Chapter 2: Tacet Discord? One-shotted!
"I haven't lost my memories, but I don't know much about your/my identity and origins either. After all... the story hasn't provided a complete explanation up to this point." (Very softly)
Amon shook his head with some helplessness as he spoke. Rover showed a slightly disappointed expression upon hearing this, yet the conversation took a turn.
"As for the relationship between us, that's also a very complicated issue. But what I can tell you is that we are special to each other—more special than family, friends, or lovers."
"In a certain sense, I am you, and you are me."
"I think you've already sensed some of this."
As Amon spoke, he extended his hand toward Rover before him. After hesitating for a moment, she followed her instinct and grasped it.
At this moment, both could feel an indescribable connection between them—a resonance that couldn't be described as mere "rapport." Their body temperature, breathing, even their heartbeats synchronized completely in this instant, as if the two had merged into one.
The only difference between them seemed to be their gender.
Otherwise, Amon and Rover were practically indistinguishable from a single person.
"Indeed, I can feel the resonance between us."
Rover nodded in agreement, her face no longer carrying the wariness from before. In fact, just seconds after drawing their blades, both Amon and Rover found it difficult to maintain hostility toward each other.
Instead, there was a natural sense of closeness, as if their very instincts were telling them that the other was definitely not an enemy, and that drawing blades against each other would be the greatest mistake in the world.
So both Amon and Rover nodded, deciding to follow this instinct, while Yangyang and Chixia also breathed sighs of relief.
"Looking at your attire, you don't seem to be locals of Huanglong, but rather travelers from afar. But since you don't remember, there's nothing to be done about that. Why not come back to Jinzhou City with us? Perhaps we can find some clues about your identities, and..."
As she said this, Yangyang raised her right hand while closing her eyes to sense something, the black vertical mark on her forehead faintly glowing.
"The Wind brings dangerous tidings. The Sky Sea is gathering toward this area, and a Tacet Field might form soon. We shouldn't linger here."
"Sky Sea? Tacet Field?"
Rover tilted her head in confusion, her memories having been quite thoroughly erased. Amon pointed toward the sky above.
"Literally, an ocean covering the sky—also where we fell from earlier." As he spoke, Amon recalled the butterfly he had seen in the "Sky Sea," thinking that must have been the Shorekeeper.
If not for their help, both he and Rover would certainly not have survived falling from the "Sky Sea" unscathed. Thinking of this, Amon silently thanked the now-absent Shorekeeper.
"As for the Tacet Field, I think we'll see it soon enough."
"Mm, but it doesn't sound like something good."
"Let's get moving first. And... Rover, until you remember your original name, may we call you that?"
"Fine, you may call me that for now."
Rover nodded slightly without displeased refusal. In fact, she felt it suited her quite well—after all... with all her memories lost, she was like a small boat drifting on a boundless sea.
She needed to find her own place, her own mission, her own future. Yet what surprised Rover herself was that despite being unable to remember anything, she felt no unease.
Her gaze inadvertently fell upon Amon beside her.
Simultaneously, she thought that perhaps it was precisely because someone "like her" was here that she could feel at ease now.
Because... at least she wasn't alone.
After that, the four of them left the valley along the passageway. During this time, Yangyang and Chixia explained some essential common knowledge to the two.
"Although Amon and Rover have mysterious backgrounds, there's one thing I'm ninety percent... no! A hundred percent certain of—you are Resonators!"
"Resonators?"
"Mhm, Chixia is right. Because you both have Resonance Marks on the backs of your hands, and you're both carrying Terminals. These two are undoubtedly the most compelling proofs of being a Resonator."
Chixia pointed at the black patterns on the backs of their hands, then gestured toward the black patterns on her own slender waist and Yangyang's forehead, indicating that these were the distinctive Resonance Marks of Resonators.
Meanwhile, Yangyang's gaze fell upon the gourd-shaped devices behind Amon and Rover, and she also took out her own "gourd."
"Every Resonator possesses special abilities. For example, Yangyang's resonance ability allows her to perceive certain external information through the Wind, and she can even control the wind to some extent."
"Compared to Yangyang's ability, my resonance ability is much simpler and more straightforward—it lets me absorb thermal energy and then shoot fire bullets, biubiubiu~!" Chixia raised her twin guns as she spoke.
Watching her, Amon and Rover immediately understood that this girl's personality was genuinely passionate and straightforward. She had just revealed her ability so openly, clearly being simple-hearted and quick to trust others.
But precisely because of this, it made one not want to betray that trust. And now, the two fully understood: in simple terms, Resonators were superhumans with special black patterns on their bodies.
"That sounds really cool. It even makes me feel a bit eager to try."
"A Resonator... What is my resonance ability?"
Rover murmured to herself while looking at the Resonance Mark on the back of her hand. Having lost her memory, she had even forgotten the abilities she possessed. Amon, too, was eager to test out his resonance ability as a Rover.
As if on cue, the timing couldn't have been more perfect.
"There will be opportunities. Hm? It seems the opportunity has already arrived. Everyone, be careful—there's a Tacet Discord ahead!" Yangyang suddenly announced.
Since the Gorges of Spirits was no longer safe, she had been keeping her resonance ability active to scout the surroundings. She was the first to detect a Lightwave-level Tacet Discord appearing ahead of the four.
After sensing this Common Class Whispering Species, a Tacet Discord named Zig Zag, Yangyang breathed a sigh of relief. It wasn't a formidable enemy; even moderately trained soldiers could handle it.
Zig Zag: "!!!"
This Tacet Discord looked like a small golden doll, with a head most notably shaped like a mushroom. Although it had some aggressiveness, its appearance was so adorable that it made people hesitate to strike.
The only thing to watch out for was Azizi's self-destruct ability, though the explosion wasn't particularly powerful.
Just as Yangyang was about to share this observation with Amon and Rover, two pitch-black swift blades suddenly shot through the air.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
They moved so fast that neither Yangyang nor Chixia could react in time.
Like two black arrows faster than bullets, they instantly pierced through the Zig Zag. The force was so immense that the Tacet Discord was pinned against the stone wall behind it, with the blades buried so deep into the rock that only the hilts remained visible.
Amon: "Huh? Yangyang, what were you going to say?"
Rover: "Huh? Yangyang, what were you going to say?"
The moment the Tacet Discord appeared, the two had already taken action—swift and decisive, as if it were an instinct carved into their bones!
Maintaining their throwing stances, Amon and Rover only relaxed after confirming the Tacet Discord had been completely eradicated. They then turned their attention to Yangyang, though by then she had nothing left to say.
"Nothing, it's nothing at all," the girl replied awkwardly.
Azizi was adorable, and now it was adorably dead!
"Is that all? Taken out with a single strike."
"Much weaker than I imagined."
Amon and Rover raised their eyebrows slightly, watching as Zig Zag dissolved into specks of light. They felt no sympathy for the cute Tacet Discord, only regret over the lack of a satisfying fight. Too weak—I want to take on ten!
Moreover, they had originally wanted to test their resonance abilities, but never got the chance.
Amon then walked over to the stone wall, examining the blades that he and Rover had casually thrown, now deeply embedded in the rock.
Their weapons were far from divine artifacts, so this effect was purely due to their immense strength.
It seems I truly possess the power—and even combat skills—expected of a Rover. Hmm, I really want to try a full holographic battle now!
With this thought, Amon pulled out the two blades and tossed Rover's back to her. She was currently crouched on the ground, picking something up, yet she caught it perfectly without even looking.
Though neither spoke or made eye contact, the peculiar bond between them allowed Amon and Rover to share a sort of "telepathic" connection, keenly aware of each other's thoughts.
"Thanks. So that was a Tacet Discord? It dropped something."
"Oh? Do monsters actually drop loot? Let me see."
Rover nodded and opened her palm, revealing a small, golden cross-star-shaped object emitting a faint energy. Amon immediately recognized it as the game material "Low-Frequency Whisperin Core."
It was a basic item used for upgrading characters and weapons.
"This is a Core, an important resource we can obtain from Tacet Discords. Since you and the Rover defeated it, this is your spoils of war. Make sure to keep it safe."
"By the way, you two are amazing! Those swift blades flew out whoosh—faster than my bullets! It seems that even though your memories are gone, your combat skills remain intact."
Rover nodded at Chixia.
She indicated that, although she had lost her memories, her fighting style seemed to be an instinct as natural as breathing, ingrained in her very bones.
She hadn't even processed it consciously—the moment she saw the Tacet Discord, her body moved on its own.
And as she looked at the LF Whisperin Core in her hand,
she felt only that the fight was far from enough—she was left craving more!
"Yangyang, are there any Tacet Discords nearby?"
"Huh? I-I'll check... About a hundred meters ahead."
"!!!" x2
Before Yangyang could even finish speaking, Amon and Rover's eyes simultaneously lit up. Both vanished from their spots in an instant, and the blades that had just been sheathed once again erupted with cold radiance!
One could only say that the duo who would later be known as the Tacet Discord Slaughter Machines were already showing their potential at this very moment.