5:02 pm.
Weisenburg withdrew his Phantasmal Technique.
In the few minutes that had past, he had made a crucial decision.
One that would determine the fate of the world.
Weisenburg had used GATE OF STEINER hundreds, possibly thousands of times.
He rewinded and rewinded the flow of time until everything was set in his favor to beat ARCHAIA.
He almost did it once more, but instead decided to fight to the very end in this worldline.
That was because he had found a weakness.
One that he hadn't found in those thousands of other worldlines.
By ripping out his hippocampus and then immediately activating his Akashic Power to rewind time, he could insert it back into his brain, overwriting ARCHAIA'S "Claim."
In the still air Weisenburg and ARCHAIA faced each other.
They had both realized.
If ARCHAIA didn't finish the battle in the next blow, Weisenburg would be able to use his new found technique to annihilate her.
And if Weisenburg made even the most miniscule mistake, he could become brain dead or unable to continue fighting.
The battle would be over in a moment.
...
5:02 pm.
Godfried laughed.
Overlooking Gabriel's utterly brutalized corpse, he laughed.
"You were nothing compared to him. My greatest opponent, Juan. It's a shame his wife was killed by a meager roach like you," Godfried said.
Gabriel shouted out, choking on his own blood, "Finish me off!"
"I refuse. You'll be here to witness it with me. Weisenburg's greatest blunder. The end of the world."
"What are you..?"
Godfried laughed once more and explained who ARCHAIA was.
Who Weisenburg was and everything that transpired since their meeting.
"ARCHAIA isn't the Goddess that everyone thinks she is. If I had to guess she's either an ancient species from Earth or an alien. But as any species, her main goal isn't to feast on humans like she is now. It's to reproduce. I've been watching Weisenburg and I believe he has unknowingly set those conditions for her to do so. Damn him, I was so close to killing Michael and stopping this too.
Their species is much superior to ours.
I'm sure they'll create a much better world than us humans.
Nevertheless...
They'll be born, her children."
A pillar of flesh and human remains rocketed into the sky.
ARCHAIA cradled Weisenburg in her arms atop that pillar.
And she bloomed.
Putrid wings sprouted from her back as she took flight.
A fairy that flowered and streaked across the sky.
She laid her lips onto Weisenburg's and moaned softly.
A showcase of their love to the entire world.
...
Michael fell to his knees, clinging onto Iris like her lifeless corpse was the only thing to bring him comfort in this world.
...
Matthew watched along as his boat floated off to find one piece of treasure.
...
Everyone's soul was unleashed.
And paradise rained upon the Earth.
...
Since when did my dream end?
Was I foolish to believe in such?
Was reality always this cruel?
Since when did I want to escape from reality? Was it from the very beginning?
Then who's to tell if I wasn't born into a dream?
We've grown up haven't we?
To have human relationships. There's something that everyone has in common.
Then why are people so distant? Is it not true that by sharing our pain does the world become brighter?
Perhaps by being away from one another does the strength of a bond become apparent.
"Love."
Only by being true to yourself and others can this manifest.
Will that bring happiness?
I don't know.
I don't think I'll ever truly be happy.
But at least I have you.
A part of me and a part of you will live on forever within these words.
In this world that I've created.
The End of Weisenburg.