I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree. While I can definitely see the point you're trying to make, seeing those events first hand didn't really give me that impression, and it all genuinely came across as forced to me. And while I definitely agree that there is room for conflict, I think it was handled poorly, and could have been poignant and believable with better writing. Sadly, I feel that it didn't work. (SPOILER)I also think the point behind Erebus is pretty stupid and only exists to complicated the cosmology a bit more without really adding anything to the message. Whether Nyx represents humanity's will to die or Erebus does, the point of the main plot remains unchanged. Erebus really wasn't a necessary addition as it doesn't really add or detract from the MC's sacrifice - it's just added there so you can have a final boss in your epilogue thing.