Besides the Transmigrators, everyone looked at Amon with expressions of disbelief and shock. This was the leech? As the realization sank in, that this young man had orchestrated the doom of the Lord of the Dead, they began to consider other things. How did he possess so many memories? How had he defeated the skeleton army alone? And how had he made the bone spears vanish?

He offered no explanations. Instead, he simply told them it was time to rest, since another fight awaited them tomorrow.

After Luna healed their injuries and they regained their stamina, the group set out toward a strange and unsettling place: a ruined cathedral with the statue of an unknown goddess inside. Light only touched the statue and the entrance. Beyond that, in the vast main hall, tenebrous darkness reigne: cold, oppressive, and unyielding.

Here, Amon finally sat down to brainstorm another plan. This time, how to deal with the Dark Knight. He couldn't remember its exact name or why Sunny had such bitter enmity with it in the novel, but he did recall one thing: if he wanted to steal Weaver's Mask, the knight had to die.

Another factor loomed as well. Nephis's cohort and Amon's companions stood on opposing sides. Their alliance was fragile, perhaps temporary. In the end, they might become mortal enemies. So, once the knight was slain, Amon intended to seize that crimson gem, whatever it truly was, the one that had allowed Saint to become a demon. With it, he would cripple Sunny's shadow, one of the deadliest fighters in the Dark City.

But by doing so, Amon would also shatter the progress Sunless had made in the original timeline. He wasn't naïve, Sunny was spiteful, petty, and disillusioned. A man like that never forgot grudges. Which meant… one day, they were destined to clash.

And so, Amon resolved to prepare. Not just for Sunny, but for all the top dogs of this world. If he laid out his plans properly, he wouldn't have to deal with any unexpected variables. Hopefully.

There was another thing to consider. Amon stopped at the edge of the chasm, inhaled deeply, and grimaced at the faint stench.

"Gas… this will work."

"What will work?"

Amon froze for a moment, then forced a polite smile as he turned to Seishan.

"Nothing important," he said smoothly, straightening his back with a faint sigh.

Seishan gave him a skeptical look but chose silence. A few seconds dragged into what felt like hours before Amon shook his head, breaking the tension as they continued walking.

"What's your problem?" he asked casually.

Seishan tilted her head, her gaze cold and indifferent.

"I don't like you being with Luna."

The fuck? Amon almost stumbled. That's the problem? Girl, I've known Luna since I was eight or nine. I don't even remember exactly. You've known her for, what, two months? And this is the nonsense you're spitting?

Of course, he didn't say that. Instead, he narrowed his eyes slightly, his expression calm and composed.

"I see… and why is that?"

"Because I don't like you."

"…"

Amon blinked, staring at her in bewilderment. For once, he was genuinely baffled.

"If this is about my reputation, you should know those are just rumors. Just because I don't enjoy brawling like some barbarian doesn't mean I'm weak. You've seen enough to know that by now."

For a brief moment, Seishan's mask slipped. Wariness flashed across her face before she composed herself again.

Dangerous… she thought. He's too unpredictable. There's no pattern, no consistency, and yet his tactics are brilliant. He's deceitful, cunning... Illogic and logic woven together seamlessly. Does he simply act on whim, improvising as he pleases? If so… that's a terrifying trait to have.

"I understand now that I misjudged you because of rumors… Still, you're too much of a wildcard. And Luna is one of the Bloodsisters now. Whether I've known her for two months or two years, it doesn't matter. She's one of us."

Amon nodded as if he understood, but deep down... The fuck? Just two months? I mean, Medici and I became friends in two hours... Sigh, Whatever.

"I see… And what makes you think you can make her choices?" He tilted his head, flashing her a mischievous smile. "You're not even stronger than her. We both know it. Luna's the strongest Sleeper in Dark City."

Seishan pressed her lips together, her expression not one of envy, but of quiet concern.

"Perhaps she is. And no, I can't make her choices. Still… I can't shake the feeling that you might betray us at any given moment."

Amon nodded at her again, then froze. Wait… why am I nodding? Why would I betray Luna? He sighed inwardly, hiding the flash of indignation behind his calm face.

"I get what you're saying," he admitted softly, his monocle glinting as he looked her in the eye. "But let's be reasonable. She was mine long before you appeared."

Seishan frowned, but then a faint, predatory smile touched her lips. Her sharp eyes locked with his mischievous ones.

"Then give me a reason to trust you. What's your intention with Changing Star's cohort? Did you lie about the shard memories? Why would you agree to their expedition if the shards are already in your possession?"

Ah, so that's what this is about. Amon thought, walking on with a humorous smile.

"It's a prank."

Seishan blinked. "Excuse me?"

He grinned, lacing his fingers behind his head as though he hadn't just admitted something ridiculous.

"They're already in my possession, correct. Now that we have Starlight's shard… sorry about that, but I needed you in the game. That was the only way. As for Changing Star and her merry band of worshippers? Let's just say they'll be chasing my tail all across the forgotten shore and come back empty-handed. Heh heh."

Seishan's eyes widened in disbelief, even a touch of horror. Wait… does that mean...?

"Are you insane? They might die out there. It's a journey thousands of kilometers long, filled with nightmare creatures. And you sent them chasing after something you already had? That's your 'prank'? Months of traveling, bleeding, fighting for their lives... only to find out it was all for nothing? That the grand purpose they believed in was built on your… deceit?"

Amon shrugged, bursting into laughter.

"Now that you put it like that… it's pretty funny, isn't it? Heh heh."

But those who heard his words didn't find them funny, they found them horrifying. It was cruel and awful. For Amon, it was just a prank; casual, effortless, and inconsequential. For the others… they had endured literal hell, the Forgotten Shore, all for nothing.

In that moment, it became terrifyingly clear: Amon didn't even need to fight you, didn't need to face you. He could kill you from thousands of kilometers away with nothing but cunning, deceit, and a few well-placed words. His mind alone was a weapon, more lethal than any powerful Aspect ability.

The group exchanged uneasy, disturbed glances. The weight of what they'd realized hung over them like a storm.

Finally, Kido stepped forward, brow furrowed. "And what's the guarantee that we don't end up like them? How can we trust you?"

"Just trust, dude." Amon shrugged lightly, tilting his head, voice softening with mock humility.

"I don't believe your words." Kido snapped, suspicion dripping from her tone.

"just believe, motherfuc... Ahem… I mean…" Amon muttered, irritated.

Luna sighed, exasperated, as everyone else gave him skeptical, wary looks. Medici laughed, shaking his head at the absurdity of it all while observing his cohort.

Amon's expression shifted. The playful glint faded, replaced by a solemn melancholy. His eyes, once sharp with mischief, turned distant and cold, colder still with each passing second.

"My little brother once told me…" he sighed , his voice growing more wistful:

"In times of revelry, many will recall your name. And, In times of misery, only a few will keep you near. But the years will pass, and then you will see who's truly worthy to be called a brother."

He paused, smiling brightly as he looked back.

"So… we see when the time comes. Time shows us everything, after all."

They remained silent, tension thick in the air until Medici suddenly laughed and kicked a loose stone down the path.

"Fine, fine, calm down, guys," he said with a wide grin. "I know my lil' bro might be… eccentric, but he's on our side. Trust me, this guy wants nothing more than to get out of here so he can lie on a couch and play games all day. That's how much of a lazy bum he is."

Amon stared at Medici blankly. This was supposed to help, right? RIGHT? …Whatever. Doesn't matter. Let's change the subject.

"So," Amon asked, adjusting his monocle with a faint smile, "what will you all do when we're back in the waking world?"

That caught everyone's attention. For a moment, silence stretched between them as each thought about it.

Seishan was the first to speak, her tone calm but resolute.

"I'll return to Ravenheart. Then I'll begin preparing for my ascension as soon as possible. And… I'll see my mother and sisters again."

Everyone nodded it made sense. She was a princess; responsibility was in her blood. And there was nothing wrong with longing for family, either.

Kido sighed, conjuring a strange fruit that looked like an apple, though it clearly wasn't. She bit into it before speaking, her voice lighter than usual.

"I'll move in with Gemma. I think it'd be pleasant to have our own home. Maybe even a garden. Who knows? Could be nice."

Luna's eyes lit up with quiet interest.

"A garden… That's cool. I'd like one of my own someday. It sounds… peaceful."

Gemma scratched the back of his head, smiling sheepishly.

"Yeah. Peace would be nice. But…" He paused, his tone turning solemn, "I also plan to spread the word of the Great Mother."

The group stared at him in silence. Even Kido looked at him in disbelief, though her expression quickly softened. She already knew this side of him, he'd spoken to her before about the strange goddess he'd discovered.

Then their gazes shifted to Kai. He rubbed the back of his neck, a faint smile creeping onto his face, though his cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

"…I'm thinking about becoming an Avatar Singer."

"…"

"…What?" Kido finally asked.

Kai looked down, fiddling with the strap of his bow. For a moment he seemed ready to shrink into himself until Amon's eyes lit up in recognition.

"Ahh, of course," Amon said, snapping his fingers. "The music competition, right? Judged purely on skill. Might be the perfect way to announce your return after being trapped here for years. Pretty cool, actually. And if they don't clap... well, I'll just steal-"

"Amon!" Luna snapped, glaring at him.

Amon only smiled creepily, unbothered. The others exchanged weirded-out glances, but Kai froze, staring at him in shock. That was exactly what he'd been imagining… down to the detail.

"…Thanks, boss," he muttered, both grateful and unsettled. Then, quickly, he tried to redirect. "But what about you guys?"

He turned to the legendary trio, curiosity shining in his eyes. The others leaned in too, intrigued to hear what the strongest among them would say.

Medici was the first to speak, yawning lazily. "Me? I'll gather the strongest hunters in the Dark City, maybe start my own clan or organization, depends on how things look in the waking world. And after that…" He smirked. "I'll start preparing for the Second Nightmare."

Seishan nodded approvingly. A pragmatic answer. Ambitious, but grounded. Perhaps she could bring him into Ravenheart. There was always a possibility…

While Seishan was lost in her thoughts, Luna exhaled softly, the sound pulling Seishan's attention back.

"I'll probably go to Ravenheart with the other bloodsisters," Luna said at last.

Seishan's lips curved into a rare, genuine smile. There was warmth in her eyes, as though Luna's words had confirmed something she'd been waiting to hear.

"And I'll probably go with Amon in the waking world," Luna added, her tone light, but steady.

Amon raised a thumb with mock seriousness.

"No problem… though I'm still homeless, so I gotta stay in the academy. Gee, I'm not even the cool kind of homeless dude like Toji."

Luna's laughter chimed, sweet and airy, echoing across the ruined streets. For a brief, fragile moment, Amon let himself close his eyes and listen. Her voice washed over him like sunlight breaking through clouds, peaceful and grounding. Eh, Luna's voice was always too beautiful for this world.

But then Luna tilted her head, and with a matter-of-fact calmness that made it even stranger, she went on:

"Yes… and I'll probably infect myself with all kinds of diseases to experiment on my immortal body. Maybe I'll start experimenting on plants as well. Who knows? If I can help them reproduce faster, I might recover the fauna of our world that was destroyed in the nuclear war."

The silence that followed was thick, almost comical. Everyone just… stared. Seishan's brow furrowed, concern flashing beneath her composure. Kido blinked, utterly baffled.

And Gemma... uhmm, he looked at her with shining eyes, his expression twisted into reverence rather than horror. To him, Luna's manic hunger for research was proof of her selfless devotion: a woman willing to suffer so humanity could have food and forests again. A saint of the goddess, in the flesh.

Luna glanced at Amon with a bright, mischievous smile, then slipped behind him and wrapped her arms around his torso. Her cheek rested lightly on his shoulder as he let out a long, resigned sigh.

"Can't you walk on your own?" he muttered.

"I don't want to. And I'm just a girl," she said, her voice lilting with feigned innocence.

Amon kept his gaze forward, lips twisting in mild displeasure, though he didn't push her off. Luna only leaned closer, her breath brushing his ear as she whispered:

"Hm? You used to like feeling my chest pressing against your back before… didn't you?"

He shook his head, suppressing another sigh. Back then, yeah... He had been a horny ahh kid. But those days were gone. He was twenty-one when he transmigrated, three years had already slipped by here, and technically he was twenty-four now. Luna was the same, though older by a year. Medici, twenty-six. Funny how the numbers stacked up, but they meant little in this place.

"I'm not a kid anymore," he said flatly. Then, almost as an afterthought, he added with lazy curiosity, "…though I always wondered what it'd be like if you sat on my face. Just curious, really."

Luna froze for half a heartbeat, then broke into a peal of laughter. She kissed his cheek quickly before hopping off his back.

"Hm… I might consider it, if you manage not to cause too much trouble."

Amon shrugged, stifling a yawn. Before he could fire back, Luna suddenly blinked, as if something had slipped her mind. Her eyes widened.

"Oh, right! What about you? What will you do in the waking world?"

Hands shoved into his pockets now, Amon strolled ahead, voice low and dry.

"Who knows… Maybe I'll try my luck teaching brats in the academy. Or maybe I'll be a detective." His shoulders rolled in a lazy shrug. "If that doesn't work… fuck it. Fuck the job, fuck the government, I'll just start pulling heists."

***

[A/N: Alright, a small slice-of-life chapter before the big battle. I've always wanted to explore other characters besides the main cast, to be honest. Gemma and Kido were too tragic, both of them died in the Forgotten Shore. I've got some surprises for you guys, too. And lol, Amon really sent Nephis and the others to the Hollow Mountains for nothing, heh.

Anyway, we got a glimpse of the dreams and aspirations of our cohort and even a bit of romance. Yeah, Amon might end up as a professor or maybe a detective, wouldn't that be interesting? Luna's going to Ravenheart, Medici is starting his own clan, and Amon will have his own clan and followers too, but not as many as Luna or Medici. His followers? Tricksters, pranksters, thieves, scammers, adventurers… mostly messed-up guys, some criminals.

Pay attention to the hints! I'm foreshadowing things from chapter one, just like in my previous fic, where a character mentioned in the third chapter gets killed hundred chapters later.

Now, another topic: Does Cassie have any relevance to the story after the Tomb of Arie? Or any of the other cohort members after Sunny and Nephis became Sovereigns? Let's rank the cohort's performance. Who was the best?

1. Kai

2. Jet

3. Effie

4. Cassie

That's it for now, you corrupted bunch. Enjoy the meal!]

***