Lumian and Asael advanced through the Crimson Labyrinth. Their monsters tore through the leaping spiders and webs with devastating ease.
The Shell Demon's scythes and pincers moved with methodical precision, killing monster after monster. The spell whispered, reporting each death, though it granted no fragments due to the creatures' weakness.
Dozens of spiders lunged at the Demon, who used its earth attribute to raise rocky spikes. Soon, the sound of iron impacting earth filled the surrounding space in an instant.
The gray sky of the Forgotten Shore was the only witness to the confrontation.
Asael ordered his Echo to face the nightmare monsters. The Shell Centurion Echo swung its scythes, cutting down each awakened beast that approached.
The enormous monsters advanced along the crimson coral path, leaving a scene of devastation with dozens of dead spider bodies in their wake.
Asael moved with terrifying ease through the whirlwind of enemies, cutting down approaching spiders. Those he couldn't eliminate, his Echo dispatched quickly.
The Shell Demon and the Centurion, using their massive bodies and wide movements, cut down several spiders with each action, raising dust that disoriented their enemies.
Lumian summoned the Sword of Terror and joined the battle directly. A spider leaped toward his face through the dust cloud, but Lumian cut it down in an instant. His transcendent sword pierced his enemies without resistance.
Determined to end the fight as quickly as possible, Lumian activated his aspect ability. His speed, reflexes, and strength increased enormously, and his body transformed into a blur of black and blue cuts dispatching his enemies.
Using the Sword Dance, he danced among dozens of enemies, cutting into pieces the spiders blocking his path. His mind was clear and calm, a product of his defect, which prevented him from being altered or feeling anything in general.
At some point, they had advanced a great distance. Lumian noticed that Asael had also joined the battle, wielding his ascended third-level sword, obtained after the death of the centipede Tyrant.
Lumian thought about summoning his other subordinates but dismissed the idea. The Shell Demon was close to gathering 3,000 fragments, and he was curious about what would happen. He estimated that after this fight, it could reach that number.
As the minutes passed, hundreds and hundreds of spiders were eliminated on the spot.
Lumian summoned the Fragment of Dawn, strengthening his Fisherman's Suit, his sword, and Asael's sword.
A few minutes passed, and with the sound of something viscous falling to the ground, the battle was over.
Lumian looked around. The spider army had been completely wiped out. Even if some remained, they were terrified seeing their entire species destroyed.
"Wow, that was a good warm-up," said Asael between heavy, labored breaths.
"It sure was," said Lumian, dismissing the transcendent memory and, instead, summoning the Assassin's Sword.
Then, he summoned the Black Knight.
"Summon the Bottomless Sack. I'll have the Black Knight collect the fragments; there must be a few hundred," said Lumian.
Asael summoned a large, simple leather bag, an awakened memory of the first-third level, capable of storing a great variety of things inside.
It was a quite useful memory for storing soul fragments.
Since they had fought hordes, Asael had saturated his core long ago, but he kept absorbing more essence. As for Lumian, he obtained fragments from the deaths, though they were very few: he got a few dozen for killing hundreds of awakened beasts.
Lumian watched as the Black Knight began opening the spiders, taking the fragments and placing them in the bottomless bag.
He looked at the Demon, which was a few fragments away from gathering 3,000. Lumian wondered what kind of subordinate it would become.
Something he noticed was that the Demon seemed more intelligent than any other of its class. It could even follow complex orders.
Lumian climbed to a higher spot, observing the great gray wall rising in the distance. They were only half a day away from reaching the Dark City.
He mentally reviewed his plan.
First, he needed an ally, which he had gotten fairly quickly with Asael. Then, strengthen himself until forming his second core, which he achieved months ago. Next, try to obtain the Weaver's Blood Weave; however, instead he got the King's Mark, and his tough skin became Minor Steel Body, as well as the Shell Demon's Echo and the ability to see the enchantments of memories.
Then, find the Builder's statue to get the Fragment of Dawn and the Fragment of Dusk, which he had achieved. As a bonus, he became a Devil, obtaining huge positive results.
Finally, the last thing remaining was to finish gathering the fragments to get the keys, eliminate Gunlaug and his subordinates, obtain the Weaver's Mask, and ascend the Crimson Spire, though first he wanted to have hot tea before the ascent.
Lumian seriously longed for a cup of hot tea.
His aspect eliminated his frustration and irritation, leaving him calm once more.
Lumian sat on the great white arch rising above the coral. It was high enough to prevent the black water from consuming them.
After a while, Lumian had cooked spider meat which, to his surprise, had a slight beef flavor, despite coming from a spider.
"So..." Asael chewed his meat before swallowing, "how are we going to kill the fallen Tyrant you mentioned?"
"We won't. My Echoes will do it; more specifically, Demon, Knight, and Elder," Lumian explained.
He wouldn't send the Dolphin, as he would need it to hunt in the Dark Sea. He would soon gather the necessary fragments to see what it would become, along with his Shell Demon. If he was lucky, both would manage to gather them at the same time.
Once his monsters were stronger, he would go for the Lunar Fragment in the Dark City.
"Do you really think they can handle a fallen Tyrant?"
"It's just a Tyrant. We faced several and killed them," Lumian replied, taking a sip of his water memory.
"True," murmured Asael. "However, I still think I should go personally."
"Relax, there will be many fights soon," said Lumian, finishing the rest of his meat.
As the sun began to set, the Black Knight had finished collecting all the fragments into the bag. Lumian returned it to his soul sea.
Asael dismissed the memory with the fragments inside.
When the next morning arrived, Lumian and Asael headed for the ancient city wall.
It took them a short time to climb to the top of the wall and descend.
"Finally, we've reached a city. It feels like everything was a dream," said Asael, looking into the distance at the imposing gleaming castle.
Lumian activated his aspect, noting that Gunlaug's hunters had already seen them arrive.
Soon, the duo began to advance through the city ruins.
It wasn't long before a fallen beast leaped at them. However, before it landed, Asael moved, summoning his sword and cutting the monster in half in less than a second.
They both continued advancing, not sensing any other beasts approaching them.
Eventually, they reached a ruined descending slope. Lumian could smell monster meat being cooked over a fire.
He looked north, where the gigantic Crimson Spire piercing the heavens rose.
Soon, they approached one of the towers built into the wall. The structure was round and rose a dozen meters above the main ground. There was a huge opening where doors should have been, but there was nothing.
Following the scent, Lumian entered the tower. His eyes offered an excellent view of the entire place.
He heard the sound of loud crunching and chewing grinding bones.
"Is there a scavenger here?" asked Asael. The only creatures that made those noises were scavengers devouring bones.
"No, it smells human," said Lumian.
Throughout the room were gutted and eviscerated monster corpses, as if a butcher had extracted the meatiest parts. Lumian looked at a pile of bones; on top was a tall, attractive woman.
She had hazel eyes and brown hair tied in a simple braid. Her physique was athletic, with lean, perfectly defined muscles moving under her olive and moist skin with each movement.
Lumian tilted his head. He felt no desire or affection upon seeing the woman's body; his defect eliminated any surprise or emotion instantly, though he would admit the girl looked good.
Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced at Asael, who had a surprised expression.
Lumian blinked slightly, surprised himself.
'Oh, wow,' he thought to himself.
Without difficulty, he caught a bone flying toward his face. Exerting force, he crushed the bone, letting its remains fall to the ground.
"You know, it's a little annoying when people stare at a lady while she eats," said the woman, amused.
Lumian faked an amused smile.
'Well, it seems this is exciting,' thought Lumian, advancing towards where the campfire was.