No. Halo was wrong. Theron wasn't a fool.
The weapon in Theron's grip was unnaturally sharp and pristine. Perilously so, if driven with significant force, shards of the wood might splinter off and puncture flesh, creating painful injuries.
But he decided to tempt fate anyway. His hand came down softly on the Toddler's back, though the creature showed no awareness of his touch.
It kept performing its ritualistic action, its dark tongue methodically licking the dark soil.
Halo remained perfectly still, his gaze following Theron's every motion with fearful intensity. Despite his terror, he could see the logic behind the jackass's reckless actions.
Toddler Sinners were, as their name suggested, children. Since Theron had already tested its danger level and realized it was nearly deaf, his current actions wouldn't be considered threatening.
In fact, it was practically nothing more than a leaf brushing against its giant body.
Perhaps, Theron was brave.
Theron grinned widely, taking steady steps between the Toddler's razor-sharp legs. Halo could tell his movements were calculated, but upon closer examination, Theron was being reckless at the same time.
It was as though he didn't want the creature to overthink his presence. Too much caution would disrupt the delicate balance.
However, Halo gulped and took a few steps back. He couldn't pinpoint what was wrong, but he knew it was the smart thing to do.
The moment Theron neared the Toddler's throat, he paused, his fingers lightly touching its neck. Theron's expression shifted into a focused grimace, and without hesitation, he drove the stick forward into its throat.
Halo's skin crawled as he assumed his stance to flee, and Theron mimicked a similar motion.
But something was wrong.
Halo scowled, watching the Toddler in bewilderment. The stick had pierced through its flesh, deep enough for the weapon to disappear completely into its neck.
But… no blood. No scream. Nothing.
"What the heck is this?" Theron muttered, taking steady backward steps.
Halo was caught in the same dilemma, but before he could form any assumptions, something unpleasant caught his eye.
His heartbeat quickened.
The damage was starting to take effect. The wound began leaking blood as the creature instinctively kicked its legs, and its heavy breathing from earlier began to slow.
But Halo wasn't scared this time. He needed to capitalize this.
The creature was having a delayed reaction to the damage due to its oblivious nature and thick skin. Halo knew this, and if this was the case, it was only a matter of time before the creature fully reacted.
Being vigilant, he put a reasonable distance between himself and Theron and picked up a rock.
Roar!
In an instant, his body trembled in panic following a blunt and soulless roar.
His head snapped toward the creature to see it on its feet, one of its front legs pawing the ground like a bull, its neck covered in crimson as blood streaked down its white fur. It breathed furiously.
Halo swallowed hard and, just as he'd anticipated, spotted Theron attempting to flee.
With an irritated snarl, he gripped the rock tighter and launched it toward the escaping figure.
The moment the rock bounced off the ground, the Toddler's head snapped in its direction.
"No, no… what the fuck?! No!"
Halo observed with an impassive expression as life drained from Theron's body. The creature charged toward him, its razor-sharp features aimed directly at Theron's prone form.
Yet Halo remained unmoved, watching without the slightest emotional response despite Theron's anguished screams.
What would really happen? Were Toddlers truly harmless? He could think of nothing else but the possible answers.
The creature impaled Theron with its reindeer-like antlers, hurling him violently into the dark ground.
Without pausing, the Toddler Sinner raced toward his fallen form, its metallic legs aimed directly at his skull.
This time Halo felt something. He clenched his fist. The jackass could die.
However, the next moment he knew, the towering creature was bouncing off the ground, its massive head slit cleanly as it hovered above.
Halo's mouth was parted, icy chills coursing through his body. His mind struggled to process the event.
"Haa…"
A lazy tone caught his attention as he turned in Theron's direction. Beside him was Clever, massaging his forehead with a disinterested look.
"So it's true sin was oblivious…" he let out a sigh.
Halo swallowed hard. "What?! How?!"
Clever ignored his question and crouched beside Theron, who seemed to have passed out. He checked his pulse and then carried him in his arms.
"Let's go," Clever said and began walking away.
Halo was left stunned. Countless questions flooded his mind. When did Clever get there? How exactly did he finish the creature with one strike?
Theron didn't die, and though Halo had put him in that situation, he was glad he was alive. But still, was everyone that strong in this world?
Before he knew it, Clever was almost out of sight, and without wasting time, he buried his confusion and started to follow.
***
When they finally arrived at the giant white mushroom, where everyone initially went their separate ways, Seraph was there, clutching her chest with an agonizing look as Caster gently pressed his hand against her remaining palm.
Suddenly, she appeared to recover. Liam and Aelia, along with many others, stood behind her.
Halo made a quick walk and stood behind the crowd, his hands tucked into his pockets as Clever rested Theron against the mushroom.
"What was that? That feeling?" Seraph asked, terrified.
Caster and Clever exchanged glances. "Let's wait for the others."
Seraphim obviously wasn't pleased but didn't press the matter.
Halo, however, remained behind, his eyes darting on the floor as he tried to picture the number of kills Clever had to make to be that strong. Such a thick-layered neck, slit in one swing. Impressive.
Still, he found himself pondering his actions instead, in no time. For a brief moment, he was willing to sacrifice Theron to learn more about this world. Was he already becoming like them? Or has he always been like this? Cursed?
His mind couldn't drift further before the rest returned. A few of them bore a similar reaction to how Seraph acted earlier, and using the same procedure; resting their palm into theirs, Clever and Caster took away those sensations.
This made Halo wonder: was this the feeling Caster warned them about?
"You asked about the unusual sensation," Caster said and gestured toward Seraph.
Seraphim nodded.
"That's what we call Sin Shard."
The crowd grew silent, listening attentively.
"Any Sinner at Beast rank or higher has a Sin Shard. As for Toddlers and Perverted ones, it's rare… unless they're the offspring of two strong Sinners, or worse, a human corrupted into one."
Halo frowned following Caster's words. This was what Kinney meant. Those who refused to fulfill a purpose and those who left wishes unchosen were turned into sinners.
But didn't that mean Toddler and Perverted Sinners weren't calm at all?
"What exactly is Sin Shard?"
Caster let out a tired sigh. "Each person has an Only Sin and a True Sin."
He paused for a moment. "An Only Sin is the chain to your god. If the God of Despair binds you, then despair is all you are."
He stretched his body lazily. "Your True Sin is the weight that rules you, the flaw that defines you. For me, it's sloth… and so, despair is the only god I can serve."
"But."
"A person's True Sin might be sloth, yet they could still serve the God of Lust. Your True Sin shapes your very nature, while your Only Sin is the crime born from that nature."
Halo understood this perfectly; Aeliana had already explained that to him. But now, it even made perfect sense.
Their Only Sins were the damage their True Sins caused their loved ones and even themselves.
"So the Toddler was truly oblivious. Just like what Clever said."
He shrugged his shoulders, but then his expression shifted.
Did this mean that when they killed something, or someone, and claimed a Sin Shard, they were actually taking a fragment of the fallen's True Sin?
"No matter how many you slay, the sins you take from the fallen will never outweigh the shadow of your True Sin. It grows daily, swallowing you whole."
Halo gulped. This was indeed hell.
"However, there's more to Sin Shards." Caster let out a sigh as his shoulders dropped.
"I am exhausted. Let's continue this another time." The crowd stared at him in confusion as he walked away with Clever, who had Theron resting on his shoulder.
Halo reached for his brow and massaged it.
Refusing a purpose and a wish would turn them into Sinners: creatures bound to be slain. And killing them would give them a piece of their True Sins?
The gods indeed wanted to destroy their very souls.