Zerin could hardly think—not that he needed to. All that mattered was this very moment.
Perpetual Carnage.
His eyes gleamed with a desire he had never felt to such an extent—an exhilarating excitement, rooted in the spilling of blood.
He laughed—something raw and wild—as he clenched his blackened blade tightly in his iron grip, slashing through flesh.
Rivulets upon rivulets spilled, and still he craved more—
'More blood. More!'
The coolness of its blood was unlike anything else—refreshing and electric, sending shivers down his spine even as his blood burned hot from his aspect ability, [Sanguine Surge].
With a roar, he tore his blade across the creature's flesh, forging a grave wound before diving headfirst into the chaos of close combat. Zerin's eyes devoured the ruin it treasured so much, spilling out before him.
But the Amalgamation didn't let him harm it without retaliation. From the depths of its grave wound, barbed veins writhed out from its flesh like lashing serpents. In a blink, he threw his head back just as the cords whipped just an inch from his face.
Narrowly dodging the flesh-rending lashes, his balance faltered for a moment. Then, with a fierce twist, he spun back and sliced through the whipping veins.
Azure droplets caught his gaze like stars scattered across a midnight sky—a beautiful rain that brought a smile to his lips.
Still, the tendrils continued. Though the tips were severed, the thick cords remained connected to the creature, thrashing wildly.
Zerin dodged swiftly, stepping back before slicing through them again. Then he surged forward to press the assault once more.
The Amalgamation lunged with full force—its reckless attack nothing more than a desperate sign of its pitiful state.
Zerin leapt back, raising his empty hand to shield himself just as the Amalgamation slammed into the ground a few feet ahead, sending snow and muck flying.
As the debris rained down—bits of flesh, stained snow, and azure blood—Zerin ran an empty hand through his hair, savoring the gentle breeze that filtered once more through the crowned mount. A soft cackle rose from the hollow depths of his chest, before he lowered his gaze back down to the ground.
He then knelt down, lifting his [Curtained Carcass]—the memory that had gorged on the vast pool of azure blood spilled from the creature's severed head.
What he once thought was merely a dormant memory proved to be far more. It fueled this surge of [Sanguine Surge], consuming the entire pool within minutes and leaving only the Amalgamation's swollen head in a trench of stained snow.
Finally, the blossoming Amalgamation rose from its previous attack, straightening up with a grace that was utterly defiling. Its body twitched and shifted—signs of injuries that, if left unchecked, would surely bring it down.
And so it began to stem its wounds. But instead of pressing the advantage, Zerin simply stood there, sword in one hand, sheath in the other, basking in the sight.
Basking in the ease with which its flesh surrendered to his blade—how it split again and again, as if inviting him to keep slicing. And he knew he could over and over, so long as his Aspect remained active.
But he also knew this couldn't last forever. Without a steady source of blood to feed on, his Aspect would eventually fade. And then he would be disadvantaged again—weak again…
He smirked, laughing at the thought. Weakness… how terrible it was, once you've tasted true strength. He wouldn't go back. He couldn't go back.
He took a step back. The creature responded instantly—but not as Zerin had expected.
His red eyes caught the flicker of pale blue as the flowers on the creature's body pulsed—a warning he recognized.
Without hesitation, he raised his arms, bracing for impact.
Just like the sudden wind that had swept him and Serenity away, this one struck just as swiftly. The monstrous Amalgamation unleashed an arctic wind, a frigid torrent from its petals that slammed into him with great force.
It nearly knocked Zerin off his feet, almost ripping the blackened blade and sheath from his grasp.
He gritted his teeth, bracing against the onslaught. His arms crossed to shield his face from the biting shards of ice and debris being sent his way.
It was stronger now. The creature wasn't just a shifting amalgamation in appearance—it was evolving, refining itself with every clash.
And it was merciless.
Before, it was brief, the gales short-lived. But this time, the storm continued on.
He marched against it. Without [Sanguine Surge], it would've been impossible. But with it, he was stronger—considerably so.
Steadily and arduously, he pushed his way through the screaming gale. Shards of ice tore through his layers of jackets, carving lines of blood across his face. Debris whipped at him, battering everything in its path.
At last, he reached the heart of the gale—the Amalgamation itself. He wrenched his arm back, nearly losing his grip on his blade, while his other hand locked tight around his sheath, shielding his face.
His body was succumbing to the gale's bitter cold. Thick frost clung to him, even creeping into his wounds, attempting to freeze him over. And then as if the storm wasn't enough, he felt his Aspect ability waning.
He raised his blade, which glowed like the lights of the aurora, before bringing it down upon the Amalgamation.
The sound was deafening.
It was as if the air itself had been torn apart by his blade. And following his powerful strike was a hungry rush of wind that howled inward and sucked into the wound Zerin had carved.
The creature's inside imploded, its flesh unfurled like a curtain being drawn back, splitting wide as azure blood poured forth.
Zerin stepped forward, his boot sinking into the rushing, cool stream.
Without hesitation, he drove his arm into the open cavity, leaving the sheath lodged deep within the creature's innards. Then, just as creature's body began to move again, Zerin yanked his hand back, creating distance between himself and the Amalgamation.
Its veins erupted from the creature, weaving rapidly to preserve its life even in such a desperate state, which it managed to do. The brilliant blue veins twisted together, knitting together like a wall, until one large blossom blossomed fully—completely masking the injury.
And it pulsed—a beacon of impending doom. But Zerin remained unshaken.
It was already too late.
For the Amalgamation.
It was its lifeblood that made it tick—and with his sheath now greedily feeding on it in this very moment, a vicious smile curled across Zerin's lips.
Like a pack of wolves letting their prey tire out, Zerin waited.
The creature shuddered, its fleshy form twitching as sections retracted inward while others pulsed. Then the surface rippled, then caved in on itself, as though some invisible black hole was consuming it from within.
The itch behind the back of his eyes, something that was easy to ignore, had become unbearable as Zerin waited on the brink.
The spell's confirmation, he craved it.
But it didn't come soon enough.
The Amalgamation's flowers withered and fell from its body, the largest bloom fading from a pale, vibrant blue to a sickly, ashen gray, matching the sag of its dying flesh. Its monstrous form contracted inward, curling into itself in a desperate defense.
Then, after a short while, it came.
[You have slain an Awakened Monster, Blizzard Amalgamation.]
[Memory: Curtained Carcass has been destroyed.]
***
The crowned mount fell silent.
Zerin stood motionless, as if frozen in suspended animation, with his head staring up into the gray sky.
Serenity clutched the cold chain of her brazier. Her gaze fixed on him—on those burning red eyes. But then, out of the corner of her eye, she caught a movement.
A figure stepped into the gaping maw of the crowned mount.
Her breath hitched.
It was Evan—heaving, staggering, standing at the mouth of the mountain. His eyes found hers instantly.
Her timidness melted away. Serenity jumped to her feet, the brazier's flame vanishing into her soul sea as she ran.
She sprinted across the azure-soaked plateau, vision blurring with tears. Colliding into him as she threw herself into Evan's arms.
"Cain... he..."
The words fumbled out between sobs as she clung to him. Evan's breath faltered as well, after realization and even though her Aspect was dampened, she could feel the grief rise in him.
Death always carried a brutal finality—
SLRCK!
Their heads snapped toward the sound. Zerin shifting blood-red eyes from the dull gray sky and stared at the source of the sound, the Amalgamation's corpse.
Standing atop the Awakened Monster's corpse with a gaze that radiated death, was Cain.
His body transformed— spikes of bone jutting from his flesh. His cold, unblinking eyes were still.
Serenity sniffled, blinking in disbelief. She had been certain he was gone—devoured whole by the creature's mass. And yet here he stood, risen from its remains, feigning death itself.
Leaping down, Cain landed in the tainted snow with a wet squelch. Azure ichor clung to his light gray hair and soaked his pants, while a thin sheen slicked his bare chest. Slowly, the jagged bone spikes jutting from his flesh withdrew beneath his skin with a faint crackle.
Serenity exhaled. "You are alive..." She looked at Cain with astonishment.
Cain stepped forward, his eyes searching. "Where... where am I? Who are you? My brother... where's my brother?"
Serenity and Evan stiffened, blood running cold.
"What are you talking about..." Serenity's words trailed off. But as he studied Cain's face, the truth was unmistakable — he genuinely had no idea where he was, or who they were.
Evan glanced at Cain. "You said your brother was taken earlier—by nightmare creatures." His voice was careful, uncertain how Cain might react.
"No, I didn't." Cain said firmly.
His eyes drifted toward the mountain's only exit, then down to his own stained body.
"I don't know who you people are," he muttered. "But I need to find him... and staying here won't help."
He turned and walked away.
Serenity opened her mouth to speak, but the words didn't come out. Evan split from her, resting a hand on her shoulder.
"Stay with Zerin, I will handle Cain," he said before jogging after Cain.
Her breath hitched as she turned. Zerin now was staring directly at her, his red eyes like daggers under the dark backdrop of the sky.
"Don't be so frightened." A faint smile rose on his lips. "The monster is dead."
She closed her hands, her thumbs absently brushing back and forth over her burnt fingertips. Conflicted, she couldn't shake the thought that, standing there bathed in azure blood, he looked far more like the monster.
Zerin turned his back to her, his tone shifting. "You don't need to watch over me. I'll harvest the cores and catch up. We've got to find a way out of this storm soon."
The sudden change caught her off guard. She hesitated for a moment, then gave a small nod. "O-okay…"
Slowly, she pulled her gaze away, then turned and hurried after Cain and Evan.
***
Set aside in a cluster were seven Awakened Cores, their essence pulsing and swirling like souls trapped in bottles. Zerin swallowed hard, his throat tightening as he drank from the sickly gray flesh.
"Ugh!" he gagged, flinging the slab of flesh away.
The rancid flesh had spoiled the blood, leaving a bitter, metallic taste on his tongue that made his stomach churn. But he endured it for one purpose: to heal. With every drop he consumed, his body mended, wounds closed, strength returned, and vitality surged back into him.
Then, he searched through his runes for his sole innate ability that had been transformed before the fight—evolved by the legacy relic.
He felt it the moment he claimed the relic. There was a transformation, of his Innate Ability. Then, when his memory consumed blood, something foreign: a red tide flowing into his soul.
Innate Ability: [Chalice of Conquest].
Ability Description: [From insignificance to ruin, then to terrible greatness—such is the crooked path of all who bleed. Their blood swells into a crimson sea inside you; their shattered bones lay the bedrock of your throne. Conquest is the chalice from which the mighty drink. Those too weak to partake are swallowed whole.
Mercy never ruled—only debts that must be paid in full.]
Closing his eyes, he sank into his Soul Sea.
The darkness stretched endlessly around him, only broken by the lone luminary in the darkness—the red moon. But beneath his feet now churned something new...
A crimson sea.
Its vastness rivaled the surrounding darkness itself. But it was implausible that this was reality—instead, it seemed more like a representation of his true capacity, because he wasn't even sure he had the capability to consume such a great quantity.
His Aspect Legacy description speaks of blasphemous desires seeded deep within him—the Chalice of Conquest was one of the seven. But even then, the description had been vague, cryptic. He couldn't yet decipher what it truly offered him now, it would have to be something he unraveled in due time.
And with that, Zerin left his soul sea, and returned to the crowned mount, heading toward the mountain's exit.