Skin stares at him with a blank face. It is a new expression that Man-man now getting to witness.
Before he has only seen her manic state. Her terrifying smile and that crazy look on her face. She always keeps a crazy mask on her face that is facing the world and all the people living in it.
Behind that crazy mask though is a calculative monster. Man-man is sure that she isn't as wild as she expresses herself to be. She is sharp like a knife or maybe even more dangerous.
It is impossible to fool her as she is playing the part of a fool herself. She can see through everything.
Perhaps, that is why she saw through Mob's schemes. Before she let him do whatever he wanted. But when he overstepped his boundaries. She let him know what she can do.
Man-man isn't trying to fool her though. He has something else in his mind that isn't a trick.
"Midori is a Guideless Chosen. They never come so deep at the center of hell for no reason. These Chosen always want something to gain. Hell is infamous for hiding secrets of Gods deep in its belly. It is impossible to uncover these secrets as hell is massive and a little too mysterious. But what if something massive recently changed the landscape of the entire hell?"
Skin listens to his words without any moment to be seen on her body. She is quiet and her entire focus is on Man-man.
Anyone else would fear under her red gaze. Some might even retaliate or fight her head on. But Man-man is undisturbed. He is expressionless and there is nothing on his face or body that could be read to determine what he is thinking about.
Louis, on the other hand, can't help but sweat like crazy. All his survival instincts are telling him to run. Unfortunately, he is just a head.
"Mountainous Soul. That sinned soul is still alive and carries half of mountain within itself. During the battle, I saw many strange anomalies within that sinned soul. It didn't look anything that should belong to hell. Something like a structure of Gods. Or maybe pieces of it. I am sure that we will encounter that woman if we went there. But if you kill this shapeless Chosen then we won't be able to find it."
As he finishes talking a strange quiet envelope the surroundings. Man-man can't sense Nem, nor he can't sense Louis. All his focus is on Skin and what would be her next move.
The quiet continues for few minutes. Is she considering what he has said or is she going to kill him now. Man-man can think of many scenarios that could happen. Every scenario result in his death.
Surviving under Skin means one thing. Never try to outsmart her. He has survived so long without any abuse is because of his quiet nature. He always stays silent and never bothers to talk or argue. Skin is a fragile and insane person. She will shut those who go against her.
But that brings out a question. Why did he bothered to say something now? Does he not want Nem and Skin to fight?
No. He doesn't care if they find and who dies at the end. Even if both dies then he would be free to leave and find that mountainous soul all on his own. That sounds much more peaceful.
But not everything goes his way.
Man-man has gathered that Nem's target isn't Skin. It is Man-man. If she were to fight. Nem would attack him first or even kill him.
Why is he attacking Man-man? It isn't known. Perhaps, he has seen it in his future that if he does that then the result will save Nem and Louis's lives. Or maybe he is just trusting him for no reason.
Whatever could be the reason, it doesn't matter. He is trapped and if he doesn't do anything then he will die. So, he may as well play with fire and try to survive that way.
Skin is still quiet and her face is blank. Her burnt flesh makes her look quite fearsome. She must have suffered through a lot. Her boy shows that she is stronger than she looks.
Then the quiet shatters.
"Are you sure?"
Man-man wanted to answer with a "yes". But he doesn't because his head flies off into the air. His body falls onto the ground and he dies.
But no, that doesn't happen. He just imagined it. Yes, he didn't die. He just thought that he did. The fear and threat that radiated form her was only felt by Man-man.
His hand has already reached his weapon. He was even about to use his blessing to expend the blade. But he doesn't. Because it is just fear. She hasn't even moved even an inch. His expression of fear is hard to notice no one should be able to see it.
However, Skin does notice that slight change in his facial expression. He felt fear and let it show on his face for one second.
And she noticed it. That was quite amusing to her.
Skin smiles again and gets closer to Man-man's face. Then she whispers.
"You win for now."
Man-man doesn't know what happened but he survived. Somehow, he is still alive and he won. What did he win?
He won his life. He gets to keep it. He gets to stay alive one more day in this hell with her.
Skin goes back to normal. Her deadly demeanor changers and she speaks with Nem.
"Let's make a deal then. I will not kill Louis and you will give us the whereabouts of the mountainous soul. Is that alright with you?"
The dark grotesque shadows that surrounded Skin and Man-man. Especially Man-man, disappear in the dark. There is only that bright yellow eye that is watching them now.
Nem watches them in silent. Judging what to think of her offer. It is easy for him to make the choice though. He wants to save his friend and that's what he will do.
Nem speak.
"Understood."
Skin throws Louis head a little far away form her. This is an indication that she accepts it too and will not try to deceive him. With that, Nem's shapeless hands gently hold Louis and carries him to his protection.
He speaks.
"Further in the North inside the blood valley, the mountainous soul hides and devours weaker sinned soul. In six years, it will gain the flesh it had lost in the battle against the Chosen. Then it will continue its meaningless battle against the Chosen. But for now, you will find that abomination there."
Skin hears the words and then just leaves without saying anything. There is no fight that could happen so staying there is meaningless in her eyes.
Man-man also doesn't say anything either and follows Skin.
"Goodbye friends, hope we meet again."
Said Louis. Both of them didn't say anything. Or even looked at him.
Now Louis is with Nem. He shouldn't feel sad or anything at all for that matter. These two were horrible to him. They never acknowledged him and he was always ignored.
"Nem, I don't think I know how to make friend."
Nem hears these words and replies.
"I am your friend."
A little smile appears on his face.
"Yeah. Maybe, they think of me as a friend too. But just can't admit it. I hope I meet them again."
Nem knows that they will meet those two again. But both Skin and Man-man will change a lot and won't be together anymore.