Spineless, the nearly twenty-feet-tall wolf-like creature among Halo's clones engaged in battle against the vine creature mimicking it.

The two imitations stood nearly twice its size, and each attack it dealt them was mirrored back onto it. Yet, fault be damned, its claws ripped through the vines with sheer determination and undying fury.

The creatures' attacks phased through Spineless as though it wasn't there, but with each attack it landed, its figure growing more distorted, Spineless still went for their heads.

Tough stood before countless creatures that had nothing going for them but their corpse-pale skin and bald heads. His tail struck through them, daggers tearing through their bodies as black blood sprayed everywhere.

The carnage he caused made the Sinners recoil, and as the red energy pulsing within him radiated even stronger, they saw the worst he had to offer.

Faces were mangled, limbs torn asunder, and he became a threat the Sinners couldn't ignore, even though they healed from his attacks almost instantly.

Shadow of Death, though, looked more dead than alive. He knelt, hands clutching his gut tightly, trying to staunch his wound and stop the bleeding. Yet what he should have worried about was the blood now trickling from his eyes, nose, and mouth.

His vision swam in red, and his head throbbed as though it had a heartbeat of its own, while his own heart felt like it was missing, as if he didn't have one.

Each of his clones fought with everything they had, desperate to secure victory for their master, but their actions grew farther from his awareness.

He had leveled his ability, Beelzebub, to level three. Two level-ups in mere days. His body hadn't been ready for the previous one, and it wasn't ready for this one either.

Though he'd wanted to fight to the death with this power, now he wondered if his own consequences would kill him first.

Halo's mind was numb. He couldn't even recall his name if he tried. Yet his fingers twitched from time to time, reaching for his daggers, preparing for the battle ahead.

It was faint, barely noticeable, but his body refused to die yet. Someone needed his help. His sister, Delilah.

His consciousness operated on a subtle level now. Little by little, Delilah's name consumed his thoughts entirely.

He might not have been a family guy, not because he didn't want to be, but because he'd simply never gotten the chance. But he could be.

Soon enough, his hand held his daggers in a firm grip, vision red and body light from the blood he'd lost. His once-black dress was streaked with vivid red, just like his hair. Perhaps they wanted the Tenebris genes too.

'How am I still moving? But wait, I can't feel anything.'

His body tilted from side to side, but his mind refused to process the agony he was experiencing.

He instinctively dashed forward to join Tough's fight, but before he could engage, a strike came directly at his head. When the blade was inches from his skull, Tough appeared from nowhere and deflected it with the arch-like crown on his head.

The arch pulsed a blinding red in an instant, revealing his anger as he split the Sinner's head from its body in one strike.

Halo immediately retreated. He looked at his daggers like a zombie, though at least zombies could see clearly. Everything was painted red.

'Beelzebub.'

Beelzebub immediately manifested, coating his blades and extending to his wrists.

This was exactly what he wanted. The Sinners had adapted to level two of Beelzebub, but level three would be entirely new to them.

He didn't even finish thinking before charging in once more, and this time he landed the initial strike. The Sinner was caught off guard as Halo's dagger carved through its limb without mercy.

Some of the Sinners tried to flee, and even Tough knew best to give Halo room. His vision was failing him, but at that moment, he hardly needed it.

Before long, more blood poured from him, two fresh holes in his body, and the blood on his face still hadn't stopped pouring. He was light as a feather now. Even the gentlest breeze would be enough to blow him away.

Even worse, all the damage he'd inflicted was either healed or replaced the moment the Sinners entered the water below.

Now, Halo had had enough. Tough stood guard while the Sinners gradually moved toward them.

Delilah's name should have been enough to make him fight for life, but at that moment, he couldn't help it. He was slipping away.

'I'm sorry, Delilah. Saint, I'm sorry.'

The moment the words echoed, his head dropped to the ground.

But then a miracle happened.

A violent wind swept in, and behind it, an ethereal four-foot sword struck the ground with enough force to shake the entire area and send trees crashing down.

The Sinners who would have regenerated instantly moments ago were now standing still, with some collapsed on the ground, struggling to regenerate.

Within the destruction emerged a woman wearing a red mask, black cargo trousers, and a black vest. Her red hair was braided in cornrows, and her striking white eyes gleamed through her mask aggressively.

It was Kysa. The Eternal Giant.

Halo didn't see a thing, in fact, he was still hanging on to dying. But then Kysa immediately rushed to him.

In an instant, it was as though Kysa's presence was enough to rouse all the Sinners in the forest. Their numbers grew to match the trees around them.

The irritation in Kysa's eyes was evident, but she wasn't around to fight.

"Are you okay, Halo?"

The words barely registered before Kysa grabbed him and bolted. Her speed was overwhelming, even Tough and Spineless in their shadow forms struggled to keep pace.

After a while, Halo's mind worked hard enough to register Kysa's words.

His heart started pounding again. Faint, but enough to let him open his eyes. Despite the red tint and wind-whipped tears, he briefly glimpsed the forest's vast size.

He then understood. At least, he had been saved. A genuine smile tugged on his lips.

'That's the forest, huh? I didn't stand a chance.'

He thought, and his head dropped once more.

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