The Demon Gate felt heavier the deeper they walked.
Not just in the air—
But in the soul.
Each step pressed against Sunny like an invisible weight, subtle but constant, as if the Gate itself was testing whether he deserved to keep moving forward.
Ava walked ahead in silence, her pace steady, her senses stretched far beyond what the eye could see.
Behind her, Sunny followed, the baby resting quietly in his arms.
For once—
It was asleep.
Its tiny body was warm, its breathing soft and even, completely at peace in a place where peace did not exist.
Sunny glanced down at it.
"…You really are something else."
No response.
Just quiet.
He looked forward again, exhaling lightly.
The silence dragged on.
Long enough to become uncomfortable.
Then—
"Hey."
Ava didn't turn.
But she listened.
Sunny adjusted the baby slightly, his expression more serious than before.
"Even if we're supposed to feed it differently… how do we actually do it?"
Ava's steps slowed slightly.
Sunny continued, his voice lower now.
"I know you said it's a relic. Something I can summon or dismiss…"
He paused.
"…but leaving it like this feels wrong."
Ava finally turned her head, her eyes studying him with quiet curiosity.
"…You still think like a human."
Sunny smirked faintly.
"Last I checked, I was one."
"Were," she corrected.
Sunny didn't argue.
Ava looked at the baby, then back at him.
"If you truly want to feed it," she said calmly, "you'll need a tree grown from your spirit essence."
Sunny blinked.
"…A tree again?"
"Yes."
Her voice remained steady.
"A spirit tree. One that bears fruit formed from your essence."
Sunny let out a small breath.
"…And I don't have that."
"No," Ava replied. "Only Sovereigns can grow such trees."
She looked ahead again.
"If an imp or a lesser demon consumes that fruit, they can ascend. Become exalted… or even enter the Dreamscape."
Sunny frowned slightly.
"…Convenient shortcut."
"It's not a shortcut," Ava said. "It's a threshold."
Sunny sighed.
"…Right."
Ava continued walking.
"For now, you're still an imp."
A brief pause.
"We both are."
Sunny gave a faint chuckle.
"Nice to know we're equally weak."
Ava ignored that.
"And you," she added, her tone slightly sharper, "are still human in essence. Forced into a demon's path."
Sunny's expression dimmed slightly.
"…Yeah. I noticed."
Ava didn't linger on it.
"Since you cannot grow a spirit tree yet," she continued, "you can start with something simpler."
Sunny raised an eyebrow.
"Which is?"
"Water infused with your spirit essence."
Sunny let out a tired breath.
"Again with that."
Ava nodded.
"But you lack control," she said. "Without soul fragments, your spirit is unstable."
Sunny frowned.
"I had those before you forced me into this Demon Gate."
Ava didn't respond.
She simply kept walking.
As if she hadn't heard him at all.
Sunny clicked his tongue.
"…Of course."
Ava's voice came again, quieter this time.
"I've seen records of this before."
Sunny glanced at her.
"…Let me guess. Stone slabs again?"
"Yes."
Her eyes darkened slightly.
"They recorded events. Not stories."
Sunny looked down at the baby.
"…And this thing?"
Ava's answer came without hesitation.
"It will grow."
Sunny's gaze sharpened.
"Into what?"
Ava's voice dropped.
"A Dragon King."
Silence.
"…You're serious."
"Yes."
Sunny stared at the sleeping child in his arms.
Its small face looked harmless.
Fragile.
Completely normal.
"…And how long?"
"Five years."
Sunny blinked.
"…That's too fast."
"It won't remain like this," Ava said. "It will mature rapidly. A child… a young man… perhaps even beyond that."
Sunny exhaled slowly.
"…Five years to become something like that…"
He shook his head.
"That's insane."
Ava didn't disagree.
"Besides," she added quietly, "there's nothing waiting for us outside worth rushing back to."
Sunny didn't reply.
The silence that followed was heavier than before.
Then—
Ava stopped.
Her eyes narrowed.
"…I can sense it."
Sunny's expression sharpened instantly.
"…A demon?"
Ava nodded.
"Yes."
The air shifted.
A low, deep growl echoed across the broken land.
Then—
It appeared.
A massive wolf stepped out from the shadows.
Its body was monstrous, covered in dark, bristling fur that seemed to absorb light. Behind it, nine long tails swayed slowly, each radiating a faint, dangerous energy.
Its eyes—
Locked onto Sunny.
Burning with bloodlust.
"…Yeah," Sunny muttered. "That's not friendly."
The wolf didn't hesitate.
It lunged.
Fast.
Too fast.
"Take it—!"
Sunny threw the baby toward Ava without thinking.
Ava caught it instantly—
SLASH!
Claws tore across Sunny's chest.
Blood splashed.
He staggered back, breath hitching—
Then steadied himself.
"…Tch."
A faint grin appeared on his face.
"I think…"
He rolled his shoulders despite the pain.
"…it's my time to shine."
The wolf circled, growling.
Sunny stepped forward.
His stance shifted.
Loose.
Unpredictable.
He exhaled slowly.
"Devil Dance…"
This time—
He knew the name.
His body moved.
At first, it was rough.
Imperfect.
His steps misaligned, his balance slightly off.
The wolf attacked—
SLASH!
Another wound.
Then another.
Blood dripped.
"…Still sloppy," Sunny muttered.
But he didn't stop.
He kept moving.
Adjusting.
Learning.
Adapting.
Step by step—
The rhythm changed.
His body flowed.
Smooth.
Precise.
The wolf lunged again—
And missed.
Completely.
Sunny slipped past the attack like a shadow.
Then again.
And again.
The wolf's growls turned sharper, more aggressive.
It couldn't hit him anymore.
Sunny's eyes narrowed.
"…So this is Devil Dance."
Not a technique.
Not just movement.
A rhythm.
A disruption.
Every step broke the enemy's intent.
The wolf grew furious.
Its nine tails flared outward.
The air twisted.
Then—
Ten arrows of compressed wind formed around it.
Sunny's expression changed.
"…That's new."
The arrows fired.
Instantly.
THUD! THUD! THUD!
They struck him.
One after another.
Blood burst from his body as he was thrown backward, crashing hard against the ground.
"…Ghk—!"
Pain surged through him.
His vision blurred.
He tried to move—
But his body refused.
"…Damn…"
The wolf approached slowly.
Victorious.
Cold.
Sunny coughed, blood staining his lips.
"…Not… yet…"
Then—
The baby opened its eyes.
Red.
Burning.
Furious.
The air changed.
Instantly.
The pale light of the Demon Gate dimmed, swallowed by darkness. Thick clouds formed above, twisting unnaturally as pressure descended upon the land.
Ava's eyes widened slightly.
"…This presence…"
The wolf froze.
For the first time—
Fear appeared in its eyes.
Then—
A pillar of blazing fire tore through the sky.
It crashed down—
Engulfing the wolf completely.
The explosion shook the ground.
Flames roared violently.
Sunny's blurred vision flickered.
"…Did… it…"
For a moment—
It seemed over.
Then—
The fire twisted.
Turned.
And surged toward him instead.
Sunny's eyes widened in shock.
"…Wait—!"
The flames swallowed him whole.
And just before everything went dark—
He realized something terrifying.
That attack—
Was never meant for the wolf.