The sun's early rays painted the sky in hues of pink and gold as the group silently pursued the art of fishing, their figures mirroring the tranquility of the dawn. Amidst the calm, a sudden cry shattered the peace.
Jimothy's voice echoed through the air: "SHE IS AWAKE! C2 IS AWAKE, EVERYONE GET READY."
In swift response, Anon hurried to the tent where C2 was, his gaze a mix of worry and anticipation. Inside, C2 sat, her eyes reflecting her recent ordeal, her voice steady but tinged with uncertainty.
"Are you okay, C2?" Anon's concern was evident.
"Yes, I have not been in control of my body," C2 replied, her words carrying the weight of her experience.
Anon reassured her, his confidence unwavering: "I assumed as much. You are not evil; I could sense someone else controlling you."
Vman's frustration bubbled to the surface: "Why didn't you tell us she was on our side?"
Anon's response was measured: "Revealing the truth prematurely would have disrupted the course of my visions."
Vman's impatience flared: "This is bullshit, you are seriously refusing to tell us?"
Anon's enigmatic demeanor held firm: "Time will reveal all; explanations will ruin the path you take."
Jimothy chimed in and told Vman: "Chill out Vman, he has no reason to hurt us, he knows we wont die."
Vman's frustration simmered, though he relented, if grudgingly: "Fine, but this conversation isn't over."
The group left the tent, their purpose renewed, as they made their way toward Chromdome's dwelling, the repository of knowledge in the city.
Chromdome, taken aback by C2's presence, voiced his surprise: "What is that monster doing here? She could kill people!"
Anon's explanation was concise: "She isn't evil; her drift was controlling her."
Vman, still harboring frustration, pressed on: "Anon isn't forthcoming with details, but we need to know if you've heard of a specialist in drifts in this city. Our quest has led us here; it's a matter of utmost importance."
Jimothy added, choosing his words carefully: "We can't disclose everything, but we are in very big trouble."
Chromdome, the city's foremost authority on drifts, couldn't hide his intrigue: "A drift specialist, you say? Quite the coincidence—I am the most knowledgeable expert on drifts in this city. No one else possesses my level of expertise."
Jimothy, bearing the burden of his cursed arm, revealed the truth with a sense of inevitability: "Alright then, can you take a look at my arm?"
As the cloth fell away, revealing the skeletal, otherworldly appendage, Chromdome's reaction was immediate: "Wait one second, what the hell is that? Is that what I think it is?"
Jimothy's explanation was candid: "We confronted Seiku a few weeks ago. We managed to destroy his body, but he condensed himself and his drift into an orb. I consumed it, and now I'm left with this arm."
Chromdome's words held a somber truth: "You realize what kind of monster resides in your arm, right? With a mere thought, you could level this entire city."
Vman's plea was earnest: "We understand that. What we want to know is how to get rid of this curse."
Chromdome's response was not reassuring: "This curse isn't going away. The drift IS the curse, and now it is a part of you."
Jimothy contemplated his choices: "So, I'm left with the option of either losing my arm or succumbing to its influence?"
Anon's calm wisdom intervened: "Hold on, Jimothy. Let's not make hasty decisions."
Chromdome offered a glimmer of hope: "Indeed, there's no need for rash choices. Right now, the only curse within you is Seiku. In a peculiar way, he has become the drift itself. If you were to defeat Seiku, you might be able to contain his power and break free from his control."
Jimothy and Vman shared a solemn agreement: "Then that's what we'll do. But we recognize that we're not prepared yet. Our last encounter with him nearly cost us our lives, and he was only at a fraction of his full power."
Vman proposed an alternative: "Why not have Anon take care of Seiku?"
Anon reminded them of his role: "This is your battle, not mine. I'm here to guide, not to take action."
Vman accepted the responsibility: "Fine, then teach us, train us. But I must admit, I'm not thrilled about this 'time stuff'."
Anon outlined their next step: "Let's focus on controlling your ID in our upcoming training session. This time, you will face C2 individually, both you and Jimothy, taking turns."
C2, fully aware of her formidable abilities, reassured them: "Are you sure about this? I could seriously harm them."
Anon placed his trust in her expertise: "You understand control better than anyone else. They are strong; don't hold back."
With determined resolve, they prepared to return to the underground battlefield, the site of their earlier confrontation with Seiku. Training, both physical and spiritual, awaited them, and they were ready to face the challenges that lay ahead.