"So this is the place humanity has yearned to set foot on for tens of thousands of years."
Stepping onto the endless silver-white plains, every being who considered themselves human could hardly suppress such feelings in their hearts—even someone like Ato, who had long grown tired of looking at the Moon over the years.
But unfortunately, the place everyone appeared wasn't the plains of the lunar surface, but the command center previously expanded upon the ruins of New Atra.
The facilities here were complete, almost a one-to-one replica of Fire Moth's command center. Most importantly, the oxygen supply and heating systems were intact.
If the teleportation destination had been set outside, even MANTISes couldn't quickly adapt to the low temperature and low oxygen environment of the lunar farside, let alone Mei, who was an ordinary human among them.
"Attention everyone. The Second Divine Key requires another hour and fifty-seven minutes to fully recharge. While saying this before we even start fighting might be demoralizing, if the battle goes poorly and we need to retreat, we need to hold out for nearly two hours."
After a slight hesitation, Vill-V finally voiced this "reminder," even though everyone was familiar with the Second Divine Key, and logically, no further explanation should be necessary.
"Also, although having Su and Aponia might make communication via the psychic network more convenient, firstly, this network cannot cover Mei, and secondly, during combat, no one can guarantee the psychic network won't be disrupted by Finality. So, it's best for everyone to wear old-fashioned radio communicators.
"...Er, although in a sense, these things are easier to destroy. But at least this ensures contact between Mei and all of you. Plus, they're equipped with combat recorders, which will help Mei monitor the battlefield situation and issue corresponding commands—of course, this is still based on the assumption that these things won't be destroyed."
After saying this, Vill-V first handed a radio communicator to Aponia.
"I understand." Aponia nodded. "My powers might be somewhat useful against humans themselves, but against Finality… However, this is fine too. I'm completely clueless about combat anyway. Leave the information relay between Mei and everyone else to me."
Almost everyone's attention was momentarily captured by Vill-V, so much so that, except for Kevin, no one noticed Mei quietly pulling Pardo aside, saying something, and handing her an unidentifiable component.
By the time Vill-V finished distributing the communicators, Mei had already returned to her original position and resumed issuing commands:
"Aponia, please place a Discipline on everyone to help them adapt to the lunar surface environment quickly. Although dragging this out would give the Second Divine Key more time to charge, we can't predict Finality's movements. It's best to engage swiftly."
"Understood."
As she spoke, everyone felt their body temperature gradually rising. Flames even ignited directly above Kalpas's head. After all, MANTISes no longer relied on breathing for survival; the main obstacle on the lunar surface for them was the low temperature that rushed in after the oxygen shield was breached.
Of course, as Mei said, even without the Discipline, adapting to the lunar surface environment wouldn't be difficult for the Flame-Chasers given half an hour or an hour. But there wasn't that much time to waste now.
Similarly, once these tasks were completed, it meant there were no more preparations to be made. From now on, it was time for the final battle.
Mei and Kevin exchanged glances. Although their eyes met and then shifted away in tacit understanding less than a second later, they both felt it was the longest gaze they had ever shared.
Long enough for Mei to permanently etch the image of Kevin, biting his lower lip, eyes bright, leaning on his sword, into her mind. And for Kevin, it was the first time he could meet Mei's gaze, while her arms were crossed, without any distracting desires.
Then, they both opened their mouths simultaneously, seemingly wanting to say something to bid each other farewell.
But too many surging words jammed in their throats at once, unsure which to utter first.
And so, in the end, they seemed like mere superior and subordinate with no personal relationship, simply exchanging flat instructions and well wishes:
"We're heading out."
"Mhm, take care."
Mei nodded slightly, the movement almost imperceptible.
Parting in life or death perhaps shouldn't be so cold. But perhaps, all worldly emotions, in the end, require no fuss, no tears streaming down faces, no overwhelming sighs.
Just like this… plain and simple is enough.
The Flame-Chasers all departed, even Vill-V left the command center with them. Mei had formulated multiple battle plans against Finality long ago, so she didn't need to lay out tactics beforehand; Kevin would make his own decisions.
As for Vill-V… because the original plan relied on New Atra's stargate for troop deployment, she was supposed to remain in the command center with Mei, operating the Second Divine Key. But now…
The Second Divine Key was undergoing a lengthy recharge process. Vill-V staying was useless; she might as well join the battlefield.
Mei silently sat down before the main screen. It had already split into over a dozen feeds, displaying the images transmitted from the combat recorders worn by the Flame-Chasers.
"Doctor, preparations are complete. The Moonlight Throne is maneuvering into near-lunar orbit. Estimated time is ten minutes."
Prometheus's voice suddenly sounded from behind. Mei wasn't surprised; after all, Prometheus, like Corruption, was a consciousness capable of existing across multiple terminals simultaneously, naturally not needing the Second Divine Key's power for transmission.
Prometheus No. 17 floated behind Mei, raising her head to gaze at the same screen.
Then she asked softly:
"Doctor, is all of this truly worth it?"
Mei, Vill-V, herself, plus Pardo counting as half—these three and a half people were possibly the only ones in the world who understood the true meaning of this battle.
Of course, if she didn't count as human, then it was two and a half.
Nothing in the world truly has inherent meaning. But human civilization is great precisely because it often creates meaning in a meaningless world. And so it is now.
What could the battle against Finality bring humanity? Besides greater casualties, essentially nothing.
Their civilization was already destroyed. Win or lose, what they needed to do afterward was rebuild civilization.
But because someone still held onto the chance of defeating Finality fifty thousand years later, this battle was necessary, meaningful.
This wasn't just Mei's sudden inspiration either. On the day Michael argued with her, the two had discussed multiple future possibilities.
According to him, if he failed and Finality still arrived, he would do everything possible to sever the "threads of fate" Aponia saw.
How could fate be severed? Mei didn't know, but she knew it was possible, at least Elysia could do it. And Aponia had confirmed it; the threads of fate were indeed severed.
But problems followed—when fate no longer exists, when all futures become unobservable like quantum uncertainty, how can one ensure all plans for the next era proceed more smoothly?
Mei tilted her head, her gaze sweeping over No. 17 beside her, then towards the more distant void.
"I'm sorry, No. 17… I'm sorry, Pardo."
...
Strictly speaking, New Atra was somewhat strange.
Despite being on the lunar farside, looking up revealed Earth. Despite being nighttime on the farside, this crater area possessed an inexplicable glow.
"This…"
The giant red cross wasn't directly above the Finality Crater. It had been moved backward by an external force, carving a massive rift along the crater's edge.
The rift stretched all the way to the distant horizon, pointing towards the colossal cross leaning slanted against the ground, almost tipped backward.
But it wasn't that the cross was crooked; it leaned backward simply due to the normal inclination caused by the spherical surface.
Yet even from such a distance, looking up from the horizon still required tilting one's head high to see the center of the cross. There, at the intersection, was a human-sized, cocoon-like protrusion. And outside the cocoon was a spear, as if someone had nailed something to the cross.
"Strange. In the command center surveillance footage just now, it was clearly directly above the crater."
Su rarely opened his eyes, now gazing at the massive cross with apprehension. He could always sense an extremely ominous, aberrant feeling from its blood-red color.
Of course, saying so might seem overly dramatic; wasn't Finality itself the greatest omen? But as a MANTIS specializing in psychic perception, Su could clearly feel a more peculiar… premonition.
The voice representing intuition constantly whispered in his ear:
"Do not go there."
Do not go there, not out of fear of death, but because something… more soul-crushing would happen. So much so that even he, known for his calmness, couldn't help swallowing hard several times.
"Tch!" Mobius pursed her lips. "It's just chosen a suitable battlefield for itself, for us."
If she previously harbored doubts—no, hopes—about that worst-case scenario, now… she was almost certain. Would Finality, born to destroy the world, deliberately choose a battlefield, avoiding New Atra?
And this posture, as if specifically waiting for them… If It truly intended to fight, It should have attacked the moment they appeared.
Of course, the possibility that Finality was just that arrogant couldn't be ruled out.
But she no longer cared about these things. Hoisting Abyss Flower onto her shoulder, she strode past everyone, taking a step towards Finality.
"Let's go. It's waiting for us."
Kevin said softly. He too sensed something.
As his voice fell, his figure vanished from the spot. Everyone turned their gaze back to the horizon, seeing a flash of white appear there, followed by fiery red, then verdant green…
However, the cross's location was indeed quite distant. Even at the MANTISes' speed, it took nearly twenty minutes to arrive.
The pillar of the cross seemed slender from afar, but that was merely a trick of perspective. Standing truly before it, they discovered its width reached even a kilometer. Only then could it support a height of twelve thousand meters.
And rather than a traditional cross, it resembled a thick tree trunk more. Closer inspection revealed many parts that weren't perfectly straight, along with numerous rough holes and textures. In comparison, the blood-red color seemed like merely a hastily applied coat of paint… but why did it reek of blood?
Suddenly, a powerful, forceful heartbeat echoed again from the cocoon at the center of the cross. Before anyone could react, the cocoon peeled back strand by strand, and a dark figure plummeted straight down from the height of twelve thousand meters.
"Scatter!"
The figures became several black streaks leaping aside. The dark shadow from above crashed onto the silver-grey plains, kicking up dust that momentarily obscured everyone's vision.
"Alert!"
No need for Kevin's command. Most people here were battle-hardened veterans. They knew the enemy would likely seize such an opportunity to attack. So, with obscured vision, guided by Aponia, they paired up with their nearest comrades, wary of the imminent danger.
But until the dust completely settled, nothing happened. Only a figure now stood before them.
Despite being mentally prepared, seeing that familiar face still caused the Flame-Chasers' thoughts to momentarily short-circuit.
"Michael…"
But while the others were still stunned, a streak of green had already closed in behind Michael.
"Hm. Long time no see."
Michael nodded as usual, greeting the Flame-Chasers. But in the next instant, his left foot leisurely stepped forward, his body turning with it. Then, the sharp tip of Abyss Flower grazed past his back.
"What!"
Mobius, caught off guard, had no time for any defensive action. She only felt a gentle pat on her back, sending her back into the ranks of the Flame-Chasers.
Schink!
The spear tip stabbed into the lunar regolith, carving a long scar. Mobius used it to stabilize herself, standing before all the Flame-Chasers, demanding preemptively:
"Michael, what exactly are you trying to do?"
Michael's expression gradually turned wooden. The liveliness from his earlier greeting seemed like a fleeting reflection, gone forever once missed.
"Nothing more than correcting some errors, erasing some pain, reversing some sacrifices. That's all."
"Are you really Michael?" Kevin dragged the Cleaver of Shamash, stepping in front of Mobius.
"It doesn't matter. Whether you think I am Michael or not is meaningless to me…"
After saying this, he stepped back with his right foot, turning his body again. As if prearranged, Kevin appeared at his side, the tip of Shamash slashing through his afterimage.
Missing the strike, Kevin tried to twist his body in mid-air, aiming a kick towards Michael's head. But Michael simply tilted his head, once again narrowly avoiding Kevin's attack.
At this moment, Kevin's back was completely exposed to Michael. Furthermore, the inertia from his initial thrust hadn't ceased, and he had forcibly disrupted his balance mid-air for a follow-up attack. He now had absolutely no ability to dodge. Even someone completely ignorant of combat would know to counterattack now.
So Michael slowly clenched his right hand into a fist and extended it forward…
"Karma Wheel!"
Su silently recited the words in his mind. An invisible wave of energy swept out.
The reason Su was one of the very few psychic MANTISes with direct combat capability was largely due to the Karma Wheel.
Targets bound by the Karma Wheel would have the damage of their attacks reflected back onto themselves, as if causality itself had been reversed.
But Michael seemed to have anticipated this scenario. The fist, already extended softly, retracted the instant Su applied the Karma Wheel. Thus, nothing happened.
That right fist retracted directly to the side of Michael's left cheek. Then he tilted his head to the right, extended his right index finger, and gently tapped the empty space beside him.
Bang!
The next moment, Eden pulled the trigger. The pistol named "Masterpiece" fired a dazzling golden lightning bolt, which grazed past Michael's cheek, precisely deflected by Michael's pointing finger, looped back, and collided with a green lightning arrow laced with black sludge. The two electric arcs exploded together with crackling sounds.
Having done this, Hua had already rushed before him. She delivered rapid left and right punches, only to be dodged again by Michael's perfectly timed sidestep.
She followed through, rushing into Michael's embrace, concentrating power in the heel of her left palm, striking upwards towards Michael's jaw. But Michael, as if deliberately toying with her, only leisurely stepped back at the last moment. Hua could even feel the stinging sensation as her fingertips grazed the stubble on his chin, but ultimately missed.
However, Michael's step back was slightly too late. Although he evaded the range of Hua's fists, he wasn't too far away.
Hua quickly adjusted her stance, lowered her center of gravity, and swept a right roundhouse kick towards Michael's temple.
But Michael smiled—Hua was close enough to be certain it was a smile of utter indifference.
No time to think. Michael bent his knees. Her kick grazed over Michael's scalp, but her gaze happened to catch two black streaks attacking from the left—it was Ato and Dystopia using telekinesis to control the Keys of Domination for a sneak attack.
She couldn't stop her momentum. Her kick sent the two telekinetically controlled Soulium spheres flying back. Then she heard a cry of pain—
"Ah!"
The Keys of Domination flew backward, knocking down Kosma who was trying to approach from the side. Hua only had time to apologize mentally before seeing Michael, who had bent his knees, straighten up, his shoulder bumping against her exposed flank during the high kick, gently knocking her away.
Then, he bent down again. The greatsword wreathed in flames swept over his back. As he ducked, he grabbed a handful of dust from the ground and threw it backward at Kevin.
Kevin instinctively materialized an ice wall to block, but the next moment, the ice wall shattered under Michael's fist, not even lasting 0.1 seconds.
Michael grabbed Kevin's collar and gently tossed him back into the group of Flame-Chasers.
Was it over?
No. Michael turned sideways again, taking a step back.
"Get lost!"
The next moment, accompanied by a roar, the massive red cross behind him crashed down. But he stood motionless, showing no intention of dodging. And the final outcome proved that the edge of the cross landed exactly where he had stood previously, mere centimeters from his current toes.
His left hand formed a claw, snatching sideways. Kalpas was charging towards him, yet seemed to deliver his own neck into Michael's hand. Then, predictably, he too was thrown back into the Flame-Chaser ranks by Michael.
The scene fell silent for a moment. Right, the lunar atmosphere was thin; sound was faint anyway.
The Flame-Chasers' expressions were grave. Although the previous exchange was merely a brief, probing attack, the gap between them and the "Michael" before them was already glaringly obvious.
Their every move seemed anticipated. Everyone understood that if "Michael" wished, none of them could touch the hem of his clothes.
They also knew very well, this wasn't Michael's fighting style—due to the First and Sixth Herrscher authorities allowing rapid body repair, Michael's combat style had nothing to do with agility; if it broke, he just fixed it.
But the Flame-Chasers were not unfamiliar with this kind of agility, like falling petals. That was what terrified them the most—
"Michael, Elysia… what happened to her? Where is she?"
Except for Mobius, everyone preferred to believe the consciousness within the Michael before them belonged to Finality. But they didn't know what to call him for the moment, so they tentatively addressed him as Michael.
"Her…"
Michael looked at the Flame-Chasers expressionlessly, his eyes narrowing, his gaze becoming distant.
"Elysia… She's dead."