Time passed with me drowning myself in training—no, actually, it was better to call it torture. This time, thankfully, Ether, the ever so gentle soul that resided in it, was watching over me and Iron. Its gaze similar to an eagle eyeing its next prey. The recipient of its fiery gaze, to no one's surprise, was Iron.
Knowing that Iron had knowingly put me up against that behemoth despite the risks, made me a bit more careful and hesitant whenever I was in its company, which seemed to affect it greatly as it didn't dare to look my way no matter what.
''Seems like Ether did a number on it for it to be behaving like this.''
Beside that little piece of drama, all of my time was devoted to training, I don't know how much time has passed because I don't have anything to count it. All my days consisted of training till my body could no longer stand up. Therefore, most, if not all the time I would pass out because of tiredness and wake up in the grassy creation of Wisdom, all of my wounds healed and my body ready to go through another round of training.
It was much easier this time, when I'm up against Nightmare Creatures of my level, I have managed to conquer the memories of one Nightmare Creature. I do appear to be a bit slow given the silence of both Ether and Iron, I mean I'm no genius and I'm not trying to be one, my motto is to adapt and improve. Very simple and efficient.
The Memory that I conquered after god knows how long was of a Dormant, humanoid insect that I didn't recognise, its arms were in the form of sharp sabres that were fast and deadly. A perfect fit for me. The Memories showed me the Nightmare Creature shedding apart a dozen of similarly premature Protectors just like myself and then eating them one by one, which was a view that my stomach didn't really approve of.
That last thought sprouted another question in me.
'Do we shit?'
I was so focused on training that I didn't even notice it, this body didn't need food nor shitting, a trait that I really, really appreciated because no matter for how long I've been in the Outskirts, The smell of shit, dead bodies, and dead animals always permeated through the air like a persistent, stubborn plague. I've lost count the amount of times I've accidentally stepped onto a pile of shit or rotten corpses. It was to such a high degree that I started to develop a strange obsession with staying clean. Of course that was impossible on the Outskirts but I still did my best.
I would go and clean anything that looked dirty enough like I was on a mission. The people, unexpectedly, were very happy about it. It wasn't every day you would find a person so laser-focused on such a task. Everyone was Worried about whether they would survive tomorrow, if they can even make it to tomorrow. So, it wasn't a surprise when the people flashed him a rare, crooked smile whenever he passed by them, unlike the familiar faces of caution that looked at him as an animal rather than a human.
'Well, we do live like animals. Knowing how to lie and steal is the normal course of education in the Outskirts.'
Getting back to the point, the second blessing of this body is not starving to death. Food has always been the first priority in the minds of people living in the Outskirts. Especially for growing children. I've seen mothers and fathers do things that are too inhuman just to feed their children, and I've seen many children sleeping and never waking up from their slumber in the morning.
For food, they would do anything.
They will kill.
They will r**e.
They will torture.
They will deceive.
They will sell their bodies.
That place is hell on earth.
As my thoughts drifted, my mind replayed memories of a certain figure that made my blood boil.
'Hah…why did I even think of that bastard?'
And with that thought, the unwanted memories came like a wave. Dampening my mood. I immediately opened my eyes to the same grassland with a groan. Standing up, I stretched till some satisfying pops resounded, and then looked down at my hands. My skin, unblemished, started sliding down my arms onto the floor, from beneath, my bones rearranged themselves to form a curved, sharp saber. The muscles steadily revolved around them before tightening with a terrifying grip that created a snap! in the surroundings. Waves of pain crashed into me, concurring but a twitch in my face.
My already wide grin widened even more. One thing that I was particularly excited about was that I had an identical pair of the same weapon, meaning I had two Dormant weapons in place of my arms. Now imagine if I can do this with Memories, Memories gained from Nightmare creatures, I can use Shaping on them and create a double. If I had an Awakened Memory. That means I have two of them with the same attributes and ranks.
'Though I still haven't found out whether the Shaping attribute works with Memories. But if it does…'
The possibilities shook me a bit.
'Then, its potential would be unimaginable.'
'I still wonder though…'
I asked myself.
'What the hell am I supposed to do now? From what I've read in the webtoons or heard from others is that there is a main goal, a central objective to a Nightmare that I have to solve to end it once and for all. But that's the problem, I'm as clueless as a newborn waiting for milk from its dying mother. I've been dragged deep into training, and all my focus was on not losing myself to the Nightmare Creatures.'
Ariel stood still as he pondered with a tired sigh.
***
Far above the bright city of Balance. In the empty void.
Something stirred.
Ancient, indescribable, unknown, unholy.
Along with it, the Void swirled around Itself, a hurricane of destruction started to slowly form out of it.
A second later, its mouth opened, the size of it dwarfing the whole city. What came out wasn't a guttural roar as one would expect. No, what came out was a melody. A melody far too enticing, far too refreshing, and far too horrifying.
Then, Nightmare Creatures poured out like a river. like the lyrics of a melody. With no intention of stopping as all of them rocketed down straight towards the clueless city.
While all of this was happening, the melody was still playing unrelentingly.
***
Ariel walked out of the healing grassland, his body refreshed and ready for another day of torturous training. Ether, standing at the entrance of the healing center. Noticed him and gestured for him to follow.
Seeing he was near it, Ether started speaking.
''Now that you have conquered that memory, we will have to match you with a Void Creature that is equivalent to a Captain. Get ready my liege. It won't be easy.''
Ariel hesitated for a moment before going for it.
''I have a question Ether''
''Yes, my liege?''
''I—.''
Before he could say anything, the two pairs of fluttering wings in place of his eyes twitched. Suddenly, a lovely whisper, a rustle of leaves, and soft, smooth voices pressed against his ears.
Ariel froze, so did Ether. However, one of them for a completely different reason than the other.
Ariel's mind went into a cloudy, comfortable haze of nothingness. His body swayed as everything in his vision was spinning around rapidly. Urging him to slowly close his eyes in order to run from such unavoidable disorientation.
'I'll… just…close my eyes.'
As his eyes drooped, Ariel didn't notice as a sharp nail stabbed into his hand, jolting him out of his reverie.
''Wake up! My liege!''
A shout thundered in his head, making it pulse. He brought his hands to his head only to halt abruptly once more.
His hands…
They were withered, as if all the blood was drained from them. His skin had turned into a sickly, wrinkled mess with shades of black popping here and there.
A sinking dread pooled in his stomach as he looked down frantically, only to be met with a body that was worlds apart from before. He had become a sick, slim excuse for a being. His bones pushed out against his wrinkly skin.
A sudden, weakness hit him, hitching his already rapid breathing.
He fell, but was held up by Ether in the last second.
Ether was surprisingly fine. But it was quiet, too quiet for him as a bad feeling creeped up his spine.
''W-what i-is happening?''
Ether was silent for a good moment, driving more anxiety into Ariel.
''This is too soon.''
Ariel was as confused as he was scared. Desperate for an answer. However, he didn't get the chance to inquire as Ether clasped a hand around his shoulder and dragged him out of the healing center.
The walk was slow, silent, heavy, and tiring for his weak body. It was a while before they reached the front doors that ominously stood in their way.
Ether opened the door with a creak, as the incandescent light filtered in and bathed their bodies in its warm glory.
Their vision adjusted to the light in a second. But what greeted them outside was something Ariel would never forget in his whole life. something that will send chills up his spine.
It was…
Silence.
Deafening, thick silence.
Thump! Thump!
That silence was nothing compared to the rapidly growing heart beat of Ariel as his vision took in the sight before him.
Corpses. Drained, wrinkly, hallow corpses laid down helplessly on the ground. Their usual grinning mouths now open in a silent, empty, blood curdling screams.
The corpses…
There was no end to them, their bodies dragged on as far as his eyes can see. All of them dead in the same, unnatural way.
His mind was also silent, no voices coming in and greeting him like usual, the voices that he had grown used to.
They were no more.
Only silence remained. And it was suffocating him.
But he didn't dare to disturb it.
After all, it was this silence that kept him sane.