Alex sat with the girls near the combat aircraft, watching the chaos that had overtaken the base. Soldiers hurried by, carrying crates of ammunition, while containers of missiles were continuously loaded into hangars. The air was thick with tension, as dense as smoke. Alex could feel it in every cell of his body. It was inevitable—within just a few short hours, the final battle for this world would begin.

Everyone preparing to fight outside Raccoon City knew what awaited them: not a few demons, but entire legions devoid of mercy. Even his own team was ready—mentally and physically—to face whatever was coming.

Turning his gaze, Alex noticed Slayer sitting alone on a distant container. He looked detached, lost in dark thoughts. Alex knew what he was waiting for. Waiting for this moment. The chance to take revenge on the one who destroyed his world… and created all those demons.

Alex looked at the girls. Though they tried to keep calm, they were tense. For many of them, this would be their first full-scale war. But he believed in them. They would manage.

The final hours before the attack dragged on painfully slow. Time became a merciless countdown, like an hourglass where each grain of sand drew them closer to the inevitable. People grew more silent, more focused. Weapons were checked. Armor secured. Everything was ready.

Alex sat quietly, lighting a cigarette. He looked up at the crimson sky, distorted by the presence of demons, and wondered—how would this end? He thought about possibly using the virus to reduce enemy numbers, but one risk kept nagging at him: if the virus proved effective, Davoth might intervene early—unlike typical “bosses” who wait for the final act.

Suddenly, the base alarm blared—general assembly.

The time had come.

“The hour’s finally here,” Alex said quietly, rising to his feet.

“You’re right,” Renka replied, clapping him on the shoulder. “Do your best out there—and kick those bastards’ asses.”

“I will. I’ll take care of both idiots,” Alex snorted. “But you all be careful too.”

“Don’t worry. You gave us those rings yourself,” Rei said with a smile. “Thanks to them, we’re not that easy to kill. So relax and focus on the battle.”

“That’s not what I meant. Remember, girls,” Alex’s voice turned serious. “We’re not heroes. We don’t pretend to be. We’re just a family. And we’ve got our own… family business of saving worlds. We do our job. Nothing more.”

“Hah. A family business, huh? Like the Winchesters, only we’re the Demon King family?” Revy smirked. “Sounds pretty badass.”

Alex just shook his head with a smile. He looked toward Slayer and gave him a nod. Slayer stood up from the container and slowly walked over, eyes fixed on the horizon where Raccoon City loomed like a grim monolith.

Meanwhile, Coco, Chiquita, Saya, Valmet, Shizuka, Claire, Sherry, Moira, and Jill were already boarding the aircraft. Alex kissed each of them goodbye, reminding them once again—be careful.

Once the plane’s hatch closed, Alex joined the others who would be fighting on the ground and headed for the general assembly point. GIR, MIMI, and Stitch walked alongside him, while Slayer marched ahead—each step pounding into the earth with weight and fury.

At the assembly, Chris gave a short speech. No theatrics, no unnecessary words—just what was needed to rally the troops. And it was enough.

Boarding began. Tanks, APCs, trucks—every vehicle roared like war drums. But even with all that power, Alex understood: humanity was vastly outnumbered. Perhaps even by hundreds to one. But they had will.

The journey to Raccoon City took less than an hour, but the tension in the convoy was unbearable. When the convoy finally stopped a few kilometers from the city, Alex and Slayer jumped off the tank and walked forward.

Before them stretched the shadow of hell.

Raccoon City was no longer a city. It had become a black citadel—a bastion of Davoth. Massive metal walls loomed like scorched earth soaked in blood and devoid of life. Everything around it felt dead.

Alex heard a creaking sound. Turning his head, he saw Slayer, staring at the city, clenching his fists with such rage that his bones cracked. His eyes burned with an unquenchable thirst for vengeance. There was nothing left in his soul but fury.

Alex walked over and placed a hand on his shoulder.

“Soon, my friend. Very soon. You’ll get your chance.”

Slayer gave a heavy nod, tearing his gaze away from the city and gritting his teeth. They both knew—the end was near.

Alex turned his eyes back to Raccoon City. From this close, he could feel the ominous aura of the Icon of Sin even more clearly… and especially that of the unique Red Marker. Its presence pressed against his mind, as if space itself was screaming in agony.

Behind him, light footsteps approached, and a warm hand gently rested on his shoulder. It was Brunhilde.

“Everyone is ready,” she said calmly, withdrawing her hand.

Alex nodded, took a deep breath, and looked out over the assembled troops. He and Slayer moved forward, closer to the front line. The people stood tense, their faces frozen. And though they seemed prepared, Alex knew—panic boiled in their hearts. It grew with every passing second, slowly but surely corroding their resolve.

He stared at the walls of Raccoon City, now a fortress of demons. He knew the enemy was aware of their approach. But what were they waiting for? An order from Davoth? Or did they want the humans to be the first to leap into the abyss—and in that despair, realize just how hopeless everything was?

But what mattered to him now… was the people.

He felt how the atmosphere—full of fear, pain, and horror—pressed on them, crushed their spirits. And if he did nothing, they would break. That was why he had to act.

Alex turned to the girls and gave them a nod. He could hear the panicked whispers in the crowd. He could hear the fear. This couldn’t go on.

He clapped his hands together—creating a sharp, explosive sound that echoed across the field like a shockwave. Everyone fell silent and turned to him.

And then Alex spoke:

“You know our laws. What we are interfering with now is much greater than you could have ever imagined until this day. It has been written. It is their time to give penance. If we continue, we will bring down heaven’s wrath upon them. But you are only humans. It is only a short time before we save humanity and this world. They have a large army of demons, but we will be the ones who control this fight. So stand with a spear that will strike straight into the hearts of those who dared to encroach on our world. And we will be the ones who save this world from those who thought that we were just dust to be trampled. Because in this universe, there is only one dominant life form. And that is HUMANITY. And now it is their turn to fear us. So raise your weapons, and cast aside your fear. There is no more room for fear or panic. There is room in your hearts only for the flames of uncontrolled wrath, directed at our enemies. Let this flame burn brighter than any star in this universe today!”

His voice thundered across the field as he raised his power axe high above his head.

With every word, something within the soldiers began to awaken—a fire of hope, rage, and resolve. Even the most exhausted fighters clenched their fists and raised their heads. Their hearts ignited like bonfires. Their shouts echoed that rising determination, rolling across the plains like thunder:

“RIP AND TEAR!”

“FOR HUMANITY!”

“FOR THE WORLD!”

The echo of their voices reached even Raccoon City. It struck the hearts of the demons like the toll of a great bell. And those who had walked this path with Alex—those who knew his strength, not just of body but of spirit—looked at him with admiration.

Even the most seasoned soldiers, hardened by countless battles, nodded with respect. He had done the impossible again. With words alone, he had lifted an army from its knees.

And then—behind him came the sound of loud applause and an arrogant voice:

“Bravo. Bravo. What a speech. What words. Behold, the hero from legends. A man who can lead, who can inspire… The one I’ve been waiting for. The one who was meant to be born into this world to challenge the true enemy.”

Alex turned around slowly.

Standing before him was a man in a black suit and white shirt. His smile was cold, his eyes bottomless. He stood right between humanity’s army and Raccoon City, like a bridge between light and darkness. There was something strangely familiar about him…

Alex focused. The face. The shape. The energy.

“…The Minister of Monoliths…” he whispered. “…in human form.”

But even with that knowledge, the feeling didn’t leave him—he had seen that face before. Somewhere… sometime. Something wasn’t right.

And then Kenichi shouted, pointing at him:

“Niiijima?! How… how are you alive?! I—I saw the zombies rip you apart with my own eyes!”

After Kenichi’s outburst, Alex finally understood why the Minister’s appearance had seemed so familiar. It was Haruo Nijima—the very one Alex always called the most “alien” of all humans. A guy with twisted ambitions, even in the original timeline.

And still, Alex couldn’t grasp why the Minister had chosen Nijima’s form, or why he was now strutting among people like it was completely normal.

He glanced at Miu and Renka—both looked shaken. And they weren’t the only ones. Everyone who had known Haruo and witnessed him being torn apart by zombies now simply couldn’t believe their eyes.

“Ah, Kenichi, my dear friend…” the Minister said with a smug smile. “It was such a pleasure to see your face full of despair when I ‘heroically’ shielded you from the zombies. Such drama, wasn’t it? Your tears in that moment… mmm… were sweet as wine. Renka, Miu, the rest of you… Who would’ve thought you’d last this long in this world… Although it’s not surprising—you had the protection of a true hero… The one who saved everyone… That’s my favorite part of any story. When the hero reaches the end… and breaks.”

“So you were the mysterious director no one ever saw?” Alex asked calmly, lighting a cigarette.

“Hmph. I must admit, I expected more emotion from you, ‘false savior.’ I just confessed to destroying this world… and all you ask is whether I was the director? Your army is already itching to tear me apart. And you… you just stand there and say nothing. Where’s your hero’s heart, false savior?”

“You’re right. I’ll kill you. But screaming’s for drama. I prefer action,” Alex replied coolly, exhaling a stream of smoke.

The Minister burst into laughter, clutching his stomach.

“Hahahaha! You? Kill me?! You won’t even make it to the city walls! Your army is a bunch of walking corpses! You’ll be swept away like trash! You’re pitiful, miserable creatures that exist only to be crushed for entertainment!”

Alex exhaled again and said,

“You’re wrong, Minister.”

The smile on the enemy’s face began to fade. He tensed as he heard those words. His eyes met Alex’s—and in that moment, he felt it… recognition. Fear. Something clicked in his mind. This man knew… he knew far too much.

Alex smirked, pulled a metallic rod from his inventory—one that looked like a beacon—and drove it into the ground. The top of the beacon lit up with rhythmic pulses, sending out a signal. Each resonant hum carried across the battlefield something ancient… something familiar.

The Minister’s face twisted into a hateful grimace.

“You’re right,” Alex said. “There aren’t many humans here. That’s why I called others. Those who also thirst for revenge. Those who have a score to settle with the demons… and with your lover.”

And at that moment, portals began opening behind humanity’s army. From them, futuristic Night Sentinel ships burst into the sky, followed by dragon riders blazing across the heavens with shimmering scales and fire.

Portals opened on the ground as well. One after another, Night Sentinel warriors emerged—armored figures that reflected the dying light of the sunset. They moved to stand beside humanity’s soldiers, shoulder to shoulder.

Then came the colossal portals. From them marched the Atlant Mechs—towering titans, each capable of smashing a tank with a single blow.

Finally, with a deafening crash, another Atlant Mech dropped from the sky, leaving a crater in its wake. From within it climbed Stitch, wearing his usual savage grin, eyes locked directly on the Minister.

The Minister watched as Alex’s army grew before his very eyes, and his face contorted further with rage.

“WHO ARE YOU?!” he screamed, his voice rising into a shriek as he pointed at Alex.

Alex slowly raised his gaze and said in a calm tone:

“I am oblivion. I am destruction… I am doom.”

The Minister tried to reply. His mouth opened, beginning with:

“We’ll see who—”

But he never got the chance to finish.

A shot rang out. A heavy impact. And the Minister’s head exploded in a bloody firework. A hole the size of a football gaped in his chest, blood and bits of flesh splattering across the ground. His lifeless, headless body collapsed onto its back.

All eyes turned to the shooter.

It was Slayer, standing with a double-barreled shotgun in one hand, still aimed at the spot where the Minister had been.

Many in the crowd thought: “Must’ve been Rebecca. She hates long speeches.” But then they saw her—also holding a weapon, aimed at the same target. It became clear: two people in this army had no patience for dramatic monologues.

What made it even funnier—both were wearing identical armor.

Alex burst out laughing, raised his fist toward Slayer—and Slayer met it with a resounding punch. A dull metallic clang rang out across the field.

Then Alex turned to the soldiers. He knew the Minister’s appearance had rattled them. But before fear could take root, he made one final move to ignite a blaze in their hearts.

He raised his activated power axe and shouted with a roar:

“THIS IS WHERE WE HOLD THEM! THIS IS WHERE WE FIGHT! THIS IS WHERE THEY DIE!!!”

“DIE!!!” the soldiers screamed in response, raising their weapons.

The war had begun.

Immediately, a volley of missiles streaked toward Raccoon City, slamming into the fortress walls with thunderous crashes. Cracks began to form from the impacts. The Night Sentinels followed suit—launching a massive bombardment on the city.

As soon as the first salvo was fired, Alex charged forward. Behind him came Slayer, each of his steps shaking the ground. GIR and MIMI followed close behind, never missing a beat.

As the assault began, demons began pouring out from behind the black city walls. Like an endless swarm of ants, they flooded the battlefield. Mixed among the common beasts were titanic demons—giants as tall as the Atlant Mechs themselves.

Alex clenched his power axe and activated it as he ran. Gaining speed, he suddenly leapt—so high that he reached the head level of a thirty-meter titan. A moment later, one powerful strike severed the massive demon’s head from its body, which crashed down with a dull thud, crushing anyone beneath it.

The first blood had been spilled.

That moment signaled the start of the battle. The armies of humanity and the Night Sentinels surged forward. Atlant Mechs, piloted by experienced drivers, charged headlong into the titanic demons.

Alex landed, crushing another demon’s head beneath him. At that moment, Slayer caught up, raising his chain-shield in front of him. He crashed into the crowd of demons like a shockwave, tearing enemies apart with his shield. Without waiting for Alex, Slayer surged onward.

Alex, gripping his power axe, followed him, slicing demons with every step. With each powerful swing, hundreds of enemies fell under his blade. Catching up to Slayer, he gestured briefly toward the black city wall—the goal was to break inside.

Slayer, ripping out the entrails of another demon, nodded, threw the remains aside, and charged forward.

The entire battlefield was filled with the roar of gunfire, monstrous howls, and clashing metal. Demons exploded from shells, their bodies scattering in pieces. The ground trembled under endless artillery fire.

Alex and his allies pushed deeper, and soon through the haze of dust and blood, he saw the black wall—the boundary of the former city. Passing Slayer, Alex summoned Beowulf and, leaping up, slammed his foot into the ground. The shockwave scattered demons, opening a path to the wall.

Forming hand seals, he summoned a wooden dragon bursting from the earth beneath his feet.

“Slayer, jump on!” Alex shouted.

Slayer immediately leapt onto the dragon’s back, followed by MIMI. GIR, grabbed by the head, was also brought aboard.

The wooden dragon, gaining speed, roared as it rammed the black wall and broke through it. Alex, Slayer, GIR, and MIMI stormed into the city—which now looked more like hell than Raccoon City. There, an army of demons awaited them—dense and impenetrable.

Without a word, Slayer drew his BFG and fired a blast of green plasma into the enemy crowd. Instantly, the center of the enemy forces vanished, leaving only a burning crater behind.

Alex jumped off the dragon’s back, formed seals, and slammed his palm onto the ground. Roots burst from beneath his feet, intertwining and rising to form massive wooden golems armed with axes and maces. They immediately joined the fight, scattering demons left and right.

Alex, Slayer, GIR, and MIMI plunged into the thick of battle, carving their way through enemy ranks. Looking up, Alex saw the citadel in the city’s center—the goal was clear.

Clenching his fist, he activated Beowulf’s bracers, which shone with a bright light. Raising his hand, he struck the ground with force—the blow was so powerful the city trembled, buildings crumbled, and the earth cracked. Hundreds of demons were swept away with a single strike.

They began advancing toward the center. The closer they got to the citadel, the fiercer the resistance became. The demons, as if sensing the threat, attacked them with doubled fury, showing no mercy to themselves.

And then, when they were only halfway to the citadel, the city shook again. The ground trembled, the walls quivered, and cracks snaked across the buildings.

Even outside the city, where the main battle raged, the earthquake was felt like mounting pressure.

Alex and Slayer came to an abrupt halt. Both sensed something approaching. At that moment, GIR and MIMI crashed down from the sky, landing with such force that a shockwave blasted outward, sending demons flying in all directions.

A silence fell over the air.

“Something… is coming,” Alex said, and everyone froze in anticipation.

The earthquake intensified by the second. It seemed as if something enormous was bursting out from deep within the earth. Skyscrapers cracked and crumbled, unable to withstand the pressure rising from below. Massive fissures twisted across the ground, tearing through streets, squares, and ruins.

The noise swelled into a deafening roar, as if the earth itself was screaming in terror. And at the moment when the tension reached its peak—a gigantic hand burst from the ground with a thunderous crash. Its size surpassed even the titanic demons. The fingers curled into a fist, crashing down with such force that a new wave of tremors swept through the city.

Then a second hand appeared—also plunged into the concrete with a horrifying crash. Finally, from the cracked earth, a head with curved horns began to rise.

It was the Icon of Sin.

Its body towered so high that its shadow covered Alex, Slayer, GIR, and MIMI. The monster that had spawned countless nightmares now stood before them in all its terrible glory.

“Looks like they didn’t waste any time and unleashed the Icon right away,” Alex smirked, glancing at Slayer. “Hope you didn’t forget to bring the Crucible, my friend?”

“Hmm,” Slayer replied, removing the Crucible from his belt and activating it.

When activated, the Crucible emitted a deep vibrating hum that made the air tremble. Alex looked at it, clearly impressed: the energy inside was so powerful that he believed it could destroy even the avatar of Nyan-Nyan—not to mention Davot.

“If you don’t mind, I’ll start,” Alex said with a grin.

Without waiting for a response, he ignited in the air and appeared right before the Icon of Sin’s face. Beowulf’s bracers glowed, and Alex slammed his fist forward with tremendous force. His fist didn’t just strike the monster’s head—it hit the very fabric of space itself.

The impact cracked the space like glass, with fractures spreading in all directions. The armor on the Icon’s head became covered with a web of fissures, and the gigantic creature staggered, barely managing to keep its balance.

Next, Slayer joined the fight. Running up, he launched himself with powerful momentum, crashing chest-first into the Icon like a cannonball. The blow was so strong that the chest armor caved inward, and a fountain of black blood gushed from the Icon’s mouth.

Alex, now behind the monster, delivered a crushing blow to the back of its head. Space cracked again, and under the force of inertia, the Icon’s head bent forward. The roar it let out created a shockwave that caused the remaining buildings to start collapsing.

Alex was thrown backward, but performing a somersault in midair, he pushed off the very air and charged back into battle. Meanwhile, GIR and MIMI unleashed a barrage of fire from their bolters, trying to weaken the Icon’s armor.

Alex, landing nearby, twisted in the air and drove his fist into the monster’s back. In response, the Icon tried to strike him with its massive hand, but Alex twisted away and clung to it like a tick.

In the next second, he summoned the Partisfol Spear from his inventory. At his command, it transformed into a Guardian with a spear, and on Alex’s signal, the Guardian plunged the spear into the armor on the Icon’s arm. The spear tore off a massive armor plate, exposing part of the creature’s flesh.

The Icon tried to shake them off with its other hand, but it was hit by a grenade launcher round fired from afar. The explosion threw the Icon’s arm aside, breaking its attack.

Alex turned to Slayer and gave a thumbs-up. Jumping off the Icon’s arm together with the Guardian, they landed on a surviving building.

The enraged Icon of Sin shifted its gaze toward them. Its eyes burned with hatred. It swung its fist, aiming at the building where Alex and his ally stood.

“Sandalphon!” Alex shouted, stomping forcefully on the ground.

Just as the giant fist of the Icon of Sin was about to crash down on the building where Alex and the Guardian stood, a stone throne suddenly fell from the sky, crashing directly into the monster’s arm. The blow was so powerful that the Icon’s legs buckled—giving Slayer a chance to strike again.

Leaping up, Slayer activated the Crucible. His blade, burning red and carrying the power of destruction, easily sliced through the Icon’s chest armor as if it were made of wax. Black blood gushed from the wound, splattering the ground.

In pain, the Icon of Sin growled and focused all its attention on Slayer. This was Alex’s chance.

He jumped off the building and ran toward Sandalphon’s throne. Leaping onto it, Alex pulled a sword from its center—and at that moment slashed the throne with the blade. The shattered pieces immediately began to be drawn to the sword, enveloping it and merging with the metal. In Alex’s hands was now a massive blade, as if forged from the very stone itself.

“Halvanheleve: the sword of destruction,” he said, gripping the hilt with both hands.

Sensing a mortal threat, the Icon of Sin turned to Alex. He raised the enormous sword above his head. Halvanheleve blazed with a blinding light, and in the next instant, Alex brought the blade down.

The city was illuminated by a flash of light so bright that even the sky darkened. A shockwave spread in all directions, leveling everything left of Raccoon City. Buildings collapsed one after another like a house of cards. When the light faded, only a desolate plain remained in the battle’s place. In the center stood the Icon of Sin, missing one arm.

But the loss of a limb did not make it weaker.

Slayer, sensing the moment when the force of the shockwave began to fade, dashed forward. He gripped the Crucible tightly, preparing to deliver the final blow. However, the Icon, howling, struck the ground with its foot, sending a wave of rubble, dirt, and stones toward Slayer. All Slayer managed to do was thrust the Crucible forward to absorb the impact. In the next second, his body was hurled backward like a cannonball, slicing through the air.

Alex, distracted by his fallen comrade, couldn’t dodge in time and took a crushing hit as well. He was thrown upward with such force that he broke through the clouds. A little more, and he would have flown out into space.

Tumbling through the air, Alex grabbed hold of the very fabric of space itself, slowing his fall and suspending himself in midair.

“Looks like I’m going to have to use this,” he muttered, standing right on a tear in space high above the city, looking down at the Icon of Sin.

Alex stretched out his hand. Black clouds began to gather over the city, blotting out the sky.

“Answer my call… Gungnir!” he shouted.

In response, the first lightning bolts streaked across the sky, followed by a deafening thunderclap that made the entire world tremble. The world seemed to freeze. Even the sounds of battle beyond the city fell silent, overwhelmed by the roar from the heavens.

The lightning continued to tear the sky without pause, illuminating the ruins and the figure of the Icon of Sin…

To be continued…

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Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep