As Simon continued to steal Grimm's dream speech with the Dream Nail, he found that the dream speech had become repetitive and dull.
"Fire, ritual..."
The White Lady smiled gently, "The united will represents flexible change; you should seek The Core, not contend with the offspring."
Simon asked, "Where is The Core?"
"The Core is their pursuit; they know, and you know."
Simon understood a little; he still had to collect the flames!
After equipping the grimmchild, the locations of the flames would be displayed on the map. Simon spread out all his maps.
There were three stages of flames, with three in each stage, but because Simon's maps were incomplete, only two were displayed, located in Greenpath and the City of Tears respectively.
So, after bidding farewell to the White Lady, he went to Dirtmouth to find the map merchant and bought a complete map of Hallownest, finding the third one, which was in Crystal Peak.
Simon had always been suspicious about that place; he clearly remembered the powerful will he felt back then, and the Seer had also subtly indicated that Crystal Peak was related to The Radiance.
Her original words were: "Light is born in crystal, crystal grows in light, light rises, crystal sinks."
Perhaps as long as Crystal Peak existed, The Radiance would continuously revive.
This guess was somewhat pessimistic, Simon mused, perhaps he should have let the Little Knight take the Godhome route back then... But it was too late to change things; the Little Knight had already returned to the void.
Thinking about these things was useless now. Simon smiled freely; at worst, he would go alone to end The Radiance; it wasn't an impossible challenge.
He first went to Greenpath and the City of Tears.
At the location of the flame was a torch stake. When Simon approached, a white-faced, purple-robed floating bug appeared on the torch stake. It gripped the torch stake as if holding a staff, spun around, and dissipated into a plume of crimson mist. Scarlet dream runes floated up in the mist, representing the Dream World, which was torn apart by the crimson will.
The white-faced, purple-robed bug teleported into existence. Its body was tiny, like a little sprout; the torch stake was more than twice its length, but it wielded it with great ease and grace.
This was a new Grimm kin. It cackled, waving the torch from a distance, spewing out a large cluster of fireballs that drifted over slowly.
Logically, this attack posed no threat, but what was most troublesome was its movement speed. Simon would take half a step closer, and it would move half a step away, always maintaining a considerable distance.
However, it could teleport, and so could Simon.
Before the new Grimm kin could finish cackling, Simon teleported behind it and split it in half with a single nail strike.
It cackled, exploding into a sky full of fire.
The grimmchild absorbed the fire into its body and flew around contentedly for a while.
Finally, it was time to go to Crystal Peak.
Dirtmouth had an elevator directly to the middle section of Crystal Peak, right next to Gigi's house.
Simon stood in the elevator. As the elevator ascended, the ground receded from him. The lights of Dirtmouth and the firelight of the Troupe became distant.
The sounds of joy and laughter became indistinct, turning into whispers in his ears, then the sound of clouds rubbing, then the sound of ice crystals colliding, completely swallowed by the high-altitude wind.
Looking up, the starless night made one feel lost.
The faint lights on the ground, conversely, became starlike points. The sky was as dark as an abyss. Was it upside down, or were human hearts fickle?
Simon lowered his head, not particularly wanting to look at the sky anymore.
Without sun, moon, and stars, the firmament was just a very dull boundary.
The elevator reached the top. Simon stepped onto the land of Crystal Peak. There were railway tracks underfoot, their edges twisted and broken, the metal jagged and menacing.
In fact, if he wasn't mistaken, this section of railway in Crystal Peak originally connected almost directly to the King's Pass, with a sky bridge spanning over Dirtmouth, but this bridge had long since collapsed, and large broken sections of its deck were still scattered in the wasteland outside Dirtmouth.
This was also a completely annihilated piece of history. The bugs of Hallownest once vigorously mined Crystal Peak, but it seemed the power of the crystals was not applied elsewhere in Hallownest, merely used for building the mining site.
Even now, a huge number of resurrected miner remains constantly worked in Crystal Peak, but the crystals seemed inexhaustible.
Stepping into the mine, pink crystals were everywhere. These brightly glowing minerals grew from the cracks in the rocks, forming continuous patches, resplendent and magnificent, like overgrown shrubs, beautiful as a dream.
But the only downside was that it was too monotonous. The beauty of Crystal Peak was overly adorned; too many beautiful sights gathered together made everything seem mediocre instead.
Simon did not intend to go deep into the mountain's core. He only planned to collect the flames first, and after completing the Ritual of Fire, he would return to explore the secrets here.
The third new Grimm kin was nearby.
On a rocky platform in the middle of a large crystal pit, a torch stake stood.
The crystal pit was covered with sharp crystals. The powerful energy condensed within made these crystals exceptionally hard and heavy. If any bug accidentally fell into it, being impaled by a thousand arrows would be considered good. The most terrifying part was having to climb out of it; it was like climbing a mountain of blades. If one exerted force with their limbs, they might be cut off. The more one wanted to get out, the more they would get injured, and watching oneself bleed little by little, with orange-red blood dripping onto the beautiful crystals, was an even greater mental torment.
Fortunately, Simon could fly.
Thanks again, Soul Sanctum.
After Simon dealt with the third new Grimm kin, he returned to the Troupe with the grimmchild.
Brumm saw the energetic grimmchild and praised, "Hmm. Excellent, the child has ignited the flames. Master Troupe Leader... is waiting for you."
Standing on the grand stage, Grimm emerged from the smoke again, the spotlight hitting him precisely.
"I can feel it. The warmth emanating from the flames you have collected." Grimm looked pleased, "A magnificent opening performance, the air is filled with a fervent atmosphere. My dear child, you have done well. Let your flames burn even brighter!"
Grimm snapped his fingers, and flames ignited in the air, merging into the grimmchild's body. The little bug suddenly grew a bit taller; nothing else changed, but its body lengthened slightly.
"Truly beautiful, the child has grown, transforming from a helpless youth into a powerful companion. This land is fraught with danger, and you will surely welcome his help. But do not forget our ritual dance, it must continue! Continue to seek the crimson essence scattered throughout! When the child is once again fully aflame, return to the stage here, and the performance will begin." After speaking, Grimm vanished.
Simon turned and exited the Troupe's tent.
He ran to an unmanned corner and grabbed the grimmchild. This little bug had developed a bit and was already making babbling noises, but no matter how it cried out, it was useless; no bug would come here.
Simon pulled out the Dream Nail, and its brilliant flame burned fiercely.
As Simon continued to steal Grimm's dream speech with the Dream Nail, he found that the dream speech had become repetitive and dull again.
"Can The Crimson Core succeed?"
"Pale Wyrm, can you not endure your own darkness?"
"What exactly is that ultimate Vessel?"
"The Nightmare's Will shall ascend to the highest!"
"The source of light, such a profound mystery."
"What power does the Crystal possess?"
"Flames, ritual…"
After failing to extract any more useful information, Simon released the grimmchild. The little bug flew around in a panic, but it couldn't leave the Charm's wearer.
Finally, it seemed to resign itself to fate, perching motionless on Simon's cylindrical head.
Simon opened the map and saw that this time, the three flames were located in the Resting Grounds, Kingdom's Edge, and King's Pass.
This time, the one collecting the flames was the Master of the Grimmkin, much larger in size and with a deeper laugh. It sounded less annoying, but still not interesting.
After defeating them, he collected the three flames.
Returning to the Troupe's stage, Grimm eagerly emerged, "Marvelous, so marvelous! My kin are all here, the time has come."
He unfurled his cape, like a bat opening its wings, revealing its red underside and his slender body. The grimmchild flew into his embrace, and for a moment, it seemed as if he was struck by some powerful energy. Grimm swiftly turned his back, hunched over, trembling, his cape fluttering.
He said with difficulty and pleasure, "This scorching flame brands the auspicious sign of the ritual… Wait! You!" Grimm turned his head, his crimson eyes filled with killing intent, "You are the blasphemer who spied on the Crimson Will!" He straightened up, appearing extremely angry, but managed to maintain a polite demeanor.
With a "snap" of his fingers, the stage lights came on. The curtains had been pulled down at some point, and the surrounding circular audience stands were filled with white-faced, purple-robed bugs. They fidgeted, like a group of frequent urinators desperately waiting for the restroom.
Grimm gasped, "Dance with me, blasphemer! The audience is waiting. Perhaps I should tear you apart in front of them, that way your value will be elevated!" He then bowed to the audience, and intense music suddenly erupted!
Simon calmly drew his Nail.
Grimm spun and vanished, reappearing in mid-air. His cape twisted into a drill shape, and he lunged diagonally, charging towards Simon.
Simon retreated a few steps, avoiding Grimm's lunge. Upon landing, Grimm followed up with a swift claw attack, which Simon also dodged.
Grimm's offensive was dense and precise. After his claw attack failed, he leaped again, erupting a large area of flames in mid-air, raining down like meteor showers. Simon stood in the gaps, dodging.
Grimm stood in a corner of the Troupe, raising a section of his cape with his right hand. Bright red flame bats flew out, pouncing on Simon, while Grimm cast another spell, plunging his cape into the ground. The cape traveled like tree roots beneath the floor, suddenly emerging beneath Simon's feet, intending to pierce him.
Few of Simon's opponents were this agile, not to mention Grimm's martial arts and magic were seamlessly integrated, elegant yet full of cruel killing intent, making him quite unforgettable.
"Slash!"
Unfortunately, Simon had no intention of playing games with Grimm. Spotting his weakness, he teleported to his side while Grimm was focused on controlling his cape, and his sword energy erupted, tearing his body apart.
"Bang!"
Grimm's body scattered, transforming into a sky full of flying grimmchilds. One of them glowed red, which was the Charm Simon was wearing, and thus Grimm's true form.
The scattered Grimm sub-bodies instantly gathered, once again revealing Grimm's appearance.
Simon's sudden attack enraged Grimm. In mid-air, his cape flipped and swelled into a ball, its surface covered with short, blunt spines, resembling a large pufferfish.
A sky full of fireballs spread from Grimm's body, instantly obscuring him completely. Only flames were visible on the stage, no person, like London under smog.
Simon activated his Soul Shield, testing how long Grimm could unleash fireballs.
After all, Simon had only collected two rounds of flames, still missing the strongest round. Grimm ultimately couldn't withstand the immense consumption and stopped releasing fireballs, spinning away and disappearing.
The stage was empty, with only Simon remaining. The audience still looked like they had to pee, jumping up and down.
Where was Grimm?
Grimm seemed to have escaped. The stage lights began to dim, and the intense music slowly subsided.
Finally, only a single spotlight remained, casting a long shadow on Simon.
The world outside the spotlight plunged into an awkward darkness.
The audience's gasps echoed.
Slowly, after the music disappeared, another vigorously beating drumbeat began, muffled.
In the darkness, crimson claws suddenly attacked from behind Simon.
"Ding!" Simon jumped, blocking the blow with the round shield on his back, which he hadn't used in a long time.
This nonchalant attitude was an extremely humiliating insult. Grimm suddenly went mad, scratching violently around Simon like a shrew, but the small Nail was like an impenetrable fortress, and Grimm's attacks achieved nothing.
The audience let out low boos—which only added fuel to the fire.
Grimm's attacks completely lost all order and flexible changes, allowing Simon to spot an opening. With one swing of his Nail, he shattered him again.
The glowing red Little Grimm was very conspicuous in the darkness. Simon went up, grabbed it, and sealed it.
The lights came on, the performance ended, and a reluctant and perfunctory applause erupted from the audience stands.
These white-faced, purple-robed little bugs came with high hopes and left disappointed, exiting from both sides of the stage, muttering softly.
"Grimm… so useless… Lord Divan was right…"
Simon, holding the transformed grimmchild, slowly walked out of the Troupe.
Before he left the stage, Grimm appeared and blocked him.
This Grimm was an empty shell, storing his personality but without The Core, and his power was weak.
He took a deep breath, displaying his usual politeness, but Simon clearly felt his suppressed anger.
"Blasphemer, you must know that the Crimson Will cannot be defied!"
"Yes, I know, but you obviously don't represent the Crimson Will, just as I don't represent the Void Will. The difference between us is that I am stronger than you. But don't worry, I will continue the ritual. I will collect the flames you desire, and when you raise your power to its strongest, I will defeat you again… Outsider bug, properly savor Hallownest's 'tolerance'!"
Simon laughed heartily as he left the Troupe, his Dream Nail already eager.
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