Sometime later…

A thick, frigid mist lay before them. The wind alone was cold enough to raise goosebumps. The team assembled on the main deck, all but Leto, observing their gradual descent into the murky depths.

The Ice Sea itself posed only the mist as a threat, something that could be navigated in mere days. But the OverKing who'd constructed this barrier, had designed it to break anyone who dared enter.

Some Sinners lived in the depths of the sea called the White Scavengers. These creatures, like all the monsters across the seven seas, were said to be immortal and impartially cruel, but the White Scavengers had a particularly bizarre trait that set them apart.

The White Scavengers had a strange weakness, and more disturbingly, they murdered for pleasure. Though they sustained themselves on sea plants, any sailor crossing the Ice Sea was marked as a toy to torment.

The mist posed dangers, certainly, but the real terror was the icebergs. Without warning, massive ice chunks would plummet from above. Their timing, location, and number were completely unpredictable.

Essentially, they were gambling with their lives. Visibility was zero in the mist, and even if another vessel headed straight for them, they wouldn't detect it. The fog warped both vision and hearing.

The ship's embedded crystals were essential, pulling them directly toward the Ashen Ages' shore despite any obstacles. Without that automated guidance, steering through this would have been hopeless.

***

Hours later, Halo stopped by his room, where Kysa and Light remained, though Saint trailed him back to the main deck.

"It's been ages since I felt this kind of cold. In fact, it takes me back to my past life."

Halo spoke, gazing into the mist with Saint beside him. Her condition left her unable to feel anything, not even the biting cold that reminded Halo of past horrors.

"It's funny when I think about it now, but on my first day in the mountains during winter, I was only eleven. I had already survived the forest, so I was sure it would be easy. But animals were scarce, and I couldn't even get a fire to light. I ended up chewing snow as if it were food."

Halo said with a touch of nostalgia.

What had once been torment now felt different, like an aging man reflecting near the end of life. Every foolish choice back then seemed worth preserving in memory, and given the chance, he'd repeat them all.

"Why are you telling me all this? You're friends with Liam and Seraphim, you've even spent more time with them than with me, yet they know nothing about your past."

Halo looked at Saint, her white eyes nearly lost in the fog. He knew something was wrong with her.

Halo thought for a second.

"I won't call Seraphim a friend. But then her betrayal doesn't matter enough to weigh on me."

Halo reached for Saint's shoulder.

"We've been together since day one. You don't need to punish yourself like this. And now that we're the same being, there's no reason for me to hide anything from you."

Dark Saint let out an annoyed sound.

"Why are you acting like we share the same body? Gross."

Halo's brow furrowed as he wiped his nose. The chill was setting in.

"Don't we? I mean, you are still a part of me."

The atmosphere shifted the instant he spoke. Saint's only response was silence, extending uncomfortably for nearly a minute.

"Do you think I'll feel anything when my humanity reaches Tier-1? Even taste or smell… just a little?"

Saint's words triggered something he'd been pushing down. He had access to each clone's evolution data. He could see their ranks and abilities, but under all his excuses about being stingy, the truth was simpler: he was afraid of what he'd find.

Time was running out for him. Even if he survived humans and Sinners, the God of Death would claim him eventually. Before that happened, he wanted to give Saint back her humanity, let her experience happiness at least once more.

But if the ranks confirmed it couldn't be done… he didn't know how he'd handle it. That wasn't a reality he could accept yet.

"Do you want to see what Tier-1 can do? It's only three Sin Fragments away."

Saint mulled over his words briefly. A moment later, her expression changed, as if every emotion and worry had been wiped clean.

"No, I don't want to know anymore. I want to keep believing, hoping, that I'm just two tiers away from being human again. If you tell me, it'll ruin that."

A genuine smile tugged at Halo's lips. He was glad she'd come around to that perspective. He wanted to share her hope, to believe in the same possibility. But still…

"No matter what, I'll do what I can to make sure you get at least some of your humanity back."

His words lacked conviction, despite the obvious desire behind them.

Saint reached over and patted him on the shoulder.

"I'm still dead, you know. You've already given me so much just by letting my consciousness live on. Don't burden yourself, this fight is mine."

As soon as she'd spoken, she hurried to redirect the conversation.

"I've entrusted our little empire to someone capable. Kysa is rather fond of it. I'll build it for you, a place where you can rest safely in the future."

Halo sneezed heavily.

"I'm still confused. How would an empire function, and what would you gain from it?"

Saint began laughing maliciously.

"Imagine this: an army devoted to you, taxes giving you endless Sin Fragments, fear throughout most lands, and a name that echoes through history."

Halo frowned.

"And then, what?"

Before Saint could reply, the cold overwhelmed Halo. Ice encased his eyelashes completely, spreading through his hair and clothes.

"Jeez, I might die if I stay here any longer."

Halo started speaking, turning toward his quarters, but before he took a step, a swooshing sound cut through the air. Then he was falling, crashing down hard.

Saint looked confused. "What happened?"

She asked, staying alert.

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