Mordret looked at him with a dark expression.
"That is alright. My schedule is suddenly free, anyway. What else is there to do?"
Sunny shook his head.
"You might have lost the opportunity to kill the Demon of Desire. But have you forgotten about the Demon of Destiny? There is a whole Ebony Tower beneath us, free for the plunder."
The old man's frown deepened.
"The divine flames are much more intense and plentiful during this time. The rift in them can't be traversed by the likes of us. Not that there's enough time to, anyway. Unless…"
His expression suddenly changed.
Sunny nodded.
"Indeed. The Sky Below cannot be traversed, but we just happen to be near the Ivory Island, and the portal that stands behind the Tower. Now… you can waste time trying to kill me… or you can try to pour enough divine flame into it, and get your hands on all the toys left behind by Nether. Just don't be an idiot like me and let the time catch up to them after the seal is broken…"
Mordret stared at him for a few moments, and then grinned.
"You are just hoping that the strange rot inside the Ebony Tower is going to devour me, aren't you? After all, it is not as starved yet, in this time."
Sunny coughed.
"Uh… guilty as charged. Still. Are you planning to kill a Sovereign without taking a risk from time to time? Hurry up and decide. The clock is ticking."
The old man studied him for a while, not saying anything.
Gradually, Sunny grew extremely uncomfortable under that gaze.
'Damned bastard… your desire to kill me can't be stronger than your desire to take revenge on clan Valor! Hope, do your thing! Come on!'
Eventually, Mordret chuckled, shook his head, and said:
"Two Sovereigns."
Sunny raised an eyebrow.
"What?"
The old man turned around and headed to the edge of the island, followed by his Reflection.
"Two Sovereigns! I plan to kill Asterion, too. Although that will probably be much, much harder than dealing with my father… still, I am as good at remembering grudges as you are, Sunless… so pray that we never meet again."
He stopped near the very edge of the empty abyss of the Sky Below, lingered at it for a few moments, and then said somberly:
"Although who will hear your prayers? The gods are dead…"
With that, the Prince of Nothing stepped into the darkness and disappeared, taking his Reflection with him.
Sunny was left alone on the empty island, struggling to believe that he actually survived.
He looked down, at his exquisite wooden chair, then at the rock in his hand.
Then, he let out a shaky breath.
'Damn. I can't believe that worked…'