In one of Voiceless's harshest and most distorted lands, beneath a cruel and unyielding sky, the sun never set. Its constant presence erased the boundary between day and night, until time itself became uncertain.

Without darkness to mark rest or renewal, the land existed in a state of quiet exhaustion, where life endured not by rhythm or balance, but by sheer persistence.

Two warriors clashed in a fearsome battle that shook the fabric of the land. The contest lasted nearly a day, fought not with fists and blades alone, but with wits and cunning.

In the end, only one remained standing: a woman in a black mask striped with gold, her white eyes piercing.

In her right hand, a plain sword with a luminous blade that outshone the brightest stars. In her left, the severed head of a man she'd despised as deeply than she loved herself.

***

"Jeez… it really never gets old, having you show up."

Morning arrived. When Halo woke to exit StoneHaven, he found Dark Saint wandering around the house. The Prince and Arlen had already departed to find handymen to help rebuild the land.

"So Iris is gone, huh?"

Saint said and leaned back in her seat, relaxing as though absorbing its warmth.

But Halo noticed something different in her eyes compared to last time, a spark. It was as if a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. He could sense it too, faintly, but unmistakably.

"You sure look happy today."

"Huh? You noticed?"

Her tone was tinged with eagerness.

"Well, I took down The Owen. That fool really thought the scorching sun would make me weaker… as if serving Darkness means I can't handle a little heat."

Her tone grew even lighter.

"It was tough, but the victory was delicious."

"Oh, really? I'm happy for you."

Halo had gathered what he needed. With no wagons around, he'd need to carry food supplies and clean water for the journey.

He was heading for Noah, the duty-obsessed tyrant, to kill him. They agreed that Halo would return once he'd become an Assassin, but he didn't have that luxury anymore.

He had three months of freedom, most of which would be spent with the NeverLight cohort. Worse, he still needed at least four thousand five hundred Sin Fragments to reach Assassin rank.

Until he confronted Noah or confirmed he was dead, Halo wouldn't rest easily. He had to reach Assassin rank as soon as possible. So he'd kill him instead and be free.

"Looks like the land's in ruins. Did you take on Hex or something?"

The moment Saint spoke, Halo turned to her with glimmering eyes.

"Guess what? I got an invite to join NeverLight!"

Saint began playing with her silver hair, struggling to look into Halo's eyes.

Halo expected some excitement at the news, but instead, Saint looked like she was hiding something.

Halo frowned.

"What's going on?"

"I was thinking we can start our own cohort too."

'An empire and now a cohort?'

Halo shook his head in disbelief.

Thinking about it, Seraphim and Liam had suggested the same thing, and he'd already promised to join them once he finished with NeverLight.

Starting his own cohort wasn't an option, he wasn't strong enough for that anyway.

"You can start if you want. I already have a lot going on."

Halo clutched his luggage and started for the door. Because of his injuries, his body wasn't ready for a long walk. He wished he could summon Spineless and just sit on its back.

But no. With the destruction it caused, summoning it would be a terrible idea.

"I have to give Iris a proper burial… somewhere like a hill or a mountain."

He said and turned to the Dark Saint, who followed behind him.

"Remember, we still have to reach Reverend Steppe. It's nearly a two-week journey from here, mostly on foot."

Unlike before, when Saint could have read his mind and learned about his Wish, now he couldn't tell her. Doing so would be the end of him.

"Don't worry about that, little girl. We will be just fine."

Saint stared at him bluntly for a moment.

"Let me guess, your Wish gave you something interesting…"

He met her question with silence. He couldn't even gesture affirmatively, since the gods wouldn't look favorably on that either.

But Saint didn't need any explanation, she understood.

A few paces into their journey, Halo grew weary. He summoned Light and gave him the luggage.

He wished he had a healing ability.

At their own pace, they entered the commoners' district. Memories of his time with Iris came flooding back, along with those of Boss, the mysterious man he'd worked for, the chef Silas, and even Aeliana.

Apart from Boss, who might still be alive—and about whom Halo had heard strange things he never understood—everyone else was dead.

Some deaths were noble… like Iris, who sacrificed herself for him, and Silas, who died from a cruel Purpose but at least got to do what he loved before his death.

Some darker memories lingered too. Mika, the Horn of Dread. Even thinking about her made him shiver. That woman was cruel to the core, and the torture she'd inflicted on him still made him sick.

Yet they all contributed to his growth. Most would fade from memory eventually, but he was grateful for them nonetheless. These weren't experiences his past life could have offered.

Soon enough, they reached the main entrance of the land. There, Halo frowned.

At a distance, he spotted someone. The combat gear, white hair, and those faded blue eyes. It was Seraph, no doubt about it.

He was glad to see her, though he couldn't think of anything beyond her meals.

He gestured for both Light and Saint to vanish. Reluctantly, they disappeared into his shadows.

Now that he thought about it, Seraph had said something about meeting him after his Purpose ended.

His expression darkened.

How did she know his Purpose was over, though?

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