While I was crushing the horde of nightmare creatures outside, inside the Spire, the Sleeper army discovered the gateway. One by one, they started to leave, while the remaining combatants formed a semi-circle, holding the line against the coral monsters. Nephis fought against the Crimson Terror.
Now, only three Sleepers remained in the Spire—Sunny, Caster, and Nephis, who was still locked in battle with the Crimson Terror.
As in the original novel, Sunny and Caster started fighting after Sunny confirmed that Caster wanted to kill Nephis. He succeeded in defeating him, while Nephis also managed to slay the Crimson Terror.
"You killed him?"
"Yes. He was after you."
"I knew about it, but still, you shouldn't have killed him."
"What do you mean?"
"I only discovered it after killing the monster residing here, but someone must remain behind for the gateway to function. Only one of us can leave."
Sunny was stunned. They stared at each other in silence for a moment.
After a few seconds, both of them rushed toward the gateway, fighting fiercely.
Sunny defeated Nephis—after all, she was already utterly exhausted from her battle with the Crimson Terror. But something felt off to Sunny.
"You didn't want to win against me. Why?"
"What are you talking about ? I am just exhausted."
"Drop the act. I see right through you."
"Haaah, sometimes you're too perceptive for your own good," Nephis sighed.
"So why?" Sunny pressed.
"I changed my mind."
"What? You changed your goal—now, after everything is done?"
"You don't understand, do you? I didn't change my goal, only my way of reaching it. He opened my eyes. I was ready to do anything if it meant getting closer to my goal, whether it was right or wrong. But he showed me there is always another path."
"Like now, I could leave you behind to die, but that would be vile and wrong, so I won't. Just like him—he could have rushed to the Spire and escaped before anyone even realized what happened. But he stayed so that everyone else could escape. It was at that moment I realized: what's the point of reaching my goal if, in the process, I become like those I despise?"
"Go. What are you hesitating for? You always made it clear your number one priority is survival."
"Because of you. What about you?"
"Me? Do you think I will die here? No, I will find another way. There is always another way, no matter how long it takes."
"No. You will die here alone. Ughh fine, then I'll stay too."
"No, you can't—"
"Why can you, but I can't?"
"Enough! Go, Lo—"
"Stop right there, my little Star," I said, limping closer while clutching my side with one arm, the other hanging uselessly. "Do you really think that's the best way? Tsk, I always tell you—you're a bit too radical."
"You... how?" Both Sunny and Nephis were stunned. "Cass said you would die in that sea of monsters."
"I feel like you rely too much on her visions. Did she see me die? If not, how can you be so sure?"
"Then how?"
"I killed everything outside, obviously," I grinned. "But I think I overestimated myself a bit."
"Anyway, you're both wrong here. Sunny, don't you understand? If both of you stay, you'll just increase the risk of failure. Two people mean double the mistakes, double the need for food and water, and so on."
"And you, Nephis—do you really think you can do this alone? No, you're strong, but not strong enough. Even if you succeed, you'll break in the process. And most importantly—how could I ever leave my little Star in a place like this?"
"Then what?" Sunny asked irritably.
"Easy. But first, give me that water-producing Memory," I demanded. He hesitated but handed it over anyway.
[You recieved a memory]
"Now, I have some advice for you. You're strong because of your will to survive, but that alone will only get you so far. What good is survival if you have nothing to live for?" I said, grabbing him and throwing him at the gateway.
"Best of luck in the future, Stalker," I joked as Sunny disappeared.