She became a container while retaining the human agreement with the system, where death would be extinguished as long as it existed. With these conditions and the dagger capable of destroying everything, the vague malevolence could finally be erased.
But the cause and effect no longer mattered.
The world’s hopeless cycle and the gods’ punishment would all turn to ashes in the light column’s aftermath, buried in the void.
Her only regret was letting Karl witness all of this.
“I’m sorry, I’ll go ahead first,” she opened a smile, tears sliding down the corners of her upturned mouth, evaporating into mist in the approaching heat wave.
Karl pressed against the barrier, his forehead bleeding, his face deathly pale, body swaying, yet stubbornly calling her name. His hoarse voice lost its original meaning through repetition, more like a grief-stricken roar.
Nelly’s smile collapsed in his call. She wanted to tell him to “live seriously and without regrets,” but she was indeed sad; she also wanted to live like an ordinary couple. She didn’t want to leave him alone.
She leaned her body closer to the barrier, as if wanting to feel his warmth once more.
The device burst one last time, the erupting light like a star exploding behind him, with daylight-like light and heat descending overwhelmingly. She witnessed the end approaching, bravely lifting her head, lips moving.
He watched her become the purest, brightest light, hearing her speak in the final moment, her tone relaxed and calm: “At least now you can truly live once.”
Then the strong light consumed everything, but did not take him away.
Later generations would view it as an inevitable regime change, only those involved knowing this was not self-destruction under a power curse, but more accurately, redemption.
Black smoke rose from the Red Fortress, the situation decided, with only a few still resisting.
The main hall was unusually silent. Klovi III sat under the colored canopy, head down.
Only the court minister Piping was beside him, this thin political veteran looking towards the door with a bitter smile.
Light yet composed footsteps came from the end of the hall’s corridor.
Klovi III suddenly looked up, his lips trembling slightly, saying calmly: “You’re here.”
