"Hehahahahaha!!! More! More!! MORE!!", I kept on going at it, thrusting my nce over and over again.

  But the Records of Mercury is handling my nce like a dance battle, gently redirecting my strikes away so they don't hit her. Her fire also cancels out mine, as their intensity matches what I felt when going near a crater left behind by Shemiss Aluqdim.

  Mercury... the pnet closest to the Sun, not even the Malice of Humanity can match it, yet.

  I dropped Quirinus and Fallen Starlight down, going for a full frontal assault.

  "What are you trying to do, Charlotte?", Amelia squinted her eyes, observing me.

  "Escation Level Four: Encore of Entropy."

  My body became enveloped in fme, then they condensed at my feet and arms. I threw a punch at Amelia, who took a step back to avoid my attack—

  But I shot out a beam of crimson fme from my hand, followed by ear-shattering screams, ughs of evil, of agony. Those who wronged and were wronged.

  Ah~ a chorus of misery and pleasure! Hehahaha~! Music to my ears...

  Amelia raised her arms, trying to block the attack— but she was bsted away.

  Boom!!

  The combined pressure created an explosion, knocking Amelia away. You might be immune to fire, but are you immune to explosives?

  I kicked my left foot up, sending a wave of fire towards the Records of Mercury before she get a chance to recover from the explosion.

  Next, I stomped the ground as I recovered from my kick, creating an explosion under the earth.

  Fire erupted, destroying and altering the terrain... hehahaha~!!

  "Escation Level Five: Chorus of Insurrection."

  A pair of wings made out of fire formed by the embers around, hovering just a few centimeters away from my trench coat. I fpped my wings once, lifting myself up from the ground as I used the fme produced under my feet to keep myself in the air.

  "I don't want to harm you, Charlotte.", she swung her golden fire sword, extinguishing my crimson fme of hatred and rage, "But this has to stop."

  Her eyes glow golden, burning with such an intense determination unfamiliar to me... so this is the light of a world that had ended...

  I like it— no, I LOVE IT!!

  She chanted in an unknown nguage, that not even I could understand. The nguage of a loss and far away civilization, of Mercury...

  She pointed her sword at me— and then a mark with the symbol of a mercury-colored wing appeared on my chest.

  In an instant, she appeared right in front of me. I fpped my wings, flying just out of the way before she swiped at me.

  Then she was behind me, again, I let the fire under my feet propelled me to the right.

  Hehahahaha~!!

  "Dodging and dodging~ didn't I announce my power to calcute the world?", I smiled while hanging upside down, "I can see numbers all around me, you are just another variable I have to take into account."

  "Escation Level Six: Choir of the Damned."

  I feel my throat burning as Malice, and I sing a tune of misery and cries for help. The air ruptured, and fire appeared everywhere, incinerating everything they touched to nothing.

  The voices of those who were left behind, those who were trampled upon by the evil and debauchery of others. Like a choir of those countless souls, their misery malformed into fury— seeking to burn down all that was made by those who wronged them.

  As for Amelia, a mongrel who can never get used to the cycle of destruction, a specialty of this world... heha~ horror is an expression that transcends time and space. For her, all of this must be madness.

  But it's just Thursday here.

  Falling out of the sky after having her eardrums— or whatever Mercurian used to listen. I can kill her right here and now...

  D???????o???n?????'??????t?????D????o???????I?????t???D???????o???n?????'??????t?????D????o???????I?????t???D???????o???n?????'??????t?????D????o???????I?????t???D???????o???n?????'??????t?????D????o???????I?????t???

  N????o???N????o?????N?????o????????N????????o????N???????o??????N????o???N????o?????N?????o????????N????????o????N???????o??????N????o???N????o?????N?????o????????N????????o??

  Grr... you are right, my conscience. I shouldn't kill her... never kill, only break bones. Also fuck you, my conscience.

  I flew in, catching Amelia in my hands before she hit the ground.

  "Why did you... catch me?"

  I smiled, with my eyes half-closed, "To break your spine, of course."

  I raised her up, and brought her down onto my knee!!

  Crack—

  I broke her spine, leaving her in pain. Heha~ this is what you get for getting in my way of fun.

  But then she tried to grab me, which I just moved slightly back just out of her grasp.

  "Charlotte... please, don't mess things up more than it already is...", she stood up, breathing heavily while holding onto her side, "This conflict isn't yours to engage."

  "And?", I tilted my head.

  "You shouldn't get involved with Heralds, this is my advice.", fire enveloped her again, healing her body.

  Hm?

  "Watch out.", I kicked and created a wall of fire, blocking an incoming bullet. It was aimed at Amelia...

  Who is it this time?

  I look around the burning Academy... seeing only one person walking towards me. They wear tactical gear, yet I can feel divinity coming from them... a god.

  "Hello hello, Descendant of Heroes.", their voice was distorted, likely due to a voice changer, "I am H-0, the Founder of the Akashic Insurgency, please to meet you."

  Akashic Insurgency... did they take advantage of the chaos and snuck in? The Founder too? Damn, I might get more of a kick out of this!! Amelia was holding back for my sake, but not this one...

  Amelia had already retreated somewhere, so I guess it's me and them now. I walked back, picking up Quirinus and Fallen Starlight.

  "By the Rite of Steel and Gunpowder... I shall burn you ash..."

  I brushed my cape with Quirinus, then I transferred the fire into my gun. I pulled the trigger of Fallen Starlight, aiming it straight at H-0. Ear-shattering screams followed by a column of fire!

  H-0 rolled to the side, dodging the attack. I followed her, but damn, the recoil for this is hard to control. Between taming this amount of energy and their speed... I am slower.

  Checking around, I see no one near me... so it is safe to use this...

  "Escation Level Seven: Requiem."

  All of my fire, burning around the academy, on my body, inside Fallen Starlight, coursing through Quirinus. All instantly vanished.

  A glowing white ball, with light comparable to the sun itself, was in front of me.

  H-0 stared at the ball, taking a step back. As they instinctively know what this is. The rage of humanity, our fury, the evil that burned the world before. This is the condensed form of human Malice.

  I let it roll on my nce, all the way to the tip. It floats there, even when I raise it to the sky.

  "In the Name of Humanity.", wind began to form around me due to the activation of Quirinus. Which slowly turns red as it absorbs the power of the ball.

  I smiled, looking at H-0 with a devilish smile. They opened fire on me, but all the bullets were vaporized by the heat alone.

  "So this is how it's going...", H-0 threw away their rifle, "Come, Hellstorm Rail."

  And a... red Gatling gun inscribed with Runes appeared in their hands— did they just say Hellstorm Rail? Wasn't that the weapon possessed by Hestia, the Goddess of Fire?

  I smiled, "I shall tell you a story—"

  The ball unraveled, becoming one with the whirlwind of Quirinus. I feel the presence of someone... standing behind me, whispering into my ears...

  "A tale of the beginning. Heaven and Earth split, the Void congratuted Infinity!"

  A rain of fire began to fly towards me. But they just got mixed up with my firestorm, to which I sneered with a wide smile.

  You know, not many people actually think about attacking the ground to disrupt the terrain. I am a stationary target, after all, just one attack could mess up my cool attack...

  "My Bde of Destruction shall cleave the world!"

  More and more, the wind began tearing up the world itself. I can feel the fabric of reality barely holding on...

  Hehahahaha!!!

  "Mortar of the souls, Divinity's Hell is the eve of Humanity!"

  Letting go of Fallen Starlight, I grasped Quirinus with both my hands. I can barely control the gyroscopic effect! This thing pack too much power!!

  "Enuma Elis1 (Tale of Creation)!!!!!"

  I swung Quirinus down, bringing the might of Humanity's Malice with it! Like a disaster, it ripped everything apart, tearing up the ground and bending the air.

  H-0, even if you want to escape. The whirlwind will just suck you back in—

  Someone jumped in front of H-0, throwing her to the side while taking the full brunt of Enuma Elis.

  Damn, I was wrong. There was someone stupid enough to jump in front of the attack capable of damaging reality itself.

  They were torn apart— bits of metal, screws and springs, joints and sockets... this thing isn't human. It's a machine— it tricked me.

  !!

  Right! I used all my strength, lifting my nce so the wind wouldn't destroy the city behind it— a pilr of red wind tore up the sky, clouds gathering around signaling an incoming storm...

  And... hehaha... the sky itself cracked, revealing the mastermind...

  A serpentine eye stares directly at me.

  Theia, the Ego of the World.

  =0=0=

  "John, you cannot keep this up. Handling both Judas and the chaos is way beyond your strength.", Jesus stood there, looking down from the edge of the volcano.

  John Titor, who was sitting down, facing away from Darkovah, let out a tired sigh.

  "It's nothing, My Lord. I was able to get most of the students out... the remaining ones are fighting to protect their academy...", a helpless smile formed on his face, he closed his eyes for a moment, "A Herald, a genuine god, MAS is occupied by the Akashic Insurgency, that unknown organization..."

  He turned back, looking up at the cracking sky, a serpentine eye stared directly at him, "Now even the Ego of the World joined in."

  "Seeing the destruction Judas triggered, it would be best for me to go on a pilgrimage.", Christ sighed, "At least you will have an easier time dealing with all the Gem Holders..."

  "You don't need to do any of that, not anymore...", a mechanical voice invaded their conversation.

  Appearing out of nowhere, was a towering bck mecha, his visor glowing purple as he looked down at them.

  "Judas, stop this. Everything is in the past already!", John stood up, "It isn't too te to turn this around. Just walk away, like nothing happened."

  "I am a Jury of the Pale Court, I must follow through with my Judgement. As I do not deserve to be one if I regret the things I had done.", he simply stated, gring down at John, "Stay out of this, John. The Pale Court already had their eyes on The Three Rings."

  The cockpit opened, and Iscariot stepped outside with her axe and mace ready. The mask she wears gives off a sense of discomfort to John, as it makes her seem nothing more than a killing machine.

  And that is what Iscariot wanted.

  She crossed her axe and mace together, and then they glowed white, forming a cross with a circur radiance around. The symbol of The Pale Court.

  "You cannot dodge this, My Former Lord. As this Judgement is made specifically for the Eldritch Gods, if anyone less than that made contact... who knows what would happen."

  "If it means to guarantee the safety of all the people below, then I will gdly take it.", Christ smiled, walking towards Iscariot.

  "You can't be serious! There must be another way!!", John frowned, but by now he is too weak to do anything.

  "Of course, there is always another way.", he turns his eyes to look at John, his most loyal Apostle, "But currently, I see no other way."

  "Then and now... you gingerly accept your demise.", Iscariot sighed, looking down with a depressed air, "This is why you will never fit in with humanity, you are just too good... I will at least make this painless."

  Judas raised his arms up to the air, where another symbol of The Pale Court appeared behind him. As this is...

  "The Time of Execution Hath Come.", he chanted, and the symbol expanded.

  Then Iscariot continues, "We are They Who Enact Judgment."

  The symbol behind Judas vanished and appeared beneath Christ, creating an area that pushed John away— he desperately tried to enter, using every st bit of his power to get in. But it was useless, even tiring out both of his powers wasn't enough.

  He then tried to attack Iscariot, but mechanical wires wrapped themselves around him, binding him in pce.

  All the while, the axe and mace merged into a sword, an executioner sword. The symbol on the ground created the construct of an execution stand.

  Iscariot walks up the stairs, sword in hand. Heavy were those steps, she closed her eyes as she mentally got ready to do something she would never do, but she had to.

  For she is the Sinner who killed countless in order to bring the rightful Judgement of her Star.

  "My Lord and Light, Shemiss Aluqdim, the Ancient Light... I shall fulfill my duty, to extinguish the invader...", her mechanical voice rang out sadness, bringing a somber air.

  "Jesus Christ, I would like you to be on your knees.", she looked up at him, "And please... do me an undeserving favor..."

  "Please... pray for yourself."

  Christ kneeled down, staring at the Sun above him, he could feel the gaze of The Pale Court, looking down upon him as the Jury of the Pale Court raised her sword.

  He csped his hands fully, offering a prayer, "For this is My Blood of the covenant which is poured out for the forgiveness of sins. For this is My Flesh of the remembrance which I have given for the revetion of truth. May my Blood and Flesh be a Sacrifice to Humanity."

  "In the end, you still prayed for others."

  She swung her Sword of Jugdement, cutting His head off in one fell swoop. Then, the entire execution ground glowed and shot up into the air, becoming a pilr of light.

  Now there only remains Iscariot.

  "My Lord...", John slumped down on his knees, and his face showed an expression of devastation. As the person he cared about the most is... gone.

  "You can hate us for what we did, as that is only human nature.", she dragged her sword back to Judas, not bothering to look at John.

  "In the Grand Tale of Earth, his story had ended long ago. Revetion was stopped, The Three Rings saved the world once, and humanity twice. Their presence is no longer needed."

  "What will you do from here on out...", John grumbled, his voice full of resentment.

  She thought about it for a moment, "Probably find somewhere secluded and download as much media as possible into our extra storage space. After dealing with the Lore Keeper's copy of Mars, which we Judged to be high quality enough to let live, I have found a new respect for literature and culture. So I want to consume as much as I can before being sent to another world."

  "I see... I still won't forgive you, Judas. You killed the most important person to me, I will find a way to—"

  Iscariot appeared in front of John before he could finish, her mask opened up to reveal a pyful smile and intense crimson-red eyes.

  "I heard this revenge talk thousands of times already, I think I murdered a man in front of his daughter before so don't get me to sink any lower. Plus, I cannot kill any humans, as you are all... precious... children of my Lord and Light.", she chuckled, her eyes looking past John, towards the mess below...

  And the serpentine eye in the sky.

  "Since I started a giant mess, even the Will of the World got involved... for the price of merely 30 Silvers, I will do something to... fix this.", she giggles, holding her hand out.

  Keeping his rage under control, to prioritize his students and academy.

  "Fine.", he took out a credit card, "Do you take credits?"

  She grinned, "Of course, I do, old friend."

  "Don't call me that ever again, you greedy bitch.", he sneered.

  "Hahaha! I will be gone soon enough so you don't have to miss me.", she took the credit card and cpped her hands.

  =0=0=

  "So what do we do about that giant fuck-off eye?", Alpharion asked as she stood on the railing.

  "I don't know, haven't heard anything from the MCF ever since they and the MAS engaged with the Akashic Insurgency.", Omegius responded, crossing his arms.

  "What about Charlotte?", she looks over to her partner.

  "She will be fine. Anyway, did you hear anything over where that giant pilr of light was?"

  "Yup, I did.", she nodded, "John Titor's real identity is most likely to be John the Apostle, the Beloved One. I have no idea what his Devil can do yet, but it is reted to Time."

  "Chronos or some other Time-reted Deity?", he asked, taking the chance to hold her hand.

  "Maybe even the Conceptual of Time.", she smiled, "Wanna bet?"

  "Don't threaten me with a good time, Evangel.", he chuckled, leaning in for a kiss.

  But the entire world rumbled before he could get his kiss in. The eye in the sky began to bleed.

  A single drop of darkness fell down— and a massive dragon, perching on the Colosseum. Two pitch-bck wings triple its size, four front arms with two bigger than the other, two massive hind legs, and an extremely long tail wrapped around the arena.

  Its face was covered by a hood and bck smoke, as well as its entire body. A creature that demands respect and fear.

  Theia, the Ego of Earth, had descended.