Chapter 78: The Final Death

In contrast to the bleak horizons of the north, the entirety of the battlefield was turbulent, with blades clashing here and there and magic pervading through the snow-covered land.

There I was, slumped on the snow with the lifeless villainess in my arms. At that point, I didn't even have the heart to cry. I was just so tired and fed up of the novel taking away everything from me.

"Runa," I planted a soft kiss on her blood-soaked head. "See you in another story, my dear sister."

To me, it felt like death was no longer the end, but the beginning. When my sister breathed her last, a part of me was actually relieved that she wouldn't have to deal with this hellhole of a story anymore.

I could only hope that she'd be given another chance to live in a happier and safer world.

Please let my sister be happy, I shut my eyes.

"Look! The devil appears to be struggling!"

True enough, Lilith relapsed into a weakened state as soon as Ruth Alessia di Camellia killed herself. Her acrimonious cries filled the skies as the mages continued to contain her within the massive spell.

"Camellia!" Lilith roared, her whole body trembling. "You useless wench... Ugh!"

Since the contract between the devil and the villainess has been severed, I thought it'd be much easier to subdue her. Boy, I have never been so wrong. To our horror, Lilith ignited herself with scorching, purplish flames made of black mana.

"Everyone!" Haniel shouted in panic. "Run!"

I gasped when the devil casted a self-destructive spell, completely shattering the prison barrier surrounding her. A few seconds before Lilith exploded, I saw Haniel manifesting a barrier to protect himself, since he was the closest to Lilith.

"Kallen!" Ashen leaped towards me and pushed my body towards Servan, who then enclosed us within his defensive spell. Unfortunately, Ashen wasn't able to join us in time within the safe space.

I shot him a horrified look. "Ashen!"

"Well," He said succinctly with a smile. "See ya."

With that, Lilith's self-destructive move decimated the northern lands. I'm afraid not everyone could protect themselves from such a large-scale attack.

When the smoke cleared, the whole battlefield was devastated and everyone, may it be our allies or enemies, were indiscriminately turned into ashes. Only a few mages who were capable of casting defensive magic had survived the attack.

"Are you okay?!" Servan's voice rang in my ears.

"Ashen..." I muttered grimly when I couldn't see a trace of my friend. He was gone. Just like that, somebody dear to me was taken by the novel.

Meanwhile, in the center of the barren land, the unrecognizable body of Ingrid Nala Marchetti was burnt and laid down on the snow. All the survivors gathered around her cautiously, including Haniel and his adoptive father.

Sir Ion frowned. "Something feels amiss."

I have the same feeling, too. I don't think Lilith would've given up in destroying the empire just because her contract with Runa was severed.

"The devil isn't the type to surrender." Haniel pointed out. "I don't believe this is the end."

My face softened at the sight of him, battered up with bruises and scratches all over his body. He looks extremely tired from fighting Lilith alone.

"Yes. The way I see it, she tried to muster all the remaining magic she had but her host couldn't handle it." Sir Ion explained, referring to Lady Marchetti's body.

"If that's the case," Haniel wiped the blood off his cheek. "Then she must still be here somewhere..."

"Looking for a new host." I whispered in addition.

Our shoulders dropped in despair. Even though we outnumber the devil, our forces are currently in a bad shape now. We're not prepared to engage in battle right away, and even if we do manage to subdue her in any way, we might lose many lives.

"What now?" Servan broached the subject. "She can respawn anytime. We have to be prepared."

"Still, will she really be able to respawn? If she wants a new host, wouldn't she have to form a contract first?" One of the mages questioned.

"That's not the case anymore." Haniel replied right away. "The only reason she had to form a contract with Grand Duchess Averill was because Lilith has yet to fully awaken her powers during that time."

"So, what you're saying is..." Servan adjusted the frame of his glasses. "She can choose to possess any of us right now?"

"With the exception of me and my son, because we are both stronger than her." Sir Ion attested.

At that moment, a foreboding splashed on me like cold water. Somehow, I already had a bad feeling.

After all, I met Ellis in the middle of the third arc, the Immovable Fall. Back then, I first referred to her as my future self because technically, she was the owner of the body that I had yet to possess.

Therefore, Ellis was a character whose face was supposed to be revealed in the fourth arc, at least from a reader's point of view towards the novel.

Suppose that Ellis is the extra who's meant to die at the end of this arc, what exactly was her role?

Well, I knew the answer at the back of my head.

Maybe it's because I didn't really finish reading this story but I stopped getting flashbacks of the novel at some point, so I can't confirm anything.

Even so, I already knew the answer to my query.

And I was right. I surmised correctly.

While the mages were busy devising a plan, my body suddenly burned up from the inside. It felt like I was about to implode from a ball of fire forming in my gut. I also heard a faint voice.

You will do.

I tightly held onto the hilt of my sword.

Because your soul reeks of death, woman.

To my horror, my hand moved on its own and unsheathed my sword. In that split second, my eyes darted on Haniel, who managed to notice everything on time, being the most observant.

Before I could slash one of the mages, my lover pulled out his sword and swung it towards my weapon. The sound of our blades clashing with one another had my heart totally torn asunder.

"Huh?" Servan blurted out as he stood rooted to his position, astounded. "What are you doing?"

"Brace yourselves! It's the devil!" As a man with ample experience, Sir Ion managed to comprehend the situation in a few seconds.

All the mages went into their battle stance.

"Stand back!" Haniel's voice thundered across the land. "I'm warning you. Don't lay a finger on her!"

"Haniel!" His adoptive father called him, his voice strident. "It would be impossible not to harm her!"

"Even so, do not touch her!" My lover said through gritted teeth, his eyes focused on me. "She's mine."

With that, Haniel sprung towards me and pursued me with a series of outward swings. The more we exchanged blows, the more my vision got blotchy.

"Callie!" He shouted desperately. "Snap out of it!"

I can't, I helplessly answered in my mind.

Black smudges started dominating my view. But despite not being able to see clearly, it's as if my body had a mind of its own, moving flawlessly and defending itself against the main character.

Just when I thought it couldn't get any worse, a burst of black magic suddenly manifested from my body. For a second, I saw the reflection of my own face on my blade. My eyes were now chalk white, and I finally confirmed my role in this arc.

I've been had. It appears that this novel has no intention of keeping me alive until the very end, since my final role was to be the devil's host.

This story won't be finished unless they kill me.

"Callista!" Haniel called me in a helpless voice.

I could only scream in agony. My body feels hot.

After a matter of seconds, I could no longer see properly. It felt like the devil was slowly seeping through my body and taking over my senses.

Against my will, I blindly thrusted my sword forward, but it was instantly stopped. At that moment, I caught a glimpse of a bare hand, bleeding while tightly holding onto my blade.

It was the same hand that I loved.

It was the hand that saved me many times. It was the hand that pulled me out of the darkness when I thought there's no way out. It was Haniel's hand.

And seeing it soaked with blood because of me brought tears into my eyes. If there was anything that the devil couldn't control within me, it was my heart that recognizes Haniel Calypso Astana no matter what. He was deeply engraved on it.

"Haniel," I said barely above a whisper.

The blood from his hands tainted the snow.

"Yes," He answered softly. "I'm here, Callie."

I lifted my gaze to him. A small portion of my vision has not yet succumbed to Lilith's possession, so I got to see a part of his face.

Once again, I saw a reflection of myself on his purplish orbs. This time, not only were my eyes chalk white, but black veins had also started to spread through my entire face. I look hideous.

Tears streamed down on my cheeks.

"You're so handsome. On the contrary, my appearance now... I look like a monster."

"What are you saying?" My hands got damp, and I realized it was because of his tears. "You're just as beautiful when I first met you. I'm in love again."

Haniel cupped my cheek with his free hand, tracing the veins on my face with his fingers.

"I see you, Callie." He smiled. "I only see you."

It was true. For that, I was grateful to him.

From the start, he saw me for who I was. He knew that I came from another world, yet he embraced me with open arms. He knew of the past love that I had, yet he accepted my broken heart anyway.

I love him. I love him so much, it makes me cry.

Because I knew there was no way we could stay together at this point. The story was nearing the end, and it's time for us to part ways in this life.

"Kill me, Haniel."

He flinched on his spot before answering.

"No." His lips quivered. "I can't do it, Callie."

"You have to kill me, Haniel. The original ending of this story ended in a tragedy, with you sealing the devil and yourself for eternity in the north."

"Then let it end that way. I cannot kill you."

I smiled. "Don't you want to save the world?"

"To hell with saving the world," A sob escaped from his mouth. "What is the point of saving a world without you? I would rather freeze with you for eternity."

"Don't be like that." I took a step towards him and embraced him with my arms. "This is the world where I met you, the world where you existed."

My tears welled up with tears.

"I want you to save it, so we can meet again."

Haniel broke down into sobs. The way his tears fell uncontrollably on my shoulders had me so emotional. He's crying because of me again.

"If I do it, will you come see me again, Callie?"

He desperately held me into his arms.

"Yes, I'll find you." I closed my eyes. "I promise."

"You need to come, okay?" Haniel whispered in between sobs. "I shall wait here. On this exact spot. I won't go anywhere unless you come."

"Okay," My tears fell. "I will come back to you."

We sealed that promise with a kiss in the snow. As our lips touched, the whole novel unfolded before my eyes. I've experienced love, death, and betrayal in this story, which all made me who I am today.

I've had different names. I was Callista, Isabelle, Allari, Kallen, and Ellis. To live and to die as an extra was my punishment for taking my own life in the past.

And I wholeheartedly accept that guilty verdict.

Because within the pages of this tragic story, I met him. He was the man who made me want to live again. Haniel Calypso Astana taught me how to breathe again, despite the cruelty of the world.

"See you, Callie." He smiled. "I'll be here waiting."

"Yeah," I cupped his face. "See you, Haniel."

That fateful day, the main character of A World Without Light saved the whole world by killing the devil's host with his own hands. He made a mark in history as humanity's greatest mage.

When I opened my eyes, I woke up on the exact same spot where Haniel told me he would wait.

It was still snowing without a trace of the sun.

But this time, only his statue stood before me.

And, sadly, many centuries had already passed.

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