Death was very sudden, but it was not a permanent death as she just used her remaining life to fuel something at the very top. She was awakening it in the process. I slumped to the ground, using most of my everything to overpower the Goddess of Life. She might have been bested but she is still not done. She died, but she is not yet done with this battle.

"Manato!" Riko is the first to rush towards me followed by Queen Tanya and the others.

"Can you stand, boy?" Queen Tanya helped me stand back up.

"Thanks. Ugh...using the Excalibur’s power was too much even for me. But I managed to defend the altar," I said as I struggled to stand.

"Does that mean, everything is over? Back during the battle against the demons, everyone fell and lost their lives all of a sudden. What happened?" Renatta asked.

"No...she is still not done. See the new stairway up into the sky? That appeared after she used her body to summon it. I don’t know where it will lead, but I assume they lead to the area where the Goddess of Life used her remaining powers to channel and open it up. She even used her life as a fuel to fully do it."

Pixie flies over to me and starts patching me up with healing magic as I feel the power returning to me.

"What are we going to do next? Should we recuperate first or should we head head there to the top?" Alena asked, seemingly ready to do more.

As we were wondering about our next move, Almira arrived this time, it seemed her body had recovered more than usual and her human form seemed to have slowly been replaced by her goddess form.

"Like usual, this battle will be only dealt with by Manato. The rest of you will have to stay and keep this altar guarded instead as many others will try their best to get a hold on this altar instead. I can trust your abilities to hold it off. However, this time around, Manato will not be going alone. I will be fighting with him to the top."

"So the battle is not yet over?" I groaned.

"Yes. I thought she wouldn’t be using this option as she wanted to live, but since she did activate it, it must be a desperate attempt to escape her fate and fight through it."

"Just what are we even going to fight?" I asked Almira.

"You will know soon. However, since this will be the final battle, it is time for you to choose. You have two choices in this matter but it will be up to you in this decision. I will not be responsible for what will happen and I am also not going to force you as well."

"A choice?"

"Yes. This is going to be a crucial battle, Manato. The final option and the final thing you will do. I will respect your choice regardless of what it is."

After hearing this from Almira, I can tell that this is the true sense of the final battle now. The battle earlier is something that is just an appetizer for the main cuisine. I know this is a common thing in many games especially if they are going to tackle the last enemy in the game. This time, it is happening to me, we are nearing its end.

"Now, here are the final options you have. We only have two. The first option is to turn your back and leave with everyone. I can now fight back since I have gained the ability again to use my death god’s powers. However, you will have to give up the Devourer now and I will be the one who will wield it. I will be the one fighting the final enemy and I will be the one who will challenge it. As for you all, you are all free to leave and escape the tree and live the rest of your lives. However, this is not going to be a guarantee that I will win. The outcome is something risky but you lot will be safe until then."

"No, that is absurd, Almira. Letting you fight the great enemy alone? That is something that is pretty suicidal!" Queen Tanya frowned.

"I know. But this is originally my fight, to begin with. You lot just joined and helped me so this is not something I am willing to make you all go through. And like I said, I am not going to stop you all from doing what you all thought you guys could do. I am here to finish what I started and you all can be the spectator of this attempt," Almira explained.

"No. We are already too far gone in this. Abandoning the battle is something we don’t do, Almira-san!" Riko angrily said as well.

Almira turned to me, it seemed my decision was what she would be following.

"Then, the second option is going to be the usual plan. Manato and I will ascend this stairs and the remaining members will defend the altar until the very end. However, this is an uncertain battle and Manato will have to say his goodbyes to everyone. Although it will be unsure whether Manato will win or not, we will have to do this so that in the worst-case scenario, Manato will have no more regrets regarding this."

I was prepared when I heard this. It seems this battle will be really hard that it has a big chance of me not returning to this battle. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

"What do you mean final goodbyes? That’s not going to happen, right?" Father frowned.

"Unfortunately, this is the case for this. The battle will be something so dangerous that it might cause the dangers to be much more than he can handle. I will assist him in this battle, but this will be a battle for everyone around the world. You can say that Manato will try to save everyone from this incident and make sure that the enemy will not ruin this world. This is why I suggested the first option as that is a better option for everyone. And that is also the 100 percent guarantee that Manato will remain with you all."

Mother and Father wanted me to choose the first option. But I am no longer going to just ignore this and escape. This matter might sound pretty dumb, but I am going to make this new life of mine, at least meaningful. I am fated to die in the last timeline anyways, but at least, in this timeline, I can go out with a bang.

"I am sorry everyone. But I am going with Almira on this battle. I will fight for the world and ensure everyone lives. You guys, I know that it hasn’t been long but I appreciate that you all are here with me. I will try to come back alive if possible but if it is not possible, then so be it. But please, if I don’t come back. Please remember me, alright? Live the best of the best life you all ever have in the world that will be created after everything ends."