On the lunar battlefield, as the streak of light drew closer, many of the fighters noticed the figure.
"Is that... Dr. Li!?"
"Nonsense, that's clearly General Li."
"Wait, how can you guys see so clearly?"
Seeing the figure, everyone except the Flame-Chasers let out cries of astonishment.
For these new MANTISes, who were being used merely to buy time, the arrival of any veteran MANTIS represented new hope.
SCHIIING!
With the impact of the meteor, an invisible shockwave rippled outwards.
Fu Li, channeling all his power into his spear, pierced the cheek of the Herrscher of the End. From the tip of the spear, black traces of power attempted to invade the Herrscher's skin.
Faced with Fu Li's all-out attack, the Herrscher of the End finally abandoned its attitude of indifference. Its massive, azure eyes turned to look at this tiny speck.
The feeling was as if the Herrscher was saying, "Man, you have successfully captured my attention."
"Dammit..."
Seeing that his full-power strike could barely break its defense, Fu Li wasn't discouraged. He pushed off with his feet and flew backward.
After all, God had only told him that the power of Corruption was the key to fighting the Herrscher of the End, but not how he should use that power.
Therefore, the previous all-out attack was naturally just a test. Fu Li wasn't so arrogant as to think he could kill the Herrscher of the End with a single blow.
"Brother? Are you okay?!"
Seeing Li land heavily on the ground, Hua rushed over and quickly helped him up.
"I'm fine, Hua."
Watching the Herrscher of the End withdraw its gaze, Fu Li stood up, a mix of complex emotions filling his heart.
Although that last strike had opened a small gash, the Herrscher's automatic internal defense mechanism alone had sent him flying.
This meant that it was impossible to breach the Herrscher's defenses from the outside. The only chance was to wait for the Moonlight Throne to fire and then attempt to enter its body.
"Hah... Ten minutes left..."
Hua nodded, clutching a scraped arm. Her delicate features were already covered in lunar dust.
"Yeah... Then let's... hold on until the very last moment."
Fu Li and Hua exchanged a look, and without another word, they charged toward the Herrscher of the End together.
Kevin stood at the very front of the formation, living up to his title of [Deliverance], never retreating.
Eden and Aponia skillfully dodged the Herrscher's attacks, while Sakura and Kosma continuously acted as bait, nimbly evading its strikes.
Pardofelis, following the battle plan, used her agile movements to save her teammates at critical moments.
[Ten minutes later, more than half of the new MANTISes were dead or wounded. Kalpas was severely injured, and the rest of the Flame-Chasers were once again heavily wounded.]
[During these ten minutes, you continuously stabbed at the Herrscher of the End with the Spear of Corruption. Regrettably, you were unable to break through its defenses.]
[You realized that the only chance left for you now was likely to enter the Herrscher of the End's body.]
"Warning!! Warning!! The Moonlight Throne has finished charging!! Firing in 30 seconds. All units, please prepare for defensive maneuvers!!"
"Moonlight Throne firing sequence initiated. 30, 29, 28..."
As the countdown began, Eden fired a shot at the Herrscher's head before returning to Aponia's side, panting.
"It seems that this time... he won't die."
Though her voice was weary, she couldn't hide the happiness within it.
Although she didn't know if this cycle would continue if Li survived, Eden felt that as long as Li was still here, nothing else was a problem.
[20, 19, 18...]
"I'm sorry, Eden."
Aponia's eyes were downcast, her voice tinged with sorrow. "I regret to say that before Ellie severed the threads, I saw that Li's thread was still severed."
"Severed?"
Eden's heart sank. She looked at the figure in the middle of the chaotic battle.
Severed? That means... Li is still going to die? How is that possible? Victory is already within our grasp.
"No, Li must be planning to do something foolish again. Aponia, we have to stop him together."
"I can't do that, Eden."
"Why not?"
Eden turned back in disbelief. Even if they were rivals in love, shouldn't they be united at a time like this?
However, before she could react, Aponia had already grasped her hand and whispered in her ear:
"[Please] calm down."
[This small episode on the battlefield did not catch your attention. As the countdown reached zero, your heart was in your throat.]
[From the sea of stars, a beam of pure white light, like moonlight itself, tore through the cosmos and struck the Herrscher of the End, successfully breaking through its defenses.]
[As if history were repeating itself, Kevin swung the Judgment of Shamash, buying humanity its final 12 hours.]
"Is the battle... finally over...?"
Hua collapsed onto the ground. Her hands touched the lunar sand, and she could clearly feel its temperature.
They had fought with all their might and had finally secured the last moments for humanity.
Does this mean we don't have to fight anymore...?
With this thought, Hua's tense muscles gradually relaxed. She looked up, the residual glow of the battle licking at her cheeks.
However, just then, a voice came through the comms.
"Alright, warriors. You can return now. The next phase of the mission does not concern you."
The next phase of the mission?
Why is there still a mission? Shouldn't it be over already?
Hearing this, Hua's eyes snapped open, a terrible premonition churning in her heart.
Could it be... that besides them, the MOTHs had another ace up their sleeve...
Slap!
A pair of hands with a familiar warmth appeared before her. Hua was pulled to her feet in a daze, the bad feeling in her heart growing stronger.
"Alright, Hua. Hurry and go back with everyone."
"Mm... I know. Wait a second?"
Hua suddenly came to her senses. She realized that Fu Li had just said 'everyone', not 'us'.
The realization dawning on her, Hua spoke with a trembling voice, a hint of pleading in it, begging to hear the answer she wanted.
"Brother... you... you're coming back with us too, right?"
That's right. Answer me. We're going back together.
Unconsciously, Hua's grip on Fu Li's hand tightened. She was waiting, hoping for the answer she so desperately wanted to hear.
However, in response to this, Fu Li only offered silence.
His emotional intelligence wasn't low. He knew exactly what Hua wanted to hear. But just as Elysia had said, his companions deserved a better ending.
And that ending would inevitably be accompanied by sacrifice.
"I'm sorry, Hua. I can't go back with you."
"No, no no no! Why are you always like this!! Is self-sacrifice really that fun? What else are you hiding from me!!"
Hua's emotions began to spiral out of control. She tore her hand away from Fu Li's. Her azure eyes slowly turned red, and a pair of dragon wings unfurled from her back.
She had already decided. Even if she had to use force, she was going to take him with her.