About ten days had passed since the start of their journey. Mordret would occasionally come up again, talking with him, but he would pretend that he had a time limit.
It was now that Arcless — the graze that came from Laylah — returned.
It had finished evolving.
"Hell yeah."
Quickly, Caster summoned its runes again. He wanted to see what changes it would have.
***
Graze Name: Arcless
Graze Description: [This elegant archer, Laylah, once renowned for her steady aim and gentler heart, fell to the hands of the dreaded "Architect of ■■" in the midst of a shattered island. She and her loyal cohort launched a daring ambush upon the Architect, determined to end his quiet reign of unseen ruin. But within the twisting plane of souls where the true battle was waged, Laylah gave everything she had to shield her companions. Her spirit burned bright but was snuffed out in an instant against the Architect's impossible design. Now, bound as his graze, she is the echo of a sacrifice made in defiance of a force that should never have been faced.]
Rank: Ascendent
Cores: [1/7] --> [2/7]
[Evolution finished.]
[Merging Unavailable.]
Soul Sea: Inactive
Status: Graze
Attributes: [Empathic Sensitivity], [Directional Hearing].
Abilities: [Telekinesis], [Telekinetic Perception], [Telekinetic Field].
***
'Merging? What is that supposed to mean?'
Caster gave it some thought, and it turned to be fairly obvious. It simply meant that grazes could potentially be merged together. As for what merging exactly entails can only be found out if he gets the chance for it.
'It's genuinely going to be so hard for me to maintain physical strength through cores for me, since I need to keep spending cores to evolve like this...'
One thing was certain, these evolutions wouldn't have any major changes for now.
'I suspect that there might be some change at 7/7 cores, but I'm not sure how willing I am to try to get it to reach that...'
If Caster gets an opportunity to get his graze to 7 cores, he would take it, but at the moment, he needs to prepare for the second nightmare, and the future. So, he gave it up for now.
Currently, Caster just felt like he wasted a core for no reason. But as if the world wanted to prove that wrong, he saw two abominations in the distance. The world wanted Caster to test the evolved graze.
"They're both corrupted monsters."
Tracker informed Caster. It was their usual way of hunting.
'Corrupted monsters... that's a little risky. I don't have a lot time accumulated in my hourglass charm... but... yeah I shouldn't have too much trouble. I'm going to use my graze anyways, so it shouldn't drain my charm.'
(Note: It has been mentioned before, but using graze does not activate Caster's flaw. Because Caster's aspect is creating these grazes, utilizing them is another thing. Kind of like mordy creating mirror beasts uses a core and essence, but the mirror beast can be used without activating his own aspect.)
"Keep moving forward, I'll distract them and join you soon."
Tracker nodded before turning around to obey his order.
It was really not bad for her to follow this, because if Caster dies to those monsters, she's free. If not, then nothing changes which isn't a net positive, but it isn't a net negative either.
Caster waited for Tracker to move out of sight before he launches an attack on the abominations.
He wasn't very secretive while waiting and hence alerted the two monsters.
Taking a closer look at them, Caster saw that the two monsters were in a symbiotic relationship of sorts.
'No, not exactly, but they both seem to be working together.'
One of them towers over the other, its lanky frame held in a crooked posture. Its skin is a mottled, uneven texture. It held a large bow at the back. The bow seems almost grown into its form, almost as if it was an organic extension of the creature rather than a weapon it carries. Its fangs protrude prominently, long, jagged, and uneven, giving its mouth a constantly snarling appearance.
The other creature is shorter but no less unsettling. Its build is more compact, its posture slightly hunched. Two massive, thick, asymmetrical, horns rise from its skull. It had similar fangs like the other, towering monster. However, it looked... feminine.
'I'm not pent up, am I? That looks like a female monster... yeah?'
Since the two corrupted monsters had noticed Caster and were rushing over to him at terrifying speeds, Caster prepared himself for the showdown.
He activated the graze, immediately giving him a 6th sense. The passive telekinetic perception ability.
It disoriented Caster, alot. He had only used it twice, so using it in a real fight would be risky to say the least.
Caster was not confident at all about using this perception, before the evolution it might have given a slight advantage, but right now? No chance. It was a disadvantage more than an advantage.
It was almost at twice the previous strength.
The amount of information it was giving Caster was simply too much for him to work around. At least for now.
'Shit.'
Using the telekinesis ability on himself, Caster began levitating a few inches above the ground.
Caster was attempting to fly.
However, he lacked control. After reaching a few high, he wasn't able to control his flight. He landed back down and simply used it on the ground, raising a boulder and throwing it on the towering monster which was approaching extremely fast.
Caster's gaze went over to its bow. It hung behind it, on the its back, unused.
"Why is it not using its bow?!"
Caster simply summoned the Moon Sabers and the Nameless Sun, waiting. In the time the towering monster would approach Caster, he would command Evermelt to ward off the other one for the time being.
It weakened his defenses, but Caster didn't want to fight two on one. And Caster was extremely fast, so getting hit was a hard task.
When it got close and swung its claws at Caster, he activated his aspect and stepped aside in a swift motion, launching a sharp swing at the beasts neck.
The beast, who's back was facing the swing, didn't even try to avoid it. It simply moved the bow in its back like it was its own body part and used it to parry his attack.
"What?!"
The parry launched Caster a few feet back, unfortunately in the direction of the other monster.
The towering monster seemed to be hurt too, after all the Nameless Sun attacks the soul too, not just the body.
Utilizing this opening, Caster used the telekinetic ability to keep the monster restrained.
It seemed to be fiercely resisting it, like it was a raging beast.
'Might as well be.'
Rushing in, Caster closed in on it, almost stabbing it in the heart, or well whatever it had in the middle of its chest, however its tail unexpectedly slammed Caster on the side, knocking him away multiple meters towards the right.
It made him cough blood.
'I think I punctured my left lung... fuck...'
He would have normally never fell for that attack, but being overwhelmed by the information was really doing him wonders.
Not the good kind of wonders.
Caster used the telekinesis to pull his body away and pick himself up. Physically getting up was too slow.
The towering monster, roughly eight feet in height, launched a barrage of raging attacks at him which he was barely parrying away.
He activated the Telekinetic Field to weaken the monster, but it barely did an effect.
"Just one hit... I just need one good hit..."
A high pitched schriek rang in Caster's ears, stinging it.
Just then, the spell whispered something to Caster in its usual soft and feminine voice.
[You have slain a Corrupted Monster, Queen of the Shadreth]
[You have received a memory...]
"What? Evermelt, you crazy bastard, you killed a corrupted monster all by yourself!"
Caster was overjoyed and also dumbfounded.
So much so that he gave the towering monster another massive opening, however, he narrowly escaped the barrage of attacks.
The monster fell into rage.
It did not understand death, but it understood loss.
It understood the sudden wrongness in the world through the sudden absence of his queen.
A sound that was no less than a roar came out of its jagged, bleeding mouth. Its scream tore through the clearing.
However much rage it was in didn't matter. It didn't have a chance against him anymore.
Through Caster and Evermelt's coordinated attacks, it was being overwhelmed. Caster's telekinesis was being used to: hinder its movement, defend using nearby material, distract it. While Evermelt was sneaking up on it from its blindspot to cover it entirely with his burning liquid form.
This created an overwhelming combo that the towering monster was unable to escape.
In the openings created during this, Caster would utilize the Nameless Sun to get rid of the monster swiftly.
Its soul damaging properties were extremely dangerous.
It wasn't long before the towering monster fell on its knees, bleeding from multiple patches, and burnt to crisp on some other patches.
[You have slain a Corrupted Monster, The Shadreth Guardian.]
[You have received a memory...]
Caster immediately turned the graze off and plopped down on the ground. The mental strain from it was crazy. It also drained a decent chunk of his essence, perhaps due to being an ascended graze, making it not too reliable as of right now, but it was good for support if Caster gets used to the senses.
After a short rest, he absorbed the soul shards and got up.
"I got two memories in a row... finally. The memories I get are so far spaced out between each other... I guess the spell has deemed it that I do not require too many memories."
Sigh.
Caster was glad to get the two memories he now has though. They were both going to be transcendent memories.
The first transcendent memories he got on his own.
Before checking up on the memories though, Caster decided to store the corpses of these monsters in his spatial memory, it may come in handy to him later for making memories when he gets good enough for it.
The material looked to be really good for an armor. Maybe even a bow, considering what the monster had on its back.
"It didn't use its bow till the end. I wonder why. Mabye he didn't have arrows, or maybe the bow was... ah whatever. It doesn't reall matter much. I guess I should join Tracker, I'll look at the memories in a bit."
Caster might have had an easier time in the fight had he not used the graze simply because how how inexperienced he was at using it.
However, the fight made one thing clear. Sacrificing the core might have been worth it in the long run. Because the powers got nearly twice as strong from it. It is very likely that the abilities wouldn't get stronger linearly in the future cores, but at least this second one can end up showing its worth unexpectedly.
Before the evolution, Caster couldn't even have attempted flight with its telekinesis, not because it was weak, but because the perception of it didn't extend far enough to suitably fly. However, not it felt just large enough to attempt flight.
Of course, that would require immense amount of training and control to fly comfortably, and possibly use it in combat, however as it was now, he can't fly.
"Another thing in the infinitely increasing list of 'To get better at'. Damn..."
In just a couple minutes, Caster caught up with Tracker.
"Let's rest here. The next island is ascending, while this one is going down."
Tracker nodded without even looking back at Caster.
He didn't pay that any mind, and created a small camp with Tracker silently.
It was early evening right now and Caster simply looked sat next to a fire, resting. Looking far in the distance.
It was finally time to look at the memories he got.
***
Memory Name: Veil of Love
Memory Rank: Transcended
Memory Tier: 2
Memory Type: Weapon
Memory Description: [Weren't we beautiful once...]
Memory Enchantments: [Death Dealer], [Flames of Love].
[Death Dealer]: This arrow is able to consume a large amount of essence to deliver an obliterating strike.
[Flames of Love]: Once shot, this arrow burns everything in its path.
***
Memory Name: Everlost Achiever
Memory Rank: Transcended
Memory Tier: 2
Memory Type: Weapon
Memory Description: [...I promise we were.]
Memory Enchantments: [Neverending Loss], [Broken Love].
[Neverending Loss]: This bow can create an unending supply of arrows.
[Broken Love]: What has already been broken can not be broken frurther.
***
'Oh wow... I was actually in need of a good bow, I gave all my bow and arrow memories to Kai and the others on the shore. This is awesome. How symbolic of the spell with these two memories... I almost feel bad for killing them. The two monsters I killed were likely a couple seeing the enchantments...'
The fire crackled, startling him for a moment.
Pretending like that didn't just happen, Kieron continued his thoughts.
'The enchants are pretty good. The bow gives infinite arrows as long as I spend essence and is very durabale. The arrow can burn everything in its path, not sure what the extent of the burning will be, but I guess it will be pretty strong considering this is a transcended weapon. It also has the Death Dealer enchantment, which is just really good and versatile. This might have been a jackpot.'
Kieron took out some food that he had stored in his spatial memory, the starhoarder. It was completely fresh due to its enchantments. He gave a portion of it to Tracker.
He wasn't planning on resting right now, but the fight had left him drained of essence a little.
The two of them were sitting in relatively close proximity, to stay near the flames. But neither spoke up to talk to the other. Soon later, the two of them were laying on a makeshift blanket.
Just like that, the entire evening and then the night went by with neither speaking a single word until the end.
Upon waking up, the two continued on their journey to the Night Temple.
They traveled across islands that were barren and stark, and across islands that were lush with beautiful verdure. Across islands that teemed with vile abominations, and islands that were full of nothing but bones and ash. Across islands that were open and vast, and islands that were small and hid unseen dangers behind a veil of deception.
Along the way Kieron would continue practicing his weaving, his progress in it was rather smooth. Just a few weeks ago he had just barely made a weave, but now, he was able to form the basic, essential structure of the weaves with decent proficiency.
This practice left him more exhausted, but it wasn't too bad considering he was a terror.
It all still felt unreal to him. He still didn't feel like he was part of this world.
Changing the way he acted, his name, identity in his mind had all made him more part of this world, but there was no denying it.
Kieron still didn't feel like he was Caster. Of course, it was because he wasn't, but despite over a year of pretending and forcing himself to think as if he's Caster, he still can't.
Its as if there is a "wall" between him and Caster.
Of course, Kieron had realised that he had been slipping up and thinking of himself as Kieron more often. But it couldn't be help from his perspective.
It was really hard to pretend to be someone else in ones own mind.
He started pretending to be Caster on the inside in the first place only to fool others and play a better Caster on the outside. But now, it had been over a year. Nobody would suspect him of being his own self, yeah?
He couldn't be sure of that, so he decided to still think of himself as Caster on the inside. It was really disorienting.
It wasn't long before a day arrived when a dark line became visible far away, over the northern horizon. When Caster first saw it, he stood motionlessly for a while, looking north with a dark expression.
The Hollow Mountains.
After so long, he finally saw them again.
"Not that I wanted to see you again."
Every day after that, the black line grew bigger and closer. Soon, he was already able to discern individual peaks and the jagged shape of the mountain chain that pierced the sky, like the fangs of a colossal dragon.
And on the day that the dark peaks towered above, shrouded in flowing mist… they finally reached Night Temple.
***
Originally, chapter 67 and 68 were supposed to be one chapter. But I kept on kept on writing haha. Once i reached the 5200 word mark I realised that I should just split them into two chapters into 2400 and 2900 word chapters roughly.
Also, listen to All directions by Son Lux, genuinely such a beautiful song.