Northern took a shard of the crystal he had broken from before and offered it to the Night Terror.

The proud hellion sneered at him. Although weak, it still had its guard up around Northern.

'I'm disappointed. I thought we became comrades the last time we fought together." Northern contorted his face into a look of pain.

Night Terror let out a grunt and with its claws, picked the little shard from Northern's palm.

Then Northern pointed his hand into his mouth, "It's supposed to go in there…"

The monster looked at him for a second.

Dried scars of brutal torture ran across his skin, the fierce and powerful flames in its eyes had now become faint.

Although Northern had removed all the shards, the disgusting veins still ran across its body and were pulsating.

'I hope taking the crystal does help.'

So far, so good; it had worked for him, so this was the best first-aid idea he could come up with.

After taking it for himself, the pain… both in his legs and shoulder where he was stabbed, subsided and made his movements a little bit easier.

And as he expected, minutes after using it, Night Terror was able to stand on its own… even with the amount of injuries that scarred its intimidating form.

Although Night Terror still stood powerful, it looked more pitiful than intimidating. To Northern, at least.

Northern's clone arrived back at the chamber and stood before the two of them.

It happened so suddenly while Northern was still preoccupied with his thoughts about Night Terror.

If not, he would have immediately dismissed the clone when it was outside.

Now, a blanket of suspense fell on the atmosphere, it was too late to do anything.

Night Terror turned, and gave him a low, thick growl… the sparks of horror in its eyes almost reviving themselves.

"What? Don't forget who saved you. Forget the past and let's focus on the future, okay? Right now, we have to escape from this damn place and my clone just found out there's no secret tunnel or safe escape."

Even after speaking, Night Terror's eyes stayed on Northern for a few seconds.

The two stared at each other in absolute silence, then Northern sighed and face palmed himself.

'What am I even doing talking to a monster?'

Night Terror groaned and walked forward, it paused a few steps later and looked at the blinking Northern. Then let out another growl, gesturing its head for Northern to follow.

Dazed, Northern picked his feet and followed closely behind the monster.

Of course, if anyone would know a safe escape route. It had to be the strongest monster in this place… well, second strongest…or was it third, fourth or tenth strongest?... Since several Night Terrors now existed.

Northern swallowed his spit and silently walked behind the powerful back of the monster.

Night Terror led without looking back and Northern found that surprising.

He and this monster in question had once been enemies, in fact, he still burned with a semblance of vengeance towards it. And yet it was showing its back to him like this.

'Is he not scared of dying… or does it trust me now?'

Northern directed a mocking chuckle at himself. It was wild and endearing to think an ultimate soldier such as Night Terror would trust him.

Or maybe he was getting emotionally attached?

'I should check myself… if I am like this towards monsters, what will happen when I get out of this hell and start socializing with humans…?'

The thought of going out of the rift…

Northern had chosen not to entertain such thoughts since coming to this place.

Even though he would do anything to survive, he kind of didn't want to jinx it by filling his head with thoughts of what would happen next.

Or where the others were.

And where exactly had they all been teleported to?

He was just going to tackle things one at a time. For now, surviving this hell took priority.

'Survival mode on!'

Northern mused with a little shameful smile as he followed behind the Night Terror.

His eyes climbed up the massive back of the monster.

'...still, it sure is one hell of a monstrosity.'

Now, he didn't feel so bad that he was beaten hands down by Night Terror.

Although he would repay it at all means, even if that was the last thing he did before he died.

They walked through a cave tunnel with endlessly curling dark paths without taking a rest.

At some point, Northern wondered if Night Terror knew where it was going or was just walking aimlessly without a purpose.

He began doubting if Night Terror actually communicated with him the other time or if he had been the one that had imagined it.

Or maybe the poor monster was simply lost… and had lost them both.

Within the whirlpool of those thoughts, Northern followed without a single complaint.

And in due time, a dot of grey light appeared before their eyes, widening with each step they took.

Northern even felt like running towards it but that would mean overtaking the Night Terror.

He admired the monster for its brave decision to walk in front but he… would… never!

Turn his back to a monster that had killed him once? No, that was impossible.

The excitement of 'seeing a light at the end of the tunnel' could hold on a few minutes more.

He wouldn't jeopardize his life and foolishly attempt to trust a monster.

As Northern and Night Terror came out of the tunnel, a grey sky overlaying, a seemingly endless expanse of brown lush sprawled out before their eyes.

'Where is this place again?' Northern wondered.

The rift was so large that he was beginning to wonder whether it was really a rift.

Was it really possible for a rift to be as large as the current one he was in? Northern couldn't even begin to count the amount of places that he had been to.

Yet the Kingdom of Red Mine was the only settlement of monsters that stood within the vast and hellish realm.

It was hard to believe.

Northern spread his arms into the air, feeling the soft brush of the wind against his skin.

Immediately, he wrinkled his nose and stepped back—the wind came with a rancid odor that disgusted his stomach.

He exhaled a second later and looked around, safe the disgusting smell of the air… he managed to make it out.

A cold smile fell on his face as he whispered to himself,

"Finally, for the first time in a while… I'm free."