Moonlight poured down like water onto the blaze, sending up a wisp of white smoke like that from quenching metal.
A moment later, the flames subsided.
Only a white bone relic remained, spinning in the air. After circling the gray barrier several times, it turned into a streak of light and shot straight toward Giant Zero Three, who stood frozen in place, embedding itself in the gap on his forehead left by the vanished Philosopher's Stone.
Buzz, buzz.
The small skeleton emitted a resonant vibration from its bones. Giant Zero Three slowly raised his head, and a pale glimmer suddenly flashed within his formerly pitch-black, hollow eye sockets.
A beat, a beat, a beat.
That pale glimmer flickered repeatedly, finally breaking free from the endless darkness and emptiness to become a leaping flame of Soul Fire, dancing lightly yet powerfully within his eye sockets.
"Giant Zero Three?" Anglafil looked at the skeleton that had regained its mobility, a trace of inquiry in his gaze. "...Or Rat Immortal?"
The small skeleton gently shook its head, then hesitantly moved its limbs.
Only after a moment did it slowly raise its head and look around. Its gaze lingered briefly on the gray barrier before it grinned. "Rat Immortal is better... Giant Zero Three sounds unfamiliar."
"Do you know your mission?" Ghost Lady asked again.
Giant Zero Three—no, Rat Immortal—nodded.
Then he looked at the Three-Headed Eight-Armed Giant Ape in the distance. The Soul Fire dancing in his eye sockets dimmed slightly. "...I'm truly sorry."
The giant ape silently watched the small skeleton. After a long while, it repeated the words it had said before as if it were a machine. "Surrender without resistance... Danhaag will grant you the justice you deserve."
An ominous roar came from afar.
Before that roar rang