บท 8: 『2nd Layer』
"Go!"
"But..."
"There's no time! Mama will see you later." A woman urged her child.
Burning.
Everything was engulfed in flames. As the sound of the crimson scene was drowned in screams, a girl could be heard crying and running.
"Good girl, you've always been such a hard worker. I'm sorry, I won't be able to see you grow up to be a splendid woman..." She smiled softly, looking at the silhouette of her child.
"There she is! The Clan leader!"
"Come at me!" She exclaimed, the flames in her amber eyes matched the scene perfectly.
"Surround her!"
Figures appeared one another, their attire was as pure as white with gold insignias. Aiming to strike at the lone dignified woman.
"...Mama will always love you, Caroline."
<<----------->>
"..."
"Behind you! Carol!"
"What!?"
*Pierce*
The arrow pierced the giant bee, sending it down. Naoki's control over his soul nodes seems to have greatly improved.
"You okay? That was close."
"Ah... I'm sorry, I was just lost in thought." Astria said, still in a daze.
"Is it about your mother?"
"-!? That's right..."
Naoki was experiencing the phenomena of soul connection, which explains why he had a broad sense of what she was thinking.
"She told me that someday, she'd want to meet the person that I'll be married to." She explained.
"I see..." He said nothing more, silently absorbing the scene.
"...wait, did you just call me Carol?" Astria asked.
"Isn't it cute? It's much easier to roll off the tongue." Naoki smiled grinningly.
In the middle of a grand forest, inside the domain of Avery, two people could be seen near a river bank. It seems they had just taken a break after fighting.
"True... I do admit it's hard to pronounce my name..."
"Fine, you may call me that." Carol sighed.
"See? Anyways, let's go. We're moving on to the next layer, no?" Naoki said excitedly.
"It's not that different compared to here though..."
Astria has been on the second layer before. After all, before her soul was even mended, she was still stronger than Naoki. They began walking and after a while...
"That's right-! Before I forget. Is it fine if I hold your hand?" Naoki asked, sounding stiffer than usual.
"...you know I can read your mind, Nao-Kun." She snickered.
"Please stop! Don't mention it!" Naoki grimaced.
It seems that Carol had recalled from his memories what he was often called by someone, which is causing Naoki's reaction.
"...fine. We're going to be together from now on, after all." Carol slowly reached for his hand.
"-I'm sorry if I don't do it right, It's my first time after all." She continued.
"Don't worry, just leave it to me, Carol," Naoki said, tightening his hand around her
"...!"
"Though I say that, I'll need your help as well, you know..." Naoki said embarrassingly.
"Mhm, I don't mind." She tried to say in nonchalance but was unable to hide the smile on her face.
<<----------->>
Drifters
Creatures of a domain that holds the key to the next layer. Often, a drifter is a creature of the next layer that somehow is on the preceding layer, hence the name.
They'd need to defeat one in order to get a Domain Gate which invokes a portal that leads to the next layer. They cannot purchase it since, like soul fragments, if it is not used, it would become useless after a set period of time.
"Naoki, look over there. It's a Silvaine."
"Silvaine...?"
Astria explained, it seemed that it was a snake-headed creature. It was similar to snakes in general but it was standing upright, had six arms, is silver-colored, and is equipped.
"That's a drifter of the 2nd layer. What should we do?" Astria asked even though she had already readied her weapon.
"This is the perfect time to try this, [Shadow]," Naoki said, activating his newly-named Soul Skill.
"Eh?"
Andrew had discouraged Naoki to use the Soul Skill in the city since he'll be caught immediately. Apparently, if you use invisibility in the city, one would be immediately apprehended and questioned. It was suspicious to be invisible in a bustling city after all.
"Ahh... I remember. You had a unique... childhood."
"..."
"I'll murder you later." Naoki flinched, slightly losing control of his [Shadow].
Naoki was inching closer to the silvaine, he began assessing where best to hit the monster without being discovered. He readied his arrows, which were invisible as well, and aimed at the beast.
*Pierce*
It hit the side of its head
*Screech*
"I see..."
It was still alive. Originally, Naoki had aimed for its eye but the arrow had lost its invisibility the moment it left Naoki's hand; which led to the monster noticing. It seems that the Soul skill only works if it's near him.
"I got it!" Astria lunged forward, reading her lightning-infused blade.
*Crack* *Zap*
"SCREEEEE!" The monster wailed.
"...?"
"Eh...? Isn't it weaker than usual?" Astria looked to Naoki.
It seems that Naoki's arrow was imbued with his poison node which explains why the monster wasn't able to defend Astria's attack.
*Sigh*
"I knew it."
"Hehe, I'm sorry for stealing your glory." Naoki smiled at his partner.
The monster began disintegrating. Its soul is condensing but instead of a soul fragment forming, it was in the form of a void rupture. It sparked different colors every now and then.
It was the Domain Gate.
"I know it's late to ask this but... how did you get so strong?" Astria asked.
While Astria can recall memories of Naoki, it was not perfect. It was often hazy and sometimes unclear. It was abnormal after all, how could Naoki keep up with her? she thought to herself. In terms of strength, a teenage girl is enough to beat a middle-aged man who had devoted themself to cultivating their soul.
"It's gonna be long..."
"I don't mind. After all, we'll be spending all of our time together from now on." Astria softly smiled.
"I see, then I'll tell you about it as we go." He smiled back.
Naoki, with Astria at his side, proceeded to the Domain Gate—as he touched it, it expanded, opening the way to the 2nd layer. The two stepped in and was talking about their lives.
It's unknown how far they'll go in this world, but they didn't care. For them, all that mattered to them right now was that they have finally found a place to belong. It was a sudden situation, but one they both welcomed and thanked for.
Soon, they'll realize that this bond, which was formed out of sheer coincidence, is something that they wouldn't replace even if it meant fighting against the world.
ความคิดของผู้สร้าง 
Lacyan
Lacyan Hello everyone! I have started writing in 1000 words per chapter (For faster releases) and also for me to feel more inclined to write.
I hope you don't mind the changes (;-;")
This chapter is relatively slow, I know. With that in mind, I hope you look forward to the following chapters since...
*spoiler alert*
It will be the start of the Semi-Annual Faction Recruitment Tournament! Where various factions of Avery (which was foreshadowed in volume 1) are hosting a tournament for them to recruit new cultivators among their ranks. Naturally, I am excited to write this part since things are finally moving!
Thanks, and stay tuned~
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