The ground trembled as Caesar slammed into the asphalt with a bone-crunching impact, the street caving under the force.
His body rolled and skidded across the road like an untethered wreck, smashing through parked cars and shattering storefronts in a wake of splintering glass and twisted metal.
When his momentum finally ceased, he lay for a moment, battered and bloodied, surrounded by the aftermath of his own destruction.
A petrol tanker, ruptured in his chaotic wake, ignited with a thunderous roar behind him. He staggered upright, smoke curling around him like the tendrils of death.
"Death embraces soul," Caesar panted, each word trembling as if it might be his last.
His fingers twitched as he summoned the last shreds of his strength. The prisms responded sluggishly, forming around him, their once-deadly hum now weakened and faltering.
On the street, the military's composure cracked.
Soldiers stared in horror as Caesar's battered form stood only meters away, close enough for them to see the crimson streaks painting his face and the grim smile curling his lips.
Carol, standing amidst her comrades, swallowed hard. Her eyes darted to Aiko, whose expression was unreadable—some mix of rage and dismay.
"If I am not careful, that woman will have me in the afterlife," Caesar spat, his voice tight with exhaustion.
He forced the prisms to multiply once more, his resolve unyielding even as his stamina waned. Five formed, their dark gleam a shadow of their former menace.
But they did not have time to align; Nevya's spear came hurtling down from above, landing with the force of a comet.
The street erupted in a blinding blaze of light and power. Nevya's lightning shot out like serpents, crackling and hissing as it reached for anything that stood in its path.
The flooded street was the perfect conduit, water spraying upward in arcing, violent splashes that carried the surge far and wide.
The electricity ,jumping from soldier to soldier, slammed into military vehicles and ignited their fuel tanks. Fireballs blossomed, shrapnel and debris flying through the air like deadly projectiles.
Carol's heart seized as a wave of heat and light washed over her, the world slowing to a dreamlike crawl.
She could only watch, eyes wide and stricken, as the armored vehicle carrying Prudence and her son was caught in the initial surge.
The explosion that followed was deafening, an eruption that shattered the air and sent a plume of fire skyward. The metal crumpled and twisted in the flames, its occupants gone in an instant.
"No!" Carol's scream was lost in the chaos, swallowed by the symphony of destruction.
She fell to her knees as shock overtook her, the faces of her loved ones scorched into her mind like a cruel brand. The chain of explosions soon overtook her as well.
Aiko's eyes flickered, her usual confidence frayed . The soldiers lay strewn about like lifeless dolls, their bodies scorched, twitching, or still.
Her gaze settled on the obliterated vehicle where Carol's family had been, now nothing more than smoldering metal and ashes.
"Oh no, the son of the fool is dead as well," Aiko whispered, stepping forward and peering into the warped remains of the vehicle.
These were unnecessary casualties.
Caesar grabbed onto the last prism that had survived the attack and it flew him away. Nevya jumped , closely following his trail.
She intercepted him in mid air and after another exchange ,Caesar again crashed onto the cracked streets with bone-jarring force, dust and debris erupting around him.
His vision swam as Nevya's spear drove through his shoulder, cutting deep into sinew and bone before erupting out the other side in a brutal display of power.
The agony surged through him like a wildfire, white-hot and merciless, severing his arm completely.
The detached limb hit the ground with a dull thud, fingers still twitching as if refusing to accept their sudden disconnection from their master.
"That spear is driving mind to fucking madness!" Caesar roared, the pain breaking through even his legendary endurance.
His face contorted into a grotesque mask of rage and disbelief, eyes wide and frantic as he struggled to comprehend how he'd been brought so low.
He had dominated battlefields, shattered armies, and faced down entire legions without faltering. Yet here he was, pinned like a wounded animal, a pawn to the warrior standing before him.
Nevya descended, her movements fluid and deadly, each step across the small platforms of electricity she was creating beneath her feet in real time, a testament to her mastery over the storm.
Sparks leaped from her limbs, casting wild shadows that danced across Caesar's scarred face as he forced his Rejuvenation talent to work overtime.
New tendons and muscle fibers twitched as they began to weave together in the gap where his arm had been. The process was painfully slow, his System taxed and faltering under the strain.
Before he could fully regrow the arm, Nevya was on him, the air crackling as she spun and lashed out with the back of her fist.
The blow connected with a thunderous snap, whipping Caesar's head to the side and sending a shockwave through his already compromised body. He staggered, balance shattered, knees buckling as the world tilted wildly around him.
"Damn it," he spat, blood dribbling from the corner of his mouth.
His vision cleared just enough to catch Nevya leaping upward, her lithe form outlined by the electric platforms that appeared beneath her feet.
The air buzzed as she rose higher, flipping over with precision and grace, positioning herself to deliver the final blow. Caesar's eyes widened , the realization of defeat hitting him with a force greater than any physical strike.
Time seemed to slow as Nevya, her eyes fierce and unwavering, pulled back her spear. The weapon pulsed with an electric fury, arcs of white-hot energy running along its length.
"No…" The word was barely a whisper from Caesar.
Nevya thrust the spear down with lethal accuracy. The sharp tip found its mark, piercing the center of Caesar's chest and driving through muscle and bone until it emerged from his back, quivering like a flag of triumph.
The shock in Caesar's gaze turned to hollow resignation as the spear's energy crackled through his body, snuffing out the light in his eyes.
His mouth moved as if to form words, but nothing came out; only silence followed, a vacuum of sound punctuated by Nevya's victory.
With a final act, she whipped the spear in a wide arc, its blade cutting cleanly through Caesar's neck before he could fall.
The severed head spun once, eyes still open in a frozen mask of disbelief, before hitting the pavement and rolling to a stop.
Nevya stood over the fallen body, eyes cold and unwavering, and reached down to grasp the head by its hair.
It was proof enough for her master. The job was done.
State House , Rein City.
The room was buried in tension, the air thick with a sense of grim resolve as the leaders of the nation faced the dire reality of their situation.
Dim lights cast elongated shadows across their weary faces, and the faint hum of the global monitor was the only sound breaking the silence. Every gaze in the room was fixed on the map, where a faint red dot marked the first Titan's presence in the East Atlantic Ocean.
"Mr. President, the first Titan has made its appearance in the East Atlantic Ocean," a soldier announced, her voice strained as she confirmed the urgent data flashing across the wall-sized monitor.
Her words seemed to hang in the air, underscoring the weight of the message.
The President, a man once known for his unyielding spirit, nodded gravely, a dark resolve settling over his lined features.
"So what we feared has finally come to pass," he murmured, his gaze never wavering from the pulsing threat on the screen. "How many people have you been able to get through the portals?" he asked, his tone both commanding and desperate, as if he were fighting time itself.
The Inspector General of the nation's defense forces, a rugged man with brown hair and battle-worn eyes, stepped forward. "Reports indicate that ten percent of the population has been evacuated, Mr. President," he replied.
The frustration in his voice was evident. "We could have done more, sir, but the International Mage Association... they've been obstructing us at every turn."
"Ten percent..." The President paused, his voice faltering as he processed the number.
His shoulders slumped, but he lifted his head, forcing himself to project strength.
"Ten percent is more than we could have hoped for. With Earth at death's door, let us pray that the plans we've been working on to restart the nation... our people... will somehow succeed."
"Sir, what about Jack Kamphar?" The General asked, his voice heavy with both reverence and fear.
The President's eyes narrowed. "What of him?"
"After his escape, he's been relentless," the General continued. "Not only has he taken down some of the most powerful monsters we've seen, but he's even gone up against a first-class mage. We're receiving unverified reports that he might have killed one of those enforcers. Kamphar is likely the strongest human of Earth origin right now."
The President considered this, nodding slowly, though his expression remained doubtful.
"No argument there. But remember, his strength is bound by the limits of Earth. We cannot hedge our survival on him alone. There are beings out there, General... true monsters of unfathomable power. Worlds have fallen to the Titans, despite their heroes, despite everything they had to give. We cannot be foolish enough to think he's our only hope."
The General clenched his jaw, visibly wrestling with the President's words. Before he could respond, a younger officer leaned in, drawing their attention.
"Sir," he spoke cautiously. "What about that Enforcer who approached us? Do you trust her?"
The President's eyes darkened. "That enforcer is as shrewd and driven as they come—traits that often make someone very dangerous. But I sense her loyalty to the Titans she serves is fractured, her interests distinct from theirs. As much as I distrust her motives, I do believe she will keep her word in guiding our people to safer lands... even if that means walking through those damn portals."
Another officer entered the room, briskly saluting.
"Mr. President," he said, his voice strong, though his expression betrayed his inner turmoil. "The nation's remaining military forces stand at the ready. You need only give the command, and we will join forces with the other nations to fight for this world."
The President turned, his gaze resting on the man with a tired but unbreakable conviction. "You speak as if you think I'm leaving you."
The officer looked to the General, who stepped in, his voice edged with frustration. "Sir, we've discussed this. My priority, first and foremost, is your safety. We need you to lead us from a secure location."
The President's eyes flashed with defiance. "And I trust you to do your job, General. But what kind of commander-in-chief would I be if I abandoned my soldiers in the war for the world? "
His voice rose, and every officer in the room straightened, "Our people look to us not just for survival, but for hope. We will face this apocalypse together, and if this is to be the end of our world, then we will face it as one, not scattered across realms, not hiding in corners. As long as there is a single breath left in me, I will stand with my countrymen, and I will not leave this soil!"
A silence settled over the room, filled with an unspoken oath that each man and woman held deep within.
"Then let it be so," the General finally said, his hand instinctively rising in a salute. "We will stand with you, Mr. President. To the very end."
The officers around the table, one by one, mirrored the salute, their faces solemn, but their spirits ignited.
As Jack hovered motionless amidst the high clouds, his eyes drifted over the sprawling expanse of the horizon.
The wind swept through his white hair, and for a fleeting moment, he felt a kind of solace that had become rare in these chaotic times. Floating beside him was Naaman, holding them both aloft with one of his System's talents.
Naaman's presence was silent but steady, his gaze also fixed on the scene below—a scene dominated by the towering figure of the Titan that had just descended upon Earth.
The creature stood like a living mountain, its immense form casting a shadow that swallowed a large portion of the sea's surface.
Jack exhaled, steadying himself.
After sensing Nevya's hard-won victory and realizing she no longer relied on his energy, Jack had turned his focus to the Dread Ghost.
Activating his Constricted Surface ability, he had torn through the beast with cold efficiency, leaving it a scattered, vanquished shadow.
Without hesitation, he had gone straight to the place where he'd last glimpsed Carol and the military, during one of those harrowing moments when Caesar had hurled him across buildings like a ragdoll.
There, in the debris-strewn streets, Jack found her—Nevya.
She awaited him, holding Caesar's head by its hair in her hands.
As he landed, she approached, her dark hair matted with blood and her clothes singed from battle. She knelt, lowering her head in solemnity.
"My hand has served the master," she said, bowing before him, her tone respectful, yet her eyes holding an intensity he could not quite place.
Jack took a shuddering breath, the sight of Caesar's head stirring a mixture of triumph and emptiness within him. The fight was over, but peace was far from his heart.
And then he saw Aiko.
She stood a short distance away, frozen and staring down at the motionless body of a young boy.
The child lay cradled in the arms of a woman—the nanny(Prudence), whose own body bore the brutal marks of fire and ash.
She had tried to shield him with her life, her last act one of desperate protection, wrapping her arms around the boy to absorb the worst of the blast. Yet, despite her courage, her sacrifice had been in vain.
The boy's red hair and freckled face, so achingly similar to his father's, lay still in death, untouched by time or future.
Jack felt something harden in his chest. He recognized the boy immediately: Hamilton's son. The resemblance was striking, even though Jack had never known the boy's name or the shape of his laugh.
Aiko looked up at Jack, her expression vacant, as if caught between sorrow and disbelief.
She had no words, only the hollow look of someone staring into an endless void. Jack approached slowly, his footsteps echoing in the hushed flooded devastation around them.
He knelt beside her, his hand reaching out to gently brush the hair from the boy's face, but stopping just short, as if afraid his touch might taint the purity of this final, tragic stillness.
"His mother must have tried to save him," Jack murmured, his voice low and fractured, barely more than a whisper. "She fought to shield him... gave everything she had."
Aiko looked down, her lips pressed tightly together and said nothing.
Jack's gaze softened, a rare vulnerability flickering in his eyes. He took a long, steadying breath and forced himself to speak the words.
"Hamilton," he began, his voice cracking as he turned his gaze to the horizon, addressing a memory. "I'm sorry. Your son died before you ever knew he existed."
With a heavy heart, Jack pushed himself to his feet, feeling the weight of his words settle over him like a shroud.
Taking a sweep of the area and seeing how many burnt corpses there were , Jack just assumed that Aiko had been the only survivor.
A noisy racket was heard from behind and Naaman appeared , casually pushing away a truck that was blocking most of the road to make way for himself.
Naaman smiled on seeing Nevya holding Caesar's head , " You have exceeded all of our expectations."