While resting and recovering his strength, Lumian summoned his runes.
Name: Lumian.
True Name:King of the Monster.
Rank:Dreamer.
Class:Monster.
Monster Cores: [2/7].
Monster Fragments:[733/2000].
Memories:[Fisherman's Garment], [Assassin's Sword], [Igneous Rock], [Blood Lance], [Water Pearl], [Stellar Legion Armor], [Dark Wing], [Blood Flower], [Sword of Terror], [Fragment of Dawn], [Fragment of Dusk].
Echoes: [Shell Demon], [Man-Eating Dolphin].
Attributes: [Lesser Steel Body], [Divine Spark], [Lightning], [Darkness], [King's Brand].
Aspect: [Lord of Monsters].
Aspect Legacy: [Sword Dance].
Aspect Legacy Mastery: [0/7].
Aspect Rank: [Divine].
Aspect Skills: [Amplification].
Aspect Skill Description: [The entire body receives a massive boost to physical and mental abilities.]
Flaw: [Non-Human].
---
Lumian felt satisfied as he observed his runes. Undoubtedly, his current state was completely different from the first time he had seen them, when he possessed no echoes and only had the memory of the Fisherman's Garment. Now, in contrast, he had an extensive arsenal of memories and armor.
Furthermore, his experience in fighting monsters and horrors was much greater. He also had two subordinates, whom he called Demon and Delph: one was a Demon-class creature that obeyed him, and the other was an Awakened monster.
Lumian stood up and summoned the Assassin's Sword. It was time to start practicing his sword dance to unlock the first step of his Aspect Legacy.
Following the movements from his dreams, he began to dance with the sword, letting his body enter a tranquil trance. Lumian ignored Asael's curious gaze.
"Why are you dancing with a sword?" asked Asael.
"I'm training," replied Lumian, moving his body somewhat stiffly. He still needed a lot more training to move with the same agility as the woman from his dreams.
Over the next few hours, Lumian continued until he stopped from fatigue. His muscles burned from the effort and his breathing was erratic, but he felt his mental clarity had increased after practicing the dance.
After several days of rest, during which they fed on the messenger's meat, they decided to leave the area.
Unfortunately, there was no exit cave, so they would have to go back the way they came, which wouldn't be a problem for Asael.
Once they left the Hollow Mountains, they would have a long journey ahead. Lumian observed his friend, who had used the monster's feathers to craft a sturdier garment for himself.
"How long will it take us to reach the Dark City?"
"About three or four months, depending on the weather," Lumian joked. However, Asael didn't find the comment amusing.
"Well, let's go. It just dawned, so we have to cover a good distance."
Saying this, Lumian took several sips from his canteen. Soon, the duo began the return trip along the same route, passing by the corpse of the first castle lord, covering their eyes until they reached the boat and rowing upstream.
After an indeterminate amount of time, they finally emerged from the underworld. Lumian summoned the Shell Demon, which began climbing the enormous hole to the surface. Ordering it to carry them out of the mountains, the monster obeyed and left them outside as the sun had already set.
After resting through the night, they continued their journey the next day.
The journey progressed quickly during the day. Asael and Lumian made their way through the Crimson Labyrinth with the help of their echoes and weapons, coupled with their good teamwork, facing a multitude of threats and creatures of all kinds.
From monsters controlled by the Blood Flower to creatures emerging from the Dark Sea, from which they had to flee to avoid death.
Lumian increased his fragment count each day, albeit slowly, because most daytime monsters were Awakened, and only the occasional one was a Demon; the night ones were Demons and higher.
That's why he chose his fights carefully.
However, his subordinates also benefited.
The Shell Demon's core fragments were around one thousand one hundred and sixty-three. Meanwhile, the Dolphin continued to increase its number slowly.
Using the Man-Eating Dolphin, they traveled on its back at night until reaching an elevated surface to rest.
At some point, Asael obtained several Awakened memories and a third-level Ascended memory that came from an Awakened Tyrant they had killed with difficulty, which controlled a group of centipedes.
It was a sword with two enchantments: the first granted minor regeneration to its wielder, and the second poisoned the enemy with every wound it received, eventually killing them.
Lumian felt a bit happy for his friend, though Asael rubbed his third-level Ascended weapon in his face.
Lumian also practiced his sword dance. The results were evident: his body was more agile and flexible, achieving things he couldn't have before. His instincts sharpened, making him more lethal in combat.
Something he proved when fighting stronger and larger nightmare creatures.
Thanks to this, his understanding of battle grew exponentially.
Finally, after three long and grueling months of travel, Lumian had reached the rank of Devil and was halfway to becoming a Tyrant.
---
Name: Lumian.
True Name:King of the Monster.
Rank:Dreamer.
Class:Devil.
Monster Cores: [4/7].
Monster Fragments:[2480/4000].
Memories: [Fisherman's Garment], [Assassin's Sword], [Igneous Rock], [Blood Lance], [Water Pearl], [Stellar Legion Armor], [Dark Wing], [Blood Flower], [Sword of Terror], [Fragment of Dawn], [Fragment of Dusk], [Blue Sword], [Blood Bow], [Blood Arrow], [Arrow Quiver].
Echoes: [Shell Demon], [Man-Eating Dolphin], [Ancient Centipede], [Black Knight].
Attributes: [Lesser Steel Body], [Divine Spark], [Lightning], [Darkness], [King's Brand].
Aspect: [Lord of Monsters].
Aspect Legacy: [Sword Dance].
Aspect Legacy Mastery: [0/7].
Aspect Rank: [Divine].
Aspect Skills: [Amplification].
Aspect Skill Description: [The entire body receives a massive boost to physical and mental abilities.]
Flaw: [Non-Human].
---
Lumian smiled. He had obtained good memories and, best of all, two new echoes which he turned into monsters.
The first was the Ancient Centipede, a fallen monster he killed with the Shell Demon's help, obtaining its echo and making it his third subordinate by spending one hundred fragments.
Then there was the Black Knight, which he wasn't sure what it was, as it was a wounded fallen monster they encountered while taking shelter on a high coral. Lumian could tell it was a surprising warrior, as it could fight Asael in a serious sword duel.
Fortunately, he killed it, obtained its echo, and then it became his beast, as his fourth subordinate.
He sometimes used it for training to improve his combat style.
Both the centipede and the Black Knight would become a force to be reckoned with in the future.
And by granting them the King's Brand, his monster fragments increased continuously, which was why he reached the Devil rank so quickly.
Lumian snapped out of his thoughts. His blue hair had grown, reaching his neck. His appearance was unkempt and his Fisherman's Garment was so torn and worn that not even his sea of the soul could repair it.
Asael, on the other hand, had wild hair, falling in blonde locks. His eyes were tired with dark circles. His body showed some scars from fights weeks old.
Both were tired of the Dark Sea and fighting all its horrors day and night.
Lumian stretched, and his bones cracked with every movement.
His face had lost its childish softness and acquired the features of a mature young man who promised to be handsome in the future. Even his body was full of perfectly sculpted muscles, as if carved by a master builder.
Currently, the duo was resting on the nearby stone arch leading to the catacombs where the Lord of the Dead resided. It was time for Lumian to obtain the Fragment of the Zenith and the key to the temple where the Weaver's Mask was located.
Almost six full months had passed since he arrived in this world.
He only had half a year left until the next winter solstice. He would have to finish everything before that happened.
"Well, let's go," Asael said while his hand rested on his waist.
Lumian nodded.
Lumian summoned the Shell Demon. Meanwhile, Asael summoned one of the Crimson Needle Messengers that had attacked them days ago. It should be said that the messenger regretted doing so, and Asael obtained its echo.
The duo moved forward into the remaining labyrinth, the home of the Iron Spiders.