Sitting on the cold stone floor, Asher finally felt the crushing weight of hundreds lift from his mind. His chest rose and fell raggedly as he shut his eyes, drawing in a trembling breath.
"Asher?" a voice came from behind.
His heart lurched like a war drum. Before he knew it, his body moved on its own—he spun around, arms outstretched, breath breaking in uneven gasps. When he caught the petite figure in his arms, he nearly collapsed from relief.
Aiko buried herself against him, her fingers clawing at his shirt.
"Asher…" she whispered, voice breaking, "…thank the Spell."
Holding her tight, he looked up and saw Stev standing a step away, smiling faintly through blood and exhaustion.
"Pig bastard… you actually made it." His voice cracked as he pulled them both into a rough embrace.
For a fleeting moment, Asher just held them. His body shook, but not from battle this time—from the overwhelming knowledge that they were here, alive.
Across the hall, Kido clung tightly to Gemma, neither willing to let go. The sight brought a fragile smile to Asher's lips. 'They're safe… we're all safe…'
Around 550 sleepers survived the onslaught. A few, despite Asher's attempts, had perished in the sun but most of them had made it.
He lingered in their embrace a little longer, until the tremors in his body eased and his complexion regained some color. Then, reluctantly, he pulled back.
Looking Aiko in the eye, he spoke softly, "I still have work to do."
Her lips trembled, but she only nodded. She knew she couldn't stop him.
Asher rose, shoulders heavy but gaze steady, and walked toward the main cohort.
Changing Star was peering into the growing brightness that drowned the Forgotten Shore. By now, the light of day outside was almost blinding. On her face, there was a strangely thoughtful expression.
As Sunny watched, she turned around and raised her head, looking in the direction of the Spire's tip. Eventually, Asher walked over to them, a small smile playing on his face. No one said or commented anything. Effie was unconscious, with Kai and caster holding her on either side.
Nephis assessed the situation, before her voice bellowed.
"It's time to go. Gather your strength. We are almost there!"
The Sleepers looked at her with tired eyes, the light of hope igniting in them with renewed strength. Slowly, they rose to their feet. Those who were relatively fine supported those who were seriously wounded. Those who had lost consciousness were being carried by their friends or fellow warriors.
Soon, the procession of humans headed deeper into the Spire. Nephis was walking at the front, holding Cassie by the hand. Asher and Sunny were next to them as well.
Glancing at Sunny and Asher, Nephis hesitated for a while, and then said:
"Thank you... for everything."
He looked at her for a long time, and then shrugged.
"There's no need to thank me. We are allies. Are we not?"
Asher nodded in suit.
She smiled slightly and remained silent after that.
Soon, they passed through the barrier of coral and approached the center of the Spire.
…However, as soon as they stepped forward, Neph suddenly pulled him back and shouted:
"Everyone, back!"
Just a moment later, a wide ray of blinding light fell from somewhere above and swiped across the interior of the Crimson Spire, annihilating the tranquil darkness.
It didn't take a genius to realize that the ray was imbued with the same soul-destroying property as the deadly beams of sunlight outside… only this one seemed much more powerful.
It was also different. Although its movements were erratic and strange, they were unmistakably aimed at the exhausted mass of human invaders and full of intent.
"Hide in the shadows!"
Swiftly, the Sleepers dove behind growths of coral and pressed themselves against them. Asher pushed any who were to close with Gravity, binding them to the walls.
The cohort found itself leaning against a slightly inclined pillar of coral. Carefully looking out, he saw the deadly beam of light grow dim and dissipate. A moment later, however, several more fell from above, tearing the darkness apart.
But that was not all.
Guided by the light, a mass of coral golems suddenly surged forward, moving toward the place where the Dreamer Army was hiding. Their movements, which were aimless and mindless before, were now full of malevolent will.
Turning to Nephis, Sunny summoned the Midnight Shard and asked:
"What now?"
She lingered for a bit, and then said evenly:
"Someone will have to attack the Crimson Terror directly to draw its attention away."
Sunny smiled, feeling a strong sense of deja vu.
"And who might that be?"
Changing Star sighed, summoning her silver blade. She took a step forward—
—but Asher stepped in front of her. His trench coat stirred in the wind as the Cicada's Cry ignited in his grip, eyes sharp as flint.
"I'll do it."
Nephis froze mid-stride. Sunny's expression darkened.
"Are you crazy? That's a Fallen Terror we're talking about! Did this woman corrupt you?!"
Nephis's steel-grey gaze locked on Asher. "I refuse."
His eyes wavered—just for a heartbeat—but his voice didn't falter.
"Why? Do you think I'm weak, Neph? Or is it because you expect me to tuck my tail and run away?"
Her jaw tightened. "…It's not that."
"Then what?" His voice cracked, anger bleeding into desperation. "Because you're obliged? Because you're the daughter of the great Immortal Flame? That's bullsh—"
"Shut the fuck up, Asher."
The words cut like a blade. They weren't Nephis's. Not Sunny's either.
They all turned.
Aiko stood trembling, eyes burning with fury, her small fists clenched.
"Could you shut the fuck up for ONE second?!" Her voice broke the air like a thunderclap. All around, Sleepers turned to stare.
"Why the fuck are you so hell-bent on doing everything yourself?!" Her voice wavered but didn't break. "You think you're some noble hero?!"
Asher bit his lip hard, face twisting into a heavy frown.
Aiko thrust her hand toward Nephis and Sunny. "Are you blind? Are you so damn stubborn you can't see that they care about yo—?!"
"I understand, damnit!" Asher's voice roared back. He walked into the sunlight, slamming his Dao into the ground, shoulders shaking as he spread his arms.
"I'm practically the only one who can do this!"
He turned to Nephis, "I said I have a high-resistance to soul attacks didn't I? Well that was a lie! I am immune to it!"
He turned to Aiko, "You called me a noble hero? Well, I ran away from problems more than I have faced them my entire life!"
He turned to Sunny, "Don't even call me crazy! All I have to do is distract it till all you lot get out of here! I can fucking fly for spell's sake!"
His gaze scanned through all of them.
"I'm not sacrificing any of you. Not here. Not now. We're all going through. And when we do…" a broken smile tugged at his lips, "…we're going to have a damn ice cream party."
Finally, his eyes softened as they fell on Nephis alone. "…I can do it."
Her teeth ground together. She looked at the five hundred frightened survivors, then back at him. Her blade trembled once in her hand before she turned and shouted:
"Follow me!"
Asher let out a small, tired smile. Behind him, Stev caught Aiko, holding her back as she tried to lunge forward, tears burning her cheeks.
Sunny lingered, his expression heavy, then spat the word under his breath.
"…Damnation."
Asher raised his head. The sunlight blazed in his eyes like fire, his reflection swallowed in its brilliance. Bending his knees, he launched himself skyward, the Cicada's Cry gleaming in his hands.
He wasn't going to die here. He wasn't going to let them die here.
He just had to keep the Terror busy.
"I can do it…"