As they descended back into the crimson labyrinth, Cassie cautiously looked around, or more precisely, gloomy did.
Hidden behind a coral mount, she sent it to check on the corpse of the sea creature Sunny had seen. They had to know how much time was left.
The Carapace Scavengers were still there, packed together on top of the corpse, each fighting to get a bite out of the creature's body.
Normal. Everything was normal.
Yet, a second later, they all suddenly stopped, rushing to get away.
'Huh? What's happening?'
Turning gloomy's sight around, she tried to find the source of such fear. And…
She saw it — in a particularly wide passage, two huge, looming shadows emerged. They looked like the Scavengers, yet obviously, they were not. They were larger, stronger, and fiercer. And, instead of pincers, they had scythes, with spikes growing out of them.
Dangerous. If Cassie had to rank them… She would place them just above the Scavengers.
Realization struck her.
"Monsters…" She muttered, her eyes controting in shock, "There's Monsters!"
Almost immediately, Nephis stopped, turning around and meeting her gaze.
"What monsters?"
"I… I saw them. Around the corpse of the sea creature, two Awakened Monsters appeared — an evolution of the Scavengers. They were taller, larger, stronger… Even the Scavengers made way for them! And… we'll have to face them."
The already grim mood turned grimmer.
Nephis stood there, her mind calculating all the possibilities of survival; Sunny lowered his head, his figure trembling. While her? She recalled gloomy back, to lower the pain her Aspect brought to her.
Changing Star would make the decision.
"We'll go."
There's no better choice.
The monsters were better than the mimic.
"We'll avoid them as much as possible, but if it comes down to that — Cassie, bring Sunny and run."
I'll hold them off.
She silently nodded, accepting the role. They had to prepare for the worst, and it was the only logical choice among the miniscule amount of them. Certainly better than all of them running to who knows where.
Naturally, if it were avoidable, it would certainly be better if all three of them were together… But if it came down to the worst, she would embrace her role.
After all, that would be her decision as well.
In this forsaken shore, a fighter such as Nephis might seem more valuable, more useful than an unpredictable seer… However, Sunny was more trustable — he knew her secrets, she knew his.
And… he had proven his usefulness, unlike her, back when the mimic had shown up.
He was the answer in the face of their unknown.
Of course his safety would be placed the highest.
"So… what now?"
"We'll continue." Nephis replied, her tone unwavering despite the danger ahead. "Cassie, you continue scouting. Sunny—"
She hesitated for a while, and he looked at her, confused.
After a while, she simply said, "Let's go." Her previous words unknown to him.
—-
Sunny slowly walked forward, following the footsteps of Nephis who was in front of him.
The words Cassie had said echoed across his mind — there were two Centurions, Awakened Monsters that stood in their way.
And... Cassie would bring him away if things got worse.
Everything seemed to grow heavier, as their survival seemed to be... impossible.
The mimic in the morning, and now this? It would've been ideal if none of this happened! The Spell... The First Nightmare... This death zone...
If only... if only he was still in the outskirts.
'But... I wouldn't have met Cassie, or Nephis, or eaten meat for the first time! And... this would have happened anyways, no matter if I wanted it or not.'
Fate didn't care; Its weave would only continue.
Didn't he learn his lesson mere hours ago? To not try and understand fate?
'Yeah... there really is nothing I can do.'
Slowly lifting his head, he stared at where the sun would be, and quietly imagined it to appear in his dark world.
Silently, a shining sun appeared within his world, and he basked within its reach.
It didn't have the same, warm, wholesome feeling compared to the real sun... But that was enough for him. He had to appreciate this.
Staring at the bright sun, he was reminded of the soul sea — A mysterious sea with a star in it. His own was unique, special, different... whatever one can use to describe that weary place.
The sun in the center was shining, sure. But it was strange. Light emitted around a certain radius of it, as if afraid to spill out, only staying in that area, which made his soul dim — not dark enough that he couldn't see, but not bright enough to see everything.
The sea around it was also silent, still. Even if he walked in it, there were no ripples caused.
His soul sea... well, both the soul, and the sea seemed to be suppressed by something, or someone.
At first, he had thought it was a one time occurence. However, no matter how many times he drifted there, it was still the same.
Strange. Just like how his revelation core was strange.
There was nothing he could do about that strangeness.
Just like everything else!
He could only sit and wait.
Sunny wanted to laugh.
Really, how helpless was he?
Changing Star halted.
"Stop," She said, her eyes narrowing at the distance, "Cassie, send your shadow."
"Okay." Cassie said in return. Days of interacting with Nephis had given her the much needed perception when it came to her words.
There might be some unwanted company.
And after a while, she said, "There's 2 Scavengers in front of us, and... a group of them in the other pathway."
Her voice only got more and more strained as she spoke, her face turning paler by the second.
"Behind us, there's a pack of Scavengers catching up. Some of them are injured by the Centurions."
She gulped.
"And... the Centurions finished their meal. They're coming over."
Her voice was only a whisper.
"We're screwed. This is the worst time to be out here, stuck."
'What!?' He inwardly screamed, 'Damn this, fate!'
However, there really was no way — the mimic had sworn it will take revenge, and a sixth sense kept urging him to leave the statue, to get far away from that bastard.
This was their only option.
After a while, Nephis gave the order, her face still as indifferent as before:
"We'll face the 2 Scavengers."
"...How?" Cassie whispered, her voice wavering, cracking at times, "Sure, we can face one of them, but two?"
At the same time, he said, "Are you crazy!?"
Nephis turned to him, the flames in her eyes unwavering, just like that night a few days ago, where they had shared tales under the starless sky. The fire in her was unbroken, and she chose not to respond.
Her eyes shifted to Cassie.
"We'll use the same tactic as before. I'll be bait, and you'll strike. Then, we'll face the other one."
"...are you sure we'll survive?" Cassie asked, hesitant.
"Yes." Nephis simply replied, cutting off the conversation entirely.
Sunny was doubtful, and he knew Cassie was in a similar state — can they actually face off against two Awakened Beast? As a mere Sleeper?
However, this was Nephis, or Neph as she wanted them to call her. In the days he had known her... well, she wasn't someone who would joke around.
"That might work," He said, flashing a wry smile to Cassie, "It's Nephis after all."
"And... didn't you say you faced off against a Scavenger successfully?"
Cassie nodded to his words, seriously pondering over what he had said.
Eventually, she made her decision.
"Alright..." She muttered, as she summoned her memory, determination blazing in her eyes.
"I'll do it."
Nephis nodded, and started planning their attack. He would hide behind the corner, while they would take the stage, clearing the path of the abominations before them.
With a signal, the plan started.
Once again, he rushed towards the coral mount, careful to make no sound. Summoning sloth, he watched the fight between them.
With confident, calculated steps, Nephis summoned her longsword, raising it at the incoming Scavengers, slamming it onto the ground.
Their small, beady eyes darted towards her, their pincers raised.
They were hungry for blood, fresh blood.
Sunny shuddered.
'Luckily, I'm not the one facing them.'
He sort of felt bad for the legacy though. If he got frightened even when he was so far away, then what would it be like facing them?
'The benefits of not being blind I guess.'
But, if he still had his sight, a weapon... he wouldn't take the risk.
He supposed Nephis really was that fearless. Powerful.
Not a coward like him.
Shaking his head, he focused on the images sloth was showing him.
In the second, the Scavengers rushed forward, pincers slashing with startling speed. And yet, Changing Star never faltered, she simply took a step back, and another, then another.
Tick tock.
When she couldn't dodge, she would parry their attacks with an elegant tilt of her blade, her eyes burning with silver flames.
It was like... this was a daily chore to her.
But he knew better.
From the view sloth gave him, he could see the slightest indication of dweat gathering near her eyebrows, and the grip on her sword tightening. She didn't dodge as much as before, and... her movements weren't as big.
'So she's still human.'
Tick tock.
A minute has passed. And they were in a stalemate
...where was Cassie? Wasn't she supposed to help?
As soon as he thought about that, a shadow streaked out, leaping onto the carapace of the first scavenger.
A deafening strike came next, as she determinedly striked through the weak point of the scavenger, and twisted. A second later, the light in its eyes disappeared — it was dead.
Almost immediately, Changing Star's eyes were shining again, like a weight was lifted off her shoulders. Her strikes were renewed with strength, and she now dared to face the hit of the pincer directly.
After all, she knew Cassie was here; she wasn't alone.
If he were her, he would also feel that way. Or perhaps more.
Fighting alone... it was hard.
Sunny really did appreciate Nephis and Cassie's help, but— would he be able to trust them when the time comes?
From the corner of his eyes, Cassie once again leaped forward, stabbing her dagger into the Scavenger's eyes.
Its movements came to a stop, and its body fell onto the ground.
It barely took a second.
---
Under the grey, striking sky of the Forgotten Shore, and the blaze of the shining sun, a centurion stirred.
Souls.
Uncorrupted souls.
It licked its lips, meeting the gaze of its partner.
They made their decision.
It was time to hunt.
It didn't have to worry about tomorrow's meal then.
---
Cassie panted, as the last Scavenger collapsed. Dead. She had done it.
Meeting the eyes of Nephis, she offered her a tired smile, before slowly unsummoning the Azure Dagger.
They would regroup before heading forward.
Walking towards the coral mount he was hidden behind, the first thing her eyes met was a mop of black hair, and... his blank eyes had something within it — silver.
But that had only happened once before — when he was having his vision of the mimic.
She unconsciously shuddered. Was there something akin to the mimic out there?
No. There was no way. The mimic was a one time thing, wasn't it?
"Sunny...?" She called out to him, hoping for the best.
No answer.
Another vision.
She turned around, her eyes grim.
"He's in a vision again. Do we...?"
Nephis shook her head.
"We'll wait."
We can't interrupt his vision.
We can't leave him behind.
Nodding her head, she sent gloomy away.
In the corridor right next to them, the group of scavengers turned away. Cassie breathed a sigh of relief, at least they won't bother them.
But... what about the centurions?
Sending her shadow backwards, where they had last seen the centurions, Cassie tried her best to spot them, any sign of them.
And yet, there was nothing, as if those Monsters had never existed in the first place.
A shiver went down her spine.
Where could they have gone!?
"They're gone, nowhere to be seen — the centurions."
Cassie trembled
"I can't find them!"
It was at this moment, something, no, someone stirred — Sunny.
His eyes were wide open.
Thud. Her breath quickened.
He looked over, silver disappearing from his eyes. Just like yesterday.
Sunless lifted his head, staring at her, and Nephis.
No. He was looking right behind them.
A screech resounded throughout the area.
She whipped her head.
Something crashed into her.
Her world turned.
Looking backwards, a pincer struck where she previously laid.
'What... what happened?' She thought, her hands trembling.
But she knew. They all knew.
The centurions had attacked.
And... they had almost died.
—
"I can't find them!"
Sunny froze, silent, as his mind replayed what had happened in his vision.
"I can't find them!" Cassie's voice cried out. Scared. Desperate.
She whipped her head around, and... in the next second, a splatter of blood erupted in front of his eyes.
A sticky liquid covered his face. Instinctively, he knew it was blood. But… was the crimson fluid ever so warm?
No! It wouldn't end like that! He knew what would happen, he could stop it!
Without a silver of thought, Sunny leaped towards Cassie, pushing her onto the ground.
His hands moved, traveled across her arms.
It radiated a steady heat, along with the beating of her heart.
It wasn't the same. He had changed it.
A clang echoed throughout the plane. The Centurion in front of him had slammed its scythes, shaking the blood off its weapon.
A clang of steel echoed across the plane.
He couldn't breathe for a second.
Reality and dream… they were eerily similar4.
However, this wasn't the Centurion, this was Nephis, Changing Star.
This wasn't the same dream.
The mimic was gone. For now.
It couldn't be back! Fate wasn't condemning him again!
Right…?
Cassie didn't even know what hit her.
He covered his mouth, as tears travelled down his eyes.
Even if he only knew her for a month– her presence had grown on him. He didn't want her to die!
Trembling. He was trembling again.
"Go!" Nephis shouted, the hoarseness in her voice visible to all who heard her.
"Go!" Changing Star shouted.
He didn't know what to do.
A thin hand grasped his — Cassie.
They had to leave now! Changing Star was helping them, telling them to leave.
He ran.
And yet, Sunny heard it before it happened.
The slight shift in the air. An attack was coming.
Cassie pulled him, just in time.
Flash.
The grip around him tightened.
His hand was sliced off, his pathetic figure running through the labyrinth. Nelphs held one off, but there was still the second one.
Something chased behind them, its legs thrumming onto the earth. The Centurion was dead set on chasing them – Nephis couldn't help them with this, they had to manage on their own.
Flash.
Thump. Their footsteps echoed onto cold mud, along with another. They were predators no longer.
The centurion caught up, a sadistic smile upon its lips.
"What— what do we do?" He stammered, yet Cassie didn't reply for a long, long time.
After a while, she answered, "Do you trust me?"
He doesn't, trust led to death. But that was on Earth. Here, in the Dream Realm, trust was essential to survival. But… did he have it in himself to trust? After all…
There was no choice.
Sunny nodded.
He signed his fate with her… and Nephis.
There was nothing he could do in this situation.
A raise of his scythe later, his legs were gone.
The centurion swung its scythe, and it cut through the air as if it were paper.
He closed his eyes on instinct, they had no way to evade this with the rate they were spending their energy.
But… someone pulled him. Out of harm's way.
The scythe barely scratched his back.
In this reality, he had kept his legs, the key to running away.
The him of the future crawled forward, bloody hands desperately digging into the wet mud.
The him of the past ran with all his might, ignoring the burning of his muscles, and how his eyes were wet from pain.
How was Cassie still pulling him?
But this was no time for thoughts. He had to continue.
And... the centurion once again raised its scythe, slowly bringing it upon him.
And… a few twists and turns around the labyrinth later… Cassie pulled him with renewed strength, so he used up all of his remaining strength— to run.
She came to a stop.
He let out a pant.
Were they safe?
Yet, the hand on his wristed clasped around his mouth, the thumps of the Centurion echoing nearby,
They were still in danger.
The light in his eyes disappeared.
The light in his eyes sparkled.
Somehow, someway, in a world that he couldn't see, couldn't know… Cassie saved him. Saved him from the doom he was destined to.
He let out a genuine smile.
He was dead.
He was alive.
And this time, even the Nightmare Spell couldn't save him.
Who needs the Spell to survive?
[Your revelations grow stronger.]