A powerful blow to the face jolted Halo awake, the force shattering the bed beneath him. His eyes snapped open.

Confusion loomed over him, dark body clad in black, and those glowing white eyes boring into his soul like some divine judge passing a sentence on the damned.

The moment Halo rose to his feet, his confusion evident, Light turned and left the room.

This had happened before but that was because of a duel but now he felt something. He didn't know why but he felt as though Light was disappointed in him.

He stood there, confused, his hand gently brushing his cheek.

"What happened? I heard a loud commotion… are you fighting with Light again?"

Liam budged into the room.

Halo ignored him for a moment before finally speaking.

"I don't know what, but something weird is going on…"

"Did you do something to upset it? Perhaps, maltreatment in a subtle way?"

Halo had felt a similar sensation before, but for a different reason. When they fought the powerful Sinner Sunday, who was now his clone, the thought of his clones dying deeply troubled him even though he knew they couldn't die.

"Come with me. I must confirm something…"

Halo said and began leaving the room with Liam trailing behind.

He had three clones. Liam's crows were simple, summoned from darkness, fueled by energy. But Halo's clones? They cost him his humanity. Each one chipped away at what made him human. No wonder he felt like he was losing his mind.

Tough and Sunday stood before the castle. Red energy crackled along Tough's dual daggers, bleeding into the darkness of its limbs and the crown atop its head. Sunday's power manifested differently, twin curved horns glowing, chest pulsing, white eyes blazing like Light's. In its hands: a double-edged spear thrumming with that same crimson energy.

As soon as he exited the entrance, they both came to his aid as if they knew he was looking for them in the first place.

"Don't you think these two obey you more than Light?"

Halo met Liam with silence.

Light was different, born directly from Halo himself, sharing his personality. But Tough and Sunday? They'd been independent Sinners first, with their own identities, before he turned them into clones.

He sighed.

"How are the two of you feeling?"

Sunday and Tough exchanged glances before giving him a firm nod.

Halo narrowed his eyes, chin resting in his palm. Before, he'd felt disappointment from Light an actual emotion. He'd asked the question hoping to spark that feeling again. Anything. But there was nothing now. The madness was taking hold.

"How exactly do your crows work, Liam? Can you feel their emotions?"

"Huh…? My crows?"

"No, not really. Since I control them myself, there isn't any need for loyalty or respect."

Halo nodded in understanding.

This couldn't be ignored. His ability had never been properly explained. Just vague warnings.

One thing stuck with him though: he'd become one with his clones eventually. He had theories about what that meant. None of them was good.

"What if they evolve somehow? I mean, Light came before all of them. It sounds pretty logical to me."

Halo's eyes widened in realization. Could it be…?

"Do you have anything like that?"

Halo asked the clones with a skeptical expression. They looked confused for a moment before finally nodding.

Halo sighed.

It clicked.

He'd noticed before that his clones were developing his human traits. If they were gaining something, then he had to be losing it. There was an exchange he wasn't seeing.

'Hey there… is there like a ranking system for my clones?'

The moment the words echoed in his mind, the familiar bronze screen appeared before him.

***

[ Would you like to see the ranks of your clones? ]

Price: 3 Sin Fragments

| Yes | No |

***

He sneered. Everything had a price in this damn system. But at least the offer confirmed something, there was a ranking system for clones. He wouldn't pay to learn the details, though. Not worth the Fragments.

The moment he dismissed the screen, Liam spoke up.

"You need to look into your ability more. There is more to our True Abilities than what they let off."

He dismissed the clones before turning to Liam with a confused expression.

Liam's wings erupted from his back without warning, shredding his shirt to tatters. Casually, he plucked a single feather.

Halo watched him stretch the feather, lengthening and even hardening it into a crude blade. It lasted seconds before shattering.

Halo recognized this. During their fight with Sunday, Liam had launched similar hardened feathers at the Sinner. Those had been longer, nearly as tall as Liam himself.

"I didn't know my feathers could do this… I'm still learning about this and my crows, and you should too."

Before Halo could respond to that, Seraph's voice cut through from behind.

"We need to talk, guys."

They turned in her wake.

Four days had passed since finding Fade of Bridle's corpse. Seraphim had been strange the whole time. Halo had given her space, waiting for her to be ready. It looked like today was the day.

The four days had been uneventful. He'd dueled Liam and won. His clones continued gathering Sin Fragments. But Seraph? They'd barely seen her.

She kept cooking, alright, someone had to, since Halo was useless in the kitchen and Liam barely better. But mealtimes were silent. Awkward. No one knew what to say.

"But I'd have to finish Liam's painting first."

She added and gestured for Liam to follow along.

Halo watched as they casually walked away, and before they could disappear into the castle, Light emerged.

His situation suddenly dawned on him. Light's eyes were slightly narrowed, its arms tucked casually into its pockets.

It was still disappointed. Furious, perhaps.

He was doing everything right. Training relentlessly, just like Light demanded. No fear and no hesitation. So why was the clone glaring at him like that?

Light casually walked and stood by him.

"What do you want now?"

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