Halo's eyes opened to see countless tendrils of white, ghostly smoke coiling from the creature's body, appearing like ethereal threads.

He didn't need any explanation. He knew instantly what they were: threads leading directly to the creature's vital points.

Before he could fully absorb the sight, Spineless's leg came down. It passed straight through him like he was a ghost, but the aftershock alone brought him to his knees.

He rose to his feet immediately and escaped the Chaos Eater's limbs. He was calmer than usual, even as his legs gave out every second or two, he moved with calculated elegance.

Normally, he'd set his three-minute timer for situations like this. This version of him didn't bother.

He summoned a sword and charged toward the Sinner with grace. His movements were so calm that even his footfalls made no sound.

Dodging Spineless's attack, he followed one of the threads precisely, driving his first strike of the battle into the creature's gut.

It released a powerful gust, voiceless, and a massive wind blew in its wake.

But Halo wasn't bothered. In fact, he seemed to be drifting deeper and deeper into the calmness, and soon enough, the only thing he could register was the Chaos Eater, Spineless.

Their battle escalated.

Many buildings collapsed in their wake. Halo's body was bruised and worn out, yet he failed to register any of it.

His clones frequently had to retreat as they were caught in the crossfire between him and Spineless.

And yet, Halo followed the threads, and each of them led to a fatal strike.

Spineless was no different from Halo either. Though its roars couldn't be heard, it was equally worn out.

Its attacks came less efficiently and brutally than before, and it often collapsed to the floor before rising back to launch another useless attack.

However, Halo found himself in a dire situation before long.

His head began to hurt. Whatever hidden ability he'd unleashed was fading. He began feeling the pain across his body, and his memory started failing, whole moments simply disappearing.

He panicked and trembled, and when he finally gained his sense of self, he stood on one knee by the land's gigantic wall.

The technique had drained him utterly. He couldn't even remember his own name. Before him was Spineless.

But to him, it was a translucent wolf about ten feet tall, with claws and jaws strong enough to end him in one strike, like something out of a fantasy novel.

And still, despite his lack of awareness, he took his stance.

He could still see the smoky thread lingering in the creature's body. Just one remained, right on its brow. He knew he had to hit that spot.

Without a moment's hesitation, Spineless charged. Once within reach, it lunged at Halo.

The boy swallowed bile as his legs trembled.

Before the creature could collide with him, he charged forward and met it head-on, leaping as his sword traced the smoky thread perfectly.

The moment he struck, he saw the Chaos Eater convulse in agony. But what came next drained the color from his face.

The Chaos Eater crashed through the wall, plummeting straight toward the boiling water below. Halo was still clinging to the Sinner. He was going to die with it.

He didn't know much, but he knew entering the river was a death sentence. He attempted to leap off the Chaos Eater into the clear, but even when he jumped as hard as he could, he still felt his body falling.

The fear forced his memories back. But just as he thought it was over, someone caught his hand. He hung suspended above the river and looked down, the creature boiled in the water like fresh meat for hungry jaws.

His heart hammered violently against his chest and he panted as though he was already dead.

"Hey, you owe me your life now."

He raised his head to see that Leto had saved him. The smug look in his eyes, the pride as if he deserved a Nobel Prize for it.

Still, Halo smiled at him.

Leto dragged him into the clear.

The moment he felt free again, he realized every memory Spineless had altered had been restored.

He exhaled in triumphant relief.

A second later, the bronze screen popped into reality.

***

[ Congratulations! You've slain a Perverted Sinner. ]

[ You've received a Sin Fragment: impure. 2694/ 10000. ]

[ Your raw strength has increased. ]

***

"…"

***

[ Congratulations! You've slain a Perverted Sinner. ]

[ You've received a Sin Fragment: pride. 2695/ 10000. ]

[ Your stamina has increased. ]

***

He frowned.

'Two Sin Fragments for one kill?'

He dragged himself to his feet. The pain was far from subtle, but he didn't care.

Getting two Sin Fragments from a single Sinner was unusual, but then again, Hex was a scientist. She could have fused two Perverted Sinners to make it.

Still, he shrugged it off and dismissed every notification the kill came with.

He intended to keep Spineless as a souvenir so that he wouldn't forget Iris's sacrifice for them. He was going to make that Chaos Eater his clone.

***

[ Would you like to summon the fallen as a clone? ]

Price: 25 Sin Fragments

| Yes | No |

***

'25? What? That's someone's monthly salary!'

Amidst his thoughts, Leto grabbed him by the shoulder.

"Did your parents skip the manners lesson? You know… the part where you thank me and shower me with praise for my heroic deeds?"

Halo smiled awkwardly.

"Yes, about that. Thank you very much."

He was truly grateful, but he forgot.

Leto sighed and shook his head in disbelief.

He gave Halo a pleasant look for the first time.

"Defeating a monster of that caliber… I didn't expect it from you. Hold your head high, you earned it."

Before Halo could speak, he stopped him.

"Why don't you join our cohort? I may not be the leader, but my words carry weight. With your strength and that curious True Ability, NeverLight would be lucky to have you."

Halo's mouth parted in shock.

The startlement was evident from a glance alone.

That was the hero, Jihriel's cohort. This was what he intended to do from the start, and to think he was living with a member of the cohort all this time.

"Answer before I change my mind."

Halo smirked.

"Sure, count me in."

Leto smiled back.

"See you at Wood Fringe in a month. I'll introduce you to the crew when the time comes."

He began walking away as Halo stared at him with undying admiration.

"Come on, let's break the jars Hex left. You're not planning to give up the easy Sin Fragments, are you?"

Halo only responded with another smile before turning to his bronze screen before him.

'Yes.'

The moment the word echoed in his mind, a spherical shadow appeared before him and took form.

Spineless looked like how it did before. But now, its skin was a little darker, and it had glowing white eyes.

"You're far too massive to manifest whenever you please. Come only when I speak your name, Spineless."

Spineless disappeared into the darkness like before and attached itself to Halo's feet as a shadow.

Now, he just needed to get rid of the jars and give Iris a proper burial later.

As for Jihriel, he just couldn't wait.

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