Slowly, the cold killing intent disappeared from his eyes, replaced by a tired darkness. "Nobody is laughing, you ghoul. And yes... we have defeated you. It took a long while, it took a lot of effort, and too countless sacrifices. But look where you are?"
Sunny shook his head.
"You know, Awakened are meant to protect the world against the Nightmare Creatures. But ever since becoming powerful enough to make a difference, all I ever did was try to protect the world against people. From people like you."
He glanced at Asterion with contempt, then sighed and glanced away.
"I'm glad that is over now. Now that the last of you is defeated, all we'll have to deal with are corrupted gods, Unholy horrors, and the end of the world. Isn't it wonderful?"
Sunny paused for a moment and then smiled.
"But you won't be here to witness that, Dreamspawn. Didn't I promise you that you would regret being immortal? Cheer up. You are about to become the world’s foremost authority on regret.”
The towering edifice of the Nameless Temple slowly revealed itself from the darkness behind him, and as it did, the Dreamspawn's expression changed slightly. A powerless growl escaped from his lips. ..The plague of Asterion was over.
...
Far away, in the crater of a towering volcano, a battered figure emerged from the smoke.
Kai swayed and fell to his knees, breathing heavily.
The horrid wounds that had covered his body were gone, but the memory of the pain he had endured remained.
It haunted him, making him feel like he was still burning.
Again... just like he had burned in the Ivory City.
Kai spent a long time catching his breath, then slowly turned and glanced back at the abyssal maw of the volcano.
He did not know whether the white dragon would soon emerge from it... but something was telling him that the Cursed Devil was not going to return to Ravenheart any time soon.
The thing that dwelled in the molten mantle of the world underneath the volcano might not be able to kill it, but the loathsome dragon was not going to escape unscathed, either. And the terrifying battle would take both horrors far away from this mountain chain, anyway.
It was funny...
The last time Kai had visited the caldera, Sunny had been the one to dive into the lava. But since Sunny wasn't here to shoulder the burden of performing feats of lunacy, Kai had to take on the role of the madman himself this time.
The ground beneath him quaked slightly, but he found himself too distracted to pay it any attention.
Kai frowned slightly.
"Sunny."
His eyes widened suddenly.
...
In the throne room of Bastion, Effie was crouching in front of her husband.
He seemed dazed, having trouble understanding where he was and how he had gotten here.
And he had not recognized her yet, either — well, it was no surprise. Having been starved to the point of complete emaciation, Effie hardly resembled her usual self. And he never saw her as she had been before becoming a Master.
The rest of the thralls of Asterion... former thralls... were no better.
In fact, the whole city seemed to be overcome by a sense of confusion.
'Cassie really did a number on them...'
Effie sighed.
"I wonder what doofus would have said. Let me guess, something like... lost your memories? Worry not! The Brilliant Emporium Memory Boutique offers exclusive discounts to victims of amnesia!" A faint smile appeared on her gaunt face. Then, however, it froze.
Effie paled.
"D—dofus?"
Slowly, the memories of her encounters with Master Sunless surfaced in her mind. All the things she had said...
A mortified scream suddenly tore the silence of the throne room.
...
In the devastated hall of forbidden runes, Cassie was sitting on the floor, breathing raggedly.
Having destroyed the Hunger Domain and ensured the Dreamspawn's defeat, she was slowly retreating into her own mind.
Her mind, which was buckling under the burden of perceiving the world from myriad perspectives.
Cassie had always dreamed of being able to see again. But now, after beholding the world through the eyes of humanity... she longed for darkness.
And so, Cassie released her Ascended Ability, cutting herself from all of her marks.
"It's done, then."
Her voice was quiet.
The plague of Asterion was eradicated, and the Dreamspawn himself was imprisoned. They would have to find a way to seal him safely, somewhere far away... but not today.
Lowering herself to the fractured floor, Cassie closed her eye and exhaled slowly.
A few moments later, she grew still.
Cassie was fast asleep, swallowed by the embrace of deep slumber.
Her sleep was peaceful and free of dreams.