Nero looked up, his gaze shifting between Merlin and Lux. The red-eyed man's face twisted in confusion, a reaction Kōri quietly mirrored.
Wait... Nero thought, pursing his lips. If Lux is already qualified to advance, does that mean I'm close to reaching my next Rank as well?
No... it can't be that simple. I still need the name, the ritual... and there must be other requirements I'm unaware of.
But what truly separates a Rank 11 from a Rank 10? Is it merely greater power... or does becoming Rank 10 change something fundamental?
Kōri tilted his head, looking at Lux.
"Why didn't you tell me?... though, congratulations, little Lux."
The amber-eyed boy snorted slightly.
"Little... phew... well, we've been in constant danger. There just wasn't a good time to bring it up."
Kōri nodded with a smile on his face.
"So... does that mean Nero and I are close to Rank up?"
"Rank down, idiot," Merlin emphasized, though he almost dropped the meat.
Sunday—who was sitting on the ground, a meter from the fire—pointed at Merlin with a finger.
"Be careful with the meat. I can see it'll be a few minutes before it's ready to eat, about 5 or 6 minutes."
Merlin deliberately ignored Sunday, his eyes scanning Lux, and he smiled slightly.
"Before I tell you the ingredients for the ritual, Sunday will explain the difference between a Rank 11 and a Rank 10."
Sunday looked up, his eyes narrowing. The Mage returned his gaze and tilted his head toward Lux, his expression showing signs of weariness and laziness.
"Well..." Sunday began, turning to Lux.
Nero closed his eyes, but his ears remained open, searching for even the slightest bit of information.
"The difference between a Rank 11 and a Rank 10 isn't just about power. Rank 10s possess a fixed ability, meaning it doesn't depend on the path."
Lux nodded, then murmured, "I understand."
"That ability is called Spirit Vision. It's like... damn, I don't think you'd understand if I explained it literally..."
Sunday stood up, walked over to Lux, and sat down beside him.
"It's like when you use night vision. Spirit Vision allows its user to perceive the residual traces of Aura left behind by living beings, Sinners, rituals, and artifacts, revealing the paths they took and the intensity of the Aura they released. And finally, you can see the Rank and abilities of an artifact that isn't yours."
Lux lowered his gaze, his face somewhat thoughtful. The blond-haired man wasn't convinced, as Spirit Vision seemed an incredibly powerful ability, but he knew very well that everything powerful comes at a price.
"Anything else?" he asked, the corners of his mouth lifting. "Does it have a weakness?"
"Yes, with Spirit Vision you can see, or smell... I don't know how to describe it. You can 'see' where the Aura is concentrated... and it has a single weakness, every two minutes your body deteriorates a little more. If you keep using it for eight minutes straight, you die, but this only happens once a day."
Lux nodded with his biggest smile. Meanwhile, Nero stood silently, his red eyes widening as he began comparing Spirit Vision to Zero Stage.
At first glance, the two abilities seemed similar. Yet the more Nero compared them, the clearer their differences became. Zero Stage could only observe emotions, predict movements, and see the auras of other Sinners. Spirit Vision, on the other hand, was a tracking ability, something Nero considered useful.
So that's how Axel knew the Rank and abilities of the artifacts he gave us... Nero thought as he approached the campfire to warm himself, since it was starting to get cold.
"Sunday, what do you mean by 'your body deteriorates a little more'? Be more specific," Kōri demanded.
"Ugh... for the first two minutes you feel a weak but persistent headache. At four minutes, the vomiting starts. At six minutes, you start coughing up blood, and your skin cracks, and your vision becomes clouded, almost as if you had cataracts... at eight minutes... your organs tear apart."
Nero jumped, a chill running through his body.
Ugh... that sounds terrifying...
"But the Sinner System, in its beautiful and cursed way, dictated that the longer you keep Spirit Vision active, the more accurate it is."
"That's awful..." Lux murmured, his eyes wide. After all, none of his abilities had such a glaring weakness, a fact that surprised him.
Merlin sighed heavily. Then, in a somewhat reflective tone, he said, "The Sinner System always offers you a beautiful apple... then forces you to discover the worms inside."
Sunday nodded, a hint of weariness in his eyes.
"We're nothing more than damned fools who challenged the orthodox order of life for a taste of power... and now look at us. Living in caves, sleeping beside monsters, and fearing every tomorrow. That's why they call us Sinners... 'cause we believed we could defy the laws of the world and life without consequence, and fate repays that arrogance with misfortune..."
Lux remained silent, realizing he'd stumbled into a situation beyond his control.
Kōri simply gazed down, lost in thought...
But Nero... he just sighed, a mixture of remorse and acceptance merging in his heart, like a blacksmith forging a sword.
"I guess that's just how we humans are... selfish, self-centered, envious, and prone to lust... maybe that's what makes us human... isn't it?"
Nero lowered his gaze and thought:
I think I understand now why I have such bad luck... Sinners aren't feared simply because they're powerful. They're feared because they're brilliant enough to understand the price... and foolish enough to pay it anyway... although I think I fall into that category too...
Merlin almost replied to Nero, but suddenly slapped himself.
"Enough with these pointless musings, we need to eat... if I'm going to die, I'd rather do it with a full stomach."
Sunday nodded and inspected the meat. It was cooked from its lowest point to a little more than halfway through.
"Better than nothing... find something to put this meat on, we're not immune to burns like..."
Merlin looked at Sunday with a raised eyebrow.
"Like the Rank 11 Berserker of the Path of Wrath?"
Sunday smiled amusedly and nodded as he took the rope with the meat.
Nero searched for five pieces of the softest rind he could find, which he had lying to one side. Then, he went to the campfire and placed them next to Sunday.
Sunday is a great cook, and he's also good at survival... Where are you from, Sunday? Who are you really?
Kōri placed two pieces on each plate, and Merlin took care of dividing them.
The five of them sat on the floor. Lux touched the meat and immediately pulled his hand away.
"Ouch, hot... Wizard, you still haven't told me the ingredients for Rank 10 Comedian."
Merlin nodded, fanning Cyz's flesh with his hand. But then he remembered something: Lux doesn't know, or shouldn't know, anything about the dangers of advancing in rank.
The Mage almost began to speak about these dangers, but first decided to explain the ingredients.
"Well, if my perfect memory serves me right, the materials are as follows: a comedy mask, a 'monk's worm' flower, and finally, 10 sunflower seeds."
Nero looked at Merlin with a strange expression.
"What good are the ingredients without a ritual?"
Kōri nodded gracefully.
"I agree with Nero."
Merlin snorted with glee and, looking at Lux, declared, "Do you think such important information would be free? Of course not! That's why, if you want the ritual, you must pay me."
Lux memorized the ingredients for the Rank 10 Path of Happiness ritual, 'Comedian,' but his expression immediately shifted to one of surprise.
"Pay? With what money?... Besides, why would you want money when we're..." Lux pointed upwards, "...in a fucking cave?"
Merlin brought a hand to his face, and a small laugh escaped his lips.
"Lux, I don't always want money. I just want you to do me a favor in exchange for your Rank 10 ritual."
Lux tilted his head, while Merlin lowered his shirt, leaving his chest bare and exposed.
On his chest, right in the center, was a mark: a mirror with golden edges. This mirror shone with a color similar to white, and its edges gleamed gold, revealing an elegant and ostentatious figure.
Nero, who had a piece of meat in his mouth, was deeply surprised.
He... could "Rank down"... but why hasn't he? Is it so difficult?... although it's possible that... no, he's been in this world for two years, and if Lux was able to be promoted in a month... maybe he doesn't want to Rank down because it's dangerous. No, Merlin is someone who prefers to have more power regardless of the pain or danger... so... that means Merlin doesn't want to Rank down!
Lux sighed, almost trembling, because just looking at that mark on Merlin's chest sent shivers down his spine.
"S-so..." Lux murmured, looking away, "what do you want me to do, Mage?"
Merlin smiled, straightening his shirt.
"I want you to help me with my Ranks 10 rituals. Could it be dangerous? Yes, but only if you don't do as I say."
Kōri looked up, noticing a crucial detail. After deeply reflecting on Merlin's words, she broke her almost perpetual silence:
"Plural?"
The four boys turned to face Kōri. Merlin, noticing the white-haired girl's lingering gaze, raised an eyebrow.
"What do you mean?"
"Mister Magician," she said in a strangely sharp voice, "Why did you use 'my Ranks' instead of 'my Rank'?"
The silence descended like a relentless storm, silencing even Nero's deepest thoughts.
"Merlin, do you have two Paths?... Are you like Nero?"