Chapter 1216 1216: The End of the Beginning-2

…This absolute madman was seriously intending to take on another one of those devastating attacks?!

The ground trembled. The very air twisted in terror.

Panic didn't merely spread—it erupted, like an ancient volcano awakening after a thousand years of slumber.

"Run! Run for your lives!!"

A cry of unfiltered desperation echoed across the plaza, repeated by dozens of throats, amplified by fear itself.

The audience, once dignified and composed in their elite seats, now scattered like terrified prey. With one look at the ominous grey orb forming above the sky once more, every single spectator turned tail and sprinted in the opposite direction, driven by nothing but raw survival instinct.

No one wanted to witness that level of destruction up close a second time.

No one wanted to gamble their life on the slim chance of surviving such a catastrophic force.

Bzzt. Bzzt.

Spatial rifts tore open the air around the central stage.

"Damn it all! We've been cursed with a sovereign who's completely insane!"

Cries of disbelief echoed as more and more individuals activated instant teleportation arrays.

Serphon, Harros, were gone in a blink and Sandria—who had vanished to retrieve her father and the rest of their delegation—reappeared just long enough to drag their people into one of the opened portals. In mere moments, nearly all members of the Third Army and their families vanished into streaks of light, fleeing the disaster-to-come as fast as technology would allow.

"Wait! Take me with you!!"

King Eiko, once so proud and composed, now shoved others out of the way, trying to force his way into a portal alongside the newly accepted rulers of lesser planets. Chaos reigned, dignity be damned. The leaders bickered like commoners, abandoning their own citizens in frenzied desperation.

"...?"

Aro stood frozen, his eyes darting around as the plaza emptied.

There was no one left from his entourage… except Flora.

She stared at him, her gaze filled with silent emotion—begging for something.

Was she begging him to run? Or to stay?

Woomf!

His soul sense surged into his ring to trigger the instant teleportation array—his last card.

But…

Wrrr…

The array fizzled out. The ring became inactive again.

He looked at Flora again and sighed. With a heavy heart, he reached out his right hand and gently patted her head, then pressed a light kiss to her forehead.

"Just a little longer," he murmured.

"Let's wait… maybe something will change. Maybe he'll do something impossible—again."

"Grrrr…"

Crixus the Purifier shifted backward, his body tense, every instinct telling him to flee. He unfurled his vast wings, preparing to leap into the sky.

In the distance, he could already see Deivos the Transcendent and Dorger the Devourer splitting in different directions, each seeking safety in their own way.

He was ready to join them.

He had to.

But—before takeoff, he glanced back to search for him.

His closest comrade.

Still there.

Still standing.

Right next to Robin.

Looking up at the sky, brows deeply furrowed. Then glancing at Robin… again. Again.

"...…"

Crixus exhaled slowly, folded his wings back down… and sat.

Right there on the ground.

He wasn't going anywhere.

"Stop this nonsense, old man!"

Caesar's voice boomed like a cannon blast.

"I swear by everything that lies beneath the skies and above the earths—if you're planning to die here, then I swear I'll die before you!"

The declaration was powerful enough to freeze time itself.

Theo and Peon followed silently. Without hesitation, they stepped forward, their expressions calm. They stood tall, feet apart, hands behind their backs—the stance of ultimate loyalty, the posture of those who have chosen death… willingly.

Even Zara—Zara, who was barely conscious—forced herself upright. Her face bore a look of steel, a determination never before seen in her soft features.

"We were supposed to die when we attacked the Camden family.

We were supposed to die when we were slaves.

But you gave us life, freedom, purpose.

Our lives are yours.

No matter what you choose."

"Our lives are yours, no matter what you choose!"

The generals of the First Army roared in unison, each one pounding a foot into the ground with military precision, locking themselves in a standing salute.

As for Richard…

He said nothing.

No emotional declarations.

No dramatic gestures.

His eyes were laser-focused on the sky, calculating. A green flame burned on his hand—a strange mix of serenity and fury—as his mind worked at full speed, strategizing how he could assist.

"Among everyone here," Amon's rough voice broke the tension, "no one has more reason to follow you into death than I do."

Then—BOOM!

His body grew, swelling to over four meters in height. A living wall of muscle and intent.

Zzznn!

Sakaar's blood began to pour and compress into a glowing crimson flower.

He said nothing—simply walked toward Richard and stood beside him.

The two began working silently, weaving together a strategy that would blend the forces of blood and life into a singular, devastating power. They didn't need words. They knew what to do.

"All of you… what… what are doing?!"

Robin's voice cracked.

He looked around… and could barely comprehend what he saw.

His army.

His family.

His followers.

Not one had left.

Not one had turned away.

They were choosing to die with him—if that's what it took.

"Don't even try, my friend… just don't."

Billy stepped forward with a laugh, almost reaching out to clap Robin on the shoulder in jest. But one glare from Hulak made him hesitate, and he slowly lowered his hand instead.

"In your next life, just make sure you find us again, alright? The Empire's not gonna build itself, hehe."

"....."

Robin clenched his teeth and tightened both fists, holding the tension for a few seconds… then exhaled, relaxing his hands.

A calm, serene expression spread across his face—an unburdened smile, a flicker of peace.

His eyes welled with tears.

"I'd love that, Billy… I really would."

Then, he looked up to the sky.

There was no longer a trace of defiance in his gaze—just acceptance.

"...You are the worst enemy I've ever faced. Not because of your intelligence—no, quite the opposite.

It's your impatience… your stubbornness… your arrogance that knows no bounds."

He slowly raised his shoulders in a quiet, final gesture.

"I've lost today. Do as you wish."

"Impatience, stubbornness, arrogance…"

The woman in black spoke with divine authority, her voice echoing like judgment from the heavens themselves.

"If you weren't addressing me, I'd have thought you were describing yourself, Robin Burton.

I offer my own soul an apology—for I must now rid humanity of someone like you.

But I cannot let you live. Go now, into your path."

Wooooooosh~

With a casual flick of her hand, the Black-Clad Woman released the attack downward.

"Nooooooo!! ROBIIIIIIIIIIIN!!!

I knew this would happen! I KNEW it!!!"

Juri screamed at the top of her lungs. The defensive dome was breached—and there wasn't enough power left to fix it.

Escape was no longer a viable option.

In a matter of minutes, the atmosphere itself would collapse.

The planet would become nothing more than a barren rock.

All life upon its surface would be erased.

"NOW!!!"

Sakaar, Caesar, Amon, Richard, Hulak, the other generals, and even the Golden Army stationed outside the walls—everyone sprang into action at once.

They launched upward with all the might they could muster, pushing their bodies and wills against the impossible pressure falling from above.

Rinara focused solely on Robin.

Her eyes locked onto him as she activated a secret technique—one last desperate attempt to teleport him away.

The chances of success were slim—her soul reserves were too low. But she had to try.

And Robin?

He closed his eyes.

A peaceful smile lingered on his face.

He had lived doing what he loved.

Tears filled his eyes… amazed that someone like him had found what felt like a family.

A quiet sigh escaped him… mourning all the things he had hoped to do but never would.

But who's to say…

Maybe death isn't the end.

Maybe the one who created this vast cosmos has something more— maybe an afterlife waiting?

The researcher within Robin felt a strange excitement at the thought.

His smile grew a little wider.

Silence.

"Hmm?"

Robin furrowed his brows.

Suddenly, all the sounds—battle cries, the collapsing sky, even Juri's frantic screams—vanished completely.

"...Did I die already?

No… I've tasted death before.

This doesn't feel like that at a—"

He opened his eyes… and blinked in disbelief.

Everything was still.

Time itself had frozen, refusing to move forward.

And right before him…

A small golden orb floated in midair.

The orb shimmered… then slowly began to reshape itself—taking on a humanoid form, radiant and ethereal, forged from pure light.

"It's been a while, Robin~"