Halo joined Liam by the moat as they both stared up at the scorching sun. The true nature of the Galactic Castle remained elusive to him, but that hadn't affected his morale in the slightest.
He ought to grow stronger since his wound had healed completely thanks to Liam.
His Flaw, Coldness, took a toll on him each day, and he had yet to see himself feel the grim demeanor he once gave off.
But he knew the hero was out there somewhere, the one whose actions would lead them all to their deaths.
Worse, he was only months away from striking. With Liam bearing a resemblance he couldn't ignore, Halo had to stay close before his own cold nature made him stop caring.
"This world holds countless wonders… and just as many terrors. Perhaps that's why the sun and moon watch us from so far away."
Liam said and gestured toward the distant sun.
Halo frowned in confusion.
He'd expected the academy to teach them about the wonders of this world, but from the look of innocent wonder in Liam's eyes as he gazed at the sun, it was obvious they knew nothing about them.
There were many wonders in this world. Halo never truly witnessed them in the game since his access to it was limited. But he knew about the sun and the moon.
"They're closer than you think. But in this world's strange design, the sun and moon only come nearer the further you travel within."
Liam's eyes narrowed slightly and turned toward Halo.
"Wait… what do you mean? You're saying we can see the sun, like right up close, at the end of the world?"
"I don't know…" Halo shrugged.
Halo wasn't sure about that. The wonders of this world were things players pursued on their own. The hero never fantasized about such mundane things.
Worse, only a few of them could be pursued, perhaps a flying castle or dry sea. Most were things players luckily stumbled upon.
Still, Halo knew too little about this world to say this with certainty. For all he knew, none of them could particularly be considered wonders. Or none existed to begin with.
"I'm not certain… but I believe if you keep following it, you might see it someday. Maybe at the world's edge, you could even touch the moon itself."
Halo watched as Liam stared at the sun with obvious admiration, his eyes sparkling from the sight of it.
"Ha! I want to see it… I want to get to the end of the world."
"Huh?!"
Halo's expression grew grim. He abruptly shifted to get a better look at Liam, who still wore that warm smile, admiring the sun.
He had no problem with Liam's decisions, but this didn't sit right with him. That was too big a dream. It wasn't practical, either, they had Purposes demanding their attention.
Worse, he couldn't shake the feeling that reaching for the sun would enrage the gods. Their wrath would kill them all. Just like the hero's actions had!
"You will do this with me, right? Halo?" Liam turned to Halo and locked eyes with him.
Halo couldn't help but blink repeatedly in confusion.
Liam's warm expression faded, turning somber.
"You know, this world will swallow us eventually. To the gods, we're nothing but passing amusement. But even so, this is our life… and we should make it worth remembering. Don't you think?"
Halo sighed.
To be honest, Halo hadn't considered anything about his own life. Sure, he wanted to stop the hero from leading them to their demise, but what would become of him when he succeeded?
He wasn't one to seek power or blood for the thrill of it. In his past life, he'd had a clear dream: finding those who killed his parents and avenging them, and in its wake, eliminating anyone with the intent to kill the innocent.
This had fueled his desire for strength, but now, nothing lay beyond survival.
He tried to reply to Liam, but his throat felt too constricted, and not even a word escaped him.
"You don't want to…?"
Halo shook his head in disbelief and smiled. This time, it played on his lips genuinely.
"In this world, survival is our first and only instinct. Sinners or humans, it makes no difference. Yet beyond that lie lands untouched and stories untold. Each day grows more grim, but the ties we forge, the bonds we keep… those are what make this existence bearable."
Liam smiled.
"You'd go with me, right?"
Halo gave him a positive nod with a smile and watched as he fist-pumped enthusiastically.
"When the time comes, when our power is enough to reach the world's end… then we'll stand above all. Soon… when we become OverKings."
Surprisingly, Halo's smile stayed intact. This hadn't happened before. Not in this one or his past one.
But he knew for certain this would only be a small part of his borrowed time. He hadn't fully grasped or accepted that yet.
Liam might grow strong enough to reach the end of the world—Sovereign, Overking, whatever it took—but Halo's lifespan might not last that long.
He was the Shadow of Death, a walking corpse, nothing more. Unlike Liam, who'd been summoned in flesh and blood, Halo was already dead.
Worse, the God of Death had marked him.
The same god that empowered him had promised to reclaim its gift, and that day could come at any moment. Every day might be his last. Long life was a luxury beyond his reach.
However, while his mind wandered, Liam's expression darkened, and he began sending some of his crows to their left.
The moment Halo came to his senses, he scowled.
"What's going on? A Sinner?"
"No. Something is coming from Mirror Steppe. An elderly man with long dark hair, and his beard looks a bit unkempt."
This sounded unpleasant to Halo. For someone to leave Mirror Steppe for any of the other lands seemed suicidal to many. Was he one of them?
"What do you think, Liam? Is he a threat?"
Liam disapproved of Halo's words. "He seems calm and quite energetic."
Liam smiled. "He's humming and smiling… I don't think he's a threat."
Halo's mouth parted in disbelief. What did that matter? How do humming and smiling justify someone's intentions? They should be considering ways to circumcise him.
Before long, the man was in the clear, and the moment he laid his eyes on them, he paused.
Halo turned to him with his eyes slightly narrowed while Liam remained by his side.
The man looked rich. In any fantasy world, he would have been a lord or a renowned noble, but his unkempt beard contradicted everything.
Taking into account how Liam stayed behind him, it was obvious his anxiety had the best of him, and so Halo knew he had to question the man.
"Uhm… who are you?"
The man was hesitant for a moment before finally speaking up. "I mean no harm… I am here for my Purpose."
The moment he spoke, Liam felt compelled enough to stand in the clear.
But Halo only sneered. The man didn't look like someone who could have run a mile to save his life. Why were they stuck with someone like that?
"Really?"
"Yes…" The man said with confidence. "I am here to kill Kysa."
"Huh?"