Void Realm, Sea of Knowledge.
"…Everything's set. Tomorrow is the day the plan goes into action," Ash said, his eyes fixed on the Void Map as he steered their little boat. "If the breakout fails and the Hunters catch me, well, that's it. Life goes back to square one. But if I succeed… I'll have to stay on high alert. Until I'm sure I'm safe, entering the Void Realm won't be an option."
Sonia nodded in understanding. It made perfect sense.
Exploring the Void Realm required at least four to five hours, often longer. While Ash could log in regularly now under the regimented schedule of the prison, life post-escape would be a constant scramble for survival—finding a way to live while evading the relentless pursuit of Hunters. Finding even a few uninterrupted hours for Void exploration would be nearly impossible.
She sighed in relief. "You scared me for a moment there. I thought…"
Ash raised a brow. "Thought I was going to abandon you?"
Sonia furrowed her brows, playfully donning a pitiful expression. "Exactly. I realized I can't live without you. Just thinking about not seeing you for days leaves me feeling empty, lonely, and cold. It's so depressing I could cry… Oh, by the way, since you'll be busy, does that mean my training's on hold too?"
"Of course not. Training continues as usual. Even if I'm gone, I'll still find ways to supervise your progress. Speaking of which, I noticed you rested for an hour tonight. That's a one-time treat. Tomorrow, we're back to normal."
"Oh, gee, thanks," Sonia said sarcastically.
"You're welcome."
Sonia scoffed, crossing her legs as she glared at Ash. "When will you be back, then?"
"When I'm sure I'm safe," Ash replied. "Remember the Destiny Q&A? It hinted I might leave the Bloodmoon Dominion. Once I've successfully escaped, I plan to search for a way out of the Dominion."
"So no definite timeline, huh?"
"Exactly."
Sonia tilted her head, watching wisps of white mist drift past. Her voice softened. "Is there anything I can help you with?"
"Well," Ash teased, "didn't you say you wanted to become a Songstress? How about singing me a song?"
"You—"
"Haha, just kidding." Ash chuckled. "Tonight, let's skip Knowledge Beasts and focus on hunting Mage Projections."
Sonia instantly understood. "You're hoping to find more information about the Golden Fish through their handbooks?"
Ash nodded. "At our current pace, even if we found an Experience Orb, it wouldn't be enough to push your swordsmanship to the gold level."
"Even if we got rare spirit projections, integrating them into our combat system would take too long. They wouldn't make much of a difference in the short term."
"With only one night left, the Golden Fish is our only shot at a breakthrough."
Over the past few days, they'd slain countless Knowledge Beasts. But most of the loot had either been used to boost Ash's progress or sold off by Sonia for extra cash. Very little had been kept for their personal use.
The main reason? Incompatibility.
Despite their proficiency in Swordsmanship, Hydromancy, Lumomancy, and Psychomancy, these fields were but a tiny slice of the vast Void Realm. It wasn't uncommon for their spoils to be completely unrelated to their specialties.
Even when they did find compatible spirits, they often didn't fit into their current strategies. For example, swordsmanship spirits like Vibration Blade, Rapid Blade, and Poison Blade each followed distinct paths: enhancing destructive power, increasing attack speed, or adding toxic effects.
Using them effectively required expertise in secondary domains—Acoustimancy for Vibration Blade, Frailty Systems for Rapid Blade, or Venomancy for Poison Blade. Mastering any one of these required years of focused study. Half-hearted use would only dilute their power.
For now, their best bet was refining their current arsenal.
"If I can generate Golden Mana," Ash explained, "my Sword Body Barrier will reach 100% activation, boosting its defense at least fivefold. With Varkas's gifted Earth Sword, my strength will skyrocket."
Sonia rolled her eyes. "That's assuming we find the Golden Fish. You sound like someone planning how to spend their lottery winnings before they even buy a ticket."
"And what would you do if you won the lottery?" Ash quipped.
"First, I'd buy a manor in Galasite. Then I'd fake a serious illness and have my mom borrow money from the relatives and villagers who always looked down on us."
"…Why?"
"Those scumbags would refuse, obviously. Then I'd rent a fleet of luxury cars to pick up my mom, blinding them with envy. Anyone who dares ask my mom for money afterward? I'll remind her of their past cruelty and crush their hopes."
"Wow, that's… something."
"Got a problem with it?"
"I think you should hire a sympathetic actor to lend your mom money. When you return in glory, lavishly reward the actor. The stark contrast will hit harder. You'd barely spend anything, and their regret would be unbearable."
"Wow, Ash. You're rotten to the core."
"Aw, you're too kind."
Their banter was cut short as Ash noticed a pale red area marked 'Extremely Challenging' on the Void Map. It was the most dangerous zone within their reach, exactly what he was looking for.
Ash's grin faded as he became serious. "The stronger the Mage Projection, the more likely they'll know about the Golden Fish. Tonight's going to be tough."
"Well, since this is your last night in the Void Realm…" Sonia's palm glowed with a silvery light as she caressed her wooden sword. "Might as well go all out. Worst case, I'll give you my first death."
Miracle: Sharpen Blade for a Day—Activate.
Her sword shimmered with a faint gray aura. Each swing now carried enhanced sharpness, capable of cutting through even the defenses of Frailty Mages.
Ash, meanwhile, summoned his Honeyed Sword, a blade pulled from his own tongue. He also created a doppelgänger, sending it to the other side of the island to divert the projection's attention.
Preparation complete, the duo advanced toward the small island shrouded in white mist.
Now!
Ash thrust his sword forward, a one-winged spirit appearing at the tip. A lightning-quick slash streaked toward the Mage Projection's neck.
Spirit: Mind Blade—Strike!
Sonia leaped off the boat, her movements fluid and graceful as she spun into a devastating attack. Her twisted blade light surged like a meat grinder aimed at the Mage Projection.
Miracle: Blighted Wave Slash—Unleash!
Their signature tactic—distract with the doppelgänger, attack from range, and strike in close combat—was as seamless as ever. Together, they prepared to bring down another powerful opponent.