[You have slain an Awakened Beast, Carapace Scavenger.]
[You have received a Memory: Azure Blade.]
[...A Sea Creature has been slain. You have acquired a Fragment of Heaven.]
Elizabeth stared at the runes in a slight daze before forcing herself to refocus. She needed to make sure Sunny was alright. If her only scout died here, it would create far more problems for her.
She sprinted toward him.
Sunny was slowly pushing himself to his feet, shaking his arms as though trying to rid them of lingering numbness. His eyes landed on the corpse of the Carapace Scavenger, and murderous intent flashing across his face before his gaze shifted to Elizabeth.
"It's dead. Calm down."
He let out a long sigh, and the tension left his shoulders.
At least he wasn't injured. Satisfied that Sunny was fine, Elizabeth walked over to the corpse. She wanted a closer look at its armor, and if possible, to harvest enough meat for them to carry.
'First, let's see how durable this thing really is.'
She transformed her arm into water before slowly freezing it into a sharp ice lance. With a flick of her other hand, she launched the projectile at an intact section of the creature's carapace. The lance shot forward at tremendous speed and struck with a sharp crack.
Elizabeth expected it to punch straight through the shell. Instead, the ice lance shattered on impact, leaving behind only a web of cracks across the black carapace.
Her eyebrows rose slightly.
'That's tougher than I expected. My ice lance can shatter bone with ease, yet it barely managed to crack the carapace. I suppose the most efficient way to kill creatures like this is with [Last Hope].'
She didn't stop moving. Instead, she approached the grotesque creature and examined it more closely.
After a few moments, she identified several weaknesses. The joints connecting the pincers and legs were the most obvious, with small gaps in the creature's otherwise solid armor. Its eyes were another vulnerable point; Sunny had made the right call by targeting them.
Once she'd finished studying the exterior, Elizabeth carefully pried away sections of the carapace and inspected its anatomy while harvesting the flesh. Its heart sat roughly where a human's would have been. She committed the observation to memory.
After collecting as much meat as they could reasonably carry, she cut a tattered strip from her armor and wrapped the meat inside it. Then she reached deeper into the creature's chest, searching for its soul shard. Once her fingers closed around it, she pulled it free.
Elizabeth studied the translucent crystal for a moment before letting out a quiet sigh. Then she tossed it to Sunny.
His eyes widened as he caught it. He turned the shard over in his hand before looking up at her.
"Why are you giving me this?"
She smiled and gestured toward the corpse.
"I already got a Memory from it, so I figured we could keep things even, since you helped out. You can have the soul shard. Unless, of course, you don't want it. I'd be more than happy to take it back."
Sunny immediately shook his head, clutching the shard a little tighter. Elizabeth chuckled and resumed walking. After a few steps, she glanced back at him. He was still staring at the soul shard with a thoughtful frown.
"Well? Lead the way. The blood from that Nightmare Creature might attract others, and it's getting late."
Sunny snapped out of his thoughts and let out a quiet sigh. His shadow slipped away once more to scout ahead as they continued their journey.
This time, he was far more cautious. Not wanting to repeat the same mistake, he scrutinized every patch of mud and every ripple in the shallow water, searching for any sign that another creature lay hidden beneath the surface.
Elizabeth remained alert as well, but she split her attention with the thoughts still circling in her mind.
'So I can earn Fragments of Heaven by killing things. But that specific part about it being a sea creature bothers me. Does that mean I can only hunt a specific type?'
Just as she'd needed to be beneath the sky or near the sea to absorb the shards, it seemed she also needed to kill certain kinds of Nightmare Creatures. Going by the theme of her Aspect, she could assume air and water types were most likely what she needed to hunt.
'Okay. Guess I just figured out my diet, then.' She chuckled in her mind.
Then she turned her attention to the Memory she'd just received.
Memory: [Azure Blade].
Memory Rank: Awakened.
Memory Tier: I
Memory Type: Weapon.
Memory Description: [On this forgotten shore, only steel remembers.]
Memory Enchantments: [Solid Steel].
Enchantment Description: [Crafted from an extraordinary metal, this weapon boasts exceptional durability, allowing it to withstand forces that would shatter ordinary steel.]
She looked at it for a while before letting out a sigh. The enchantment was rather...disappointing. Had her perception of Memories become so distorted? This was the first Memory she'd acquired through normal means, one actually understandable for someone at her level. Perhaps after everything she'd experienced, her expectations had simply grown too high.
The description was slightly more helpful.
'On this forgotten shore, only steel remembers.'
Was that a name for this place? It strangely fit this hell hole.
'Forgotten shore, indeed.'
Elizabeth stared at the words for a moment, turning the final phrase over in her mind. She wasn't a poet, but even she could tell that "only steel remembers" implied something had happened here. Some kind of conflict, a battle, or perhaps a tragedy long since forgotten.
'Guess those dead language lessons actually served a purpose after all. Still hate them,' she thought with a small sigh.
She summoned the Memory, and a beautiful blade appeared in her hand. It was a sharp, lightweight sword about a meter long, including the handle. The blade was straight and single edged, ending in an angular tip, forged from azure steel that shimmered faintly in the light. The crossguard was minimalistic and simple, offering almost no protection for the wielder's hands. Despite its elegant appearance, the weapon seemed practical rather than ornamental, built for speed and precision rather than brute force.
'Well, it's quite beautiful.'
Sunny turned his head and glanced at her, looking at her strangely before refocusing on the horizon.
"Elizabeth. How about a deal?"
She snapped out of her thoughts and looked at him in confusion.
"Yeah? What's the deal?"
Sunny stayed quiet for a moment.
"Can I give you the soul shard, for that Memory?"
Elizabeth rolled her eyes.
"No."
She knew that giving Sunny the sword would greatly increase his chances of survival. Even so, Memories were priceless, and parting with one was no simple decision. There was no telling when she might need an extra durable blade herself. Besides, she'd been looking for a second weapon for some time now, hoping to finally make full use of her dual wielding style.
The [Float] attribute of her dagger was too good, but it left her unarmed. If she wanted to use it to its fullest, she needed another weapon in hand.
Sunny fell silent for a bit before sighing again.
"How about this. Every future soul shard I get goes to you. Even from the Nightmare Creatures I kill myself."
Elizabeth's eyes widened slightly, and she stared at him as though he'd suddenly grown a second head.
"Do you even understand what you're saying? Because if you did, you wouldn't be suggesting something so absurd," she said, her voice laced with disbelief.
Sunny stopped and turned to face her fully.
"Yes, I know exactly what I'm saying. It....pains me that I can't grow stronger by absorbing those shards, but a Memory is still a Memory." he said quietly
Elizabeth could only blink.
He knew what they were up against. He understood the threats ahead were far beyond what either of them could handle in their current state. Absorbing soul shards was the fastest way for a Sleeper to grow stronger, and if one managed to fully saturate their soul core before Awakening, the benefits would last a lifetime. Their future potential would be on an entirely different level.
Yet he was willing to throw all of that away for a single Memory. He had to be lying about understanding the consequences. No one in their right mind would propose such a trade.
'He did say he didn't have a weapon Memory. He probably thinks an Awakened Memory is worth sacrificing a few soul shards. But to cripple his own future for it...'
A knot formed in her stomach. She didn't know whether she should take advantage of Sunny's ignorance or reject the offer outright. He wasn't just bargaining away a handful of soul shards. He was gambling with his future.
Elizabeth remained silent for a long moment before letting out a weary sigh.
"How about this. For one month, every soul shard you collect goes to me."
She stepped forward and gave him a light pat on the shoulder.
[You have lost a Memory.]
Sunny's face lit up with unconcealed joy.
"Thank you. I won't forget this," he said earnestly.
Elizabeth simply waved him off.
"Come on," she muttered, jerking her head in the direction they'd been heading.
Sunny nodded and turned away, resuming his walk. A moment later, he summoned the beautiful azure blade into his hand.
The sword shimmered softly in the dim light, its razor sharp edge gleaming with an almost ethereal brilliance. Sunny couldn't help but smile as he admired it.
"Sometimes you're too nice, sis."
Elizabeth let out a quiet sigh and glanced at him, a faint smile tugging at the corners of her lips.
'It's not kindness, exactly. If anything, this benefits me too. The more ways he has to survive, the better. I can't afford to lose a scout.'
A hum echoed through her mind.
"Keep telling yourself that. But deep down, you know that's not the real reason. You don't actually believe he made that offer out of desperation," he said, amusement coloring every word.
Elizabeth frowned but remained silent.
"Think about it. Sunny's the kind of person who doesn't trust you enough to fall asleep without taking precautions. Yet he willingly offered you something as valuable as soul shards, even knowing it could stunt his growth, just for a Memory. An Awakened Memory, sure, but still."
The voice paused before continuing.
"You already suspect he might possess a Divine Aspect. You've also discovered that your Fragments of Heaven grow through killing Nightmare Creatures. So tell me."
Its tone turned almost inquisitive.
"What makes you so certain his Aspect doesn't work the same way? What if giving up those soul shards costs him far less than you assume?"
A quiet chuckle followed.
"You'd already considered that possibility. That's why you only asked for a month. During that time, you'll see whether he keeps growing stronger without absorbing soul shards. Then, once the deal ends, you'll watch what he does with the shards he collects afterward."
He let the implication sink in before continuing.
"If he starts absorbing them as soon as the month is over and his growth suddenly accelerates after remaining stagnant the entire time, then your theory was wrong. But if he doesn't and still grows even faster..."
A knowing smile crept into his voice.
"...then you'll have your answer."
The laughter grew louder.
"You accepted because this lets you test your theory that Sunny has a Divine Aspect."
A small smile spread across Elizabeth's face.
'I have no idea what you're talking about,' she replied inwardly. 'Sometimes kindness is simply kindness.'
The laughter in her mind only grew louder.
"Sis. I'm part of your mind. What I think is what you think," her brother said between chuckles.
Elizabeth rolled her eyes.
'Maybe,' she admitted with a resigned sigh. 'But at its core, it was out of kindness...Just with extra steps.'
"That's exactly why I said you're too nice sometimes."
With that, she dismissed the echo of her brother's voice, and silence settled over her mind once more. She looked at Sunny, walking ahead of her.
What her brother had said wasn't exactly wrong; those thoughts had flashed through her mind, and she'd simply acted on them. If her theory held, she would drag him into her plans. She already knew exactly what to do during this month, and it involved her taking a risk of her own.
They continued walking for the next few hours. Thankfully, nothing attacked them again, and by then it was already late afternoon, with only a few hours remaining before sunset.
Sunny suddenly stopped and looked ahead.
In the distance stood a large hill covered with numerous coral pillars. One of them towered above the rest, and Elizabeth immediately recognized its shape.
It was the same small hill they had spotted from afar.
"We are here...I will send my shadow to investigate all the coral pillars. "
He said as he looked up at the hill. Elizabeth nodded and waited for his report. Sunny's eyes suddenly widened, and a faint blush spread across his cheeks. Elizabeth noticed the change immediately and frowned.
"What's wrong? Is there danger on those hills."
Sunny snapped out of his stunned state and looked back at Elizabeth.
"Oh... uhh... well, no. You were right. There are other Sleepers here, and... they're alive."
A wave of relief washed over her.
"Good..." she said, exhaling softly. "But why are you acting like that?"
Sunny's pale face immediately turned an even deeper shade of red.
"Uh... it's not like that. I... look, I didn't mean to see anything, okay? My shadow just happened to be passing by when one of them was making seaweed clothes. It was an accident! I'm not a pervert!"
Elizabeth raised an eyebrow, staring at him for a moment before a small, amused smile appeared on her face.
"Can you describe them?"
Sunny clenched his jaw, clearly trying to push the embarrassing memory aside. After a moment, he focused again, and his eyes widened.
"It's... Changing Star! She's with another Sleeper. I know her... Cassia."
Elizabeth's eyes widened.
'Changing Star is here too?'
For a moment, she was too surprised to react. She only snapped back to reality when she heard Sunny mutter something under his breath.
"Why is she half naked...? A Sleeper like her should have an armor Memory, right?" Sunny's face grew redder by the second as he muttered the words, clearly struggling to understand the situation.
Elizabeth sighed.
"Lead the way..."
Sunny nodded, though the faint flush on his face refused to disappear.
"I... I'll send my shadow ahead to, uh... warn them that we're coming."
Elizabeth simply nodded. It seemed like her luck was finally beginning to turn. Finding Nephis in this hellish place could only be considered a blessing. If they joined forces, their chances of survival would increase dramatically.
She was with another Sleeper as well. Cassia. The name was unfamiliar to her, but that hardly mattered. Numbers were an advantage in a place like this. The more people they had on their side, the better their chances of making it out alive.
As they approached the coral pillar, Sunny let out a weary sigh.
"Well... I managed to get them to cooperate, I think. She is still pointing a sword at my shadow, but at least she hasn't attacked it."
They soon reached the base of the pillar, and Elizabeth noticed someone looking down at them from above.
Her green eyes met a pair of silver ones, and recognition immediately flashed between them. Nephis gaze then shifted toward Sunny before she suddenly disappeared from sight.
A few seconds later, a golden rope fell from the top of the pillar.
"That's there form of Invitation..." He said as he walked toward the rope before he stopped. He turned towards her and smiled slightly
"Ladies first."
Elizabeth chuckled softly as she walked toward the rope.
"What a gentleman..."
Elizabeth already had a good idea of what Sunny was doing. He was most likely offering her the rope first to see whether anything would happen if she touched it or climbed up before him.
His paranoia was almost cute.
She grabbed the rope and pulled on it a few times, making sure it was secure before starting her ascent.
Sunny followed behind her, but even while climbing, his eyes never stopped moving. He searched for any possible foothold, clearly prepared for the possibility that the rope might magically vanish at any moment.
A few minutes later, Elizabeth reached the top of the coral mound.
As she pulled herself up, she saw Nephis standing nearby with a sword in hand, carefully examining her. Elizabeth did the same.
The revealing clothes Nephis wore were crudely fashioned from black seaweed, leaving much of her fair skin and athletic build exposed. Despite their primitive appearance, her posture and expression showed no sign of weakness. She carried herself with the same confidence she always had.
"Hello there, crazy seeing you here." Elizabeth said with a small smile.
As she said that, her eyes shifted from Nephis to the Sleeper standing behind her, who was clutching a staff in her hands. The girl wore a simple tunic, leather sandals, and a cloak the color of sea waves draped over her shoulders. She stared in Elizabeth's direction with distant, unfocused eyes.
'The... blind girl?'
A moment later, Sunny finally reached the top of the coral mound. He immediately began examining the two Sleepers as well.
For a while, neither side moved.
They remained locked in a silent standoff, each waiting for the other to make the first move. The silence stretched on until Elizabeth finally sighed. She sat down and began unpacking the meat they had gathered earlier.
"I come bearing gifts."
---
Note: Possible Extra chapter today.