Karl Sas seemed uncomfortable, standing straight and trying to avoid her gaze. But Nelly turned and grabbed his sleeve, looking up earnestly: “I won’t let this world be destroyed,” her fingers slightly tightening, “I want to, I will save it.”
Karl Sas did not turn back, asking hoarsely: “Even if this world is unfair, abnormal, and ridiculous to you?”
Nelly shook her head, correcting: “Even if this world has hurt you, been unfair to you, and can even be called wrong, I still want to save it.”
She felt a stuffiness in her chest, taking a deep breath, yet still looking at him: “If the fate of this world is to make people despair, then giving up, or even choosing to destroy it, is just a form of escape, truly surrendering to fate. Wrong, unfair, ridiculous, desperate – just change these.”
Karl Sas finally turned to face her, smiling slightly, looking proud and distant, as if questioning whether she could really do it.
Nelly met his gaze, her chest feeling like it was struck by a heavy hammer. “
She swallowed the lump in her throat with difficulty, speaking softly: “Let me defeat the fate that pains you, and bear your resentment towards the world, towards me.”
She trembled as she drew out the assassin’s dagger, lowering her body into a battle-ready stance, squeezing out determined words from between her teeth: “So… I’m ready.”
The Demon King stood motionless, all expression withdrawn from his face, handsome features like an ivory-carved statue, beautiful and cold. He slightly tightened his jaw, his gaze locked on Nelly’s face, pronouncing emotionlessly: “Then come kill me, if you can.”
He closed his eyes, then opened them. The edges of his irises revealed a violent gold, horns growing from his hair, black wings extending.
A sudden, cold wind rose within the narrow magical barrier due to the Demon King’s transformation, stinging against the skin.
Nelly’s fingers traced the blade of the assassin’s dagger, unconsciously touching the leather holster at her left waist. Her heartbeat accelerated, she used her most familiar skill, pushing off the ground, charging towards Karl Sas like a light arrow.
The blue light from the dagger invaded the vision, the light and shadow glowing like the sky at nightfall.
Everything slowed in this light halo, slowing down further, only Nelly’s heartbeat growing more urgent. She finally reached Karl Sas, seeing light emerging at his fingertips.
Nelly saw Karl Sas spread his arms, as if to embrace.
Her movement paused for a beat, but her momentum carried her forward.
The Demon King easily caught her weapon-wielding right hand, his cool fingers tightly encircling her wrist, blocking her movement. His right hand calmly reached to her waist, drawing out the black dagger.
Nelly’s pupils suddenly dilated, a scream locked in her deep throat, unable to escape.
She watched him raise his hand, flip his wrist, and plunge the black dagger that devours everything into his own chest.
Nelly was almost pressed against his chest, suddenly bathed in a gentle, fine light rain.
She was shaking all over, almost unable to stand: “You… you…” She seemed unable to say anything beyond these words.
Karl Sas looked down at her with compassion and tolerance, his scarlet lips parting to speak calm words: “I won’t let you bear the guilt of killing me.”
He curved the corners of his eyes, his flowing gaze like warmed fine wine, passionate and intoxicating. Her pale, panic-stricken shadow was inverted in the depths of his pupils, inexplicably filled with deep emotion.
Nelly jolted, murmuring in disbelief: “Just now… was all this to make me make up my mind?”
Karl Sas looked down, embarrassed like a child caught in a prank: “Did I still mess it up?”
Before his words faded, the demon king’s horns disappeared. He slightly raised his head, avoiding her gaze: “Like this… you can truly forgive me now, right?”
She gripped his collar tightly, almost screaming: “Impossible! Like this… I will never forgive you!” Her voice trembled: “Why! Why! You could have just let me feel guilty… why use that dagger! If you did that…”
She had never been so distraught, her voice rising before abruptly stopping, only a low moan escaping her throat. She could no longer speak, only questioning with tear-interrupted gazes, seeking an answer that could never bring her peace.
Kalsas tucked her disheveled hair behind her ear. His fingertips gradually became transparent, golden light particles dispersing. Naily hugged him tightly, then anxiously loosened her grip, afraid that too much force would make him slip away.
He bent down to kiss her forehead: “The world afterwards will not have me, so don’t hope otherwise, make sure everything ends this time.”
He smiled self-deprecatingly, seriously calling her name: “Naily.”
She became unusually quiet, focusing entirely on him, responding with her gaze.
He showed the smile she loved most, sincere and captivating, his ruby-like eyes sparkling in the golden rain. She thought he would say something more, but he remained silent.
She opened her mouth, finding her voice, but before she could speak, a more dazzling light erupted from his chest, illuminating heaven and earth, piercing and shattering the magical barrier. His form gradually thinned, merging with the white light.
The familiar mechanical turning sound continued unaffected, click-clack.
No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t hold onto the misty figure dissolving, grasping only light that vanished in an instant.
Amidst the deafening gear sounds, she clearly heard him say:
“Naily, you are my only light. But now I entrust you to the world.”
She finally woke up from this dream. A thick bloody smell awakened her, and she was startled, instinctively wanting to open her eyes. The black curtain in front of her completely dissipated, her vision still blurry, but she immediately recognized the person before her and called out without hesitation: “Karl…”
Her vision gradually cleared, and Naily discovered that Karl had been holding her in his arms, having already left the cramped magical barrier and entered the outside world.
The sky was covered with ominous red clouds, mountains and rivers were crumbling, the horizon was bright as if burning, while on the other side, countless meteors raced across the sky, plunging into the pitch-black deep valley.
But she had no mind to pay attention to these things. She lowered her gaze, looking at the magic king’s pale face and blood-covered body, and asked dryly: “How did you…”
He curved the corners of his eyes: “I killed them,” he glanced at the sky, revealing a relieved smile, “Everything is over.”
Naily felt like she had been hit by a heavy object and could only repeat in astonishment: “Over?”
“I did not die before the world’s destruction, and the device’s time-crossing ability is limited,” Karl smiled and shook his head, “So the device can no longer restart.”
He looked down at her, his gaze tender: “Now there’s only one last thing.”
Naily seemed to sense something and struggled with all her might to break free from Karl. But he just sighed and immobilized her with a spell. He lowered his eyes to his chest: “The device has not yet failed, I will soon die, and you… will be free.”
He placed her leaning against a rock and sat down staggeringly.
“No… I don’t want…” Naily’s teeth were chattering. She wanted to hold him tightly but couldn’t move. She wanted to say she didn’t want this ending, she didn’t accept this freedom that belonged only to her…
Karl easily read her expression, moved his lips, and then burst into a cough. He covered his mouth, blood flowing between his fingers. His eyes were smiling. He said hoarsely: “So the last thing I’m going to do is make you forget me.”
