Dawn light pierced through the darkness as, in a quiet room, two people slept peacefully.
Sunny slowly stirred from slumber as the world came into focus.
Beside him, Nephis slept with her head resting against his neck, his arm loosely wrapped around her. Her silver hair spilled across his chest and face like a soft curtain.
Their bodies were wrapped beneath a blanket from shoulders to toes, their bodies have bite marks every where and the warmth between them made him smile. Instinctively, he pulled her a little closer. She shifted from the movement, slowly waking and opening her eyes.
Sunny looked at her and smiled warmly.
"Good morning, Neph~"
She fully opened her eyes and slipped her arms around his neck, bringing her face closer.
"Good morning, Sunny."
She pressed her lips lightly against his in a soft kiss as they kiss. After the kiss Sunny slowly slid down to her neck, she tilted her head to give him more area. Before they can do anything further—
Sunny eyes widened and he suddenly froze.
"…Cass is coming."
Gloomy and Happy, who were guarding them, had seen her from the shadows.
Nephis also froze. They quickly summoned their armor. With a quiet farewell kiss, Sunny slipped out through the window, vanishing into the shadows, and advance toward his own room.
Nephis stepped out into the corridor before Cassie arrived—because Cassie could absolutely smell that something had happened if she got too close.
So Nephis simply went toward her first.
...
Yeah, they almost do it every night.
...
**Some days later…**
Sunny and Nephis walking together in the afternoon light, eventually reaching a remote alley where no one could overhear them. The crimson glow of sunset stretched long shadows across the walls.
It was the place where, in the last timeline, they had their argument—where Sunny had left the group.
Sunny looked at Nephis's expressionless face and ask.
"What are you thinking?"
Nephis sighed and turned slightly toward him.
"Nothing. Just… thinkingabout my past self, and the...decisions I made."
Silence lingered for a few seconds before she spoke again.
"You're leaving for the Dark City now, right?"
He nodded. Today was the day, according to the last timeline where he should left their camp. He had already received [Endless Spring] from Cassia.
She stepped closer until they were eye to eye.
"Good. This way, the timeline won't rupture. Everything will move smoothly. And when you return with Kai and Saint, then… the second half of our plan for the Forgotten Shore will begin."
Sunny nodded. "Yeah, I know."
They exchanged one more short kiss before Sunny melted into the shadows and left for the Dark City.
...
Sunny advance swiftly through the shadows of the ruined dark city and trees, eliminating only those who blocked his way.
With no one nearby, he could freely use both the [Blessing] and Soul Serpent as he traveled toward the cathedral.
He stopped at the edge of the shadows facing the ruined entrance. He couldn't see the devil inside, but he knew it was there.
Sunny smiled darkly.
'Well well… isn't this my beloved roommate?'
He wanted to kill it now—and he had a decent chance of doing so. But without the Saint present to absorb the true darkness and it soul, Sunny knew he would lose an important power-up for Saint.
He exhaled slowly.
"Well… enjoy the time you have left bastard. Because killing you once in past isn't enough for me, soI'll do it again."
He then slipped through the shadows into a small hole in the wall, emerging onto a narrow balcony before entering the priestess's chamber.
Sunny looked around.
The room was spacious and serene. Intricate patterns covered the stone walls, and the pale polished furniture—some ruined by time—still held a quiet elegance. There were no windows, only darkness softly swallowing the interior.
Outside, evening shadows were deepening.
This was… Sunny's first home.
A wave of nostalgia hit him unexpectedly, even though he had spent his past timeline living on the Forgotten Shore.
A genuine smile tugged at his lips as he jumped onto the bed and lay down comfortably.
'Nothing feels better than relaxing at home while talking to—' He activated telepathy through the [Unknown Bond].
On the other end, Nephis lay on her bed, pulling a blanket over herself.
Sunny chuckled and shifted on the bed.
<… I can't tell if that's good for me or bad.>
Nephis blushed slightly and turned her face toward the window.
Their easy conversation continued, light and warm. They know that future would be hard and extremely difficult, but they will get though it together.
...
**Clash! Clang! Clash!**
Kai and Jet lay on the ground, fully bloodied and wounded, unconscious. Jet's one ear was gone. Both were barely breathing.
**Clash! Shriek! Clang!**
Effie and Cassie also unconscious with serious injuries. Effie lay flat on the ground, bleeding from stomach. Cassie back against a stone, her blind eyes is... gutted out.
**Clash! Clash!**
Two identical people, lithe figure, alabaster skin, gleaming onyx eyes, and lustrous raven-black hair, fighting with dark odachis.
Both radiating harrowing aura, as if death itself manifested in them. One of them just look more insane.
Boom! With a thundering impact from a clash, both of them thrown back. Ground around them burst open.
Two if them are heavily injured and bleeding, though the insane one in a bit better statep, but...it can't be say same for the other one.
That one on his knees, one of his arm are gone so he mad a arm out of shadows,his one eye is slashed cut, breathing heavily he cough a bit and black blood throw out. He then slowly stand up again and point his odachi toward the insane one, ready to fight again.
Insane one began to...laugh menacingly.
"Kekekak, look at you! You think you can still win? Just give up! I'm the original! Original with every memory from start to here! You are nothing more than a inferior version of me!"
He didn't listen and still pointing the sword toward him, and...smile darkly.
"...Then I just have... to kill you and become the superior one!"
With that both of them again launched forward with light speed and continue their destructive battle.