"You gotta be kidding, right?" Leo prodded, hoping he just heard the feline wrong. "I barely need sleep nowadays even when I don't devour anything. So really? Over a day?"

  'I have no reason to joke,' Nyx grumbled. 'You have no idea how worried I was when you wouldn't wake up all day and night. I tried everything from screaming to spping you. Nothing worked. It was like your body shut down and didn't respond to any signals.'

  Leo sighed. In hindsight, he probably should have expected something simir to happen. In a matter of one day, he overstrained his soul, fought dozens of Nightmares uhe influence of Radiant quality skill, and, to top it off, went through an instant power boost unlike any other.

  So yeah, maybe falling into a a for over twenty-four hours made some seer all. Not that he had to like it. Every single minute spent sleepi a minute lost when he could have been killing Voidlings or practig his abilities. And to hear that he had wasted over a day...

  Leo shook his head. Not much he could do about it, and piniainly wouldn't help. Besides, as much as he didn't like losing so much time, the effects were obvious. Not even an inch of his body ached anymore, and his Essence reserves were brimming with power, just begging to be used.

  Alright. Sorry for jumping on you like that. He finally said over the link. It's just... a day is a lot of time. It's been what? Eleven or twelve days sihis Outbreak began? Fuck I'm already losing track of time, and it hasn't evewo weeks… I think.

  For a moment, their bond remained silent.

  'If it makes you feel a bit better, time doesn't matter to me. Only day and night do,' Nyx expined. 'It's hard to care about more when the memories in my head span across turies. It all kind of blends together, or it would if it weren't for the numerous holes in them.'

  Not really the same thing, but thanks f. I will be fihough. After everything that had happehis is a minor invenie worst. Leo frowned suddenly as he took a peek outside through a hole. Still, a w clock would be hat and a way to tell what day it is. Kinda surprised the shop doesn't have anything like that.

  'Does it really matter what day it is?' The feline questioned, her curiosity leaking over the link.

  He snorted. Nope. But I swear the day before yesterday had to be a Monday. Only Mondays be so shit to make someone lose the will to live.

  'I don't think I uand.'

  This time, Leo let out a loud chuckle. Despite the ret loss still weighing heavily on his mind, at least now he didn't feel like finding a hole and staying there for the rest of the week. The short ust have helped not only his body but also the other two pilrs.

  Maybe the lost time is worth it in the end. It's pretty o be able to think clearly again.

  Shaking his head, he opehe bond again. So what did I miss? Any problems during the two nights?

  'Not at all,' Nyx answered just as she ehe hall and stopped beside him. 'I think you culled enough Nightmares for them not to be a problem for quite some time. I barely saw any, and I stayed up all night.'

  Leo blinked. Huh, that's a wele surprise. I disagree it will st long, though. Remember, I have been ihe Graveyard. There were a lot more of them there than just a hundred. At best, they are just lig their wounds and waiting for more Phanthoms to be born.

  'You might be right,' Nyx bowed lightly, g the point. 'Although, with so many Nightmares dead, other survivors should have more time to catch up now. That's still a big advantage in my opinion.'

  On that, we both agree. He nodded, sloroag the exit. What about Holden's group? Any movement? There's no way they stayed inside all day...

  Leo could only imagine what Holden and the others must have felt when they returo ReachHope yesterday. Yet, looking back, maybe it was for the better that the building now stood in ruins. Nobody should have to see the sughtered bodies of their panions, not even in this world.

  'A group of sevehe safe zoerday in the m. The one you call Frank was among them. They came back a few hours ter, with ivity practically oozing out of them. I didn't even need any sensing ability to see that.'

  A grimace spread over his face. Maybe he was too qui thinking they wouldn't find any bodies. Despite not having his or Nyx's strength, seven enhanced people should still be able to deal with the rubble if they tried. Add to that the sea of sughtered Voidlings he had left behind...

  Either way, Holden now knows a good part of his group is dead and probably thinks I'm gooo. Leo sighed, stepping into the m sun.

  'Indeed,' Nyx said, her warmth washing over him. 'What do you want to do now? Your shackles to this city are gone. We leave now, find your sister if that's what you wish.'

  I'd love to, but not yet. Leo muttered, gng at the few notifications that appeared when he woke up.

  Two of them he had seen before. They quickly annouhat Limit Break and Devour were once again active and ready to use. Yet, it was the st ohat stopped him from running straight towards London.

  "Initial recovery stage finished," he read out loud before Nyx could say anything. "Moving Ruthless Efficy out of hibernation stage and into reawakening phase. Time until pletion: forty-seven hours..."

  He looked at the feline. "We might be strong now, but until I get my bloodlust back, we ain't going nowhere. Ruthless Efficy saved me once; I want to have it ready in case something simir happens... That is unless you promise me that nothing will surprise us on the way to London."

  After a moment, Nyx shook her head. 'No, I 't. We will wait then.'

  "I don't like it either," Leo reassured, scratg the feline behind her ear. "But look at it this way. We just received a major power boost. Might as well take some time to get used to it and work on our skills. Then there is the Tainted Wastend. Maybe we get rid of it now somehow."

  'And the humans? You said it; they most likely think you dead.'

  For that, he didn't have an answer right away. His retionship with Holden was always somewhat businesslike. They tio take care of his family, and in exge, he helped them with any issue that popped out. Now their deal was null, their alliance broken.

  A...

  "I will go back," he announced, Nyx's surprise surging through their link. "They deserve to know what happe ReachHope, even if I have to modify the story. Adam's involvement and status must remain hidden. Besides, if possible, I want Wolford as a backup pn, something to fall ba in case I need a pce to stay."

  'Uood. I haven't sidered that.'

  "It's a fresh pn, one I doubt we will ever have to use." Leed and stepped onto the street. "But hey, having different options avaible is better than nothing."

  Just like before, every single Voidling in the area ignored him, or straight-up ran away. A few dared to look in his way, but that was where their ce ran out.

  'What if they don't believe your story or ask too many questions?" Nyx asked, trotting to join his side.

  "Then that's their problem, not mine. I won't beg on my knees," he snorted. "I lose nothing by doing this and walk away whenever I want. You were right; my shackles to this pce are gone, even if I hate how it happened."

  Silence fell upon the duo as they walked towards the Safe Zone. Soon, though, Nyx darted into an alley, her form bursting into shadows and diving into the building. Just like with Adam, her tinued existence had to remain a secret.

  Okay, let's face the music. I hope Holden and Frank are home, or this will be awkward.

  He rounded a er, the golden barrier appearing ahead. It wasn't until he was halfway towards it that someone spotted him. The person shouted a warning to the others outside while sprinting towards the warehouse.

  At once, Leo had three rifles aimed straight at his body. Either those people didn't know him, as doubtful as it was. Or Holden somehow came to the clusion that maybe he was the one responsible for ReachHope's destru.

  Well... he wouldn't be wrong.

  He came to a stop a few feet away from the barrier and dropped his cowl. The three guards tensed but slowly lowered their ons. It seemed they really thought he was a Voidling or something worse.

  "Y-you are Leo Hale, r-right?" One of them asked, stuttering a bit.

  Leo sighed, raising his cwed hands. "One and only. I take you won't shoot me if I co-"

  "Hale!" A familiar voice shouted in the distance. "Bloody hell, you're alive!"

  Here they e...

  Chaos65