After the battle with the Centurions, Sunny had acquired an Echo—the Echo of a Centurion itself. And after Nephis had dealt with the creature that attacked them from the sea, the three of them were now making their way through the labyrinth atop their newly claimed war beast.
The Centurion Echo tore through the maze like a storm given form, its massive frame a force of destruction against anything unfortunate enough to stand in its path. Scavengers fell in an instant, their frail bodies crushed beneath its claws. The occasional Centurion was a different matter, but with Sunny, Nephis, and their augmented Echo working in tandem, even those threats were swiftly neutralized.
For once, their journey was easy.
"Good. This is good," Sunny muttered, placing another soul shard into his pouch. He shook it slightly, smiling at the soft clatter of shards against one another. "Everyone deserves a vacation once in a while."
Another group of Scavengers appeared, this time accompanied by a Centurion. The Echo halted. Without hesitation, Sunny and Nephis leapt from its back, summoning their weapons.
A shriek cut through the air as the Scavengers lunged. They died just as quickly. The last remaining Centurion was pinned to the ground beneath the augmented Echo's crushing grip, struggling in vain as the two Sleepers tore it apart.
Sunny flicked the blood from his weapon and tossed two soul shards toward Nephis, followed by the entire pouch.
"Absorb them all."
Nephis caught them without a word and began crushing the shards one by one. With each one absorbed, her aura pulsed, growing subtly stronger. A single shard wouldn't have made much of a difference, but this many... this many mattered.
Above them, the sun hung high in the sky. In the distance, their next high point was already in sight.
"Let's rest, eat, then move on."
It didn't make sense to stop now. They still had over half a day's sunlight left. If they kept going, they could reach the high point after this before nightfall.
Sunny helped Cassie down, and they made camp. He and Nephis stripped the fallen Scavengers of their meat and set up a fire, while the Centurion Echo stood watch, unmoving— like a purple sentinel in the crimson labyrinth.
Soon, the rich scent of roasting meat filled the air. Sunny's mouth watered. When the first strip was done, he wasted no time biting into it, savoring the taste. This was the taste of survival. Of effort rewarded.
The three of them ate in silence.
Then Cassie spoke.
"I have a vision to tell you about."
All eyes turned to her. Her voice was quiet, yet it carried weight. The kind of weight that made the air feel heavy.
"I saw shadows… huge shadows." Her throat strained as she spoke, as though the words themselves were too much to bear.
"I don't know if it was night… or if everything had simply been devoured by darkness."
Sunny swallowed, his throat suddenly dry.
What kind of vision was this?
Nephis narrowed her eyes, her full attention now on Cassie.
"The shadows moved… they writhed." Cassie's voice was solemn. "There was a flood." She turned her head toward the labyrinth. Her body trembled, as though she was seeing it unfold all over again.
"The flood devoured everything."
Cassie flinched. Her voice grew heavier. One hand clutched her throat, as if forcing herself to keep speaking.
"Everything… except the angel, the shadow… and the ghost."
Sunny bit his lip. The angel, the shadow, the ghost. Nephis, himself, and Cassie.
The fact that she saw herself as a ghost was unsettling… but he didn't dwell on it. There were bigger things to decipher in her vision.
Far bigger things.
Just when Sunny thought it was over, Cassie spoke again.
"Then... the flood went away."
Her voice grew lighter, as if an immense weight had been lifted from her shoulders.
The flood… went away? Did her vision span the entire night? Or had it begun just before dawn in the first place?
Cassie shook her head, her expression twisting into something uneasy. The weight that had momentarily lifted from her seemed to settle back with even greater intensity.
"The shadow darkened." Her blind eyes turned toward him, as if staring directly into Sunny's soul. "The ghost grew grimmer." Then her face dropped, as if gazing at her own shadow. A heavy silence stretched before she finally spoke again.
"And then, the angel—"
A shriek cut through the air.
Sunny and Nephis immediately shot to their feet, weapons half-summoned as their eyes darted downward.
A massive horde of Centurions had gathered beneath their vantage point. Dozens—no, much more—stood in eerie silence, their monstrous forms shifting restlessly. It was as if they were waiting for something.
The weight of Cassie's vision still loomed over them, and now this new threat added yet another burden.
At least the Centurions weren't fixated on them. They had made no attempt to climb. For now, the three of them were safe. But that did nothing to make the situation feel any less grim.
"We can't fight that many Centurions," Sunny muttered, his expression dark. He turned back to Cassie. Beside him, Nephis stirred, just as tense.
"Keep going. Maybe there's something in your vision that explains this."
Cassie hesitated.
"Uh... where was I?"
"The part about the angel," Sunny reminded her with a sigh. He still hadn't pieced together the meaning of the vision, but whatever had happened to the angel… it felt crucial.
Nephis' gaze sharpened. Her fingers twitched, jaw tightening as she waited for Cassie to continue.
But what happened next was worse than anything Sunny could have imagined.
"Uh… I… I don't remember."
Cassie pressed her temples, her fingers trembling slightly as she tried to recall. Then, after a moment, her shoulders slumped in defeat.
"I-I'm sorry, I just—"
Another shriek tore through the air.
Below, the Centurions began to move.
They weren't attacking. They weren't even searching. They were marching in unison, shifting in eerie synchronization… as if following a commander.
But there was no commander. Nothing stood before them. No creature issued commands.
The Centurions were following empty air.
Sunny grimaced.
What the hell is happening?
First Cassie's vision, now this… Was there a connection? There had to be. But how?
His fists clenched as he turned back to the blind girl. "Cassie… what the hell was that vision?"
Cassie flinched at his sudden sharp tone.
"I… I don't know," she murmured, taking a small step back. "I-it just… vanished. Everything. There's nothing left to see anymore."
Sunny's grimace deepened. Her vision… vanished? As if she had forgotten everything? Or did it mean something else, something deeper?
His mind raced, running through every possibility, every explanation. He replayed Cassie's words over and over, searching for a clue—something, anything—that could explain the sudden appearance of the Centurions and their behavior.
Cold sweat beaded on his forehead. His breath quickened, then slowed, then quickened again. His heartbeat pounded in his ears. The sounds around him blurred together. His vision swam.
His body felt… unsteady. As if something foreign had taken hold of him.
A gentle hand touched his shoulder.
"Sunny, are you alright?"
He flinched. His body tensed—too much. His hand clenched into a fist, rising before he even realized it.
For a moment, it felt like he wasn't in control of himself.
His fist stopped inches away from Nephis' face.
Shock flickered through her eyes. And something else. A hint of wariness. Her hand had risen belatedly, almost as if she hadn't expected to need to defend herself.
A dull pain throbbed in his chest as Sunny forced himself to breathe.
"I'm sorry," he muttered, looking away. "I… don't know what came over me."
Nephis studied him for a moment, then shook her head.
"Cassie doesn't remember anymore. Let's work with what we already know."
Sunny swallowed and nodded. The weight of his own actions sat like a blade against his ribs.
"She saw huge shadows devour everything… it might just be a representation of nightfall."
Nephis exhaled. She didn't look convinced. And truthfully, neither was Sunny. But the alternative…
The alternative was far worse.
"Or…" Nephis murmured, her voice eerily quiet. "Something devoured the sun."
Sunny fell silent for a moment.
The sun of the Forgotten Shore was merely an artificial replica, yet it still possessed enough power to suppress the dreadful Dark Sea. If something truly had the ability to devour it, then they had no hope of facing it. The mere thought was terrifying. But Nephis, despite voicing the possibility, remained oddly calm. She didn't actually believe it. She wasn't even aware that the sun of the Forgotten Shore wasn't real.
Then there was the flood…
A piercing screech tore through the air, shattering the silence. All three of them tensed immediately.
The Centurions had come to a halt. Now, every single one of them was staring directly at the three sleepers, their crimson eyes gleaming with an eerie hunger. Like predators that had finally found their prey. Then, another sound rang out among them—a deafening, siren-like wail.
And the horde erupted into movement.
"W-we have to get out of here!"
Sunny wasted no time. He lifted Cassie effortlessly and settled her onto the Centurion Echo's left shoulder. Nephis leapt onto its right. As soon as Sunny landed on its back, gripping its head for support, he gave a single command.
"Run."
The Echo surged forward, tearing across the cliffside at a breakneck pace.
Behind them, dozens of scythes dug into the rock. One by one, the Centurions climbed over the edge, spilling onto the plateau like a relentless tide. The maddened swarm chased after them with terrifying fervor, their soulless gazes locked onto the three sleepers as if they had been waiting for this exact moment.
Then, as the Echo reached the far side of the cliff…
Another horde appeared, waiting for them.
As soon as the new swarm caught sight of them, they let out an ear-splitting screech and began climbing, desperate to intercept their escape.
Centurions behind them. Centurions ahead of them. Centurions closing in from both sides.
There was no way out.
Damnation.
Sunny clenched his jaw. Nephis' hand suddenly gripped his. He met her gaze, and in that single look, an unspoken understanding passed between them.
There was only one option left.
"Cassie, hold on tight," Sunny ordered, his voice grim. "No matter what happens, don't let go."
Cassie didn't hesitate. Her hands scrambled over the Echo's armor, searching for the thorn-like protrusion near its shoulder. When she found it, she wrapped her fingers around it with all her strength.
Then, without warning, the Echo lurched forward.
It leapt from the ledge.
The world tilted. Wind howled past them as they plummeted down the cliffside at a terrifying speed. Sunny's shadow stretched, wrapping around the Echo to enhance its power. Anything that stood in their way was crushed without mercy.
Cassie screamed, her knuckles turning white as she clung to the Echo for dear life. The chaotic descent sent violent jerks through her body, each one threatening to throw her off.
Then, the first Centurion appeared in their path.
The abomination raised its scythe, aiming to cleave through them in a single, deadly strike.
It never got the chance.
The Echo slammed into it mid-swing, sending the monstrosity hurtling backward. It crashed into the oncoming horde, toppling them like dominos. The impact carved open a brief gap in the swarm, just enough for them to slip through.
Another Centurion fell. Another opening was created.
Sunny and the Echo didn't aim to kill. They aimed to disrupt. Every movement was calculated—targeting weak points, knocking enemies into each other, forcing them into a chaotic tangle of limbs and shrieking rage.
Finally, the Echo landed.
A cloud of dust erupted around them as they crashed into the earth, surrounded by the broken bodies of fallen Centurions. They had survived the descent.
But their battle was far from over.
The horde still surrounded them on all sides. Dozens of Centurions filled the horizon, a nightmarish sea of claws and scythes.
Sunny met Nephis' gaze.
There was no fighting their way through this. Not against these numbers. Not here. But they could escape.
Sunny hoisted Cassie into his arms.
"Wha—?"
She barely had time to protest before he turned to Nephis.
"Step onto its scythe."
His voice carried quiet confidence. Urgency. Nephis hesitated for only a fraction of a second before nodding and stepping forward.
Then, the world flipped.
The Echo swung its arm with all its might, launching Nephis high above the battlefield.
A moment later, Sunny followed.
He clutched Cassie tightly, shielding her as they soared through the air. Then, with a heavy impact, they crashed onto the other side of the horde. Sunny landed first, absorbing the shock with his own body, ensuring Cassie remained unharmed.
Before the Centurions could react, Sunny dismissed the Echo.
"Run."
The words sent Nephis into motion. The horde of Centurions was already turning toward them, ready to give chase. She ran.
Sunny followed, Cassie secured on his back. They pushed forward with all they had, moving faster than any ordinary Sleeper. But it wasn't enough. The Centurions were faster. With each passing second, the distance between them shrank.
This won't do.
Nephis grimaced. She hadn't come all this way just to let it end like this. No. It wouldn't end now. She wouldn't allow it. And neither had Sunny given up. One glance at his face told her that much.
Suddenly, he halted, summoning his sword in a single, fluid motion. Nephis did the same, spinning around to face the horde.
Had he finally given up on running? Decided to stand and fight?
It made sense. They couldn't outrun the Centurions, so battle was the only option. But then—contrary to her expectations—Sunny moved again, this time toward her.
Before she could react, he secured Cassie on his back with one arm and grabbed her with the other, hoisting her onto his shoulder.
What...?
Before she could fully process what was happening, white sparks flared in the air. The Centurion Echo materialized once more. Sunny leapt, landing on its shoulder just as it surged forward, breaking into a full sprint.
Just in time.
The horde of Centurions lunged where they had stood moments before, missing by a hair's breadth.
Nephis found herself seated on the Echo's left shoulder, Cassie on its right. Sunny exhaled and turned toward them, relief evident in his posture.
"We should be safe now."
She twisted to glance behind them. The horde was falling away, their figures growing smaller with each step. Of course. Sunny's Echo was augmented by his shadow, making it twice as strong, twice as fast. No ordinary Centurion could hope to match it.
But something else made her restless.
She had just now realized what had happened. A subtle warmth crept up her face as she recalled being slung over his shoulder like a sack of grain. She shoved the thought aside and refocused on the retreating horde, watching as they vanished into the distance. A quiet sigh of relief escaped her lips.
"That... was close."
Sunny grinned. "Were you afraid?"
Nephis chuckled softly. "I was afraid you would be left behind."
As the words left her mouth, a faint ache bloomed in her chest. Why?
She had changed over the past weeks, in ways she didn't fully understand. She had felt emotions that made no sense, joy that shouldn't be, and pain she had never known. And for some reason, all of it seemed to revolve around one person.
A sudden pressure on her shoulder made her flinch. Sunny had rested his arm against her, his face a bit too close. He leaned in slightly, his gaze unreadable, his proximity almost disorienting.
Her mind went blank.
She opened her mouth, intending to say something—anything—but then he spoke first. His voice was quieter this time. "Would you mind healing me? I kinda landed on a sharp rock and broke a couple ribs."
Nephis blinked, then let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.
Of course. That was why he was leaning toward her—because it hurt to stay upright on the jolting Echo.
What the hell was I even thinking?
Steadying herself, she extended her hand. A familiar, searing pain coursed through her body as she channeled her Aspect, but she endured it, refusing to let the strain show. She was used to it by now.
The tension in Sunny's shoulders eased almost immediately, a relieved smile tugging at his lips. "I feel a lot better now," he murmured, gratitude lacing his tone.
There was something in his voice—something subtle, something warm. As if he knew what healing him cost her. Even though she had never told him.
A small, quiet smile found its way to her lips.
Meeting Sunny had not only made her stronger, but it had changed her in other ways. Ways she still struggled to understand. Someday, she would unravel it all. Someday, when she would finally be free from the burden of her dream.
If he was still with her then.
And she hoped he would be.
The world would be just a little bit lonelier without him.
Just then, Sunny's face darkened. His breath caught in his throat, and his eyes widened in raw disbelief. Noticing his reaction, Nephis frowned and turned to follow his gaze—only for her own expression to mirror his.
Behind them, the horde of Centurions had split apart, parting like a tide before an unseen force. As if making way for something… or someone.
From the heart of the passage, a towering figure emerged—a monstrosity as large as a house. Its form bore similarities to the scavengers and centurions, but where they were covered in chitin, this creature's shell gleamed with dark metal. It moved on eight segmented legs, its approach a terrifying blend of fluid grace and sheer power. Four arms extended from its grotesque body—two ended in massive, crushing pincers, while the other two bore scythes that glistened like polished obsidian.
And then there was its face—almost human, yet utterly monstrous. Its bloodthirsty eyes locked onto them.
"A… a demon."
The words barely left Nephis's lips before the nightmare surged forward. It moved with terrifying speed—far faster than anything they had ever faced before.
"Faster!"
Sunny's voice cracked with urgency. The Echo beneath them exploded into motion, tearing through rock and debris alike, its monstrous limbs hammering against the ground. But no matter how fast it ran, the abomination was gaining.
Sunny's hand clenched, and a memory materialized in his grasp—a jagged sword with serrated edges, Mandiblade. Without hesitation, he hurled it at the pursuing monstrosity. The blade spun through the air, cutting through the distance in a deadly arc—
Only to be caught mid-flight by the demon's pincer. With a sickening crunch, the weapon was snapped in two like brittle bone.
The demon loomed closer, its glowing eyes burning with a murderous gleam. Something about it was wrong—more than just its overwhelming power. The Centurions surrounding it weren't just running alongside it. They were following it, as though bound by some unseen will.
Nephis's mind raced. Demons weren't capable of commanding others. A nightmare creature had to be at least a Tyrant to wield such control, and even then, only over creatures of a lower rank. Yet the Centurions obeyed this thing as if it were their master. And the way it moved—calculating, precise, avoiding obstacles with eerie intelligence—
It was as if something else was controlling it.
Her sharp gaze scanned its body, searching for an answer, and then—she saw it.
"Sunny, look at that."
Etched into the corner of the demon's face was a symbol. A complex design of interwoven circles and squares, carved deep into the metal surface. It wasn't natural. No, it was the work of something… external. Something sinister. But there was something off about it. The pattern wasn't whole. It was incomplete, as if half of it had been severed from the original design.
"If we destroy that mark… we might be able to stop it," Sunny muttered, summoning another weapon. This time, a sword of gleaming blue steel radiated a soft glow.
Nephis nodded, gripping her own blade. If they worked together, if they struck with everything they had, maybe—just maybe—they could turn this fight in their favor.
The demon drew closer, seconds away from reaching them.
Then—the ground shook.
A violent tremor shook the earth. Distant coral formations shattered. And from the wreckage, something massive burst forth—a second demon, identical to the first.
It stood barely a hundred meters ahead, positioned directly in their path. And there, carved into the side of its monstrous face, was the other half of the symbol.
Nephis's heart clenched. Sunny's expression turned grim.
If it had been just one demon, they might have stood a chance. They could have shattered its mark, found a way to cripple it.
But two?
And worse—they were coordinated. Intelligent. As if waiting for this exact moment to ambush them.
There was no way out. This wasn't a battle they could win. This was a death sentence.
Nephis looked at Sunny, waiting for him to say something. Somehow, he always had a plan—some clever escape, some impossible maneuver that would pull them from the jaws of death. Just like when they had been surrounded by the Centurions or when he had been dragged into the depths of the dark sea. No matter how dire the circumstances, he always found a way.
After long, agonizing seconds, he finally opened his mouth.
"There is a way..."
The moment the words left his lips, a flicker of hope ignited in her chest. A small, relieved smile found its way onto her face.
"If you follow exactly what I tell you, we can resolve this."
Nephis nodded. "Tell me what to do."
She watched him closely, quiet appreciation flickering in her gaze. Sunny had long since surpassed every expectation she had ever held for him. Even now, he continued to surprise her. At this point, she trusted him with her life. And yet… he refused to meet her eyes.
Without another word, he lifted Cassie into his arms and handed her over to Nephis.
"Stand on the scythe."
Nephis obeyed without hesitation. She didn't need to ask why he had given Cassie to her—she already understood. Sunny was vulnerable to the fall, and unlike him, he couldn't heal himself.
She took one last look at him as she stepped onto the scythe.
"As soon as you land, run. Don't look back, no matter what happens."
His voice carried an authority that allowed no argument. It was a command, absolute and final. And it shook her. He spoke as if… as if he were saying goodbye.
Her hands trembled. A terrible realization struck her like a dagger to the heart.
"Sunny, are you—"
He cut her off with a smile. "Look after Cassie. I'll apologize when we meet again."
Before she could respond, the world turned upside down. The rush of air swallowed her scream as she plummeted toward the ground, instinctively twisting her body to cushion Cassie upon impact. She hit the hard surface, the shock of it reverberating through her bones. Pain flared, but she pushed it aside, already reaching for her Aspect. A rush of white flames stitched her wounds close in an instant.
She staggered to her feet and looked behind her—
Sunny wasn't following.
He stood alone, facing the two demons with nothing but his Echo at his side.
Her heart clenched painfully. A sickening dread twisted in her gut. She understood his decision. If he had fled with them, the demons would have simply chased them down, and none of them would have escaped. But even knowing this, her feet refused to move, as if bound by invisible chains.
"Nephis, we have to run!"
Cassie's urgent voice snapped her back to reality. Nephis nodded, her jaw tightening. Cassie was right. Staying here—running back—would be a betrayal of the chance Sunny had given them. A taint upon his sacrifice.
With renewed determination, she hoisted the blind girl into her arms and ran. She didn't look back. Not when the piercing sound of chitin reverberated behind her. Not when a raw, human scream sliced through the air. Not when the unmistakable sounds of flesh tearing and bones breaking echoed into the abyss.
She left it all behind.
Her vision blurred. A heavy, suffocating weight pressed down on her chest, but she didn't stop. She ran. And ran. And ran.
By the time dusk bled into the sky, her legs could carry her no further.
She collapsed beside a jagged rock, gently lowering Cassie onto the ground. Her breath came in ragged gasps. For the first time since leaving, she turned to look back.
The path was empty. Silent. The corals stretched endlessly, their eerie glow tainted with destruction. The wind howled through the labyrinth, whispering solemn reminders of what she had left behind.
She and Cassie were alive. But at what cost?
Her knees buckled. She sank to the ground beside the rock, utterly spent. Neither of them spoke. A long silence settled between them, thick with unspoken grief.
Then, warmth enveloped her. Cassie's arms wrapped around her, pulling her into a firm embrace. A gentle hand patted her back, and in a quiet, knowing voice, she spoke:
"You should let it out. Holding back the tears is more painful."
Nephis flinched. Her breath hitched. She stared at Cassie, blank and disoriented.
Then, slowly, a silent sob escaped her lips. A single tear fell, landing against the tainted coral. The moment it touched the twisted surface, it bloomed into red, as if the very world wept alongside her.
Her arms tightened around Cassie. The weight in her chest, the suffocating ache—fear, guilt, sorrow—it all spilled forth in a flood of soundless cries. She had left Sunny behind. She had abandoned him to face the impossible alone. And now she feared—deep in her very bones—that she would never see him again.
The tears fell freely, painting the coral with the color of her grief. Her mask shattered, her composure lost. For the first time in a long, long while, she allowed herself to break. She was completely lost in her emotions. That was why she didn't notice the twisted smile that crept onto the lips of the girl holding her tightly.
...
After what felt like an eternity, Nephis finally calmed down. They had to move. The sun would be down in an hour. They had to reach the high point before that.
She gently let go of Cassie and rose to her feet.
"We have to move," she said, summoning the golden rope to secure the blind girl on her back. Cassie nodded and took a step toward her.
Then, the world fell silent.
An eerie stillness stretched across the labyrinth. The whispering wind died, the distant echoes of shifting coral ceased. For a long, dreadful moment, they seemed to be the only dwellers of this accursed world.
A sudden uneasiness gripped Nephis's chest. She summoned her sword, scanning the surroundings for movement. But nothing stirred. Not a twig. Not a leaf. It was as if time itself had frozen. Yet, the slow descent of the sun betrayed that to be false.
Then, a single sound appeared. Footsteps. Subtle at first, then more pronounced. With each step, the shadows around them seemed to deepen.
"Cassie, stay behind me," she ordered, stepping in front of the girl, blade raised. Whatever was coming, she had to face it. But as the figure finally emerged, her eyes widened. The grip on her sword loosened, and the weapon fell onto the tainted coral.
Black hair. Pale skin. And more importantly, his familiar, beloved face.
Right before her stood Sunny, alive and well, despite the large, gaping hole in his chest—as if it had been torn open by monstrous scythes.
"Nephis... how are you?"
His voice was solemn, yet warm. Caring. As if he were the same Sunny she had known all this time.
"Sunny... you're alive?"
Her voice came out soft, barely above a whisper. Her heart pounded faster. Her breath quickened. Her eyes blinked repeatedly, as if struggling to believe the sight before her. She had thought she had lost him forever. Yet here he stood, defying all reason, denying death itself.
She took a step forward. Then another. And another. Until she stood right before him.
She stared into his gleaming eyes, searching for something—an answer, an explanation. Her hand lifted, as if to embrace him.
Then, she summoned her sword and slashed at his neck.
A flicker of surprise crossed his face before he raised a single hand and shattered her weapon effortlessly.
[Your Memory is destroyed.]
The familiar voice of the Spell echoed in her mind, but she barely noticed. The thing before her was smiling.
"How did you know?"
The voice had changed. Heavier now, vast, incomprehensible.
Nephis stepped back.
"Sunny would have apologized first."
The creature laughed—a deep, defeaning sound that made her stomach churn. "That pathetic wretch couldn't even survive two months."
The world shuddered. A suffocating aura engulfed the surroundings. The shadows darkened further, as if bowing to the being before her. Her own shadow wavered, trembling. For a moment, she feared it might abandon her.
But nothing happened.
She steeled herself, summoning another weapon.
Whatever this creature was, it was beyond anything she had ever faced. She knew it. She could feel it. The air itself felt heavier in its presence, pressing down on her like an invisible weight. She was like a bug standing before a giant, a mere insect in the presence of an almighty ruler.
And yet, she refused to run. She would face it. Even if it meant death. Because dying here was easier than running away.
Until a frightened voice shook her from her thoughts.
"Nephis... is Sunny back?"
She flinched.
Cassie.
Sunny's last words came rushing back to her.
Look after Cassie.
She couldn't die. Not yet. Not while she still had his last wish to fulfil, she had something to protect.
She didn't know if she could outrun this thing. But if she didn't even try, she would never forgive herself even in death.
With a burst of motion, she lunged toward Cassie, grabbing her in one swift movement before sprinting toward the high point ahead. The sun was setting. If they reached the peak in time, there was a chance—just a chance—that the creature wouldn't follow in time. That the dark sea would claim it. That the abominations of the sea will take care of it for her.
It was a fragile hope, but it was all she had.
She ran faster.
Yet, the creature did not follow.
She reached the bottom of the high point, breathing hard. She set Cassie against a rock and hastily secured the rope, preparing for the climb.
Then, another sound broke the silence.
The sound of scythes cleaving through coral.
Before she could fully register what was happening, a colossal abomination lunged toward her. Nephis's expression twisted into an angry snarl. It was the same Carapace Demon that had killed Sunny. Stains of blood and torn fabric still clung to its damned scythe.
With a single, forceful motion, she flung Cassie aside and intercepted the creature's strike with her sword.
There was no time to climb anymore. No time to run. She had to fight here, now. And for some reason, she welcomed it. At least she had the chance to exact revenge on the abomination that had stolen the most precious thing from her.
With a precise flick of her blade, she deflected its scythe. She twisted away just in time to avoid the deadly snap of its pincers. The beast lunged again, all four limbs attacking in a ruthless barrage. Her mastery over her sword had grown tremendously in the past few days—she was stronger, faster, more refined. But even now, it wasn't enough. Not against an Awakened Demon.
In the end, she was sent flying, her body crashing mercilessly against the jagged red coral. Blood painted the rocks beneath her as a cold numbness spread through her body. Her left hand was gone. Deep gashes marred her flesh, and pain flared through her body like wildfire. But she would live. Her Aspect made sure of that. No matter how close she came to death, as long as she breathed, she would survive.
The problem was Cassie.
The blind girl lay huddled against the rocks, trembling, helpless. The Demon's massive pincers clicked ominously as it turned toward her.
White-hot flames surged through Nephis's body, knitting flesh and bone back together. But it wasn't fast enough. She could heal, but not in time to stop what was about to happen.
"Cassie... run..." Her voice barely escaped her lips, hoarse and broken.
Cassie tried. She clawed at the ground, scraping her hands against stone and coral, desperately pulling herself forward. But she couldn't stand, couldn't move fast enough. The heavy, monstrous steps of the Demon grew louder. Its shadow loomed over her.
Then came the scream.
The Demon's pincers snapped shut around her frail form, hoisting her into the air. Any second now, it would crush her. Tear her apart. Kill her.
Just like it had killed Sunny.
Nephis shut her eyes.
She had nothing left to give. No strength. No will. This was it. The end of everything.
A sickening snap echoed through the air.
But it wasn't the sound of fragile human bones breaking.
Instead, it was the crack of shattered armor. The groan of metal being ripped apart.
Nephis's eyes flew open. The Carapace Demon lay collapsed at her feet. Intact, except for one crucial detail.
It was missing its head.
"Pathetic."
The voice was quiet, almost melodic, yet disturbingly hollow. Nephis turned slowly, her breath caught in her throat.
Cassie stood beside the fallen Demon, holding its severed head in her hands as if it were nothing more than a trinket. There was no fear in her expression. No relief. Just a blank, empty gaze. Something ancient stared back through her milky-white eyes—something that didn't belong to this world. The very air around her felt wrong, thick with an unfamiliar presence. Even her voice, despite its sweetness, carried the depth of an unseen abyss.
Nephis forced herself to stand, gripping her sword tightly. The tremor in her hands was slight. Almost imperceptible.
"Who are you?" she demanded, her voice steady despite the ice creeping into her veins.
The girl tilted her head. Then, in the same distant, empty tone, she whispered:
"A failure. It was all a failure."
She took a step forward. A strange, heavy aura pressed against Nephis like a physical force, like something unseen was reaching toward her, testing her resolve.
Nephis exhaled slowly, fire settling in her heart. If this was the moment she died, she would make it count.
With all her might, she lunged forward, sword aimed for the creature's throat.
But just before her blade could find its mark—
Cassie vanished.
Nephis's breath hitched. "What—?"
Then, the world darkened.
Shadows stretched, deepened, swallowing the very light itself.
And the sun disappeared from the sky.
The world was drowning in darkness, an abyss so deep it seemed to devour reality itself. A distant rumbling stirred Nephis from the haze of her mind.
The dark sea was returning.
In mere minutes, the entire labyrinth would be swallowed. Whatever those creatures were—the ones that had taken over Sunny and Cassie—no longer mattered. None of it did. Her time was almost up.
A strange sense of relief washed over her.
And then, a familiar voice cut through the void.
"So... you never answered me. How are you?"
Nephis' body tensed. Instinct took over, and she jumped back, raising her fists. Her sword was long gone, shattered in the battle with the Carapace Demon. But she didn't need a weapon to recognize the presence before her.
It wore Sunny's face, but she knew better.
There were Nightmare Creatures capable of possessing humans, mimicking their mannerisms with terrifying precision. And if this one could speak so well, that meant its intelligence was at least that of a Tyrant.
Perhaps... even worse.
A Terror.
She forced her breathing to steady. She couldn't kill this thing. She knew that. But she didn't have to. She just had to stall until the dark sea came.
If it wanted to talk, she would gladly let it. If it meant she would get a chance to trap it, she would do so happily.
"Not great, considering you stole my friend."
The creature cocked its head. Its gaze was abyssal, filled with something ancient and unfathomable. A weight pressed down on her, a silent promise of destruction. Looking into its eyes felt like staring into death itself.
"That wretch couldn't protect you anyway," it said, voice rich with disdain. "He was weak. Pathetic."
Nephis smiled, though there was no warmth in it.
"And you are saying you can?"
The creature laughed, a sound like a whisper of the void.
"Of course! I will keep you safe. Come here."
It extended a hand, as if inviting her into its embrace.
Nephis' skin crawled.
"What makes you think I'd ever believe you?"
The thing wearing Sunny's face smirked. "What else does one do for the person they love?"
A chill slithered down her spine.
"I love you far more than anyone else in the world. I have longed for you," the creature murmured, its voice low and reverent, dark and devastating. "For centuries. For millennia."
Nephis scoffed. This creature was mad. But maybe she could make use of it.
She lifted her chin, pointing toward the sky, and then toward the encroaching sea. "Then prove it. Protect me from the dark sea. I'm right here."
She planted her feet, unwavering.
If this creature was truly as deranged as it seemed, then let it throw itself against the tide. Let it die screaming.
That would be her revenge.
The creature simply smiled, its eyes gleaming with a strange, unsettling darkness. A shiver of unease ran down Nephis' spine. The next moment, the dark sea surged forward, rushing toward them like an unstoppable flood. Towering waves devoured everything in their path, drowning the world within their black embrace.
The moment of truth had come. Would the creature stand and face the abyssal horrors of the dark sea? Or would it finally turn on her, snuffing out her life before escaping? Either way, she had played her final hand. What happened next was beyond her control.
But to her shock, neither of those things happened.
The creature remained motionless, smiling, utterly unbothered. The flood of darkness bore down upon them, and then... it parted.
Instead of dragging them into the depths, the waves shifted course, breaking around them as though repelled by an unseen force. It was as if an invisible barrier had formed, keeping the abyss at bay. But Nephis knew better.
This was not some trick, not some simple ability that created walls out of thin air.
No. That wasn't it at all.
The dark sea was trembling.
The very waters of that endless, consuming sea quivered, restless and fearful, like a cornered prey shuddering before an apex predator.
It was afraid.
Terrified of the existence standing before her.
The creature slowly turned toward the sea. Its gaze flickered with something unreadable, and then, its expression turned cold.
"Be gone."
The words were barely above a whisper.
But the effect was instant.
The dark sea convulsed, then recoiled as if struck by an unimaginable force. The waves shrank back, retreating in chaotic desperation. Within moments, the abyss had vanished entirely, slithering back into whatever pit it had spawned from. Silence reigned.
Nephis stood frozen, staring at the desolate labyrinth that had reemerged beneath the starless sky. Not even a single drop of water remained. The dark sea, the same tide that had swallowed the world every night, had fled.
The weight of that realization pressed down on her like an unbearable burden.
She had long suspected that the dark sea was not merely a force of nature but a living entity—an unfathomable nightmare creature, a titan. This moment confirmed it. And yet, that was not the most horrifying part.
It housed countless abominations of corrupted rank and lower, meaning it was at least a Great nightmare creature.
A great titan—an existence whose presence alone was enough to declare an entire region a 'death zone,' a creature so fearsome that even Saints could not hope to stand against it—had cowered and fled in the presence of the being standing before her.
Her breath turned shallow. Her mind reeled.
What was she looking at? What manner of being was this?
A searing pain shot through her skull. The world tilted. Her body convulsed as if something deep within her very soul was unraveling. Instinctively, she called upon her Aspect, willing the white flames to mend her wounds—but they did nothing. Her body rejected the healing, and the pain only grew.
"Ah... looks like your time is up," the creature murmured, almost wistfully. "A mere dormant soul can only survive around me for so long... even when I try my best to hold back."
Nephis staggered, her vision flickering. Her senses dulled. Her limbs refused to obey her. Blood dripped from her lips, and then—
Darkness.
Just barely, through the void, she heard another voice.
"What will you do now?"
It was the same voice that had spoken through Cassie.
For a moment, silence hung in the air. Then, the creature answered.
"What else? Destroy the world, hunt that pesky spider, and start everything all over again. But first of all, I'll obliterate that damn sea for trying to touch her."
But the words barely registered. Nothing did. Thought, sound, sensation—everything faded.
The only thing she knew before the last spark of life was extinguished, was that she had failed.
She had failed to protect her friends.
She had failed to save the one she cared for the most.
The first person she had fallen in love with.
Love.
That was it.
That was the answer.
All this time, the feelings that had stirred inside her, the strange pull, the longing she couldn't name—it had always been love.
And now, on the edge of oblivion, she finally understood.
Her only regret was not realizing it in time. Perhaps she would have made it worth something.
Author's note: Happy April fool's day 🫠
You may or may not consider this chapter as canon since the lore is canon, but the event is not. The fic will continue as normal from the next chapter, continuing the story from the previous chapter :)
And there's something yall can do to raise my motivation if you liked this chapter. Let's keep a goal for the next chapter- 18 reviews (13 at present so only 5 more) or 30 comments regarding something in the chapter (ttfc and peak not counting :)) Thx a lot for reading.