Facing this colossal beast, the trio split up.
Seeing this, the Leviathan shook its lantern-like object, summoning several golden crystals.
As these crystals appeared, they immediately shattered, spawning groups of black monsters.
They attacked Kiana's group, disrupting their formation.
Forced to separate battlefields, Kevin gave Kiana "special attention."
She faced even fiercer assaults than Mei and Bronya.
With Kevin's Finality power counterbalancing hers, Kiana's power flow became unstable.
While Kiana dealt with the smaller monsters, the Leviathan's hand came crashing down.
The shockwave from its palm pinned Kiana down, immobilizing her.
But Kiana wouldn't be a lamb to slaughter - she tore through space to escape.
This time, she teleported onto the back of the Leviathan's descending hand.
Concentrating Finality's power at one point, she delivered a powerful kick.
Instantly, the Leviathan's hand dissipated like particles.
But as Kiana landed, the Leviathan's other hands surrounded her from all 360 degrees.
BOOM—!
The tremendous shockwave immediately affected Earth's tides.
Coastal areas worldwide experienced massive tsunamis.
This was from an attack tens of thousands of miles away - just its aftershocks directly impacted Earth.
At the epicenter, Kiana felt like all her bones were broken.
But within a breath, the Herrscher of Finality's powerful physique completely healed Kiana.
Though the bloodstains on her clothes remained.
The pain didn't make Kiana shrink back - instead it drove her forward.
Running up the Leviathan's arm, Kiana reached the top to face Kevin.
"Finality Descends!"
This time, Kiana directly targeted Kevin with her attack.
But Kevin didn't stand there to take it - he leaped away instead.
So the kick landed squarely on the Leviathan's head.
Leviathan: So love really does disappear?
Feeling its skull take critical damage, the Leviathan stumbled and crashed onto the Moon's surface.
The impact actually shifted the Moon's position slightly.
This gave Bronya and Mei a chance to catch their breath as they quickly regrouped with Kiana.
The trio reunited once more.
"Mei, Bronya, lend me your strength."
As Kiana spoke, Mei and Bronya channeled their Authority powers to her.
As the three powers merged and intertwined, Kiana concentrated them at her fingertip.
"This strike...comes from Finality!"
Sensing mortal danger, the Leviathan fought desperately.
It gathered dark red energy at its head, like the Cretaceous asteroid that destroyed the world.
When the two forces collided, even spectators on Earth felt the shockwaves.
But clearly, the dark red energy was completely overwhelmed by Kiana's Finality power.
The Finality beam pierced through the Leviathan, its body slowly dissipating until completely gone.
All that remained was a circular arena-like platform.
Kevin had been waiting there all along.
"You've passed Finality's trial. Next will be the salvation principle that surpasses Finality."
As Kiana's group approached, Kevin activated all his Stigmata while connecting to Project STIGMA's core.
With Kevin's full power unleashed, his body began transforming.
"All beasts of Brahma, gather upon this body. Asura descends into the abyss, the savior draws his sword. This is humanity's Chimera."
"Beyond choice, beyond survival. Now, the ideals of all converge into one grand wish. Step forward - this is the 'Oath of Salvation'!"
After completing his transformation, Kevin's power far surpassed before.
Even as the Herrscher of Finality, Kiana felt overwhelming pressure.
"Everyone, let's go."
As Kiana spoke, she charged at Kevin first.
Leaving behind a purple afterimage.
Upon reaching Kevin, Kiana swung her sword down.
Kevin raised his right hand to block, then swung the Chimera King's Sword with his left.
Unable to take this head-on, Kiana tried escaping through space.
But the Chimera King's Sword affected space itself, causing Kiana to emerge behind Kevin.
Kevin instantly turned and smashed Kiana away with the flat of his blade.
She carved a massive trench along the ground.
Meanwhile, Mei and Bronya had positioned themselves on Kevin's left and right, unleashing their strongest attacks.
"One Cut, Two Halves!"
"Witness the stars shatter!"
The two attacks enveloped Kevin as Kiana got up and added a kick.
Yet when the smoke cleared, Kevin stood unharmed, having blocked Kiana's kick with his body.
Only a few scales had fallen off.
"If this is all...then leave!"
As Kevin's icy voice rang out, an invisible wave covered the entire Moon.
Kiana's group felt their movements slow drastically.
As if space had solidified, or time had slowed.
"Having just become the Herrscher of Finality, you can't even quickly adapt to its Authority. Like this, you cannot defeat me."
Approaching Kiana slowly, Kevin explained why they were being so thoroughly suppressed.
What else could he do? If he actually won, Project STIGMA would wipe everything out - game over.
So he was doing his best to hold back and act, without letting the Cocoon of Finality notice.
Kevin's words made Kiana's eyes light up.
Closing her eyes, she began attuning to this temporal sensation, gradually learning to wield time's power.
Just as Kevin prepared to deliver a final strike, Kiana opened her eyes, releasing an invisible wave from her body.
When the two invisible waves collided, the temporal effect was canceled.
Freed, the trio quickly dodged the descending sword strike.
The slash split the Moon in half, but that didn't matter - they could just rewind time later.