Amidst the desote cluster of dunes, the battered figure of Shifting Star advanced slowly. His battered armor struggled to keep from disintegrating into particles of light, while a ghostly sword swung across the graceless ground.

  It was the image of a dying warrior about to die, but contrary to his appearance, the girl's eyes defied his battered appearance, demonstrating superior strength.

  At her feet, a blur of shadows, dark as ink, advanced alongside her shadow. With an unnaturalness typical of a being from the nightmare world, the being hidden in the dim darkness remained silent, silently stalking its potential enemies.

  Shifting Star fell to his knees to drink from a stream. The shade of a rge, leafless tree offered some protection from the raging sun, but that would not st. Soon, the sun would set… and the dead would rise to continue their eternal battle. Then, whether she was a godlike sleeper or a saint, they would die.

  "Hey, Weaver's spawn, you don't look like you're having a very good time," a wry, slightly mocking voice spoke from high in the tree.

  "Your first words in centuries, and it's the best you can come up with?"

  "Oh Servax, if you were more fun, I could share more words with you, but I always have to speak for both of us."

  "I wish you'd lost consciousness centuries ago."

  "There, there, we have a guest. We can't keep her waiting while we sort out our neighborly issues."

  Changing Star just kept his eyes watchful, resting and drinking as much water as he could. Only then did he utter a few hoarse words, the result of dehydration.

  "Who are you?"

  "I am Servax, the king of kings."

  "Me? Well, I'm just a simple sve. Ha!"

  “Do you have any idea how to get out of the desert...? How to get back to the waking world?”

  “Waking world? I don't know anything about that,” Servax spoke with a hint of confusion, but soon, in a dignified voice, he resumed the conversation. “But if what you want is a living form from this pce, get me out of here, and I, Servax, the king of kings, promise to grant you salvation.”

  Changing Star stared at him without blinking for a few moments, then turned to the second trapped subject.

  “What about you? Why would a mere sve be trapped next to a king?”

  “Hmm? Well, I just slit the throat of a god.” The skeleton ughed ironically, but his words lingered in the air for a few seconds.

  “Fine, I choose you.”

  “What? Girl, you're making a mistake.”

  “I agree with the grumpy skeleton. Why me?”

  "You reminded me of an old friend."

  "...Well, I guess that's my fortune."

  With a ssh, the bonds holding the skeleton broke. The undead slowly rose, enjoying its freedom for the first time in who knows how long.

  "I'm sorry, Servax, it seems I'll get ahead of myself."

  "Damn idiots, get out of here already. I don't want to see your stupid faces anymore."

  Unfazed by the words, the group moved away, seeking shelter, as the sun was setting and night would soon begin the eternal battle.

  ...

  Being so close to nightfall, the group moved forward without looking back. With guidance from an unknown power, their progress was swift and uneventful. They found shelter inside what looked like a giant piece of armor buried in the sand. The chatty skeleton looked at the object with amusement, then uttered a nonchant remark.

  “I told you it would be a mess to clean up.”

  Despite the desert being full of dangers, the presence of the stranger made it seem as if all the beings around them hesitated to approach, so when the atmosphere calmed down and they had a chance to rest in front of a fire, the skeleton spoke.

  “It really was just my incredible personality that made you release me, Nephilim?”

  “No, I somehow sensed you were stronger than the other guy. Besides…”

  “Besides?”

  “You were able to notice my companion.”

  “Oh… yes, I was wondering when you were going to talk about that mysterious shadow. You know, there shouldn't be any shadows left in the world since everyone returned to Shadow's domain. So how come there's one here… and such a strange one at that?”

  The skeleton stared at the shadow hidden at the feet of the white-haired girl, a dangerous glint hidden in its empty eye sockets.

  “I wonder if you'd be capable of killing me. Would you mind a test?”

  Without waiting a second, the shadow moves with cold efficiency. In one swift motion, the bde of a sword imbued with shadows and true darkness plunged into the pce where the heart should have been. But nothing seemed to happen.

  The skeleton clicked its tongue, even though it didn't have one.

  "I thought I might still have some luck." The skeleton hung its head in defeat, then looked more closely at the mysterious statue that had emerged from the darkness. Now, without the veil that always covering her, the splendid bck armor, the knight's fearsome figure, and the fearsome demon mask he wore were visible.

  "A Daughter of Nether with the symbol of the Demon of Fate? Boy, the world has gone crazy. I hate to imagine family dinners if those two still existed."

  The skeleton stared at her for a moment longer, only to shake his head once more.

  "I can barely see through that damn mask, but what the heck! You're clearly wielding shadows and true darkness there. That shouldn't be possible on so many levels. You're truly a jumble of impossible abilities."

  "Daughter of Nether?" Changing Star asked with some curiosity.

  She knew little about her traveling companion; she even suspected that Sunny himself never fully understood the secrets the statue held.

  “Yes, it was that workaholic demon’s greatest creation to impress the storm goddess. Imagine! The guy ruled the darkness silently, but boy was he passionate. Didn’t he?”

  “Do you know what they are?”

  “You’re his mate, and you’re asking me?”

  “It’s not like I’m much of a talker.”

  The skeleton studied the two of them. One, an abomination between the divine and the profane, while the other was a stone statue. It was clear that he and Servax had better communication.

  “They’re something like stone warriors made to achieve perfection. Sculpted deep within the hollow mountains in the image of the storm goddess. They’re natural warriors, born with the spark of divinity by their father… and an ability to consume the darkness that surrounded them. They were a challenge and a gift to the world. Although they didn’t fare too well during the great war.”

  “Great war?”

  “Enough questions. I don't have the heart to be your teacher, child. We have a long journey to make if you want to reach a less deadly pce.”

  “Where will we go?”

  “I can't be sure. Who knows when the world might have changed in the centuries I was trapped with the birds? But since the hollow mountains still stand, I at least have an idea of ??where to leave you so you'll have a chance, even as weak as you are… but it all depends on you being powerful enough to survive the journey…”

  “Don't worry about it, I'll do it.”

  “Good, now let's rest. It's making me nervous that your statue friend keeps staring at me so intently.”

  Throughout that exchange, Saint hadn't made another movement, as if he'd lost all spark of life. But his eyes remained fixed on the skeleton, shining with interest.

  Changing Star y back, entrusting his protection to the statue that cked the need to sleep. Only the skeleton and the statue remained in pce, as if the entire pce had frozen in that instant, but both were more than aware.

  Interesting, the member of the nine couldn't help thinking. Not only was that pair of individuals too unique to be ignored, but even the statue carried a divine shadow at its feet, however faint.

  If they survived, they would likely become monsters greater than any in the past... provided they survived, that is.

  As the fire crackled in the darkness, a glimmer of compassion emerged from the skeleton's nonexistent heart.

  Hopefully, that daughter of Nether wouldn't end up following in her father's footsteps, with such a miserable end.