Nhal was a proud and humble prince, beloved by all. Under the rule of his father, the kingdom had flourished, its prosperity stretching far and wide.
One day, as the prince strolled along the ocean's edge, his gaze fell upon a pitiful sight—a small, writhing creature gasping for air, its body bleeding and broken beneath the merciless sun.
Something in its desperate struggle stirred his heart.
So, the prince reached down and took the helpless thing into his hands. He carried it back to the palace, placed it in the royal fountain, and tended to it with care. Days turned to weeks. Weeks to months. The creature healed and grew, nurtured by the prince's kindness, until one day, it was no longer small or helpless.
It had become something vast, something powerful.
When the time came to release it back into the sea, the creature did not wish to part ways. Overcome with gratitude, it made a solemn vow—to watch over the prince and his people, just as he had once saved it. Elated, Nhal granted it a royal name before sending it home.
Nhal'Zir.
And so, the creature returned to the depths, but it never strayed too far. It watched over the prince from afar, keeping true to its word.
Before long, rumors spread of a monstrous being that roamed the ocean—a terrifying yet benevolent guardian. Sailors whispered of its fearsome size, its unmatched strength beneath the waves. But it was no harbinger of doom. It was a protector. It guided ships through treacherous waters, rescued those who fell into the abyss, and shielded the kingdom from the sea's wrath.
Until, one day, madness took over. Now, it no longer saved the drowned. It devoured them instead.
...
Sunny sighed.
Every time he read the description of Abyssfang, a strange weight settled in his chest.
'Poor thing...'
After meeting Nightmare, he had developed a soft spot for the noble creatures that dwelled in the ancient Dream Realm. They were not the monstrous horrors twisted by corruption, but beings of wonder and mystical powers.
Knowing humans used to coexist with such creatures was always fascinating. That one of them had succumbed to corruption... it was a tragedy.
Sunny narrowed his eyes, turning the words over in his mind. A kingdom...
Was it one of the many that had once stood on the Forgotten Shore, long before the darkness consumed everything? Or had it existed somewhere else—far away, in a time before the mortal realms were shattered and stitched together into this nightmarish patchwork?
A strange feeling stirred in his chest. Curiosity.
The desire to know more gnawed at him, sinking its teeth deep. His fingers twitched. The only way to uncover the truth was to keep hunting—to carve through more Depth Dwellers, to gather more fragments of knowledge, to piece together the story buried beneath the waves, to know more about the ancient kingdom of Nhal...
Still, the feeling passed, and he turned his attention back to the jagged greatsword resting across his lap. Its dull, cracked surface looked almost lifeless in the dry air.
"That's the Memory I received for killing the Corrupted Devil," he said finally.
His voice was steady, but something in it made Cassie and Nephis listen a little more carefully.
"It might not look like much right now, but this thing is different in the water. The moment it's submerged, it changes completely—becoming sharper, faster, almost alive. I don't know what kind of material it's made from, but when it's in its true form, it's the strongest weapon I've ever held. It feels... stronger than a transcendent weapon should be. Its form is truly a sight to behold."
Sunny exhaled and studied their faces before continuing.
"But that's not why I survived. The blade has an enchantment—when I wield it in water, I can breathe freely and swim at tremendous speeds. And there's more. It has a life-stealing effect. The more I cut, the more I rip and tear, the more it heals me."
His fingers tapped against the hilt of the weapon absentmindedly.
"That's how I made it through the night. Even then, it was a damn miracle."
Silence stretched between them. Nephis, as usual, was expressionless, but something shifted in her eyes—a flicker of understanding. Cassie, on the other hand, sat frozen, as if processing everything she had just heard.
Then, she let out a breath and shook her head in disbelief.
"I never thought I'd hear a sleeper tell a story about fighting Corrupted Creatures and actually end up believing it."
Nephis looked at him, her silver eyes gleaming with something subtle. Admiration? Respect? Or something else entirely?
"That's quite an achievement, Sunny," she said, her voice steady yet laced with something close to pride.
Sunny scoffed, shaking his head.
"You do realize I just got lucky, right? If not for this ridiculously powerful Memory, I would've died the moment that tentacled bastard dragged me into the ocean."
"No."
Nephis cut him off, her voice leaving no room for argument. "Luck or not, powerful memory or not—a sleeper slaying Corrupted abominations is unprecedented. That fact alone cannot be undermined." She held his gaze, unflinching.
"If you hadn't set that trap for the shark devil and willingly thrown yourself into its mouth, no amount of luck could have helped you. In the end, everything that happened was a result of your planning, your instincts... and your hard work."
Cassie nodded fervently, her voice ringing with enthusiasm.
"That's right! Don't sell yourself short, Sunny. You're amazing!"
The gleam in Nephis' eyes brightened as Cassie spoke. A familiar fire burned within them—the same fire Sunny had come to admire. She didn't say the words, but they were practically written across her face:
If you willed it, who dared stop you?
Yes.
This was the same Nephis he had known for so long. The same Nephis he had fought beside, survived beside...
The same Nephis he had fallen in love with.
Sunny glanced between Cassie and Nephis, then smiled.
"Well, well... I didn't know you two thought so highly of me."
Nephis blinked, her expression remaining composed—except for the tiniest hint of pink dusting her cheeks.
'She's embarrassed?'
Sunny bit back a smirk.
'Has she just realized how much she had praised me?'
A low chuckle escaped him.
"Anyway, let's get to the important stuff."
Reaching for his rucksack, he turned it over, emptying its contents onto the ground. The pile of radiant soul shards spilled out.
Seventeen of them.
Sunny casually pushed them toward the two girls.
Nephis blinked, staring at the shining fragments.
"That last creature I killed was a Fallen Tyrant," he explained. "I also managed to gather the shards of some other abominations after my fight with the tentacled horror. I lost most of them when that last bastard attacked me, but somehow managed to save a few. Don't ask me how. They are all Ascended. The Transcended ones were too big to carry." He leaned back slightly, as if what he had just said was no big deal. "Absorbing them will give you a good boost."
Nephis stared at the shards for a long moment. Finally, she looked up.
"...Why are you giving them all to us?"
Sunny shrugged.
"I don't get stronger by absorbing soul shards. My core needs shadow fragments, which I can only get by killing things myself. As long as I land the last hit, it counts."
He smiled.
"You need them far more than I do anyway. I gained quite a few fragments last night, so I'm plenty strong already."
Nephis hesitated. Then, after a long pause, she exhaled and divided the pile of shards in two, pushing one half toward Cassie.
Afterward, she looked at Sunny, her gaze softening slightly. She lowered her eyes. A soft murmur escaped her lips.
"...Thank you. I will let you have the last hit whenever I can."
Sunny met her gaze and nodded.
"I appreciate that."
Silence settled between them, this time a comfortable one, disturbed only by the faint sound of fists crushing the shards. One after another, Nephis absorbed hers in the blink of an eye.
Sunny wasn't surprised. She was plenty strong—strong enough to crush even the Transcendent ones without much effort.
Cassie, on the other hand...
"Uh..."
She shifted uncomfortably, holding one of the shards in both hands.
"Guys... can I borrow a sword?"
Sunny opened his mouth to reply—
But before he could say a word, white sparks danced across Nephis' arms. A blade materialized in her hands. Without hesitation, she handed it to Cassie.
Sunny watched the exchange with amusement, then leaned back, turning his gaze toward the sky. A contented smile found its way onto his lips.
'I wish these days would last longer... Even if just a little bit.'
...
The sun was beginning its descent, casting long, jagged shadows across the coral. Soon, the first traces of the black water would creep between the crimson walls of the labyrinth, and the scavengers feasting on the corpse below would scatter.
Some of them, however, would venture elsewhere. Upward. Toward them.
A subtle but palpable tension lingered in the air. The three of them sat in a tight circle around the extinguished fire pit, their postures tense, their expressions grim.
Sunny exhaled.
"We can't avoid a fight," he said simply.
Nephis gave a small nod, her silver eyes reflecting the dying light. Cassie grimaced, turning toward the distant sounds of snarling and snapping jaws.
There was no need to state the obvious. They were running out of time.
"Let's discuss our aspects and memories so we can make a strategy."
Nephis analyzed him with her usual, expressionless eyes. She hesitated, contemplating how much she should reveal.
Sunny studied her for a moment, then sighed.
'She doesn't trust me completely.'
Not that he blamed her.
Still, he had hoped that their time together till now—the chemistry they shared, the duels they fought—would have been enough to ease her suspicions.
Apparently, it wasn't.
The bitter realization stung more than it should have.
Sunny sighed, pushing the thought aside. If she was wary, he would just have to be the first to take a step forward.
"I will go first-"
Before he could finish, Nephis spoke.
"My attributes give me an affinity for light and fire," she said evenly. "As well as a strong connection to divinity."
Sunny blinked, slightly caught off guard. Nephis continued without pause.
"I have two Memories. A rope, and a sword. The rope is exceptionally sturdy and can change its length. The sword is sharp and provides resistance against soul attacks—to a certain extent." She glanced at him. "My Ability summons a flame. It can be used to augment either myself or a Memory. It can also be used for healing."
Sunny stared at her.
That was... more than he had expected her to reveal.
He had assumed she would withhold at least something—she wouldn't share her flaw, of course, but maybe the full extent of her capabilities as well. But no, she had laid it all out.
He didn't bother to hide his surprise. Instead, he let a small, genuine smile creep onto his face.
"Thank you for sharing," he said. "The rope will definitely come in handy. And I already know you're more than capable with a sword."
A hint of amusement flickered across her features.
"Of course you do."
For a moment, the two of them simply looked at each other.
Then—
Cassie cleared her throat. "Uh... my turn?"
She hesitated, then shifted slightly.
"My attributes aren't anything special," she admitted. "I have an affinity for revelations and fate. My Ability is the same as you both already know. And I can see the attributes of others."
She paused, then gestured toward herself.
"I have three Memories: the bottle, a wooden staff, and this armor."
Sunny nodded, listening closely.
Everything was exactly as he remembered. Good.
He exhaled and leaned back slightly. His mind was already working, pieces of a strategy clicking into place.
A slow, confident grin spread across his face.
"Alright," he said. "I'll go next..."
Sunny leaned forward slightly, glancing at the two girls.
"My attributes give me an affinity for shadows," he began. "I also have a slight connection to divinity. And... one of my attributes tends to throw me into unlikely situations more often than it should."
Nephis and Cassie exchanged a look of understanding.
No doubt, they had already drawn the obvious conclusion—so that's why he ended up in the middle of the ocean, fighting horrors all night.
Sunny sighed.
"As for my Ability... it's somewhat similar to Nephis' in the sense that I can augment either myself or one of my Memories. But unlike hers, my ability isn't fire—it's my shadow."
He tapped his fingers against his knee. "It's more than just an extension of myself. It can move independently. Explore. I can share sight and hearing with it, meaning I can have my eyes and ears anywhere I want. Oh, and I can also see in the dark."
Cassie giggled suddenly.
Sunny turned toward her, raising an eyebrow. "What?"
Her lips curled into a teasing smile.
"Anywhere?" she repeated, her voice laced with mischief. "I wonder where you must have used it..."
For a moment, silence hung in the air. Sunny's mind blanked, trying to figure out what the blind girl meant.
Nephis slowly turned her head in his direction, and glared at him. Then, the realization dawned on him
Sunny's face flustered as he hurriedly blurted, "What are you insinuating?! I used it to attend classes while I was in the hospital! I did not step anywhere near the girls' dormitory!"
Cassie laughed at his reaction.
"Relax, Sunny. We trust you." She turned to Nephis, her voice still playful. "Right, Neph?"
Nephis lingered for a moment.
Her expression didn't change, but something flickered in her eyes. "Is that how you knew I was outside your room every evening?"
But she didn't voice it. Instead, after a pause, she simply said, "Right..."
Sunny coughed into his fist, quickly steering the conversation back on track.
"Moving on," he said, clearing his throat. "The only useful Memories I have are this armor and the sword I mentioned earlier."
Nephis didn't react, but he knew she had picked up on his choice of words.
Only useful Memories.
Of course, she said nothing, merely waiting for him to continue. Silence stretched between them.
The two girls were likely expecting him to begin discussing their strategy. Instead, Sunny took a breath and said,
"I... also have something akin to an Echo."
Nephis blinked.
Cassie stilled.
Sunny exhaled, his voice quieter this time.
"It was the reason I was able to get such a high score on the punching machine. It can't fight, but... it lets me control essence. At least to a small degree."
Both girls stared at him, momentarily frozen.
Then, Nephis' silver eyes gleamed faintly in the fading light.
"...Interesting," she murmured.
...
A deep, guttural rumble reverberated from somewhere beneath. The very ground trembled in response.
The first traces of the black water slithered into view, pooling between the crimson walls of the labyrinth.
A ripple of panic tore through the feeding crowd of scavengers.
A moment ago, the grotesque creatures had been feasting, tearing flesh from the massive corpse below in a mindless frenzy. Now, chaos spread among them like wildfire. Some burrowed desperately into the ground, vanishing beneath the coral. Others darted toward their usual hiding spots, limbs moving in erratic, frenzied bursts.
More than a few chose a different escape route— They climbed.
One by one, scavengers scrambled up the mound of crimson coral. Scyth-like limbs scratched against the jagged surface, their panicked cries echoing through the air. The trio's temporary refuge was no longer safe.
The first scavenger landed on top of the mound. Then another. And another.
All of them dashed forward—desperate to reach the center of the coral where safety awaited.
...Only to trip and fall headfirst onto the ground.
A chorus of hideous, shrieking cries filled the air.
"Crrrrrrrr!"
Sunny tilted his head, watching the pathetic display.
The creatures squirmed and flailed, their limbs twitching as they struggled to stand. In their desperation, they had all lef their backs exposed, limbs tangled, leaving the most vulnerable part of their bodies open for attack.
A single, slightly concave cavity sat in the center of their armor-plated skulls.
A weak spot.
Sunny exhaled, a smirk curling on his lips.
Above him, the sky was dark and vast, untouched by stars.
As he raised his arm, sparks of light danced around his palm, forming into a serrated greatsword.
Beside him, Nephis moved with the same quiet intent. A longsword materialized in her hands, its blade gleaming with quiet menace.
They did not speak. They did not need to. The two of them had developed enough understanding through their duels to forgo the need of words.
They stepped forward in unison. The first scavenger screeched, still writhing. Sunny swung his blade.
A single, decisive strike.
The fun had begun.
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Thx for reading.