The cage that imprisoned Carlo until moments ago broke in thousands of pieces, which vanished after a while. Both Mega and Shinkuu couldn’t believe he made it that by himself. Even the boy was surprised to find himself freed from his prison.

- How… Humans like you shouldn’t have any power in this world! – shouted Mega, losing completely his aura of superiority.

- You’re lying, and you cannot even hide it well – said Carlo, with an attitude so serious he didn’t believe capable of – I guess I didn’t need your help to go outside that cage, after all.

- Tsk! Then I just need to create another one! No, forget the cage! Even if you make me puke, I’m going to devour you once for all!

Mega, bursting with anger, made grew giant appendices from his back, somehow similar to long skeletal arms with long four fingers. Also, from his head, long horns grew, his eyes glowing with a murderous light.

- Prepare to know true death! – shouted Mega, rushing towards Carlo.

- Girl! Open your eyes! – shouted Carlo towards Shinkuu, running from the demon that was chasing him – He said that this world was made based on your memories, right? Then you must have some kind of control over this strange place!

- I… I don’t know… Wait – Shinkuu then remembered what happened in the crystal cave, in the forest and in the hill – Maybe I can really do something!

- Good, since I think I can’t run forever! – commented Carlo, still evading the demon’s attacks.

- Indeed, you can’t!

Mega, taking that suggestion, decided to change the place were they were. Suddenly, instead of the infinite blue sky, they found themselves in the hill with the giant tree. The ropes were there, but there was no trace of the strange creatures. Then, hearing noises from the forest surrounding the hill, she saw those creatures coming their way. “This is bad!”, she thought. “But as before, I just need to concentrate: thoughts and emotions together…”

- Watch out!

- !!!

Carlo jumped towards Shinkuu, pushing her afar from the claws of Mega. Shinkuu, hurt due to the fall, stood with some difficulties again. Then, she turned to see what happened to her savior, only to find his chest pierced by the inhuman claws.

- Noooooooooooooo! – Shinkuu shouted with all her strength.

- How does it feel, human? Even if this is not your physical body, I bet you’re about to cry ‘cause the pain, aren’t you? Haha!

- Argh!! - Carlo writhed in pain, hanging on the claws that performed his chest.

- Now, time to devour this filthy human!

- STOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOP!!!

At her command, everything around Shinkuu stopped: the creatures lurking from the forest, the clouds in the sky, Mega and Carlo as well. In that moment, the girl realized that she was indeed in a world that took form mirroring the feelings and memories she had. Without wasting any more time, Shinkuu sped towards the unfortunate boy that was about to be eaten. She didn’t know how to take him off his aggressor’s grasp, but as soon as she touched his back, he regained the ability to move in the frozen time.

- Damn! That hurt a lot! – lamented the boy, still trapped.

- A-are you ok? – say Shinkuu shyly.

- Well… I’m not sure ‘ok’ is the right word, but I don’t feel pain anymore, plus I think I can get rid of these things now – Carlo managed to get free, landing on the ground next to the girl.

- I’m… I… - shy as always, Shinkuu didn’t know what to say, avoiding eye contact.

- It’s fine, don’t say a word – reassured him – First of all, we have to get out from this place.

- But how?

- We just need to ask to the freak that brought us here.

- I’m not sure he is going to tell us.

- If you truly believe in something, that thing for sure will become true. That’s how miracles works.

- Where… did you learn such things? – asked a bit surprised the girl.

- Oh, I’ve just picked up that from some manga, who knows, hahaha!

- Hehe, it certainly sounded like some manga hero.

- Oh, that smile! – noticed Carlo.

- I-it’s something wrong? – asked worried the shy girl.

- No, I think… I think you’re really cute when you smile – say Carlo with his face turning red as a tomato.

- D-do you really think so? – flattered and embarrassed at the same time, Shinkuu tried to hide with her hands her flushed face.

- I do! – answered Carlo with loud voice – Ah, it went out as if I was going to marry you! Sorry if it was a little weird!

- It’s fine, really! – rushed Shinkuu to reassure the boy – All this is… kind of new to me. I have never felt such anxiety in my entire life.

- I’m feeling a little nervous too, to tell the truth – admitted Carlo scratching his head – Even if I’m way too used to it, haha!

- Hehe∼

For the first time in many years, Shinkuu was happily smiling and laughing with someone else. Unfortunately, the sweet moment the two teenagers were sharing ended sooner than they expected. Space around them bent, and suddenly they were transported in an instant to another familiar place: the clearing in which both Shinkuu and Carlo landed when they arrived to the place called “Ibara”. Before them, they noticed Mega, floating in middle air, looking at them with a mad glance.

- I’m so disgusted by those sweet nauseating feelings I’m getting from both of you. I think it’s time to make you suffer one last time, before I consume your souls in one bite!

Without losing time Mega stretched his arms before him, and from a distortion in the space, an horrible creature came out: half of its body was like a human female, with long straight black hair, covering its eyes and highlighting its huge mouth full of sharp teeth; instead of a left arm there was another human like creature, its body slim and deformed, its face similar to an imperfect clay doll; the other half of this abhorrent creature was similar to one of a spider. It was though what was in the right side of this creature to paralyzed Shinkuu for the fear she felt in that moment: an enormous head, with bloodshot eyes, full of rage. This face was so terrible familiar to the girl she couldn’t help but falling into her knees: it was her father’s.

- Do you like my masterpiece, eh? – laughed Mega at the terrorized girl – Now cry and despair while your own parents cut you down to pieces, hahahahahHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!