"So, we are back to square one, huh," Leon said. "That monster really fooled us."

Everyone realized quickly that the monster wasn't just absorbing matter and turning into mana. The monster was creating another lair, but this one would be much larger.. it would be the size of the universe. The concentration of mana they felt before couldn't even be compared to what they were feeling right now. Leon thought that memory energy was more convenient than mana, but he wasn't quite sure if he could absorb matter and turn it into energy like mana could. There was always the chance that perhaps only the system's creator could do that, but Leon wouldn't accept it. That thing grew, absorbing the knowledge that many sapient beings obtained, so if that thing could do it, anyone after training could do it as well.

The monster didn't move an inch from its initial spot, but even after confirming that its targets survived the first attack, the creature didn't try anything else. In fact, the thing layer of the fake sun was still expanding behind them at a fearsome speed.

"I see now.." Leon bit his lips while sweating cold. "This might be bad.."

"Everything was just a diversion, huh," Ilyana said. "We should have attacked the monster while we could before the damn creature could obtain even more power.. It is too late to think of that, though."

"Did you notice something, brother?" Amanda asked.

"Yes.. I can see now what that monster is planning," Leon replied. "That thing layer of energy that looks like the surface of a sun was never meant to kill us. It was just the first part of its plan to obliterate us once and for all."

"How does that monster intend to do that?" Hector asked.

"It is simple.. the creator of the system will absorb all the matter in the universe," Leon replied. "That is the first step.. the second and final step is to destroy our notion space with something powerful as the big bang, perhaps even more powerful. If that creature destroys space itself, we will be unable to exist in the physical realm and thus return to the void.. unable to revive ourselves."

"Destroy.. space?" Yuki frowned. "Is that even possible?"

"I did something similar in the past, but on a much smaller scale. That was how I passed Serene.. the spirit of the time's trial. Although I didn't have much energy back then, I destroyed an imaginary space of five hundred cubic meters. Right now, that layer of energy that looks like the surface of a sun had those two goals. Absorb everything and then reach the limits of this universe."

Everyone opened their eyes widely; they didn't know a single person who could manipulate space. Now the last enemy was planning to manipulate all space and destroy the physical realm of the universe. If that wasn't a god-like enemy, then nothing was.

"We are running out of time," Ren said. "But we still have some. Isn't your new technique ready, Leon? Maybe you should change your plans and try to develop something simpler."

"No can do," Leon said. "This technique I want to develop will give us the power to survive everything that monster throws at us.. perhaps we can even survive that monster's trump card. I didn't want to believe that such a monster would be able to do something like that, but I considered that possibility, and that is why I gave the order to my replica develop the ultimate technique."

Everyone wanted to know what that technique was, but they were already too tense and worried about facing their imminent doom.. again. Thus, wondering what Leon was planning was close to meaningless. Leon's closest friends believed in him, but the others not so much. That was why they didn't want to ask for something that may not be ready before everything ends.

"Given my experience, it looks like our replicas will only finish their task at the very last moment," Leon said.

"Are you for real? I don't think my heart can last so long to endure this crazy tension," Hector dropped his shoulders. "Can't you speed up things a little bit?"

"I can, but I don't think it will help," Leon replied. "This is the final battle, and in moments like these, miracles only happen at the very last moment."

Leon was spouting nonsense, but everyone soon forgot about it when the space around them begun to vibrate. Somehow, the massive monster managed to increase its planes' speed even more.. the second step of the monster's attack was about to begin. Amidst that darkness of the monster's lair, everyone felt shivers when suddenly, even the air inside their Mana Barriers begun to vibrate. For a second, the vibration stopped, and at the same time, the air inside their barriers disappeared. Everything around them begun to vibrate, but their air didn't return. Panic started to spread among Leon's allies.

"Don't panic!" Tyrselle shouted via Telepathy. "Use your mana to recover the air!"

However, the next moment, even Tyrselle opened her eyes widely in shock. Space was starting to compress, but not from the extremities of the universe, but from every single point. A terrible wave of coldness begun to cross through their bodies.. the reality that granted their existence was being destroyed in an unexpected manner. Leon had expected something like a reversal big bang, but the monster wouldn't give them time to counter-attack. Even Leon and Ilyana began to panic. They had no time left. However, just as Leon had expected, himself, Ilyana, and Tyrselle obtained some notifications at the last moment.

Congratulations! You created the Arcane System!

Congratulations! You have learned the skill: Dragon Mode.

You obtained 01 status point.

Congratulations! You have learned the skill: Dragon Aura.

You obtained 01 status point.

Congratulations! You have learned the skill: Dragon Soul.

You obtained 01 status point.

Congratulations! You have learned the skill: Dragon Heart.

You obtained 01 status point.

Congratulations! You have learned the skill: Dragon's Rage.

You obtained 01 status point.

Congratulations! You have learned the skill: Dragon's Armor.

You obtained 01 status point.

Congratulations! You have learned the skill: Absolute Draconic Transformation.

You obtained 01 status point.