"You've got a beautiful voice. I wonder… does that have something to do with your eyes?" Merlin asked with a light smile, her tone teasing yet thoughtful.
Rex grinned in a smile, the corner of his mouth curling in quiet amusement.
"Haha, you also have a wonderful ability. But no, this is all pure skill," Rex said with a laugh, his tone light.
Merlin, of course, wasn't just complimenting him out of courtesy. She herself possessed a unique ability known as Infinity—a power that allowed any spell she cast to last forever. It reminded Rex of his own skill, [Ever Lasting]. He made it so any buff-type skill or spell he used wouldn't fade until the battle ended.
But Merlin's ability was broader, far more versatile. It affected everything—offensive magic, defensive spells, barriers, and more.
"I should get going," Galand said suddenly, clearly not wanting to linger any longer. Without waiting for a response, he turned and left.
That seemed to jolt the others into remembering the reality of the situation—they were still at war. One by one, they left, leaving the clearing behind.
Soon, only Meliodas, Elizabeth, and Merlin remained. The others had left with a silent hope: that these three might somehow convince Rex to join their side.
"Someone as powerful as you… Why are you sitting out of this war?" Elizabeth asked softly, her voice barely above a whisper.
Rex shook his head, a quiet expression settling over his face. "Do you believe in fate? Do you believe that we're all just puppets, dancing on strings known as fate?" he asked lightly, his tone distant, almost thoughtful.
Elizabeth slowly shook her head, meeting his gaze without hesitation.
"I believe we all forge our own future," she said, her voice steady, eyes filled with quiet determination.
"And to that, I say… foolish," Rex replied softly, his gaze distant, as if looking through time itself.
"I once had 41 friends. From the very beginning, I knew the fate of everyone. Out of the 42 of us, at best, only two would remain. I tried to fight it. I tried to change what was coming." His voice dropped lower. "But fate pulled me away… and when I returned, only one was left."
"You're saying you can read fate?" Merlin asked, her tone careful yet filled with curiosity. Rex gave a light nod.
"It's not a clear yes," he said. "But in a way… I know what's in store for the three of you."
His eyes moved to Meliodas. "For example—Meliodas, your future is soaked in tears. The person you love most will die in your arms, again and again, each time leaving a deeper wound than the last."
Then, he turned to Elizabeth. "Elizabeth, your fate is death. That's the end written for you. And this war? It's not what ends it… It's just what's going to start countless years' worth of pain."
He let those words settle for a moment, his gaze steady. "So, with all of that… are you two going to change your fate?"
"…" Elizabeth said nothing at first, her gaze shifting toward Meliodas with a complex expression. She couldn't fully imagine the pain of watching the one you love die in your arms, over and over again. But somehow, what struck her as even more unbearable… was the idea of simply dying and leaving him behind to carry that pain alone.
"I will not let that happen," she said seriously, her voice firm with conviction. Her words caught Meliodas off guard for a second, but only a second. Then he smiled softly and reached out, taking her hand in his.
"Cute. I'll be watching," Rex said with a smile. "Due to fate, I can't take part in this war… at least not now. I'll be able to act freely in 3,000 years from now."
His words stunned Sebas and the others. They had heard him speak before about feeling chained—about being bound by something in this world that limited his actions. But now, it finally made sense.
"That's a long time," Merlin said with interest, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Are you saying this war will go on for 3,000 years?"
To that, Rex shook his head, his smile never fading.
"No. If I'm right… the war should end this year," Rex said calmly. "And with it, the beginning of your suffering. Three thousand years from now, when Meliodas has a team of seven… that's when I'll finally be free to act."
He spoke with a light smile, but the weight behind his words was hard to ignore.
"What would happen if you act now?" Merlin asked, her curiosity sharpening as she studied him closely. Rex gave a vague shrug, the smile never leaving his face.
"Who knows," he said simply. "But let's return to our songs… and this time, I'll play something lighter."
He adjusted the guitar in his hands, fingers settling into place. "Sing along if you want," he added with an easy grin, before strumming the first few notes, letting the lighter melody carry through the campfire's quiet hum.
"Only echoes in my mind, I forget about the time
Everything around me going slow
I can feel it resonate, never giving me a break
This second is the only one I know." The song was simple—no heavy notes, no grand shifts—but as it began, a quiet weight settled over the group. The lyrics struck something deep, making each of them feel the burden they carried, the unseen load pressing on their shoulders.
"Stars above me align, in this moment they're mine
And they're gonna be all night
Just my mind without any cares, worries fade into air
'Cause when no one is there…" Rex's voice was nothing short of magical. Soft yet powerful, it wrapped around them like a warm breeze. And as the melody carried on, that heaviness began to lift. The tension in their chests eased, the weight they didn't realize they were holding started to drift away.
"I raise my glass and dance all on my own
All my friends went home, but I don't wanna waste this song
In the moonlight's never-ending glow
I'll be dancing all alone." There was something strange about the way Rex sang—something that tugged gently at the heart. As the words echoed out, they each felt the quiet urge to dance alone. It was a strange feeling, but none of them resisted it. In that moment, they didn't care about their plans, their goals, or even the war itself.
Everything was forgotten. So, they sang. And by the end of the song, one could find all six of them—everyone but Sebas, Albedo, and Mare—with their arms loosely wrapped around one another, seated before the fire, swaying and singing in unison.
Before they even realized it, the Fairy King, the Giant King, and the others who had left earlier began to return, drawn back by the music that stirred something deep inside them.
"Tell me why!" Meliodas shouted, his voice filled with energy.
"Ain't nothin' but a heartache!" everyone responded in unison. They were no longer seated. One by one, they had risen to their feet, moving freely, letting themselves go completely to the rhythm. Arms waved, feet shifted, and voices rose together in harmony. No one held back.
They let themselves experience the moment to the fullest. Somehow, in the magic of the song, the world outside faded. Even the Ten Commandments and the Archangels—beings who had no reason to stand side by side—had gathered around the fire.
Because in that moment, before the power of music, enemies became something else entirely. They became friends.
"¡Para bailar la Bamba!
¡Para bailar la Bamba se necesita una poca de gracia!" Back in Nazarick, Ainz silently watched the scene unfold—Rex singing with an electric guitar in his hands, surrounded by enemies and allies alike, all dancing beneath the night sky.
He observed it for a while, arms folded, his glowing eyes narrowing behind the mask of bone. Then he sighed.
He wasn't displeased with Rex's current actions. In truth, he was curious—curious to see whether Rex could actually find a way around fate. Like Rex, Ainz understood the feeling of being bound by something larger. He had long wondered if killing the wrong person, or altering one key moment, might somehow break the chain of events.
After all, by all logic, Meliodas should have died long ago. But something had interfered—like fate had pulled the strings to ensure his survival. The same could be said for Merlin and even Elizabeth.
It made him wonder… how deep did fate truly run? It's the main reason why he didn't follow after Meliodas for a counterattack. He had believed that fate didn't plan for them to die… but at the same time, he couldn't help but wonder if that was fate working to make him think that.
Rex had said they would most likely win this war 3,000 years from now. So, of course, plans were already forming—a grand, final attack that would reshape everything. For now, they were laying the groundwork, slowly building the foundation for the moment they would rise and take over the world. But 3,000 years… that was a long time.
Ainz continued to watch as Rex moved quietly behind the scenes. At one point, Rex had Albedo return to Nazarick, replacing her with a doppelganger that was nearly flawless. The copy wasted no time getting close to Meliodas, her presence both warm and dangerously tempting.
Meliodas found it harder and harder to maintain control around her. He was getting too close, too fast, drawn in by her charm, unaware of what she truly was.
And Elizabeth noticed. Her displeasure grew with each passing glance, especially when she saw Meliodas lingering too long near the doppelganger, smiling a little too easily, leaving her feeling jealous.
"Elizabeth, right? I was wondering… by any chance, are you single?" Rex asked lightly, settling down beside Elizabeth.
The question caught her off guard. She paused, stunned, her gaze shifting away from Meliodas and toward Rex in disbelief.
But Rex wasn't looking at her—at least, not anymore. His eyes drifted toward where she had been staring just moments ago. Slowly, realization crept into his expression, a quiet understanding replacing the initial flicker of hope.
"…Oh," he said softly. "Looks like you like someone else… I guess it makes sense, seeing how you two were holding hands."
His tone dipped, carrying the weight of a quiet disappointment. For a moment, he looked downcast.
Elizabeth turned back toward Meliodas, and her heart sank. There he was, still holding Albedo's hand, giving her a look she didn't recognize. A look she had never seen directed at her. And something inside her cracked.
She remembered how she had first fallen in love with Meliodas. It had started during a brutal battle between them—one that had pushed them both to the edge. They were fighting to the death, locked in a deadly clash that tore through the land around them. In the chaos, their battle had nearly killed a pregnant woman caught in the crossfire.
At first, neither of them paid it much attention. They were too busy dealing with more important stuff, and things like that happened. But at the end… Elizabeth heard the mother's cries. The woman wasn't begging for her own life, but for her unborn child to be spared. Something in that desperate plea, in how deeply the mother cared for a life that hadn't even entered the world yet—it awakened something in Elizabeth.
Without hesitation, she had thrown herself forward, shielding the woman and her child, ignoring her own safety entirely.
The moment stunned Meliodas. He had been the most ruthless of the demons back then—unfeeling, unshaken by anything. But that act, that compassion… it made him pause.
Elizabeth's choice to throw herself in harm's way for the sake of a lower lifeform had stunned him.
Not even the members of the Goddess Clan would've done something like that. And yet Elizabeth—known for her merciless nature in battle, a warrior who had slaughtered countless demons without hesitation—was more concerned with the life of a human than her own? It didn't make sense to him.
Meliodas could have killed her right then and there. He had the chance, the power, and the cause. But instead, he simply snorted and turned away, leaving her behind. Even so, that moment stayed with him.