Still missing a hand, Novus sits on his throne with furrowed brows. He grumbles to himself.

  “It was all going so well until… Athanasia, you imbecile. Even after death you manage to ruin everything.”

  He presses a barely-perceptible button on his seat, and the end of one golden arm extends, revealing a tiny cabinet with two purple orbs. After grabbing both and smashing them with his left hand, his body is flooded by a vast amount of life energy. The man's hand regenerates slowly and he sighs.

  “I'm just unlucky that my soul modifications make me need so much more to heal. If only she hadn't rebelled.”

  Shaking his head, he stands up and pushes the compartment back in. Then, his eyes shoot open as the door on the far side of the room vanishes with a huge crunching sound.

  “And you want us to strike now while you've weakened him,” Hunter says with a frown.

  “Precisely,” the Unique Monster broadcasts to all four present. “I believe you all have recuperated adequately.”

  Vis grits his teeth and clenches his fist before saying, “You sure we need to kill Teacher? Novus, I mean.”

  Astraea sighs.

  Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  “This man was at least largely, if not entirely, responsible for the fall of my family. I have sworn to avenge them in every way possible, and he is the sole culprit left. It may be a lot to ask, but this is a favour I must request.”

  ?elare looks at her with a small smile and says, “I, for one, will put aside my moral boundaries without hesitation for you.”

  Hunter nods along, and Vis eventually mutters, “Fine,” and Astraea exhales with a grateful expression.

  The Worldgorger transmits another message, causing everyone to look at it.

  “Now that this triviality has been laid to rest, let us take the initiative to destroy him once and for all. Hunter, prepare to shoot.”

  The enormous serpent slithers up the wall, positioning itself above the door. It unhooks its jaw to reveal rows upon rows of teeth, and bites into the top of the door-frame. Hunter nocks an arrow, brings it to half-draw, and waits.

  After a few seconds, the space where the door was shimmers and pulsates, and then the scenery changes to the grey room Novus had repeatedly called them to their foe stands in front of his throne, staring through with widened eyes. The bowman completes the draw and looses it.

  The projectile flies for barely any time before it collides with Novus’ head, who yells out as a third of his face is destroyed. Blood, bone and grey matter splatter against the wall behind him, but the man remains standing.

  He quickly snaps his fingers as Hunter takes another arrow from his quiver, and all of his damage vanishes as if nothing had happened. Even the gore is gone.

  “No, no!” he shouts as he swipes his arm out in front of him. A massive shockwave travels slowly, shaking both sides of the door and launching stone tiling from the floor. The Worldgorger’s voice says to the four on its side, “Enter now before it is blocked.”

  Vis, Astraea and ?elare run through, and Hunter shoots another arrow, then follows them. The piles of launched debris, along with the shockwave itself, divert the attack’s path and it slams into a wall, boring a hole. The snake is last to go, and as it does so, the space-distortion ceases.