Nova's body remained freezing cold to the touch.
He felt his consciousness stir.
He found himself in yet another strange space.
He tried to speak, but all he received back was an echo in his own mind.
『...Am I back?』[Nova]
『...Am… I… back…?』
He waited for some kind of sign or a signal to go ahead and wake up.
To his surprise, a voice spoke to him.
『...You aren't.』
He turned around to face the source of the voice.
Sitting on a broken marble throne was… him.
The only difference was that his eyes were fully white.
『...Who are you?!』[Nova]
『...I'm you. Quite simple enough.』
『...You're not me. There's… only one me.』[Nova]
『Then, I'll give myself a name. You can call me Ezekiel.』[Ezekiel]
Ezekiel had a light smile on his face.
『...When you fight, do you kill demons as you would a human?』[Ezekiel]
『No! Never! Why?!』[Nova]
『...They have sentience. They have the drive to want to live. The only difference is that not all of them talk.』[Ezekiel]
The Nova with white eyes got off of his throne and walked closer, prompting Nova to step back away from him.
『...Do you remember that sudden migraine all that time ago? The one in Oswald's car, as we began our journey to get stronger?』[Ezekiel]
Nova was unsettled, but nodded his head.
『...I do.』[Nova]
『That was the moment I was born. Ashura told you about me.』[Ezekiel]
『What is that supposed to mea-?!』[Nova]
Before he could finish that sentence, Ezekiel cut in.
『Regardless. It was nice to meet you, finally. Your soul seems to be teeming with spirits and contracts, so it was a bit aggravating to not be able to speak to you.』[Ezekiel]
He turned around and headed back to the throne, taking a seat and staring at Nova.
『Whatever your decision, any move in battle will decide what I become. For now, I am neither ally nor enemy. I do wish to become your ally, however.』[Ezekiel]
Nova's eyebrows knitted at this comment.
『...What are you?』[Nova]
『...Maybe that's better for you to figure out on your own. But we have much time to speak, lest your body somehow recovers.』[Ezekiel]
Nova let go of the topic and sighed.
『...If you were there since that time, then would you be something that dad left with me?』[Nova]
『No. I'm myself, and you. Any power I hold belongs to me. But at the same time, it has the potential to belong to you.』[Ezekiel]
『...Power..?』[Nova]
Ezekiel tapped a few times on the throne before a massive pressure pushed Nova down to his knees.
『...If you don't want me to slaughter all of your loved ones, make the right choices.』[Ezekiel]
A golden scale appeared behind him, illuminating the darkness and filling the space with light.
『What is the life of a monster to a human?』[Ezekiel]
The scale tipped in one direction.
『What is the life of a human to a monster?』[Ezekiel]
The scale balanced itself out.
『What is the meaning of your loved one to you?』[Ezekiel]
The scale tipped in the original direction again.
『...And what is the meaning of an enemies' life to you?』[Ezekiel]
The scale didn't move.
『...If I don't need to kill them, I will not.』[Nova]
Ezekiel looked at him with a blank expression before smiling wide.
『...That's good!』[Ezekiel]
The scale tipped down a little bit, but it remained with the original side higher.
The tremendous pressure disappeared, letting Nova get up.
『...Then, will you kill me here? I'm going to keep you from your loved ones.』[Ezekiel]
A damaged sword appeared on the floor in front of Nova.
He picked it up and examined it as he spoke.
『You're me, aren't you?』[Nova]
『Correct, yet incorrect. I WAS you. I am now Ezekiel.』[Ezekiel]
Nova just sighed, getting tired of talking to him.
『...Whatever I say, I'm "correct, yet incorrect", huh?』[Nova]
Ezekiel suddenly had an incredibly wide smile that creeped out Nova to no end.
『...You understand!』[Ezekiel]
He raised his arm up, clenching his fist and expelling the bright light away.
『Everything is subjective. There is no right or wrong, nor black or white.』[Ezekiel]
Ezekiel summoned his own sword, a white blade with no glow.
『I will battle you, in this place where there is no black, nor white. No right, nor wrong.』[Ezekiel]
『...Is that so?』[Nova]
Nova raised his blade and clashed with Ezekiel.
In the middle of clashing blades, Ezekiel kicked Nova in the shin.
『Damn! Isn't that dirty?!』[Nova]
He was forced on the defensive, barely blocking most of Ezekiel's attacks.
Ezekiel had a wicked grin on his face.
『There is no right nor wrong!』[Ezekiel]
『T..ch! There's no way you're me!』[Nova]
Nova received a few cuts and bruises from close shaves with Ezekiel.
Not once did he land a hit on Ezekiel, yet it seemed like he was being toyed with.
Nova noticed that he was careful not to land hits on any vital parts.
『There is no way for you to defeat me as of right now.』[Ezekiel]
『Is the only way out to defeat you?』[Nova]
『Lest you find another way out, and back into your broken body.』[Ezekiel]
Nova stopped moving and saw Ezekiel's smile fade.
『Then, I'll have to see you another time.』[Nova]
Nova stretched his body and dropped the blade.
『Raiment.』[Nova]
The cape clad his body in an inferno of blue flames.
『Tch. You knew?』[Ezekiel]
『I had a strange feeling.』[Nova]
『...Till we meet again, Nova. I hope you either have gotten stronger or have an "absolute" answer.』[Ezekiel]
『...Goodbye, "me".』[Nova]
His memories of this "dream" faded as the world blurred.
Ezekiel and the throne dissolved, along with everything else.
The dark space disappeared, being slowly lit up, a star filled sky appearing above in front of him.
Nova slowly felt warmth return to his body.
He felt his back press up against something soft.
His vision blurred, but he could still see the lights in the sky.
『...I didn't sleep long, did I?』[Nova]