"Looks like it all worked out in the end."
Amid the thick darkness stood a man. He had white hair and his body was radiating so much light that his immediate surroundings were illuminated by it.
Bright white light pervaded where he stood, and even though it was like a little flicker compared to the darkness, the light had a defiant glow that exceeded the intensity of the pitch-black world it inhabited.
"It feels good to be back."
This man was smiling. His eyes had a lot of colours swirling within, and every ounce of his being represented pure power.
His outfit was a simple white cloak, along with an inner shirt and a simple pair of trousers. He was barefoot, but even his skin had a magnanimously sublime feel that made it seem like it was woven by the world's greatest fabric.
No, not even that could compare to its beauty.
The beautiful form of this being was without measure—without equal.
He appeared to be an everlasting sea of bountiful greatness.
"You… who are you?" A voice emerged from the darkness, almost stifled in its tone.
It belonged to Legris Damien, for even he was shocked by the glorious nature that the person before him possessed.
It felt too pure to be real.
"Don't tell me you can't recognize me, Legris. It's been quite a while, or has it?" The god-like being smiled in response.
"Neron…" He whispered. "I am Neron."
*
*
*
At a time before—or rather beyond—the present, two figures could be seen in a displaced world.
"N-no…" The voice of a young man leaked out of this abyss.
It was Neron.
His dark hair swayed ever so slightly as he watched a woman, who was as good as dead, lay stiffly on his lap.
'Serah…' His thoughts went out to her, but she gave no response.
"No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No.No. No. No. No. No. No. NO. NO! NO!! NOOO!!!"
He ignored the destruction that was occurring in the background. The devastation wrought upon the world by the Nether—the death of everyone and everything.
Nothing mattered anymore. It was too late.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry… I—"
The hulking figure of the Nether seemed to revel in the destruction he had wrought on this dead world. The Nether ignored Neron, and he did the same.
There was no point in a clash, anyway.
It was all over.
"It's not my fault. It's not my fault. It's not my fault. It's not my fault. It's not my fault. It's not my fault. It's not my fault. It's not my fault. It's not my fault. It's not my fault. It's not my fault. It's not my fault. It's not my fault. It's not my fault. It's not my fault!!!"
He repeated these words so much that one might have thought that he was insane, Neron remembered all the events that had led to the world's destruction and the part he'd played in ensuring it happened.
Now that everything had come crashing down, and he was all alone, he realized the foolishness of his actions—as well as the betrayal of the one he had trusted most.
"You're a sight for sore eyes, Neron."
"It's not my fault. It's not my fault. It's not my fault. It's not my fault. It's not my—" Neron stopped his mantra and his eyes found the man whose fault all this was.
The person was the true architect of the chaos—the personification of evil that felt more sinister than the Nether.
"Legris Damien!"
"Don't look at me that way. Isn't this a result of our efforts?" The one he had once called his best friend said this to him with a twisted grin.
"This… this isn't what I wanted! You lied to me! You… I thought we were friends!"
"Hahaha, well… I guess that's one way of putting it."
"You bastard! You and Ciel tricked me! You… why…?!'"
"It was unavoidable. I don't care either way, but apparently, she's the one who wanted this outcome."
What exactly could he benefit from this chaos? Ciel, the madwoman who was in love with the Nether, was reunited with her Master. But what of Legris?
"W-why…?"
"Well, the work is done. Sooner or later, I'll get what I want. It's a shame, though. This world is doomed…"
What did he want?
"N-no…"
"Yes. The Nether is here, after all. It's only a matter of time."
Neron could only shudder and wither away as he felt even more despair.
He cursed himself, regretting everything he had ever done. How he had joined the Nether Cult and rose to the First Seat.
How he'd participated in the massacre of the Midas Race.
How he'd helped gather all the Arcanas to bring about the very end of everything.
The world. Existence. Himself.
Everything was going to end!
"I…"
Millions of thoughts echoed in his mind. However, out of the many emotions that consumed him, two remained the strongest.
Regret… and HATRED!
Neron raised his head and his pure black eyes slowly showed a glimmer of light.
"… I won't allow it!"
Suddenly, the entire area was enveloped in white light, and the shock was enough to send ripples of distortions to every corner of the world.
He finally caught the attention of both the Nether and Legris Damien—both of whom reacted with immediate precision.
Neron had now become a threat!
And not just any kind of threat. It was the only threat that could stop what was happening—the only kind that existed in the world.
It was the power of the Singularity, Neron Kaelid!
*
*
*
"After I killed you, I defeated the Nether, and orchestrated all of this." The majestic Neron spoke with a smile.
"I admit, it's a bit elaborate, but… what can I say? It was the only way."
Legris—all of them—could no longer hide the emotion that accompanied the sight of Neron's awakening.
"But now… I'm counting on Jared to stop the Nether. After all, that's the reason why he's in this world at this time."
With that said, Neron's focus went to the horde of Legrises that existed in this realm. The time of reckoning was already at hand, and it was inevitable.
Everything had come to the closing act.
"All I need to do is take care of the cleanup."
*
*
*
[A/N]
I certainly hope you enjoyed and understood this chapter. If you didn't, don't worry, more will be revealed soon.
I have been dropping bits and pieces of everything throughout the story because I don't want to saturate a particular point with all the info.
But now, it's time to learn the truth.
By the way, I'm thinking of creating a side story about Neron, so if you want to see that, feel free to let me know.
R𝑒ad latest chapt𝒆rs at freew𝒆(b)novel.c(o)m Only