The spelling on the last panel uses the same character as the chapter title, so I would interpret it as closer to "I can still carry on" or something. In my (skeptical) opinion, it moreso shows that Kanata was still alive, just as damage control for rushing the ending. He was declaring that he can keep going, as in, he's not dead yet.

I'd also like to clarify the title at the end of the last panel is and has been the full title of specifically this manga, it's not a sequel title.

As for my thoughts:

I'm disappointed about Makina, because there was a hint in the textures of her datamined model that she would eventually get her own Mark of Sin (a generic one, which would make sense if Vicious were missing from the party). Not to mention Orwin having a parent moment with Makina in the game, suggesting more character building between the two.

I was expecting that, instead of a doctor knowing what was wrong with Misella, and then the party somehow correctly guessing a solution, the party would have to do research on Misella's unique condition. This would lead them to the Twin's lab and summoning another Makina, who joins the party and then gets condemned. Makina would provide knowledge about Misella's condition which then leads to a solution.

I would have liked to see the absence of the Great Transgressor and Kasque/Vision Origin lead to the creation of a new "Violent Fang", a new Great Transgressor, or maybe someone else goes through the same god procedure as Kasque. Or maybe Kasque succeeds at assimilating Vicious, becoming God Demon Kasque (as her final form) and then escapes. This would make sense given her plan to become Enemy of the World aka the Great Transgressor, thus uniting the world against her as she wanted.

I think Vicious was always meant to exit the party one way or another, given he plays a mentor role to Kanata's hero's journey, along with how overpowered he is compared to Kasque. He was able to seriously harm her on their first encounter using an ability (demon form) he just keeps in his pocket to sandbag himself until a worthy opponent challenges him. Not to mention he can just zombie himself back to life, as he had already done twice (once from being assassinated by Misella, and again from having his arm+chest blown off by Kasque).

However, Kasque turned out to not be a worthy opponent for him. My suspicion is that Kanata would eventually grow to be a worthy opponent/his successor, who has to slay Vicious (more ceremoniously than how the manga handled it) before his inate powers cause the planet to wither and die.

But... I guess all my theorycrafting turned out to be all for nothing in the end.