The fire faded slowly.
Not completely—
But enough for the world to return.
Sunny stood where he had been struck, his body still trembling slightly from the aftermath. Smoke curled faintly from his clothes, his skin marked by burns that hadn't fully settled yet.
The cold mist around him lingered, wrapping his body like a thin veil.
Ava's doing.
It dulled the pain.
But didn't heal.
"…Tch…"
Sunny exhaled slowly, steadying himself.
Across from him—
The beast lay on the ground.
Shaking.
Its massive body no longer moved with the same power as before. The nine tails twitched weakly, its form flickering like a broken illusion.
"…So you're done," Sunny muttered.
The wolf let out a low, strained growl.
Its body trembled—
Then began to dissolve.
Not like flesh turning to ash.
But like a disguise being peeled away.
The fur vanished.
The tails disappeared.
The monstrous form shrank—
Until what remained…
Was something else entirely.
A figure.
Lying on the ground.
Not human.
Not anymore.
A demon.
Sunny's eyes narrowed.
"…So that's your real form."
Ava stepped closer, the baby resting calmly in her arms.
"I told you," she said quietly. "It was a demon."
Sunny didn't reply immediately.
He stared at the figure.
At Modret.
The demon who had nearly killed him.
The one who had controlled the wind—
Redirected the flames—
And almost ended everything.
"…Wind user," Sunny muttered.
"…Not bad."
Modret's body twitched violently.
His breathing was uneven, unstable, like something barely holding together.
But he was still alive.
Ava raised her hand.
Cold mist spread again—
Wrapping around Sunny.
The temperature dropped instantly.
The burning sensation in his body dulled further, his bones no longer screaming with every slight movement.
Sunny let out a slow breath.
"…Better."
Ava shook her head slightly.
"It only reduces pain," she said. "My cold aura cannot heal you."
Sunny smirked faintly.
"Yeah… figured."
But then—
Something changed.
A shift.
Inside him.
A crack.
Sunny froze.
"…What…?"
The world seemed to pause.
Then—
A whisper.
Not from outside.
Not from Ava.
From somewhere deeper.
(Flaw has been unlocked…)
(Power has been unlocked…)
Sunny's eyes widened slightly.
"…So it finally kicks in…"
His body felt different.
Sharper.
More aware.
His gaze slowly moved—
Back to Modret.
The demon's eyes flickered open.
Filled with something new.
Fear.
Real fear.
Their eyes met.
And in that moment—
Something connected.
A beam of light burst from Sunny's chest.
Thin.
Focused.
Unavoidable.
It shot forward—
And struck Modret directly.
The demon's body jerked violently.
His breathing turned erratic.
His fingers twitched uncontrollably.
"…What is this—?!" Modret rasped.
Sunny didn't answer.
He couldn't.
Because now—
He could feel it.
Modret's presence.
His mind.
His existence.
Close.
Too close.
The whisper returned.
(Memory collection of demon Modret achieved…)
(Body of demon Modret can be used…)
Sunny's breath caught.
"…Body… can be used…?"
His eyes darkened.
"…You mean…"
He understood.
Not fully—
But enough.
He could enter.
Take over.
Control.
Even though—
Modret was still alive.
"…That's messed up…"
For the first time, Sunny hesitated.
This wasn't fighting.
This wasn't survival.
This was something else.
Something dangerous.
He turned quickly toward Ava.
"…Do you have a blindfold?"
Ava blinked slightly.
"For what reason?"
Sunny's voice was calm.
Too calm.
"If I look at you," he said, "I'll connect to you."
A pause.
"I might gain your memories."
Another pause.
"And at any moment…"
His gaze hardened slightly.
"I could use your body."
Silence fell.
For a brief second—
Even Ava seemed to pause.
Then she nodded.
"…Understood."
The shadows around her moved instantly.
They gathered—
Formed—
And covered her eyes completely.
A perfect blindfold.
Sunny blinked.
"…You could do that this whole time?"
Ava tilted her head slightly.
"Yes."
Sunny frowned.
"…Then why not do it for me?"
Ava's answer came simply.
"I don't need sight."
A faint pause.
"I can sense everything through shadows."
Her voice remained calm.
"It is called Shadow Sense."
Sunny stared at her.
For a moment—
Then exhaled softly.
"…Thanks."
It was quiet.
But genuine.
Ava didn't respond.
Sunny turned back to Modret.
The demon lay weak.
Barely conscious.
Still alive.
"…We're not killing him," Sunny said.
Ava nodded.
"He will be useful."
Of course.
Sunny crouched down beside Modret, studying him closely.
"…First someone with shadow control…"
he muttered.
"…Now wind…"
He shook his head slightly.
"…This place just keeps getting better."
Modret's body twitched again, his eyes barely open.
He could feel it too.
The connection.
The danger.
Fear deepened in his expression.
Sunny stood up slowly.
"…Relax," he said coldly.
"…You're not dying today."
Not yet.
He reached down—
And lifted Modret onto his shoulder.
The demon didn't resist.
He couldn't.
Sunny adjusted his grip, ignoring the pain still lingering in his body.
Behind him, Ava stood silently, the baby calm in her arms.
Watching.
Always watching.
"…Let's move," Sunny said.
Ava nodded.
And once again—
They began walking.
Deeper into the Demon Gate.
Now—
With a demon in their grasp.
And something far more dangerous—
Awakening within Sunny.