Storm clouds gathered over the barren killing ground, obscuring the battlefield and hiding it from the scorching sun's fearsome gaze. With the first drops of water, the tide in the distance began to advance, quietly consuming both nightmare creatures and the helpless sleepers. However, neither side seemed to show any signs of fleeing.

  The nightmare creatures, driven by the taste of human souls, only pressed forward with more force, while the sleepers attacked with greater force, driven by the sight of the white fme at the front lines.

  Blood, both human and corrupted, ran like a river, but with each death, humanity took another step closer to its goal… as long as they had somewhere to run before being swallowed by the bck tide.

  Cassie was nervous, perhaps more scared and lost than ever. The situation somehow seemed painfully simir to her previous visions, but also different in ways she would never have wanted. She had believed she could choose a path that, while not proud, could still give her companions a chance to live, but now… she wasn't even sure if these changes were for the better or worse. But it didn't matter, for now she had a task she had to accomplish, whether impossible or not.

  She moved forward quickly, ignoring the army of nightmare creatures sughtering her companions behind her. With the help of her dancing sword and her cloak, which made her imperceptible to most creatures, she advanced.

  Soon, the tumult of screams was behind her, and before her, the enormous crimson spire rose. Her mission was simple: open the entrance for the sleeping army… as long as she survived.

  The instant she took a step in front of the great door encrusted with red coral, seven creatures fell to defend it. She recognized them instantly, twisted reflections of the seven champions of the Forgotten Shore.

  She knew instantly: she had no chance of victory. Even if she had her sight restored, her abilities were far from sufficient to deal with all these enemies… luckily, it wasn't her job to deal with them.

  From the shadows, the towering figure of a statue cast entirely of obsidian rose, sshing its stone sword at the nearest creature. With a single blow, its enemy's head shattered, halting the movement of everyone on the field.

  Saint, Sunny's remnant shadow, had arrived to wreak death. Wearing a strange demon mask, she stood between the blind seer and her enemies… and rapped her shield twice, inviting them to attack.

  The ensuing battle was a whirlwind of fury. Saint was strong, she was fast, and she was supremely talented. But these creatures, even with one less member, were abnormally strong. With cooperation unbecoming of mere vestments, they moved with precision to stop the fearsome statue, but that was all they could do. They couldn't defeat the dreaded demon, only contain it.

  Cassie didn't dey for a moment, beginning the ritual to seal the Bck Sea once more and open the door to her other companions. And just for a moment, she allowed herself to doubt. The future had twisted, but events still seemed to be heading toward the same outcome. So, was the shifting star's death still absolute?

  A heavy weight settled on her heart, but she didn't allow herself to doubt it. Now that event was out of her hands. Perhaps it always had been, in reality, she just didn't want to see it. She would have to trust that the light would overcome the darkness and that her friend would live.