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The Demon King stood motionless, all expression withdrawn from his face, handsome features like an ivory-carved statue, beautiful and cold.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.
