Germany:
Aeic had always been the first with a host. From the first iteration of the war, he had believed in using human hosts to repel the Monarchs. While his comrades fought in their Spiritual Forms, quickly tiring themselves, Aeic and his host would fight on with endless stamina.
Throughout each reset of the Earth through the now useless Chalice of Rebirth, Aeic had taken a different host, eventually ending up with All Might before passing himself down to Mirio Togata. The youth was his ninth host and likely the last host he'd ever take.
Out of all the hosts in the universe, Ruler or Monarch, Aeic and Mirio arguably had the best compatibility. From the Earth's perspective, only a few months had been spent trapped in the Gap Between Dimensions, but to them, it had been a little over a decade. Aeic's power kept Mirio's sustained and unaging as they spent the years becoming more accustomed with each other's presence. Now, with a Spiritual Manifestation merging their souls into one, they fought like Demons.
Mirio brought both his swords down, aiming to cleave the Monarch into pieces, but the steely skin refused to bend as Stellian caught each of the blades in his hands. Mirio let go of the hilts as Stellian crushed the swords to bits, freeing his hands to drive several rapid fire punches into the Monarch's gut.
The Monarch grunted in pain, but was unfazed as he moved to bring his fists down on Mirio's back. But by the time he swung his arms down, they were bisected at the triceps.
Azathoth was not standing idly by. Using the insane speed that his wings blessed him with and the unparalleled sharpness of his sword, he had surpassed Stellian's durable Spiritual Manifestation.
Stellian roared and stomped on the ground, creating a massive matter killing shockwave. Enhanced with Mana, it forced both the warriors to leap away.
"Leave him to us," Azathoth said to Mirio as they regrouped a few meters away from the Monarch. "If you focus all of your Spiritual Manifestation on recovery, you may be able to restore your heart."
Mirio shook his head, "Both myself and Aeic can sense it. He knows he's outmatched fighting the two of us. He doesn't have a chance to escape, but… if only you faced him, he'd build a Gate and seek refuge with Antares."
"Very well… then let's not waste any time." Azathoth said, shooting forwards, Celestial Excalibur flashing once more to amputate the arms Stellian had regrown.
This time though, the blade only barely bit into the skin. "The same trick won't work twice, pre- ARGHH!" A loud snap echoed as Mirio joined the Shadow, driving all his force into the Monarch's knee, twisting it the wrong way.
"He can only reinforce a certain amount of his body at a time!" Mirio relayed, moving into a devastating uppercut, only for his fist to stop dead at Stellian's chin, the sudden force recoiling and shattering Mirio's own bones.
But at the same time, Excalibur finally found its way past Stellian's skin, loping off his right arm at the forearm.
Stellian's left hand snapped out, grabbing Azathoth by the head and slamming his body into the ground, creating another Mana-enhanced shockwave to sheer away part of his body.
At the same time, Mirio drove his unbroken elbow into Stellian's solar plexus, forcing any air from the body of the host and forcing him to reflexively hunch over from the pain.
It was the perfect opportunity for Azathoth to get back to his feet and bring down his blade on the Monarch's other arm. He hardened it, but caught a real uppercut this time, stumbling him backwards and ruining his concentration. He lost a leg for it.
On the ground and with just one arm and one leg, the other limbs still fighting to regenerate, Stellian tried to punch the ground and set off another shockwave. Mirio caught the hand before it could hit the ground and kicked out at the Monarch's face. Instinctively, Stellian protected his face, only to lose his other arm to Azathoth. It seemed that Celestial Excalibur's power was so great that it was restricting his regeneration.
Excalibur then moved to pierce the Monarch's heart, only to have the location reinforced by the steel skin. Mirio continued to lay into Stellian's face as the Monarch of the Iron Body beared the pain, protecting his vitals from the sword. But it was moving too fast, every now and again, it would carve another divot in his flesh, stealing more and more of his strength.
Before long, white light spilled from nearly every part of his body as Excalibur burrowed it's divine essence into him. Stellian gave a final smile as his Spiritual Manifestation faded and he lost the battle of endurance, "Take my heart, for I have already taken the heart of my prey."
Excalibur finally found its mark, thrusting through the Monarch's massive chest and spearing his heart. His Spiritual Essence ejected, but unlike the other Monarchs, it did not make any attempt to flee, allowing Mirio to reach out, encompassing it with his Spiritual Manifestation, killing the Monarch.
At the same time, Izuku's command spread across the world, raising new Shadows to fight against those who were once their allies. Stellian's Primordial stitched itself back together and joined Striker in spreading destruction through their immense size.
Waruk, Iruit, Quaresha, Yogumunt, Legia, and Stellian were all finally dead. By now, only Baran and Antares remained. Mirio could only hope that his allies could handle them. As his Spiritual Manifestation began to fade, pain returned to his physical body. This was it, the end of Mirio Togata. And so, his consciousness disappeared into the light. The light… of his mind.
Inside the mindscape, he saw Aeic, a tall man with heavy muscles and a kind face.
Mirio smiled, "Please, find a good host and help end this war."
Aeic shook his head, however, "I do not believe another host in is my cards."
Mirio squinted his eyes, "What… does that mean? Are you… giving up?"
Aeic chuckled, "We've known each other for some time now. I think you know that I would never just give up."
"Then wha-"
"I have… finally understood why Ashborn held such a care for mortals. It took nine hosts and decades of experience, but the time I spent with you in the Gap Between Dimensions has… educated me." Aeic turned his back to Mirio, "I have found a goal other than simply defeating the Monarchs. I have decided… that you are my last host."
"So… you're just going to fight in a Spiritual Form from here on out?"
"No," Aeic corrected, "I will no longer fight."
"You're confusing me. You said you wouldn't give up."
"I will never give up on my goals. But my new goal… is you."
Mirio's eyes widened, "No… don't waste it on me. Baran and Antares are still out there. The other's need you!"
"Perhaps. But I have fought for so long. Like Ashborn, I wish to rest. I cannot give you the eternal powers that the Shadow Monarch is intent to pass down, but… I can give you one last thing. Your life."
"Wait! AEIC!" But it was too late. The Largest Fragment of Brilliant Light turned his body, his Spiritual Essence, into sheer energy and pouring it into Mirio's frame.
"Thank you… for giving me a purpose other than fighting."
Mirio's consciousness returned to his real body. Clutched in the arms of Azathoth, he felt at his chest. The hole was gone, smooth skin in its place. "Aeic?" Mirio's mind was empty of the Ruler's presence. Another Higher Being had vanished from the world.
America:
The second that Izuku left, Apophis dove atop Baran's Primordial, throwing the Monarch off his ride as his claws, teeth, and elemental powers burrowed into it. It was a True Primordial, but compared to some of the other Primordials it was weak.
It's throat was torn out just moments before Izuku's "Arise" spread across the world, turning the Primordial into a Shadow Soldier.
Baran scowled at the speed at which his primordial was destroyed, but did his best not to worry. After all, he just needed to wait for the sheer numbers of his forces to overwhelm humanity.
Ryukyu, meanwhile, jumped up to Apophis's head, "It's time!"
"It's not necessary. We can-"
"It's what I want… and it'll turn the tides of war. With an entire army gone and dead, you can help another site, and then another, and another."
Apophis let out a low growl of disapproval, but his Liege had already approved such a measure if it was truly what Ryukyu wanted. "Primordial, assist me."
The two beasts were far too large to hurt by the smaller Demons attacking them, so they were free to focus all their energies into a massive Gate behind the human and Shadow forces. With a suddenness that almost provided many of the humans with whiplash, the Gate sucked away all of humanity's forces, including the Primordials. The Gate shut just as quickly, leaving only one figure standing against a literal Army of Demons.
Ryukyu took a deep breath as Baran cackled, spewing some nonsense about how foolish she was.
[Ryukyu is using Skill: Dragon's Fear.]
Almost instantly, every single Demon in the city fell to their knees or laid face down, some even with tears spilling from their eyes. Baran himself was the only exception.
"I took this from Kamish," Ryukyu said, somewhat matter-of-factly as she strode towards him. Her face was blank and her eyes dead. "It sends every being weaker than me into a state of pure despair."
Baran managed a shaky smile, "Then that means I am truly stronger than you! No-"
"I can see the tremor in your legs. If it's affecting you even slightly, then I'd say we're on equal levels." Golden light passed over her, turning parts of her body into the scaly form of a dragon. Scales crept up her face and fire bred itself in her belly. This was her Spiritual Manifestation, not Grantuld's. With the help of the Ruler, she had devised her own power, for the sole purpose of this one battle.
Baran scowled and activated his own Manifestation, becoming a true Demon. "You've made a big mistake! Once I kill you, my forces will tear this city apart, and then this country! You've doomed it to even more destructio- ugh…"
Before he could even blink, Ryukyu was there, her claws buried in his chest, "You're right. I have doomed it to even more destruction… but everything here is coming with it. You, me, and all these Demons. We're all dying here."
Baran growled through the pain and dug his own claws into Ryukyu's chest. But instead of pain, or panic, she seemed almost happy. Both Higher Beings had a death grip on the Spiritual Essence of the other and that was exactly what Ryukyu wanted.
"Sorry Touya. I would've liked to end this a different way." Ryukyu activated her Spiritual Manifestations primary Skill. She never could've known that, inside Baran's head, Dabi was cheering at the top of his lungs, chanting her name like a madman.
[Ryukyu is using Skill: Scorched Earth]
Baran suddenly realized what she was doing. Consuming the energy of a dead Monarch's Spiritual Essence provided plenty of power, but a live Essence provided nearly a hundred times as much. At the same time, Ryukyu was triggering a mass conversion of their Essences. They were becoming pure energy and the blast would turn New York city and all of its Demons… into ash.
Baran attempted to pull back, to wrench his hands from Ryukyu's chest or pull hers from his. She held tight as their bodies became alight with a white glow. "Goodbye Touya."
The energy reached a critical mass and broke their fragile mortal hosts as well as the Higher Beings themselves. Grantuld and Baran died alongside Touya and Ryukyu. And thus, America was freed from it's Gate.
China:
Izuku tore apart bug after bug, the long battle finally beginning to weigh on his mental energy. But, before he could dive back into battle, a certain pressure assailed his mind, a pressure coming all the way from Canada.
"Bellion."
"My Liege," The Shadow stepped forwards, clearing a swath of land around Izuku so that he could focus his senses.
Stretching his mind all the way to Canada took a lot of energy, but he could feel Antares reaching out to him. He wouldn't do that for no reason.
When his Sense Stat finally reached Antares, Izuku nearly lost control. In the Monarch's grasp was Rumi, Sakura, Inko, and Hisashi. All hostages of the Monarch of Destruction.
"There are only three hosts left in the world, including yourself Ashborn. All of you are to appear before me… alone. If you arrive with Shadows, your family will meet a rather predictable end. Do not delay."
Izuku snapped back to the battle in China, his mind a whirlwind of despair. The worst he had feared, come to pass.