Zami stirred awake, the faint bioluminescent glow of Forsaken Hollow casting dim light over his resting spot. His body ached, the strain of endless battles pressing into his muscles and bones like a constant reminder. He sat up, shaking the weariness from his limbs, and instinctively reached for his katana.
The blade sat beside him, its dark surface marred with scratches and nicks. The glowing white symbols etched into its surface flickered faintly, a testament to its long and arduous use. Zami's silver eyes studied it for a moment, his expression as blank as always, but his thoughts churned. *You've been with me for so long, through countless battles, yet I've never seen you in this state. I'll need to fix you soon… somehow.*
His stomach growled faintly, and Zami rose to his feet, stretching before setting off to find food. Navigating the hollow's desolate terrain, his eyes scanned the area for anything familiar. Soon, he spotted clusters of purple mushrooms growing along the jagged rocks.
He knelt, plucking them with practiced efficiency. These mushrooms were one of the few reliable sources of sustenance he'd discovered over his thousands of years in the colony. Their bitter taste was far from pleasant, but his body had long since adapted to the strange flora and fauna of this world.
Carrying his find, he continued his search for water. After a short trek, he came upon a stagnant pool of black water nestled between cracked stones. Without hesitation, Zami knelt and cupped his hands, drinking deeply. The water was thick and metallic, its taste sharp and unpleasant, but he'd consumed it countless times before. His body, hardened and evolved from millennia of survival, absorbed it without issue.
Returning to his resting spot, Zami gathered a few dried vines and flint, quickly sparking a fire. The mushrooms sizzled over the flames, their bitter aroma filling the air. As he waited for them to cook, Zami unsheathed his katana and laid it across his lap, examining its state more closely.
The once-pristine blade was chipped, its edge dulled from endless strikes against creatures and vessels. The symbols along its surface still glowed faintly, but they flickered inconsistently, a reflection of the weapon's wear and tear. *You're holding on, just like me,* Zami thought.
As he ate the cooked mushrooms, his thoughts drifted to the shard he had discarded outside the Bone Monarch's fortress. He had thrown it away in the heat of the moment, its power no longer useful to him at the time. Now, as he reflected on its loss, he felt a pang of regret.
Would it have made a difference? he wondered. No… it's no use now. It's gone.
He finished his meal, his strength returning incrementally with each bite. With his katana back in its sheath and his resolve solidified, Zami stood once more. His mind was already shifting to the next challenge, the next battle that awaited him.
The Eternal Hunger and the Shattered Dominion…
The journey was far from over.