Stop! It's me!"
Slowly, a vague hint of recognition appeared in the burning white eyes of the radiant monster. Theblinding light emanating from her skin dimmed a little.
Sunny gritted histeeth. "Changing Star!"
Her hand trembled. The stark inhumanity of herface grew less frightening. The apparition opened its mouth.
Her voice was hoarse and awkward, as if coveredin rust after not being used for a long, long time:
"...S—Sunny?"
He forced out a pale smile.
"It's me! Snap out of it, damn it!"
The radiant figure — Nephis — froze. Slowly, thelight suffusing her skin dimmed, and then became extinguished.
The fire devouring the underground levelweakened, too, allowing the fire suppression systems to douse it.
Standing naked amidst the devastation caused byher, Changing Star stared at Sunny with a confused expression.
Then, she suddenly swayed, and fell down.
Sunny was barely quick enough to fall to his knees and catch her.
Holding Neph in his arms, he looked up andnoticed the Awakened warriors of the security team staring at him in shock from afar.
The corner of his mouth twitched.
"...What are you doing, fools?! Bring mesomething to cover her up! Don't you know who that is?!"
He shook his head, hiding the fact that he was as stunned as they were.
"This... this is Lady Changing Star, the lastdaughter of the Immortal Flame clan. She's back..."