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Chapter Text

“Protect the Chief…”

Nightingale’s voice was shortly cut off.

The Chief of MBCC was commanding the battle from afar when he suddenly collapsed. There was no direct hit, no physical attack, he just locked eyes with the Corpseborne then grimaced in agony as if it had directly gnawed into his mind and spirited his soul away, bypassing all layers of defense set up by the Sinners and FAC soldiers.  

Losing the guidance of the Chief, the whole battlefield became chaotic.

Some tried to wake him up in vain. Others hysterically attacked the culprit, only to find it also stayed motionless, its multiple eyes went blank. Nightingale ordered some FAC personnels to don their protective gears and approached it. However, before they could touch the Corpseborne or do anything, a gust of strong wind blew across the field, reducing the monstrous body to ashes.

“It cannot die this easily…”

Nightingale’s intuition was proved to be correct when the tracking equipment all buzzed to confirm the Corpseborne was still alive, but these sensors failed to pinpoint its exact location. It was as if… it sacrificed its physical body to escape and took the Chief’s soul away with it.

Everyone unanimously agreed that the Chief's safety shall be prioritized first. Moreover, without Chief around, it was near impossible to track down the monster. The mission was immediately terminated and the team retreated, taking Chief back to MBCC for resuscitation and treatment.

Chief still remained in comatose even though he was examined and treated by various methods by the most prestigious doctors and physicians from MBCC, Eastside, the 9 th Agency and even Paradeisos, as they did not want their “convenient tool” broken so early. Aside from being unable to wake up, his vital signs are normal, it was as if he was just immersed in a deep sleep. The researchers were quite perplexed by this strange occurrence but no matter how hard they tried; they couldn’t dig up any useful information. Dr. Iron set up a feeding tube system to provide nutrients for his body and Ms. Anne, the head nurse, regularly massaged his limbs to maintain the flexibility of his joints and avoid muscle-weakness. The whole MBCC was drowned in worry, anxiety and self-blaming and Adjutant Nightingale was trying her best to manage the bureau’s daily operations as well as taking care and calming down the Sinners.

An alarm shouted out to the Bureau as FAC’s task force stationed at the Broken Frontlines recorded the abnormalities of data in DisSea. The Illusory Moon suddenly became highly active and the Corruptors were restless and began swarming to FAC’s posts.

While in MBCC, the Sinners with deep connection to DisSea, namely NOX, Dreya and Mantis, all experienced unusual reactions. NOX vaguely “heard Chief calling for her from the abyss”. Dreya caught a glimpse of Chief “standing between the rift of the crimson moon”. And Mantis saw him “snatched away by that thing” and “thrown into a dark swamp”. They reported to Nightingale at the same time and this startled her as well.

“Maybe it is because you are deeply concerned for him and miss him, and with the connection of the shackles, you are having collective hallucinations. Please calm down and go back to your rooms for some rest. If there is anything new about the Chief, I will tell you immediately.”

The Adjutant tried her best to coax the agitated Sinners, she didn’t want their intense emotions and worries for the Chief to cause them to become unstable again. It would be disastrous if these extremely powerful S-rank Sinners couldn’t control their emotions, broke down and succumbed to Mania. Without the Chief around, no one could safely contain them without a heavy price. Also, if the Chief wakes up, upon learning what happened, he would be very heartbroken and disappointed, as well as blame himself for this, because the Chief was a gentle and kindred soul, caring for both the normal people and Sinners alike, and regarding all of them as his cherished “companions”.

“I must do my best to manage MBCC and take care of the Sinners on his behalf, this is my duty as his Adjutant and also his friend”, she thought. Then, Nightingale escorted the Sinners back to their room to rest and she returned to deal with the overwhelming matters that MBCC was facing. However, she could not shake off the thought about the DisSea trio’s experience. Was it only a mere coincidence? Was it really just because of the shackles, like the last time Chief was in a coma at Drifter Camp? No… Her intuition was raising an alarm for her to find the connection between these incidents. The timing of their so-called “hallucination” overlapped with the report of abnormal surge of activities in DisSea and the Illusory Moon. Additionally, in their reports, she noticed that, in one way or another, were they describing the Illusory Moon and DisSea? If this was the case, it meant that… Chief’s unconscious state, the abnormalities in DisSea and the Sinners’ experiences, all of them were connected much more closely than what she and the experts had guessed. And if the connection could be proved, they might find a breakthrough to wake the Chief up…

Nightingale was lost in thoughts when a sudden ring beeping on her terminal. The guards and caretakers informed her in panic that when they came to check, NOX, Dreya and Mantis all fainted in their rooms and they had tried various ways, but still were unable to wake them up, just like what happened with the Chief… Not waiting for the calling person to finish, Nightingale immediately rushed to the infirmary to check the situation. In MBCC’s infirmary, the Sinners were lying unconscious on the beds, the atmosphere was tense and heavy, and the humming sounds of multiple equipment only added to the uneasiness. Their vital signs were normal, all the indicators and Mania level had been stable. One of the medics even said, “Maybe they have joined the Chief in his slumber…” The current situation, according to the researchers, is different from the Nightmare Space that the Sinners entered in their sleeps while the Chief was stuck in the Eternal Nightmare. It is much more complicated, therefore, everything must proceed with caution. 

Nightingale exhaled deeply, she had to calm down first, the MBCC needed her, the Chief needed her to be rational to manage everything. Then, she ordered the health department to continue monitoring the “patients” while she would inform the experts and higher-ups about the situation here.

From the bottom of her heart, she silently prayed that the Chief would wake up safely, and bring the Sinners back with him…

Chapter Text

“Where am…I?... Why I’m..here?”

Mantis finds herself in an open field. She is no longer “trapped” under a monotonous, cold concrete block in MBCC. Although Mantis is allowed to have her own “nest” in the Greenhouse of MBCC, she knows too clearly that the environment there is just an imitation. Everything in the Greenhouse, from the trees, the plants, vines, etc. to flowers, bushes, etc. is arranged, taken care of, decorated by human hands, not by the improvisational moments of Mother Nature in the wilderness. The clear sky above her head, the gentle breeze, the rustling grasses beneath her feets, and she can hear some buzzing sounds afar, all of them are so surreal, as if she is just daydreaming.

Mantis crouches down, adopting a defensive stance, then she quickly glances around to determine whether there are threats lurking here. She flares her scythe-like arms, the blades gleaming dangerously. Suddenly being thrown into a completely unknown environment, with no “companions” around, even the Chief that she is so familiar with and fond of is nowhere to be found, makes her become very alert and cautious. Earlier, when she was still at MBCC, she overheard the people in white saying that the Chief’s mind had been taken away somewhere. Maybe… This is the place where the monster hid the Chief. The thought of Chief being lost and in danger jolts her up.

“Chief… Where are you?...Stay calm, don't give in, I'll be right there to help you…”

She mumbles to herself, then, with great resolve, she soars up high to find the Chief, her cherished companion.

Mantis has traversed a long way but she is still unable to see a single soul in this desolate place. She flaps her wings, fluorescent dust scattering like an artist sprinkling colorful powders on her artworks. Mentioning artworks, this world really looks like an endless painting.

No matter how high or how far she flies, Mantis cannot find any living creatures or any changes in the scenery. The wind still gently blows, the sky is still clear, without a single cloud, the grass, the buzzing, etc. everything is like a bad drama forever stuck in a broken record. Nothing has changed and Mantis is no different from a clueless fly bumping its head everywhere to find a way out.

This world contains so many unknown and irrational things, which sparks the curiosity in her heart. Ever since her awakening of her own self, separating from the Mantis Queen, she has always been a curious child. And just like a new-born child opens her eyes the first time, everything in the world has been so intriguing to her. The heroic and cheerful scholar, who spent her own life chasing the Mutant Bugs and Apostles, in order to conquer the unknown and dispel the ignorance, now, even though she is not here anymore, her passion for exploration and discovery has been deeply etched into Mantis’ mind, as well as some of her knowledge and experience.

“I have… flown for a long time… Why... not hungry?”

In this place, Mantis notices that she doesn’t get exhausted or feel hungry either. Regularly confirming one’s physical status is an essential task for… for what? She can’t help but wonder. Sometimes, in her mind, there are fragments of knowledge and sentiments that she can’t grasp their origins, about survival in wilderness, about “companions”, etc. Since they are indeed very helpful for her survival in the extreme conditions inside Black Ring, it may be alright to keep these thoughts, she guesses. There was a time in MBCC, while watching a “wilderness survival show” on a box called “TV” in MBCC, she immediately realized the person in the program was endangering himself and there was a better way to do it. These fragments are like the bubbles in the sea of consciousness. They rise up to the surface from time to time, hitting her with a strange wave of nostalgia and helplessness, only to burst into thousands of tiny shards any time she tries to touch or grasp them. They come and leave on their whim, leaving her in hollowness and frustration. Only when the monitoring system notifies the Chief about her unstable emotions, and he comes to gently caress her hair and hug her, then she can feel the void in her is filled a little bit. While during her years wandering in DisSea alone, tormented by these irrational and strange thoughts, she had no one to comfort her, all she could do was to vent her irritation by tearing and slashing any unfortunate creatures that came across her. 

“Miss... the Chief… so much… Miss Kitty too… No food… Kitty will die… Have to hurry up…”

Mantis begins to feel impatient and nervous. She is deeply worried for the Chief’s safety as well as she misses “Kitty”, the Ragdoll cat, her birthday present from the Chief. Kitty is very cuddling and friendly. She loves to climb on Mantis’ body and cling to the spikes on her owner’s shoulders, as if to get the same vision as her owner’s. Then, after tiring herself from jumping from one shoulder of Mantis to another, Kitty will give a big yawn and fall to sleep soundly in her owner’s lap. Without her around, who would take care of Kitty for her?

Reminiscing about her cat prompts Mantis to think of a possibility. She realizes that the whole space and time here is unusual and has not changed a bit. 

“Am I…stuck… in a book?”

She remembers those picture books about wildlife and wilderness adventures that the Sinners in MBCC lent her to read and while she is clumsily flipping each page with her claws, Kitty will also stick her head between her arms, as if reading together with her. These books have lots of colorful drawings inside, the scene that never changes a bit, and the characters that cannot move. But for Mantis, the more pressing matter here is not whether she is trapped or not, but it is how to find the Chief and bring him to safety.

“Chief … is weak… Need to… find him soon… He is alone…Worried… Need to find him... and go back...”

Just when she braces herself to continue the search, Mantis hears some commotions far away. She immediately rushes to the source of the noise, then hides her head under a bush of grass to observe the other party. She doesn’t want to startle others because of her appearance, as well as it’s important to determine whether they are threats or not.

The noise she previously heard comes from a group of three creatures. Their bodies resemble those of the Mantises but some body parts look like human’s. They have a hard exoskeleton covering the entire body, insect wings and pairs of spear-like arms. One of them has a more prominent build than the other two, its burly body exhibits immense strength and sturdiness. Its arms extend into huge claws, which can easily tear a normal human into halves. The next one is more fragile, its slender body hovers in the air, crossing the slender arms and silently staring at the place Mantis is hiding. Somehow, even with her confused mind, Mantis still feels that this one’s look is quite…feminine. The last one is also the smallest one in the group. Besides the similar features with its “companions”, this one sports multiple eyes protruding from its head. 

“We... saw you… You can listen... to… our voice? Come here… Come here...”

The big one calls out to Mantis. Unable to hide herself any longer, Mantis slowly stands up, her eyes cautiously darting around to observe them. They lower their forearms and fully land on the ground to show that they mean her no harm. The “female” one holds out one of its arms to her and struggles to speak in a hoarse voice.

“Are you… looking for… companions?... Come with… us… We are… searching for… our companions… too…”

The last one is quite timid, its multiple eyes constantly moving around looking at Mantis. Then as if realizing something important, it flutters its wings and chirps merrily.

“@&$*&^$%@*@&....You…familiar… Smell… good…We met… before?”

Mantis can’t recall meeting these creatures. The Mantises in DisSea all look the same, except for their size, only her, as the Mantis Queen, has a humanoid body. And if she hasn’t seen them in DisSea, then seeing them in MBCC is totally impossible. However, much to her chagrin, after hearing the smallest one’s exclamation, the other two also get close to her, sniffing and nodding to each other. 

“Yes… indeed… You are… indeed… our long lost… companion…”

“Have you… forgotten… about us?... Poor thing… We… will take.. you back… to resume our… adventure…”

Strange as it is, Mantis finds herself replying to them.

“I can’t … I have to find… the Chief…He is…waiting for me…”

She is certain that she doesn’t know these creatures and they are not “like” her. Her mind is racing with full alarm, and she tries to maintain the distance and wariness. However, unbeknownst to her, deep in her heart, she is longing for them, or at least... what they used to be. That is why she unconsciously responds to them.

Sensing that she has lowered her guard a little bit, as well as being confident that she is the “companion” they are seeking for, the group of monstrous creatures become more chattier. Mantis prefers to spend her time brooding in silence, as the most effective hunter will stalk and strike his prey silently so it won’t be able to escape. These talkative creatures should have gotten on her nerves, but somehow, she doesn’t want to chase them away. 

“Come with…us… Join our… adventure… We have been…looking for you…a very long time…ago…”

“Where… have you…been…all this time? We miss you… a lot…You become…so beautiful…and strong…now.”

“Can we…go like before?... I can … “navigate”… and lead you out…Urgh…what is…navigate…?

The smallest one scratches its head in confusion, even it cannot understand its own words. 

Mantis sighed, and thought to herself. “They call me “scatterbrained” …but this one…is even worse…At least, I know…what I say…”

“Who… are you… searching for?... Your companion…is ours …We will… help you…”

“Yes, yes….I have…many eyes… I will…search for…you…”

“We go… find…together… Travel…together…Like before... ”

“Tell us…tell us…your trek… Trek?... Tell us…your doings… Your life... Your companions... We love to hear... your stories...”

…

And like that, Mantis finds herself dragged into this unusual group… in order to find her Chief, seek the way out and explore this strange world. 

Chapter Text

The scholar in white attire finds herself in a tidy room. There are various neatly organized books, telescopes, an armillary sphere on the desk, star charts hanging on the wall,... The usual mask covering in her face has disappeared, and she is not covered in filths of contamination. Looking into the mirror, she finds her appearance is her former self from a hundred years ago. The rings composed from unknown matter floating around her are also nowhere to be found. Looking down to her wrist, the red mark of the shackles has become so faint, to the point of barely visible. Her own appearance, garment and belongings in the rooms, etc. all show that…It certainly is a dream. Maybe, she has fallen asleep in her room at MBCC after many sleepless days, worrying for the Chief. 

“This must be me in the past… Maybe… With this dream, I can recall…who I was…”

Softly mumbling to herself, then Dreya looks outside.

Through the windows, she can see the warm sunlight sprinkling gold dust all over the yard below. The gentle breeze and the trees in the institute are whispering something to each other, by the language that is only known to themselves. The peaceful scene makes Dreya feel at ease. She comes closer to touch the windows, only to find in horror…

The half-split Illusory Moon is hanging in the sky. The sunlight that is embracing the whole yard is not coming from the Sun, but from the crimson Illusory Moon and looking closely, Dreya even sees tints of redness in the dust. She rubs her eyes, then readjust her monocle, and looks outside again. Nothing has changed. The crimson moon in the sky still opens its bottomless mouth, ready to swallow any unfortunate souls like hers into the abyss. Gazing at it, Dreya suddenly feels dizzy and helpless. She immediately rushes out of her room to get some air and sees a couple of people walking towards her. Dreya waves her hand to stop them to ask for some clarification, but awkwardly stops her hand mid-air. These “people”, the place where their face should be, is just a writhing gray mass. They seem to notice her and greet her warmly.

“Oh, isn’t it Dreya? How is your research? Have you found some breakthroughs?”

“Hey, are you sure you want to join that expedition? It’s suicide! Won’t you consider it again?”

“Never mind her. We cannot understand the “great mind” of those geniuses…” 

Waving “his” hand in dismissal, that figure leads the other two to go away. 

Dreya turns to look at their back. After walking several steps past her room, these strange figures gradually dissolve into a pool of gray mass then fade into nothingness, as if they haven’t existed in the first place.

Dreya walks along the corridor and sees many similar figures. She tries to talk to them or touch their face to no avail. Then, a figure wearing an exquisite robe steps out from its office. Judging from the attire, it should be her professor. 

Dreya is still hesitating when her “professor” notices her presence. Realizing Dreya’s nervous expression, it calmly approaches her.

“What’s the matter, Dreya? You look so pale, as if you have just seen a ghost. You should take some rest, always cooping yourself up in your room for the research is not good for your body and mind. Go get some fresh air, exercise or just sleep, refresh yourself. Sigh, okay okay, you come here because there are some things to discuss with me right? Tell me then, I will help you as much as I can. Come in, don’t be so tense.”

Although Dreya is barely able to recall her past, during the time at MBCC, the Chief and staff there have been helping her to find as much information as possible. She also looks for antique books, journals, writings,... of the previous era to learn more about her missing past. Talking with this “Professor” may help her unveil her own mystery, as well as the strange phenomenon outside.

Taking a deep breath, Dreya follows the invitation of the “Professor” and steps inside its office. 

The office has a great volume of books, charts, and astronomical equipment, as well as the portrait of that thing. However, when Dreya looks at it, the face in the portrait also distorts into a writhing mass, making her unable to see its real appearance. It prepares a cup of tea for her, but when Dreya wants to take a sip, the liquid inside the cup turns into crimson like blood. Horrified, she nearly throws the cup away, but the “Professor” nimbly catches it in time.

“Honestly, what makes you so work up? You are always the calm one, Dreya. Now tell me, what has been troubling you these days?

“Do you see…the thing…outside?”

“What thing?”

“The half-split…crimson moon…in the sky…”

Dreya tensely asks.

The “Professor” seems to be taken aback by her question. It tilts its head, looks outside then shakes its head resignedly.

“Dreya, listen to me. There is nothing strange, abnormal outside, no moon or whatsoever. On the other hand, you are the unusual one. You definitely need to rest now. You even have hallucinations… Don’t make my heart skip like that. I’m not that young like you guys. Rest and relax, you have your research and the expedition. You need to be healthy both body and mind.” Ushering Dreya out of its room, the strange figure holds some books in its hand, and walks to the opposite side of Dreya’s. Then, when Dreya turns back, it has already melted into nothingness. 

Dreya steps downstairs and on her way, she meets various similar figures. She stops by to ask them the same question about the Illusory Moon but the answer is always: “No, there is nothing there, just the normal Sun.” or “What is the Illusory Moon? Are you having a fever?” or worse, “That’s Miss Black Hole for you! Only she can see things that naked eyes like us cannot, haha!”.

“Miss Black Hole? Are they referring to me,...to my past self? Yes… indeed… This name somehow suits me… When I gaze into the abyss, the abyss is also gazing at me… Then I got assimilated even before I noticed…It seems…no one here can perceive the Illusory Moon… They don’t realize it exists in the first place…Am I the one having hallucinations, or they are? What is…the truth behind this…? Why am I the only one…can see the Moon? What is the meaning…of this dream?...How can I wake up from this?...No, the only answer lies in the problems itself… I must uncover the truth…of this realm…I must show them…the Illusory Moon…looming large on their heads…pretending to be their Sun… I must… see the true face of this world…”

She thinks to herself, her chest is burning fervently, she thirsts for knowledge, she yearns to embrace the truth, she would pursue all the secrets and unknowns in the world, even if she has to pay a heavy price or is devoured by the void, she still goes on without regrets. 

Especially things concerning the Illusory Moon and the Perishing Star.

“The astronomer loves the Moon most…” Her companion once said that.

And there was an ancient King, who madly fell in love with the Moon and the Moon Goddess, and became a lunatic. Did he witness and also fall in love with the Illusory Moon? Did it drive him insane or did it reveal to him the ultimate truth, that is far beyond the comprehension of trivial humankind? Was he really gone crazy or is it just that he is so wise that no one can understand? 

Dreya looks up to the sky. She gazes at the Illusory Moon, her eyes are brimming with an uncontrollable passion with a hint of lunacy.

“Yes… This is the…right place. The Illusory Moon, the distorted reality… Only I’m here with the …unknown that I desire to unearth most… If I can dig up all the secrets of this crimson moon…I may be able to find…the Perishing Star…Yes… This is my chance, my greatest chance ever…I will not forgo it…Never…”

With great determination bordering on madness, Dreya stares directly at the crimson moon as if declaring a challenge. The gap between two halves of the Illusory Moon twitches, it looks like the monstrous jaws preparing to lure her in to devour. It ecstatically whispers to her ears, beckoning her…

“Come here…To become one with the truth…”

Chapter Text

A sudden jolt wakes NOX up. The first thing appears in her vision is the gray crackled ceiling above her head. Looking around, NOX realizes that she is lying on a hospital bed, the windows on the right wall of the room have been broken by some sort of explosion, the curtain is fluttering, making her unable to view the outside clearly. She tries to sit up right but her body seems to be frozen at the place, the muscles stubbornly refuse to move an inch. She can’t use her power either. The notorious Sinner of Death is totally puzzled by her current predicament. However, there is one thing that she is certain of: She is not in MBCC anymore.

“This place looks like that nursing home… Why am I here again?...” NOX thinks to herself. 

“No…I don’t want this…This body…I want to walk around normally…” 

“Knock, knock. I’m coming in!”

A cheerful voice accompanied by some knocking sound at the door snaps her out of this train of thoughts. Some seconds pass, and a blonde hair maiden wearing the patient garb opens the room and walks straight to her bed. Strange enough, NOX can move her head now and she looks at the “intruder” to realize that…The blonde girl is none other than the original soul of her body.

“Hey, have you forgotten about me already?”, the girl chuckles.

NOX may lose many memories before becoming this self, but how can she ever forget Amber, the previous owner of the vessel named NOX.

“Are you here to…take back your body? Haven’t you already…departed forever?”

“Taking back the body? No, it’s yours now, why should I do that? I’m just here to check up, hmm, my little sister and let her get discharged. Are you ready?”

“Who is your little sister?”

“It’s you, of course.”

“Impossible. I’m not related to you by blood… Although…this body originally … is yours.”

“Because NOX is born from my body, I am taking you in as my little sister. Now, be good and listen to me, will you? This nursing home has been in desolation for so many years, no one is going to sign a discharge letter for you, so I guess that I will take things in my hands then.”

Amber walks over to the head of the bed and gently helps NOX to sit up. Following Amber’s action, NOX’s body gradually regains its movement, but she still cannot move around freely yet. There is a wheelchair that Amber previously pushed into the room, which NOX failed to notice. Amber supports NOX to step down from the hospital bed and sit into the wheelchair, then, she comforts NOX.

“Don’t worry, you have been sleeping for too long, so your body is still quite weak and stiff. It will recover later, but in the meantime, you will need to use this wheelchair. Just bear with it a little bit, I will take you to the outside world.”

NOX remains silent, there is nothing she can do now to stop Amber, this whole thing…must be a dream, she has long given up trying to understand all of this nonsense… Just bear with it, yes… When she wakes up, everything will end.

Amber happily pushes the wheelchair along a narrow and dark corridor. Cracks and spiderwebs are everywhere on the walls, the ceiling and the floors. They go past several tightly shut rooms, totally plunged in darkness. These rooms, their occupants must have perished in years of negligence or in the fateful explosion. There is no lightbulb on the walls either. The single source of light comes from ahead, but seems very far away. Amber’s footsteps show no sign of fatigue, still lightly dancing on the concrete floor of the nursing home. The soft “tap, tap” sound of her footsteps, combined with the monotonous gray walls and the dim corridor, have dulled all of NOX’s senses, made her head spinning, and for the first time, she nearly can't resist the urge to vomit.

When NOX is at her breaking point, fortunately, there comes Amber’s soothing voice. 

“Are you feeling unwell? It’s quite boring here as only us are left. But honestly, being able to walk around freely like this is like Heaven to me. How about you? Are you able to visit many new places with the Chief? Are you making more friends? Have you protected the Chief well?” 

NOX doesn’t want to reply. Instead, she closes her eyes, hoping to ease the dizziness. 

At this moment, she hears some whispers.

“So hungry…”

“I don’t want to die…”

“Help me…”

“I don’t want to become like that…”

“Mon…ster…”

“I’m not gonna die here…”

…

These whispers blend together, howling in her ears, like the wail from thousands of vengeful spirits. These are the voices of those killed by her own hands. They merge into a wisp of dark smoke, clouding her vision. She hears the call of the abyss again. NOX closes her eyes, her temples throbbing, her chest feels so heavy with an unknown emotion. She tries to unleash her power to no avail. Amber sighs and gently pat her head.

“It’s okay, don’t fret. They don’t mean any harm.” 

Then she turns to the shadow, as if talking with them.

“We will chat later, please give us sisters some private time, will you?” 

The shadow seems to understand her words, it disperses into multiple directions leaving Amber and Nox alone on the endless corridor again.

NOX can’t help but ask.

“Have you been…talking to them all the time? That’s why I rarely…hear those voices, isn’t it?”

“Uh-huh, yes. I was terrified at first, honestly. But there is nothing I, or we can do. We listen to each other, grieve together, get angry and fall into despair together. We accept each other’s pains, the longing for life, the unfulfilled wishes, etc. We recall our lives together. [][][] was betrayed by his people, he was furious and wanted to take his club back, but actually, what shattered his heart was not the loss of money or powers. It was the end of friendship built through countless hardships, only to be abruptly destroyed in unremorseful betrayal. [][][][] was not a greedy one, her only wish was to establish a stable business in EastSide, to better care for her family. [][] was a gentle boy waiting for his Mom to come back with food. Their family was a happy one, poverty hadn’t been able to take their smiles away… Only Mania did…. I have been listening to their stories, and I also share my life with them. Baring our wounds, grieves and regrets, finally, we can embrace each other, redeem ourselves, seek forgiveness and rest in peace. Finally, I can be free from the haunting voices, because they are not haunting anymore…”

Amber stops pushing the wheelchair. She gracefully walks to in front of NOX, squatting down, then calmly looks into her eyes.

“I have told you many things, now it’s your turn. Tell me, my little sister, do you truly wish to leave this place, to leave the darkness behind?”

NOX finds herself unable to speak, she doesn’t understand this strange feeling welling up in her chest. She thinks of the MBCC Chief, who is always gentle and cares for her, and teaches her many new things. She thinks of some Sinners from Syndicate, although they are afraid of her, the Grim Reaper of Sinners, they still try their best to accept her. She thinks of the Sun… Yes… She loves the Sun, loves to be the early bird to watch the plump and round Sun, full of vitality, rising from the skyline… Yes… She doesn’t like darkness… She wants to leave this place.

“I… I want to leave…this place.”

Hearing her answer, Amber smiles and nods. Her smile is so dazzling and radiant, and the source of light has been so far away up to now, suddenly appears too close, overlapping with Amber’s back, which makes NOX close her eyes in reflex.

Amber softy replies her with an “okay”, then presumes the pushing. 

A rusty door pops out from nowhere, and NOX sees herself pushed out of the darkness, to be in the sunlight.

She and Amber look back one last time, only to see the sign “Lakeside Home” becomes blurry and fades in the warm light.

Chapter Text

Mantis is traveling with the trio of monstrous creatures she met earlier. They seem to be very happy with her presence, chirping, clapping their wings merrily all the way. The burly one asks her.

“Tell me about… your previous travels… Haven’t seen you… for years… We want to… hear your… stories… Tell us… your lost companion… We will… help you search… And we will… go on… our adventure again…”

The other two also surround her, their eyes are blinking in excitement and concern.

Mantis feels so strange with herself, even she cannot believe that, one day, she also feels the “closeness” with other “people”, aside from the Chief of MBCC. She doesn’t know these creatures, she is cautious and wary towards them, she senses something…really odd with them… Her intuition and instinct honed through countless battles in DisSea has been alerting her since their arrival… Their appearance would certainly bring some essential changes in her, but in what way…she still can’t perceive yet. Why does she lower her guard when interacting with these creatures? Why does she feel so nostalgic and painful when seeing them? Why is she so eager to open her heart to them? Mantis cannot find a proper and rational answer for these questions no matter how hard she tries. As an excellent hunter, she has failed… But somehow, Mantis doesn’t feel disappointed, she just…wanted to be with them. Can’t remain silent any longer, she begins to tell them her story.

“I’m looking for… the Chief… He is… very weak… but gentle and brave… He takes me… to play…, pats my head… Monster took him… away… Chief is lost… I have to find… and help him…”

“Does that Chief… treat you… well?”

“Yes… He teaches me… lots of things…Brings tasty foods… But Chief… always works… so hard… I want to…help him… Sometimes… he just… looks at me… sadly… I’m sad… too… But don’t know … why…”

Mantis scratches her head in frustration, two antenna-like hairs of her fluttering, as if representing the anxiety in her heart.

“Don’t worry… We will help you…find him… Promise… Then… will… take you… back to … our home…”

“Home…? But I want to… return to… MBCC with… Chief…”

“That place… isn’t your home… You mustn’t… forget our home…”

“Is MBCC… my home?”, Mantis wonders. 

In MBCC, she can be with Chief, the only “companion” that she trusts and feels familiar with. She knows she is different from other people in MBCC. Their bodies are not protected by an exoskeleton like her, they are fragile and so are their hearts. Their behaviors and actions are irrational and they have endangered themselves plenty of times. Had they been thrown into DisSea, they would surely have become tasty meals for the Mantises. Even the Chief, the red spikes from his palms may be strong enough to hurt her, but his physique is so weak… Thinking of Chief makes her sigh unexpectedly.

Mantis ponders, “But, honestly, is MBCC my home? Do I belong to this place?”

She has been wandering in DisSea nearly all her life, then suddenly brought to MBCC. The Chief is also at MBCC, and she wishes to be with him, that was the reason why when the FAC troops and MBCC staff “arrested” her, she didn’t resist much. But this place…

“I hate being caged… I hate those in white coats touching me… I hate being stared at…”

The dull gray walls, the cold concrete ceilings, the strict regulations and rigorous schedule, the unnaturalness of the environment… all make her feel so oppressed and unfamiliar…

“But is it… really that bad?”

Besides the Chief, other people at MBCC are also quite nice to her. The kids were amazed with her speed, and entrusted her to the task of express delivery, which made her so proud of herself to be helpful to others. 

“Although later… all of them… got scolded… by the Chief… and they… must pay…. if I break things… It’s okay… then…”

There is a good boy named Kawa-Kawa. He is very interested in her survival skills, therefore, she taught him how to make a cocoon that could withstand storms and other severe weathers… 

“It would be… very useful… if Kawa-Kawa has… claws… like me… Chief said he… couldn't break out… himself… I need to …improve… it…”

Also, whenever she accidentally slashes open a large hole in the walls or the doors, the Adjutant only facepalms resignedly and shakes her head, then gently tells her to be more careful next time.

And then, there is her little furball…

“They are not… that bad… right? Then… it’s also okay… to stay at… MBCC… I guess?... But I want… to go out more… To the forest…again…”

The strange creatures silently follow her, not making a sound, as if they don't want to interrupt her thoughts. Suddenly, Mantis’s eyes light up, she has thought of something.

“Tell me… this place… Tell me… how can I… find Chief… and return…”

“This is… where you and us -”

The smallest one attempts to talk but it is interrupted by the more feminine one.

“I will… tell you… about this world… We have been… exploring this world… since when… we opened our eyes… It’s our… mission… There is the Nest… if we find it… We can become… become… our perfect selves… We will be…”

“Stronger… more powerful… Can protect our… “companions”... We will… see… the Truth…”

“We will be… able to… find our… lost companion… Find… you… Now that you have… come back to… us… We can… go straight to… the Nest… together… So we can be… like you… Mutate… Adapt… Evolve… That is… the ultimate goal…”

“But I’m not… your companion… I’m not like… you…” Mantis angrily protests.

“You just… don’t remember… Don’t worry… we will help you… You were the one… leading us… assembling us… together…”

Mantis feels all her strengths drained when talking with these creatures. They must have mistaken her with someone and stubbornly believed it. 

Then, the feminine one gives her something.

“Eat it… It’s nutritious… It can help… replenish energy…”

Mantis pokes the thing on its palm with her finger. Its texture is soft and viscous, at first glance, it looks like an earthworm, which she used to eat. Mantis picks it up, brings it to her nose and sniffs it, the thing in her hand turns out to be a sort of human artery. It’s bloody, still warm in her hand, it’s still pulsing as if the vitality inside has not fully departed this world. It makes her so horrified… Even though she is Mantis, she is the Mantis Queen, she has never preyed on humans. Something in her heart has prevented her from doing so, it is the limit, the restraint, the boundary that she will never overstep. Although Mantis doesn’t understand why, she is certain that there is an important reason behind this, maybe, she just doesn’t realize yet. Therefore, Mantis has been abiding to this principle of hers up to now. And it also puzzles her that, there is no single soul here, with her superhuman vision, she has confirmed that, only her and the three monsters here, are the current “occupants” of this world, then how can they have human organs with them?

“You… don’t like this?... Then… how about… this one?”

The smallest one hands her a lump of grayish thing, using both of its claws, as if… presenting her with its “treasure”. The thing in its hands, apparently, looks like a blobfish with some black thing on its body… Looking closely, in her eyes, it is not a weird blobfish, but… a human brain, with some hairs still stuck on it.

Mantis’ face turns ashen. She asks them, her voice sounds serious and solemn.

“Where… did you… find these… things?”

They look at each other, totally at a loss for words.

After a while, the feminine one opens her mouth again.

“We… don’t know… We… only found… them… when searching for food… These are… invaluable… We can be… stronger… gain… more power… and become closer… to the ideal form… by consuming… them… We share them… with you… because… you are our… long lost companion… We hope… all of us… can achieve… the ultimate… salvation… together…”

Mantis shoves the organs away. 

“I don’t need… these things…”

The strange creatures panickingly catch them back, then they hurriedly bury their faces into “the food”, greedily chew, gnaw then gulp them down. Mantis carefully observes them, much to her horror, after eating these human body parts, these creatures…seem to change more human-like.

“What happened?... How can this be… possible?”

“This is… what we told you… earlier… Don’t worry… We will find… some for you… next time… And we will take you… to the Nest… with us…”

“Yes, yes… We will protect you… take care of you…”

“We will… be together… like the …last time…”

“What… last time?” Mantis snaps back, hoping to get clarification on this unending matter. They are getting on her nerves… Somehow, she doesn't know why, but…she feels so crushed when seeing them eating human parts like that…

“When you see… the Nest… you will…understand… Your Chief… may also be at… the Nest…You can… find him there…”

No matter how hard she presses on this matter, their answers are always confusing and incomprehensible. Mantis has given up, instead, she asks them another thing.

“You said… You were on… an adventure… What is it… about? Where are… you heading to?”

The bulky one replies to her.

“So… you truly… forgot… We are… a team… We are traversing… to the most… perilous place… To reach… the Nest… to become… our perfect selves… Some monsters… maybe that Chief… took you away… from us… We thought… you’ve gone… forever…  Now… Finally seeing… you again… We… happy… What did they… do to you… causing you… to forget?!”

Its voice gradually becomes angry and desperate, like the growling and wailing of an injured beast. But Mantis remains unfazed, what it just described is not her “adventure”.

“Adventure…”

The word feels so nostalgic to her… Mantis wonders, did she really have an adventure in the unknown past? Sometimes, her memories are so cloudy and murky. with fragments of experiences that she is never able to grasp. But, the feelings are so real, the adventure, the word that brings joy to her heart, even though its true meaning has been lost in her mind, subconsciously, Mantis firmly believes that it is not something she seeks out for her own gain. It’s what she would do for others…

“Adventure…”

Any time she mumbles this word, she feels like her heart is racing, her whole body is brimmed up with an immeasurable strength and confidence. 

“Adventure…”

Yes… This is the meaning of her life, this is what she loves most. Indeed, she has forgotten many things…but this one, she will never forgo. 

Are they really her companions? Her heart doesn’t lie… All of her feelings towards them are familiarity, closeness, reliability… and a hint of sadness, and guilt… It is as if…they are her companions of a long past, then got separated by the merciless Goddess of Fate, only to reunite in another way…

They are shouting something to her, but Mantis is deep in thoughts, so she doesn’t notice her surroundings have changed drastically.

Until the smallest one forcefully yanks her arms, Mantis finally comes to herself. Seeing the scene in front of her, Mantis can’t suppress a gasp in surprise. 

Chapter Text

Dreya has been barricading herself in the room for days. No, “days” are just an imagination, because, in this world, the Illusory Moon acts as both the Sun and the Moon, and there is no change in time. “People” here are like some sort of puppets, carrying out their daily lives, greetings, chatting, doing research, etc. in her presence, only to melt down into a pulp of grayish matter and disappear when they get out of her sight. Dreya does not bother much with this absurdity and weirdness anymore, the only thing that she has concern for now is… that crimson moon in the sky.

Years ago, she lost herself on the way to conquering the truth… Now, this is her chance.

Dreya digs up a mountain of astronomical books, journals, records, etc. in her room to search for relevant information. She tries to ask the strange figures she encounters to lend her their books, but whenever they move far away from her, they would disappear, and their belongings also share the same fate. After some unsuccessful tries, Dreya totally gives up. Instead, she forcefully enters their rooms and looks for their books herself. Her cheeks feel so hot and she keeps her head down when decide to do so. Dreya feels really ashamed of her rude behaviors, but there is no alternate option. She silently apologizes to them and promises that she will tidy things up for them later. Although Dreya knows that she is in a dream and all the “people” here are not real “people”, they are just hallucinations formed from her fragmented memories of the past, she cannot bring herself to do something offensive and harmful to them. Dreya, whether in the past or present, is still a gentle soul like that. 

However, all of her efforts seem to be in vain, as there is not a single mention of the Illusory Moon or similar terms in these records. 

“So futile… They cannot perceive… the existence of… the Illusory Moon… This world… is not a real world… Maybe… it’s constructed… from my subconsciousness… I desire… the truth… Yet… I don’t believe in it… I’m afraid of it… So… I have been… repressed it… denied it… That must be the reason why… these figures… know nothing about that crimson moon…”

As Dreya is deducing the nature of this world, she becomes so engrossed in her own thinking, and turns a deaf ear to her surroundings. The whole “institute” has undergone drastic changes which she is oblivious to. The walls begin to melt like the candles have been lit. They turn into a sort of slimy substance, dripping on the floors. The ceilings, without the support of columns and walls, suddenly lose their weight, crumble like torn papers. The floors have transformed to a kind of swamp, clinging and dragging down any poor souls that happen to step on them. However, the more terrifying thing is the “people”. All the strange figures here lose their “human rationality”, they are drowned in the blissful ecstasy caused from the Illusory Moon. They are in oblivion that their feet have been stuck in the swamp-like floors, their bodies draped over by the “paper” ceilings or the skins peeled off and merged into the “wax” walls. Their minds, if there are any to begin with, have been devoured and replaced by a hollow and ravenous, insane hunger for… “the Truth”. The entire space has been filled with their murmurs, like “the… Truth…”, “... knowledge…”, “... will be mine…”, “... the Ultimate…”, “... the One…”, as if those are the wails of sinners repenting themselves in Hell, begging for forgiveness, to be embraced once again in the Ultimate Truth. The Illusory Moon, like a giant slit eye of an abominable entity, looks down on the mortals crawling on Earth. Its crimson light descends, enveloping the whole place under its red veil, combining with the non-stop laments of those souls driven to madness just because of being exposed to the “Truth”. 

Only Dreya is spared from this insanity. Her previous encounter with the Illusory Moon transformed the gentle scholar with tremendous courage and determination to unveil the inscrutable riddles of the Perishing Star and Illusory Moon, to bring about an opportunity for humanity to overcome the apocalypse, into an S-rank Sinner, contaminated, and ripped off her entire humanity. She has lost plenty of things, her identity, humanity, her life, her family and even her memories are also fragmented… But this time, Dreya won’t lose again.

The weird figures in this dream world are also chasing after the illusory “truth”. But their bodies have been entangled in a mess of the world’s collapsing, they are unable to move any further and acquire anything. Gradually, their wails become vengeful, insane and unintelligible howling, they try to grab others, writhing, twisting, and…merging with each other. By assimilating others, they will gain more power and more “knowledge”. Pursuit of knowledge and conquering the unknown is undeniably one of the strongest motivations to drive humanity forwards. However, it also gives birth to arrogance and disregard of others. These figures mercilessly tear others out and greedily gnaw at their “colleagues”, they want to compensate for their lack of stable bodies and minds, their ignorance and by merging together, in the delusive hope of building a Babel tower to reach the Ultimate Truth. 

By the time Dreya comes back to her senses, the whole “institute” has completely transformed. All the buildings, the lines of trees, etc. are gone and the only things left are the muddy ground throbbing as if having its own life and a giant glob with gray tentacles wriggling around. 

“What is this…?” 

Dreya is stumped at the scene before her, it’s so filthy, unsightly and horrible. Although they were not real people, they all came from her memories… Seeing them being corrupted and reduced into such a miserable and pitiful state… her compassionate heart cannot stand any longer. She has to put an end to this, whether for understanding the nature of this dream, attain the truth of the Illusory Moon, or to protect other lives from being cruelly trampled on like this.

The viscous glob formed from countless “occupants” of this world except Dreya starts moving. It wriggles multiple tentacles, struggling to crawl towards her. Without eyes or mouth, it still knows where its target is - that is the genius scholar, the one who once put aside her own future, safety and even her life, in the quest for knowledge. Dreya will be a fulfilling meal, after devouring her, it will get the chance to unearth all of that haunting Moon’s secrets. The Illusory Moon still hangs high in the sky, looking down on the ugly glob’s attempt, its gap twitching as if making a snicker in mockery. 

“You… are not …  worth… But she… She is… the chosen one…”

Dreya gently touches the wriggling glob, her hands trembling… She whispers to it, and also to herself.

“It's extremely dangerous to gaze at the Black Hole... It won't respond to you. It'll just rip you apart and devour you…”

As if sensing her understanding of its grieving plea and its twisted yet unbending will to uncover the Truth, the glob stops struggling, it glows brightly, burning its own life force, freeing itself from the torment and paving the way for Dreya to fulfill her own quest. Countless people have just departed this world, after entrusting their only wish and dream to her. The warm light lingering on Dreya’s dress, forming into a faint coat, covering her body. 

The wails, the howling, the laments, etc. all disappear. The whole space has fallen into silence. The world melts away, leaving just Dreya and the Illusory Moon in the sky.

Dreya slowly ascends in the sky. The invisible “stairway” gently holds her steps. 

“ Come here… Come here… You won’t stray from… your track again… I’ve saved this opportunity for you… We shall become one!”

The luring voice, the soft whispers, the beckoning words…

In the lightless sky, the scholar in white stands in stark contrast with the crimson moon.

Finally, after an eternity, a human rises to be equal to the God-like entity.

Chapter Text

NOX and Amber have left the nursing home. Now both of them are walking side by side on a bustling street. People are happily greeting each other, chatting, doing house chores, etc. A couple of students are stepping on the bus, perhaps they are going to school. The morning sky is so blue, sweeping away all the boring and oppressive grayness that they were trapped in earlier. 

Amber holds NOX’s hand tightly, their fingers intertwining. She gently pulls down NOX’s hood then smiles lovingly. Now, they truly look like a pair of twin sisters, one is more cheerful and dazzling, while the other is a little bit paler and more reserved.

“Wanna try being a student with me? I stopped going to school for a long time due to my illness. I miss the classroom… Let’s go after them! You need to experience a day of being a schoolgirl, I’m sure it will be very memorable!”

“But… They will notice us…Hey!”

“Don’t worry, let me handle everything for you. All you need to do is enjoy this rare chance of us being together!”

Ignoring NOX’s protest, Amber pulls her hand and soon, they find themselves running to the bus stop. After getting two seats at the back of the bus, Amber lets NOX sit next to the window and gleefully tells her.

“See, they don’t see us at all. Actually, we have to pay for the fare, but since we don’t have money and more importantly, we don’t exist in this world, so just consider this is hitchhiking then. Remember to thank the driver properly when we get off!” 

“But the driver…he can’t see us. What’s the point of thanking him?”

“Indeed, he can’t see us and doesn't know that we are sitting here. Heh, he can’t even listen to us if we thank him. But, being grateful for what we receive from others is something we need to remember by heart, and it should be done regardless of whether the other person knows or not. Just follow me, okay? It’s easy.”

NOX silently watches the scenery outside the window. Houses, vehicles, humans, etc. everything is so colorful and peaceful, this place looks as if it has never been ravaged by Mania at all, perhaps, this is not the DisCity that she has known…but some sort of “paradise”. What is “paradise”? NOX doesn’t know, it’s just something she overheard the Sinners at MBCC talking with each other, something along the line, “If Mania is gone forever, then it will be paradise…” 

Sitting next to her, Amber is humming softly. The radiant sunlight dancing on her shoulder makes her look like an angel. Suddenly, she leans towards NOX, peering out the window and exclaims.

“The school is ahead. Let’s go!”

Taking NOX’s hand, she leads her “little sister” walk past rows of seats, and when they reach the driver’s seat, Amber bows and thanks him politely.

“Thank you very much for letting us travel for free. Have a nice day, Mister!”

Then she gestures to NOX to follow her, but NOX is standing still. Amber resorts to coaxing.

“Now, now, just do it. It’s very simple. You just need to bow your head and say “Thank you”. Let’s hurry up before we miss the stop!”

Hearing her say that, NOX reluctantly mutters a single “Thank you” to the driver and Amber is so happy that she shakes NOX’s hand up and down. Coincidentally, or perhaps, by some kind of sixth-sense, the driver also nods to himself and smiles warmly.

“See, sincerity and kindness have the magic to warm others’ hearts. Now, stop lingering or else we will be late for class!”

Half-pulling, half-dragging her confused “sister”, Amber gleefully rushing into the nearest classroom. However, NOX pulls her back.

“It’s no use. You are dead. We don’t even exist here. Why do you insist on doing things that mean nothing in the end? What’s the point of me sitting there or you?”

Amber turns back to look at NOX, holding both her “sister’s” hands tightly, then she lowers her voice and speaks to NOX with a serious expression.

“If you don’t go to school, they will call you illiterate. Knowledge is power, my cute little sister.”

NOX is speechless. Amber rolls her eyes and chuckles.

“I will tell you my reasons for doing all of this later, I promise. But you have to listen to me and do what I say, or else…”

“… Or else?”

“You will be stuck in this dream forever. Just bear with me for one day or you want to hear my nagging and teasing for eternity?”

“…”

“Now, choose!”

“…Hurry up…If you are late, it’s not my fault…”

Laughing merrily, Amber guides NOX into the chairs at the back of the classroom. The students are preparing their notebooks when the teacher comes in. All of them stand up to greet their teacher, and Amber has to pull NOX with her. Both of them cannot understand a single word in this lesson because the language used is not the one they know. Nevertheless, the excitement and happiness have never faded from Amber’s face, while NOX looks confused as ever.

“Why…did that girl raise her hand…like that?”

Suddenly, NOX asks Amber while raising her hand, imitating the girl.

“Because she knows the answer of the question that teacher asked, so she raises her hand to ask for permission to answer.”

“But why did she need to do so?”

“Maybe because she wishes to contribute to the lesson. It will be very boring and tedious if just the teacher says and students listen.”

After a while, NOX asks again.

“Then… Why did that boy…mumble something while the one in front of him was answering…the teacher? If he wanted to contribute to the lesson, he should have raised his hand and answered.”

“Humph… It’s not the same. The standing one was called to answer the question by the teacher, but he couldn’t. Maybe he forgot to do homework, or he didn’t understand the lesson well. His friend, the one in the back, was telling him the answer. Actually, teachers wouldn’t approve of this, but it’s what friendship is, especially in student life.”

There are many things that spark NOX’s curiosity and she realizes this experience in the classroom is not that bad. She keeps on asking and Amber patiently answers her questions, smiling all the time. It’s such a lovely scene, when Amber poses as a teacher, teaching her curious student at the back row seats of the classroom. 

Then the bell rings, break time has come for the students to relax. The teacher nods to them, then she leaves, and the students rush out of class. NOX is bewildered when Amber also takes her hand and runs outside.

“Now is the break time. Break time means relaxation between periods. Students will go get refreshments in the canteen or play in the school yard. Some will also visit the library to read their favorite books.”

“What are we…going to do?”

“We? We are going to do all of that.”

Hurriedly, Amber holds NOX’s hand and both of them run down the stairs, to the school’s canteen. The students are having snacks and chatting noisily, Amber chooses an empty table to sit with NOX, while observing other students.

“When I was still able to go to school, I also sat with my friends like this. We even shared snacks and candies with each other… It’s such a pity since I can’t buy anything for you.”

“I’m not hungry. I don’t need to eat.”

Saying that, NOX looks around. Although they are invisible to the students here, the bustling atmosphere has warmed up NOX’s heart. She even thinks to herself that she would try going to the cafeteria of MBCC if permitted.

“Now, let’s go to our next stop: The school yard!”

They run out to the school yard and watch the students playing skipping rope, volleyball, etc. Amber even claps her hand to congratulate one team’s scoring. 

Then she takes NOX to the school’s library. It takes her some time as they don’t know the language and cannot ask anyone for help, but finally, they reach the “haven of knowledge” - said Amber. Some students are totally immersed in their favorite books, others are diligently doing assignments. NOX tells Amber that MBCC also has a library like this, but she hasn’t come there.

“... It must be hard for you… This body’s contamination has caused you many troubles…I’ll try to make up for you as much as possible… It’s a shame to be rushed like this, but we don’t have much time to idle here. There are lots of things to do and people waiting for you to be back. Let’s say goodbye to this lovely school now. If Fate permits, we may be here again some day. Thank you for letting us have good memories here.”

Amber takes NOX to leave the school. She waves her hand and they step out of the gate, heading to the lively street nearby.

The “sisters” visit a shopping mall. They visit all the stores, window shopping and watching people come and go. After that, they spend some time playing in the game section, the sight of NOX fiddling with the game consoles puts a smile on Amber’s face. Sensing Amber’s curious gaze, NOX explains to her.

“You’ve played this in the MBCC?”

“Yes… The Chief often brings me these things to play… So I will be able to learn more about the outside world.”

Amber thoughtfully nods and gently caresses her hair. 

“He really…takes good care of you…I’m relieved…”

After playing various games in the center, they decide to call it a day and leave the shopping mall. Around the corner of that street, the duo finds a small record shop.

“What kind of music do you like, NOX?”

NOX is wordless for a moment, then after thinking carefully, she replies.

“I like the melodies of...you guys call it...death metal.”

It’s Amber’s turn to be shocked.

“Urgh… Pretty wild, isn’t it?”

NOX just stares at her innocently.

After walking a while, they find a lovely park. The sun begins to set, spreading streaks of orange and yellow shades across the horizon. Amber points to the grass field and tells NOX.

“You must be tired after all the walking, right? Tonight, we will go camping here!”

NOX just nods. Honestly, she isn’t a bit tired physically but, somehow, all the things she has experienced today have stirred up many unknown emotions in her heart, and she is quite overwhelmed. It’s not that she dislikes these feelings or experiences, it’s just… she is not used to them yet. So many strange feelings, new experiences surging in a short period of time, while she is still unable to recognize or name them… 

“Indeed… I do need to rest.” NOX thinks to herself.

Chapter Text

Meanwhile, at MBCC.

It has been three days since the DisSea Sinners have fallen to a coma together. 

The Sinners spend most of their time gathering before the infirmary, waiting for news about the Chief and their friends.

Everyday, Sumire will arrange a new vase of flowers and put it at the window next to Chief’s bed. Her face is shrouded in sadness and pain. Zoya, the Legion’s Commander, vents her rage and frustration at the reinforced punching bags, shattering all of them with just one  punch. Countess Chelsea even announces that if someone can wake Chief up, they will get whatever amount of money they want from her.

The younger Sinners are affected a lot. Normally, they will be playing noisily at the Outdoor Activity area, competing in games or watching movies. Now, they have lost all motivation and often linger around the infirmary area – the place they used to fear most, to hear any news about Chief and their friends inside. 

Hella paces around non-stop, tapping her water pipe on the ground impatiently. 

“Why does that dumbass Chief still not wake up? He even dragged others to be with him! What happened to all of them? Why didn’t you take this great Hella with you? Hecate will worry herself to death! I’m afraid that she will be bald sooner or later…”

“Chief…are you…okay?...When will you return to us?...Please…don’t take Chief away like that time…” 

Ignoring Hella making a ruckus, Hecate sits there motionlessly, mumbling to herself. She holds her sketchbook tightly to her chest, in which almost every page has Chief’s pictures. That is her treasure, her source of comfort for now. 

Adela passes by the children, she is also deeply worried for the Chief, but has to remain calm to take care of her “little customers”. She crouches down to them, fixing Hecate’s hair and takes Hella’s hand.

“Chief will wake up, I’m sure of that. He won’t leave his “family”, his “companions” behind. He must be fighting to find the way back. NOX, Dreya and Mantis may be there helping him, just like he has guided us, this time, we will be his guide. So, when he is not here, you should take care of yourself and your friends, so he won’t need to worry too much about us. Let’s wish him a good dream, then when he wakes up, he will have lots of great stories to tell.”

“You also hear that right, Hecate? Let’s go back, I’ll find you something to eat.” 

Hella pats her friend’s back, then takes the reluctant Hecate away. Adela shakes her head, then sighs and whispers softly.

“You’d better recover soon, my dear Chief… Or else, how can we live without you?” 

“Clang!”

Someone trips and bumps into something in the corner. Adela rushes to check, only to see OwO rubbing her forehead while her big lion head is rolling on the ground not far away. Seeing her, OwO immediately jumps to her feet and asks right away.

“Miss Adela, has the Little Clapper woken up yet? How are big sis Dreya, Mantis and NOX?”

Looking at the hopeful eyes of the child, Adela feels like there is something tearing up her heart.

“He hasn’t woken up yet, and neither have Dreya, Mantis and NOX.”

Sensing the light in OwO eyes are dimming, Adela quickly adds.

“But when he wakes up, he will certainly miss OwO’s magnificent lion dance. How about OwO practicing some super moves, so he will be able to watch right after waking up?”

“Wow, Miss Adela is so superb. Thank you very much! OwO is fired up now! In my hometown, lion dancing is performed to celebrate joyful occasions and to ward off evils and misfortunes. The great OwO and her lion head are going to drive away all misfortunes for Little Clapper. Goodbye Miss Adela, I’m off practicing now!”

“Thank you very much for your help, Miss Adela. If it’s not for you, we would have been swarmed by these children now…” 

Head Nurse Anne rubs her eyes tiredly while thanking Adela. Her usual warm smile now is quite stiff, and the dark circles under her eyes are much more visible.

“Please don’t say that. I will do whatever I can to help. I…”

Adela doesn’t finish her sentence, but Anne already knows what she wants to say.

She shakes her head sadly.

“No, they are still unconscious like that. All their vital signs are normal and stable. They are not in REM sleep either. If it’s not for their soft breathing, they would have been mistaken to be ones of the most realistically carved statutes. Dr. Iron has been sleepless for nearly 72 hours, and we had to forcefully drag her out of the infirmary…”

Anne nearly sobs when Adela holds her hand reassuringly.

“Let’s pray that everyone will come back safe and sound…”

…

The night has descended. The Sinners have been ushered back to their rooms, and the corridors are dead silent. A streak of shadow flings out rapidly then stops right at the infirmary’s door. A blue-haired girl steps out from the shadows. Crache has sneaked out to visit the Chief again. Earlier, she hid in her shadows and stubbornly stayed in the room to protect the Chief for a whole day. Nightingale and the staff had to resort to using flashlights searching every corner of the room to find her and bring her back to rest. 

Crache hand touches the door knob, hesitantly. No need to get inside, she already knows the answer. 

“Oh, my little student is here to visit the Chief too? How cute of you!”

A dramatic voice snaps her out of the train of thoughts. A green-haired woman appears out of nowhere, accompanied by an ink raven.

“Shut up, dumb bird! You will wake everyone up!” 

Crache angrily retorts Raven.

“Isn’t that great if I can wake up the Chief and the three ladies over there by my excellent poems? Yes, yes, that’s it! Poems hold an unimaginable power that can bring joy to those suffering, bring victory to battles, transcend over life and death, and ignite a fire that will burn brightly for eternity… How romantic is that, a great poem sung by a desperate heart, praying, pleading for the return of her companions’ souls snatched from her by the evil lord. The lost souls, lonely and helpless, trapped in a foggy mist, now hear the calling from their friend’s verse, and gradually find the way out. Crache, I need to write this down immediately, or else I will forget. How can I ever miss this great inspiration and forgo the chance to let my poems become immortal?”

Crache has had enough of her nonsense. She covers her ears, stomping her feet and reverts back to her shadows. Raven still calls after her.

“Sleep well! Not enough sleep will stunt your height growth, shorty!”

Crache’s angry grumble can be heard far away.

When there is no one left, Raven opens the door and steps inside. Her gaze fixes on Chief’s face. Now, free of her eccentric behaviors, Raven gently sits down on the chair next to Chief’s bed.

“A hero won’t end like this; you are fighting back, right? You are the ray of light sweeping away the darkness clouded in Syndicate all these years. The kids need you, the Sinners need you, everyone is waiting for you to come back… You just woke up from a deep slumber, only to end up in the next one…Isn't that unfair?. We are waiting for you…”

A woman wearing a uniform is standing at the door. She is also exhausted but her iron will and sense of duty has been supporting her to go on these days. She calmly reminds Raven.

“You shouldn’t be here around this time. Please come back to your room or I have to see it as you are scheming to escape.”

“Oh, don’t worry, Miss Adjutant. I’m not running away. Actually, I just dislike the noisy crowd and want to have some private time with the Chief. I’ll be right back, goodnight!”

Saying that, the weird poet gracefully takes her leave. Nightingale sighs resignedly.

“Dislike the noisy crowd? You?...”

Raven laughs heartily as if being able to hear Nightingale’s remarks about her.

…

Raven is right. Unbeknownst to them, the Chief and the three Sinners, Mantis, Dreya and NOX are also entering their own battles, which will impact and change them significantly. When they wake up, they won’t be the same as before. 

Chapter Text

The endless grassfield has disappeared, instead, now, she and the trio of strange monsters are standing in a dark forest. The ancient trees are so tall that they cover the whole space, there is not a single ray of light that can penetrate their foliages. Vines look like some sort of snakes lurking in the darkness, twisting and extending everywhere. And the most noticeable thing is… countless Mutant Bugs’ eggs. 

These eggs, each of them is roughly an adult human’s size, with the semi-transparent shells and the yellowish liquid inside. They look soft and slimy, throbbing slowly as if there is a unique kind of life being nurtured in them. The three creatures accompanying Mantis are unable to suppress their fervent desire when seeing these eggs.

“This is… the Nest… This is the power… that we are seeking… I want it! I want it!...”

The smallest one is clutching its head and mumbles incoherently.

Mantis flies to a nearest egg to take a closer look at it. When her gaze lands onto the semi-transparent shell, she can only see her reflection and surge of intense emotions forcefully trying to enter her mind. Hopelessness, grief, frustration, anger, despair, passion, etc. blend together into a chaotic voice screaming in her head, ripping away her sanity. Mantis kneels down on the filthy ground, her energy drained, her eyes listless. Everything is spinning in her mind. Mantis hears the calls, the shouts of someone very familiar with her but she cannot make out these sounds. The things inside these eggs… are humans, or at least… are humans’ essence. Her intuition is screaming at her for not touching these things, but Mantis’ hand, as if having its own mind, automatically reaches for the egg. Her body is yearning desperately to join the thing inside those eggs, but is barely held back by her fragmented sanity. 

“Crack!”

The sound of someone stepping on and breaking a tree branch snaps her back to her senses. Someone is faster than her, and has touched the egg.

Immediately, white smoke pumps out vigorously from the contact point. The smallest monster yanks out its arm hastily and screams in pain. At the same time, as if being triggered, all the eggs in this forest start to have the same reaction, white smoke fills up the entire place, covering the whole forest in a foggy mist with a decayed smell. The forest looks like it is boiling, clouding everyone’s vision. Mantis flings the smallest monster away from the egg, the white smoke has scalded its arm but strangely, it does no harm to her. She flies back to where the other two are, their faces twisted in agony as they are trying to suppress an instinctive urge. 

When the smokes finally clear, much to everyone’s horror, countless creatures are emerging from the cracks on these eggs.

These creatures… To put it simply, they bear a strange resemblance to Mantis. Some have her facial mask. Some have her scythe-like arms. Some have shoulder spikes like hers, and so on. But their eyes are dull with no hint of intelligence. Like the swarm of insects suddenly being woken up from their hibernation, all of their attention is drawn to Mantis. Thousands of dull, yellowish eyes are gazing at her and her only. They simultaneously open their mouths; the crackling sound sends chills down one's spine. 

“We… must… become… One!”

Then, hordes of them rush forwards to Mantis, tearing away all obstructions, be it trees, branches or vines, or even their own kind. Mantis takes her “companions” with her, flying away at full speed. However, there is no end to the dark forest, no matter how far she flies, Mantis still can’t find the way out, and the pursuers are hot on her back.

Finally, they catch up to her and an unequal fight breaks out.

Individually, they are no match for Mantis, an S-class Sinner, who has survived innumerable battles in the harsh condition of DisSea for nearly a century. However, there are so many of them, they come at her without any regard for their own body and fight like insane beasts. They don’t have strategy; they are oblivious to pain. Even when their arms are torn away, their legs ripped off, their wings broken, etc., if their mouths are movable, they still try to bite at her. Mantis just kicks one monster away, only to be ganged upon by more and more of them. They spawn non-stop. They gnawn on their fellows, feasting on the flesh of those fallen to gain more power. Mantis’ “companions” join the fight, but obviously, they are just some drops of water in the whole ocean. The scale of strength has been tipped so badly on the monsters’ side. Mantis fights back bravely to protect her companions and herself. Her body has several deep wounds, up to the bones, but her movements have never slowed down a bit. She can’t and she will never let down her companions.

As the fight draws on, the trio accompanying Mantis are also severely wounded and crippled. Eventually, they make a drastic choice. The feminine one and the smaller one agree to be assimilated into the bulky one to combine and amplify their strength. Noticing this, Mantis frantically tries to stop them.

“What… are you doing? Why…??? Do you… understand… what does this mean?”

“Yes… We know… We also …want to protect you… This is our wish… all along… We will protect… our friend…”

“No… No… Stop this!”

Something is broken in her heart. Mantis feels tears rolling down her face. She doesn’t know them, does she? Why would they go so far for her? The target of those monsters is her alone. They could just leave her and escape, then they will be safe, they can go on with their “expedition”, finding their “companions”. Why? Why? Why? Seeing them sacrificing themselves for her, Mantis cannot bear this. She screamed painfully.

“I never leave my companions behind, I swear…”

Nevertheless, the three of them have merged into a single being. Mantis is unable to see its form clearly because of all the tears welled up in her eyes, and blood dripped from her forehead.

That creature seems to realize something. Its huge body looks down at her tenderly, then it struggles to speak.

“Don’t be sad… We remember now… You’re not Mantis… You’re Marguerite… You’re our companion… our friend… Let us clear a path for you… to reclaim yourself…”

It staggers forwards, its body swelling up several times, then explodes in a blinding light. Mantis extends her arm wildly, trying to grasp what’s left of her friends in vain…

The swarm of insects chasing her was temporarily stunned. Mantis rushes back to the side of the eggs, tearing at them vengefully. Seeing her actions, all the seemingly unintelligent monsters begin to show fear in their eyes, they panickingly turn back, try to stop her. 

Mantis digs her claw deep in one egg, tearing it inside out. A strange sense of deja vu flushes to her head…

“Alright, let’s get the intro rolling. My name is Marguerite Nash, a globe-trotting naturalist at your service…”

This is her voice! This is her voice, there is no mistake! So…Marguerite Nash…must be her name… 

Living in DisSea, previously, she had no concept of “name”... “Mantis” is the name that FAC assigned to her and when being taken into custody at MBCC, she just kind of accepted it. So, her real name, the thing that defines her existence as a separate being from the Mantises, is… Marguerite Nash… 

Marguerite Nash…

She whispers the name softly… as if embracing her own identity, embracing her long lost soul.  

Name is the shortest spell, and also the strongest… 

Mantis looks up, when one egg is destroyed, the monster corresponding to it also disintegrates and there will be no new one spawning out… Moreover, she will reclaim each part of her identity back…

Mantis sets out to destroy the rest of the eggs, there is nothing that can stop her now. She is fighting not only to avenge her friends, but also for her own memories. 

Another flood of figures overwhelms her mind… 

There was a team consisting of four members: Mil - the driver, Raziel - the navigator, Laila - the professor, and herself… So… The trio of strange creatures were her late teammates… Mantis mutters her friends’ names in agony… She… She remembers their names and their faces now… Even though they had parted this world a very long time ago, even their appearances and minds were distorted and fragmented… they still came back to guide her, to protect her to the end… Mantis wants to cry out loud, but there are no tears left… She must complete this journey on their behalf, she must…take back herself to deserve their sacrifice.

All of the eggs have been destroyed. Mantis stands tall amidst the chaotic battlefield, her chest heaving. A sense of dizziness attacks her, she finds herself drifting away from this world…

When Mantis opens her eyes again, there is nothing left in her sight, no monsters, no bug eggs, nothing at all. She is falling down an abyss, or she is flying up high in the sky? There is no direction, no light, she is floating in the nothingness. In this dark void, there is only herself… and multiple bubbles floating up around her.

Mantis carefully holds out her hand and gently touches a bubble. It instantly explodes and is absorbed in her body.

“Today, I’m up against a whole new level of challenge. For that, I’m ready to journey to every corner of the world, to plunge into the most perilous places life has to offer…”

“This is… this is the memory regarding the fateful journey leading to the death of my teammates…” Mantis bites her lips, trying to suppress the falling tears.

She touches another bubble. 

“It’s the unknown that breeds fear… And if science calls for a sacrifice, shouldn’t we be the ones to step up?”

Laila’s voice is ringing in her ears…

“Yes… our journey was not for thrill-seeking or for fame…Every step taken is to draw closer to something humans have never fully grasped…”. 

For the advance of humanity against apocalypse, to conquer the unknown… 

Another bubble explodes.

“My name is Marguerite. Don’t you remember? You even complimented my name the first time we met…”

“So this was when Dreya forgot my name again… Even though I kept reminding her of my name, in the end, I still accepted to be called “Mantis”...

The next bubble is gently held in her palm, it bursts into countless tiny specks.

“To be a heroic survival expert, one must be romantic and brave, ready to face disaster and unveil the truth. One must never give up, and bring courage and confidence to everyone in the Nightfall era.

On the other hand, to be a trusted naturalist, one must be prudent and cautious. One must collect data bit by bit, then analyze and summarize it. One must boldly hypothesize and carefully verify the results, and face countless disappointing failures without cheating or lying…”

This was… her dual identity… 

“I was both a survival expert and a naturalist… I was good at both… I was a superhero scholar…Because I wasn’t alone…”

She chokes up on her tears. The long-lost memories have resurfaced, bringing with them waves after waves of intense emotions. Happiness, grief, agony, sadness, despair, regret, longingness, nostalgia, guilt, etc. 

“I was too naive. Because they crave the human heart, I unconsciously got close to them mentally, hoping that they could be communicable peers…”

“So this was my downfall… This was what caused me to become “Mantis”... I'm sorry for being such a burden and causing so much chaos…”

A new bubble floats up before her eyes, which prompts Mantis to poke it.

An image of the “Little Guide” flashes in her mind, then overlapping with the Chief of MBCC’s figure.

“You’ve gotten heavier and taller, kid. So much taller… You’re no longer the kid we knew, right?...Our little guide has become more mature, braver and smarter. You’ve become more powerful, kinder and better at taking care of everyone…” 

“So that’s why I feel so familiar with the Chief… He is also like me…losing the memories of us spending time together…He even promised to film the fifth season with me…”

“No matter where or when, or what we turn into…you will always be my companion.”

She touches her face… The contamination mask often covering her face has been gradually dissolved. Looking at her reflection from the floating bubbles, she sees her own face, both familiar and unfamiliar at the same time. The Chitin exoskeleton on her body, the spikes, the claws…, now she can manifest and withdraw them at will. 

Mantis - or Marguerite is presented with two options: This is her once in a lifetime chance if she wishes to return to her former self - a full, normal human, rid of all filthy contamination that has enveloped and mutated her. This realm can help her achieve this wish. Or, to retain her power, still corrupted by Mania, transformed and continues to be a Sinner.

“I’m Marguerite… and I’m also Mantis…I need this power, to protect my friends, my companions…I don’t want to lose anymore companions. Not a single one.” 

Strengthening her resolve, Mantis looks up. She understands it now, her heart has led her here, even though she doesn’t remember. Her deceased friends materialized again to guide her, so she wouldn’t be lonely. And in their final moment, they tried their best to wake her up. 

“All anomalies... stem from humanity... from within our very souls... They aren't monsters... They're fragments of who we are…Therefore, when that Corpseborne…attacked the Chief earlier, it had… snatched his mind… to this realm, the realm constructed by all… beings’ consciousness. That’s why… I could briefly …reunite with Mil, Raziel and Laila… As well as accessing my lost memories…”

She finds herself floating up to the surface. Stepping on the rippling water, Mantis reaches a narrow door. There is a source of light leaking through the narrow gap. She comes closer, touching the door. 

“It’s time to… rescue our little guide. Be it Mantis or Marguerite… I’m still myself. When I’m back, I’ll… tell Dreya all of this…Hope that she will … recall her memories too …”

The life of Marguerite was short… She has become Mantis for nearly 100 years… There are patterns of thoughts, or habits that cannot be dropped so easily. 

“Regaining my memories… as Marguerite… doesn’t mean that… Mantis is over… Mantis… is my life too… Just like back then… I can be both…a naturalist … and a survival expert…since I’m good at both…”

The superhero scholar decisively steps through the door, flashing a confident smile without turning back. She chooses to embrace her different identities, and they become one again.

She reaches towards the light.

Chapter Text

Dreya is standing in the sky, facing the Illusory Moon.

Beneath her, everything seems so tiny, trivial and mundane.

“Ah, how intriguing… Let’s see… what secrets you can offer to me…”

A faraway, vague voice calls out to her.

“Human beings are as insignificant as specks of dust. You’re trapped for eternity in this tiny planet of yours. You look up at the night sky and see millions of shining stars. They are but a drop in the ocean that is the universe…”

The scene below her eyes change. Countless planets and stars flicker through her eyes, flaring up then immediately die in the darkness. They burn up themselves for that fleeting light, in the ignorance of their ultimate fate. The living beings on those planets, fighting, loving, trying to gather the knowledge of life, thinking themselves to be the greatest gift of the Almighty Creator. Yet, unbeknownst to them, their life, their achievements, their material wealth, their fame, etc. mean nothing at all.

Dreya sees a whole planetary system devoured by the Black Hole. After a moment, or after billions of years, that Black Hole is also eaten alive by a larger one.

She also sees a planetary system destroyed by its own Sun, when that Sun swells up and swallows all the planets rotating near it, then, succumbing to its own massive weight, it collapses from the core, dragging the whole system to join it in Hell.

Flashing in front of her eyes, there are also stars spinning in frenzy, then being unable to control their own inertias, spiraling into self-destruction.

From the high throne in Heaven, Dreya has witnessed the rise and fall of innumerable civilizations, observing generations after generations chasing after their futile dreams of unveiling the Ultimate Truth …

“We humans are insignificant before the ultimate truth, which is magnificent and all-encompassing. It is within reach now…” Dreya softly whispers to herself.

As if responding to her, an alluring voice ringing in her ears.

“Yes… You’re a feeble-minded species. The knowledge you’ve gleaned over hundreds of generations is negligible…”

“Even if I employ all of humanity’s techniques, calculation methods or theories, etc. I still can’t fathom the Ultimate Truth… Even if the Truth is presented before my eyes, my mind still can’t comprehend the thing exceeding so far beyond human’s reach…”

That chaotic voice continues to murmur.

“You’re right… Admitting your own inferiority and being willing to become part of something greater… then you will be accepted with open arms by the Ultimate Truth…”

“Becoming a part of something greater… Becoming part of the Ultimate Truth…?”

There are many stories about human sages, philosophers, etc. from the ancient ages, they yearned for the Truth, they devoted their whole life in searching for the Single Truth, the Absolute Law for the whole Universe. Did they find it? There is no single source confirming that they achieved their goal or not. Maybe they got lost on the way. Maybe they had gone astray and sunk into the delusion, their will was contorted, their lives were shunned, and we call them “madmen”. Or maybe, they did really open the door to the Ultimate Truth, only to be assimilated right at that moment. Humans’ lives are insignificant in the Universe, one is limited, feeble, fleeting, while the other is limitless, almighty, and eternity. How can something that is so small, so trivial, dare to chase after the wildest dream of containing the whole Universe? 

Therefore…

“In order to achieve something that is so great… I must… discard all the restraints, all the things that are holding me back… from embracing the Truth… This body, this mind…Emptying this vessel… to welcome the Ultimate?”

A manic laughter roars all the space.

“Hahaha… Yes… Like this… This is what you truly desire… It has been etched deeply in your soul… It has been imprinted on you…since the moment you caught a glimpse of us…Lowly creatures like human beings don’t deserve the Ultimate Truth… Only by shedding off the impermanent shell… can you become one with the Universe…”

“Discarding…my humanity?”

“Of course! Within your limited time span, what can you do? What can you hope to achieve? Humans are just lowly creatures... Become one with us… You will leave your mortal life behind… Being immortal… to pursue the timeless truth… Immortality, isn't that the dream of all humans?”

“Immortal?...Me?...”

Dreya steps closer and closer to the Illusory Moon in a daze. Unknowingly, she and it are only separated by a thin thread.

Something has been awakened in her mind. Dreya jerks her head up.

“No… What am I doing here?... Am I lost again?”

The tempting voice beckons to her.

“No, you’re not lost… You’re on the right track… We’ve been waiting for you to come back here… You’re the chosen one… This is what you seek… This is what you truly desire… This is where you belong…You will reign over all mortal givens… You will become one with the Ultimate Truth… Why did you stop?!”

Gradually, it sounds like a scream tearing at her ears.

Dreya’s vision becomes blurry. All she can see now is not the ominous crimson moon, but a small, crumpled notice. The letters were indistinct and hazy… Only the last sentences  are left.

“Join the expedition to the Black Ring, where we can observe the object up close and unveil its secrets.

Let’s find a way out, for humanity. We shouldn’t be trapped here forever.”

After Dreya finishes reading, the notice lights up, like a torch of hope in the darkness.

“Wisdom… Yes… I’ve a burning desire for acquiring wisdom… But…it’s hope that drives me forwards…”

She sees a young girl sitting beside a tranquil lake bathed in starlight.

“I believe that every question in the world, in the universe, has an answer…”

“So, I have been chasing after the secrets of the Perishing Star since this young age…”

Dreya smiles bitterly. 

Only then, she remembers.

“Indeed, I have an unquenchable thirst for knowledge… I want to unveil all the secrets of that Perishing Star and the Illusory Moon… But for what? … It’s not for fame…”

As a scientist, it was her mission to strive forwards, to conquer the unknown and to bring a better life, a better chance for humanity. Even if risking her life, even if being forgotten, devoured, failed... she and all other names on that stone stele… will become a beacon of hope in this bleak era. 

“If I could learn all these secrets, I may find the key for humanity to overcome this apocalyptic crisis!”

Yes, this was her noble goal. This was her motivation. The night had descended, blanketing the world since the moment that Perishing Star crashed on the ground. The cold, everlasting night, which was accompanied by strange diseases, phenomenons, disasters and monsters. But… humanity is resilient.

Many people had stepped forwards, risking their lives to conquer the unknown. Each bit of knowledge was paid by their sacrifices, by their unyielding spirit. Together, they burnt up themselves, bonding to form a torch of hope for humanity in this endless night.

She was also a part of this torch. 

“I recall it now… The knowledge that I pursued… was not for the sake of being the most knowledgeable person… or to carve my name in the hall of fame… I wanted to find out the truth, to contribute my light, no matter how flickering it was, to the continuation of humanity… Even if my time is limited, even if my body is fragile, and my mind is feeble… There will always be the next generations to pick up our torch… That is the meaning of being a true scientist.”

She turns to the Illusory Moon.

“You cannot tempt me anymore. I remember my standing now, and I won’t get lost again. And even if I do get lost, there will always be people guiding me back…”

The familiar faces appear before her eyes… 

That is a cheerful green-haired girl, with a beautiful name… 

“I remember you now, Marguerite… Sorry for keeping calling you Mantis… It seems that Fate has brought us together again… Do you… still remember me…?”

That is a “little guide”, her guide, their guide… His face is hazy in her vision, then slowly merging and overlapping into the face of the current MBCC Chief…

“In this expedition, we all lost ourselves at some point, some to fear, some to desire, some to despair. It’s you who guided us out of the mire over and over again…”

“He seems to have lost himself too… But nevertheless, his heart still goes on, even though his mind no longer recalls meeting us before… in the end, he is still our guide again…We all changed, we got separated, and yet, we still reunite…Different, yet the same as before…”

The Illusory Moon contorts, it roars vengefully at her.

“Why?! Why?! You’ve been so close to the Truth, why did you stop? Why did you refuse to become one with us? Why?!”

“I have a place where I belong… And I will come back with them… The Ultimate Truth is tempting, but… I’m satisfied with what I’ve got. I’m a scholar, I’m a scientist. I don’t need the “help” of an evil entity to reach my goal. I won’t discard my humanity to win over the Ultimate Truth. What’s the meaning of achieving knowledge only to lose yourself or your initial goal? What is the point of pursuing that knowledge then? I will never forget my original heart!”

The scholar sees the Illusory Moon drifting away from her, it tries to convey something, its eerie red light spilling everywhere… but she can’t hear it anymore. The dark sky now is dotted with countless shiny stars, sparkling brightly. Dreya is strolling slowly on this radiant “carpet”, the filthy matter covering her attire and her face has disintegrated, she truly looks like… a true Goddess.

A narrow door appears before her eyes.

There is a source of light glowing faraway, through the gap of the door. 

Dreya casts one last look behind. There is nothing left of her previous encounters in this dream world.

Looking ahead, she hears some familiar voices calling her name.

“It’s time to join my friends… Let me be your guide this time…”

The scholar in white inhales deeply, then, without a tiny bit of hesitation, she steps through the door.

Towards the light.

Chapter Text

The small park that Amber and NOX decide to stay overnight at is quite lovely. It has a playground for children, with some slides, swings and a seesaw. There is a fountain at the center of the park. Amber’s eyes brighten at the sight of that fountain, she excitedly takes NOX’s hand.

“Wanna try that?”

“Try what?”

“Hmm… Do you see the fountain over there? If you toss a coin into that fountain and make a wish, your wish will become true…”

“I… I don’t have any wish… Plus, we don’t have coins or whatsoever here…”

“Don’t worry about that, I can handle everything for you! You just need to have faith… I’ll make an example for you! Come here and look!”

NOX reluctantly follows Amber to the fountain. Like a magician, Amber flips open her palm to show NOX three exquisitely carved coins. Then, she gently places two coins in NOX’s hand.

“Help me keep them first. You may be in need of them later…”

After that, Amber closes her eyes, clasping the remaining coin in her palm, and makes a sincere prayer. She tosses the coin into the water, and magically, it disappears after causing some ripples on the surface.

“Done!” Amber cheerfully exclaims.

NOX tilts her head in curiosity. 

“What did you wish for? Will it really come true?”

“It’s a se-cret! Ta-da!” 

Seeing NOX’s speechless and sulky face, Amber decides to not tease her any further.

“Ahem…. It’s nothing much… I just wish you have a good life, surrounded by friends and people who care for you, as well as realizing your own wish…”

“Why didn’t you wish for yourself?”

“Hehe, being able to meet you here and embarking on our little adventure today is already the greatest gift for me, I don’t need anything else.”

Amber tugs at NOX hand, signaling her to lie down. The unusual “siblings” lying together on the soft grass, looking at the starry sky above. 

After a while, NOX speaks up.

“You promised to tell me the reason why you’ve done all of this. Now, tell me…”

“Okay, if you want to hear, then I’ll tell you. Since we parted way, I have been quite worried for you. I know you are strong and you can protect the Chief on my behalf, but… What about you? Who will protect you? You’re just a child, newly-born to this world. There are many things you don’t know or understand… Since then, I have been nurturing a wish, that someday, I could let you experience this world, to learn more about the unfamiliar emotions in your heart and to grow fond of this life… Because I can’t be at your side, you will be very lonely if the Chief is the only person that takes care of and understands you… I also don’t remember much of my life either, but I miss those old days a lot. I miss my school, I miss my classmates, etc. That insidious disease had crippled me, and I had tasted the utmost loneliness when being trapped inside the 4-wall of that nursing home. I don’t want to see you suffer the same fate as me. I don’t want your life to be extinguished right at the moment you’re born… I wish you can live a better life than I had. Our previous experiences at the school, the shopping mall, the game center, the record shop or at this park are not much, but they are parts of a normal life if you and I were born as normal twins, in a world where Mania was never heard of. I know that trying to compensate for your lack of real life experience in just a day is totally impossible, but I’m trying my best. Also, when I was alive, I did wish to have a cute little sister. My own wish has come true, NOX.”

NOX is silent again. She is contemplating these sincere words. Amber continues.

“Can you promise me one thing?”

NOX is taken aback by this sudden request, she considers a bit then nods.

“Please promise me that, if you can choose, choose to do good. You may not fully understand what is good or bad now, but, please remember this: do not hurt others intentionally, or if you know your power is affecting others negatively, stop it. Control it, don’t let it harm others. Even if you can’t draw a clear line between right or wrong, good or bad, please promise me to choose the side of light… Even if you have the means to cause harm, don’t do it.”

Listening to Amber’s “request”, NOX’s mind wanders back to MBCC: The Chief’s troubled face and his surprise when learning she could control her power of absorbing the life force from nearby creatures, but still chose to let it loose. She didn’t understand it at that time, and even now, she still doesn’t know why she shouldn’t do that.

“Is that wrong…if I let my power hurt others?” She asks Amber.

“You don’t want to be hurt, do you? Pain is uncomfortable, and so is fear and hatred. If you don’t want something to happen to you, don’t cause it to others. We all experience the pain, the sadness, disappointment, etc. all the bad feelings the same, if we could put ourselves into others’ shoes, we will realize this…”

“Shoes? Wearing others’ shoes… then I will understand them?”

“Urgh… No, it’s not literally like that. That phrase means "imagine yourself in others’ position…”

“Imagine myself…? I don’t want my life force being sucked away…so I shouldn’t do that to others? Because they will be… uncomfortable like me?”
“Yes, it’s like that!” Amber happily claps her hands.

“I see… So you’re taking me to try all these things… because you’re happy doing these things… and you want me to be happy?”

Amber feels hot tears welling up in her eyes. NOX is gradually learning about becoming a “person”. This is not easy, but she truly makes progress.

“But I don’t know whether I’m happy or not… Are you disappointed, are you…uncomfortable?”

“No, not at all. Sometimes, you won’t realize your happiness right away. If one day in the future, you still remember today, that means, today’s experience has brought you happiness. Being here with you, seeing you grow up has already made today become one of my happiest days.”

“But I didn’t change, this body can’t grow up anymore…”

“When you return to the MBCC, make sure to tell the Chief all of this, and he will also compliment your growth like me…”

“Being complimented by the Chief…. I like this… I will tell him…But the Chief, he has been sleeping. The Corpseborne took his mind away, they said… Will he wake up to listen to my story?”

“Yes, of course he will. He is a kind yet resilient soul, he won’t get lost this easy. Or if you are worried, tomorrow, you can go give him a hand.”

“You won’t come with me?”

“My only attachment to this world is you, not him. I will pray for your safe journey in bringing him back.”

“Will I meet you again?”

Amber doesn’t answer. After a while, sensing NOX’s unyielding gaze, she smiles softly.

“I’ve never gone away. I’m always here with you, watch over you. Whether you see me or not, it’s totally up to you…Perhaps…”

“Perhaps?”

“You may try writing letters to me… I love receiving letters, my friends used to write me many letters… But when my eyesight grew poorer, I couldn’t read or respond to them anymore… Now, I’m good as new, so if you miss me that much, or you have some interesting things to tell me about, such as the Chief, your new friends, games, music, etc., you can write to tell me, anything is okay.”

“I will…” 

Amber holds out her pinky finger and takes NOX’s.

“What are you doing?”

“This is a pinky promise. You’re both my dear little sister and my closest friend. I will never leave you alone, and you will write to me. This is our promise.”

Their pinkies lock together.

“But there is still something I want to do…”

After Amber says that, they both look up at the sky to see the first rays of sunlight have begun to crack away the darkness. The grassfield they are lying on has been transformed into a field of sunflowers. Amber stands up, extends her arms and runs forwards happily.

“We will watch the sunrise together!”

NOX also sits up and joins Amber, they stand in the center of an endless sea of sunflowers, bathed in the gold hue of the morning sun.

“I love when the sun first rises from the horizon…”

“Me too!”

A gentle breeze sweeps through the field, pulling away NOX’s hood. Her hair is swaying in the wind, together with the sunflowers waving back and forth. The radiant sunlight sprinkles gold dust on their hair. They really look like a pair of angels descending on Earth. 

NOX finds the two coins that Amber previously gave her in her palm. 

She looks at Amber, and is encouraged.

“Do it. The fountain, the wishing well, etc. are just mediums. The most important thing is to realize that you have a wish, and believe in the magic of sincerity. You can toss these coins up to the sky or on this flower field too.”

NOX flips the coins upside down, observing them carefully. They suddenly feel somewhat heavy in her hand. Then, imitating Amber, she also closes her eyes and whispers in silence.

Then, she tosses one coin up high in the sky. The coin flies up, then transforms into an orange colored bird, spreading its wings, soaring past the horizon. The sight of the bird becomes smaller and smaller, until it merges into the bright Sun on their head. It has brought her wish to Heaven.

As for the last coin, NOX throws it behind their back. The coin flies in a parabola shape then it is absorbed in the ground. Even the ground they are standing now has turned to golden color, and the sunflowers are waving their leaves to wish for their happiness. Her second wish is also heard.

A tall, narrow door appears far away, at the end of the sunflowers field, from its narrow gap, a source of light can be seen. Amber points out to NOX. 

“Do you see that door? That’s the way to return to your world. You can also find the Chief there. Go forward and don’t look back.”

But NOX is standing still. 

“Why don’t you go with me? I…I don’t want to leave you behind…”

“Silly you, you have missed me when we are not even part way yet? My story has finished, but yours is still going on. You should go further, see more things than me, and write them down in your book. Then, you will tell me your tales in dreams… We promised each other, don’t you forget! It’s too early for you to be here with me. We will reunite someday, don’t worry!”

Seeing NOX is still hesitant, Amber gives her a push.

The whole scene before her eyes changes rapidly like in the revolving lantern. NOX cannot understand why someone fragile like Amber could push her that strong. She is sent flying to the door, looking back, Amber and the sunflowers are like the tiny dots. They are waving their hands, saying goodbye to her.

In front of the door, with no way to return to Amber, NOX softly mutters.

“I made a wish to see you again… And… to be able to stay by the Chief's side… Will they come true?”

No one answers her now. But there is something at the other side of the door that is calling out to her. She looks back one last time, as if to carve everything that happened today into her heart. Then, she also steps through the door.

Towards the light.

Chapter Text

“Urgh… Why am I here? I’m fighting that monster…”

Looking around, I realized that I’m standing at a busy crossroad in DisCity. I was a bit dazed, and stood frozen in place.

“What happened?... Was I… teleported here? Where is that Corpseborne? It’ll be a huge disaster if the Corpseborne mingles in and hides itself in this crowded place…”

Activating the Shackles, I tried to pinpoint its location, but, much to my horror, the red spikes bursting out from my palm were pointing in every direction, which meant, the Corpseborne might have split its consciousness and escaped to every part of this city.

“Creak!”

A car just slammed its brake in front of me. I could hear some cursing sound coming from the driver seat. I hurriedly waved my hand to say sorry, but when I looked into the windshield, the driver… was a Corruptor!

The Corruptor stepped out of its car, its face twisted when seeing me, and shouted.

“Call the FAC! The Corruptor is here attacking people!”

“How is that possible? A Corruptor has just called me a “Corruptor”, and it even shouted an alarm to FAC? What’s on Earth happening here? Am I dreaming? Is this some kind of cheap plot?”

My mind went blank with all of these absurdities. But now was not the time to dwell on this matter, as…

From every corner, other residents rushed out, all of them were Corruptors… And it was pretty clear that their target was I.

“The FAC is coming, they will protect us! How does a Corruptor dare to appear here?”

“Don’t let it get away!”

Urgh… my head hurt. Should I give each of them a mirror to let them see who was the Corruptor here? Well, maybe next time then, I should run away first. From above of my head, the roaring sound of helicopters could be heard, multiple search lights pointed at the road. Around the corner, the rumbling of FAC’s armored jeeps came nearer and nearer. They were trying to surround me.

When the attention of the “residents” were temporarily drawn away by the incoming FAC’s troops, I immediately activated the Shackles. With this high level of Mania concentration, the power of Shackles became stronger than ever, brilliant red light emitted from my palm, blinding everything in sight. Taking advantage of the chaotic scene, I slipped away into a dark alley.

“Huff… huff…”

I panted heavily. They had been chasing me everywhere, and while running, I finally noticed: This was not the DisCity that I knew. Maybe I was trapped in a nightmare or some sort of subconsciousness. All the residents here, besides me, were Corruptors. And finally, in their eyes, I was the Corruptor, while they were “normal humans”.

There were some “brave” residents trying to attack me earlier, my Shackles defeated them and they disintegrated into thin air. And now, I became the “aggressive Corruptor”. “It’s such a lame joke that the MBCC Chief became a Corruptor in normal people’s eyes…” I smiled bitterly. 

Wrapping myself under a make-shift cloak, I silently observed these “residents”. They not only had the appearances of Corruptors, but they also gave out a strong aura of malice. Everything happened here was resolved by abusing power, the strong preyed on the weak, there were acts of fraud, cheating, blatantly harming others everywhere. And the most crazy thing was that all these things were widely accepted as “normal” by society. There was no use in reasoning with them either. All virtues, morality, etc. have been lost in this world. And more disturbingly, my body also started to show some sign of turning into them. Once, I looked at myself in the mirror and caught a glimpse of scales appearing on my skin. Even though these scales disappeared in a blink of an eye, it was still an alarm. 

“I need to get out of here… Need to wake up soon. Or else, things could be much worse…”

I had been wandering from alleys to alleys all these days, trying to locate that Corpseborne kidnapping me here. After some experiments and dancing with Death a few times, I noticed two “optimistic” signs: The residents here were fragments of that Corpseborne, and by destroying each of these fragments, I could weaken the Corposeborne, or even force it to reveal itself. Secondly, I didn’t need to eat or drink, but I still suffered from fatigue. The bad news was that it was nigh impossible to fight the whole city on my own.

Many days have passed. I got more and more wounds on my body. My appearance stood out already, and the guerrilla warfare tactic couldn’t be used anymore. I was aggressively hunted and pursued by the whole city, there was nowhere to hide anymore. The mocking snicker of the Corpseborne buzzed in my ears.

“Give up… Lowly human like you… can never defeat me! How can you…fight against this whole world? What a laughing stock!”

It was right. From the moment I was teleported to this place, my intuition already realized something off. This was the world built on the malice of humans, where negative feelings, malicious thoughts in each person’s heart had been amplified, and manifested into physical forms of Corruptors. While me, a constrained person, always trying to keep my dark side in check, and abiding to the “goodness”, was a “monster”, a “Corruptor” in their eyes, and I was the intruder, the culprit causing several order and security dysfunctions in their world. And as I was just a normal person, not some kind of Saint, I was not totally immune to these negative influences, that was the reason why, sometimes, I saw scales, or filthy things grow on my body. 

“In this world, where hatred reigns over kindness, war wins against peace, fraud laughs in the face of sincerity, where a tiny bit of malice in one’s heart can grow up to the size of a tremendous monster, and you, with just you alone, dare to go up against the world? How ridiculous and self-righteous you are! Well.. If you get down on your knees and beg me… maybe… I will allow you to choose your death! Killed by me, or by the whole people here…. Hahaha!”

It cruelly mocked me again. Adding insult to injury, I had to admit…it was right. There was no way that I could cleanse all the evil things in this world, there was no way that I could win against so many Corruptors with just myself alone. There was no way to remove the roots of malice in humans’ hearts...

But giving up? Hell, no!

If there was a large stone obstructing my way of doing the right things, if I couldn’t move it aside, I would rush myself headlong to it, until when I was either dead or that stone was shattered. I was that type of stubborn person. Clutching my chest tightly, I struggled to stand up. I would continue fighting to the bitter end. 

The roar of those vicious Corruptors was nearer and nearer. I was cornered. There was nowhere else to run away to. It was time for my last stand.

Directly facing the swarm of Corruptors, I was oblivious to what happened behind my back. On the wall at the end of the blind alley where I was standing, a gap appeared. A narrow door opened, and someone stepped out. At the same time, in two other dark alleys, these doors also opened. All this happened in just mere seconds.

All the commotion caused by the Corruptors made me unnoticed on the footsteps behind. Someone wrapped her hand around my body, while using the other hand to cover my mouth.

Then, she whispered softly, her breath teasing my ears.

"Hush! Don't scream… Chief… I'm here… to rescue you!"

This voice… This voice was unmistakably Mantis'! I widened my eyes in surprise then vigorously nodded. I was not alone. The immense joy brimmed up in my heart. 

In the watchful eyes of countless pursuers, she hugged me and gracefully flew up high in the sky, taking me with her, while making a face to the hustle crowd below.

Chapter Text

Mantis is carrying me in the sky. Her delicate wings flutter, and all I can see now is just some colorful dots below. Realizing that we have shaken off the pursuers, I immediately ask her.

“Such a great rescue, Mantis. I’m so glad that you’re here. But, how can you… come to this place? How is everyone at MBCC? Are they okay? Where are we heading to?”

Mantis laughs heartily.

“Actually I… I just slept, then I… appeared in a … strange place. I met my… old friends… then… I opened a door… And see you… Everyone… missed you a lot… I’m... taking you... to meet… Dreya… and NOX.”

Then, she added.

“When I’m… in this form…, please call me… Mantis… But if I…change back… no spikes… no mask… Chief…, please call me… Marguerite…”

“Okay, I will - “

I nonchalantly answer her, then suddenly choke up on my words. Wait a minute, Mantis has just asked me to call her “Marguerite”, which means…

I’m so taken aback, and instantly, I twist my whole body back to face her.

“You… You’ve… recalled everything?”

“Stop… struggling… Chief… I don’t want to… drop you down… Stay still… Hehe… Why do you also… speak… like me?”

She even teases me! Oh my God! What happened? If this is a dream, please don’t let me wake up yet… One of my dearest wishes is for them, Mantis and Dreya, regaining their former selves.

“I will… tell you everything… when we regroup… with those two… Promise!”

“Promise! I… I’m so glad to see you again… Thank you very much for rescuing me, my superhero Marguerite…”

Hearing this, she giggles cheerfully and circles downward. It seems she has caught sight of her friends.

Dreya is without her mask. She is surrounded by a large group of “residents” and they are throwing things like rocks, chairs, sticks, etc. at her. Mantis nimbly drops me off then her arms morph into their scythe-like forms. She swiftly attacks those Corruptors and clears a way to rescue Dreya. Looking up, Dreya is surprised to see her and me here. I rush to her side and drag her away, while Mantis is dealing with the remaining pursuers. However, Dreya tries to pull me back.

“I must help her… We cannot leave her fighting alone, Marguerite… Mantis… will be in danger…”

“It has never crossed my mind to leave her behind… Don’t worry. Wait, wait! Dreya… You… What did you just call her?”

“Huh? Mantis?” Dreya is puzzled at my bombarding questions.

“No, before that. You called her…”

“Ah, Marguerite… That is her real name… I just …recalled it recently… But… Maybe… she doesn’t remember this name anymore…” Dreya answers me sadly.

“No, she remembers it. Actually, she just clearly asked me to call her Marguerite when she is in her “normal” form… What happened? This dream… is so surreal. I’m so intrigued, what did you encounter earlier? Oops, so fast, she has finished all of them!”

Marguerite has dealt with all attackers while we’re still exchanging words. She turns to look at me and Dreya, winks and grins happily. Waving at us, she makes a V-sign.

“See… all done! You can always… rely on this… superhero to… save the day! Wait… hmm… this is… an excellent plot, don’t… you think? When I… don my mask… and go on adventure or… rescuing others, I’m… Mantis - the Superhero. When removing… the mask, I’m Marguerite, a cute,... friendly, and… trustworthy naturalist. Some sort of experiment… went wrong… and “kaboom”,... I got these… strange powers to… transform, fly… and so on. Isn't that… super interesting? Why… are you… so silent? Hey, say… something?”

Marguerite panickingly looks at us, her gaze darts from my face to Dreya, back and forth.

I’m speechless, my face stiffened, while Dreya is stunned, unknown of what to say. 

Marguerite looks like she is about to cry.

Finally, what I can manage to say is this.

“I guess…. This is an interesting plot. Especially when you’re considering changing your job, from a survival expert and naturalist, to a cartoon actress, that is. But, yea, I will look into it…”

“What is “kaboom”? What kind of experiment?” Dreya asks, still in a daze.

“”Kaboom” is… an explosion… What kind of experiment… I haven’t… thought of yet…”

“Well, what about NOX? Shouldn’t we go find her now? Then we can think of the plot for your superhero movie later.” I chim in.

“No need to go find me… I heard the fighting sounds and came here already…”

A girl standing in the dark corner calls out to us. Marguerite runs over, happily hugs NOX in her open arms. 

“Since I can come here following the sounds, that means… The pursuers are coming near.”

“Ahhhh, time to run now!” I shout, and all of us start to run away at top speed. We don’t even have time to enjoy the moment of reunion.

...

After running awhile, we have found a dilapidated building. Rushing inside this temporary shelter, finally, we can take a break. But I’m not in any mood for relaxation. There are so many things that have been bugging my mind, I need to ask them for clarification.

Seeing my expectant eyes, Marguerite smiles and begins to tell her story.

“When… at MBCC… I saw you… kidnapped by that Corpseborne… to a dark swamp… It seemed that… Dreya and NOX… also saw similar things… We came to…report to Nightingale… Then on the way back… I collapsed… When I opened my eyes… I was in a… strange world… I met… my late friends there… Fought against countless… monsters having my face… Then…”

“Then what?” I impatiently ask.

“Then… I found myself … transported to a void… My memories… fragments were the bubbles there… When I touched them… I recalled my… past… Now… I can even… transform my body… at will… Cool, isn’t it?”

“Do you… remember me?” Dreya asks, hopefully.

“Of course yes… You’re … my dear Dreya! That was… what happened to me… What… about you two?”

Like me, Marguerite is also very interested in her friends’ encounters.

Dreya hesitates a bit, then she also begins her story.

“I saw myself back in the institute… The people there …. Their faces were weird… At first, they couldn’t perceive the existence of the Illusory Moon… Only I could see it… After some wicked things… Everything collapsed… I… I got to face that ominous moon again… In the end… I turned down its offer to merge with it… And I appeared here, through a narrow door.”

NOX continues with her tale.

“I met… Amber… Initially, we were in that nursing home… After that… she took me out… We were in school. We went to a shopping mall, played games and listened to music… Then we went camping at a park… She taught me to make a wish… We watched the sunrise together… Then… She pushed me here… I also…walked through a similar door…”

Their encounters… They’re so surreal that it makes me keep rubbing my eyes. It’s like… something magically has happened. They were placed in the testing environment, meeting the right people, and succeeded in choosing the right choices. Mantis reclaimed her memories and identity. Dreya won against the temptation of an evil entity and retained her original goal. And NOX… was healed and taken care of by the person understanding and loving her most. 

“What… about your journey, Chief?” Marguerite tilts her head and asks me curiously.

“Well, as you can see, I’m being chased all over the place by the Corruptors… And I’m called as one, instead of them.” I shrug, resignedly.

“Hahaha…” Marguerite bursts out laughing.

“Ahem… please…let me interview… you, Mister. Can you… tell me …your feelings… when experiencing… being chased all over the city... by the FAC… for the first time?”

She even has the mood to tease me. However, surprisingly, I also find it quite funny. Maybe… reuniting with them, seeing them all safe and sound, makes me relieved, all the heavy weight tugging at my chest these days has disappeared as well. 

“Well, I guess it can’t be helped then. I’m such a celebrity, causing chaos everywhere. Thank you so much for appearing at such a right time and place to rescue me, my Superhero!” I dramatically bow at her.

Marguerite laughs so hard that there are tears in her eyes. She then proudly proclaims.

“Leave it… to me! Of course… the Superhero has to… have the approrpriate entry…”

“You two can go set up a troupe together…” NOX is getting tired of our banters.

Dreya gently pats NOX’s head.

“Don’t worry. I’m sure you will see your sister again. She told you to write for her right? When we’re back, you should try that, and maybe, she will visit you in your dream like this…”

NOX’s gaze wanders outside melancholically, then she softly nods.

“Okay… Maybe everyone has been tired, I think we should rest now. We will think of a way to deal with this situation later. You guys should get some sleep, I will stay keeping watch.” I urge them to sleep now, because, compared with what I’ve experienced in this realm, their encounters were much more extreme, tiresome and… painful.

However, I should have known this already… They would never agree with this idea.

That is the reason why, now, all of us are sitting together, hugging our knees, and urging each other to sleep.

Chapter Text

We are holding a strategy discussion in the dead of night. In the end, no one agreed to sleep, so we decided to stay awake together. The Corruptors are scouring for us everywhere. Well, tonight is also a sleepless night for them too. 

Deducing from our encounters, I can finally confirm that we are indeed stuck in a subconscious realm. This realm, according to Dreya and Marguerite’s hypothesis, is constructed from all the subconscious minds of living beings in our world, and it is supported by Mania. That is the reason why, their memories, their fears, their obsessions, etc. can materialize and have physical forms here. The methods that they employed to escape from their predicaments earlier included: Marguerite/ Mantis - repressing the dark impulse and recall one’s identity (with the real name served as an anchor to her existence), Dreya - realizing and re-confirming her initial goal, overcoming her own weaknesses; and NOX - learning about accepting herself and other, as well as being compassionate (thus, affirming herself and growing up as a person, not an empty husk). As for this world, it must be the one that represents my fears, my insecurities and problems. The only way for us to escape it is to find the “key” like what my companions did earlier, which means… They can only help me ward off the attackers, but when it comes to escaping from this world, I must find a way as soon as possible. 

Urgh… My head hurts. Every decision I make now will directly affect them, I’m literally carrying their lives in my hand now. If it’s in the real world, even if I did make some mistakes, with their extraordinary powers, they still can pull through… But in this realm of dream, we are up against the world. My palms are sweaty, I…

A cool sensation touches the back of my hand. NOX has silently crept beside me and she is holding my hand in her palms. 

“Amber said… Holding hands can help others calm down…”

The two scholars turn to look at me, there come Dreya’s soothing voice.

“Don’t worry… We’ll do whatever you need and protect you… Don’t let all the fear and tension swallow your steady heart…It was not your fault….that we are trapped here… We came here…following our hearts…and we also received lots of invaluable things… ”

“Yes… Yes… Dear Dreya is right… If you ever lose your way or encounter danger, I promise, I'll be right there for you... I never leave my companions behind, I swear…Let’s sum up…our hypothesis…and plan for the next move…”

Seeing their concern and faith in me, I can’t help but swallow back my thanks and apologies to them. No need for cliche chicken soup, no need for hollow pleasantries, we all are close companions, physically and spiritually connected. If they trust me this much, I also need to trust myself not to waste their hope in me. 

“Let’s give this whole dream world a name. Should we go with… “Shrine of Dreams?”” I suggest.

NOX is uninterested. Dreya is looking at me gently, but I’m pretty sure that she just doesn’t get it. While Mantis, or I should call her Marguerite as she has removed the mask now, is slapping the ground and laughing.

Honestly, I feel a bit hurt that she is the one to laugh at my naming skill. NOX is a child, while Dreya, I don’t know whether she had named something or not, but someone who named her own series with a wordy name like “Marguerite and Friends’ Wilderness Trek”, shouldn’t be laughing at me.

Noticing my accusing gaze, she waves her hand hastily while covering her mouth with the other. 

“Well…Urgh…My tummy hurts… Shouldn’t we…Shouldn’t we continue…with the plan?”

Okay, I will let it slip then.

There is no way for me to sneak in and search for clues among these residents. Besides, just like in some games that EMP and Etti made me play, I need to find the right “trigger” to enact a drastic change in this world and lead to a “good ending”. Where can I find it anyway?

“By the way, Dreya, why did they attack you earlier?” When Marguerite and I found her, Dreya was surrounded and attacked by a large mob.

“I was looking at the sky and bumped into them… They were angry and called me “a Corruptor that wears human flesh”... I was at a loss at how to deal with them and clear their mind, then you two appeared.”

I glance at Marguerite. She rolls her eyes.

“If… you had the mask on…, they wouldn't attack… They would think…we were the same kind…” The green haired scholar says, her tone is lingering with a subtle hint of sadness and self-mockery.

I nearly choke up on my words. Everytime I’m reminded of this fact, my heart feels like it is being slowly sliced over and over again by a thousand cuts. However, what they need in me is not pity for them, they choose to embrace themselves together with these changes, and I, as their companions, their friends, and also their guide, need to honor their wish, I need to accept them as they are. What is the meaning of love if one can’t accept the differences, changes in others?

“By the way, Dreya, you should…be more careful when walking… Also, if you’re wrongly accused or attacked, you need to defend yourself first, the explanation or mind clearing can be saved for later, after you are safe.” I sigh, my dear astrophysicist is always as confused as ever.

“How about you, NOX? Did they detect you?”

“No. They even walked past me without bothering to take a look.”

So, it seems these residents identify friends or foes by the corruption level.

“Anyway, we can’t just… idle here…. I will go out…scouting them… And maybe…taking away some of them… We need to hurry…I have a bad…premonition… for things at MBCC.” Marguerite declares that, then prepares to take her leave.

Dreya follows her to the window to see her off.

“Be careful… Don’t act rashly… We will protect the Chief here and wait for you to be back…”

“I traversed the … apocalypse. I’ve… survived … things much worse than this… Don’t worry!” She grins confidently and gives a thumb-up, then jumps down from the window.

“Hey wait! We’re…. Well, never mind. It’s Marguerite whom we’re talking about…” 

Currently, we are on the third floor of that building, and she just casually jumped down like this. Well, if she can’t debut as a main actress in a superhero movie, she still can work as a stunt double. Sometimes, I do feel a bit envious towards her stamina and athletic skills.

Dreya sighs, she is somewhat embarrassed. 

“Marguerite… She is always like this…Always dives headlong to troubles and dangers… But… I’m very relieved to have her with us here…”

NOX stands silently guarding the door, while Dreya keeps watch at the window. As for me, I’m pacing around in the room, waiting for Mantis to come back.

I’m quite anxious and worried. Marguerite knows what she is doing, but still… Seeing them throwing themselves into danger, while I’m sitting here, unable to offer any help, makes me really frustrated. Moreover, there is a thing that keeps nagging me in my mind, which is how to treat them from now on.

Aside from NOX, Marguerite and Dreya are not just Sinners. They used to be the nameless heroes who had stepped up, shouldering the noble responsibility of venturing into the forbidden place, carrying on and passing the torch of hope to bring a little warmth for humanity in overcoming the apocalypse. They are not… mindless Corruptors or Apostles. They were my…”companions”, in the Eternal Nightmare, or in that distant past that was lost from my memories. And yet, these heroes… They were tortured, transformed, their minds and bodies were ravaged, their identities, their humanity and sanity was taken away, their dignity was trampled on… Fate has done many cruel things to them, and the sufferings they had to endure were unimaginable. And now, in this dream world, they regained themselves. It was such a miracle, a greatest gift bestowed upon us by God.

I am truly happy, from the bottom of my heart. My joy is so overwhelming that it is totally indescribable. But… How should I treat them from now on?

I have been asking myself this question during our strategy meeting earlier. For them, a hundred years are just mere seconds. In a blink of an eye, they have fallen down from being humanity’s most trustworthy scholars, to be among the most dangerous Sinners, have to be “shackled”, detained and controlled. They are subjected to various “treatments” and experiments. Dreya is still her reserved self and does not openly express her feelings, but “Mantis”, she clearly dislikes being touched or stared at. What can I do for them? What should I do now? Even if I stand out and vouch for them, no one will agree to lower their guard against these “S-rank Sinners”. Their freedom is restrained, they are supervised all the time by the machines, they are locked up in an underground facility… They… They shouldn’t be treated like this. But can I change anything?

Sensing the uneasiness in my eyes, Dreya comes to my side and gently strokes my hair. I hold her hand, and look directly into her eyes. 

“What has troubled you, Chief? Please share with us, don’t bottle them up in your heart…”

“I…I’m sorry…”

I do not dare to gaze into her comforting and understanding eyes anymore. 

“I’m sorry… that you two are treated like this… I’m sorry that your names and your achievements have been lost in history… I’m sorry that you are dragged into this mess… You’re not some sort of criminal to be locked away like this … It’s unfair… It’s wrong… I’m sorry…. I’m so sorry… How can I give back your freedom?... How can I clear your names?... What can I do for you?... I don’t know anymore…. No one knows about your sacrifices… And the true heroes are suffering… I’m sorry…for taking away your choices…”

I break down crying and sobbing, apologizing to her incoherently. Dreya doesn’t answer me, she just keeps stroking my hair and patting my back.

After a while, I’m finally able to control myself.

“Sorry for making a fuss…” 

Dreya is still silent, I look up, only to see my reflection in her clear eyes. She smiles softly.

“Please don’t apologize to us. You did nothing wrong. We clearly understand the risks we pose to others. Also, if not for your “shackles”, we will never be able to find our way back… I’m not too sure of what happened to Marguerite, but even after remembering my goal and steadying my heart, I’m still… hear its howling voice…pushing me to get all your secrets… It still tries to tempt me… We used to be humanity’s “heroes” as you said, but we were also contaminated by Mania and became Sinners, this is the truth as well. Therefore, personally, if you want to do something for us, please continue to take care of us like you’ve done all the time. You’re not taking away our choice or freedom, it’s us who chose to follow you back, because we always want to reunite with you. So, please don’t be sad about that. Additionally, we joined the expedition not for fame or recognition, and many other companions of ours also gave their lives for this noble cause, I… I hope the past should remain undisturbed like this. We’ve regained our memories, and we will carry their names, their wishes as well as their regrets in our hearts. We will continue the expedition, fighting against that darkness in their stead…I think, Marguerite also shares my opinion… Therefore, please don’t blame yourself anymore…”

Suddenly, I sob, tears are welling up in my eyes again. Looking at her, I feel like I’m just a child, returning to be their “Little Guide” once more, despite… I’m already an adult… 

“Creak!”

The window is opened and Marguerite climbs in. Her hair is a bit disheveled but her spirit is quite good, and there is not a single wound on her body. I finally can breathe a sigh of relief.

“Huh?... What happened when… I’m not here?... We haven’t even…celebrated our reunion… yet…everyone looks… so gloomy all of a sudden…”

“Chief was crying and apologizing to Dreya and you.” NOX replies her.

Then Dreya proceeds to tell Marguerite about my breakdown earlier.

The naturalist looks serious, her expression is solemn, which is quite different from her usual lighthearted antics. I’m very anxious and tense, like a child having done something wrong or being afraid of hurting others.

After hearing the story, Marguerite doesn’t say anything. Instead, she sits down, stretches her legs and signals to me to come to her side. I step closer and she points at her thigh. 

“Come here… My little guide… It seems you’ve been stressed… and overthinking a lot… Come, your cute and friendly… superhero will let you… sleep on her thighs a bit. ~”

I obediently lie down on the floor, rest my head on her thigh, and hug my knees. I close my eyes reflexively, the warmth of her body is so assuring. 

“Listen… Chief… I know that… you’re overjoyed… when we regained our… memories and identities… But… You mustn’t forget… We’re mutated… We’re changed… My body… can accidentally mortally wound you… I’m still not getting over…the habits and… impulses of the calamitous Apostles… There may be time… I or dear Dreya lose control… We don’t want you… to get hurt… We can’t let that happen…Moreover… with your “shackles”,... the Mania level…inside us…can be controlled… But if… if you really want … to do something…for me… then…?”  Her voice grows smaller.

“Then? What can I do for you? Please say it!”

“Well… Please pay for all the cat food, litter sand, and some toys … As you can see, I can’t make money just by doing express delivery for those kids… You gave me “Kitty”… You also need to… be responsible… for her… And maybe, fill in my name when you have chances to go outside, to the forests and alike…”

Dreya chuckles at the sight of Marguerite’s troubled expression.

“Urgh… I hate to… admit it… but… I’m totally broke…”

“I don’t have money but I don’t need money either…”

“Me too.” NOX chimes in.

“If you still think… this is not enough… I will consider it again… and make a super long list… for you… Don’t be scared off…. Hehe…”

Somehow, the heavy mood has been magically lifted.

Chapter Text

Dreya is fixing Marguerite’s hair with her delicate fingers. 

“What did you find outside? Are they still hunting for us?”

“It seems that Corpseborne… has given them an order… to root us out… I stealthily destroyed… many of them… They didn’t discover me… but they will find out soon enough… when the number of residents dwindles so much…Also… Haizz… Forget it…”

“”What’s wrong? You seem troubled…” I hurriedly ask.

“Ah… Nothing much… But it’s bugging me a bit… I know … they’re not real… They’re not humans… But killing them… like this… I still feel a bit difficult…  All of them…. They're fragments of humans… Of our hearts…” Gradually, her voice sounds like a faint and painful whisper… She leans back, lifting her head up, staring at the ceiling.

Something, like a lightning, flashes through my mind.

“That Corpseborne… split its consciousness into countless fragments, which materialize as residents in this world. We have weakened it bit by bit by killing off these… Corruptors. It must realize our plan too, that’s why it has been nudging them to exterminate us. However, it would be much easier if it directly ordered and mobilized all these Corruptors to kill us, don’t you think? How can we fight against so many enemies? Just the numbers alone can drown us… Then why did it have to go a long way like this? Unless…”

“Unless… it can't interfere directly…” Mantis continues my guess.

“It may be the case…” Dreya nods, agrees with us.

“If it’s so omnipotent, it can easily locate us and order those Corruptors to attack us immediately… Instead of…”

“Instead of playing this kind of "games "." NOX’s eyes light up.

“Moreover…”, I add, “A world full of malice is the most suitable place for it to recuperate… It nurtures the madness, the malice, the negative traits in everyone’s heart, then it will harvest the power…”

“Then… what should we do now?”

“I have a plan. I will act as bait. Its target has always been me. If I openly appear, it won’t be able to control its hunger. The Corruptors will focus their attention on me. You guys should spread around me and hide yourself, silently reduce their numbers and cause a ruckus. The Corpseborne knows you are with me, so pretend that we’re separated, to lower its suspicion. Also, I’m certain that it won’t let its underlings have me, so we need to drag on the fighting until it reveals itself. That’s when the hunter becomes hunted…” 

“This plan is so dangerous… We cannot openly protect you, and you have to defend yourself for most of the time.” 

NOX is not persuaded by my plan. And the other two are the same.

“There is no other way. We can’t stay here passively waiting for it to come at us. We need to take an initiative. I trust you can pull off this task, and you should have faith in me too. I’m not that kind of weakling… Or well, maybe not on par with you, but at least I’m stronger than…” 

I look around, not the “Sinner of Death” who can easily wield her BFS sword, not the “Superhero” who can carry an adult like me flying with her flimsy wings… My gaze lands on the confused scholar.

“I can overcome gravity and other force fields…” She says calmly, her eyes flickering with an amusing light.

Oh, okay, I’m the weakest, I give up. Trying to compare myself with them is one of the most silly things that I’ve ever done. Sometimes, I do wish that this “Shackles” of mine can have other sparkle effects, like, body enhancement or at least it can change colors.

Pushing aside those wandering thoughts, I extend my hand and invite them to make a team hand-stack. Marguerite is excited, while Dreya and NOX are a bit unsure of the meaning of this action, but they still follow me. 

“We will succeed and go back together!” I clears my throat and says that firmly. 

“Yes!” 

The resolve has been strengthened. Now, it’s time to launch our counter-attack!

…

I run up to the top floor of this abandoned building and open the door to the terrace, while Marguerite remains on the third floor. The Corruptors have turned a blind eye to Dreya and she has previously occupied  a dark corner at the adjacent building. As for NOX, she has gone downstairs and pretended to be a passerby Corruptor. I inhale deeply, then shout.

“Despicable weasel! I’m here! Dare to have a fair duel with me instead of hiding and shivering like a scum you’re, will ya?”

Of course it won’t fall for this trick that easy. 

The Corruptors, hearing the commotion, all rush forwards to the building. A horde of them climb upon the stairs, hoping to be the one to catch me, while another group announcing to the “FAC”. Unbeknownst to them, not enough one-tenth of them can reach the top floor, the rest were all eliminated by a shadowy hunter. 

“ Poor little thing ... Rest in peace…”

The “FAC” of this world comes. Their helicopters circle the air, only to be shattered by a shower of meteors. The star fragments, after shattering the helicopters, continue to plunge straight downward to the crowd below. The Corruptors are howling, trying to find a shelter to escape the death from above, only to be greeted by the “Sinner of Death”. NOX doesn’t really need her giant sword to kill enemies, with her power, she can drain their life continuously. The Corruptors running away from the meteor shower suddenly collapse and disintegrate into dust. With them around, I don’t face the heavy pressure like before and can calmly defend myself from the Corruptors that Mantis deliberately let pass, while trying to sense the Corpseborne’s whereabouts. The chaotic scene is what I need and it has been achieved, things are getting out of hand for our cunning enemy.

Unable to bear with this anymore, the Corpseborne finally reveals itself. It sticks out multiple slippery tongues and catches countless Corruptors, throwing them into its mouths. Those Corruptors try to escape but fail miserably. 

“Why does God do this with us? Is that because we can’t kill the intruder?” They wail and thrash around in despair.

It seems that the Corpseborne has planted itself as this world’s God. How presumptuous it is! I lock eyes with the culprit kidnapping me here. This will be the final battle. I won’t let it escape. 

Seeing me, its eyes turn red from fury and resentment. The Sinners also regroup with me. Together, we stand facing its enormous body.

“Those weaklings…can’t do anything right… Hah… Useless! Useless!... Your only use is to…become my strength!” 

It roars and swallows everything in sight, but the combined efforts of Dreya, NOX and Marguerite have hindered its movements. The rest of the Corruptors begin to derange and assimilate each other into their final form… which is, another version of me.

Chapter Text

That is a darker version of me. Bearing my face, its whole body is covered in layers of filthy contamination, which forms as a sort of cape flying behind its back. It raises its arms toward our group and the Corpseborne. A bad feeling wells up in my chest.

“Hide!” I shout out to them. 

No, it’s too late. I plunge forwards, grabbing their hands and shoving them behind me. I try to shield them from the attack of that “me” with my body.

A darkish red light emits from its palms. That is its “shackles”. The crimson spikes, looking like having been soaked in blood, shoot towards our group and the Corpseborne at the same time.

My body has been pierced by multiple spikes, my companions are screaming but I can’t hear their voices. There is no blood, no holes, nothing at all. Just a flood of bare hatred, anger, despair, etc. trying to invade and gnaw at my consciousness. I kneel down, pant heavily, patting my chest.

Mantis stands before me, taking a defensive stance, while Dreya and NOX, each support me in their arms.

The Corpseborne, also caught off guard, has been penetrated all over its body. Its eyes are bloodshot, it wriggles all the tentacles to attack that “other me”. The “other me” grins wickedly, flicks its hand, and a huge red beam appears from the sky at its gesture, nailing the Corpseborne on spot. Its hand, as if grabbing something, makes a crushing movement, then the Corpseborne roars painfully, trying desperately to cover its chest. My “darker version” seems to have crushed the Corpseborne’s heart… 

“Are you… hurt? Why did you… shield us? We can … protect ourselves…” Marguerite sounds like on the verge of crying.

“We are much tougher than you… You shouldn’t do that!” NOX is furious and worried.

“He is very dangerous… Much more than the Corpseborne… How is your body now? We should retreat…” Dreya’s gaze is quivering, her hands keep examining my body to see whether I got hurt or not.

I take hold of her hands, clasping them in front of my chest. And I try to speak slowly and calmly.

“I’m okay. No physical wounds. Those spikes are the concentration of madness, malice, etc. that tried to invade my mind, but I have suppressed them. Don’t worry…Please calm down, and leave things to me…”

I’m not trying to act cool or to comfort Dreya. Feeble comforting words are useless. In fact, I’m truly pissed off by this “version” of me. Abusing the power of the “shackles” aiming to hurt my friends, while having the identical face with me, no less! I’m furious, I’m burning with anger, I rush out.

Well, before I can lash out at that “counterfeit”, I tumble forwards. Marguerite has forcefully yanked me back, her fingers grabbing my wrist tightly. When I turn to look at her in confusion, her steady eyes gaze directly at me.

“You’re the one… who should calm down… Why rush in danger…like that? … Stabilizing your breath… Hey… Look into my eyes!... It was just trying to… anger you…, to arouse your dark impulses… It aims to… play a trick… on you… It feeds on your…darkness… It absorbs your … negative feelings… It exploits your…love for us… to turn it against you… You must… keep your head clear!”

The force she applied on my wrist has caused pain shooting through my nerves, I feel like I have been doused from head to toe by a cold water bucket. A chill runs down my spine. Finally, I’m able to exhale deeply, the clear sanity has returned to my gaze.

“Thank you… Marguerite. Thank you everyone… I’ll be more careful from now on…”

The counterfeit has finished dealing with the Corpseborne, and now, it is walking toward me. It observes me carefully, the detestable grin never ceases to appear on its lips. 

“How weak… So pitiful… You’ve dragged everyone down with you… And still dream of playing the God of salvation… You can’t even dodge my teasing, or fully control the “Shackles”... I’m so disappointed!” It covers its mouth with one hand, mocking me.

“Shut up!” NOX steps up. She glares at it vigilantly.

Marguerite and Dreya move aside, together with NOX, they form a triangle of protection for me, placing me in the center. 

“Why are you so quiet? Where is your fighting spirit? Didn’t you want to punch me so hard earlier? You cannot lie to yourself. I understand you more than anyone else… You want to crush me in your palms, to rip off my face, to flay me alive because I dare to take your appearance, right?”

“No!”, I calmly retort.

“I won’t let anyone hurt my friends, and wearing my face to do that is totally unacceptable.”

“Friends, huh?” It laughs unruly, as if just hearing the most ridiculous joke.

“You called them your friends? A pitiful bug, a stray and a hollow vessel? These abhorrent existences? Oh my, you made me laugh so hard. Since when did we become friends with these disposable tools anyway?  Well, even in the standards for tools, they still fail miserably… Ah, I see, I see. You’re planning to give them some cheap comfort, so they will be eager to trade their lives for yours, right? Splendid moves! I would totally approve of that! It’s true that if you wear a collar on a dog, it will follow you out of duty. But if you let it choose to wear a collar itself, it will be its destined mission to obey you!” It continues to provoke me, spreading lies and bending the truth.

“Thank you for caring… We know the Chief… is not like you said… Wake up, stop dreaming of… separating us! You’ll… never succeed!” 

“If you continue to slander the Chief and our bonds, I won’t let you off!”. Even the gentle scholar is angry.

NOX is silent, but her glare is also full of hostility.

“Me? Wake up? No, you’re the ones who should wake up! Know your place, lowly beings! Who are you barking at, while you’re even lesser than humans? Don’t you realize that, he can set you free anytime he wants, he just doesn’t want to do it! If he really values your freedom, your life, he should have killed himself so all of you can be free! How naive! Being sold by others, and still helping them to put on a sale…” 

Its taunting has made me fuming mad again. I cast the shackles to attack it, only to see the red spikes rebounded and shattered. 

“I’ve told you earlier, haven’t I? We are the same, how can your wimpy shackles attack me? Stop struggling, we will merge together and become an existence that reigns over the world!”

How can this imitator be the same as me? It’s so loud, dramatic, and malicious. It dares to hurt my friends and provoke me. How disgusting! 

Seeing my contorted face, Dreya is deeply worried.

“Did it do something to you?” 

“No, but it’s so disgusting that I want to throw up.” I nonchalantly reply her.

Everyone, including the counterfeit, is stunned. It seems, even if it can copy my face and power, it won’t be a match for me in quipping these snarky comments with such a straight face.

“You seem so full of yourself, huh? It’s good to see you’re getting your spirit back, because it will be much more fun to thrash you later. See, someone is talking big about protecting others, while still hiding behind their backs. You couldn't even protect a child. You killed your protector!” It smirks.

After a wave of hand, it shows me those painful memories again, when I was unable to save the gray haired girl, when I accidentally killed 036, when I couldn’t save Earl, etc.

“You failed, you failed again and again. Because you are weak, you’re prone to mistakes, you’re easily affected by emotions, yet… You’re always bound by laws and morality… You try to save everyone… but in the end, you can’t even save yourself… Stop resisting me, it’s futile. Only by becoming one with me, then you can achieve your dream… You want to save the Sinners, right? I can give you this power! No, to put it more accurately, this power is already yours, it’s just that you’re still refusing it. You want to cleanse the world from Mania, don’t you? Well, the problem is not from Mania, Mania is just a catalyst, all the darkness, disasters, etc. rise from human’s heart. If you want to save the world, you should be getting rid of the roots of all sins - which is humanity. By exterminating them or trapping them in an eternal nightmare is up to you. Together, we can do everything! The Sinners can't be cured, they will never be accepted in human society… Your only way of saving them is to make the rest of humans bow down to your feet! Humans are afraid of our power and our leashed dogs too… Also… Look! Look! You can't save this world, you can’t save anyone if you continue to refuse me!”

My head hurts, it is so loud, besides punching, I also want to slap it so badly.

“I’ve never dreamt of being a God of Salvation. I admit, I failed many people. I’m unable to protect anyone if not for my friends’ support. I know I’m weak, my power is limited. However…”

I gaze at my darker self steadily.

“I won’t give up on trying my best. I can’t save everyone, but I will try to save as many people as I can. I don’t care about power, position, or wealth… Reign over the world? You claimed to be my hidden self, and you understand me most? How ridiculous! If you really are my suppressed negative thoughts, you must know this means nothing to me! Yes… I’ve witnessed many atrocities and conspiracies. I’m no stranger to humanity’s ignorance, arrogance, cruelty and greediness. However, one must not forget, even in the most barren or contaminated land, plants can still thrive. In the weak, feeble humanity that you so despise, there are still heroes who relentlessly fight for the light! Who are you to trample on others like that? Moreover, what’s the difference between Sinners and normal humans anyway, when we all live, all breathe, bleed and die the same? When we’re striving for the same goal? I used to doubt the power of the Shackles… It never occurs to my mind that one day, I’ll be the one who literally controls others’ lives like that. But now, I’ve realized one thing. The power itself is neither good nor bad. If it is wielded by scums like you, it will only bring forth pains and disasters. Great power comes heavy responsibilities. I will continue to protect my friends and my ideals. Your venomous words cannot hope to make me waver anymore. I can’t change the world, I can’t change others, but I will trudge on this path of righteousness. And I’m not alone. My friends, my companions are with me. You’ve already lost right at the moment they set foot in this world!”

My companions step closer to me, preparing to deal a decisive blow to it. Many familiar faces of Nightingale, Hella, Hecate, Zoya, Raven, etc. flash through my mind. It’s time to finish this abhorrent thing and return to our home.

“With them around, I can take on the world.”

Its face distorts, it panickingly covers its body, its figure becomes blurry. It seems what I guessed is right. This one, just like the Corpseborne and the Corruptors earlier, didn’t have physical self, therefore, it needed to feed on the negative feelings and thought to gain power in this world. And our sadness, anxiety, anger, etc. has been its fuel all the time. When we get a resolve of ourselves, steadying our hearts, it would be no match for us. 

The fake “me” is crumbling away, the world we are in also starts to collapse. Without the strong source of malice to support it, it can’t sustain itself anymore. The sky above our heads begins to fracture. Marguerite grabs me and takes me flying away from the falling building, while Dreya manipulates the gravity to help herself and NOX land safely. Soon enough, even the ground we are standing on melts away as well. We grab each other’s hand, and in a blink of an eye, we find ourselves floating in a void. 

Chapter Text

We are floating in space. I don’t know how much time has passed since we all fell into a coma, but this journey has brought us too many surreal and otherworld experiences,  for example, this gravity-free experience. We don’t know where we’re heading to in this void, no sound can be here, no direction, nothing at all. All we can do is to grip each other’s hand tightly, and the skin-to-skin sensation is the only thing real here. I try to pull them closer to me, but after some unsuccessful attempts, I decide to give up. Instead of struggling, we are spreading out, relaxing our bodies, as if we’re playing on the beach, bobbing up and down in the water. 

What if this is just a dream?

What if… we will forget everything after waking up?

What if… when we’re back, Mantis is still a human-shaped Mutant Bug, Dreya is still tormented by the temptation of the Illusory Moon, and NOX remains an empty shell of herself?

What if… my “darker version” is not totally destroyed, still lurking somewhere, waiting for the moment I let my guard down and strike back?

I unconsciously grip their hands tighter.

A subtle fragrance of wine floats through the space. The void we are floating in suddenly brightens up with countless shiny stars. They flicker happily, their light is so warm.

“Fear not… I will guide you back. It is fine to be as yourself.”

A soothing voice of a strange woman, accompanied by the faint wine fragrance, echoes directly in my mind. My eyes widen in surprise, and judging from my companions’ reactions, it seems that they also hear the same thing.

After she finishes her sentence, we are pulled downwards by a strong force. I frantically grab my friends with me, then we all disappear.

The last thing I can hear is that woman’s merry laughter, sounding really like the chiming of silver bells.

“Why did you help them?” 

“ Well, I should be the one asking you about this…”

“...”

“Is that… also your dream? Speak as your heart wills, and be as your intoxication wishes…”

After a while, the other woman speaks again.

“Indeed, I have to admit that, I kinda want to see whether those so-called Sinners and … the normal humans can live together… Can the differences truly be settled down? Will they really be able to secure a future without discrimination, injustice and hatred? Also... what they will gain in dreaming like this? Time heeds my command, and being here, I can watch for an eternity…”

Hearing this answer, the drunk woman only chuckles softly and mumbles to herself.

“When will the hate sunk beneath the battlefield disperse?”

Chapter Text

Nightingale is flipping the document in her hands attentively, there are multiple stacks of dossiers, case files, reports, etc. on her desk. Her face is a bit gaunt, and the dark circles around her eyes are clearly visible. A ring sounds from her terminal. Nightingale sighs, then picks up.

“The Chief has woken up…”

She cannot hear the rest of the sentence… Nightingale immediately rushes to the infirmary of MBCC, to confirm the Chief’s condition. Opening the room, she sees that the Chief has been helped to sit up, leaning his back on the cushion placed at the head of the bed. Seeing her, the Chief smiles gently.

“Long time no see… Sorry for making all of you worried…”

Countless words welled up in her throat, but the dutiful Adjutant can only mutter a barely audible response.

“Thank goodness… You’re finally back…”

On the adjacent beds, Mantis, Dreya and NOX are also awake. They are eying Nightingale curiously. 

Previously, the Chief and the DisSea trio have discussed and agreed that they won’t tell anyone about what happened to Mantis and Dreya. Personally, both Mantis and Dreya didn’t want others to know that they had regained their memories and identities. The first and foremost thing was that they didn’t want to become anyone’s guinea pigs, especially those from Paradeisos. They didn’t want to be experimented on just because “they could recover their former lives owing to an absurd dream.” Second, there were many unclear things about Keylan and Paradeisos’ stand in the aftermath of the expedition as well as the fight of humanity against Mania. On one hand, they were the people left behind by that era, and they were the only witnesses. On the other hand, they didn’t know what really had occurred during all these years. Moreover, with many conspiracies surrounding Chief’s memory loss, everything must proceed with caution, especially when they couldn’t determine friends or foes. Therefore, the safest way was to maintain the current status quo, and protect the Chief, their only surviving companion. They didn’t need the change in their treatment either, it was best to leave things that way. And since the Chief also agreed with their opinion, NOX also promised to never disclose this to anyone else. 

“What happened? You promptly collapsed, and now you woke up on your all! What kind of science is this?!” Dr. Iron is clutching her head unbelievably.

“Well, it’s a miracle, because not just Chief, but our friends also recovered safely…”

Anne happily wipes the tears from the corner of her eyes.

The Sinners are forming a large crowd outside the infirmary. Hella is jumping up and down, grabbing on Ninety-Nine’s shoulders, trying to peek into the room. Garofano is clasping her hands, eyes closing, finally relieved because her “family” isn’t taken away from her again. Raven is hugging her chest and exclaims dramatically.

“See it yourself, Crache! It’s my masterpiece that has woken Chief and those three up…”

Her “favorite” student is ignoring her as usual. And instead of hustling against the crowd, Crache just simply follows her shadow and hangs upside down from the ceiling of the room. Nightingale notices her and reluctantly gives in.

“There are many things that I want to know… but it seems, everyone can’t wait anymore. I will let them visit you one by one, but if you’re tired, please notify us immediately… They all miss you a lot, and if I continue to prevent them from coming in, I’m afraid they will start a riot now…”

She nods to the Chief then goes outside, allowing the Sinners to come in and visit their beloved Chief. The Chief is showered with flowers, poems, hugs, and even tears and snots from the Sinners. He is so happy to be back with them, but also quite sorry, as he can’t… reveal the truth of things that happened… At least, not now.

The Corruptors’ attack on FAC’s posts at the Broken Frontlines also ceases, right at the moment Chief wakes up. The Illusory Moon’s phenomenon has returned to normal, stop driving these mania-infected in frenzy and suicidal waves anymore. After several check-ups and reports, all of them are discharged and to celebrate this “good news”, the Chief decides to hold a party. OwO is finally able to perform her “excellent lion dance” to ward off the evils and invite good luck back to the Chief. Mantis has an opportunity to compete in the eating contest of MBCC. Raven has recited all of her odes to Chief, which gives everyone a good laugh, even Nightingale can’t suppress her chuckles.

After the feast, the Chief has to assume his work again, as well as preparing to face several “interrogations” of all departments. No matter how hard they press on him, he never reveals any special things relating to the incident. All they’ve got is that “the Chief’s mind has been stuck in a standoff with the Corpseborne, and when the Sinners suddenly appeared, they joined force to defeat the Corpseborne and came back together.” As for Mantis and Dreya, previously, even normal conversations with them were quite difficult, therefore, these investigators could not probe for any useful information. They described their experiences, but left out the most important parts about themselves. And when the researchers asked NOX, she just plainly told them that she dreamt of “the previous owner of this body” and “that person took me to see the Chief”. In the end, it was concluded that if those investigators wanted to dig out more information relating to this incident, they might need to consult a dream interpreter. 

“Hey, what do you think about the woman’s voice when we escape from that dream world?”

I ask my “companions” in a peaceful evening as we gather at the Greenhouse.

Marguerite sticks her head out from her nest, she is busy grooming her Kitty and replies to me.

“I think… she is some kind of… Fairy? We… can’t see her… But the wine fragrance…”

Marguerite licks her lips, the aroma is still lingering in her memory. That wine must be among the finest.

Dreya is looking at the sky above absent-mindedly, and sometimes, she will glance back at NOX, who is struggling to write her own letter to Amber. 

The peaceful scene unfolding before me makes me want to rub my eyes. After countless hardships, we can finally let ourselves have some relaxing moments here.

I’ve arranged for Marguerite a more suitable approach in therapy, in which they will help her control the instincts and habits of the Mutant Bugs in her. Letting her see and take care of small animals also helps a lot. For Dreya, I ask our MBCC staff to help her find lots of astrological books, so she can catch up with this era’s discoveries and research. I also request a craftsman to help me craft a decorative egg in the shape of a celestial miniature globe as a birthday gift for her. And for NOX, as I understand Amber’s wish for her “younger sister” to have her own life and grow as an individual person, I start to organize some social gathering events for NOX to befriend other Sinners, especially those from Syndicate. Hope that these gatherings will help reduce the distance and fear of other Sinners to NOX. She is like a late blooming sunflower, if she is cared for and nurtured in the right way, she may even become the sunniest one. 

I’m almost dozing off when a sudden announcement comes beeping in my terminal. The remnants of the Carnivore gang have attacked and kidnapped a group of students having an excursion in a zoo. These gangsters are equipped with Mania weapons and are very hostile. The Public Security Bureau cannot safely evacuate the residents and rescue the hostages, and they request the support from MBCC. Not wasting a single moment, I grab my coat and call out to Marguerite. Well, when we’re alone, I will call her by this name, so she won’t forget, and I also won’t forget that, Marguerite still exists. 

Nightingale asks me whether I would need a team supporting me or any other Sinners. I shake my head, well, with this Superhero by my side, there is no need to worry. We take off immediately and deal with the gangsters in mere minutes. All hostages have been rescued without any major injuries. And the children have been looking up in admiration of the image of the “Superhero” flying headlong in the gangsters’ waves of bullets to save them. 

Later, when we’re back, I ask Deren to help me create a small poster. In which, Marguerite is depicted as a “Superhero” flying in the sky. Her wings look like a transparent cape fluttering behind her back. The genius film director looks at me with her sparkly eyes.

“Do you finally approve of me making a movie about the Sinners and MBCC? I’m sure it will be a great hit! People will get to learn more about Sinners and the discrimination that we’re facing will lessen…”

I find it hard to turn down her proposal, but now is not the right time.

“Well, I will look into it, but not now…” I grin amusingly.

“We need to wait until we can make sure our film gets past the censorship…” I add, assure her.

Deren also nods thoughtfully in agreement, but her mind must be wandering on multiple “interesting” plots by now.

After Deren finishes making the poster, I bring it to Marguerite’s nest and give it to her as a present. She gleefully hangs it on the wall and thanks me.

“So… you still remember… everything I said… Thank you very much, Chief!”

“If it’s about you, I won’t forget anything.” I firmly state.

She smiles so happily that her eyes look like two small crescent moons.

The moon is so beautiful tonight…

And not all heroes wear capes. Some can have insect wings and scythe-like arms.

In the end, we, in one way or another, reunite with ourselves and our companions. Whatever awaits us in the future, we are not alone anymore.

In a void, where there is no light, no sound present, a blue haired woman with a tail and a pair of horns is holding a gourd of wine in her hand. She is sitting there, taking a sip and watching the Sinners and the Chief with great fondness. Accompanying her is a golden haired woman with her amber colored eyes and a mysterious smile that never fades from her face.

"Let's see whether you can do it... Can the gap of difference be bridged? Can the infected be cured? Can humans' hearts triumph over their dark desires? Is... living in harmony together a possible future?"

"Well, the night is still young... And there are many, many more journey awaiting them... Don't you agree, Amber?"

ENDS.