Chapter 13

## Chapter Chronology

**Inside Lighthead** (インサイド・ライトヘッド, *Insaido raito heddo*) is the 13th chapter of the Dai Dark manga series.

## Characters

* Zaha Sanko
* Avakian
* Shimada Death
* Hajime Damemaru
* Nagurun
* Lighthead Order cultists
* Junior Luminary
* Great Luminary (seen through a crystal ball)
* Luminous Primogenitor (mentioned)
* Luminary / Executive (mentioned)
* Moja (mentioned)
* Misetani Box (mentioned)

## Cover

The cover is a color illustration, and several colored pages follow in the chapter. Shimada wears Avakian, his cloak fuses with Avakian, his face and breasts are exposed and he points at the reader. Avakian has yellow eyes in this illustration. In the background, several stakes coming out of the sand can be seen.

The tag line reads: "The enemy of my enemy is, for the time being, my ally" (敵の敵は、一応味方, *Teki no teki wa, ichiō mikata*).

## Summary

The hallway is littered with dead cleaners from the Solar Mass. Avakian wonders if Damemaru is truly dead, but Shimada reassures him that there's nobody he can't kill. They notice that Sanko is gone and that the ship stopped somewhere.

Meanwhile, Sanko has snapped out of being possessed by Damemaru, is surrounded by members of the Lighthead Order and in serious pain. The cultists attack him with their Light Branches, and Sanko, as a creature of darkness, is unable to make a stand against it, especially as his Skin of Darkness is in tatters, unable to protect him.

Avakian, hearing Sanko's screams, frantically wants to rescue him but Shimada keeps him from doing so. He tells Avakian that Sanko is strong and that he can help them rescue him at any time. Avakian becomes seriously irritated with him, this being the final straw in their mutual dislike of each other up to this point. He calls him out that he doesn't care about Sanko, implying that he only wants to use him further his own goals. Shimada both confirms and denies this, as Sanko is the "bait that lures in death", and he "treasures him" for that. Shimada points out that Avakian and Sanko need his strength, and Avakian is unable to retort, knowing it to be true. Amused, Shimada suggests he should beg him, the universe's "most powerful being", for help.

Sanko has fainted and an elderly man addressed by the others as the Junior Luminary, collects him, stating that the "Luminous Primogenitor" will be pleased with Zaha Sanko's capture, and that they will report to the brotherhood headquarters immediately. A cultist reports that nobody else was found in the spaceship. Shimada has phased through the spaceship and listened in to their conversation.

He phases back and looks for Avakian, who had hidden himself along with the corpse of Hajime Damemaru. Avakian pops back up and suggests they should ditch Damemaru for the time being, but Shimada tells him to hold onto him for now, due to his mysterious nature and possible high value on the market. As Avakian stores him inside of his trunk, Shimada notices Damemaru staring, but decides against telling Avakian for the time being.

Avakian laments being unable to contact Moja, and Shimada decides to carry him in his package form - this embarrasses Avakian and he weakly protests against it. Shimada disguises himself as a high-rank member (as his face is seen) of the Lighthead Order, with Avakian transformed into one of the pyramid-shaped packages the cultists carry. Avakian demands a mirror, Shimada chuckles, and off they go. Back at the poisonous tubes that carried Damemaru, a mysterious being emerges and starts to follow them.

While Shimada walks, Avakian and him discuss the Lighthead Order - a religious cult that predates the Solar Mass. The Solar Mass itself developed a monopoly as a giant energy company, and the brotherhood became irrelevant in comparison to them. The Solar Mass, who wants to erase their past as a religious cult, and the brotherhood are on bad terms. The light rod is also an unknown weapon to the two, but Shimada jokes they should take a hit just to see how it feels, Avakian tells him to "stop".

Avakian becomes annoyed that Shimada is walking around slowly, taking in the white surroundings, as he wants to get to Sanko. He then wonders if they can even summon Misetani Box into a light place like this, but Shimada is convinced that especially "pure" seeming places like this have "dark and ominous sides". They agree that the constant music is annoying and Shimada suggests destroying all the speakers. The mysterious being creeps behind them, just out of sight.

The Junior Luminary contacts the "Great Luminary" to grant him the ancient rite of "Extinguishing The Darkness" in order to harvest Zaha Sanko's bones. The Great Lord tells him that the executive of the ritual room is personally on their way and that he shouldn't be the one to harvest Sanko's bones. The call disconnects and the Junior Luminary is disappointed and decides to take matters in his own hands, taking Sanko's bones for himself. He approaches Sanko with a knife, muttering about his wish being granted.