After their brief conversation, Samael walked toward the cave where Vanitas was staying.
Elizabeth silently watched his figure disappear into the distance.
"He's terrible at explaining things..."
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
It soon faded.
Her lavender eyes returned to the horizon.
The forest swayed gently beneath the breeze.
"It's impossible for some Awakened to cross America."
Now she finally understood what Samael had been trying to say.
It wasn't a matter of courage.
Nor determination.
It was simply...
Impossible.
Her gaze grew distant.
"But is it really worth risking everything to challenge the Second Nightmare?"
The answer came almost immediately.
"It is."
Between crossing a Death Zone filled with Cursed Nightmare Creatures...
And facing a Nightmare designed to match the strength of the Awakened...
The choice seemed obvious.
"...I hope."
Elizabeth slowly lowered her head.
Her hands trembled.
She stared at them for several seconds.
Then she smiled bitterly.
"Who am I trying to fool?"
She didn't want to be in America.
Much less challenge the Second Nightmare.
She had never been an especially ambitious person.
For her...
Simply Awakening had already been more than enough.
— Ha...
Elizabeth let out a long breath.
Then she slowly clenched her fists.
— I want to survive.
Her voice was quiet.
But resolute.
— So...
She raised her eyes toward the horizon once more.
— Whether in America...
— Or inside the Second Nightmare.
A determined smile appeared on her face.
— In the end... it doesn't matter.
— Because I will survive.
The bitter taste of her own weakness had already begun to bother her.
They had nearly died just walking along the edge of America.
Samael had never told her everything he went through during his journey.
But Elizabeth wasn't naive.
She knew the dangers he had faced were far greater than he let on.
She remained silent.
The fresh scent of the forest filled the air.
The sun had already reached its highest point in the sky.
The breeze gently stirred her hair.
After finally calming down...
Her thoughts drifted elsewhere.
"Liu..."
The blindfolded girl came to mind.
"She seems like a good person."
Elizabeth tilted her head slightly.
Then she suddenly laughed to herself.
— She actually reminds me a little of Samael whenever she's dealing with strangers.
A soft chuckle escaped her lips.
— I guess that saying was wrong.
— Similar people really do attract each other.
She shook her head.
— What a terrible joke...
Even so...
She kept smiling.
"I should talk to her."
If they were really going to travel together from now on...
It would be better to get to know each other first.
"After all..."
"Traveling companions should be able to have at least one conversation alone."
---
Samael entered the cave.
Vanitas was training.
His spear sliced through the air with precise, elegant movements.
Tiny blue arcs of lightning danced across the weapon before vanishing as quickly as they appeared.
"So he's training..."
Noticing Samael's presence, Vanitas stopped and lowered his spear.
His deep blue eyes rested on the young man.
Samael approached.
And immediately regretted it.
"Why is it so hard to start a conversation?"
Without realizing it, he tightened his fingers.
— Umm... sorry for threatening you.
The words came out with obvious embarrassment.
Vanitas remained silent for a few seconds.
Then he sighed.
— If you keep that soft personality of yours, she'll keep manipulating you.
He sat on the ground, leaning against the cave wall.
Samael frowned.
— Liz isn't manipulating me.
— We're friends.
Vanitas let out a quiet laugh.
— Friends?
There was unmistakable mockery in his voice.
— There's no such thing.
— Of course there is!
— No.
Vanitas rested his chin on one hand.
— Relationships only exist because there's value.
— Friendship is just a prettier name for it.
Samael crossed his arms.
— Then explain this.
— Liu and I are friends.
— What kind of value do I have to her?
Vanitas stared at him.
For the first time since Samael entered the cave, he looked genuinely surprised.
— You...
He blinked.
— You really don't know your own value?
His expression resembled that of a teacher watching a student make an absurd mistake.
— Is that even possible?
— Every human being understands their own value before recognizing the value of others.
Samael looked away.
— I'm not...
He hesitated.
The next words tasted bitter.
— I'm not human.
— Maybe that's why.
Silence filled the cave.
Then a small smile appeared on Vanitas's lips.
— You're truly strange.
— And interesting.
— I guess my judgment that day wasn't wrong.
Samael blinked.
— Is that why you tried to talk to me?
— Of course.
Vanitas looked at him as though the answer were obvious.
— Why would I waste my time on someone who doesn't interest me?
Samael fell silent.
Strangely enough...
That made sense.
— Then why did you accept me as leader, but not Liz?
Vanitas stretched lazily.
— Simple.
— I only obey people stronger than me.
— And she doesn't fit that requirement.
Samael's eyes widened.
— But I've never shown that I'm stronger than you.
— Haven't you?
Vanitas raised an eyebrow.
— You surpassed me.
— That albino girl only landed the final blow.
Samael looked confused.
— I lost to you during our spar.
Vanitas shook his head.
— No.
— If you hadn't hidden your Awakened Ability...
— And if you hadn't distracted me...
— That albino girl would never have had a chance.
He closed his eyes for a brief moment.
When they opened again, his blue gaze met Samael's.
— Which means...
A small smile spread across his face.
— You defeated me.
— That's why I accept you as my leader.
Samael stood there in silence.
"This guy..."
"He's simpler than he looks."
Vanitas noticed his conflicted expression and sighed.
— Don't make that face.
— I'm not Elizabeth.
— I don't need to like someone to follow them.
— They just have to be strong.
For a moment, Samael looked into those deep blue eyes.
And realized something.
Vanitas truly believed those words.
There was no sarcasm.
No deception.
That was simply the way he viewed the world.
And, strangely enough...
Samael found it a little sad.
After that, Samael explained everything he had discovered and shared the plans he had for the future.
However, he deliberately left out one important detail.
The Second Nightmare.
That was a discussion for another time.
Once he finished, the two of them stepped outside the cave.
Elizabeth was still sitting atop her favorite rock, quietly watching the horizon.
— Ready? — Samael called.
Elizabeth looked away from the scenery and stood up.
Vanitas, however, frowned.
— And how exactly do you intend to do that?
— Are you planning to fight every Nightmare Creature along the way?
There was a trace of disdain in his voice.
Or rather...
Disbelief.
That wasn't a strategy.
It was suicide.
Samael smiled.
— Of course not.
He turned to Vanitas.
— Can you throw a spear charged with lightning?
Vanitas raised an eyebrow.
— I can.
— And can you make it produce a lot of noise when it hits?
Samael's smile widened.
— I can.
Vanitas held out his hand.
— Then give me a spear.
Samael grasped it.
The familiar voice of the Spell immediately echoed in his mind.
[You have lost a Memory.]
The spear reappeared in Vanitas's hand.
Elizabeth watched the two of them in silence.
— Liz.
Samael turned toward her.
— I want you to scout the areas with the highest concentration of Nightmare Creatures, and the areas with the fewest.
— We'll make as much noise as possible where the monsters are gathered.
Elizabeth blinked.
Vanitas narrowed his eyes.
Then a smile appeared on his face.
He understood.
— You want to divert the tide.
— Exactly.
Samael nodded.
The plan was similar to the one he had used to reach the mountain.
Draw the Nightmare Creatures to one location...
Then use the chaos to open a path through.