59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAvP9w496Fz
Sark’s mother had led the group to a remote part of the city. There were no ghouls roaming the streets here, yet the place still felt like it had seen daily battle. They stopped in front of a building with a black door. Sark’s mother knocked.
"It’s me," she said, and the door opened. She entered without waiting for the others.
Sark hissed under his breath and followed. The soldiers came next, then Jessie, and finally Larah.
Though she was physically present, Larah’s mind was elsewhere—reliving the moment she lost Hope. The fight against the high priest, her confusion over her katana’s hunger for blood—sometimes it even made her thirst for it. She struggled to understand both it and herself. Jessie’s words kept echoing in her head, grounding her, helping her resist.
As the door closed behind her, she descended the stairs with the others.
At the bottom, they faced another door, which opened automatically. It led to a living room filled with men in black suits, chatting and drinking.
But they weren’t the reason Sark’s face lit up.
"You look real comfortable, huh?" Sark laughed.
Dean was sprawled on a sofa, a nearly empty glass of apple juice with ice on the table in front of him. His smile said everything. He jumped to his feet and hurried over.
He fist-bumped Sark, then Jessie. As he turned to Larah, he started to go in for a hug—then stopped when he noticed the dark aura surrounding her.
"Everything okay, Larah?"
"Yeah… just a hard day." She walked past him toward the sofa.
Dean turned back to the others. They simply shrugged.
"And did you rest well?" Sark’s mother asked.
"Yes! And once again, thank you for your help, Leyla."
"My mother really helped you? Are you sure?" Sark raised an eyebrow.
Dean’s eyes darted between Sark and Leyla. "Wait... she’s your mom?"
"In name only," Sark replied. "So what happened to you?"
"I got separated during the crash. Ended up in the city, fought some enemy, and blacked out."
"And then we saved him," Leyla added.
"You saved him to use him later," Sark corrected, locking eyes with her. Her face betrayed nothing.
"Is that wrong? We live in hard times. It’s give and take. Survival of the fittest. And this young man over here… he seems like an angel. I didn’t force anything out of him—"
"You’re good at that," Sark snapped.
Unbothered, Leyla continued.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5fswjZByBt
"—but I know he’s on our side. We want the same thing. So let’s not waste time. Unless you’re okay with the summoning of demons and angels?"
Somewhere in a Forest
Commander Nootra was napping with his head in Nicole’s lap. He was calm, his breathing steady, though his smile was slowly fading into pallor.
"Nicole, shouldn’t you join the others?"
"Not now. You still have some time left. I’ll go to them once this is over. Don’t worry—something tells me they’re doing fine."
"I see…" He forced his eyes open. It took effort, but he managed. His gaze landed on Nicole’s red, tear-filled eyes.
"Did I ever tell you how beautiful you are?"
"No, you didn’t."
"Wow. I’m an idiot. You’re gorgeous. I wish I could’ve spent more time with you."
"What would you have done, if you had?"
"Who knows? But one thing’s for sure—more than just sleeping on your lap."
"Hahaha! Then let’s enjoy what little time we have left to the fullest."
In Paradise
The citizens of Paradise had retreated. In the center stood Dae, Rayshel, the soldiers—and Temphael.
"Take out your weapons!" Temphael commanded. Then he laughed. "Oh, hahahaha! You came without weapons? Your arrogance knows no limit!"
Dae stepped forward and barked an order:59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGBoUbesWy7
"While I keep him busy, you all run home, grab your weapons, and get the hell out of here!"
Rayshel joined him.59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj19O4X5JTD
"You heard him, soldiers! Now move!"
Before anyone could act, Pandora came running in, carrying a large object hidden beneath a white cloth. A smiling man lunged at her.
Unbothered, Pandora pulled off the cloth to reveal—a mirror.
Before the smiling man could reach her, an arm shot out from the mirror, grabbing the attacker by the head. A moment later, the owner of the arm stepped through with a wide grin.
It was Michael.
He slammed the smiling man into the ground with such force that the pavement cracked and caved in. Then he stood tall, adjusting his black coat.
"Surprise, motherfuckers."59Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkU1Awzygz3
