Sunny tilted his head, a mixture of curiosity and confusion on his face. "What lotus and when did you kill it?" he asked, his voice low and incredulous. Nephis and Cassie, their eyes fixed on Kane, silently demanded an explanation as well. The question hung in the air, thick with the weight of the unknown.
Kane, seeing their shared bewilderment, let out a weary sigh. He began to explain the whole fight, a story of a suicidal dive into the crushing black depths, a desperate struggle against a massive, god-like plant monster, and the searing, agonizing pain of his skin melting away. He described the final, brutal battle inside the creature, the triumphant song of his runes, and his own body's miraculous, if temporary, healing. He told them how he had been on the verge of death.
After hearing his harrowing fight with the Heavenly Lotus, the other three's expressions varied. Sunny's jaw dropped for a second, a flicker of genuine astonishment breaking through his usually stoic mask. Cassie's face showed complete shock, her head tilted slightly as if to hear every detail, and her voice, when she spoke, held a tone of sincere care about his wounds. Nephis almost broke her coldness, but there was a subtle, almost imperceptible hint of shock in her silvery eyes.
Cassie, her brow furrowed with concern, spoke first. "It seems you are much stronger than I thought."
Kane gave a tired, amused shrug. "Actually, that lotus wasn't in its full strength. If it had been, I would be a puddle of goo right now." He gestured vaguely at the ruins ahead. "Anyway, I suggest we move."
Without a word, all four of them started to move towards the city. As they walked, Nephis came near to him, her movements as silent and graceful as ever. She waited until she was beside him and then asked in a low voice, "So, what does it do?"
Kane glanced at the black band on his arm, a grim, beautiful thing of intricate chains. "Actually, I have no idea. It's way more cryptic than other memory descriptions."
Sunny, who had been listening in, walked up to them and asked, "Can I see it?"
Kane looked at him and, with a subtle shake of his head, replied, "No. I'll research it myself and let you know." He wasn't being malicious; he simply felt that some things he need to do it independently
Soon, they were standing beneath the impregnable stone walls of the mysterious city. Behind them, the great chasm of the vast crater stretched to the horizon, a monument to the world's ancient and terrible past. Somewhere ahead, the lone human citadel in this loathsome region of the Dream Realm awaited. It promised to deliver them from this dark place and bring them home.
Kane truly couldn't wait to be finally done with this nightmare, but somewhere in the back of his mind, the possibility of there being no gate at all was bugging him. He thought, 'It better not be.'
The city wall was built from massive slabs of gray granite. Still wet from the cold touch of the cursed sea, the ancient weathered stones looked almost black, a color that absorbed the last light of the fading day. Despite the thousands of years that had passed since the mysterious builders of the wall had disappeared into the fog of time, it still looked monumental and unassailable. The joints between the granite slabs were barely wide enough to insert a narrow blade, a testament to the skill of its creators.
Looking up, Kane tried to guess the height of the wall. It had to be sixty meters tall, at least—twice as high as the Awakened Academy defense barrier, which was constructed with the help of both modern technology and various Aspect Abilities. Kane's mind filled with questions. 'Who exactly constructed these walls? What did they use?' Many questions flowed in his mind, but with no answers, he simply focused on the task at hand.
After a short rest, they decided that it would be easier to climb the wall instead of circling it in search of an entrance. Even if they were to find a gate, there was no guarantee that it would be open. Climbing the wet granite was not an easy task, but they somehow managed. When there was nothing to use as a hold, Sunny and Nephis resorted to using their swords by inserting them into the joints between the slabs. A few unpleasant cuts and scrapes later, they found the right rhythm and made quick progress. Meanwhile, Kane modified his armor to form strong pincers on his gauntlets, which allowed him to grip the granite with ease. He carried Cassie on his back as usual; initially, even though it was awkward, both of them had grown used to the arrangement and reached the top with minimal difficulty.
Enhanced by the consumed soul shards and rebirth fragments, as well as the ruthless training regimen of the neverending battle for survival, their bodies were full of strength and endurance. Both of them were at the peak of human physical ability. Pretty soon, they had reached the top of the massive wall and climbed over its edge.
Without even needing to catch his breath, Kane eagerly pulled himself forward, jumped to his feet, and gently dropped Cassie to the ground. Soon, Nephis and Sunny joined him.
The blind girl grasped his shoulder, her voice bright and full of hope. "Kane? What do you see?"
He licked his lips, the taste of salt and anticipation on his tongue. He had to be truthful, no matter how grim the reality.
Beneath them, an expansive city lay in ruins. The beautiful stone buildings were broken and shattered, many of them turned into mere piles of rubble. There were no people walking along the wide streets, no clamor of voices to drive away the silence. Under the cold gray sky, the ruined city looked dead and mournful. It was impossible to say what terrible disaster had happened here, but it was clear that it was not natural. Many of the collapsed houses were blackened by fire, with long claw marks cut into the still-standing fragments of walls. Here and there, monstrous bones of ancient horrors protruded from the ground, telling tales of desperate battles that must have taken place on these streets once, a long time ago.
Looking closer, Kane felt cold sweat running down his back. There were strange shapes moving through the rubble, and even more hiding in the shadows. Seeing them filled him with an icy sense of dread. The ruined city was teeming with Nightmare Creatures.
"There is… a vast, ruined city built of weathered stone. And there are numerous monsters wandering its streets. Just like you said there would be," Kane said, his voice flat.
The tall city wall they were standing on was as wide as a road. It stretched endlessly in both directions, enclosing the vast ruins into a strangely perfect circle. Every so often, there were towers built into its impenetrable granite body, serving as bastions against potential enemies. Who would have thought that one day this great barrier would serve not to repel the horrible monsters, but to keep the true horrors imprisoned inside?
But Kane wasn't that interested in the wall. He wasn't even too interested in the monsters. Instead, his eyes were drawn to the tall hill towering above the ruins. On that hill…
"There is a magnificent castle standing on a hill in the middle of the ruins. It looks like… like something out of a legend. Its walls are built from radiant white stone, with tall towers and majestic spires piercing the sky. It stands above the city like a... a symbol of hope, the only thing in this hell that seems to be untouched by the darkness and… and…"
A wide smile appeared on Cassie's face, a beacon of pure joy. "Yes! This is the castle I saw!"
Kane, a small smile of his own forming, spoke, "See? With your guidance, we reached the castle." Cassie nodded her head happily, her face alight with relief and anticipation.
As soon as Sunny and Nephis reached the top, they gazed at their surroundings and locked their eyes on the Crimson Spire. A tense, dark expression appeared on Nephis's face. After a few seconds had passed, Changing Star was finally able to compose herself and turned away from the terrifying sight. Looking in the direction of the castle, she frowned and said: "The final stretch of the way to the citadel might be extremely dangerous. We must not hurry. Let's find a way down first…"
Kane nodded in agreement and started to search for a way. Neither Kane, Nephis nor Sunny wanted to climb down from the wall, because that would leave them with no path of retreat should something terrible happen. Without the need to discuss it, they had decided to explore the nearest tower and see if there was a suitable way to descend from the wall inside of it.
They followed the slightly bending wall north, keeping a watchful eye on the ruins below. From time to time, Kane was able to notice the shapes of creatures moving through the desolate streets of the ancient city. However, nothing seemed to be interested in climbing these walls. Kane tried to guess the ranks of the creatures, but he couldn't grasp anything at this distance. For the time being, they were safe.
However, he didn't feel safe. Instead, he kept glancing at the distant axis of the Crimson Spire and shivering. That thing was seriously way too ominous. 'We better get out of here,' that was the only thought that kept him from falling into an irrational panic. Their journey through the Forgotten Shore was about to end. They had endured a lot and survived a lot. At times, he had not even been sure that they were going to make it out of here alive. But now, all their suffering was about to be rewarded. The path to freedom was already in their sight… they just had to overcome this one last hurdle to return home in glory.
...Soon, they were closing in on one of the mighty towers built into the wall. The structure was round in shape, rising above the main embankment by a good dozen meters. There was a wide wooden gate leading inside the tower, which was broken a long time ago, with only a few splinters remaining on the ancient iron hinges. Behind the doorway, there was nothing but darkness. Kane felt that the sight of this entrance was a bit weird. Of course, darkness was nothing to him. And yet…
Suddenly, Cassie tugged on his shoulder, forcing Kane to stop. Both he, Sunny, and Nephis turned to her, their hands outstretched and ready to summon their swords.
"What is it, Cassie?" Kane asked, alarmed. In some situations, the blind girl was able to recognize danger before they could. Her keen hearing and sense of smell allowed her to sometimes perceive things that normal humans would not be able to. She was able to point out the coming storms while they were traveling in the dark seas, so Kane trusted her senses.
Now, there was a scowl on Cassie's face. Turning her head slightly, she whispered: "Listen."
Kane held his breath and followed her words, straining his hearing to the limit. Soon, he was able to discern a strange sound coming from inside the tower.
Chomp. Chomp. Crunch. Chomp…
It sounded like… like something was being devoured there, flesh and bones being ground by sharp teeth. The nauseating sound of meat being torn and chewed made him grimace.
Kane, Sunny, and Nephis looked at each other, then summoned their swords. Like usual, before the two of them moved forward, Sunny sent his shadow to investigate the potential enemy. Kane tried to use his Aspect vision and saw some threads, but he couldn't see clearly thanks to the door's thickness. From what Kane saw, it seemed like a human-shaped creature. Kane thought, 'It better be human, or else we need to fight again.'
The shadow glided on the stones, quickly approaching the tower. Then, it dove into the darkness and concealed itself in the vast shade that permeated the structure. Sunny blinked a couple of times, then shifted his perspective back and looked at Nephis and Kane. Nephis spoke.
"What did you see?"
He lingered for a bit, and then said in a hesitant tone: "Well... it's either a very hungry human girl. Or a very gluttonous demon."
Kane spoke, "Whatever it is, it seems to behave like a human."
Nephis stared at both of them for a few moments, then turned her head to Cassie and said: "Follow behind us."
The four of them cautiously approached the entrance to the tower and lingered there, uncertain of how they should proceed. In their minds, there were two outcomes to this unexpected situation. One, the mysterious young woman would turn out to be a local Awakened. In that case, all their problems were going to be solved. If an Awakened happened to meet a group of Sleepers in the wild reaches of the Dream Realm, it was customary to guide them to the nearest human Citadel. Of course, exceptions happened, but in general, Awakened strived to take care of Sleepers—in this alien land, humans had to band together. It was not only a moral obligation but also in their own best interest.
Two, the stranger would turn out to be a Nightmare Creature. In that case, they were going to have a tough fight on their hands. Since the rank and class of the enemy were unknown, it was impossible to predict the result. They just had to risk it.
Drawing a deep breath, Kane and Nephis walked side by side into the cool darkness of the tower. Immediately, the appetizing smell of roasting meat hit his nostrils. Kane thought, 'Whatever it is, it had a good hunt.' But all of a sudden, he heard a growling sound, and when Kane searched for the noise, it came from Sunny.'s stomach, Kane thought, 'Seriously, dude.'
Suddenly, a piece of bone flew past his head and hit the wall with enough force to shatter into tiny pieces. Belatedly, he parried it just in time before it could reach Sunny.
But it was a little too late. The young woman had already been alerted of their presence. Raising her head, she bared her teeth in a wide grin and murmured: "Is someone hiding in the shadows? Why don't you come out to play…" Her voice was deep, smoky, and had a raspy huskiness to it. But what mattered the most was that she was speaking in the human language.
She was human! Probably…
The stranger was still sitting in a relaxed pose, but Kane didn't miss the subtle tension in her carved muscles. He had no doubt that the alleged Awakened could explode into a whirlwind of violence at any moment. Kane examined her mind, and it was on extreme alert and ready for a battle. It was better not to provoke her.
Glancing at Nephis, he followed her example and dismissed his sword. Then, the four of them hesitantly stepped into the circle of light cast by the bonfire. The young woman looked at them in surprise and raised her eyebrows: "Humans? Huh! Unexpected." Then she smiled and shook her head. "Ah, where are my manners?" With that, she lightly rose to her feet. The white fabric of her tunic shifted slightly, revealing even more of her toned, powerful thighs.
Kane blinked, unsure of how to react. The woman stood considerably taller than himself. Complete with her robust physique, olive skin, and archaic armor, she looked like an ancient warrior. Kane lifted his head to see her face. On a second thought, Kane felt pity for Sunny. Kane thought, 'Poor dude, struggling to see her face alone.'
The young woman, meanwhile, wiped her dirty face with a forearm and gestured at the fire. "Here, would you like to take a seat?" Despite the polite invitation, they hesitated. After several seconds passed in awkward silence, Nephis finally took a step forward and asked the question that had been tormenting all four of them. With her voice uncharacteristically tense and full of suppressed emotion, she cautiously said: "Are you… are you human?"
The stranger stared at her with a blank expression, then blinked a couple of times. "What else would I be? A horse?" With that, she threw her head back and laughed loudly, amused by her own silly joke. Kane joined in on the laughter and spoke, "Sorry, signs were pointing otherwise." The young woman's giggles seemed to stop, and she spoke with a glee, "Other wise?! Of course, I am human! Why are you guys even asking? Anyway, come sit. My neck is tired from looking down on you."
With that, Kane and Nephis sat down near the fire and assumed a relaxed pose. Kane, Nephis, Sunny, and Cassie finally approached and lowered themselves to the stones, looking at the tall girl with hungry flames burning in their eyes. She looked them over, then frowned a little. "Haven't seen you guys around. Are you new?"
Nephis gave her a nod. "Yes. We have just reached the city." She was trying very hard to act like a normal, well-adjusted person. It seemed that her endless attempts to improve her social skills had not been in vain. Kane thought, 'Well, her efforts seem to bear fruit, but seriously, why are we the test trials?' The young woman grinned. "In that case, my condolen… wait. You guys survived for two whole months in the Labyrinth?" She whistled and looked at them with newfound respect. "That's a real feat. Congratulations."
Nephis lingered for a few seconds, then said: "I'm Nephis, and these are my companions, Kane, Cassia and Sunless. We are Sleepers who came here during the winter solstice."
The young woman gave them a wide, friendly smile. "Nice to meet you! I'm Effie. Well, at least that's what people call me. I'm also a Sleeper."
Kane frowned. So the beautiful giantess was not an Awakened, just a Sleeper like them. Strangely, he didn't remember ever seeing her in the Academy. Moreover, why was she still here as a Sleeper, not as an Awakened? Too impatient to remain silent, he leaned forward and said: "Are you from the castle? There are people living there, right?"
Effie glanced at him. In her eyes, there was a hint of a strange emotion. It almost looked like… happiness. "...There are indeed people living in the castle, yes."
Nephis, Kane, and Sunny exchanged excited looks. Then, Changing Star cautiously asked: "Can you take us there?"
Effie shrugged. "Sure, no problem. Do you guys have shards?"
Kane blinked. What did soul shards have to do with any of this? They had retrieved two from that weird stone he had killed at the base of the wall. Was she going to ask for payment?Is there a bribery going on?
Nephis retrieved the soul shards and showed them to the tall girl. "We have two."
Effie sighed. "Only two? Well… it's better than nothing, I guess. Keep them. You'll need them later."
Not quite understanding the meaning of her words, Changing Star lingered, then said uncertainly: "We were hoping to reach the Citadel and access the Gateway as soon as possible. How long will it take?"
The young woman stared at them for a long time, and then suddenly bent over in a fit of hysterical laughter. She laughed so long and hard that tears soon appeared in the corners of her eyes. Unpleasantly surprised, the four Sleepers stared at her in shock. None of them understood the reason for this bizarre behavior.
'Is she… insane?' Kane frowned and thought, 'She is definitely weird and loud.'
Effie's laughter stopped as abruptly as it had started. Wiping her tears, she shook her head and said in a strange, hollow tone: "Ah, sorry, guys. I just couldn't help myself. Please, forgive my lack of manners."
Then, she straightened her back, looked them heavily in the eyes, and said with a grim finality: "I can take you to the castle, but there is no Gateway there. In fact, there's no way out of this cursed hell at all. I've been stuck here for three years myself already. So… welcome to the Dark City, I guess. Abandon hope, all ye who enter here, and all that…"
At that moment, Kane's hunch became a grim, devastating reality.