Hidden behind a tree, swords in hand, Ray and Ice silently watched the beast. Their gazes flickered with hesitation. They knew they had to take it down. But how?
"What exactly do you know about that thing?" Ice asked, eyes fixed on the blade in his hand.
"Not much," Ray replied gravely. "Only that killing it at our current level is supposed to be impossible."
"Always reassuring, aren't you?" Ice said, cracking a dry smile. "You said escaping the darkness was impossible too."
Ray sighed at his sarcasm. "I'm not kidding. I don't even know how to kill it. The only thing I'm sure of is this: either pierce its heart or take off its head."
A brief silence fell.
Ice leaned back against the tree, propped one foot against the bark, and started tossing his sword into the air like a child.
"Well, we know what we need to do then. It's not like cutting its head off is on the table," he said flatly.
Ray raised an eyebrow.
"You talk a lot for someone who's never held a sword before."
"Exactly," Ice replied, catching the weapon one last time. "That's why I'll distract it while you go for the heart."
Ray's eyes widened.
"You're serious?"
Ice stepped away from the tree. "We don't have a choice. Every second we waste, we grow weaker," he said, walking steadily toward the beast.
Ray stared at him for a second, then clenched his teeth. He didn't like the plan, but he had to trust Ice. There was no time for hesitation.
He turned his focus to the beast, which was beginning to stir, its body twitching with rising aggression. Staring down the creature, Ray only knew one thing: when the moment came, he would have to throw himself at it with everything he had. No second chances.
But he also knew Ice wouldn't last long, not against that thing. So the moment had to come quickly.
As soon as Ice stepped out from behind the tree, the beast snapped its attention toward him. He approached slowly, and the creature immediately rose with a guttural snarl.
Ice stopped in his tracks, staring at the beast as it charged forward. His stare was cold. His body was not. His hand trembled around the hilt of the sword. Each step the beast took sent another jolt of fear through his chest. His mind spun, desperate for a way out. But there was none.
That's why he ran straight at it.
If he had waited a second longer, maybe all his courage would have crumbled.
Up close, the creature was worse. Its blackened scales glinted like razors, each one sharp enough to tear skin on contact. One clean hit and he was done.
"One hit and it's over," he thought, jaw clenched tight.
The beast struck first, missing narrowly. It reared back, then lunged again, this time snapping its jaws wide to crush his shoulder. Ice ducked low, letting the monster soar above him.
"It's slow," he realized. That was his only hope.
Back when they were escaping with Celestia from the Paradoxical Double Moon, the beast had not instantly caught them. It had kept up, yes, but not effortlessly. It had started to pant, to slow down. It acted on instinct. No strategy. No thought.
That was the only edge they had.
Ice bolted into the forest, drawing the beast with him. It let out a thunderous growl and bounded after him. The thud of its steps grew louder and louder. Ice didn't look back.
Once among the trees, he adjusted his pace, scanning his surroundings. Nothing. Until a faint hissing noise caught his attention. He veered sharply, grabbing a trunk to pivot and change direction in a heartbeat. The beast struggled to follow his sudden turn and lost ground.
Reaching the clearing he aimed for, Ice frowned. No sign of Ray. He tensed. Did something go wrong? Then came the crack of a branch above.
He looked up and smiled. "Seriously?"
He turned back toward the beast, gripping his sword with both hands. He had to hold on. He didn't need to win; he just needed to survive long enough.
The creature crashed through the trees, roaring as it charged again, arms outstretched, claws like blades. At that same moment, Ray, hidden above, chose his moment.
While the beast was focused entirely on Ice, Ray descended from the tree like a shadow, blade in hand.
The monster reached Ice first, swinging its massive arm in a sweeping blow. Ice blocked with all his strength, both hands bracing the sword. The impact jolted through his bones. He held just long enough for the beast to overpower him and hurl him back.
But that moment was all Ray needed.
He lunged, driving his blade straight into the beast's chest. It was a clean strike—straight through where its heart should be.
For a second, everything went still.
Ray stood frozen, blinking in disbelief. "We did it... we actually..."
But then he saw it. The beast wasn't falling. Something was wrong.
Ice was violently thrown aside. Nothing seemed able to stop him as his body tumbled across the ground before crashing into a tree, barely awake.
Meanwhile, Ray quickly tried to draw his sword and put some distance between himself and the creature. He managed to unsheathe his blade and jumped backward without checking where his feet would land.
With a thunderous roar, the beast lunged, claws carving the air as it slammed into Ray's ribs before he could even touch the ground. The blow sent him flying into another tree, which didn't budge an inch despite the heavy impact.
Groaning, he forced himself back to his feet, trying to regain his composure just as the beast charged at him in a frenzy. All he could see was the monster's long arm stretching toward his chest, aiming to pierce his heart.
At the last second, he managed to twist his body just enough so the strike pierced his shoulder instead—a blow that would have been fatal otherwise.
The impact hurled him across the ground once more, this time with no vegetation to break his fall. It took several seconds before his battered body came to a stop.
He lay there, bloodied, breath ragged, his eyes vacant. He tried to rise as the beast approached, but as soon as he found his footing, he collapsed to his knees.
Helpless, he watched in despair as the creature closed in to deliver the final blow. He shut his eyes.
"Claire... Guess that's it for me!" he whispered.
But the blow never came. Instead, he only heard the beast's howls of pain.
...
After losing consciousness for a few seconds, Ice awoke. His entire body ached unbearably, but he hadn't broken any bones—or perhaps it was just the adrenaline working up.
He saw the beast looming over Ray, ready to impale his shoulder. Without hesitation, he ran toward it. On the way, he scooped up his sword from the ground without breaking stride.
The beast seemed slower now, its movements sluggish. Even if they couldn't kill it outright, their attacks were clearly taking a toll.
"How do I finish it?" he thought.
Ray had already stabbed it in the center of the chest with no effect; its heart clearly wasn't there. Still, it had to be somewhere in that region. Ice was fairly sure it would be in the chest, just not directly in the center.
So this time, he aimed for the beast's right side. If its anatomy wasn't too different from a human's, it had to be close.He finally reached the monster, which still had its attention fixed on Ray. He lifted off the ground in a leap and plunged his blade just to the right of the mark Ray had made earlier.
Without wasting a second, he pulled out the sword and jumped back. He didn't want to make the same mistake Ray had—lingering too long, confident the fight was over. Holding his breath, Ice watched the beast. A few seconds passed.
Still, it didn't fall. Still not dead.
The creature ceased its screaming and turned toward the source of its pain, leaving Ray. It lunged at Ice, mouth wide open, ready to devour him. He dodged to the side just in time, watching it rush past. Quickly, he turned to face it again.
The beast was furious, emitting deafening roars. Ice, already used to the ringing of the border bell, was somewhat able to resist the painful sound. Now, when they clashed, the beast's attacks no longer sent him flying with a single swipe.
"It's really weakened," he thought. Their blows were working.
He still couldn't overpower the creature, but now he could withstand its flurry of attacks. He managed to deflect most of its strikes, even though his arms throbbed from the shock.
His resistance was largely thanks to the monster's declining strength. It was much slower now.
But Ice was also improving. Each injury seemed to fuel his resolve. His will to survive, to kill the beast, kept him on his feet. For the first time, he began to feel a spark of hope.
But reality was different. He was starving, parched, and every part of his body screamed in agony. He couldn't hold out much longer.
Though he now had the speed advantage and could hold his ground, time was running out. He had to end this.
Ray had already stabbed the center. Ice had tried the right side. Only one option remained—the left side. Just as he was preparing his final strike, he heard a crack. His sword. It was beginning to fracture.
"Seriously?"
Ray had warned him it was only a backup weapon, not very sturdy. In the heat of everything, Ice had completely missed that. The next blow from the beast shattered the sword into pieces. He leapt backward, his gaze darkening.
He looked behind him. He had already made up his mind.
"'I have to flee.'
There was nothing more he could do. He didn't have what it took to kill the beast
He just hoped the creature would go after him instead of Ray. At its current speed, he was fairly confident he could lose it in the forest..maybe.
But before he could turn to flee, a roar echoed again. An arrow had pierced the beast's back. It turned around to locate the source.
Ray stood there, bow in hand, staring down the beast. Ice didn't understand his purpose. The arrow had barely scratched its scales; it was just a distraction at most. Was he trying to sacrifice himself in the most useless way?
Then another voice called out.
"Here!" Celestia shouted, breathless, tossing Ray's sword toward him.
Still stunned, he caught the weapon and turned his attention back to the beast. It had already lost interest in Ray and was advancing toward Ice again—the center of all its recent trouble.
"The right flank!" Celestia shouted, hands on her knees, trying to catch her breath.
Ice's eyes sharpened instantly. There was no room for hesitation.
The beast swung at his head with a speed born of desperation, a final blow meant to end their struggle. Ice ducked beneath it and lunged forward, using all the strength he had left to drive the sword deep into its right flank.
The beast let out a final, pitiful howl and then slowly collapsed. Ice watched the scaled monster fall to the ground.
The River Beast was dead. And they were the ones who took its life.
Hidden behind a tree, swords in hand, Ray and Ice silently watched the beast. Their gazes flickered with hesitation. They knew they had to take it down. But how?
"What exactly do you know about that thing?" Ice asked, eyes fixed on the blade in his hand.
"Not much," Ray replied gravely. "Only that killing it at our current level is supposed to be impossible."
"Always reassuring, aren't you?" Ice said, cracking a dry smile. "You said escaping the darkness was impossible too."
Ray sighed at his sarcasm. "I'm not kidding. I don't even know how to kill it. The only thing I'm sure of is this: either pierce its heart or take off its head."
A brief silence fell.
Ice leaned back against the tree, propped one foot against the bark, and started tossing his sword into the air like a child.
"Well, we know what we need to do then. It's not like cutting its head off is on the table," he said flatly.
Ray raised an eyebrow.
"You talk a lot for someone who's never held a sword before."
"Exactly," Ice replied, catching the weapon one last time. "That's why I'll distract it while you go for the heart."
Ray's eyes widened.
"You're serious?"
Ice stepped away from the tree. "We don't have a choice. Every second we waste, we grow weaker," he said, walking steadily toward the beast.
Ray stared at him for a second, then clenched his teeth. He didn't like the plan, but he had to trust Ice. There was no time for hesitation.
He turned his focus to the beast, which was beginning to stir, its body twitching with rising aggression. Staring down the creature, Ray only knew one thing: when the moment came, he would have to throw himself at it with everything he had. No second chances.
But he also knew Ice wouldn't last long, not against that thing. So the moment had to come quickly.
As soon as Ice stepped out from behind the tree, the beast snapped its attention toward him. He approached slowly, and the creature immediately rose with a guttural snarl.
Ice stopped in his tracks, staring at the beast as it charged forward. His stare was cold. His body was not. His hand trembled around the hilt of the sword. Each step the beast took sent another jolt of fear through his chest. His mind spun, desperate for a way out. But there was none.
That's why he ran straight at it.
If he had waited a second longer, maybe all his courage would have crumbled.
Up close, the creature was worse. Its blackened scales glinted like razors, each one sharp enough to tear skin on contact. One clean hit and he was done.
"One hit and it's over," he thought, jaw clenched tight.
The beast struck first, missing narrowly. It reared back, then lunged again, this time snapping its jaws wide to crush his shoulder. Ice ducked low, letting the monster soar above him.
"It's slow," he realized. That was his only hope.
Back when they were escaping with Celestia from the Paradoxical Double Moon, the beast had not instantly caught them. It had kept up, yes, but not effortlessly. It had started to pant, to slow down. It acted on instinct. No strategy. No thought.
That was the only edge they had.
Ice bolted into the forest, drawing the beast with him. It let out a thunderous growl and bounded after him. The thud of its steps grew louder and louder. Ice didn't look back.
Once among the trees, he adjusted his pace, scanning his surroundings. Nothing. Until a faint hissing noise caught his attention. He veered sharply, grabbing a trunk to pivot and change direction in a heartbeat. The beast struggled to follow his sudden turn and lost ground.
Reaching the clearing he aimed for, Ice frowned. No sign of Ray. He tensed. Did something go wrong? Then came the crack of a branch above.
He looked up and smiled. "Seriously?"
He turned back toward the beast, gripping his sword with both hands. He had to hold on. He didn't need to win; he just needed to survive long enough.
The creature crashed through the trees, roaring as it charged again, arms outstretched, claws like blades. At that same moment, Ray, hidden above, chose his moment.
While the beast was focused entirely on Ice, Ray descended from the tree like a shadow, blade in hand.
The monster reached Ice first, swinging its massive arm in a sweeping blow. Ice blocked with all his strength, both hands bracing the sword. The impact jolted through his bones. He held just long enough for the beast to overpower him and hurl him back.
But that moment was all Ray needed.
He lunged, driving his blade straight into the beast's chest. It was a clean strike—straight through where its heart should be.
For a second, everything went still.
Ray stood frozen, blinking in disbelief. "We did it... we actually..."
But then he saw it. The beast wasn't falling. Something was wrong.
Ice stared at the beast with a cold, unreadable gaze. There was no satisfaction in his eyes—only deep relief and lingering doubt. They had paid too high a price just for water, and they had only just arrived in this place.
Ray was seriously injured, and even if he managed to recover, he would be out of commission for a while. One of their swords was completely shattered, and Ice himself was bruised and battered, in desperate need of rest.
They rushed toward Ray, using what little strength they had left. He was lying motionless on the ground, unconscious, his shallow breathing the only sign that he was still alive.
Like Ice, his body was covered in cuts and bruises. But the worst part was his shoulder, bleeding heavily, and his side, torn open and dangerously wounded.
"Go get his bag!" Ice barked at Celestia, who had just stepped forward. She froze for a second, startled by the urgency in his voice, then nodded quickly and dashed off.
Ice was convinced that if Ray had torches and spare weapons in his bag, he'd surely packed some basic first aid supplies too. If he could just stop the bleeding, that might be enough to stabilize him, assuming there weren't any internal injuries.
As he waited for Celestia to return, he turned his attention to the massive beast lying lifeless nearby, its jagged scales and rows of sharp teeth still glistening in the dim light. Its claws had left deep gashes in the earth, signs of its overwhelming strength.
Ray hadn't exaggerated after all. Even without his warning, Ice had known the beast would be dangerous. But if someone asked whether he had taken it seriously when Ray said it was impossible, the honest answer would be no.
Only now did the reality hit him. It had been an impossible fight. He couldn't help but wonder why Ray had even chosen to follow him in the first place.
A pang of guilt crept into his chest. He knew the attack had been necessary, that they had no choice but to act fast, and that the plan, hasty as it was, might have been the best option they could come up with. Still, his mind wouldn't stop replaying it all, questioning every move.
Lost in thought, he spotted Celestia running back toward him, panting.
"Here it is," she said, breathless, hands on her knees.
He grabbed the bag and started rummaging through it. As soon as he opened it, he was surprised to see that nearly a quarter of it was filled with clothes.
"He's serious? This is what he considers useful?" Ice thought, frowning.
He'd assumed most of the space would be used for food and water, especially with how desperate Ray had been earlier. But the number of clothes in the bag made no sense.
Eventually, after digging through the layers, Ice found what he was looking for—disinfectant and bandages.
"Take this and the water bottle. Follow me," he told Celestia, who nodded, though her eyes were full of worry.
Together, they headed for the river nearby. Ice carried Ray gently in his arms, his steps heavy but determined. Once they reached the riverbank, he laid Ray down and filled the bottle with water. He carefully washed the wound, applied the disinfectant, and began wrapping it with the bandages as best he could.
"Is he going to be okay?" Celestia asked quietly, watching him play medic.
Ice scratched his head and gave a crooked smile. "He's not okay. But if you're asking whether he'll live... I think so."
Celestia shot him a glare. "You couldn't just say that part first?''
Ice responded with a teasing look, then moved Ray into the shade.
After that, there wasn't much left to do except offer him a sip of water and wait for him to wake up.
"You really had a close call," Celestia muttered as she walked over.
Ice, still limping, sank to the ground beside her in the shade. "Honestly, I still don't know how I made it out alive," he said, gradually extending his hands toward the sun.
Celestia narrowed her eyes. "You're way too calm about nearly dying, you know. Maybe you should've lost a few teeth, brother," she added, exaggerating the title.
"Why are you talking about my teeth?" he blinked at her.
"Never mind. Anyway, your last-minute rescue was kind of amazing. How did you pull it off?"
She went on to explain that she had started to panic and had taken Ray's bow and arrows to come help, but along the way realized she had no idea how to use them.
When she reached the scene, Ray had seen her and motioned for her to throw him the bow. Then, he had handed her the sword to give to Ice.
As for the location of the beast's heart, she didn't know how she'd figured it out. It was just instinct.
When she finished, Ice let out a loud laugh. "Along the way? Are you serious?"
Celestia's face turned red. She clenched her fists, trying to maintain her composure in the face of his laughter.
Noticing her embarrassment, Ice decided to drop it and change the subject.
"Anyway, we've got something more important to take care of," he said lightly.
Celestia raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
Ice chuckled and pointed behind him, at the monster's corpse. "What do you think? We've got at least a hundred kilos of meat waiting for us."
Celestia stared at Ice, dumbfounded. She couldn't understand how he could even consider eating that thing. With its thick scales, jagged teeth, and foul stench, she had never imagined it might become their next meal.
"Are you serious?" she asked, blinking in disbelief as she watched him walk toward the monster's corpse.
"Do you see any other options?" he replied without turning back. Celestia wanted to argue, but she knew he was right. They didn't have the luxury to be picky. This forest had no vegetation—only endless trees. No bushes, no grass, not even weeds. The chance of finding anything remotely edible was close to zero. She sighed and stood up to follow him.
Ice grabbed his sword and approached the monster. He had no idea how to skin such a creature, especially not with a sword of that size, but he had to try. Clumsily, he managed to remove its hide, hacking away until the flesh was exposed. Then he began cutting the meat into pieces, separating anything that looked remotely edible.
Surprisingly, there wasn't as much usable meat as he had expected, considering the creature's massive size. Still, it was enough. If they rationed it properly, it could last them for weeks.
While he practiced his crude butchering skills, Celestia crouched nearby, watching him with an unreadable expression.
"Stop looking at me like I'm some kind of evil genius," Ice muttered. "Go prepare a fire or something."
Celestia smiled faintly and shrugged. "Can't I just admire the skills of the supreme butcher?"
Ice raised an eyebrow. "Supreme butcher… you know what, I don't even want to ask."
Once the work was done, he searched Ray's clothes for the lighter he had used earlier. This time, he found it easily. Together, he and Celestia gathered wood, built a fire, and finally began cooking the meat.
About thirty minutes later, they were ready to taste what would likely become their staple food for the foreseeable future. Ice cut two chunks of meat and handed one to Celestia, who eyed it as if it were cursed.
Ice, on the other hand, didn't hesitate. He bit into the meat without expecting much, especially considering how he had cooked it. But strangely enough, it was edible. Almost… good. Or maybe it only seemed that way because he was starving and his only reference point was Ray's disgusting, gelatinous food.
Seeing him devour his portion so eagerly, Celestia reluctantly followed his lead.
"Let's hope it's not poisonous," Ice said casually, still chewing.
Celestia let out a weary sigh, already used to his bleak humor. "Did you really have to say that out loud?"
Ice simply smiled and continued chewing diligently.
"Do you think we'll ever get out of here?" Celestia asked softly, her gaze averted. Since waking up in the darkness, that question had been haunting her mind. And now that she could finally glimpse the light, she realized it wasn't through it that they would find salvation.
Ice stopped eating and looked at her with his most detached smile. She was getting better at hiding her fears.
"Honestly, I don't know if I can give you the answer you want. I'd love to lie, but you're far too smart to believe in comforting lies. We're neither strong nor prepared enough for this place—and that's our reality."
He then raised his eyes, gently extending his hand toward the eternal sun of the Repentant. "But if will alone is enough, then I can promise you there's no place in this world that can hold me."
Celestia watched him, her eyes full of light. It was perhaps the most perfect answer she could have hoped for. Will—that was all she had.
"I wish I had your confidence," she murmured with a sigh.
"I wouldn't call it confidence. Conviction, at best," he replied, lowering his hand. "Like you, I'm amnesiac, so my personality is still forming. I have no idea who I am, but I'm certain of what I'm not—someone who gives up just because the path to freedom seems nonexistent. I'll achieve every one of my goals, even if I have to freeze the entire world to do it."
As she listened to him speak each word with such calm, only one thought crossed Celestia's mind: this man was insane. Her brother was a deviant.
"So, we're having a good time, huh?" came a hesitant voice. They heard footsteps, then Ray appeared, walking toward them. "To think he was about to impale us just a few hours ago… and now we're about to feast on his flesh." He was holding his shoulder but moving without much difficulty.
Ice smiled and cut a piece of meat for him. "Glad to see you back in one piece."
Ray took the piece and sat down with a grunt. "Yeah… still trying to figure out how he didn't kill us," he said, shaking his head.
Ice grinned. "Maybe we're just too good to die. Between that and Celestia's ability to guide us in the dark, I'd say we might be destined for great things."
Ray rolled his shoulder with a grimace. "For now, I think the greatest thing we can achieve is staying alive."
Celestia placed a hand over her face and sighed dramatically. "Are all boys like this? Talking about nearly dying like it's some kind of joke?"
That only made Ice and Ray burst into laughter, which clearly irritated her even more. Noticing the way she glared at them and how she was ready to throw her meat in their direction, Ray wisely decided to change the subject.
"Anyway, Ice… we've been here for a few hours, I think."
Ice immediately understood what he meant. His expression grew serious. "Yeah. And the sun hasn't moved an inch," he said, glancing at the sky.
Ray followed his gaze, then sighed. "Looks like we won't have night here either."
Just as there was nothing but darkness in the Paradoxal Double Moon, it seemed this area—the Repentant—would be forever trapped in daylight.
Still, this place was far less hostile. At least they could see where they were going, and the temperature was pleasant thanks to the thick canopy of trees.
But that didn't change their reality. They were no closer to escaping, and time here flowed differently. The weight of Ray's earlier words—five thousand six hundred years—was beginning to press down on them all.
"So, when are we leaving?" Ice asked, glancing at Ray's injured arm.
Ray rotated his shoulder a few times, testing it. "As soon as we've rested. We'll head out."
Ice gave him a tired grin. "Perfect. We've got a few millennia of history to shatter, after all."
They all chuckled faintly, though exhaustion was clearly catching up with them. None of them were in any condition to stay awake. Ray was still recovering, and Ice had gone more than two days without sleep. They decided to rely on Celestia's heightened hearing for the night. None of them had truly rested since waking up in this strange world.
Leaning against the nearest trees, they slowly allowed themselves to drift into slumber. Whatever happened, tomorrow they would see.
After a few hours of much-needed rest, Ice awoke feeling refreshed. His senses were sharper, his body lighter. Aside from a few lingering scratches that still throbbed faintly, he felt oddly liberated. Since waking up in this strange world, he hadn't managed a single moment of real sleep until now.
He rose slowly, stretched his limbs, and cast a glance toward Celestia and Ray. Ray was asleep with his arms crossed, his expression calm, as if he could awaken at any second. Celestia, who was supposed to be standing watch, was leaning against Ray's bag, completely lost in the world of dreams.
"She's really sleeping like there's no tomorrow," Ice thought with a faint smirk. He clapped his hands sharply to wake them. It was time to move.
Ray stirred first, blinking as he looked around before sitting up. Celestia, however, jolted upright in surprise. Stretching with a yawn, she mumbled, "Is it over already?"
Ice frowned. "We've probably been asleep for at least ten hours," he said. "Time to get ready. We're leaving right away."
With a resigned sigh, Celestia rose a few minutes later. She went to refill Ray's water bottles while Ice focused on gathering as much food as he could carry. Ray, already dressed in fresh clothes, no doubt he changed during the night, stood nearby. He had plenty of spares, after all.
While Celestia got ready, Ice and Ray remained silently stationed near the trees. Ray stood with his arms folded, his gaze distant. Ice stood on one foot, shifting his balance idly. A heavy silence settled between them. Ice wanted to speak but couldn't seem to form the right words. Apologizing had never been his strong suit.
Still, after a brief inner struggle, he made his choice. "Sorry for getting you involved in all this."
Ray let out a soft scoff. "So that's why you've been wavering all this time. For someone who barely shows any emotion, you're oddly easy to read."
Ice's gaze darkened slightly. "I mean it. You almost died."
Ray gave a calm, confident smile. "No; we almost died. I chose to follow you, and I don't regret it. You didn't let us down. Maybe I've grown a little cowardly lately... but people like you, courageous people, are the ones who bring change. Sadly, I'm not like that anymore."
A shadow crossed Ray's face at those last words. Ice noticed it and decided not to press further. Just knowing Ray didn't blame him was a relief. Frankly, he wouldn't have blamed him if he had.
"Thank you," Ice murmured.
Ray nodded. They said nothing more, but this time, the silence between them was no longer tense—it had become something more peaceful.
"I'm ready!" Celestia's voice rang out cheerfully as she returned from the river, her hair still dripping, her face lit up with a bright smile.
Ice bent down to grab Ray's full pack. "Let's go," he said. "We'll follow the plan we made back on the hill, stick to the river, and when it ends, head north."
Ray and Celestia nodded and fell in step behind him. They descended a gentle slope and began walking along the river's edge. The trees had thinned out, offering little shade, and only the soft, repetitive murmur of the water accompanied their steps.
The sun, ever-fixed at its zenith in this strange world, beat down mercilessly. Without the protective canopy of foliage, its rays felt even more punishing. Ice, in particular, was suffering. Sweat dripped from his brow, soaking into his clothes, which clung uncomfortably to his skin. His breathing was slightly strained, and his hair stuck to his forehead.
He turned to the others, about to complain, but stopped short. They looked fine. Ray had a light sheen of sweat at most, and Celestia didn't even seem affected, her expression was calm, composed, as if the heat didn't exist.
"I see… just me, then," Ice thought bitterly, wiping his forehead. Apparently, he wasn't built for the heat. Still, he chose not to voice his discomfort and kept moving. The end of the river was near, and the forest lay just beyond it. Shade and cooler air were finally within reach.
That's when Celestia suddenly narrowed her eyes, holding out a hand to stop him. "Wait. What's that?"
Ice paused mid-step and followed her gaze. At first, he saw nothing unusual. "What are you talking about?" he asked, squinting.
"There." She pointed. Far ahead stood a single, solitary tree. It wasn't just tall or strange in shape, it was alone. No other trees stood within at least fifty meters of it. The area around it was completely barren, which, in a region as wild as this one, was more than suspicious.
Ray narrowed his eyes, but sighed in frustration. "I can't see it from here."
"We should check it out," Celestia said firmly.
Ice gave a silent nod, and they began walking toward the lone tree. After several steps, the shape came into clearer view. Both Ice and Ray stopped simultaneously as the sight fully registered. Ice's eyes widened.
"It seems your talents go beyond just sharp hearing."
Celestia gave him a proud smile, clearly satisfied with her early spotting. As they approached, the tree revealed its strangeness. It didn't merely stand out because of its isolation—the light itself seemed to bend toward it. It was as if the tree drew in the light, absorbing it into a subtle, glowing aura.
Then they saw the glowing letters carved into its trunk: Lucius 3rd.
Ice stared at the inscription in silence, mind whirring. The name echoed in his thoughts, but no clear memory surfaced. He turned to Ray, who was frowning, his face briefly darkened by confusion or something else, before his expression returned to neutral.
"Don't look at me," Ray muttered. "I swear I have no idea who that is."
"This isn't helping," Ice said abruptly, turning away. "Let's keep moving."
Without waiting for a response, he strode toward the forest to the north. The heat was pressing against his patience, and he had no intention of lingering in it any longer than necessary. Celestia and Ray exchanged a glance, then hurried to catch up.
Ice had already put distance between them, cutting across the terrain with long, determined strides. But just as he was about to step into the forest's shadow, he suddenly leapt back, hand on his sword. His blade rang as it was drawn in one fluid motion, and he stood ready, eyes locked on the trees ahead. The others froze, instinctively raising their guard.
Ice's posture was tense, alert. Something was wrong.
Then they saw it too, two figures emerging from the forest.
Ice threw the bag to Ray, who calmly retrieved the bow while Celestia stepped back to better assess the situation.
Though they hoped to meet other people, this encounter felt far too sudden. There had been no warning, no sign of anyone nearby; they had simply appeared out of nowhere. Even Celestia hadn't sensed them coming, and she could usually detect any creature stirring in the shadows from a dozen meters away.
Faced with the trio's evident tension, the two strangers stood perfectly still, silently watching them. They looked to be a middle-aged man and woman. The man, tall and composed, wore glasses and radiated a calm, almost disarming friendliness.
In sharp contrast, the woman beside him—striking, blonde, and clad in a vivid green dress, rested one hand on the hilt of a short sword. A fierce glint burned in her eyes, and every part of her posture screamed readiness. She looked like she could strike at the slightest provocation.
The air grew thick with tension, crackling with the potential for violence. One wrong move, and everything could erupt into chaos.
Finally, the man gently placed a hand on his companion's shoulder to ease her stance.
"They're just kids," he said quietly '' calm down''.
Her grip on the sword tightened. Her gaze never leaving them.
"But it makes no sense for them to be here," she muttered '' what could kids do to get them here.''
He shook his head slowly. "You know we can't use our blessings here. That means they're not illusions or altered creatures. Relax… let's not lose what's left of our humanity."
She hesitated for a moment, then reluctantly loosened her grip. The man smiled widened as he took a step forward, raising both hands in a peaceful gesture.
"My name is Julius, and this is Natasha. As you can see, we're not your enemies."
Ice didn't lower his guard. "Sorry, but trust is a luxury around here," he said coldly. "And I've got... issues."
Julius sighed, and in that instant, the air changed. It grew heavier, thicker, as if the forest itself responded to his call.
And then Julius vanished.
Ice's eyes widened. He spun around, all senses on high alert, but saw nothing. Yet his instincts screamed that death was near if he didn't move.
A flick brushed the back of his neck. He whirled, sword already in hand, but his blade was effortlessly caught in Julius's grip, as if it were a toy in the hand of a child.
'Seriously...'
"Just give it up," Ray muttered beside him, already lowering his bow.
Ice hesitated, then reluctantly slid his sword back into its sheath. He didn't stand a chance. Julius had made that perfectly clear. The best he could do now was hope the man wasn't hostile.
Julius scratched the back of his head with an awkward smile. "Sorry. I really didn't want it to come to that. It's just… we're kind of in a rush."
Ice exhaled slowly, the fight draining from his eyes. "You're right. We were probably too tense. Honestly, we're lucky to meet other people here."
Ray and Celestia approached cautiously.
"He's right. We desperately need information," Ray said, extending a hand. "Anything you can tell us about getting out of this place."
Julius glanced at the offered hand, hesitated, then shook it.
"I hate to be the one to tell you this," he said gravely, "but there is no way out. I've been here for... ten years now... at least."
His words hit like a thunderclap, cracking through the fragile hope the group had clung to.
If someone as powerful as Julius had been trapped here for a decade with no escape, what chance did they have—just a group of kids barely surviving?
"No," Ray said, clenching his fists. "There has to be a way."
Ice gave him a sideways glance but said nothing. He was drenched in sweat, growing increasingly pale, his body nearing its limit.
"Let's head into the forest," he muttered. "We'll talk there."
Without waiting for a response, he moved toward the trees, walking past Natasha. Their eyes met briefly, and though no words were exchanged, something tense passed between them.
The others followed him into the forest, eventually finding a small clearing to settle in. Julius joined them, while Natasha remained a few steps away, standing guard.
Ice took a few sips from the water bottle and, for the first time, tried to remove his glove. It wouldn't budge. He applied more force—still nothing. It was as if the fabric had fused with his skin. Strangely, it wasn't retaining any heat, either.
He gave up and turned to Julius.
"So… why are you in such a hurry?" Ray asked.
Julius gave him a surprised look. "So you really don't know anything. And you've survived this long… how?"
Ice allowed himself a faint smirk. "Let's just say we've got a tough skin… and a decent guide."
Julius scanned their bruised, dirty faces and torn clothes with a thoughtful expression.
"Then congratulations. Most don't make it this far. For every person in this place, there's a monster that mirrors them, hunting them. And if you travel in a group, the monsters group too. That's the nature of the Repentants."
He paused, then added, "Right now, we've got two of them on our tail. One's been weakened and can't regenerate. As for the other… we've already cut off its limbs, but it should finish regenerating soon."
Ray raised a brow. "Why not just kill them?"
Julius's face darkened. "Because every time we kill one… a stronger one replaces it. We didn't realize until it was too late."
Ice's brow furrowed.
'But we only encountered one. That doesn't match what he's saying.'
Still, something else had been bothering him, a question that had lingered since their arrival.
"These trees," he said looking arround them. "This whole forest… Why does it feel so strange?"
Julius suddenly stood, and Natasha drew her rapier in a single, fluid motion.
This time, even without Celestia's abilities, they all heard the sound of footsteps in the distance, closing in fast.
Julius raised a hand to signal them not to stay still. His voice, when he finally answered, was low and somber.
"Because in death, we find repentance. And every single one of these trees… is a Repentant."
Julius and Natasha advanced slowly toward the beast, an inexplicable confidence radiating from them—especially Julius, who showed no trace of fear or pressure. After all, he had been facing that creature for more than a decade.
Within moments, his figure vanished among the trees. The beast's growls and shrieks soon echoed through the forest, then faded into the distance. They must have already begun clashing.
Their absence, at the very least, gave the others time to process the revelations that had just been dropped on them. Several seconds passed, yet no one spoke. A heavy silence settled over the group. Their expressions were blank, their minds adrift—none more so than Celestia's. She seemed to be struggling the most to accept what she had just learned.
The forest she had walked through, the trees she had rested beneath, the wood she had used to light her fires... all of it was a graveyard.
She was terrified. The idea of lying forgotten beneath those trees chilled her more deeply than any monster or shadow ever could. Even if there wasn't anyone waiting for here or even remenbering her on the other side, perhaps that was the scariest part.
The Repantant was a massive tomb for countless souls—people who, like them, had once clung to hope before ultimately succumbing.
As for Ice and Ray, though the truth of the forest unsettled them just as much, what weighed on them even more was Julius's earlier statement, spoken with such unwavering conviction: that escaping this place was impossible.
And coming from someone who had just displayed such overwhelming strength, those words struck like a hammer.
So what choices were left to them now?
"Well, this isn't looking good, is it?" Ray said, his tone cool as usual.
Ice turned to him, then let out a short laugh. He was grateful that Ray could still maintain that laid-back attitude—or at least pretend to, even as the situation grew darker by the second. He shrugged.
"If even people strong like him can't escape, then we'll just have to be smarter. That's all."
Celestia stared at them as if they were insane. She couldn't understand how they could stay so calm, how they could even joke in the face of such despair.
Ice stood up and began walking in the direction Julius had gone. Celestia's glare followed him.
"Where do you think you're going?"
Without looking back, Ice replied, "To the fight. I need to see it."
Her voice rose in alarm. "Are you insane? Can't you hear the noise they're making? You'll get yourself killed!"
Ice smirked. "Relax. I'm not suicidal—just curious."
Celestia opened her mouth to protest, but Ice waved her off and took off running.
"I have to hurry," he called over his shoulder with a grin, "or I'll miss the show."
Ray smiled faintly and reassured her. "Don't worry. He'll be back."
Celestia let out a long, irritated sigh and sat down, arms crossed.
Meanwhile, Ice sprinted through the forest, following the distant roars and the occasional clash of steel. The sounds grew louder with every step until, after several minutes, he finally caught sight of the battle. He slowed and crept closer, crouching behind a tree for cover.
The creature Julius was fighting looked like another scaled beast, but unlike the one Ice had seen before, this one was on a completely different level. It was massive, its hide faintly tinged with red. One of its arms had morphed into a jagged, blade-like appendage. But what struck Ice most was the aura it exuded—menacing, suffocating, and utterly unnatural.
This was no ordinary monster. The way it tore through trees like paper left no doubt about its raw power.
Julius stood alone against it, while Natasha remained several meters back. The beast appeared far stronger, each of its blows easily capable of ripping a man apart. Yet Julius resisted,and more than that. Despite the enormous difference in size, he barely gave ground, countering each attack with surgical precision. It was as if he could predict every movement, placing his blade exactly where it needed to be.
Natasha, though not as powerful, played a crucial role in maintaining the rhythm of the fight. She moved with perfect timing, striking at every minor opening. Even now, as the beast turned its back on her, she lunged forward and slashed deep into its leg.
The beast howled and spun to face her, but she had already vanished. It turned back toward Julius, but it was already too late.
He lowered his stance, grounding himself. The sword in his hand pulsed with pure, blinding white light. Then, in a burst of speed Ice could barely follow, Julius surged forward and cleaved the beast's arm clean off in a single, flawless strike.
The monster roared in fury and charged again, undeterred by the wound or the black liquid;its blood, pouring from the severed limb. Weakened by its missing arm and slowed by the gash on its leg, it launched one final desperate attack.
But it was pointless.
Julius's sword flashed twice more, severing both of its legs. The beast crashed to the ground, helpless, staring up at its executioners.
Julius sheathed his sword and gazed down at the creature with a neutral expression—neither prideful nor relieved.
Hidden behind the tree, Ice's hands trembled with excitement. What he had just witnessed left him breathless.
Yes, the beast had been stronger. But Julius and Natasha possessed something else—something far more valuable in a place like this.
They were evolving.
They had faced that monster countless times, refining their strategy and mastering their understanding of it with every encounter.
And that, perhaps, was their greatest advantage in this hostile world.
The advantage of simply being human.
After the battle ended, Julius and Natasha sheathed their weapons and walked away from the beast, which lay motionless on the ground. Its eyes were still fixed on them with a chilling glare. They turned their backs without hesitation and made their way toward the kids they had encountered earlier.
'What was that...?' Ice was still crouched behind a tree.
Even though he had collapsed to the ground, he couldn't bring himself to move closer to the creature. It might have been incapacitated, but it still radiated an overwhelming sense of danger. He was scared. Plain and simple. More than anything, he wanted to understand how they had done what they'd just done.
Their sheer physical power wasn't something that could be achieved through training or sheer will alone. No, there was something more. Something deeper. Especially considering what Julius had said earlier. If that wasn't even their real power, then what was? Maybe it had to do with that strange force, the so-called House of Madness.
Eventually, seeing that Julius and Natasha were walking away, Ice clenched his jaw, bit his lip, and followed at a distance. He kept several paces behind them until they reached Ray and Celestia. He didn't particularly mind Julius, but Natasha... there was something about her. Cold. Distant. After seeing her in action, she was more than a little terrifying.
After a few minutes of weaving through the undergrowth, they arrived. Ray was leaning against a tree, arms crossed, deep in thought. Celestia's expression softened as soon as she saw Ice. Relief flickered in her eyes; he was safe. Julius sat down at the base of a tree and let out a long exhale.
"Sorry for the inconvenience," he said, brushing dust from his shoulder. "I'm ready for all your questions now."
Ray, still holding the supply bag, reached inside and began rummaging through it. "You must be exhausted. Eat something first. We'll talk after. There's plenty of meat."
He wasn't just being polite. Ray genuinely wanted to foster some kind of camaraderie. They needed these two. Desperately. He stood and handed each of them a piece of dried meat. Julius accepted it with a polite "thank you," while Natasha merely nodded.
Ice sat down with the others and silently waited for them to finish eating. While they rested, he took the opportunity to scan the forest again. He studied the trees, the ground, every minor detail he might've missed before. At first, he'd seen this place as just a strange forest. No animals. Identical flora. But now... he wasn't so sure what to believe anymore.
And he wasn't alone in that uncertainty. Ever since Julius and Natasha's arrival, Ray hadn't quite been himself, lost in thought. And Celestia, who had once been relaxed enough to sleep leaning against them, now kept her distance, clearly uneasy under their shadow. They were going to need to change their approach entirely.
This forest wasn't just strange. It was dangerous in ways they hadn't anticipated.
"I'm listening," Julius finally said, his voice serious. Ice looked at him, then glanced down, sorting through the flood of questions swirling in his mind. There were a dozen things he wanted to ask, but only a few that truly mattered. Above all, there was one question that bothered him: the beasts that were supposedly mirroring them.
Since their arrival, they had only encountered and fought a single monster, and even that one hadn't been targeting them specifically. If anything, it was they who had chosen to fight it. It hadn't mirrored anyone in the group, as far as he could tell. Of course, the concept of "mirroring" was still too abstract for him. He had no idea how it was supposed to work or what signs to look for.
Just as he was about to speak, Ray cleared his throat and beat him to it. "So far, we haven't encountered any of the beasts you mentioned. The ones that are supposedly looking for us."
Ice turned to him, stunned. It's like he read my mind. He was surprised Ray had asked exactly what he was thinking. It was reassuring, at least, to know he wasn't the only one concerned about it. After all, what could be worse than a monster tailored to be your personal nemesis, one you couldn't kill because a stronger version would keep returning?
Julius's expression shifted into one of confusion. "I don't understand. There should be three on your trail. You should've run into them no later than an hour after your arrival."
Celestia murmured under her breath, "Maybe it's because we're not from here."
Julius raised an eyebrow and frowned. "No one's from here, you know."
Celestia was about to respond when both Ice and Ray shot her a warning glance, but she didn't notice. They had no intention of mentioning their time in the Paradoxal Double Moon. Not until they gathered more information about it. First, they needed to ask their own questions. Then they'd decide whether or not to reveal what they knew.
Celestia, unfortunately, still hadn't adopted the same level of caution. "You mean the dark zone? With the twin moons... and the tower?"
Shit. She said it.
Suddenly, Julius's entire demeanor changed. His face twisted in shock, genuine, even tinged with fear. Even Natasha, who had displayed no emotion, not even while facing the monster, failed to fully mask her surprise. Celestia looked at them with quiet curiosity, while Ice and Ray remained on edge.
If escaping that place turned out to be some taboo, and Julius and Natasha decided to brand them as enemies... This would be the end of them.
Julius laughed. A bitter, almost defeated laugh, and muttered under his breath: "So that's why she told us we'd meet again..."
Natasha had already regained her usual cold composure, while Julius turned toward the group with a faint smile. "Well then... maybe there really is a way out for you after all."
Just as Ice and Ray were bracing themselves for a potentially desperate battle, they were completely thrown off by Julius's next words.
A wave of excitement, mistrust, and surprise hit them all at once.
Ice couldn't understand the connection between their escape from the Paradoxical Double Moon and the supposed increase in their chances of escaping from the Repentant.
Ray straightened his back, squared his shoulders, and looked at Julius. His gaze sparkled with a mix of tension and curiosity.
"What do you mean?" he asked.
"I don't really know how to explain it," Julius said calmly. "But for whatever reason you ended up there, it means you will either find yourselves in the Repentant or in the Paradoxical Double Moon. If it's the Repentant, you'll be killed by your mirror. There's no way to win against yourself, let alone against your reflection on the other side. Unless, of course, you are not alone."
He paused and scanned their faces. "If it's the latter, then it's simpler. You'll die the moment you open your eyes. You'll lose your mind, endlessly chasing your own perfection for eternity. That's what's written in the Book of Vivianne, at least. I don't think anyone has left this place since the Great Flood."
"Until you, I guess," Ray murmured.
The silence thickened as the three exchanged incredulous looks.
Ice already knew that the Paradoxical Double Moon was a tricky place to escape. It had been built like a perfect trap.
But if someone like Julius had been in their place, Ice was certain he would have escaped without breaking a sweat. In fact, he probably could have stormed through the border head-on and walked out unscathed.
He had earned that strength. He was powerful enough to make it look easy.
And yet, something didn't add up. There was a crucial piece missing—something Ice couldn't quite grasp.
"So, you know how we can leave this place?" Celestia asked, her voice tight as she bit her lip.
Julius shook his head. "No."
Then he stood up and looked into the distance, the sunlight reflecting off his worn glasses. "But I know someone who does. There is hope."
Natasha shot him a glare. "Don't give the kids false hope."
Ice blinked. It was the first time he had heard her speak. Her voice was sharp, but not cruel—more like someone stating an unpleasant truth.
"She knows how to talk," Ice thought, a bit surprised. Back when they had met, they was arguing about keeping them alive , but he didn't remember hearing the sound of her voice after that.
Julius only shrugged, his eyes clouded with something like nostalgia.
"You know the chances are real," he said quietly. "I only have one thing left to do, and these kids might be my last chance."
Natasha scoffed, her expression returning to its usual blank mask. "You really don't know when to stop."
Julius scratched his head and gave a sheepish grin. "What can I say? I've always had to keep my shoulders steady. If I had stopped, too many people would've to stop as well."
Ice glanced toward the direction Julius had pointed earlier. But all he could see was blinding sunlight, and he had no intention of stepping into that again. There was nothing out there, at least not to the naked eye, nothing that seemed remotely connected to their escape.
Ice cleared his throat. "Sorry if I sound suspicious, but don't you think we deserve a better explanation?"
Julius frowned and removed his glasses. "You're really the one asking me that? As you can see, I'm not proud to admit it, but I ended up here because I'm considered a threat. What I can't understand is how you got here."
Ice shrugged. "Me and her, we have no idea. We didn't have any idea at all when we woke up." Then he shot a quick glance at Ray. "And as for him, don't even bother asking. He's more secretive than a guilty woman hiding an affair."
Ray frowned, confused. "Where do you even get those comparisons?"
Julius exhaled and slowly cleaned his glasses with the hem of his shirt. "Don't worry, I'm not the curious type by nature." He slid the glasses back on, his smile returning along with his vision. "But the reason you can leave this place is because you have no link with the Repentant. You're not from here. That's why you can still escape...I think."
"I think," Natasha interrupted, "that it's because they're not yet awakened that they can survive. There has never been anyone who escaped in recorded history, but I doubt any unblessed soul had ever stepped into this place before."
"That makes sense," Julius confirmed with a slight nod.
Ice frowned. "So how exactly are we supposed to get out of here?"
"As I said, I don't know the exact method. But if we go there, he will tell you."
Ice clenched his jaw. He hated how this kept happening. Every time, he was missing something. Every time, someone else held the key to his future.
First Ray. Now Julius.
No matter what they did, they were never the ones in control. The choice was always someone else's to offer or to deny. At this point, it wasn't even about whether he would make it out alive, but whether, if he died, it would be by his own choice and no one else's.
Despite everything, Ice felt like he could trust Julius. The man didn't give off any malicious intent. If he had meant them harm, he'd had plenty of chances to act already.
But there was nothing he could do about it. No matter how many times it happened, he still couldn't get used to depending on others—much less entrusting them with his life.
As doubt gnawed at him, Ray stepped forward and gently placed a hand on his shoulder.
"So, what do you think? Should we give it a try?"
Ice hesitated, his eyes fixed on the horizon. "Honestly... I don't know. It all feels too good to be true. But at the same time, do we really have a choice? We never do."
Ray let out a dry chuckle and removed his hand. "Exactly. Let's just curse our luck and keep moving."
Ice sighed, long and heavy, then turned to face Julius. "So... where exactly are we going?"
Julius raised his head, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Toward the sun, of course."
Chapter 16
After a brief discussion, they decided to set off without delay. It had only been a few minutes since Ice and the others had resumed their walking, so he still felt relatively fresh for now.
Julius and Natasha moved as if they could march forever, as long as someone tossed them a piece of meat from time to time. Ice felt like they could push through for at least two days straight.
But that was something the group couldn't even consider at the moment, given Celestia's low stamina, Ray's injury, and his own near-nonexistent resistance to the heat.
The temperature didn't seem unbearable at first glance, mild even, but Ice couldn't stand it. The moment he stepped out from the shade of the trees, his head felt like it was about to boil, as if he were melting from the inside out.
And once again, he seemed to be the only one affected.
"Why do we have to go toward that?" he muttered under his breath, glaring at the distant light on the horizon.
When Julius had said they were heading "toward the sun," Ice's heart had skipped a beat. For a second, he'd almost believed he meant the real sun, blazing in the sky like a death sentence.
But no. It was just a direction. Probably.
Still, ever since waking up in this strange place, Ice had lost all sense of reason. He wouldn't have been surprised if someone told him they had to climb a mountain or build a ladder to reach the sun.
"How long will it take?" Ice asked with a grimace.
"I'd say three days... well, 'days.' You know what I mean," Julius replied after a moment of thought.
Ice swiped at the sweat stinging his eyes, his hand trembling.
"Hang in there, Ice. Just three more days. Three days until you meet your destiny."
And so, they continued their march.
They had already cycled between walking and resting six times, and by their estimation, nearly three days must have passed. The destination had to be close.
It had to be, because Ice was nearing his limit.
Though he had gradually adapted to the harsh environment, he wasn't growing stronger. He was resisting. Enduring. But his willpower was beginning to fray.
"Why does the heat affect me like this...?"
He couldn't figure it out. There had to be a reason his body reacted this way. The only link he could think of was his name: Ice.
He hadn't thought much of it when he first said it. It had felt natural. Obvious. But now... maybe there was something more to it. Maybe he was cold, in some way that truly mattered.
"You okay?" Celestia asked, concern flickering in her eyes.
"I'll manage," Ice replied, pressing a hand to his forehead.
"Let's take a break. We'll need our strength later," Julius said, bringing the group to a halt.
They stopped without complaint.
Quietly, they gathered and prepared what would likely be their last meal with Julius inside the prison. The mood had lightened somewhat.
A fragile trust had begun to form between them. Even Natasha, once fierce and guarded, now seemed less hostile. She no longer looked at them like prey and even mumbled the occasional thanks when they offered her meat.
Everything seemed to be going smoothly, except for Ray.
He stood apart, leaning silently against a tree, clearly troubled. Something was gnawing at him. He didn't understand his own actions, didn't recognize the person he was becoming.
It had all started when he met Ice and Celestia. He still didn't know why he had taken such a risk to help them. He had never been the type to gamble his life for strangers, yet here he was.
In the end, maybe meeting them had been the luckiest thing that ever happened to him. But still... it wasn't the result that haunted him. It was the reason.
He hadn't known how useful they'd become when he chose to help. So why had he done it?
At least in the fight against the beast, Ice's logic had been flawless, and Ray's decision to follow could easily be chalked up to a fear of dehydration outweighing the fear of death.
That, he could justify. But everything else?
"Why...?"
The more he thought about it, the less sense it made. He was sure all his courage had left him. After all, he had been the one who killed him...
"Hey. You don't usually zone out like that."
Ray's eyes widened. He hadn't realized Ice was watching him. He was sure his face had remained neutral, no expression, no movement, so how had Ice known?
"If you keep this up," Ice said, casting a quick glance at Natasha, "you're going to get us all killed."
Ray narrowed his eyes and raised a finger to his lips. "Careful what you say. There's no proof."
Ice shrugged, unimpressed. "Suit yourself. Just don't drag us down."
Ray gave a faint smirk as they rejoined the group.
It had been rare, but lately they'd experienced a bit of peace. No pitch-black corridors to flee from, no desperate battles against impossible odds, just a slow, steady march toward freedom.
And then Ice stopped in his tracks. His body stiffened. His eyes darkened, not with rage, but with something deeper. Something ancient. A primal fear.
Ray also came to a halt, frowning. "What now?"
Ice didn't answer. His expression remained unchanged. His gaze was locked.
Ray looked around, unsettled. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary.
But Ice could feel something. No — he could sense it, like a pressure building in the air.
And then it appeared.
Right behind Natasha, without warning, without a sound, as though it had always been there and they were the intruders, stood a creature made of light.
It had the shape of a large humanoid, its form glowing with a pale, whitish brilliance.
For a fleeting moment, one might mistake it for an angel.
But that grin. That monstrous grin, filled with jagged teeth and malice, shattered any illusion of divinity.
Paradoxically, its light didn't brighten the surroundings. It darkened them, as if it swallowed the sun wherever it passed.
Julius and Natasha reacted instantly, their faces twisting in alarm. Julius tried to rise, preparing for a confrontation, but before he could even stand fully, Natasha was struck.
A single, brutal blow sent her flying through the air, crashing violently into the terrain. And just like that, she was out of the fight.
Julius stepped forward to defend them, frantically scanning for a plan, while Celestia, overtaken by panic, had already taken off running.
Ray turned to flee as well, but stopped when he noticed something.
Ice wasn't moving.
Ray stared at him. "What are you doing? Run!"
Ice's eyes stayed fixed on the creature. His voice was steady, low.
"I can't."
He took a step forward, gaze unwavering.
"It's here for me."
"Ray, take Celestia and get away. Please," Ice said quietly, his voice firm but trembling beneath the surface.
Ray hesitated.
Celestia, who had heard his words as she fled, came to a sudden halt. She turned around and rushed back toward them, eyes wide, her breath uneven.
"No! I won't leave you!" she cried, her voice breaking as tears welled up. "Why do you always have to play the tragic hero? Come on, Ray, say something!"
Ice didn't respond. He simply looked at Ray, silently pleading. His eyes held a strange serenity, filled with determination, but his hands, clenched behind his back, were still shaking.
"Please," he said again, barely above a whisper.
Ray looked down, jaw clenched. Then, without another word, he grabbed Celestia and swiftly hoisted her onto his shoulder. He knew Ice well enough to understand that his decision had already been made and that wasting even one more second might cost them everything.
Their eyes met for a fleeting moment. Ice gave a small nod.
That was the last thing Ray saw before turning and running.
He bolted without looking back, Celestia pounding her fists against his back and screaming his name. His expression was distant, almost hollow, and his legs trembled with each step. Yet he pushed forward.
Just before vanishing into the shadows, he whispered.
"I told you I wasn't."
...
A few seconds had passed since their argument. The creature, since the moment it had struck Natasha, remained completely still. Watching them. Almost as if it were letting the moment settle, giving them time to comprehend its presence.
Ice didn't know why or how, but the instant he had laid eyes on it, or rather the instant he had sensed it, a terrible certainty settled in his chest.
That beast was here for him.
One of them would not leave this place alive. He couldn't run. He couldn't hide. It was as though it had crawled out from the depths of his own soul.
It was his mirror.
...
Jilius narrowed his eyes, watching the creature intently.
'What the hell is an Apostle of Light doing here?' he thought grimly.
The first creature they sent was tailored to match both the prisoner's crime and the threat level they posed.
Most newcomers, even the more dangerous ones, started off fighting brainless monsters, creatures with no will, but slowly escalating strength.
But this? This wasn't just unusual. It was almost insane.
That kid didn't even know how to use essence properly. Not that he even knew what it meant... And they're already sending something like that after him?
Even he had never faced anything of this caliber before. By his estimation, he would need to ascend two or three more levels before facing against a cursed like this, counting even the nomber of time he had already slain his miror.
But that didn't change anything. Julius had long since stopped assigning meaning to his own life. All that remained was his duty: to carry on the legacy given to him. And for that… he needed someone like Ice.
There was something about the boy that inspired confidence, something unshakable. That confidence had only grown when he watched Ice staying behind, even when it bordered on suicide, just to give his sister time to escape.
Even now, despite everything, he saw a flicker in Ice's eyes, something Jilius himself had lost long ago. There was only a thought in his head. He will live. And for that he would fight. And if the fight was destined to conclude with his doom. Then he would die. It was that simple.
'That's right. That's why we've made it this far,'
The essence around Jilius shifted. He tightened his grip on his sword. His stance sharpened. Every muscle in his body was coiled, ready to strike. His strenght was soaring like an arrow as his life was slowly decreasing.
The Apostle noticed the change immediately. Its gaze snapped to Jilius. Although Ice was clearly its primary target, it seemed intent on eliminating any potential threats before ending the reason for it's existence.
Its smile widened.
They were about to clash.
In the blink of an eye, the Apostle bent its knees and vanished from view, then reappeared inches in front of Jilius. He had no time to react. A crushing blow landed squarely on his forehead, sending him flying through the air like a broken doll.
His body slammed into a tree with a sickening thud. But Jilius rose, as if nothing had happened.
Blood streamed from a deep gash on his forehead. He reached up and removed his glasses, one of the lenses shattered, a shard lodged deep into his eye.
'That should do it,'he thought coldly.
That single exchange was enough to confirm what he already knew: he was no match for the beast.
Even if it was a bewitched at the first floor. Facing an Apostle, one of those essence-born monsters capable of wielding raw energy like an extension of their body, was a lost cause.
His strenght wasn't enough. And worse this time he didn't have his shadow in his back. Natasha was stunned on the floor.
He glared at the Apostle as it lunged at him again, this time sending a wave of concentrated light hurtling from its right arm. The attack aimed to finish him off.
But this time, Jilius ducked. The blast tore through the air just above his head.
With a grunt, he retaliated, his blade slashing across the Apostle's chest before he immediately leapt back to retreat.
At first, it seemed as though the strike had done nothing, except for a strange light flickering across the Apostle's chest. But the blow had definitely landed. The contorted expression on its face, and the sudden absence of that maniacal grin, were proof enough.
Jilius straightened, steadying his breath as he prepared for the next attack. But time was against him.
His vision was still adapting to the half-darkness. Worse, he was no longer merely using his essence, he was burning it. Every second that passed brought him closer to his limit, to the end of his épopée.
The streaks of gray spreading through his hair were a clear sign of that cost.
"I've seen worse," he muttered with a dry chuckle.
Despite it all, the pain, the odds, the inevitability, he stood tall, a sword in hand and fire in his eyes. He would face the bewitched apostle without hesitation, with unwavering confidence in his own strength.
After all, he wasn't just anyone.
He was the one they called Jilius the Great.