’Preposterous!’ Heaven’s Judgment bellowed. ’How would you even consume a creature made of light?’

’All illusions appear to have cores. The deer shouldn’t be an exception. What if, rather than shattering it like Michael did last time, I devour it instead?’ Devil smile widened. ’What’s the worst that can happen?’

While the two soul weapons were busy in their usual bickering, the Lords followed the shining deer.

It became apparent that the creature wasn’t alone. Other animals greeted them along the way, though all of them were slightly twisted in their own unique way.

Birds, for example, had feathers that shimmered in constant light. Their beaks matched the golden hue, yet they lacked any resemblance of eyes.

Squirrels with several tails spared the Lords a few glances before climbing back atop the clustered trees.

"They don’t give off ill intent." Gloria explained, calming the worries of the others. "Since we are being led by the deer, they regard us as part of their own."

Since Michael had never managed to bond with a spiritual beast despite his best efforts, he found himself in unfamiliar territory under the gazes of the beast-like creatures.

He didn’t drop his guard out of precaution.

Soon enough, they reached what the deer wanted to show them.

A vast sea rested amidst the Light Kingdom. Filled to the brim with plasma, the Lords could feel the intense heat it radiated even from afar.

The surface of the star was already dangerously hot, yet the plasma within the sea was several levels beyond that.

A chill ran down their backs. If submerged in the liquid, their bodies wouldn’t be able to adapt in time, and they would meet their end prematurely.

Past the reservoir, another set of walls stood erected, this one taller than the fortifications encircling the Light Kingdom.

Not realizing that the Lords had stopped, the deer neared the sea, lowered her head, and extended her tongue, starting to sip the plasma. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

"For a sea to reside within the Light Kingdom... this place is truly vast." Nicole exclaimed.

"So it would seem. Though I don’t see how being here benefits us in any way." Persephone said in visible disappointment.

"Is this what you wanted to show us?" Gloria turned to the deer.

Raising its head, the deer met Gloria’s golden stare before observing the others one by one.

The deer’s eyes lingered on Michael for a moment longer.

Nearing, she bit Heaven’s Judgment and started to pull.

’Hey! I have feelings, you know!’ The weapon cried, never before having suffered such humiliation.

Putting a hand over his stomach, Devil began to laugh mockingly.

Everyone watched the scene with mild fascination and confusion.

"Um..." Gloria was at a loss for words. "I think she wants your soul weapon."

Michael frowned. The deer still wasn’t emitting any ill intent, but that didn’t mean he would allow anyone to treat his soul weapon so harshly.

Prying the weapon free from the deer’s bite, he raised the shotgun above his shoulder and wagged his index finger in a firm "no" gesture.

Offended, the deer flared her nostrils, stomped her front leg, and turned away, bolting into the distance. Leaving the Lords with more questions than answers.

Naturally, no one disagreed with Michael’s actions. Soul weapons were precious tools that no one in their right mind would share, much less with a mindless being created by a Titan.

"Waste of time..." Emanuel murmured in disappointment, gazing at Gloria. "If you had listened from the start, we wouldn’t have bothered."

"Incorrect. The view was more than worthy." Devil remarked, still laughing. "To the point I shall forget about devouring the deer."

"At least we are getting closer." Nicole heaved a sigh. "To reach the next set of gates, we can either cross the sea or move around it."

"See, we are moving in the right direction after all." Solomon calmed Emanuel.

Having moved with mortal-defying speed, the Lords had covered a substantial amount of distance, the entrance to a deeper domain within MSAP-8’s territory now in sight.

However, one problem arose.

With the constant light emitted by the Sun, they had no way of knowing how long they had been traveling. For all they knew, it could be as little as a day or a month in Earth’s time. Due to their reduced need for sleep, it was difficult to tell.

’About five days.’ Heaven’s Judgment declared.

Michael raised an eyebrow in astonishment. ’Has so much time really passed? How certain are you?’

’When we stepped onto the Sun, I started counting the seconds.’ She replied, blushing slightly. ’It’s not like I have much else to do.’

Considering that the Lords didn’t know what awaited them ahead, they needed to constantly remain at their peak.

They settled on the seaside location to alternate their rest. The vast expanse of the reservoir left few possible directions for an ambush, making it the safest place to set up camp.

Not everybody was on board with the decision.

Persephone approached Michael with a dangerous glint in her eyes.

"Want to spar?"

He blinked slowly.

"Now? We’re stopping to rest, not to wear ourselves out further."

She let out a teasing giggle.

"Don’t tell me you’re worn out from only a few days of sprinting. Sitting around with all this energy just makes me even more restless, driving me crazy!"

After a second, she added with a softer tone.

"It’s not like we’re trying to kill each other... think of it as getting a feel for each other’s fighting style."

In no way, shape, or form was Michael convinced. However, reasoning through everything with logic would not bode well with Persephone, given her chaotic personality.

Not to mention, Michael was indeed curious to see how powerful she really was, given her title as the second strongest Lord, since he had never gotten the chance to meet her in his prior life before humanity spiraled into ruin.

Reluctantly, he got up. "Alright, let’s spar."

"If things get too heated, I will put a stop to it." Nicole said. She had been chosen to act as the referee.

"Fine by me." Persephone shrugged.

She and Michael positioned themselves.

"Begin." Nicole signaled.

Instantly, Persephone pointed to the ring of darkness beneath her feet, then swept her finger upward.

A ring of darkness materialized behind Michael. From it, a chain of shadow surged forward. The collar at its end clasped around his neck firmly, faster than a heartbeat.

Persephone licked her lips seductively.

"Don’t disappoint me now." She murmured.