Elizabeth summoned her bow.
A purple-colored weapon created by Samael during the months of preparation for America.
He had forged it especially for her after recovering the Bow of Despair on the Serpent King's Island.
The string glowed softly between her fingers.
Then Elizabeth activated her Dormant Ability.
Her gaze pierced through the future.
She saw which creatures would attack Vanitas.
Where they would come from.
And exactly when they would strike.
Without wasting time, she pulled the string.
TWANG!
The arrow cut through the air with supernatural speed.
Vanitas quickly glanced toward the direction the shot had come from.
His three soul cores were nearly empty.
The continuous use of his Aspect had pushed him to the limit.
But the real problem was something else.
The more he fought...
The more creatures appeared.
It was as if his lightning was announcing his location to the entire region.
— Hurry! — Elizabeth shouted.
Hearing that, Vanitas gritted his teeth.
Then he consumed practically all of his remaining essence.
CRAAACK!
Lightning exploded around him.
An electric storm swept through the forest.
Nightmare Creatures were blown away while the young man left only a small amount of essence to strengthen his body.
Without hesitation, he began running up the mountain.
Elizabeth watched the distracted creatures.
Then she activated both her Dormant and Awakened Abilities simultaneously.
The future before her eyes fragmented.
She rewrote it.
Altered dozens of trajectories.
Changed countless gazes.
Made the creatures simply fail to notice where Vanitas had escaped.
The cost was brutal.
Her soul essence plummeted immediately.
Altering the future of so many creatures at once nearly exhausted her.
Shortly afterward, Vanitas appeared beside her.
Panting.
Covered in blood.
Deep wounds crossed his body while his regeneration slowly worked to repair them.
— Haaa... thank you.
He took a deep breath.
— You saved me.
Vanitas had never imagined that his greatest strength would become his greatest weakness.
His Aspect was absurdly powerful.
But it was also flashy.
Loud.
Bright.
And on that continent...
He stood at the bottom of the food chain.
Elizabeth simply nodded.
Accepting his gratitude.
Then she gestured for him to follow.
The two walked in silence toward the small cave where she had survived for the past few days.
When they finally entered, Elizabeth relaxed slightly.
— It's safe to talk now.
She pulled several bandages from her backpack.
— Here.
Vanitas shook his head.
— No need.
He looked at his wounds.
— They'll heal in a few hours.
After that...
Silence filled the cave.
A strange silence.
An awkward one.
They had never talked before.
They barely knew each other.
Vanitas tried to ignore the discomfort.
His eyes eventually fell on his clothes.
They were torn.
Bloodstained.
Covered in dirt.
With a sigh, he took off his shirt.
Revealing his toned abdomen covered in cuts and bruises.
Then he took a clean shirt from his backpack.
But he didn't put it on.
He would wait until his wounds closed.
He didn't want to stain it with blood.
Elizabeth turned around.
Then froze for a moment.
— What are you doing?
— My clothes were torn and dirty.
— Then why haven't you gotten dressed yet?
There was caution in her voice.
After all...
Men could be more dangerous than Nightmare Creatures.
— Because I'll stain the new shirt.
Vanitas answered as though it were obvious.
Elizabeth blinked.
— You were about to die.
— And that's what you're worried about?
Vanitas looked genuinely confused.
— My parents taught me that the first step toward honor is being clean.
Elizabeth remained silent for a few seconds.
— I see.
She wasn't convinced in the slightest.
"They really weren't exaggerating."
"Legacies are not right in the head."
She had already met three.
And none of them came close to the concept of normal.
Silence returned.
Even more awkward than before.
Elizabeth turned her attention back to the scenery outside.
"Wonderful."
"I'm trapped in a tropical hell with a half-naked stranger."
"Can this day get any worse?"
She didn't even realize it.
A few months ago, she would never have phrased that thought like that.
The influence of a certain person was beginning to show.
The sound of droplets echoed through the cave.
Ploc.
Ploc.
Ploc.
Elizabeth realized it was blood.
Vanitas's blood was still dripping onto the floor.
She looked at him.
His face was paler than before.
Much paler.
And besides that...
He seemed like he wanted to say something.
But didn't know how.
— Umm...
Vanitas looked away.
Clearly uncomfortable.
Elizabeth stared at him.
Her lavender eyes gave the strange impression of seeing through people.
— Just say what you want.
Vanitas sighed.
Then decided to simply say it.
— It's just...
He scratched the back of his head.
— My Flaw is bothering me.
Elizabeth continued looking at him.
Waiting.
Vanitas looked like he wanted the ground to swallow him whole.
— So...
He coughed.
— Could you give me a little of your blood?
Silence.
Elizabeth stared at him.
Without answering.
Without blinking.
Without moving.
Her face looked like one giant question mark.
She was still trying to process what she had just heard.