I watched as my life came to an end.
This was the point of no return, and I knew there was no turning back. All my countermeasures--the clones and Soul Brand duplicates--were being rendered useless by what the Nether was doing.
He was going to use my current soul to destroy any other copy of my soul that was within the same wavelength. In essence, corrupting everything related to me and ensuring all of my links to this reality are cut off.
Thereafter, he would extinguish my soul by permanently destroying it with Nether. That way, there would be nothing left.
My body was already expiring, so that meant I'll be gone forever.
'I... I...'
I wish I had more time.
In my final moments, my thoughts began to plague and hound me. I couldn't help but think of so many things that I had pushed back for so long.
My past life--my friends, lovers, family.
I remembered my parents; both in this life and in my past life.
I remembered my lovers; both in this life and in my past life.
I remembered my friends; the ones I had in this life and in my past life.
As both lives flash before my eyes, I realized how much I wanted to live. How badly I wanted to cling to existence.
When I died in the past, I had accepted it. I was fulfilled--save for one regret that I had.
MAGIC!
I had wished to use Magic and in this life, I had far surpassed the level of anyone I knew in my past life--except maybe Solomon and perhaps Lilith too.
I wondered where Lilith was now, and I wondered if she eventually found the peaceful death she sought.
In the end, these two were the only ones I could not surpass. The rest never stood a chance.
I have developed more Magic theories in this life and even invented Anti Magic. I have done so much, and I've had so much fun.
The only regret I could never let go of in my past life had already been fulfilled. And even though I never reached the pinnacle of Magic, this much would have satisfied the 'me' of the past.
But... not anymore!
Magic or not, I now have more regrets. More reasons I simply can't die.
I realized now what Alphonse and my other friends had been teaching me--about how Magic means nothing without people.
I saved my Academy. I saved the Kingdom. I just fought a being that is capable of destroying the world. I have had my fair share of adventures and heroics.
This was more than enough for people to remember me by.
However, therein laid the problem.
'There will be no one left...'
If I died now, everyone would die too. The very thought of that hurt my very soul, far more than the Nether that had nearly completed its task.
The death of my friends and family--everyone I care about--weighed heavily on me.
I so desperately want to live to prevent any of the chaos that was about to come. Unfortunately, I was too powerless to do anything.
My body had long expired now, becoming one with the Nether. My soul was nearing disintegration--merely a breath away from utter destruction.
'It seems... I won't get to see anyone ever again.' Everything slowly vanished.
Memories and experiences faded away.
Jane. Aurora. Ana. Edward. Stefan. Jerry. Ivan. Freya. All of them came and went, like flashes of light.
Kuzon... I wish you were here...
Maria... I'm sorry...
Karlia... forgive me...
The memories of my other friends and family overlapped and then vanished, all turning dark. In the end, there were surprisingly only three images left.
Lemi... forgive your father...
Neron... where are you...?
Finally, the last single thought that remained shined ever so brightly. It shone in the ever-growing darkness. The memories of this person were corroded by the murky depths of despondency, and I could not do anything to prevent this.
I could only watch.
'Emilia...' My thoughts desperately called for her.
The moment she vanished, I knew it was over. But, what could I possibly do in this state?
Absolutely nothing!
The end was here... and the memory was completely consumed.
The moment this happened, everything went dark, and I found myself sinking into the jaws of nonexistence.
The abyss called for me... and I ceased to exist.
*********
"Huh?!" Maria's eyes popped wide open in shock.
She swiftly rose from where she lay, seating upright instead.
"Hey, hey! Take it easy. You need to rest." Elrich's voice brought her out of the daze that enveloped her.
She glanced at him with widened eyes, her face depicting pure confusion. Something about her stunned expression showed horror that could not be described.
"I... I felt Jared's Soul Brand vanish." She whispered, still trying to wrap her head around the whole thing.
"O-oh... yeah, me too. It probably has something to do with that." Elrich pointed at the sky, and for the first time, Maria properly looked above her.
The skies were covered in pitch-black darkness. Dark lightning struck without end, and the air was chilly.
Around her, Maria could see many dead birds. All the beings that occupied the sky were already down--dead due to their exposure to the dark clouds and the element that caused it.
"Nether..." She whispered.
"Indeed. It is spreading at a fast rate... and I fear this is only the beginning."
Who was to say the lands wouldn't be covered by Nether next? If that happened, wouldn't that mark the end of every being who couldn't use Aether?
The death of everything that existed.
"Jared... he's in danger. I need to get to him." Maria's voice quivered.
Clearly, something had gone wrong with the plan. Jared needed her now!
"No. Not yet. We need to ensure the safety of everyone in the other nations first. Not many people can utilize Aether. What of the innocents? If the skies are being covered in Nether, I fear what will befall all of them."
"But Jared is--"
"I'm sure Jared would want you to do the same. We need your [Pope] to protect them, and my [Tower] to help move them to safe ground."
Elrich had pretty much reached his limit by putting the denizens of the Eastern Kingdom in his pocket dimension. He would have loved to stuff the whole world inside it, but he didn't have enough power for that.
"Create a massive dome, like last time--but bigger. That will create a sanctuary for those we'll be saving. Set it up here. I'll travel around and transport those I find to this place."
In essence, she had to keep the people safe, while he brought them to her.
"O-okay!"
"Good. Baraja and the others will stay here with you. I'm off!" Before she could say any more, Elrich vanished.
It was clear from his tone that he was in a hurry, and that he was extremely worried.
Who wouldn't be, with the darkness spreading to every region in the world?
"But, Jared..." Maria muttered.
Something in her heart felt empty, and her soul ached.
Still, she couldn't abandon the many innocents who needed her aid, could she? Now that she was awake, she felt much better--enough to protect the ones she could.
"SANCTUARY!"
Thus, her massive white dome began to form. As she created this shelter, however, Maria could not help thinking about the boy she loved.
"Jared... you're still there, right?"
*
*
*
[A/N]
Well, there we go... Jared is dead.
No plot armour or anything. It sucks that despite all his efforts and strategies, he still lost.
Poor Maria too...
Well, let's see what'll happen next.
