Extra's Death: I Am the Son of Hades

Two minutes ago.

Neo's fragmented Existence floated in a vast expanse of a pocket universe.

His thoughts were slow, stretched thin like fading echoes.

Even so, he could faintly feel the presence of his other fragments scattered across different pocket universes.

That shouldn't have been possible.

But his Heavenly Records made it so.

They stayed connected to his fragments, keeping a thin thread of awareness alive even when his body, soul, and Core had been cut apart.

'What… is… happening…?'

The thought came weakly, heavy like stone sinking in water.

But the Heavenly Records were still working perfectly.

Lines of light flickered in his fading mind as they spoke.

[Master, the mark on your back evolved when you spoke to that person.]

[It's now burned into your existence. We don't fully understand it yet, but it seems related to Young Master Beelzebub.]

[Since the moment the mark appeared, Beelzebub's growth has accelerated drastically.]

[He will break out of his cocoon soon.]

Neo's fading consciousness stirred.

Beelzebub.

His manifestation of the Concept of Time, Nullhour.

It was strange from the beginning, how his Concept had a mind of its own.

Concepts weren't supposed to have that.

But given what was happening, the Heavenly Records suspected it had something to do with that man: Daniel Caelum. The one who called himself the Devil of Time. Ouroboros.

A faint crack spread through Beelzebub's cocoon.

It meant his Concept of Time, Nullhour, was advancing from Supreme Rank to Stage 1 Godhood.

Normally, a Stage 1 Concept wouldn't be strong.

But Neo's Existence was at Stage 6.

He had decillions of Heavenly Records backing him.

Even a low-ranked Concept, powered by that, could destroy worlds.

'Heavenly… Record…'

He didn't have a body. Or a soul. Or anything else. Only fragments of his existence and his fading consciousness.

He forced his mind to move.

Each thought hurt, but it was necessary for the Heavenly Records to read him.

'Tell that… idiot… Beelzebub… to sleep… if he wakes up early… I'll eat him… half-cooked….'

Heavenly Records paused.

Was he… joking?

[Master, I don't think Young Master Beelzebub will rest, not given your current—]

'I… can handle… this problem… easily….'

Even in his shattered state, he still sounded confident.

Kevin had been clever.

By cutting Neo's Existence into fragments, he made sure Neo couldn't generate Stage 6 energy anymore.

But Kevin underestimated what a Heavenbreaker was capable of.

Neo might not be able to create new energy at that level right now, but he had stored plenty when he ascended to Stage 6.

And his Heavenly Records could still forge Stage 6 Cores to generate more energy if needed.

He also had Loan, his backup option.

Pocket universes?

There was no way such small cages could hold him.

Neo's fragments began to move.

Energy, thick and steady, filled each pocket universe.

The pocket universes trembled.

Kevin probably thought Neo would waste all his energy trying to break free.

But he was wrong.

Neo wouldn't need to use even a fraction of it.

The moment the energy filled every corner, Neo activated his Concept.

The World.

His Nullhour Concept bloomed like silent fire.

Stage 6 Cores and countless Heavenly Records fueled it, spreading through the fabric of the pocket universes.

Though Beelzebub was supposed to be asleep, Nullhour had already reached Stage 1. That was enough.

The Nullhour Worlds began to expand, and time itself started to be erased.

Seconds, minutes, hours—all gone.

The pocket universes couldn't survive without the flow of time, which was one of the fundamental forces.

One by one, they collapsed.

Neo drifted through the collapsing space, appearing in another universe after each shattering.

He soon realized Kevin had layered pocket universes within pocket universes, like a nesting trap.

But it didn't matter.

Every time Neo's fragment entered one, Time was erased, and the pocket universe fell apart.

The process repeated again and again, until all that remained was the final barrier: the Golden Domain.

Neo's fragmented Existences emerged there.

The fabric of reality wavered.

Across the collapsing space, Kevin stood, watching with tight lips.

The shattering of so many pocket universes released a wave of destructive energy.

It burst outward like a storm of dying stars.

But Neo's fragments devoured it.

Every bit of it.

Then, something darker rose from within his fragments, a deep, silent Firmament that looked like the night swallowing the sun.

Neo used it to devour his fragments.

Kevin's eyes widened.

"He's… eating his own existences?"

The luminous fragments spun faster, merging, devouring, consuming.

The sight was both terrifying and beautiful.

The fragments formed a massive shape of a dragon biting its own tail.

It was the cycle of life and death.

The eternal return.

Slowly, the dragon shrank, swallowing itself piece by piece until only one fragment remained.

That single fragment pulsed faintly, then brightened.

Knowledge. Power. Identity.

All of it flowed back into that final piece.

Kevin moved.

His figure blurred as he dashed toward the fragment, trying to seal it before it could reform.

But before he could get close, a wave of energy erupted.

It pulsed like a beating heart, and Kevin was thrown back by the impact.

The fragment grew larger, absorbing everything around it.

First, the Existence took shape.

Then came the Core.

Then the soul.

And finally, the body.

The air trembled.

Space twisted.

Neo Hargraves stood there, whole again.

…

Vivienne (Witch of Time) POV

Vivienne's world was surrounded by countless Wards and Techniques.

Even two Technique Spirits guarded it day and night.

It should've been impossible for anyone to enter unnoticed.

Yet someone had.

'I' sat in the garden's tea pavilion, quietly sipping tea as if the universe wasn't burning outside.

The air was calm, and the scent of flowers filled the air.

"This feels quite relaxing," 'I' said, chuckling softly.

He turned his head.

Vivienne hung against the wall, her body pinned there by rods that glowed faintly.

One stabbed through each limb, one through her neck, and one straight through her head.

She should have been dead, but the rods pulsed with Life Flames, keeping her alive just enough to stop her from escaping through reincarnation.

Her breathing was shallow.

Her eyes flickered weakly.

"…why…?" Vivienne's voice was faint, barely audible.

'Why am I here?' the man said, smiling lightly. "Of course I'm here. Everything I did, every war I started, every piece I moved… all of it was for this moment. To make sure Kevin was away, and I could approach you."

His tone was calm, like he was explaining something simple.

"I have to admit; your Apostle is impressive. It took me millions of years of planning just to make him leave your side for a few hours. But that's all I need."

Vivienne tried to speak again, her voice trembling. "…why…?"

'I' placed the teacup down gently and stood.

Smoke drifted from his hands, fading to reveal a dark gauntlet with long, sharp claws.

Vivienne's eyes widened in recognition.

"…that… relic…?"

"Oh, this?" he said, lifting it slightly. "Yes. It took me a long time to find it, and even longer to repair it."

He walked closer and stopped right in front of her.

His clawed hand reached forward, pressing against her chest.

The claws sank slowly into her flesh.

Blood trickled down, but she didn't scream.

"Give me your fragment of Authority, Vivienne."

For a moment, silence filled the space.

Then, despite the pain, Vivienne smiled faintly.

Blood dripped down her chin, but her lips curved into a weak grin.

"So that's what you were after… Fate and Time? I'm sorry… but my fragment won't let you control much of Time."

He smiled too, calm and unbothered.

"Don't worry about that."

He opened his other hand, revealing two faintly glowing shards floating above his palm.

"I already have two fragments of Time's Authority. With yours, I'll be able to move through Time freely."

Vivienne's weak smile faded.

Her body trembled, and she tried to resist.

The strength in her body flared weakly, pushing back against him.

'You're stubborn,' he thought, watching her try.

He tightened his grip slightly, feeling her resistance.

"Are you sure you want to resist, Witch of Time? Neo Hargraves will defeat Kevin soon. And once that happens, he'll start looking for me. If I can't escape through Time, he'll catch me."

He paused for a moment, letting his words sink in.

"And when he does, he'll take the fragments I have. Knowing him, he'll give them to Kevin… so that Kevin can return them to you."

Vivienne froze.

'I' smiled when he saw it.

"That's right," he said softly. "If you get your full Authority back, you'll bring back the original Kevin. And when you do, you will have to discard this one. Do you want to do it? Do you have the courage to throw him away?"

Vivienne's lips trembled.

She was okay with dying.

No, she wanted to die.

Because Kevin had been with her too long.

He had always been hiding his own emotions, and worked to bring her happiness.

But she couldn't feel happy without the original Kevin.

And still, she hoped that this Kevin would be happy.

'I' chuckled.

He leaned in slightly.

"Kevin will be destroyed when you reunite with your love. He would probably kill himself.

"So, take my hand, Witch of Time.

"Let me take your Authority and kill you.

"At least that way, Kevin would be able to think that perhaps you loved him more than the original Kevin.

"Or do you want to torment him until the end?"

Vivienne bit her lips, holding back her tears.

Her story had ended.

Her love had ended.

And yet, she had been greedy.

She dragged Kevin into all of this.

She used him as a replacement.

And he served her with all her heart, even knowing he would be discarded in the end.

He still smiled at her.

Even so, Vivienne didn't have the courage to tell him to stop. That she didn't want his help.

She was greedy, and far too gone.

A Witch.

That's what she was.

"What is it going to be, Witch of Time? Will you resist, and torment Kevin by trying to live, or will you die, and set him free?"

He gave a small shrug.

"Of course, I'll still take your Authority either way. You can't stop me. But if you choose to die willingly, it won't hurt."

Vivienne's breathing slowed.

She looked up at him, her eyes tired but calm.

And then, she stopped resisting.

The faint light from her body dimmed.

The shield around her flickered out.

He felt it immediately. Her energy loosened, flowing into his hand.

The fragment of Authority within her began to separate, pulled free by his power.

He watched in silence.

Vivienne's body started to grow cold.

Her last thought was simple.

Kevin… I'm sorry.

And then, everything went still.

'I' looked at her lifeless face for a moment, then pulled his hand back.

The fragment of Authority floated above his palm, glowing faintly beside the other two.

He sighed.

"Finally."

He had won the war.