While Delilah remained chained aboard the Northern Mist with her sole companion being the insufferable Holly, the NeverLight crew finally reached land thanks to Kysa's devastating attack.

The shore led into what looked like a forest. They'd hoped for a welcoming committee from the Ashen Ages, but theirs was the only ship visible for miles, and the place was completely deserted.

Still, the crew was grateful to step off the ship finally. This was land; white soil studded with small, shiny stones hard enough to split a skull—something they hadn't experienced in what felt like forever.

Leto lay flat on the ground, buttons open, his green hair splayed across the surface. He breathed desperately, as if the air were trying to escape.

Jihriel had bounced back, finally moving past the terror Ancient Light, his Nemesis, had subjected him to. His confident smile was back in place. Hazard remained as relaxed and mysterious as ever, and Thor's smile just made him look more like a villain.

But Halo and his clones didn't have much to feel good about, while Omega, Lyra, Brave, and White basked in the moment. The only one who appeared to just exist without purpose was Arlen.

At some point, Halo even wondered if her Flaw was being disinterested or procrastinating. She looked like she could delay existence itself.

"We landed far from where we needed to be. The rest of the journey will be on foot."

Jihriel said with a smile, trying to lift the team's spirit.

Halo wasn't really listening. He was too busy thinking about how to approach Thor. The old man's presence had been intimidating him from the start, but now he realized Thor might know if his sister Delilah was doing okay.

Thor was the eldest among them. Halo had to meet him with respect; his position in the cohort required it. But respect wasn't something he'd ever shown anyone before. The situation was uncomfortable at best.

But before he could even decide what to say, he caught wind of something. All those with hypersenses, Halo among them, turned to face the forest. Only White, Arlen, and Omega remained, looking confused.

People were coming. A lot of them.

"About one hundred and fifty, give or take. That's enough, right? Or are we not fighting yet?"

Brave said, hesitant.

"No, they are 236."

Kysa said, her white eyes narrowing slightly.

Jihriel smiled as though he could hear Kysa speak.

"No, they are 239."

Halo's mouth fell slightly open, his concerns about Thor evaporating instantly.

People were approaching, a lot of them. Too many to count. He couldn't even hazard a guess if his life depended on it. But these people acted as though… damn.

After nearly twenty minutes of tense hesitation, the crowd finally made their move, emerging from the bushes one by one and approaching the crew.

They wore plain clothing with robes that came in only two colors, brown and red. They didn't appear threatening, a mix of men and women spanning all appropriate ages. They carried farming tools mostly, with only a handful holding actual weapons. They had the look of a cult.

But their aura changed without warning. The shift was so sudden that everyone tensed and took defensive positions. Then, to make things worse, a few of the cultists apparently took offense and rushed them.

"Let me handle this."

Brave said with a cocky expression, waving for the crew to stand down. Smiling, he walked forward casually, caught a weapon barehanded, and shattered it.

Then three figures emerged from the undergrowth, and Brave immediately backed up to rejoin the crew.

It was a priestly-looking man flanked by two Sinners. The Sinners didn't look like the ones the NeverLight were used to. In fact, they looked shorter and more humanoid than grotesque. For a second, Halo thought those were Demonic Sinners, but then Jihriel spoke.

"Humph. Toddler Sinners with such an impressive aura… interesting."

While Halo stood bemused, Jihriel made his way to the forefront, attempting to face off with the man who was obviously the leader of this little crowd.

"Please accept my apologies for their behavior. That confrontation was… unnecessary."

The priest said, pushing through the crowd to stand before Jihriel.

Jihriel met him with a smile.

"Don't sweat it. We were at fault too."

As soon as he spoke, his expression darkened.

"Can we help you with something? We're rather busy at the moment."

The priest frowned.

"Wait, you aren't here to join the hero?"

'Huh? Hero?'

The confusion on their faces told the priest everything he needed to know.

"We are but humble servants of Hero Kitten. Human and Sinner alike, he was personally chosen by the God of Heroism to purge the evil gods from this world."

The priest gestured toward the sea.

"A few hours ago, the sea parted. Did you see it? That was only a disappointing sneeze from the hero Kitten."

The NeverLight crew shook their heads in disbelief, briefly eyeing Kysa, who couldn't help but laugh as though her lungs couldn't fail.

The parting sea was Kysa's doing, her rage at some pestering pirates. To think someone was actually feeding off her casual effort was amusing. They couldn't help but want to see this Kitten guy.

Even so, they couldn't write him off completely. According to the priest, this person had been both human and a Sinner, a human who'd turned into a Sinner, a corrupted human.

But to gain the ability to speak and command toddler Sinners, Kitten had to be a Demonic Sinner, not someone they'd want to mess with.

Jihriel cleared his throat.

"Interesting. Still, we didn't come here to join you."

The crowd's expression darkened. Murmurs coursed through them, and undeniable disgust etched their faces.

The priest was no exception, but he continuously tried to force a smile.

"That isn't an option. Refuse us, and you die. Even the Caretaker had justification for defiance, and he's an evil Demonic Sinner. Tsk, this is mere insolence."

Jihriel didn't look happy but still kept his smile on.

Halo had had enough of this nonsense. He needed to save his sister.

He strode aggressively before the crowd and summoned Spineless. The clone's sheer size alone was enough to block the sun's rays from reaching the crowd.

"Take care of them, Spineless."

The crew didn't spare them a thought. Without their hero, Kitten, around, these people were nothing. In no time, they were already fleeing.

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