Luna's eyes snapped open as her body jerked upright. She scanned her surroundings instantly, instincts overwhelming her rational mind. Her arm twisted, flesh peeling back as bone surged outward, hardening into a sharp, ivory blade that gleamed menacingly.
Her breath came in ragged pulls, pain twisted her expression, exhaustion weighed on her body… but the remnants of battle: be it fear, rage, or despair fueled her, forcing her to move.
But instead of standing up right away, she paused, her expression shifting from wary to confused, her crystal-blue eyes gleaming in the darkness.
…Hmm… Something's wrong…
…Why does it feel… soft?
Warm?
She tilted her head, bewildered, and then her eyes widened as she realized her body was in a pair of oddly familiar arms, her head resting on a chest she knew all too well… Amon? For real?
Amon was leaning against the wall, holding her in his arms. He looked down at her with a faint smile and gently grabbed her warped, blade-like arm, lowering it.
"It's fine now. I've got you, love."
Luna stared at him. Slowly, her tense expression melted. She let out a long breath and slumped back against his chest. Her arm shifted back into its normal shape as she closed her eyes for a moment, just breathing… just resting…
When she opened them again, she finally took in her surroundings. There was nothing but darkness, with only a few faint dots of light in the distance. She frowned, tension returning to her expression, and activated her spirit vision, then finally sighed in relief.
Hundreds of Sleepers were scattered about twenty meters away from them, resting just like she had been. A few lantern-type memories were placed among them, casting soft light across the battered sleepers.
All of them were exhausted, wounded, covered in blood, dirt, barely staying conscious. Their armor was broken and torn, and their faces were deathly pale. They sat on the ground, too tired to move or talk, breathing heavily, and stared down with empty eyes.
…She looked around for familiar faces.
Seishan stood slightly apart from the rest of them, surrounded by the surviving Handmaidens. The beautiful woman wasn't heavily injured, but there were a few cuts on her gray skin. She was drenched in blood, and her body was filthy, as if she had been rolling in mud… which she actually did while fighting the beasts. The same could be said about the Handmaidens. Luna also noticed Feline standing beside Seishan. She was injured, but alive.
Caster was there too, casually whistling to himself while leaning against a wall. Compared to the other survivors, he looked strangely clean. There was only a barely noticeable cut on his cheek and a few bruises. Overall, he was alive and kicking, as if he hadn't fought in the same battle as the rest of them. Luna could say with one hundred percent certainty that Caster had changed, a lot. He no longer fought head-on; instead, he used his speed for short bursts or surprise attacks to backstab enemies… No need to ask where he learned such things.
Gunlaug was the same as Caster. He wasn't injured at all. His golden armor was nearly impenetrable to lower-ranked creatures, so he was perfectly fine. His expression was a bit lazy as he sipped wine from a waterskin.
Harus was sitting on a pile of debris, staring at his dagger with bleak, hollow eyes that made others instantly avoid him. He stretched, yawned, and straightened his hunched body slightly. He looked like he was ready to fight again.
Kai, however, was far more exhausted. The beautiful archer sat with his head low, breathing heavily. His fingers were a mess from pulling his bowstring for hours, his hands bleeding, his muscles tense from pushing his body beyond its limits.
Kido was more or less fine. She was distributing food among the Sleepers so they could regain some strength, and after finishing her task, she went to Gemma, smiling faintly as she sat beside him.
Meanwhile, Aiko was talking with Stev, her face filled with relief.
Nephis was also fine, though she seemed exhausted and her eyes were barely open. Sunny's armor, however, was damaged to the point of nearly falling apart. Cassie was fine as well, she hadn't fought, but… Luna's lips curled slightly.
Amon… you really made sure everyone worked, huh? Not even sparing the blind girl…
Luna let out a faint chuckle at the absurdity of the situation.
And lastly, Amon was under her (obviously). He had probably carried her here from the ship. And of course, he didn't have a single scratch on him. Not even a speck of dirt.
Unfair… but expected.
That wasn't even what bothered her.
Her thoughts drifted elsewhere.
…Did he do anything weird to me while I was unconscious?
Hmm. Knowing him… possible.
Which means…
…I have to touch him while he's close.
"Amon… it's too dark… and we're too close…"
Amon nodded. His face looked calm and composed, if you ignored the lazy yawn… and the slight tremor in his fingers. You couldn't tell if he was afraid or just bored as he spoke, his voice steady and even.
"I need to warm your body, so yeah. As for the dark… it's fine. Crimson Terror won't be able to locate us easily, and even if it can, we'll notice the light before she attacks and avoid it."
"Which means no one can stop me from touching you, and no one will notice it."
They spoke at the same time.
And Amon's smile slowly died. He glanced down at Luna. She was smiling up at him, her eyes gleaming with mischief, though there was also a noticeable hint of lust in her gaze.
"I beg your fucking pardon?" he muttered, mouth twitching. Lady, what the fuck? I'm scared but… wait… touching… hmm… No. No, Amon. Don't be tempted. Don't...
Luna noticed the way he was pressing his lips together to stop them from curling into a grin. His hand was literally clenched to stop himself from giggling like a child with a new toy.
So she leaned in.
Her arms slipped around his neck, her chest pressing firmly against his as she slowly licked her lips. Amon could see everything in detail, the humor draining from his face as he felt her soft… uhmm… "personalities." He wasn't complaining… or rather, he wouldn't have complained if it were a different situation.
But right now, he was more confused and worried about her than yearning for her body. This wasn't normal… and his reaction wasn't any less strange. Usually, he was clear-headed, but at this moment, it felt like every hormone in his body was screaming with desire for her.
Her eyes were half-lidded, dark and seductive as she licked the blood from her fingers, slowly climbing onto his body. Amon involuntarily felt his hands reaching for her hips as well. It felt so strange, to feel this much lust… Well, of course he would feel it when it came to Luna, but everything needed the right time and place, and right now, they had neither.
But resisting was getting harder, especially when he noticed her now licking his fingers…
Amon felt a cold shiver shoot down his spine.
Her fingers slid across his lips… down his neck… to his chest.
"Hmm~ what do you think?" she whispered into his ear.
Her lips brushed against his neck, her eyes locked onto his face as she slowly licked upward… until her mouth finally found his.
Luna shifted on top of him, settling on his lap. Her hands slid across his chest before grabbing his arms and guiding them to her voluptuous body: from her legs, to her butt, and then to her chest. She pulled her white hair back, brushing it behind her ears as she looked at him with an alluring smile.
Amon kissed her back. For a moment, he almost gave up on resisting. He grabbed her hips tightly, squeezing them and pulling her closer. But then his expression shifted, he frowned, and quickly pulled away.
A thin line of saliva hung between them before dripping down his chin. He wiped it with the back of his hand, sighed, and pulled her a little closer anyway.
"Not now… Did you forget there are literally hundreds of Sleepers here? Even if we're not with them, what if someone walks out?"
It was true, they were lying near the entrance. No one else was there... Though, the rest of the group was just a short walk deeper inside the Terror's belly.
Luna only smiled. She shook her head slightly… and let her armor dissolve into a rain of sparks, leaving her completely bare in his lap.
"Why? Don't tell me you don't… desire me~"
Amon pressed his lips together, visibly losing the battle with himself, then muttered a quiet curse and grabbed his waterskin.
"Fine. But at least drink some wine first. Your mouth isn't exactly… ahem… pleasant after devouring that many beasts."
Luna wanted to punch him for saying that, but he wasn't exactly wrong. Still… why was she so hot? Too hot. It felt like every hormone in her body was on fire, every desire twisting into something sexual for no reason.
She took the wine anyway and downed it in one gulp.
Then her lips curled into a playful smile as she leaned toward him.
"Well, you can't escape now… n-now… uhmm… w-what… w-why did y-you…"
Her pupils widened unnaturally. Her expression broke into pure confusion.
Then she collapsed.
Her eyes shut. Her breathing slowed, becoming calm and peaceful as she fell asleep.
Amon stared for a moment, then sighed and shook his head in disbelief.
…What the hell? Luna doesn't act like that.
Something was wrong. She was hiding something from him. Damn it… I don't have time for this. I still have to deal with the real problem… Not to mention… I was acting strange too. Lust is lust, but losing your mind and wanting to fuck her like a mindless beast is another matter entirely… This is disturbing…
But at least it worked.
He glanced at the waterskin in his hand. Kido's plants were way too useful. The "wine" was made from grapes… and those grapes had been grown from the blood of that butterfly-type beast, the one that put its victims to sleep. It would lure them into a trap; when injured, its blood would turn into smoke, causing its victims to fall asleep. Quite a devious Abomination, if you asked him.
Amon frowned, staring at the beautiful young woman in his arms for a moment. Then he gently touched her face. Why aren't you telling me…? Fuck! He cursed in his mind in frustration. It was getting too irritating.
After a few minutes of silence, he pulled out a pair of black practical pants and a white shirt from Fraud's bag and carefully began dressing the unconscious Luna.
A few seconds later, he looked at her and nodded in approval, letting out a whistle.
Caster appeared beside him almost instantly, grinning like an idiot.
"So, who won?" he asked innocently.
"Fuck off," Amon muttered, lifting Luna in his arms.
Caster only shrugged and rolled his eyes, making a halo shape over his head with his fingers.
"What? My mom and dad told me that when there's noise coming from their room, it means they're definitely throwing hands." He patted Amon's shoulder with a bright smile. "Don't worry, man. I made sure no one would interrupt your fig- pffft… Hahahaha!"
Amon stared at him blankly… My own follower is mocking me. What kind of god am I?
Then again… Leonard mocked Klein too… so maybe it's fine? Perhaps. Mayhaps. May… I don't even know anymore.
"Let's go. Seriously. I'm sick of this place, it's time we leave it behind," Amon said.
Caster kept laughing, refusing to let him change the subject as they walked.
"Technically, you ain't leaving shit behind. You planned all of this, not me. So don't blame me."
Amon pursed his lips, looking genuinely depressed. Shit... This fucker's right. Haaa… whatever.
"Still, I need to kill the Terror…"
They stepped into the area where the other Sleepers were gathered. On that side, the lantern-type memories lit everything up. Amon and Luna had been mostly in the shadows, but since they both had spirit vision, light didn't matter much.
By now, the Sleepers were already on their feet and Medici was giving orders.
"Stand up! We're moving! Just one last step and we can escape!"
You ain't escaping shit, lil bro. Both Amon and Caster thought the exact same thing as they glanced at Medici with polite smiles.
Medici noticed Amon too, but his expression was… strange. He stared at Amon as if he had committed some unforgivable sin. To put it simply, he looked pissed.
He stepped forward, fists clenched and eyes cold. Amon blinked in confusion as Medici opened his mouth to speak, but before he could say anything, Amon just flicked his wrist. Once. Twice. Three times. Then more. Small blobs of light floated toward him and disappeared into his soul sea.
Theft was such a useful ability. Amon loved it… He stole from Medici, Luna, Nephis, and the other Sleepers too. He hadn't stolen his subordinates' abilities, though. There was still something they needed to do.
The Sleepers who had lost their abilities looked around in horror and despair. They began voicing their concerns in hushed tones, their expressions filled with fear. Without their powers, they were helpless. Not to mention, they couldn't even control their soul essence.
Medici, who also felt his skills vanish, instantly realized what Amon had done.
Before anyone could speak, Amon stepped forward. His crystal monocle caught the dim light of the lanterns, making the Sleepers flinch and avert their eyes as a chill crawled over their skin.
"Escape from this place… quickly," Amon said quietly. "I will defeat the Terror. Luna already made a divination and told me about its abilities. She said it's impossible to leave this place without someone to distract it. So I will be the bait."
Amon didn't mention that he knew how to make divinations, too. Better to let them think Luna was the source. He stayed calm and logical, making everything sound planned and necessary.
"Only I can defeat that monster," he said flatly. "I have Memories that can endure its attacks and tools that will let me win. So just… go."
Medici's expression grew darker. His eyes dropped to the unconscious Luna in Amon's arms, and understanding dawned.
She would never let Amon go alone. She'd fight him, argue, or maybe even knock him out just so he wouldn't have to face such a foe.
That's why he had tricked her into drinking that "wine," which was in reality a drug to render her unconscious. He had planned it from the start, even if her actions had been unexpected.
Amon was strong enough to win. And now, after stealing so many abilities, his chances of victory were even higher.
But risking Luna's life? Someone whose greatest weakness was soul and mind attacks?
Never. Not in a billion years.
Nephis frowned, her voice tense and wary as she tried, and failed to activate her Aspect ability.
"We lost our abilities. I'm sure all of us felt it. What makes you think you can beat it alone?"
Amon smiled gently and gave a slight bow.
"But not everyone lost theirs, right?"
A reassuring smile appeared on his face as he let Deceit and the eloquence of the Swindler flow through his voice.
"Luna said the Terror can suppress the abilities of those who enter its domain which, obviously, is this spire. But it's still only a Fallen Terror, so it couldn't nullify every Sleeper's ability. It focused on the Sleepers who performed best in battle and displayed the most destructive and dangerous powers."
Dao of bullshitery… I love you, Amon thought, internally praising himself.
He framed the Terror as the culprit, twisting the situation with perfect logic and smooth delivery. Deceit made his words sink deeper. Eloquence made them sound convincing. And since Luna was known for divination, the explanation felt solid.
And because Amon had already broken the original plot, Cassie remained silent, her power as an oracle useless now.
Only one person knew the truth. And, sadly for the others, that person was Amon's subordinate.
Kai kept his head down, breathing heavily as if too exhausted to speak. In reality, he was steadying himself. He was surprised to sense so many lies packed into a single sentence, so much that even he was dumbfounded. Not to mention, despite his flaw, Amon's words sounded so convincing and logical that he almost believed them, even as a walking lie detector. He sighed, then slowly looked up, seeing everyone staring at him, and nodded once weakly, his voice solemn.
"It's true."
The Sleepers exchanged uncertain glances, but Amon and his group stood firm. Their backs were straight, eyes steady. Their expressions were solemn, unyielding, as if they were ready to sacrifice themselves for the survival of the Sleepers…
Hahaha… Haa… No way that's happening.
Amon stepped forward and approached Gemma. The giant carefully took Luna into his arms and nodded, silent but resolute, as if promising to protect her with his life.
Then Amon turned to Medici. His coat billowed slightly as he placed a hand on Medici's shoulder. Their eyes met, and for a moment, Amon wondered what he had done to anger his friend.
But there was no time to ask.
"Just go. I'll take care of everything," he said, his voice strangely soft.
Without waiting for a response, he turned and walked away, ascending the long, dark stairs alone.
He closed his eyes.
Then he opened them, his pupils widening as he activated his Spirit Vision. Midnight Shard appeared in his hand, its edge gleaming with tenacity as Amon took a deep breath.
High above, the Fallen Terror stared down at the approaching Awakened Devil, and their eyes met.
Slowly, the Terror's abyssal gaze trembled, then blackness was devoured by white. And in the next instant, its eyes began shaking as if about to burst, releasing blinding columns of soul-annihilating light.
Its target… Amon, who smiled awkwardly, scratching the back of his head.
Let's go with... Deceit.
***
[A/N: This is it, guys. The final battle is approaching. I'm sure you're all wondering what our gang is planning and what they've been talking about. But it's going to be total chaos, for real. To the point where I'm sure no one would even think of such a thing. Okay, that's a little outrageous; some of you might guess it.
Anyway, Luna's acting pretty weird too, her actions definitely weren't normal. And Medici's pissed about something as well, though his anger is more obvious than Luna's strange behavior.
Also, we aren't as active as we used to be, guys. I know I'm greedy as hell for wanting more reviews and stones, but writing about Amon without being greedy would be a crime, so plzzz… more stones and reviews.
Oh, and I think I involuntarily became your student, Eternal Sleeper. So check this out, lol.
(Image)
That's it for now. Enjoy the meal, guys.]
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