He staggered and fell back onto the ground, unable to stop himself. That punch had held nothing back, carrying Root-Level power and leaving his face filled with astonishment.
Silver Fantasy stood before him, her fist clenched tightly and her gaze fixed on him. Countless emotions seemed to fill her eyes, but in the end, they all converged into sorrow and disappointment. Yet she said nothing. None of them spoke, as though that single punch had already conveyed what they all meant.
"If that's how it is, then I'd rather not join you."
They were not cowards.
Perhaps, at the very beginning, they had joined Dark Night City and stayed by his side solely because of that promise of his.
But so much time had passed.
If their relationship had been based on interests alone, they would have left him the moment they learned the truth about this age of endings. Why else would they have fought alongside him until now?
Even the Dollhouse and the Captain, who had met him last, were no different.
"Hell has always been a chaotic mess, but you're the first person who's managed to unite so many Deities with different beliefs. Even if you refuse to admit it, you've long since become the backbone of this group."
"If a day really comes when sacrificing you is the only way to fulfill that promise you spoke of, then rest assured-we won't agree."
"We'll disband on the spot. You can go fight on your own!"
All their eyes were fixed intently on Lynn.
But they had made their meaning perfectly clear.
"Good grief, I was joking!"
Exasperated, he climbed up from the ground, holding the cheek Silver Fantasy had punched. A faint, sighing smile appeared on his face. He was utterly speechless.
"I was fooling you! Why