The Demon King still couldn’t grasp what was going on. Perhaps he simply didn’t want to.

“Just die. You can’t call it quits now!” With an obsessive grin, he sent the twisted blade lunging at Gawain.

>WHOOOSHHH<

The blade was beyond lightning-fast. The deadly thrust of the weapon caused everything in its path to rip apart as it made its way toward the lone Automaton.

The end had already been reached—at least, according to Abellion.

“Okay, that’s enough.” Someone snapped.

It was a strange voice—belonging to a third party.

Instantly, the fast-approaching blade came to a stop. It remained suspended in the air, as though frozen in time.

“The guy told you already, didn’t he? He’s out.”

Abellion was both astounded by the fact that one of his most powerful weapons was simply standing still, as well as wary of the new person that made his entrance.

The stranger was standing right in front of the twisted blade, pocketing and looking unfazed by the thing that was simply inches away from him.

“Who… are you?”

His eyes narrowed as a glare replaced his previously bulging expression.

Abellion could feel his heart skip a beat. He didn’t know if it was due to caution… or a more intense emotion.

All he knew was that his blade came to a sudden halt once the newcomers made his appearance.

“Me? Wow, this is a bit awkward… I thought the Demon Army would have known about my identity at the very least.” The mysterious man spoke so casually—so carefree.

His black hair fluttered with the wind as he turned away from Abellion and looked at the Automaton behind.

“Or am I being narcissistic? Shouldn’t I expect that they know me?”

In response to the question, the Automaton raised his hands and shoulders, as though saying he didn’t know what to say.

“I don’t know, man. All I can say is that you’re late. How can someone who professes to have all the time in the world have such a behavior.”

The Automaton’s warbling tone was followed by a loud laugh from the strange man.

“Hahahaha! You’re right, at least to an extent.”

“H-hey…!” Abellion’s words were ignored as the human kept talking to the Automaton.

“You say I shouldn’t be late because of my abilities, right? Well, I beg to differ a little.”

Now turning to the Demon King, who was getting impatient at this point, the man in question grinned broadly.

“If because I have all the time in the world that I can be as late as I want.

Abellion’s eyes bulged as he heard those words. They felt somewhat… familiar.

“Now, then, Demon King Abellion, I suppose introductions are in order.”

Stroking one hand through his dark hair, the young-looking human gave a confident, cool smile.

“My name is Ne—”

“NEROOOOOOONNNNNN!!!” Another voice sharply interrupted, and the owner came lunging in the man’s direction.

The man, Neron, instantly jumped as a result of the sudden halt in his introduction, as well as the one who caused it.

“Oh, crap… she’s here already.”

The woman who was lunging at Neron with unquantifiable speed and a wide smile on her face was none other than Serah Crimson.

Her bright smile and blushing face were in clear contrast to the beast she had been, prior to Neron’s arrival.

“One sec.” He raised his hand to Abellion, and then prepared himself for what would come next.

Serah approached rapidly, and Neron readied himself for their usual greeting.

“**OOOOCHHHH” The woman shamelessly puckered her lips and prepared for an embrace with the love of her life.

Of course, this would always be returned by a violent halt thanks to Neron’s time barrier. Still, Serah had made it a habit that she couldn’t stop—even though she knew the consequences.

And so, she charged at him.

>WHOOOOOSH<

To her surprise, she wasn’t stopped.

Instead, a pair of arms wrapped themselves around her, and she was lifted into the sky—far above the reach of the dying battle.

“Eh?”

As she ascended with the one whose arms were caressing her body, Serah’s face turned red. She was close—too close to the one who half her tightly.

“N-Neron…?”

“Shhhh…” The black-haired man smiled charmingly.

Serah’s red hair flowed, touching the young man’s face as he didn’t waver in his intense gaze.

Her heart pounded, yet she too couldn’t look away from his entrapping eyes.

“I…”

Before she could conclude her statement, Neron’s face descended, and then, in a surprising yet romantic turn of events, his lips met hers.

Right there and then, as they floated in the clouds, Neron and Serah were locked in a passionate kiss while being in each other’s embrace.

As if the mood wasn’t enough, fireworks ascended to the sky, painting it in multiple colors.

The fireworks sparked red, purple, and blue, making the couple continue to smooch while enjoying the feel of the moment.

Their eyes were open, though barely, as they kept kissing.

And, after what seemed like an infinite amount of time doing the deed, the two finally stopped.

“W-what… I don’t…”

Serah was still flustered. The current state of things, and how fast things had progressed, put her in a state of shock.

She stammered, unable to make words as her eyes felt drawn into Neron’s pitch-black irises.

“You don’t need to understand. Just accept it, Serah. I’m sorry I took so long.” Neron drew her close and kisses the flustered woman on her forehead.

“You… you…”

Unable to hold back any longer, the woman’s floodgates finally opened and tears proceeded from her eyes.

She tightened her embrace with Neron and bawled her eyes out.

The fireworks ceased, and nothing could be felt from a distance. It was simply Neron and Serah who were left in the whole world.

Slowly, they descended from the far reaches of the cloud.

Both of them were too focused on each other to care for the frozen individuals all over the battlefield.

All of them were unmoving—stuck in time.

And, in this timeless world that spoke of eternity, Neron Kaelid finally opened his lips and uttered the words that the woman before him had been longing to hear all along.

A statement that resonated deeply within her.

“Serah… I love you too.”