(Third Person POV)
The ground was already cracking beneath their feet as the Crownless lunged forward, its massive form cutting through the ether-choked air with terrifying speed.
But Rover and Griseo didn't hesitate.
Steel cut through the mist. Rover moved first, pivoting low as the creature brought down an enormous, clawed arm towards her— she slid beneath it, blade tracing a silver arc across its forelimb, sparks of Resonance flaring in the wake. Griseo followed up instantly, aiming for it's shoulders and shot, then ran beside Rover to gain momentum once more.
The Crownless snarled— not in pain, but in recognition.
It suddenly shifted tactics.
With a guttering growl, the massive creature's limbs reshaped— its arms pulling in, its torso widening— and it charged. No weapons. No theatrics. It came at them with brute, raw force.
It swung with clawes fists the size of shields,
crashing into the earth like seismic hammers. The battlefield quaked beneath their feet, but the two moved like instinct had written this battle into their bones.
Griseo blocked another attack with his guns as it broke, then turning into particles. "Tsk... just my luck!"
A brand new weapon appeared in his palm, this one— held a great resemblance, it felt like it was made for him to grasp.
A scythe.
Griseo ducked a haymaker swing and caught Rover's wrist as she spun beside him, using her momentum to push her higher up the creature's arm.
Their movement wasn't rehearsed— but it was perfect. A breath, a blink, and they were repositioned. Two shadows dancing around a towering storm.
But then— it changed.
The Crownless let out a deeper, hollow scream that echoed unnaturally, shaking the mist in jagged ripples. Its back twisted, splitting open with a spray of pale, ghostly wings that sprouted like tattered banners, wide and shimmering with distorted havoc energy.
A long spear formed in its right hand, forged from it's jagged Resonance.
With a beat of its wings, the Crownless shot skyward— graceful despite its size, and wholly predatory. It swooped around them like a bird of prey, spear ready to impale.
Griseo narrowed his eyes, as he twirled the scythe, then shielded his face from the blast of air.
"Fantastic..." He muttered. "...Now it flies. Just as my pistols were torn in half!"
"Focus," Rover said beside him, her voice calm, even as her eyes tracked the spiraling monster above. "It's adapting."
"No kidding," Griseo grunted, batting aside a bolt of spectro energy with his scythe. "You got a plan?"
"I had one," Rover murmured, dodging a swooping strike. "It's flying now."
Griseo clicked his tongue, eyes following the Crownless as it darted like a massive wasp, impossible to pin down for more than a second. And worse— it was taunting them. Attacking from afar, then vanishing into the mists, only to return with another piercing dive.
Each blow it landed cracked the terrain arround them, draining their stamina in chips.
Griseo growled in frustration. "Screw it! You want a plan?"
He turned towards Rover. she glanced over, mid-dash, blade raised.
Too late.
He grabbedher by the waist.
"Wait—!" Rover gasped, completely caught off guard.
Her cheeks flushed instantly, startled by the sudden closeness— but Griseo just grinned.
"Trust me!"
And then— he spun.
In a single fluid motion, fueled by pure strength and momentum, Griseo turned his body like a pivot, gathering speed, and with a shout—
He threw Rover into the air.
Rover shot upward in a blur of dark hair and silver light, cutting through the mist like a bolt launched from a ballista. Her surprise quickly vanished, replaced by razor-sharp focus as she adjusted mid-flight.
The Crownless turned, caught off guard— but too late.
With both hands on her sword and her Resonance flaring wildly, Rover fell upon it.
A burst of Spectro energy exploded in impact— blinding, radiant, and forceful enough to split the mist for dozens of meters around. The Crownless shrieked, its form convulsing as her blade dug deeper into its torso.
Then— silence.
As Griseo let out a sigh of relief, time seemed stopped around him all of a sudden.
The Crownless which is supposed to be dead below Rover, now floated a breath's apart from Griseo's face.
It was for a fleeting second, when Griseo blinked, the Crownless still motionless to it's usual place, time continued once more— As the light faded, and the beasts body began to fracture into glowing shards of fading Resonance.
Rover landed gracefully on the cracked earth, one knee down, her blade vanishing into particles of light. Her face was still flushed— but now with heat, not embarrassment. She turned and glared at Griseo who seemed to be thinking something.
And glared.
"You threw me."
Griseo returned his focus, as he shrugged, walking towards her with a grin.
For a second, her eyes narrowed.
Then— just barely— she smiled. "...Idiot."
Then her gaze swept onto his scythe and asked. "...Where did you get that?"
Griseo shrugged, as he answered. "Dunno. But it looks cool right?" He twirled it once more.
"You seem experienced handling it."
He laughed. "You're welcome." But the levity faded as he turned to look at what remaind of the Crownless. It was vanishing now— its eings disintegrating into soft embers. The body collapsed inward like a dying star. And yet, as it faded, it's head— that shattered glass of crystal— tilted slowly, its hollow gaze locking directly onto Griseo.
He froze.
For the briefest moment, it felt... personal. The creature didn't attack. It didn't snarl. It simply looked at him. And in its flickering eyes, there was something he couldn't name. Not rage. Not hate.
Reverence.
A quiet, deep bone admiration. As if it had seen him before— and he had impressed it. Griseo's smirk faltered. "...What the hell was that?" Then the last of it scattered like stardust on the wind. Rover watched his expression— how the grin faded, how the light dimmed just a little in his red-ringed blue eyes. She didn't ask.
But she saw.
And somewhere, just beneath her calm surface, a quiet question took root.
What are you hiding, Griseo?
The mist still lingered like a veil in the battlefield, curling between cracked stone and faded Resonance. A soft shimmer hovered where the Crownless had vanished— a phantom silhouette, suspended mid-air like a ripple in time.
Its form pulsed gently, casting a cold, translucent glow— a Reverberation of the creature's essence. The group stood in quiet awe, breaths steadying after the fight.
Chixia was the first to break the silence.
"Wooooaaaaah...!" She gushed, half spinning with excitement. "Okay, okay, that was— amazing! You two fought like a pair of synchronized Resonant blades! I mean— did you see that throw?!"
Griseo grinned, brushing dust from his shoulder. "You mean the one where I saved the day? Yeah, I was there."
Rover side-eyed him. "You threw me like a luggage."
Chixia laughed. "Effective luggage!"
"..."
Yangyang stepped forward, her gaze fixed on the flickering silhouette. "Look at that... an Echo."
Griseo blinked. "Echo?"
Yangyang nodded. "A lingering Resonance— what's left behind when a Tacet Discord of significant power is defeated. Like a memory caught in the wind."
The glowing specter of the Crownless flickered silently, its shape wavering like mist disturbed by breath.
"It's a bizzare phenomenon." She added. "Echoes can be stored in a Terminal's Qiankun data bank for future use— if your level is high enough."
Griseo yawned. "And if it's not?"
"Then you fail to absorb it." Yangyang glanced at the two newcomers. "A newly activated Terminal usually starts at the bottom."
Rover steppes closer to the Echo, her eyes reflecting its light. She raised her hand, unsure why she felt drawn to it. She activated her Terminal. A quiet whir sounded, the gourd-shaped device blinking faintly at her waist.
A moment passed. Then—
Red Glyphs Flashed.
A message pulsed.
X DATA BANK LEVEL INSUFFICIENT— SYNCHRONIZATION FAILED
Rover's hand recoiled slightly. "It... Didn't work."
"Called it." Chixia chirped. "You'll need to fight and absorb lower-level Discord to increase your rating."
"Think of it as a muscle," Yangyang explained, "or a memory lattice. The more data your Terminal absorbs, the more complex Echoes it can handle."
Griseo chimed in. "Wait... Like some kind of Resonance wizard?"
"More like a myth," Yangyang replied. "They say that person's bond with the world was so strong, it echoes back through time itself. That echo became the foundation for the first cities— Jinzhou included."
Chixia nodded. "That's when the first Pangu Terminals and Data banks were created, modeled after the harmonics of the first Echo."
"A poetic way of saying 'ancient techs,'" Griseo muttered.
Baizhi who had been quiet, adjusted her glasses and stepped in.
"Legends are interesting." She said, "But anecdotal history is dangerous without data. There's no empirical evidence for the Echo origin story— only cultural fragments and metaphor."
"Still cool, though," Chixia muttered.
Baizhi sighed, but a small smile tugged at her lips.
"Must be neat to be able to just store Echoes with your body." Griseo nodded at the thought. "What do you think Rover... Rover?"
Whirl.
The wind picked up. The mist stirred unnaturally. Rover's body stiffened.
"...huh?" She stepped forward, unprompted— her right hand lifting of its own volition. The Tacet Mark on her skin shimmered, pulsing in sync with the fading Echo's glow.
"...Rov—?!" Griseo was about to ask, but his own tacet mark flared to life, as bluish and black veiny patches appeared near his Tacet Marks. "What the hell..."
Her lips parted. A whisper, low and broken, crawled from the mark etched into her hand.
"...Hungry..." The sound wasn't hers. It wasn't anyone's.
It was inside her.
The Echo flared— its silhouette briefly regaining full shape. The Crownless eyes glowed, and its image seemed to waver towards her like the smoke drawn to flame.
Then— collapse.
The Echo surged into her palm, like a reverse explosion— light bending, collapsing onto her core. Her Terminal screamed in code. Her body staggered, but she didn't fall. When the glow faded, Rover stood still. Silent.
And within her— the Echo of the Crownless now dwelled.
Everyone stared.
Yangyang brows furrowed. "That shouldn't be possible... At all... Unless... It can't be... Right?"
Griseo held onto his left arm wincing in pain, but grinned nevertheless— as baizhi took note of his reaction. "Well... Looks like someone didn't read the manual~"
Rover exhaled, lowering her hand. Her eyes lifted— calm, unreadable. She didn't know what had just happened. But something inside her did.
Chixia blinked hard. "Okay, am I the only one who saw her eat a Crownless?!"
Griseo chuckled, as he adjusted the sleeve of his shirt to hide the glowing Tacet Mark. "Nah, I saw it. You just put it better."
Baizhi stepped forward, her voice cautious. "That wasn't normal absorption. Something else... reacted."
Rover said nothing.
But deep inside, something in her Tacet Mark pulsed once more— satisfied.
Hum.
Before anyone could question Rover further, Griseo excused himself to take a leak for a second— as baizhi eyed him with a narrowed gaze as his silhouette disappeared. Then, a soft chime emmated from their Pangu terminals. A holographic projection materialized above each device, revealing the serene visage of Jinhsi, the magistrate of Jinzhou. Her presence exudes calm authority, her eyes reflecting the wisdom of leadership.
"Greetings, esteemed visitors," Jinhsi began, her voice gentle yet commanding. "As the Moon-Chasing Festival approaches, Jinzhou opens its gates to all who seek refuge and celebration. Our city stands as a bastion against the encroaching Tacet Discords, fortified by the Resonance Nexus and the unwavering spirit of its people."
She paused, her gaze seemingly focusing beyond the holographic medium. "To a... particular traver among you, I extend a personal invitation. Your arrival has not gone unnoticed, and I believe your presence holds significance for Jinzhou and all of Huanglong. While I may not possess all the answers you seek, I am committed to assisting you in any way I can. Please, make your way to the City Hall at your earliest convenience... Also, to whoever steps on the Gorges of Spirits, please be careful— as we have noticed a shift in the environment—as if it was being corrupted."
The hologram flickered and dissipated, leaving the group in contemplative silence. Until—
"Hey guys! What did I miss?" Griseo's voice broke the silence.
Chixia answered, her eyes widened in excitement. "The magistrate herself wanted to see us! This is huge!"
"Magistrate...?"
"Oh, right. You we're gone earlier."
Chixia explained who Jinhsi is and what message she imparted through the Pangu Terminal...
"I see." Griseo nodded in understanding. "That must mean this is very important right?"
Yangyang nodded thoughtfully. "Its rare for the magistrate to extend personal invitations. She must sense something unique about someone... and I think both of you, Rover, Griseo..."
Baizhi adjusted her glasses, her expression pensive. "This development warrants further observation. We should proceed with caution."
She gazed at Griseo's arm once again, seeing that it no longer bore any faint visible marks— she took note of it inside her head.
Her voice lingered in the air, crisp and clinical, but it barely settled before Griseo stepped in, arms crossed and a subtle smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Maybe," he said, his tone laced with curiousity rather than concern, "but did anyone else catch that she said a particular individual? Not plural. Not us. And maybe not even me and Rover. She was talking about someone— like an individual.
His red-ringed blue eyes flickered over to Rover, just for a breath moment, before he looked away. He wasn't drawing attention to himself, but something in his posture hinted that he was entertaining the idea it might be him. Or maybe her. Or maybe both... But not together.
Yangyang crossed her arms thoughtfully, her expression softer than Baizhi's but still lingered with the weight of instinct. "You're not wrong. It did sound... personal. But maybe that's okay. Jinhsi's the magistrate of Jinzhou— if anyone has insight into what's going on with you two, it would be her. It might actually be a good thing."
Chixia tilted her head, lips pursed in mock suspicion. "Or it could be a trap." She muttered with a shrug, then added, "But hey, if she wanted to trap you, she'd have sent a whole platoon, not a cute little hologram invite."
Rover hadn't said much, but now her voice came in a quiet and clear, like the calm between tremors. "It's worth a shot. Whoever she meant... I want to find out. About myself. About Griseo." She paused for a beat, her fingers brushing her Tacet Mark absently, still warm from the earlier Resonance. "We don't know who we are. But if someone does... I want to know."
Griseo's eyes met hers— steadily, with something unreadable in their lingering gaze. He gave a short nod, solemn yet grounded. "Alright then. No more standing around the middle of nowhere. Yangyang," He said, flashing her a grin. "how about you lead the way?"
"..."
But no one answered him as they stared at him—
"U-Uh... Is there something w-wrong...?"
"There's a vermin leaving your shirt." Chixia pointed out.
"Huh?" He followed the part where Chixia pointed out— there was a centipede crawling. "What the hell?!"
...
After getting rid of the centipede, the group continued their discussion.
Yangyang smiled softly, brushing back her hair and tightening the straps of her gear. "Jinzhou's not far from here. Stick close– this part of the plains can be tricky if you stray off path. Especially you, Griseo. If you don't want to happen the same thing earlier."
Chixia chuckled, "that was funny as heck!"
Baizhi simply sighed but didn't protest. "If we're doing this, we do it efficiently."
The group began their trek through the shifting terrain of the Gorges of Spirits. The sky overhead mellowed into a soft amber hue, the fading sun casting long shadows between jagged cliffs and worn stone paths. The wind carried the scent of rusted minerals and something faintly sweet–early signs of the Moon-Chasing Festival's floral lanterns already reaching the outer ridge.
As they traveled, Rover kept her gaze ahead, but her thoughts wandered. What kind of person is Jinhsi? What would she say when they met? Could she really have answers?
And more unsettlingly... who was Griseo?
Beside her, the pastel-haired man skipped each tiles to not touch the lines, his smile remained serene as he bantered with Chixia from time to time. Every now and then, he glanced at the sky, or at her, or at the Terminals as if waiting for something. It wasn't fear. It was readiness. As if a part of him always expected something to go wrong.
Rover could relate.
Whatever lay ahead in Jinzhou, it would be the next step towards truth– whatever that truth might cost. And even if neither of them remembered who they were, something told her they wouldn't be walking this path alone... Not anymore.
At least, that's what she hoped.
.
.
The sun had dipped lower, casting a honeyed glow over the cliffs, painting the edges of the jagged terrain in warmth light. The three figures ahead— Yangyang, Chixia, and Baizhi leading the way— chatted in spurts, the occasional laughter or sharp remark echoing faintly between the rock faces. But behind them, a quiet pocket space had formed, where two wandered with slower, more contemplative steps.
Rover walked beside Griseo, the soft crunch of gravel under their boots the only sound for a while. Her eyes scanned the ground ahead and the distant skyline, but her mind drifted— drawn to the Tacet Mark that still faintly pulsed against the back of her hand. That strange warmth hadn't left her since absoring the Crownless's Echo. Neither had the memory of how it looked at Griseo.
"Hey," Griseo voice broke the silence gently, his tone casual but sincere, "You holding up alright?"
She blinked out of her thoughts, turning to glance at him. His pastel-blue hair caught the golden light in soft glints, and his eyes were trained ahead, not pressuring her with a direct gaze.
"Yeah," she replied softly. "Just... thinking."
Griseo hummed thoughtfully, nodding. "Yeah, same here." He kicked a loose stone from the path, watching it tumble off trail. "This whole mess— waking up without memories, no names, no history, and somewhat were just... here. It's weird."
Rover nodded, her expression guarded. "It is. But you're right... especially how we fought earlier. That wasn't normal."
Griseo's gaze finally shifted to her, brows raised. "Exactly! I've been thinking about that for a while now. We moved like we fought together a thousand times before. Not just instinct. It was like choreography— like we knew each other."
Rover was about to respond, but he beat her to it, tilting his head with a teasing smirk. "Also, I gotta say— Your outfit? Definitely weird..."
She turned sharply at him, eyes narrowing. "What?"
But Griseo was already grinning and waving it off. "Nah, nah, forget I said anything. I like it. It's... Stylish in a post-apocalyptic battle-maiden sort of vibe."
Rover let out a small, exasperated sigh and looked forward again— but she wasn't annoyed. Not really.
Then his tone shifted, lowering, a touch more sincere.
"...But seriously. I don't know what all this means. Who we are. What we used to be. But in my mind... with whatever I do remember, whatever instinct I have left... I trust you."
She turned to look at him again, slower this time.
He continued, voice softer than before. "I trust your choices. Your sense of direction. When we're fighting or just trying to make sense of things— your presence keeps me steady. I want to know who we are, yeah, but more than that... I want to know what we were to each other."
A smile slowly spread across his face. "Whatever it was, I hope it was something good."
Rover stared at that smile for a moment— gentle, genuine, full of something quiet and vulnerable beneath all the charisma. It caught her off guard. Not because it was charming (though it was), but because it reached a part of her that felt... forgotten. Untouched since she'd woken up.
And without realizing it, she smiled too. Just a small curve of her lips, but it was there.
Still, a whisper of unease lingered. The memory— no, the feeling— of the Crownless Echo, of how its vanishing gaze had lingered on Griseo. Like it knew him. Like it admired him.
Rover lowered her gaze, brushing her fingers across the Tacet Mark on her right hand.
She didn't know what that Echo meant. Or what it saw. But as her gaze returned to Griseo, watching him walk just ahead now with his hand behind his head, lighthearted as ever...
She knew she could trust him.
No matter what the past held— he was here now.
And for now, that was enough.