Chương 18: Journey to the Tree (3)
The rest of our journey went well enough. We encountered quite a few Scavengers along the way, along with other Nightmare Creatures, like centipedes that secreted flammable oil and spider-like creatures with steel threads.
We were able to take them out without too much trouble. Nephis would distract them while I attacked from behind, and whenever they turned toward me, they'd falter because of my attributes, giving me the perfect opportunity to deal the finishing blow.
Sometimes Sunny would take control and take out a few on his own. Once, we crossed paths with a Centurion, but it didn't see us, so we were fine.
Cassie had her vision, and just like in the novel, she was distraught. However, I helped her through it, explaining what she had seen: the bloody war, the woman wielding a spear and the corpse in the golden armor. I deliberately left out any mention of the flying archer—he was a surprise for later.
Along the way sunny also recieved the Scavanger Echo to his arsenal, the echo helped in battle and also served as cassies mount, which came in handy.
The most important development however was the fact that i was able to finally get nephis to teach sunny swordsmanship, she gave him the same instructions as she did in the novel and now it became his routine to do a thousand strikes every morning.
So everything went fine.
However, that "fine" didn't last long. About two weeks into our journey, the storm caught up to us. Even though I didn't want to go up the hill where the Centurion was lurking, I decided that it had to be dealt with.
It was as much of a threat to our journey as the demon, so the decision was clear: we had to kill it.
Sunny was in control, so I nudged him.
[We have to climb up right now.]
He nodded and turned to Nephis. "Pleiades says we need to climb up. He sounds concerned, too."
Nephis agreed, and the cohort began to ascend the hill. By the time waves arrived, we had already reached the top.
Sunny's eyes widened at the sight before him—scattered across the cold stone ground were the corpses of dead Scavengers.
Some were mauled, others mutilated, their carapaces torn apart and their limbs strewn about.
"Do you see anything?" Nephis asked, her tone steady. Sunny detached Gloomy and sent it to scout the area, though there was no need—my raven had already done the job. The Centurion was just a few yards away from us.
It didn't take long for Sunny to spot the creature as well. His face paled.
(Pleiades… what exactly is that thing doing here?)
[That Centurion is like a poor little shrimp trying to save itself from the ocean. We need to kill it if we want to save ourselves. Think of it as practice for when we face the Awakened Demon.]
(Are you crazy?!)
[It's going to age like fine wine, trust me. Now, tell Nephis the plan.]
(You mean the suicide mission?)
In the dim light of the storm, Nephis observed Sunny's expression shift as his face regained some color, only to be replaced by a new frown. After a sigh, he relayed the plan to her.
"There's a Centurion," he began, his voice steady but wary. "And Pleiades says we need to kill it. Think of it as practice for the awakened demon… or whatever. He also mentioned a shrimp, but that part I don't really understand."
Her eyes flickered with something between curiosity and determination. She didn't press further about the shrimp comment, instead focusing on the task at hand.
[I really don't mean to be crass, but it's my turn now.]
He stopped in his tracks and grimaced, summoning the [Azure Blade]. It wove itself into existence, and he soon gave me permission.
With permission granted, I took control, feeling my grip tighten around the sword's hilt.
Just before the attack a thought hit me.
'No harm in doing it.'
Focusing on my raven, I commanded it to come to me. It did, and after making it visible, I placed my hand on its beak and concentrated.
Using [Greater Stasis], I upgraded it multiple times. When I was done, the raven shook and trembled before looking at me.
Its eyes were now glowing teal, and the feathers covering its body had grown more beautiful and refined, with a slight glow. Its legs had darkened slightly, and its talons were sharper.
Satisfied, I patted its head and made it invisible again. It flew away and settled on the corpse of a scavenger closer to the centurion.
[Alright, Sunny, you take control. I'm done with what I wanted to do.]
(Did you want to have a moment with your bird?) Sunny asked curiously as he took back control.
[What? Of course not! Do I look that sentimental to you?] I responded, caught off guard by the unexpected question.
(Well, you usually get really stingy with your body time, so I'm curious why you're giving me control.)
[Oh, well, I figured you could really use the experience. Plus, what's the danger in fighting a mere Awakened Monster?]
Not paying much attention to my words, Sunny walked over to Nephis, who was scanning the area.
"I'm ready" he said, gripping the cool hilt of the [Azure Blade].
She nodded and looked over at Cassie.
"Stay here. Don't come out, no matter what" she said sternly, then turned back to Sunny and gave him a nod.
Sunny summoned his echo, which moved ahead while he and Nephis flanked it from both sides. As they neared the centurion, Sunny commanded the scavenger to attack.
With a swift motion, the scavenger slashed at the centurion's torso, causing it to stir awake.
The centurion rose to its feet, locking eyes with the echo, and slashed at it with terrifying speed. The two were soon locked in a fierce battle of screeches and blows.
Each strike carried immense force, the sound of each impact followed by more screeching and slashing.
In just a few minutes, the echo had lost a pincer and had multiple gashes in it's carapace, while the centurion bore deep gashes along its carapace and neck.
Sunny dismissed the echo in fear of it being destroyed, which dissipated into sparks of light.
Unnoticed amid the chaos, Nephis crept up behind the centurion and, with a single, swift motion, hoisted her sword and sliced through its carapace, cutting deep into its side.
The centurion's bone scythes slashed at Nephis with bulldozing speed, but she barely dodged them.
Sunny moved forward, gripping his sword and enhancing it with gloomy. With a single slash, he cut through the chitin on the centurion's leg.
A screech echoed from the creature's mouth as it swung its bone scythe at Sunny, but he dodged, bending low beneath the swipe and following up with another strike at its leg.
Nephis wasted no time, leaping up and piercing the centurion's flesh. The second scythe aimed for her, but missed as she climbed onto the centurion, dislodging her sword and slashing at its neck, aiming to decapitate it.
The centurion ducked its head, avoiding a fatal blow, but its scythe slashed at Nephis, forcing her to raise her sword in defense. The impact sent her flying back several meters, hitting the ground hard.
Cursing under his breath, Sunny gripped his sword and, with one last powerful strike, slashed through the centurion's leg, causing it to stumble and fall.
The centurion's red eyes locked onto Sunny, and its bone scythe came down with deadly intent. Sunny dodged and struck at the scythe embedded in the ground, cleanly slicing through it in a single blow.
Surprised at his own strength, Sunny had no time to react as the centurion screeched again. It jumped to the right, landing behind Sunny.
Before he could turn around, the centurion's remaining scythe lashed out, catching him by surprise. He jumped a little back in order to dodge, but the centurion shifted closer, and the scythe slashed across Sunny's stomach.
Gritting his teeth, Sunny managed to duck just enough to avoid being cut in half, but he collapsed to the ground, a shrill scream escaping his lips.
Nephis rushed toward the distracted centurion and hacked at the remaining scythe, loosening it but not completely severing it.
Turning with the momentum she had left, she delivered a horizontal slash from below, cutting through the scythe completely.
Meanwhile, Sunny lay sprawled on the ground, bleeding profusely. His eyes closed, and he passed out.
Taking control, I immediately activated [Record], using the healing aspect I had recorded. The wound began to close slowly, the bleeding stopped, and the wound nearly healed, but I paused before it could finish.
Looking at the raven, I gave it a command. It cawed and flew into the air, while Nephis held off the centurion, dealing small but steady wounds.
Though each wound caused minimal damage, it didn't matter. The now-visible raven swooped in, its glowing feathers and intelligent eyes filled with anger.
Before the centurion could react, the raven flew right through its neck, severing its head cleanly.
With a heavy thud, the centurion's head hit the cold stone, its blood soaking the surface.
The spell's voice whispered to me:
[You have slain an awakened monster: Carapace Centurion.]
[You have received a Memory: Starlight Legion Armor.]
Not caring much, I looked over at the bloodied Nephis and wheezed, "I… It's dead… Help…"
My weak voice prompted Nephis to sprint toward me, her eyes igniting with a white flame. Soon, pale sparks of Soul Flames enveloped my wound.
Before unconsciousness overtook me, I recorded her aspect, feeling another star brighten within my soul sea.
But that didn't matter. I no longer felt my body, and soon enough, unconsciousness claimed me.
A/N: I know i'm late but had a unexpected visit, tomorrow i'll release another chapter and make a little announcment.
Also hope this fight wasn't to poorly done.
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