"You ready? We've only got one shot."
At the planetarium's entrance, Little Ace posed the question to Soyo. Hidden in the shadows, Soyo didn't hesitate, her response immediate and firm.
"Let's do this."
With a crisp snap, the barrier guarding the place shattered.
Inside, Hane and Myamu instantly snapped their heads toward the outside, alert. Hatsuka's voice, tinged with panic, cut through the air. "Someone broke the barrier!"
Before she could finish, Hane moved to cloak the area in her power again. But Little Ace wasn't giving her the chance. The moment the barrier fell, it had already summoned Nanna with a pulse of its demonic energy, then melted into the air like a ghost.
An unstoppable force descended. Under the crimson moonlight, no movement could hide. Nanna, who'd already been burned once by Hane's tricks, wasn't about to let this "traitor" slip away again. The moment it appeared, it drowned every shadow in a flood of moonlight.
The light, unnaturally, bounced off the planetarium's star-projecting dome, illuminating every inch of the interior in blinding clarity.
"Got any last words to beg for mercy?" Nanna floated above, its voice dripping with condescension.
This was a stroke of luck. Nanna didn't know who'd sent the signal, but the chance to take down Hane, Myamu, and Hatsuka—three "servants" wielding its power yet defying its orders, even daring to sabotage its plans—was too good to pass up.
Hane, knowing she was done for, let out a quiet sigh, her voice laced with bitter self-mockery. "Guess this is what you get for dancing with demons."
She and Shoko had both ended up here, reaping what they sowed. Using demonic power to fight demons? It was always going to burn them in the end.
"No, no, no! I'm not ready to die!" Myamu stammered, stumbling back in a panic.
But Nanna was faster, materializing behind her. A grotesque, jagged rift split open across the blood-moon demon's form, swallowing Myamu whole in an instant.
Next was Hatsuka, who'd already severed her link to Shoko's dream, cutting off any chance of Nanna tracking Shoko through her.
Not that it mattered much. Once Nanna consumed her, the ownerless barrier would fade, and the demons invading Shoko's dream would lead Nanna straight to her door.
As for Hane… she was just grateful she'd hidden Rikishi and the others in the crevices of the shadows beforehand. For now, they were safe.
Hatsuka vanished in the arms of the demon wearing Shoko's face. The creature, unchanged despite devouring two lives, turned its cold gaze to Hane.
She was last for two reasons. First, Hane had crossed Nanna the most. Second, Nanna had questions.
"Where's she at?"
Hane, facing her end, wasn't about to betray Nero. With a calm shrug, she said, "Who knows?"
Nanna's response was a chilling laugh. "Fine, then. Just a casual question."
After all, Nero beating Nanna? That was a pipe dream. "It's a shame I won't get such a pretty puppet, but I don't need her that badly."
With that, Nanna closed the distance to Hane, step by deliberate step.
"Now, return to your master."
Silently, Hane vanished into Nanna's embrace. The moonlight faded, and darkness reclaimed the planetarium.
Having reclaimed three fragments of its power, Nanna lingered briefly, expecting a certain someone to emerge from the shadows. When no one did, it left, disappointed.
The planetarium fell silent.
Until a small, pink-and-white creature appeared out of nowhere.
"Heh," it chuckled softly. "So much for being all-knowing in the dreamscape. Fooled that easily."
The jab was aimed at Hane—and itself.
Moments later, Soyo returned. Seeing her, Little Ace dropped its villainous smirk, its tone turning serious. "Soyo, your turn."
Hane hiding Nero and the others in the shadow realm was something they'd anticipated. But for Soyo, even if they were tucked away in the shadows, she had a way to track them down.
"Scotty."
Soyo summoned her weapon, twin blades merging into a pair of shears. Instantly, a chaotic web of lines materialized in her vision—threads connecting her to others.
That's right. Through the "lines" tying her to the others, Soyo could pinpoint the shadow pocket Hane had used to hide them. Little Ace had assured her: find the shadow, and it could pull them out.
The priority was Nero. Find her, and Soyo would secure the key to saving Shoko and Mutsu—the Yama blade.
Soyo studied the threads carefully. After a long moment, she spotted a faint filament sinking into the shadows, as thin as a hair, fragile enough to snap at any moment.
"Here."
Little Ace followed the line, slicing open the shadow. A figure slowly emerged, materializing on a seat.
Purple hair, sleeping peacefully. Tomori Takamatsu.
Seeing her friend lost in dreams, spared from immediate confrontation, Soyo let out a small breath of relief. But something nagged at her—why was Tomori asleep now?
Might as well ask. If the others were out cold too, Tomori was the only one Soyo felt safe questioning. Among them, Tomori's bond with Shoko ran the deepest. Soyo trusted she'd understand.
"Tomori?" Soyo reached out, gently shaking her shoulder.
No response. Soyo shook harder, calling again.
Still nothing. If not for her breathing, Soyo might've mistaken her for a warm corpse.
Something was wrong. Soyo whipped her head toward Little Ace. "What's happening to her?"
And then she saw it—a chill crawling up her spine.
On the seat beside Tomori, a thread connected to Soyo vanished into the shadows. Someone else was still hidden there.
But when Soyo looked at herself, no such thread existed.
The "connection" had been severed.
Her face drained of color, Soyo turned to Little Ace, desperation in her eyes.
Little Ace hopped onto Tomori's lap, blinking. "That's… the scent of 'Sorrow.' She's been lulled by 'Sorrow.'"
"Can you wake her?" Soyo asked, voice trembling.
Little Ace didn't answer.
And with that, Soyo, realizing all was lost, let out a piercing, anguished scream.
(End of Chapter)