It seemed as though time had truly stopped and flowed only for the two of them.
Somewhere in the background, Kuronuma's voice could be heard; behind them, a violet flame flickered on and off as it battled the darkness, and even further away came the shocked gasps of Noir, who had just come back to his senses…
The only thing that remained unchanged was the figure of Ghost, pinned to the ground, and the dark silhouette looming over her.
But at that moment, the darkness began to recede rapidly toward the center of his chest.
*Thud* His raised hand, which had been about to strike, slowly, almost gently, settled against her helmet. The pressure of gravity vanished.
The darkness vanished from his face. It had completely corroded his mask and nearly destroyed his suit, leaving only a couple of twisted pieces hanging on his body. He was almost bare, and nothing covered his face.
