The boss reacted quickly, green-lifeforce began to fight against the contracting metal walls as the Kraken squeezed with its tentacle. Noah suddenly lunged to the side as his [Battle Instinct] forewarned him of danger. Pink light streamed past where he had stood only a moment earlier to hit the tentacle blocking the exit. Noah looked up from where he lay on the floor at Roger's cloaked arm, emitting wisps of light as his [Disintegration Beam] cooled down.

『AHHHHHH!』 the Kraken screamed in pain.

"It is time for the predator to become the prey," Roger said.

Blue-lifeforce laced with intricate golden patterns covered his body as he started to float into the air. Basil, the mouse, came out from hiding to perch comfortably on his shoulder, staring in the direction of the Titan.

The Titan began to charge toward them, pushing past the colossal form of Alex, who was attempting to untangle himself from Ronan's strange chained weapon.

The wall erupted outward in a shower of metal shards as the Titan stepped over the top of Noah. It ran down the walkway, tearing apart the shelter without slowing. Metal shards bombarded the retreating tentacle under the boss's control as the Titan reached the end of the walkway. It raised the massive spear in both hands above its head as it leapt from the ascending citadel with no hesitation.

A moment later, the Titan reappeared over the ledge, clutching the spear as it clung to the side of the colossal tentacle. The Kraken screamed in pain once again as the Titan wrenched the spear free in a shower of blood.

The metal shards extracted themselves from the Kraken, gathering around the Titan as it fell. They assembled to form metal feathered wings on its back. The Titan's newly fashioned wings began to beat powerfully, raising the metal giant into the fiery sky.

Noah looked up as Roger flew in a different direction overhead toward another tentacle. Before Noah lost sight of him, he saw wisps of pink light as Roger aimed his ruined arm. Noah heard another scream of pain from the Kraken inside his mind in response.

A crash diverted Noah's attention back inside the throne room. Alex had a grip on the chain of Ronan's unusual weapon. He had used it to hurl Ronan into the throne, smashing the back of it. Ronan pushed himself to his feet as he pushed off the broken remains of the throne. His twisted features were contorted in rage. He sneered at the colossal Alex as his blackened eyes narrowed in contempt.

"Sophie, I need Chloe to amplify my ability!" Ronan demanded.

Chloe was seated in a daze at his feet, oblivious to the chaos around her. Sophie was currently tied up in a battle with Josh. She held her [Grade 1 Influence Cutlass] in one hand, using it to deflect a string of attacks from his [Storm Trident]. Ronan's command distracted her for a moment as she glanced over her shoulder. Josh didn't hesitate. He thrust the lightning trident into her chest, driving her up the steps. She was pushed heavily into the remains of the throne as Josh retreated to stand beside his lover.

Sophie held one arm weakly draped across her chest to stop the bleeding while loosely holding the cutlass in her other hand. The ability crystal embedded in its hilt flashed yellow before Sophie dropped it from her weak grip, fading into unconsciousness. Its effect was immediate, Chloe's gaze suddenly focused. She placed both hands against Ronan as yellow-lifeforce flowed into him.

"You're going to pay for that now, fucker!" Ronan said.

Ronan laughed as he stooped to retrieve the handle of his chained weapon. Murky and polluted yellow-lifeforce squirmed under his skin as he activated an ability. The ominous light travelled through the chain toward where Ronan had hooked the barb into Alex's arm. When it made contact with his skin, he began to wither at a rate visible to the naked eye. Strangely, the weapon appeared unaffected by the corrosive effect of Ronan's amplified [Withering Touch].

「Ahhhhh!亅 Alex's scream echoed inside Noah's mind.

"Alex!" Josh cried out in concern.

Josh disabled his ability as he lost concentration. He placed his hand on his husband's colossal leg, crying out in pain and quickly withdrawing it. Alex reached up to grab the harpoon embedded in his flesh, tearing it out with disregard to the wound it created. Alex quickly scooped his lover up with one hand while reaching down in an attempt to scoop up Su with his other hand.

Su had been kneeling with her forehead resting against the tree's charred trunk beside an exposed bright heart-shaped fruit, glowing green. Her hand was caressing the face with the likeness of Mister Kim as the light faded from its eyes. Its face looked unimaginably tired as its eyes drooped closed. Tears streamed down Su's face as she tightly hugged the tree's trunk as grief overwhelmed her.

Su screamed as the giant hand neared, activating her [Banshee Cry]. The unexpected attack stripped a layer of skin from Alex's hand, making him grunt in pain. He ignored it to pick up Su along with the remains of Mister Kim's fruit tree planted inside its iron pot. Alex ignored Ronan and Noah as he charged through the wall's opening created by the boss's departure.

"Noah, Chloe is Ronan's catalyst. She magnifies his abilities!" Josh shouted before leaving from where Alex clutched him in his giant hand.

Noah mulled over Josh's words, returning his attention to Ronan, who smirked at him while casually holding his strange chained harpoon.

"It looks like it's just you and me now, Noah. The trash has taken itself out," Ronan said.

"One or both of us die today, Ronan," Noah responded.

His voice had changed to become the same as Ronan and the other grade-three users he had encountered. It held an otherworldly quality as his words were transmitted directly into the mind of anyone nearby.

Noah summoned his six spirit arms with a flash of purple light. Each hand held an archaic-styled stone sword decorated with ornamental indigo light. They were each a replica of the [Grade 1 Wind Blade Sword] that began it all. Red and golden flames coated Noah's body without any command from him. The armour activated of its own accord. It seemed to mirror Noah's sentiments.