The moon shone brightly as Jason and Ilis raced across the ground, heading back into the familiar nauseating lands. Although, it did relax him to see the stone trees had already made a difference; the barnacles were crumbling visibly around him. He glanced at Ilis, who was running easily across the ground. He knew she could go a lot faster than this, and that he was slowing them down, but he doubted that Ilis would be able to fight off Silver by herself.

They slowly began to leave the stone trees behind, and running became harder as the ground became muddy.

“So, what’s with the armour?”

He looked at her. “Met Silver, needed a way to counter his attacks.”

“How’d you find him?”

He exhaled slowly, a part of him marvelling at how easy it was to talk and run at the same time. “He found me, some Alchemist hunted me down, and found a way around my State. There wasn’t anything I could do against the man. He might even be there actually…that’d be fun.”

Ilis shot him a concerned glance, before returning her attention back to not tripping. “You seem different.”

“Yeah.”

They continued to run in silence, drawing ever closer to their destination. Ilis huffed. “Just tell me what’s up, Jason.”

He raised an eyebrow, not that she could see behind his helmet. “Some shit happened, that’s all I want to say.”

Ilis shook her head, but didn’t press anymore. They carried on, the snow becoming deeper, before they finally arrived at their destination. “Oh…” Ilis said, her voice barely audible, and Jason nodded. Danist’s state had worsened since he’d been here. The snow stopped sticking to the ground abruptly some distance away from its walls; the presence of salt water and barnacles were too strong for it, as it now caked every single part of the land.

“Fuckers.”

“Yeah.”

They slowly started down the hill, heading towards the town. “So, how’d you want to do this?”

She shrugged. “Neither of us are particularly sneaky. Maybe we should just go in, fists blazing?”

He snorted. “Hah, no, as fun as that is, we should try and sneak around. Or, you could go in fighting while I search for the book.”

She frowned. “How are you going to find one book in a whole town?”

He opened his mouth to reply, and then closed it. “Good point. I guess I’ll find someone to tell me.”

She regarded him for a second, before saying, “I think I’ll come with, or at least I’ll try. If I’m discovered, then I’ll play distraction.”

He nodded, and they both sped up.

As they neared the wall, he frowned when he saw the barnacles shiver. Ilis didn’t seem to notice however, and crouched down before blasting up and over the wall. He sighed and rolled his eyes. They definitely know we’re here. He activated his State and walked through the stone. The world becoming completely black, with only the faint gravelly feeling as a reminder that he wasn’t dead. When he emerged, he had to suppress his shudder, doing his best to forget the memories of being stuck in the dungeon. Ilis stood there, grinning. “Maybe you should be the distraction, considering how slow you are.”

He shook his head. “It doesn’t matter, they know we’re here, so we need to hurry. For some reason, they aren’t raining hell on us, so let’s get going before they do.”

Ilis blinked, and nodded, before falling into step with him. Jason exhaled forcefully, trying to push the heaviness in his chest out. Returning to another infested town had reminded him of Henron, and Henry. He frowned. Maybe I could ask the Town Heart? Dani? He shrugged. He figured it was worth a go. He shared his idea with Ilis, and she didn’t mind, so they snuck toward the centre of the town. The whole way, not a single person appeared. Yet, the entire time, his nape prickled. We’re being watched, I’m sure of it.

‘Ding’ You have unlocked the General Ability [Watcher’s Sense Lv 1]

You have learnt to trust your instincts, and because of this, have developed a better sense to know when people are watching you.

Huh.

He shrugged and continued, as nothing seemed to change. He paused briefly, and marvelled at how unconcerned he was. The time he’d spent hunting had done wonders for his confidence. Regardless of what happened here today, he was sure that he’d survive.

They eventually made it to the secluded area where he had first seen the Town heart. Unsurprisingly, it was completely covered in barnacles, but to his relief, he couldn’t see the statue of Dani anywhere.

His breath suddenly caught, as his mind went back to the last time he’d involved a Town Heart in his plans. He scowled. “Ilis…I think I know why they aren’t attacking.”

She stopped scanning her surroundings. “Why’s that?”

“Because they know me, and they know I want to help the Town Hearts…They want us to reveal it.”

Ilis opened her mouth to reply, but instead they both quickly readied themselves, as his [Watcher’s Sense] flared, Ilis seemingly feeling the same. Silver limbs descended from atop a building, and the man they came from was gently lifted down. His expression was one of disappointment.

“It seems you're less naive than I remembered Mr Darting.”

Jason stared at him blankly, before turning to the woman next to him. “Oh look, Ilis, someone to answer our questions.”

Both of them seemed startled by his dry tone. Ilis swiftly recovered and grinned. “Oh you’re right, Jason! I do hope he’ll be…compliant.”

They both turned to the man, who huffed. “Finished having fun?”

“No,” they both said at the same time, and launched themselves at him. Jason sent a slash of spacial magic at him, while Ilis surprised him by starting to sing, and he quickly realised it was helping him focus. He grinned, feeling energy roaring into his body, and started sending strikes in quick succession. The man had to dodge each one, which was made further difficult when Ilis rocketed towards him. She was interrupted though, by a flash of silver from the ground. She gasped, and spun in the air, spraying blood everywhere. The manipulator didn’t waste time, and called upon a flood of metal, collecting it from all around. He grimaced, glancing at Ilis, who was holding her throat. Can’t help with that…guess I’ll take point, and then…he started manipulating. Two bony limbs sprouted from his shoulders, and came to a deadly point. With a flex of his will, the limbs moved, and he unleashed a barrage of attacks. Silver immediately had to retreat, and the metal around him faltered. Well, that’s helpful. He didn’t let up, now understanding that Silver needed to focus in order to use his manipulation. He risked a glance behind him, and saw that Ilis had stood up again. He didn’t see much but that she seemed to be fine. Just before she joined back in, the man scowled, and used a tendril to move further back. The prickling on his nape flared, and he turned around just in time to see a giant earthen fist crash into him. He was sent flying, his world becoming a blur of colour, until a crash and then it changed into grey and blue.

He coughed, and groaned as his back flared. With a thought, he fixed his armour, and rose to his feet. He breathed out a puff of condensation, before pausing. Moisture? He did it again, and sure enough, he could breathe out mist. But…that doesn’t happen anymore? He looked around the room, and finally noticed the thick ice coating the walls, and the huge iron door. Most importantly however, was the fact that there weren’t any barnacles. He looked out at the hole he’d created. It was quickly reforming. He swallowed. “If it’s you Dani, please we’re looking for a book-” The door opened. He blinked. Isn’t that…? A cloaked figure poked their head out, and tensed when they saw him, their gloved hands tightening.

‘Ding’ [Genius Alchemist Lv 120]

“YOU-”

Jason activated his State, before launching himself at him, his swords whipping around, and firing [Spacial Strikes]. The alchemist ducked, but Jason was too close, and the distorted air dug into their shoulders. They rolled back with the blows, and threw a bomb on the ground. Jason had already plugged his ears with bone, making it airtight. Unfortunately, the bomb exploded in smoke instead of sound, leaving him promptly unable to see. He swung his blades around blindly, and subsequently heard the ripping of flesh, to his left. Surprised at the lack of screams, he rapidly advanced, continuing to use up his Mana for attacks. The flesh continued to rip, and he got the sense that something was wrong. His theory was proven correct, when he felt an object bump against his foot. CRACK. He was lifted off the ground and slammed into the ceiling. He immediately fell back down again, and grunted as he landed. He didn’t move for a moment, before gingerly getting to his knees, and reaching a hand to touch where the shrapnel had struck. Wait…I’m in my [Phantom State] under my armour…how? He felt the familiar prickle of death energy, and he understood. Fuck… a death energy bomb… He groggily got to his feet. Something smacked into his armour again, sending him stumbling. He swiped with his sword-arms, sending a Strike behind him, and was rewarded with a cry. He turned, but still couldn’t see anything in the smoke. Fuck it. He held each blade out, equally spaced from each other, and then…spun around. A thick wave of spacial energy started being rapidly sent out, immediately shredding the ice room to pieces. The stone started to crumble, and he heard a strangled scream over the tumbling of bricks. They started to hit him as well, so he fully activated his State, and continued for a bit longer. Once done, he slowed to a stop, looking around at the fully wrecked room. His eyes caught sight of flesh, and he moved over to it, before pushing the rocks aside. He froze when he saw what it was, staring at it for a few moments, before kicking himself into motion, and looking around for the Alchemist. He couldn’t see the man anywhere, and he resigned himself to not finding him. He turned back to the flare of orange back where Silver was, and rolled his shoulders while starting to run towards it.

He was interrupted by Ilis' form being sent flying towards him. He nimbly stepped out of the way, watching as she crashed into the ground and tumbled back. “Guess it’s my turn then.” He regarded the large group of people, standing in a semicircle around him. Silver was still being held above them all with his metal. Jason snorted. “I don’t suppose you’d be willing to make a deal?”

They all glared at him.

“Thought not.”

He crouched low, and prepared his swords, before jumping into action – he was immediately pummelled from all angles. Different types of magic tearing into him; earth, fire, crackling lighting, death, and finally, silver. He gasped as a rod of burning metal lanced through his broken armour and into his chest, sending him into a world of agony. He couldn’t breathe, his eyes swimming with wispy tears in his [Phantom State]. He blacked out for an unknown amount of time, and when he awoke, he was enclosed by a crowd of enemies. He struggled futilely, but he was pinned to the wall, he couldn’t move. Silver was silent as he held up a shimmering blade, raising it up before bringing it down. A haunting melody blared out, and an ashen fist of fire punched it away. Jason blinked as he stared at Ilis’ filthy form, shaking her fist which was…crumbling? She glanced back at him, and smirked, the dirt cracking a little, but revealing nothing shadows underneath, before turning back to the group of people. Silver scoffed before sending another tide of metal down, and the woman…twisted, explosions guiding her towards him, while somehow narrowly avoiding everything. The Manipulator's eyes widened as within seconds the woman’s hand had reached his face. It grabbed a hold of his perfectly sculpted cheekbones, and then…erupted in hot bloody flames. His screams were unearthly, and it was only made worse by the shiver-inducing wheezy chuckle. Everyone was staggering back, and he realised that more ashen forms were appearing and attacking. He gaped at the sight uncomprehendingly, but was drawn out of his confusion, by a hand, and…singing.

He blinked and looked up to see Ilis, holding the silver lance that had been in his chest. Her mouth was open, unnaturally wide, just like her eyes. The muscles around her face and throat seemed strained, as a wail of music emitted from it. She put a hand under his arm and lifted him up, although he noticed her arms shaking violently.

He coughed, seeing spectral blood land in front of him. Oh shit. Ilis stumbled a little, and he tried to help, but was too weak. He looked down at the literal hole in his chest, and tried to plug it up with bone. Ilis hauled him along, and he gasped. “...Ilis, there’s something we should take.”

She glanced at him, jerkily, and he began to lead her in the direction of where he’d fought the Alchemist. It seemed to take them forever, and the whole time, he had the melody ringing in his ear, but that didn’t stop him from hearing the inhuman screeching. Were they not people?…? He shook the questions off, and focused as they reached the location. They made their way over the rubble, towards where he’d seen the corpse. They both stopped though, as the eyes fell on a satchel sitting on top of a pedestal. They glanced at each other, before making their way over. Gingerly he reached out and plucked it, peering inside. He couldn’t see a thing, but felt a sense of…familiarity with it. He slipped from Ilis’ shoulders, and reached a hand into the bag, focusing on an image of the book. His hands enclosed around the hardcover of a tome. He exhaled heavily. “Thank you.” He then struggled to move himself over to the corpse. He heard Ilis pause when she saw it, and he too had to stop again. It was recognisable, a female with flawless pale skin, and pointed ears that poked out of blonde hair. The high-levelled body. They had completely forgotten about it. He reached down and grabbed her ankle, feeling a jolt of surprise as he discovered that it was still warm. Without any further delay, he brought it up to the satchel, and willed it to go in. The corpse, and a few stones, vanished, as if they had never been there. He turned to Ilis, and nodded. It was time to go.

Along the way, the fiery enhancer stumbled, and the song abruptly stopped. An oppressive silence descended upon them, and Ilis shook herself, before grabbing him and launching them through the howling wind. Within seconds, they had left the town, and Ilis was guiding their descent to the trees. They didn’t land gently. The moment they touched the ground, they both simply flopped. Jason struggled to look at Danist, trying to see if anyone was coming. His breath caught, as he saw a group of pale and thin people, standing on the battlements, staring across the snow. The moonlight gleamed on their bald heads, and hollow eyes clearly. He slowly started breathing again, as he realised that the skeletons weren’t coming for them. Eventually they began to trickle away, until only a familiarly clothed one was left, but finally he too used a tendril of silver to lift him away.

“Ilis?”

A grunt came from his left.

“If I don’t get back to Grenion before Phantom State runs out, I’m pretty sure I’ll die.”

He heard a groan, and then he was roughly pulled up and plopped onto her shoulder while he squawked.

“We’ll be fine. I’m not as slow as you.”