The Golden Hour.
Sunday stood on the skybridge, a dead raven lying beside him.
The confusion in his eyes was gone, replaced by an unprecedented firmness. With the Dreammaster Gopher Wood dead, he would inherit the Dreammaster's work—simply doing a bit more than before.
He raised his head to look upward. The giant that had saved the dream had already dissipated down to its chest.
Though he suspected that the giant and Sol Mercer—the one who caused the destruction—were on the same side, he could still feel that the giant's power was undeniably righteous.
Just as the voice imprinted deep in everyone's heart when the giant appeared, it truly was the Giant of Hope.
Sunday couldn't help but feel puzzled, whispering softly, "Giant… why did you come?"
He couldn't understand why such a divinity-filled being, one that loved all people, would get involved in something so tainted.
That pure, immaculate light didn't resemble anything born of conspiracy.
"I was born of hope, and I come in answer to hope."
The sound was silent, yet its meaning drifted into people's hearts along with the motes of light.
They all understood—it was a god born from hope itself, responding to their hopes to save the world.
"…"
Sunday had the distinct feeling that the giant was responding to him.
He could sense the sincerity within those words. The giant's heart lay open—one could easily probe it with the power of Harmony.
Pure like a blank sheet of paper, it was a soul he had never encountered before.
And that only deepened his confusion. A giant like this should have even less reason to be associated with Sol Mercer and his ilk.
Sunday left the skybridge and headed towards the Dewlight Pavilion.
He needed to appease the Oak Family members and smooth over the turmoil caused by the Dreammaster's death.
On the final stage, he believed everything would eventually come to light.
And at this moment, the people who gazed up as the giant vanished each had their own feelings.
"Hope… had always been there."
A middle-aged man murmured softly.
He didn't understand what hope truly was, but when the sky was burning, all he wanted was to live.
Perhaps it was a benevolent god, scattering hope across the world.
The giant ultimately dissolved into a rain of light, never reverting into the small sun above The Golden Hour.
People felt a sense of loss, an indescribable regret at not being able to see it again.
…
The Golden Hour.
On the rooftop of a tall building.
One man and two women stood at the edge, quietly watching the sky.
"How does it feel?"
Sol turned his head to look at the two ladies beside him.
He had been here the entire time, never transforming into Tiga to reveal himself. That was a preset program—simple, and close to the essence.
["Respond to intense hope, complete protection and redemption"]
He didn't need to show off, but Tiga needed to pave the way for the Light of Hope.
"Hope is the most beautiful thing there is. Giving it form as light—I don't think there's anything more fitting."
Black Swan cupped her hands together. Light rain had once fallen here.
She recorded yet another priceless memory. Today was truly a day worth commemorating.
"The power is very unique… and immense."
Acheron nodded lightly and said calmly, "But what reassures me the most is that it repaired the damage you caused."
"I said everything would be fine."
Sol smiled confidently, then condensed a small source of light at his fingertips. "But don't you think this light feels a little… hollow?"
He flicked his finger, and the light landed on Acheron's arm.
"Don't do that."
Acheron frowned slightly, yet her body honestly basked in that warmth.
It felt wonderful—giving her a long-lost sensation of being alive.
To her, it held a fatal allure.
But soon, that small fragment of light was eroded away by Nihility.
"You mean…?" Black Swan looked at Sol Mercer with curiosity.
"True hope is something that cannot be eroded by Nihility."
Sol looked at Acheron with appreciation. "Just like you—an Emanator of Nihility, a role that shouldn't even exist. Walking the Path of Nihility, yet I sense you're practicing the Path of Hope. If only there were an Aeon to open that Path."
Nihility devoured everything—unconscious, unquestionable, absolute.
For Acheron to have maintained her sense of self until now, while heavily drawing upon the power of Nihility, was already a miracle. Yet like a stone in a river, she would eventually be worn away.
The stone had no roots, while the river of Nihility continued to swell.
But he keenly sensed that with the injection of light, that hard stone within Nihility—Acheron—had grown just a tiny bit larger.
And that was fascinating.
He truly wanted to study it more deeply. It was far too interesting.
"Don't look at me like that."
Acheron turned her head away, suddenly feeling the urge to draw her blade.
In truth, she had sensed the change within herself as well—her emotions had become slightly richer.
"True hope should be born from the self, not granted by others."
"The warmth those people felt today—I used quite a few psychological techniques."
Sol smiled faintly, speaking calmly. "When they awaken within their spiritual worlds and give birth to hope from within themselves, that will be another transformation."
"When that time comes, this Light of Hope will truly mature. Interested in trying it?"
Before the harvest was truly complete, he had no intention of transforming into Tiga.
Tiga, walking the world, would be a pure Giant of Light, carrying hope as he walked his path.
As for himself—a man with distracting thoughts—he wouldn't taint such precious divinity. Only at the final harvest would he accept the power of Glitter Tiga.
"Thank you."
Acheron wanted to refuse, but her body honestly yearned for it.
She hadn't really done anything along the way—it hardly felt right to receive a gift of hope.
Yet this gift was undeniably important to her, too precious to reject. It wasn't just about resisting the erosion of Nihility—this was the only clue she had found so far to sever Nihility itself.
If even the "hollow" Light of Hope Sol spoke of could make her feel the beauty of being alive, then complete Hope-Light would surely be an unimaginably precious power.
"No need to thank me."
Sol naturally took Acheron's hand and said with a smile, "Things here are settled. Next, we should head to Dreamflux Reef. You can finish what you need to do there."
"…"
Acheron felt the slender hand holding hers and treated it as a necessary guide to reach Dreamflux Reef.
She could no longer remember how long it had been since she'd had physical contact with another person.
The last time was with that girl—back when her world hadn't yet been swallowed by Nihility.
It felt a little awkward, but she decided to endure it.
Holding Acheron's hand, Sol looked toward Black Swan. "Black Swan, take us to Dreamflux Reef."
"Of course. We'll be there immediately."
Black Swan smiled knowingly and raised her hand, drawing open a Gate of Memoria.
"Hmm?"
Acheron felt puzzled and looked down at the hand holding hers.
So… going to Dreamflux Reef didn't actually require holding hands after all.
Then what exactly was this man trying to do?
===BREAK===
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