The Lost Hope.

**Three weeks later**

*BOOM* *WHOOSH*

The battlefield now lay in ruins, filled with massive craters left behind by the devastating ultimate skills of both Kairos and Alucard. Lavinia, too, had left her mark with numerous smaller craters from her battles.

Lavinia, exhausted and worn out, couldn't continue like this. The seemingly endless waves of enemies overwhelmed her. Only half of them had been eliminated so far, and the protocol dictated that they eliminate the remaining beasts after slaying the boss monster. The intel warned of six more weeks of relentless battle, an unimaginable ordeal for someone of their level. Lavinia had warned Kairos that this was too much for them and that it seemed suspicious, but his stubbornness had trapped them in this draining situation. She hoped the God Tier item they sought would be worth the struggle. Lavinia couldn't delay any longer; she had to unleash her final ultimate skill and awaken Michael.

With her last ounce of energy, Lavinia ascended into the sky, raising her arms and palms towards the heavens. She gathered her remaining power and declared,

"ECLIPSING MOON'S METEORIC BULLET DESCENT!!"

*CLATTER* *RUMBLE*

*WHIZZ* *BOOOOOOOM*

The sun disappeared behind a shadow, as if the moon had emerged to form an eclipse. Then, it revealed itself—a colossal sphere of rock surrounded by swirling winds. Descending like a spinning bullet, it possessed the force of a meteorite and the magnitude of the moon. As it hurtled towards the ground under the pull of gravity, everything in its path, except for Lavinia, was obliterated. Millions of beasts met their demise, crushed under the sheer pressure alone, while the air resounded with fierce winds.

*HUFF* *HUFF*

Amidst the chaos, Lavinia remained miraculously unscathed, although visibly exhausted. The earthen balls and swirling winds dissipated around her. The emerald-like armor on her body started to recede, its glow fading. With her waning strength and indomitable will, she had succeeded in awakening Michael, who began to take control.

"Michael, I know I should only wake you in dire situations, as it risks severing our link forever," Lavinia gasped between breaths. "But this truly is one of those moments. Wake up, Michael! Michael! WAKE UP!!!"

…

'Mmm... Lavinia? Hmm... Sigh... Since you've forcefully awakened me, it seems my time has come to an end... Sigh... I understand... Rest now, Lavinia. Leave it to me. I hope you can guide the boy in my place from now on...' Michael's voice resonated, tinged with reluctance and acceptance.

*BUZZ* *CRACKLE*

Golden light enveloped Kairos's body, signifying yet another transformation, potentially the last. The once-feminine features gradually regained their masculine form. His body returned to its normal state, now slightly more muscular. His ears acquired a pointy shape akin to those of an elf. His golden-yellow hair extended to his knees, and his eyes glimmered with a matching hue.

A golden-white, divine-like scarf materialized, floating around his arms and forming a halo-like circle above his head, resembling the symbol Ω.

With Michael as the host, Kairos's transformed body soared into the sky. He looked upward, his gaze seemingly encompassing the vast expanse of the universe.

"Hmm... It seems this truly is the final moment," Michael murmured, his gaze shifting to the approaching horde of beasts. "I hope the boy can create a miracle because we could surely use one." He cast a mournful glance downward. "It's a pity I won't be able to speak to my third and fourth incarnations this time. It was our last chance... If the boy perishes, there will be no more reincarnations with my memories and powers. He is our only hope."

Golden lights, taking the form of six dragons—composed of Golden Fire, Golden Water, Golden Wind, Golden Earth, Golden Lightning, and finally, Golden Light—swirled around Michael.

*CRACKLE* *SPLASH* *WHOOSH* *GOUDOU* *CLAP* *TWINKLE*[1]

With his mastery over the six elements, Michael unleashed his final, devastating assault, commencing the last massacre.

**Six weeks later**

"Huff... Huff... This is the final wave," Michael gasped, his voice heavy with exhaustion and excitement. "It has been an arduous and exhilarating journey. Sadly, it all comes to an end here. Might as well give it my all."

Michael floated in the air, assuming a defensive stance as if holding an invisible sword. Golden light filled the void, coalescing into a radiant sword. The golden dragons rushed towards the blade, merging with it until they vanished. Michael descended, gripping the glowing golden sword horizontally with a firm hold.

"This is it. After this, everything will come to an end."

"ALL-ENCOMPASSING HEAVENLY SLICE!!!"

Michael swung the sword in a full 360-degree arc. Time froze, silence enveloped the battlefield, and then came the blinding light. What followed was a void—a desolate land devoid of life, where even the beasts, rotting corpses, and surviving plants vanished without a trace.

Finally, Michael landed on the ground, his powers dissipating and fading into oblivion. He gazed up at the night sky, peering into the depths of the universe.

"Sigh... I had hoped to finally witness the wonders of that place," Michael lamented. "No matter how close I came, an invisible barrier barred my entry, even with my mastery over the six elements. Perhaps the element of space could have granted me access, but I would likely have ceased to exist upon entering. I hope the boy has the chance to break through..." His voice trailed off, dissipating into silence.

Kairos's body reverted to its original form after Michael's departure. Disoriented and drained, Kairos struggled to comprehend what had transpired. His movements were sluggish, his strength sapped. Perplexingly, tears of blood stained his cheeks, adding to his confusion.

Something glowed from within a hidden pocket near his heart. With great effort, he retrieved a glowing golden pocket watch.

"If this isn't enough, then I don't know what will be," Kairos muttered, his frustration evident. The watch levitated, hovering a meter above him. As if drawn by an invisible force, transparent white lights, the souls of the fallen beasts, were absorbed into the watch, intensifying its glow and illuminating the night.

Eventually, the blinding radiance subsided, and the watch descended back into Kairos's hand.

"Sigh... Was it truly worth all this trouble?" Kairos sighed, placing the watch back in his pocket.

*PATTER* *PATTER*

Rain suddenly began to fall, adding to the surreal atmosphere. Kairos noticed a figure approaching through the rain.

*ROOOAAARRR* *WHOOOOOSH*

*CRASH* *BOOOOM*

A thunderous noise reverberated as a familiar Starship crashed in pieces a few meters away. It was Raven, Kairos's Starship. However, the extent of the damage suggested that a more powerful vessel had caused the destruction.

*WHOOSH* *SWOOSH*

From the sky descended a fully black Starship.

*ROAR* *WHIRRR*

The nearer it came, the larger and louder it grew.

*HSSSS* *THUD*

Steam hissed from the hydraulics and weaponry systems as the Starship landed heavily near Kairos. Starships served as convenient means of travel in space for beings. This particular one was a Warp Class Starship[2], instantly recognizable to Kairos as the guild leader Jessica Crowns' vessel. Its sudden arrival was both coincidental and worrisome, as Kairos had just emerged from a grueling battle, rendering him vulnerable.

Despite the situation, Kairos's expression remained neutral, as if he had anticipated this turn of events.

*HSSS* *CLANK*

The Starship's door opened, and a metal staircase extended downward. Five individuals emerged, two men and three women, with one of the women taking the lead.

As they approached Kairos, he struggled to regain some semblance of energy, but his movements were feeble. Although relief should have washed over him at the arrival of his allies, a sense of unease lingered. He couldn't shake the feeling that he was being watched and deliberately thrust into perilous missions.