Kane was utterly surprised, his mind momentarily reeling, while Nephis and Sunny were left jaw-dropped, their expressions a mixture of shock and disbelief. The direction Cassie had indicated was precisely the one they had meticulously planned to avoid, the very path they deemed too perilous to traverse. Cassie, sensing their profound reaction, her face clouding with confusion, asked, "Uh... What's wrong?"
Sunny, quickly recovering his composure, though a hint of exasperation lingered in his tone, replied, "Nothing's wrong, Cassie. It's just... that's precisely the direction we were trying to avoid." Kane, his voice grim, elaborated, "In that direction, there are hundreds of scavengers, massive creatures, currently feasting on a dead carcass. It's a veritable den of monsters." The blind girl's face fell, a shadow passing over her features as she absorbed the grim reality of his words. "Oh!" she murmured, the single syllable conveying her disappointment.
Nephis, however, had an indecipherable look on her face, her eyes narrowed in thought. She remained silent for a moment, processing the information, before finally speaking. "Tell me more about the vision, Cassie," she commanded, her voice calm and steady, betraying no hint of the surprise she must have felt.
Cassie, encouraged by Nephis's interest, began to speak, her voice gaining a newfound clarity as she recounted her dream. "I dreamt of a vast, ruined city built of weathered, ancient stone. It was surrounded by incredibly tall, seemingly impregnable walls, stretching towards the sky. Various grotesque monsters were wandering its narrow, winding streets, their forms indistinct but menacing. In the very center of the city, there was a prominent hill, and on that hill stood a magnificent castle, its spires reaching towards the heavens." Kane, listening intently, thought, 'That's actually quite good news. A fortified city, even if ruined, implies a degree of safety, and a castle… that's even better.'
Cassie continued, her voice filled with a growing excitement, "But there were no monsters in the castle! Instead, it was full of people. I think… no, I'm sure that they were Awakened. Some were diligently guarding the walls, their figures silhouetted against the sky. Others were simply going about their lives without a care in the world, their faces alight with contentment. There was food, safety, and laughter!" She finished her description with a radiant smile, a beacon of hope in the desolate Dream Realm.
Sunny, his curiosity piqued, asked, "Did you see anything else? "
Then Cassie spoke, her smile widening, "Yes! I saw Sunny leading me through the gates of the castle! That means we will make it! We'll reach safety!" Cassie's genuine joy was infectious, and even Kane found himself smiling, a rare and unbidden expression of happiness. However, a single thought, a chilling realization, caught in his mind: 'Me and Nephis weren't there in her vision. What happens to us? Do we not make it? Do we die along the way?' He glanced at Nephis and then at Sunny, trying to gauge their reactions. Kane thought, 'Nephis's expression is still unreadable, a carefully constructed mask. But Sunny… Sunny might have figured it out, too. He's sharp.'
Nephis, after a moment of silent contemplation, her gaze sweeping over the desolate landscape and then back to Cassie's hopeful face, finally exclaimed, her voice decisive and firm, "Okay. Then we will go west." The decision was made, abandoning their previous plan to head east, a testament to the compelling nature of Cassie's vision.
The sea was still retreating, its waters slowly but surely draining away to reveal more of the cracked, labyrinthine ground. The planning for their westward journey continued, and they decided to abandon their current camp, leaving behind the temporary shelter of the seaweed tents. During the conversation that followed, Kane, ever the astute observer, gained a deeper understanding of the three individuals he was now forced to rely upon.
Starting with Sunny, as far as Kane was concerned, he was fundamentally a cautious man, a meticulous planner, and quite an adept survivor. He could speak well, articulate his thoughts clearly, but he possessed a brutal honesty, a tendency to speak his mind without filter, which often led to awkward social situations. As for Cassie, she was, without a doubt, the most innocent of the group, her pure heart and unwavering low confidence a stark contrast to the harsh realities of the Dream Realm. She was, however, burdened by her flaw, her blindness, which often plunged her into moments of despair. She desperately needed confidence, a belief in her own abilities, to truly move forward and overcome her limitations. Meanwhile, Nephis, despite her formidable reputation as the "cold princess," was, in Kane's assessment, the most awkward and shy person when it came to genuine communication. Kane thought, 'She isn't good at communicating things, at expressing her thoughts and feelings clearly. That's going to be a real pain in the ass, especially in high-stakes situations where clear communication is paramount.'
Immediately, as if sensing his thoughts, Nephis turned to Kane and asked, her voice sharp, "What?" Kane, startled by her sudden question, replied, "Nothing. When are we leaving?" Nephis, her expression unreadable, simply replied, "Soon."
As soon as they were ready to leave the hill, Kane found himself with a significant concern regarding the speed of their descent. Cassie's flaw, her blindness, would inevitably slow them down, making their journey across the treacherous terrain even more arduous and time-consuming. Kane, ever pragmatic, decided to take matters into his own hands, to ensure a faster and safer descent. He approached Cassie, his demeanor gentle but firm, and asked, "I have a way for us to descend quickly, but it would require me to carry you. Are you okay with that? Are you comfortable with me doing that?" Cassie looked at him in confusion, her head tilted slightly, while Nephis and Sunny both frowned, their expressions a mixture of surprise and skepticism. Cassie, after a moment of consideration, her trust in Kane evident, said, "I am okay. If it helps us move faster, then I'm fine with it."
After all the preparations were complete, Nephis and Sunny began to climb down the hill, their movements careful and deliberate. Immediately, Kane gently lifted Cassie into his arms, ensuring she was comfortable and secure. "Are you comfortable?" he asked, his voice soft. Cassie, nestled in his arms, replied, "I am good." Without further hesitation, Kane immediately modified his [Silver Plates] armor, causing strong, silver wings to form on his back, shimmering with an otherworldly light. "Hang tight," he instructed Cassie, a hint of excitement in his voice, and then, with a powerful leap, he jumped from the cliff, launching himself and Cassie into the air.
Kane and Cassie glided gracefully towards the ground, the wind whistling past them, the descent swift and exhilarating. As soon as they landed softly on the cracked earth, Kane gently lowered Cassie to her feet. "We've reached the ground," he announced, a sense of accomplishment in his voice. Cassie, her eyes wide with surprise, asked, "How did we reach the ground so fast? Did Sunny and Nephis already make it down?" Kane replied, "No, we glided down. Sunny and Nephis are yet to reach." Nephis, who had just reached the bottom of the hill and witnessed Kane's impressive descent, frowned, her expression a mix of annoyance and grudging respect. Sunny, for his part, thought, 'Seriously, he can do that? That's what he meant when he talked about his armor being flexible. Curse him for looking so cool while doing it.'
As soon as Nephis and Sunny reached the bottom, the party began to move forward, their destination the ruined city in the west. Nephis and Kane took the lead, their swords drawn and ready, their movements cautious and deliberate. Sunny and Cassie followed in the rear, with Sunny guiding Cassie with a rope, his shadow constantly scouting ahead, moving stealthily through the labyrinthine terrain.
The labyrinth was just as it had been before: confusing, seemingly endless, and utterly disorienting. Crimson blades of "coral" protruded from the black mud, creating a vast, tangled forest of sharp, menacing formations. However, today, something about it felt different, a subtle shift in the atmosphere, a heightened sense of danger. It wasn't long before Sunny's shadow, scouting ahead, stumbled onto a mass of hulking, hungry scavengers, their forms indistinct in the dim light.
Sunny suddenly whispered, his voice urgent, "Halt!" Everyone immediately stopped moving, their bodies tensing, their hands instinctively going to their weapons. Kane, ever prepared, immediately summoned [The Ultimate Defiance], the sword materializing in his hand. "What is it?" he asked, his voice low and steady. Sunny replied, "There are scavengers on the path ahead, six of them. They're slowly moving in our direction."
Nephis, her expression grim, asked, "They're done with the carcass, then? They've finished their feast?" Sunny replied, "No, I don't think so. But maybe there's not enough meat for everyone anymore, so some stragglers had no choice but to leave with an empty stomach, seeking new prey." Kane thought, 'We might need to go around, find an alternate route, to avoid a direct confrontation with so many of them.' Before Kane could voice his thought, Nephis, ever decisive, spoke, "We will circle them."
The four Sleepers hastily moved forward, changing their paths, giving a wide berth to the group of monsters. Tense and grim, they continued walking, trying to stay on course and not get lost in the bewildering labyrinth. However, in the next hour, their efforts proved futile. They had to turn in a random direction again and again, constantly avoiding other scavengers that seemed to be lurking around every corner. The distance between them and the giant statue, their initial point of entry, was not shortening at all. They were effectively trapped, moving in circles, unable to find a clear path forward.
At some point, exhausted and frustrated, they were catching their breath near one of the numerous dead ends of the crimson labyrinth. They had no choice but to wait, since a large number of creatures was moving past their hiding spot, separated from them by a long length of a twisting coral passage. Kane thought, 'Crap! We are getting tired of this. We might not have enough time to reach safety unless we fight. This endless evasion is draining our energy.'
Sunny sighed, his voice filled with weariness. "We can't go on like that," he admitted. "At this rate, we'll never make it to safety before sunset. We'll be trapped out here in the dark." Cassie, her voice small and uncertain, suggested, "Maybe... maybe we should turn back?" Kane immediately replied, "That won't work, Cassie. By the time we get back, it will be too late. We'll be caught in the dark, exposed to even more dangers." Nephis, her expression unwavering, her voice calm and resolute, simply said, "Fight."
Sunny, his eyes widening slightly, protested, "I know that you are skilled with the sword, Nephis, but have you forgotten that each of those things is a whole rank above us? We won't survive in a fight against so many of them." Nephis, unperturbed, replied, "We leave the larger ones. We cut down the smaller groups, the ones we can handle." Nephis then stared at Kane and Sunny, her gaze piercing, and asked, "Have you guys studied the corpse of the scavenger you killed? Did you learn anything about their weaknesses?" Sunny shook his head, "No," but Kane, remembering his fight, spoke, "I didn't dissect the corpse, but their joints are quite a weak point. That's what I found while I was fighting the Scavenger. They're not as armored there."
After a brief pause, Nephis spoke, her voice calm and instructional, "Scavengers have three primary weak points on their bodies. The first one is obvious, as Kane mentioned: it's their joints. Anything that has to be flexible can't be too rigid. So, there are gaps in the armor above the joints. By targeting the joints, you can diminish their mobility and attack capacity, effectively crippling them." Kane thought, 'That makes sense. Simple, yet effective.' Nephis continued, "The second weak point is similar. It's where their torso connects to the carapace. If you manage to accurately hit that spot, you can heavily injure a scavenger and deal serious damage to its body. However, unless you succeed in severing its spine, the wound won't be fatal. It'll still be able to fight for a while, albeit with reduced effectiveness. And the last weak point is on their back, approximately at the level where their eyes are. There's a slightly concave, discolored cavity in their armor there. It's where several armor plates connect, and the chitin there is comparatively thin. If you can pierce through it, you can destroy the brain directly. That will be a killing blow, a swift and decisive end." Kane thought, 'Next time, I'm completely dissecting the corpse. This information is invaluable.'
However, Nephis calmly looked at all of them, her gaze steady and unwavering, and said, "If we stumble upon a single scavenger, a lone one, then Kane and I will be the bait.Both of our task will be to make it turn around and then restrain it, exposing its third weak point on its back. Sunny's task will be to deliver the killing blow, to pierce its brain directly." Kane thought, 'It is quite a plan, a risky one, but well-conceived.' Kane spoke, "I am okay with it. I'll do my part." Sunny gulped, his nervousness evident. "What if there are two of them?" he asked, his voice a little strained. Nephis, her expression unyielding, simply replied, "Don't die."
It wasn't long before they were left with no choice but to attempt a fight against a scavenger. Behind them, there was a long stretch of the labyrinth with no suitable branching paths for them to turn onto, no way to evade the approaching danger. Ahead of them, there was a small clearing with only one other passage leading out of it. Not far into that passage, a massive scavenger was moving slowly in their direction, its chitinous body scraping against the crimson coral. Sunny quickly described the situation, his voice low and urgent, and waited for Changing Star's feedback. Without much delay, she gave him a nod, her decision made. "We fight in the clearing," she stated, her voice firm.
After that, Kane gently guided Cassie to the wall of the labyrinth, helping her find a place to sit where she would be relatively safe. "Wait here, Cassie," he said, his voice soft but firm. "We'll be back as soon as we can." Cassie spoke, her voice filled with concern, "Neph, Kane... be careful. Please." Kane smiled, a genuine, reassuring smile, and gently patted her head. "I will be, Porcelain Beauty," he promised, using the affectionate nickname he had given her. Nephis and Sunny looked at him, a hint of surprise in their eyes, as if they had just witnessed a rare and unexpected display of tenderness. And with that, the three of them left to fight the scavenger.
With their plan set, Kane, Nephis, and Sunny hastily headed for the clearing. By the time they got there, the scavenger was mere seconds from appearing. Sunny's shadow flew out of the passage, a silent, dark blur, and reattached itself to his feet. Without having to discuss things further with Nephis and Kane, he quickly melted into the shadows of the clearing, becoming almost invisible, and waited there, hoping for a chance to attack from an unseen angle. Nephis and Kane, on the other hand, strolled calmly to the center of the clearing and stood there, their postures relaxed, their backs straight, exuding an aura of quiet confidence. A sharp, elegant hengdang sword appeared in on his hands, carelessly pointed towards the ground, their blades gleaming faintly.
A second later, the Scavenger walked into the clearing, its tiny, beady eyes scanning its surroundings. It immediately spotted Nephis and Kane, its predatory instincts kicking in, and rushed forward to attack. Its huge pincer shot forward with terrifying speed, tearing the air in its path, a deadly weapon aimed at its unsuspecting prey. Kane took a defensive stance and immediately switched the damage ratio of his Aspect, channeling his power to affect both the mind and body of the creature in a fifty-fifty split. Kane observed the mind of the scavenger, perceiving its thoughts and intentions. It seemed to be charging mindlessly, driven by pure instinct, with both of its pincers and hind legs carrying most of its power, the psychic signals from those limbs appearing incredibly strong.
Nephis, with incredible agility, sidestepped the incoming pincer attack, moving swiftly to the side. As she moved, she attacked the creature's front legs, aiming to cripple its mobility. Meanwhile, Kane deflected the pincer with his sword and simultaneously attacked the joint with a mind strand, a focused burst of psychic energy. The pincer, its connection to the creature's mind severed, fell around like a dead weight, useless and limp. Kane immediately saw the other pincer attack, moving towards him. He moved backward to dodge it, his movements fluid and precise. As he dodged, he simultaneously attacked the scavenger's other hind leg on the same side, aiming for the joint. As the scavenger leaned forward to bite off his head, Kane, with a swift movement, formed a shield from his armor, blocking the attack. Kane immediately attacked the other pincer's mind strand, severing its connection as well. Now, both of the creature's massive pincers were out of commission, hanging uselessly at its sides.
Immediately, the scavenger, now enraged and disoriented, lunged forward, attempting to attack with its mouth. Nephis and Kane, having successfully disabled its primary weapons, held back, creating an opening. Meanwhile, Sunny, seizing the opportunity, closed the distance between himself and the monster. He jumped with all his might, landing squarely on top of its carapace, his weight pressing down on the creature. Then, he used all of his weight to thrust a hand forward. The Azure Blade shimmered into existence in his grip, a dark, elegant weapon, and was immediately swallowed by the shadow that clung to his hand. A breath later, the dark blade hit precisely into the concave, discolored cavity in the scavenger's armor, the third weak point Nephis had described. With a sickening crack, the chitin broke, allowing the tip of the sword to sink deep into the scavenger's body, piercing its brain. The monster shuddered, a final, convulsive tremor running through its massive form, and then heavily fell to the ground, its life extinguished. Sunny was thrown from its carapace by the impact, landing in the mud with a roll. The Carapace Scavenger was lying dead, its body still, with Sunny being the last one to hit, delivering the killing blow. Kane, observing the swift and efficient takedown, thought, 'That was surprisingly easy.'
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The female lead for our MC,Here some contenders.Kindly Vote
1.Cassie
2.Effie
3.An Original Character
4.Crossover character from other fiction(Like LOTM)
5.Seishan
6.Morgan
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