Ch-85 < Near death experience >

Kevin's battle against the Herrscher was far from over.

He glanced at the enigmatic figure before him and asked with a stern expression, "you are not the Herrscher ?"

In the back of his mind, Kevin couldn't ignore the alarming fact that his energy reserves were dangerously low—only 18% remaining. Every movement felt heavier.

He needed to buy time and conserve what little power he had left.

As if reading his thoughts, the Herrscher smirked, her voice laced with amusement. "You keep asking questions in the middle of a battle," she taunted, her form suddenly enveloped in light.

Without warning, she dissolved into countless photons, merging seamlessly with the surroundings.

Kevin's eyes narrowed, searching for any sign of her.

"You still haven't given up. I commend your willpower," her voice echoed from all directions, a haunting melody that sent shivers down his spine.

Kevin remained unfazed. "You didn't answer my previous question," he retorted, activating his electromagnetic waves in an attempt to locate her. He needed to stay focused, any lapse could mean his demise.

A ghastly figure materialized right before him, catching Kevin off guard. His instincts kicked in, and he quickly erected a wall of corrosive viral energy in defense.

But the Herrscher was undeterred. Her hand, radiating with intense light, cut through the dark energy like a predatory bird slicing through the air.

Kevin, however, was no longer where she expected him to be. He had already moved, his reflexes sharp despite his dwindling reserves. But even so, the Herrscher remained composed, her gaze lifting to the skies above.

Her expression shifted as Kevin fully charged his Divine Key, unleashing the mighty power of Utu.

Earlier, when his sword had slipped from his grasp, he had cleverly summoned it using the system and converted it into a ring, which he then charged while continuing to fight against Herrscher.

He swing the sword at herrshcer and a colossal tsunami of fire energy erupted from him, turning the atmosphere into a blazing red inferno. The world itself seemed to tremble, and somewhere, someone whispered that doomsday had arrived.

For a brief moment, Kevin felt a semblance of relief. But it was short-lived.

Time around him slowed to a crawl, and before he could react, countless particles of light bombarded him, tearing through his defenses and injuring him.

His armor's gravitational barriers absorbed most of the damage, but the onslaught left him shaken.

As he recovered, Kevin noticed the Herrscher's form, now blackened and battered, signifying the severe damage she had sustained.

But her eyes still burned with determination. Her gaze was intense, unyielding, as she prepared for her next move.

Yue was already poised for another attack. One of her hands glowed with blinding light, while the other was shrouded in deep darkness, a swirling yin-yang vortex forming before her.

The energy it emitted was staggering, a spiral of opposing forces creating a sponge effect, ready to absorb and retaliate with even greater power.

"You are dangerous," she declared, her voice calm yet final. "I wanted to capture you, but this is the end of your journey."

Kevin's heart pounded in his chest. He knew that if her attack struck Earth, it would mean the planet's destruction.

Desperation gripped him as he activated his Eyes of Purple Destruction, channeling its anti-divinity properties. The Herrscher faltered, her energy wavering as Kevin's power took hold.

With a surge of willpower, Kevin created multiple clones, utilizing the void authority to teleport near her.

He then activated the Herrscher of Binding, a force meant to completely restrict her movements. But the Herrscher was relentless. Her eyes glowed with renewed intensity as her arms began disintegrating his clones one by one.

Kevin gritted his teeth. "Space Domain. Time Deceleration." He invoked both simultaneously, summoning a separate time-space to hold her, if only for a few seconds.

His stigma glowed with a deep blue light, signaling the activation of his most precise power of reason.

With swift calculations, Kevin summoned his Divine Key of Destruction, transforming it into a massive cannon. This weapon was a miniature version of the Serene Cannon designed for use against the final Herrscher, with modifications made by Bronya.

"Elysia, I need your help," Kevin communicated through their soul bond, and she responded instantly, channeling immense origin energy into him.

Kevin then transferred her energy into the cannon, combining it with the destructive fire of the Herrscher of Flames and the formidable powers of destruction from authority of destruction.

The cannon roared to life, and Kevin launched it towards the Herrscher.

The world around them distorted, dark and iridescent energies swirling together to form a massive vortex. The very fabric of reality seemed to tear apart as black, multicolored, and crimson flames erupted, consuming everything in their path in spiral beam.

The Herrscher's eyes widened in shock, but it was too late. The overwhelming energy engulfed her, her aura flickering and fading as the spell erased her existence, leaving behind nothing but a void.

The attack continued till it reach the outer space. The whole world experiencd blackout for few seconds and then the world return normal again.

Kevin's heart pounded as he surveyed the aftermath.

Yet, to his shock, the Herrscher's core remained intact.

He quickly reached it, his stigma glowing with an intense deep blackish-purple aura as he severed the connection between the core and the unknown entity behind it.

Exhausted and with his energy reserves almost depleted, Kevin used the last of his strength to utilize void authority, teleporting to safety near Elysia.

His vision blurred as darkness began to overtake him and he notice someone took him in arms. He can feel the warmth of Elysia.

Because of intense battle and shockwave both Mei and bronya also come near the battlefield watching Kevin in far distance. Both were deeply worried about him.

******

In another realm, the Outer God Yue was seething with rage. The very thought that she had been bested by a mortal, a mere human, sent tremors through the yin-yang energies surrounding her domain.

The once calm and balanced energies now roiled with her fury, crackling with dark and light forces struggling to maintain their equilibrium.

"How dare he," Yue muttered, her voice a low growl that reverberated through the void.

"A mortal, defying me... I need to eliminate him, but the world's laws will prevent me from interfering directly in that specific branch."

Yue's thoughts churned as she considered her options. She knew that if she destroyed the entire branch of reality where Kevin resided, she would incur the wrath of Shub-Niggurath and the other Outer Gods. The consequences would be disastrous, even for a being of her power.

"Perhaps I should seek help from the Mother," she mused, her eyes narrowing as she thought of the other Outer Gods. "Yes, the Mother would understand. She could aid me in bending the laws without drawing the attention of those who would oppose us."

With that thought, Yue's rage began to subside, replaced by cold, calculated resolve. She would not let this affront go unpunished.

---

Back on Earth, Kevin's body was still recovering from the intense battle. His injuries were severe, and despite his superhuman resilience, it took time for his body to heal. Elysia and Bronya, not ones to simply stand by, worked tirelessly to accelerate his healing.

Forty minutes later, Kevin's eyes fluttered open. He was greeted by the relieved faces of his companions. Elysia, ever so gentle, was the first to speak. "Kevin, you're awake!" she exclaimed, her voice tinged with both relief and joy.

Bronya, typically reserved as an AI, allowed a rare smile to grace her lips. "Kevin-ni-sama," she said softly.

Without thinking, she joined Elysia in embracing Kevin, her small frame pressed against his side.

"Lightly, please... my wounds are still open," Kevin managed to say, his voice weak but filled with affection.

Mei watched with happy expression that Kevin is well.

The trio remained huddled together, a brief moment of peace after the chaos they had endured. Kevin's head rested on Elysia's lap, while Mei and Bronya sat close by, their hands gently touching his, reassuring him that he was safe.

They were still celebrating their hard-won victory when something unexpected happened.

A voice, unfamiliar and yet filled with ancient power, echoed through the space. "That fight was something else."

Kevin's eyes snapped open, widening in shock as he turned to see a figure standing nearby. None of them had noticed her presence until she spoke. The air around her seemed to ripple with an unnatural energy, one that Kevin immediately recognized.

"You..." Kevin's voice trailed off as he locked eyes with the newcomer.

The girl before them was radiant, her aura exuding both grace and an overwhelming sense of danger. She tilted her head slightly, a small smile playing on her lips. "You destroyed my slumber in the Atlantic Ocean. But I guess I should thank you... waking up wasn't so bad after all."

Kevin's mind raced as he processed her words. This wasn't just any opponent—they can face and his energy reserves is almost empty.

Elysia's grip on Kevin tightened, sensing the tension in the air. "Who are you?" she demanded, her usual warmth replaced by a protective fierceness.

A/N~ same or new enemy??

Guess who she is.

Same as before 15 stones for new chapter.