, he could almost hear the world's lament the moment she emerged.
Only after the figure fully stepped forward—concealing the golden divine sigils behind her—did the torn void mend, revealing her true form.
Powerful.
Beautiful.
Noble.
Sacred.
Those were the words that flashed into the minds of all who beheld her.
But Kevin knew.
They were false.
She was the 'evil god' who had descended from beyond the stars, walking this world to bring about its destruction.
Kevin knew that face well.
The long silver-white hair was just as familiar as ever. Within those crimson diamond pupils, the golden rings made him momentarily feel as though he had returned to the Previous Era—fighting side by side with Mei and everyone else.
"Finality—!!"
Clang—!
Still in Shuhadaku of Uriel form, Kevin swung Judgment of Shamash, unleashing a colossal blade of fire that soared toward the heavens.
Selene remained unmoved.
The next instant—
"How dare you!" ×2
Budo and Roboute shot upward simultaneously, appearing to Selene's left and right. Budo roared as he hurled a heavy punch. Roboute brought his greatsword down with full force.
Boom! Boom!
Lightning and flame scattered. The massive fire blade spanning thousands of meters shattered.
Though both were using the Shuhadaku of Uriel form of Judgment of Shamash, there was a world of difference between a full-powered strike at peak stamina and one launched in exhaustion.
Moreover, ever since escaping the Sea of Quanta, Kevin had never truly recovered.
Against weaker foes, he was still overwhelming.
But against near-equal Legion Commanders of the Astartes—
That strike was not enough.
Scorching shockwaves howled past, whipping Selene's garments into sharp snaps.
"Your Majesty!"
"Your Majesty!"
As if by reflex, the two Legion Commanders dropped to one knee upon the thin violet light platform beneath them.
Selene merely inclined her head.
She stood suspended in the air.
She looked down.
The ocean below had nearly vanished. The heatwave unleashed by Shuhadaku of Uriel had vaporized everything instantly. The landscape had been completely reshaped. Mountains forced upward by the pressure erupted like active volcanoes, spewing magma.
The seabed had been replaced by a rift of molten lava plunging deep into the crust. Bubbling magma exploded continuously, exposing hardened land. The darkened earth was riddled with crimson fissures like the scars of an earthquake.
"Kevin Kaslana. From the Previous Era to now—fifty thousand years. You truly are adept at clinging to life. You and all creations of the Previous Era existing in the Current Era are mistakes."
She cast him a contemptuous sidelong glance, slipping seamlessly into her role.
"Compared to Mobius, Vill-V, and Mei... Mei was your lover, wasn't she? Those three are the ones I valued most in the Previous Era."
Selene chuckled softly.
"Because their research achievements allowed even someone as mediocre as you, a so-called Flame-Chaser, to stand before me."
Kevin, gasping for breath, froze.
His expression darkened instantly.
He heard the implication.
"Mei..." His voice scraped from his throat. His eyes flushed red. "It was you!"
"You destroyed everything I had!"
Selene smiled, offering no direct answer.
"Civilization requires examination. I am the final examiner. Pass—and live. Fail—and perish."
"Your existence, in this era, is cheating."
"As for why I descended ahead of schedule... you know the reason yourself."
As she spoke, her gaze drifted subtly across the surroundings. The corners of her lips curved upward.
She extended a finger, moving it up and down with the grace of a conductor.
Sky-blue streams of data gathered, shaped, and condensed beneath her touch.
"Your existence is but a farce. Amuse me well. Though you are as fragile as thin ice over boiling water, it is better than nothing."
"FINALITY—!"