JIRO IKIGAI
"Godglyph?" Taro asked. "Since when do you know Japanese?"
"I don't know much, but I can translate some words and simple phrases," I answered, still reading the symbols. Yuri frowned. "The real question is — what are these things doing here?"
"I don't know exactly," Taro said, eyes narrow, "but one thing is certain: that pressure — that presence — is connected to these godglyphs."
We all agreed. There was nothing useful we could do tonight. Taro tucked the stone into his pack and we laid down to sleep where we were.
SAI SHINU
"How the hell am I supposed to make an ability?" I snapped.
"You are awful at this," the other Sai muttered. "Your sword lets you create an ability."
"How? How do I do that?" I demanded.
"Your sword doesn't have a name," he said. "You need to give it one."
I didn't waste a second. I pointed the blade at the red star-rock hovering above and said, "Your name is… Azure Valley."
The sword flared. A purple light crawled along the steel and then time itself seemed to slow — then stop.
At first I heard nothing but my own breath. Then a voice, calm and oddly familiar: "Hello, my new master."
A shape formed in front of me.
"Who are you?" I asked.
"The lord of your past self," he replied.
A chill went through me. In my mind, the other Sai's consciousness whispered, He is right — he was my lord.
"Your lord?" I echoed. "What does that even mean?"
"You must trust me," the voice said. "Create an ability that will help you on your journey. After you destroy that star-thing, I will explain everything."
"My master, your command is my action. What would you have me create?" I heard myself answer.
I thought fast. Many abilities flickered through my head, but one kept returning. Finally I spoke: "Crimson Rift."
Before I could explain, the man smiled. "You don't need to explain. I know the kind of ability you meant."
He began to dissolve into a wave of light. That wave flowed into my blade. A bright purple aura engulfed Azure Valley — then spread over my whole body. Time eased back toward normal.
I activated Shadow Step and landed on top of the floating rock.
Using the rock's momentum and my own strength, I rose into the air and slashed downward with the katana.
The blade cut cleanly through. The thing wasn't a star at all but a rock wrapped in an aura. It split in two, then disintegrated into powder and ash.
I shadow-stepped back to the roof of the inn where I'd planned to sleep, and the System chimed with a notification.