In Tamia, he was lost.
Went from a normal guy in a normal world to a normal guy in a strange yet familiar one. A woman ninja saved him the first day, a mage taught him how to use magic, his younger brother became his friend, and—
There, in that tavern, he met her. An itinerant dancer, a singer, a performer who wandered the world with no chains to bind her. Her name was Saki, and she was a succubus.
She soon became a friend. With her cheerful personality, it almost seemed like nothing could hold her down. In fact, he even felt guilty for being so gloomy around such a radiant person.
Yet, even after his world came crashing down—after seeing his friend die, after the man who taught him magic perished, after surviving an enemy so terrifying he could barely comprehend it—she was the only one left by his side.
She carried him through the desert while he was unconscious.
She tended to him when he was drowning in thoughts of ending it all.
She followed him, even when he proposed a plan that made no sense.
She protected him from the succubi who wanted him dead.
She didn't judge him when he slaughtered them all.
Because she had no right to do so. She was the one responsible for his torment, and for the first time after drowning in despair herself, she decided to approach him.
The Hatman. Her creation. Her enemy. The one who brought endless suffering because of a single mistake. She had betrayed his trust once, and he had become a monster.
It was her responsibility to end it. Yet, she hesitated.
Would the young man end up the same? Or would he change? Could she trust him?
Amidst this whirlwind of doubts, she still followed him.
Luka.
After so many cycles of lying dormant, waiting for the perfect opportunity, this was the first time she had learned his name.
He was ordinary, to say the least. Yet, despite his mistakes, he still moved forward.
She didn't even dare reveal the truth to him. After all, how could she? Revealing that she was the reason why he was suffering in this wretched place was out of the question.
Why? At first, she thought it was because he would truly become an enemy. That if she betrayed his trust once more, he would become the Hatman too.
No, she would never allow that.
And so, she smiled.
She laughed at his jokes, even when her heart felt heavy.
She cheered him on, even when she felt like a liar.
She pretended to be carefree, even when the weight of her sins bore down on her shoulders.
But deep down, she knew—one day, he would find out.
And when that day came, would he still look at her the same way? Would he still call her name without hesitation? Would he still love her, after knowing the truth?
No.
She convinced herself the answer was no.
So she did the only thing she could. She stayed by his side. She fought for him, even if she didn't deserve to. She tried to atone, even if redemption was impossible.
Because she knew, no matter what, she could never let him go.
Even if Luka one day learned to hate her. Even if he cursed her name, wished her dead, struck her down with his own hands—she would still love him.
Because he was the only thing left in her world.
And yet—
"I don't care! You say you love me? Then fine! Demon kings, gods, whatever, bring it on! I will save everyone!"
In the end, he didn't care.
The truth that had weighed her down for so long, the secret she feared would shatter everything—it didn't matter to him. Not in the way she had expected.
She had imagined rage, betrayal, hatred. She had prepared herself for the moment he would cast her aside, curse her name, see her as nothing more than the root of all his suffering.
But he refused.
He was stubborn—not reckless, but relentless. He was ruthless when he needed to be, depressive and weary, burdened by everything he had lost. And yet, in quiet moments, when the world wasn't demanding his blood, there was something about him that made no sense to her.
A clarity.
A strange wisdom.
A way of seeing the world that went beyond right and wrong, beyond vengeance and forgiveness.
She had expected him to hate her. She had deserved his hatred.
Instead, he simply looked at her, with that quiet, unshakable certainty that made him who he was, and said—
"You're my best friend."
He still resented her. But he didn't care. Because that girl who followed him was the reason why he was still alive. She had saved him oh so many times, and in the end, she confronted the Hatman alone to end his torment.
And she had succeeded, at first.
Until a deviation occurred and multiple portals connecting to the multiverse opened, creating a single opportunity for the Hatman to come back. In that deviation, they fought and won against Wrath, a primordial sin just like her.
But then, she spent 20 years alone, waiting. Luka was dead, and they betted everything on a possible revival occurring later. So she waited.
Knowing that her "lifespan" was nearing the end. And even after he was revived, she forbid herself from seeing him, in indulging herself.
Her time was over.
Soon, she would disappear.
And if she came for him—if the cycle repeated, if the thing she had spent her entire existence fighting against came to claim him instead—
In that case, she needed to do everything in order to protect him. No matter what, he must not die. Because he has so much more to live for.
"That's why I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice trembling, her tears never-ending as she held him close. "I just wanted to spend the rest of my time with you. But in the end…"
She couldn't.
And so, she died.
And the mark on his arm—the last trace of her existence—remained.
The house was silent. Besides the clock ticking in the kitchen, no one spoke.
Luka was sitting on the couch, his hands clasped tightly while facing the floor, and ever since he had heard the news, he didn't move an inch.
Hadn't cried. Hadn't breathed in any way that made him feel human.
She was gone.
He clenched his fists, nails digging into his palms, but even the pain felt distant.
How many times had he lost someone?
How many times had he promised to save them all?
And how many times had he failed?
His vision blurred. The mark on his arm burned.
"Luka," Ntwali spoke besides the uneasiness filling the room. "I know what you're feeling but that's not all, we need to talk."
"Saki can't die. I know I'm not lying…" Luka whispered, but…
He knew Ntwali wasn't lying. And the mark on his arm was saying it too. It wasn't hurting, it was just a little scar that would soon fade away the moment he forgot about her.
A message asking him to forget about her.
How foolish. How stupid, how hopeful. There was absolutely no way he would forget her.
"You're right," Relius suddenly opened his mouth, his eyes still closed. "That creature named Saki isn't entirely dead, she has been reset. After I stripped her of her Lust factor, she was a single hollow shell meant to disappear at one point in millions of years. But…"
"She was in Tamia," Luka finished, his eyes meeting the priest's face. "And in here, she went through cycle after cycle to stop the Hatman. So she truly arrived at the end of her life span…"
Because she had fought to repair a mistake. Her whole life, was spent despairing until he met her. For what? She had finally found happiness and it was taken away from her.
Relius nodded gravely, his fingers tightening into a fist. "And that means Lust will return once more. A force like that doesn't just vanish—it reforms, reshapes, and creates a new vessel. As long as humanity exists, so too will its sins. But we cannot let it run unchecked." His voice turned steely. "Luka. That is why the Sacred Order is calling on you. We need your help to hunt her down and eradicate her before she awakens."
The room seemed to shrink around him.
Luka didn't react at first. He simply stared at the priest, his face unreadable.
Then, he exhaled, a slow, deliberate breath.
"Exterminate her?" His voice was quiet.
Relius nodded, his expression firm. "We cannot allow Lust to take form again. You understand what's at stake."
Luka finally looked up, his eyes so sharp he might've killed the priest with his glare.
"And what if she's still her?"
Relius frowned, taken aback. "Luka—"
"No," Luka interrupted, standing from the couch. "Answer me. What if there is a chance I might get her back?"
"Luka," Ntwali interjected, shaking his head. "Do you know who Saki was before Knight Relius put her down?"
"I don't give a damn about that."
"A monster, Luka," Ntwali still pressed, his face hardening. "At that point, she was invading people's dreams and draining them of their lives on a large scale. If she reappears…"
"She is a danger to mankind," Relius finished. "And you, Luka—you are the only one capable of ridding us of this sin forever. Lust is weak to those who love her, after all. If you strike her down with the training you gained during your trial, you might be able to erase her for good."
"So you're telling me…" he clenched his teeth, almost biting his tongue. "Don't tell me Saki was the one with this idea…"
"She was," Relius answered without hesitation.
Ntwali stiffened, his eyes widening for a fraction of a second before he quickly masked his reaction.
However, Luka didn't miss it.
"Saki wanted you to finally deal with her and—"
"Bullshit. Ntwali flinched just now."
"Luka, that wasn't—" Ntwali muttered, raising a hand in a feeble attempt to calm him.
But the young man wasn't listening.
"For a man who judges other's sins," Luka continued, his eyes glaring at Relius. "You sure do like lying when it's convenient to you. I'm out. Get the fuck out of my house. Right now."
Relius' expression didn't waver, but a flicker of something—annoyance? Disappointment?—passed through his eyes.
"You're making a mistake, Luka," he said, his voice even. "You're letting sentiment cloud your judgment."
Luka's laugh was bitter, humorless. "Oh, that's rich. Coming from the man who's so desperate to destroy something he doesn't understand that he'll twist the truth to do it."
Ntwali took a step forward, his brow furrowed. "Luka, listen—"
"No." Luka turned sharply toward him, eyes blazing. "You listen. I don't trust him. And if you're backing him up, then I don't trust you either."
Ntwali flinched but stood firm. "It's not about trust. It's about reality. If she comes back, she won't be the same person you remember. The same person I remember either."
"You don't know that." Luka's voice dropped to a growl.
"And you don't know that she will be."
Relius finally sighed and turned toward the door. "Very well. If you refuse, we will find another way." He paused just before stepping out. "Our door is always open. Knight Ntwali left you his number on a piece of paper at the entrance. If you have a change of heart, please contact us."
With a final glance, Relius stepped out of the house, Ntwali hesitating for a moment before following. The door clicked shut behind them.
Luka stood in place, breathing hard.
The silence in the room felt heavier than their presence. Luka's heartbeat pounded in his ears, his pulse a slow, seething drumbeat. He ran a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply before his gaze flickered toward the entrance.
Sure enough, a small, neatly folded piece of paper rested on the table near the door. Ntwali's number.
Luka stared at it for a long moment.
Then, without hesitation, he grabbed it—only to crumple it in his fist.
With a sharp flick of his wrist, he tossed the balled-up note into the corner of the room and turned away, shoulders tense.
He was desperate. And for once in a long time…
He truly needed help.
In a matter of seconds, using a talisman, he found himself inside Nina's lab. After a deep breath, he entered her room, where she was, talking with someone he hadn't seen in a while.
Kanami Ryuuji, recently she helped him train in preparation for the fight against Vinum. Usually she was back in Tamia with her family, but from time to time she happened to come her on a whim, to get some news of everyone.
He stopped at the doorframe, both of the women's eyes snapping to him.
"Oh, shit," Nina cursed under her breath as she took an instinctive step back.
Kanami wasn't better. Her golden eyes narrowed and she uncrossed her arms, her dark-haired ponytail swaying with the movement. "Luka, you're—"
"Nina," Luka stepped forward, his hands clenched tightly. "Remove your glasses."
Nina froze. Her fingers hovered over the desk, near the edge of her glasses, her gaze briefly flickering to Kanami for a fraction of a second before she sighed heavily. She reached up, pulling the glasses off, and dropped them onto the desk with a soft clink.
"H-Hey, Luka, wait—" Kanami's voice came out almost instinctively as she tried to stop him, but it was too late.
His punch connected squarely against Nina's face, making her fall on the chair at the desk. Kanami grabbed Luka's wrist with an iron-like grip. "Stop it!"
Nina slowly wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth, her nose already bleeding. She winced but let out a resigned sigh. "Yup, I deserve that one," she said, her voice surprisingly calm for someone who had just taken a punch. She reached for a handkerchief on the desk, dabbing at the blood, as though the physical pain was nothing compared to the emotional weight Luka carried with him.
Luka stood there, his chest rising and falling as he tried to control his breathing, his fists still clenched at his sides.
"Can someone tell me what is going on?" Kanami said as she pushed Luka away from the scientist. "Luka you're—" but the moment her eyes met his, she stopped.
She knew that face all too well—the darkened eyes, the clenched jaw, the tightness in his expression—as if he were about to break at any moment, struggling to keep himself from losing it.
"You look like shit…" Kanami muttered softly, her features softening with understanding. She glanced between Luka and Nina. "Nina, what did you do?"
"Saki's dead," Nina answered, her voice a little nasal as she pressed the handkerchief against her nose. "And I also kinda… acted with my crotch rather than my head recently." She winced, shifting uncomfortably in her chair. "Speaking of crotch, it really hurts right now."
"I don't give a damn," Luka gritted his teeth. "Nina, I need your help."
"Of course, I'll help," Nina chuckled. "But you're sure about that? Saki is gone now. I get what you want to do but…"
"What do you mean Saki is dead?!" Kanami growled, separating the two again. "She was fine the last time I saw her! I know it's been a year but still—!"
"She's truly dead," Nina replied, her tone matter-of-fact, though tinged with something almost regretful. "She asked me for a trial a while ago. It was supposed to be something small, just a few succubi… but then a lot more were summoned. Things… escalated."
Kanami's face twisted in confusion and anger, but Nina didn't let her words hang in the air for long. She turned her gaze fully on Luka, her expression hardening. "What you're trying to talk to? It's not her anymore. It's a system. A force that can't be reasoned with, not unless you break it down again. And even then, it won't be the same person you remember. So, are you sure about going there?"
"The fuck you mean it's not her?" Luka muttered, his head still lowered. "Who the hell decided she had to die now? A system?"
He raised his head, his expression as if he would punch her again. "She's the Lord of Dreams, not some kind of stupid succubus that's gone with a lifespan."
"I didn't decide anything," she said softly. "But when a force like Saki becomes something beyond her control, when it becomes a danger to everyone, there's no choice but to stop it before it consumes everything." She sighed, her fingers still gripping the handkerchief. "I know this isn't what you want to hear, but this isn't a story with a happy ending."
"The fuck you mean no happy endings?" Luka chuckled, a defiant grin suddenly spreading on his face. "I'm going back with her, no matter what. Saki is still here, I know it."
"Then I'm coming too," Kanami suddenly declared.
"Hey, you sure?" Nina's eyes widened. "You got a kid back home… It could be dangerous."
"What, you think giving birth made me weak?" Kanami grinned. "I am more than capable of kicking your asses."
"Kanami," Luka glared at her. "Don't come with me. It's a thing only I can—"
Before he could finish, Kanami's hand flew out, striking him across the face with a sharp slap. His head jerked to the side from the force of it, but she didn't let him speak. "Shut up. You look like shit, no matter how good you are at hiding it. I'm coming, no matter what you say."
Luka turned his face back toward her, but before he could give a retort, she hugged him.
"I won't let someone who sacrificed everything for me tell me what I should do;" she muttered.
"You've got people waiting for you back home," Luka sighed. "I have no one left, really."
"What do you mean you have no one left? What about the people in Tamia? You know I still give them some news about you from time to time. They always ask about you."
Luka's jaw tightened at her words, and he turned his gaze away, not wanting to meet her eyes. "And yet I never come to visit…"
"Yes," she retorted with a reproachful glare. "Honestly, the fact that my kid doesn't even know you infuriates me. How can he call you uncle that way?"
"Shut up…" Luka chuckled with a bitter smile.
Kanami's face softened, her expression less stern but no less determined. "You may not think you have anyone, Luka, but there's always someone who cares. Even if you don't see it."
Luka didn't respond immediately. Instead, he just stared at her, caught between his own despair and her unwavering belief in him.
"And besides…" she pulled back from the hug, giving him a thumbs up. "If you're saying we have a shot at this, then we definitely have. Also, Saki's a friend too, I would do anything to get her back."
"That's really hopeful…" Nina sighed heavily.
"Yes. But isn't that why we're all here?" Kanami shot her a grin. "Because if Luka didn't lose hope back in Tamia, none of us would be here today."
"You're right," Luka chuckled, a smile creeping on his face. "I'm not done yet. Saki has no say on whether or not she leaves before I give her a good scolding," he slammed his fists together. "I'm raiding the new Dreamworld, and getting back home with her."
Nina stood up then, a spark of her usual fiery energy lighting up her face. "Fine," she sighed dramatically, her tone making it clear she was begrudgingly admitting defeat. "Alright, you got me there." She met Luka's gaze with a sharp, determined look. "That punch got my ideas together, I must admit. For a second there, I thought everything would be over but…"
She grinned madly, her eyes wild with excitement. "FUCK IT!" she barked, slapping his back with enough force to make him stumble forward. "We're going full hero mode! Ah, I can't wait to see my Luka killing it again!" She turned back to her computers, her fingers flying over the keys as her mind clicked into gear. "Okay, let's find a way to get into the Dreamworld first. Since it's a new Saki, it must mean…"
"The Sacred Order will probably be there too," Luka added to the information pool. "They will try to eliminate the new Nightlord their own way, which means they are our enemies if they don't stand down."
Everyone nodded collectively.
"Alright," Luka put on his runic glove and exhaled slowly. "Let's get this started."
"Wait, how do we get there first—"
The mark on Luka's arm pulsed faintly and he traced an arc with his finger.
Suddenly, a small door opened, a slit through dimensions.
"H-Hey!" Nina yelped, jumping back in surprise. "Don't open portals in my fucking lab!" But as she recovered, her eyes shifted to the portal, curiosity overtaking her initial irritation. "But how did you do that?"
"Hatman shit," he replied with a sigh. "That bastard got a lot of tricks and now I know all of them."
And with his memories, I think I could do 'that' now…
"You mean… You have his memories now?" Kanami blinked. "How? I thought he died in Tamia a while ago…"
"Long story, too bored to explain," Luka chuckled, taking a step inside the portal without hesitation. "I'm going in now."
He didn't wait for a response, disappearing through the rift. Kanami and Nina exchanged glances before the ninja girl followed.
Atop the Oneirothys, the Lord of Dreams' lair, the new primordial sin stirred in her seat. A red velvet chair that seemed to caress her voluptuous form as if it had been waiting for her return.
Her red eyes—dilated with something more than hunger—fixed on the world beyond, a smirk curving at her lips as she surveyed the lives below. This planet, once a playground for desires and pleasures, now awaited her rule, though it had been a while since she'd felt like this.
"So many people," she murmured, almost as if lost in the sea of thoughts that crashed against her mind. "So many males, all eager for indulgence. Let them come."
"My lord, you have finally awakened," a succubus knelt before her in reverence.
The new Nightlord's gaze turned to the succubus, her hand moving to shield her eyes as if fighting something off. "I feel… like I've been sleeping for a while," she murmured, her voice tinged with confusion. It wasn't the light of the world that bothered her—there was no sunlight here in the endless night of her domain—but the flood of memories. Glimpses of who she used to be, flickering in and out like distant stars, then vanishing before she could grasp them.
She shook her head, clearing the fog from her mind, before her gaze snapped back to the succubus, sharp as a blade. "It seems we already have intruders as well…"
The succubus didn't flinch but nodded obediently. "Yes, my lord. Sacred Knights. They've come for you."
The Nightlord exhaled a heavy sigh, her eyes narrowing as her thoughts sharpened. "I am not talking about these fools," she said, her voice taking on a darker, more regal tone. Her figure rose from the velvet chair, and the atmosphere around her seemed to thicken with her presence. Gone was the playful girl next door, gone was the teasing seductress. Now, she stood as the Nightlord, the very embodiment of sin and desire.
Her black wings were stretched wide, their membrane of a red wine color and her tail thick and long of the same color, its tip in a spade. She wore a complex black dress meant to hide her most proeminent features but show her shoulders and the side of her hips, the fabric cascading from her torso to pool on the floor before and behind her.
With a flick of her gloved hand, she sighed again. "Avoid the Sacred Knights and send in the slaves to fight them off. I shall wait for that boy to arrive."
"You mean Luka—" The succubus clamped her mouth shut, realizing her mistake too late.
"...Luka?" the Nightlord narrowed her eyes at the slip-up of the succubus. "So you know him. Who is he?"
"He knew your previous self, my lord," the succubus replied, bowing deeper.
"Hm." The Nightlord tilted her head, a shadow of curiosity crossing her face. "Does he think he can face me as he did her?"
The succubus hesitated, her voice barely above a whisper. "He… he was close to her, my lord. He might believe you're still the same."
"...Close?" She blinked, a faint unease stirring in her chest. Impossible. A human, close to her? A slave, perhaps, she could imagine—but this one was no thrall. He carried a strange aura, something familiar yet distant, like the echo of heroes she'd crushed in ages past.
"Interesting," she mused, a smirk curling her lips as she tapped a finger against them. "Ufufu… Very interesting. He might be an amusing toy."
"Do you have a plan in mind, my lord?"
"Yes." Her smirk widened, eyes glinting with intent. "Begin slipping into human dreams. Grant their desires—lavish them with pleasure—but don't drain them beyond what's needed. And leave the children untouched."
"That's…" the succubus hesitated.
This was tame. Very tame compared to the last Nightlord, or at least how she was before she was defeated.
Did the previous incarnation influence the next?
"This world shall drown in pleasure. And then, it shall be returned to the Dreamworld. Humans in here, for eternity, drowning in the best pleasure they can obtain…"
So that finally—
Suffering shall end.