The sudden voice seized everyone's attention.
When a pure white figure materialized before them, all present instantly recognized its identity.
Earth's World Consciousness!
This was the first time they had witnessed their planet's consciousness manifest in person.
"Has it come to this?"
Azrael whispered.
The pure white figure sighed silently, then spoke with quiet relief. "This world is just like that. Things don't always go your way."
"But you and I have done well enough. We were simply unlucky."
Azrael fell silent.
Though he knew the Earth's World Consciousness spoke truth, resentment still churned within him.
It was then that everyone, from Lucian and the others to Catherine and her allies, realized that Azrael and the Earth's World Consciousness had already communicated.
And judging by their familiarity, it had happened more than once.
Catherine pursed her lips. "Your Majesty, I wonder what promise Azrael Qing made to you?"
Hearing her voice, the Earth's World Consciousness regarded the Russian empress. A faint smile seemed to appear on its featureless face, though it didn't directly answer her question. "You and Louis are both exceptional. I hope you will assist Azrael well in the future."
"...?"
Louis XXIV, standing nearby, froze upon hearing his name. But then, processing the World Consciousness's words, he stared at Azrael in astonishment.
He had just deduced Azrael's true nature.
Azrael didn't mind his identity being exposed. At this point, there was no benefit in concealing it any longer.
Besides, Louis XXIV couldn't defeat him now anyway.
Catherine quickly realized the situation and looked at Azrael with similar astonishment.
No one had expected Azrael's true nature to be a World Consciousness remnant.
It was at this moment that the Empire of Aetherlight's Lore Cardians finally understood the source of Azrael's long-standing anomalies.
Feeling the weight of everyone's stares, Azrael closed his eyes and sighed. "What should I do?"
"It's simple."
The Earth's World Consciousness extended its hand toward Azrael, and soft white light connected the two.
Meanwhile, chaos began descending across the world.
First the civilians, then the Lore Cardians.
Everyone realized that something beyond their comprehension had occurred.
In Beijing,
Alice held Amina in her right arm, her usually calm face tinged with worry as she gazed out at the dark red aura that had obscured the entire sky.
"Madam."
Amina flinched in fear.
Hearing her voice, Alice tightened her grip slightly.
"Junior Brother."
The tall beauty's mind flashed to her junior brother's face.
She didn't know what he was doing, but she could guess.
Alice wanted to help him, but she knew going would only cause more trouble. So she suppressed her worry and quietly awaited the outcome in Beijing.
In Pixar,
the Gustav family father and daughter, who had relocated there since Velkairos's destruction, also watched silently.
Even though their abilities couldn't comprehend what was happening, it definitely wasn't good.
"Dad," Gabi pursed her lips. "What do you think Azrael is doing right now?"
"Little Azrael hasn't appeared yet. Something must be holding him back." Gustav pushed his glasses up with a trembling hand. "But don't worry. Little Azrael has repelled previous invasions of Sovereign-tier demons. I'm sure he can handle it."
But even Gustav didn't believe his own words.
After all, what was happening now far exceeded the limits of what a Sovereign-tier demon could accomplish.
Hearing this, Gabi's memories drifted back to that evening after class years ago.
Back then, no one would have imagined that an ordinary boy from Ardenne High School would one day become a Sovereign-tier Lore Cardian.
And what was that boy doing right now?
In the Russian Empire,
Petrovna sat on the throne, her mind drifting with her mother.
The Russian Empire's final contingency plan would only activate upon Catherine's death.
However, not long ago, the Russian Empress had proactively initiated this emergency protocol, and anyone with keen perception could understand its significance.
"Mother."
"Lord Azrael."
The princess's voice, laden with worry, faded with the wind.
She knew she couldn't show any sign of fear, this was her mother's wish.
But if possible, Petrovna still wanted to continue living under her mother's protection.
Elsewhere,
as the Earth's World Consciousness connected with Azrael, its aura gradually weakened.
Azrael now understood what the pure white figure was doing.
It was injecting its own information into him, carrying Earth's civilization for him, the so-called "grave bearer of civilization."
However, as the information within him accumulated, Azrael's eyes suddenly widened.
He felt the strange sensation he had experienced earlier while creating cards.
Azrael quickly stopped the Earth's World Consciousness's actions.
"I know how to break through to Sovereign-tier."
Upon hearing this, the pure white figure froze.
Azrael offered no explanation, simply looking at Lucian and the others nearby. "Please, everyone, help me gather materials containing 'light' and 'blade' properties. I need them."
Lucian and the others wanted to ask questions, but ultimately chose to disappear and retrieve the materials Azrael needed.
"Are you certain?" After everyone left, the Earth's World Consciousness asked anxiously. "There's not much time left before It completely transforms the entire world into a secret realm. At most, we have two days."
"Two days?" Azrael muttered. "That's plenty."
Just as he had connected with the Earth's World Consciousness, Azrael finally understood what that strange feeling had been.
It was his own information being released, while what the Earth's World Consciousness had attempted was to infuse its information into Azrael's body.
If so, the fundamental difference between Sovereign-tier and what lay beyond was precisely this.
However, information alone wasn't enough, he needed a carrier to contain it.
Time was truly tight. If he had realized this earlier, Azrael could have slowly sought a more suitable method to break through to Sovereign-tier.
Fortunately, Azrael had that one card.
Lucian and the others quickly retrieved the materials he needed.
Looking at the pile of cards before him, Azrael took a deep breath and immediately enveloped them with his mental power, transforming them into the energy of his Lore Cardian space.
Then, as everyone stared in amazement, brilliant starlight suddenly erupted from Azrael's body, and a longsword radiating dazzling light descended from the sky into his hand.
[Haouken Xross Saber: Holy Blade Driver].
Azrael had completed the Lore Cardian process without even entering his Lore Cardian space.
At this moment, a mocking voice echoed through the crowd.
"Are you still struggling at this hour?" It was the World-Devouring Disaster. He had appeared not far away at some point. "Or do you think I'll simply let him go?"
As he spoke, he pointed at Azrael.
The pure white figure sighed softly, then said, "I know you won't let him go."
"But I have nothing left to lose."
With that, a breathtakingly powerful aura emanated from its body, sweeping out in all directions.
Meanwhile, various natural disasters erupted across Earth.
Volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, tsunamis.
Undoubtedly, the Earth's World Consciousness had begun its desperate struggle.
At this moment, Azrael suddenly said calmly, "Let's end this here."
As if hearing a joke, the World-Devouring Disaster burst into laughter.
"That's it?!"
"Are you joking at this point?"
Faced with his taunts, Azrael expressionlessly secured his [Haouken Xross Saber] to his belt. "I'm saying..."
"Your life ends here."
The World-Devouring Disaster's laughter abruptly died, followed by an even louder laugh. "Just relying on that little toy at your waist?!"
He could sense that [Haouken Xross Saber: Holy Blade Driver] was merely a top-tier artifact.
He had seen countless such toys throughout his long career.
Meanwhile, the Lore Cardians nearby looked at Azrael with concern.
They wondered how Azrael would ever break through to Sovereign-tier.
At this moment, Azrael ignored everyone's gazes and voices, slowly immersing himself in the strange feeling he had experienced while making cards earlier.
Gradually, he began to comprehend the vast amount of information within his body,
and the world contained within that information.
Before he knew it, a gentle breeze picked up from the sea, ruffling Azrael's hair.
The next moment, countless brilliant starlights converged on his hand.
Seeing this, the World-Devouring Disaster paused, then a dark red aura obscuring heaven and earth surged toward Azrael's position.
He had forgotten that the Earth's World Consciousness was also present.
The milky white aura instantly merged with the dark red.
Then, Azrael's voice echoed through the air:
"I will overcome suffering."
"I will carry hope."
"I will, "
"Bear everything."
The starlight gradually faded, and a small booklet appeared in Azrael's right hand. Inscribed on its cover were the words:
[Counterfeit Chronicle].
On its surface, countless figures were depicted within Azrael's mind:
Naruto, Bleach, One Piece,
One-Punch Man, Type-Moon, A Certain Magical Index.
Azrael exhaled lightly, then inserted the booklet into [Haouken Xross Saber: Holy Blade Driver].
"The ending of this story will be written by me."
Azrael lowered his eyelids slightly, then drew the Xross Saber free.
The next moment, endless starlight shot straight into the sky, instantly dispelling the vast black and red aura.
Witnessing this, the World-Devouring Disaster roared in disbelief. "How is this possible?!"
Not only him, but everyone present stared blankly at Azrael's position.
They sensed an absolute, oppressive force emanating unchecked from a higher being.
As the starlight gradually faded, Azrael, clad in dazzling armor, emerged.
He performed a sword flourish, gazing at the World-Devouring Disaster in the distance, and calmly declared, "I said, your life ends here."
With that, he pressed the scroll on his belt.
The next moment, figures began materializing behind Azrael.
Cards he had crafted, both those he possessed and those he had never created, now appeared behind him.
Azrael, with remarkable skill, had materialized the information within himself through [Haouken Xross Saber: Holy Blade Driver].
Even though he had never devoured a single world, at this moment, it felt as if he had devoured countless.
The World-Devouring Disaster evidently realized this as well.
"How is that possible?"
"You're actually contemplating your future path so early?!"
[Haouken Xross Saber: Holy Blade Driver] was a card Azrael had created during his Emerald tier. At the time, he had simply thought it, being based on a storyline, was a good fit.
Unexpectedly, every choice had its destiny.
Or perhaps, back then, the information within him had already subtly guided his choice.
Regardless, at this moment, Azrael was truly a master of Sovereign-tier.
Combined with the Earth's World Consciousness at Sovereign-tier, the situation between the two sides instantly reversed.
But for centuries, the World-Devouring Disaster had invested so much in Earth, even risking everything he had.
How could he choose to surrender at this final moment?
Amidst the roar, dark red aura filled heaven and earth.
But glittering starlight blocked it all.
At that moment, people around the world stopped what they were doing and looked up at the sky.
They saw that the dark red light, which had previously exuded an endless and ominous aura, was gradually being dispelled by rays of starlight.
Along with the starlight descended cards they had never seen before.
Due to the invasion of the World-Devouring Disaster, riots had broken out in secret realms across the world.
Countless demons burst forth from their realms and began their slaughter.
Unfortunately, facing Azrael's cards, they were destined for annihilation.
Whether they were Bronze-tier or Sovereign-tier.
However, faced with the sudden reversal, the World-Devouring Disaster refused to surrender.
"Are you kidding me?!"
"Do you really think you've already won?!"
Amidst roars, a black and red figure grew larger and larger,
until its form rivaled a star.
Just as people around the world were beginning to celebrate the apocalypse's end, they witnessed this utterly terrifying scene.
Watching the massive black-and-red figure glaring fiercely at Earth from outer space, countless people collapsed to the ground, uttering sounds like fevered dreams.
"Is that our enemy?"
"How can we possibly defeat such a monster?"
"Mom."
At this moment,
on the sea,
the Lore Cardians stared blankly at outer space, having not expected another twist.
Only Azrael and the Earth's World Consciousness were unsurprised.
After all, the World-Devouring Disaster was a terrifying monster that had rampaged for countless years. How could he be defeated so easily?
However, it was precisely this manifestation that revealed to them that
the World-Devouring Disaster was already at the end of his strength.
The next moment, under the gaze of everyone on Earth, brilliant starlight suddenly struck the massive black-and-red figure.