Three crows watched from the trees, fluttering between branches if Noah focused on one for too long. The tortoise's breathing was shallow and laboured. Purple-lifeforce flickered weakly under the surface of the grade-two animal. The tortoise watched Noah approach with hooded eyes. Adjusting its weight, it turned to face Noah.

『Need… food… water...』the tortoise's words were translated as it struggled to speak.

Noah looked into the weak creature's crystal clear eyes. He suddenly felt a wave of empathy for the unfortunate beast, removing a [Grade 2 Ration] from his [Zero-Space Dimension Ring]. Noah knelt in front of the tortoise and gently attempted to feed the colourless cube into its mouth.

The tortoise raised its head to accept the offering. Lifeforce began to flow through its exposed skin, filling its muscles with strength. The tortoise stood, shifting its attention to the crows in the trees. It said nothing before turning to look at Noah.

『Thank you. This humble one is called Black-Rock. I have nothing to offer you in return except this one's back. If you would accept, please make yourself comfortable as this one carries you to your destination.』 Black-Rock introduced itself.

"There's no need for you to do that. I have no idea where I am or where I'm going. Oh, by the way, my name is Noah," Noah declined as he felt awkward introducing himself to an animal.

『This one insists. We may travel together as the path is long and may take us to many destinations. You may reserve your strength.』 Black-Rock insisted.

"Okay, I accept," Noah relented.

『Climb this one's shell. The moss is soft and comfortable.』 Black-Rock happily said.

Noah climbed to the top of the tortoise's shell, sitting cross-legged on the centre's thick moss. He ignored the crows fluttering between the branches as Black-Rock began to walk down the rocky beach. The ride was surprisingly comfortable as the shell rocked underneath him. The tortoise walked faster than Noah would have expected from something with its mass. He drifted into haunted thoughts as he sat in silence atop the earthen tortoiseshell.

***

They travelled for many days along the endless rock-covered beach at the edge of the shimmering bush. Noah tried to ignore the crows as they continued to follow behind them among the trees. Black-Rock's stamina seemed endless as it travelled tirelessly without rest.

『This one must rest soon. A storm comes, during which the crows will not attack. They have harassed this one for many moons, and this one has learned their patterns.』Black-Rock informed Noah.

"Do you need another ration?" Noah asked.

『It is not necessary. This one can gain sustenance from the world with you here for protection. The crows would attack this one when meditating to steal flesh.』Black-Rock replied.

"You know how to enter meditation without any stimuli?" Noah asked excitedly, shifting forward to look down at the tortoise's face.

『It is simple. One must let go of the self to become part of the world.』Black-Rock replied mysteriously.

Noah sat back, carefully considering the tortoise's words. Black-Rock stopped walking, choosing a relatively flat area of the beach to lower itself down. Moments later, lifeforce began to pulse in synchronization with its rhythmic breathing as it entered [Meditation]. The three black birds became excited from the tree line.

『Asleep!』 a crow said with glee.

『Food!』 a second crow agreed.

『Man, watching!』 the third bird cautioned.

The three crows became silent as they all watched Noah cautiously. The third bird to speak was the first to move. It flew into the sky to begin circling overhead, quickly joined by the other two birds. Rain splattered Noah's face as he kept a vigilant watch on the crows, causing him to blink water out of his eyes. The crows took advantage of his lapse to let out a caw as they dove.

Noah reacted immediately, raising his left hand in the direction of one of the birds. His aim was off as he activated [Ice Bullet] for the first time, missing his target entirely. Instead, clipping the wing of a second crow above it. The crow let out a caw of displeasure at its lost feathers dropping behind it. Noah steadied his focus, readjusting his aim while narrowing his eyes with a frown. The birds seemed nervous as they almost reached him. At the last moment, its courage disappeared. Flapping its wings to change its course in another direction. Noah ignored it as another [Ice Bullet] struck the second crow.

The crow didn't have time to react before exploding in a shower of blood and ice. Gore rained down in the area surrounding Noah, blanketing the stones with flesh, bone, and black feathers. The remaining crows fled into the trees with reckless abandon, disappearing amid the shadows and leaves.

『Dead!』 a crow shouted in despair.

『Vengeance!』 the remaining crow cried with anguish.

As the flapping of wings grew further away, Noah reached up to remove something from his face. Holding the object up for inspection, Noah discovered an eyeball dangled from his fingers. Flicking it away in disgust, Noah continued to sit cross-legged, looking toward the sky as the rain increased in intensity. His expression relaxed before changing into disbelief as he watched the raindrops.

They're… glowing!

Watching the raindrops, Noah became immersed at the moment. The barrier inside his mind formed of fear, guilt, and shame faded. He sat as still as a statue as gusts of rain buffeted against him, unable to disturb him as he became filled with peace. Vaguely, Noah was aware of a typhoon forming off the shore, but it wasn't as important as watching the rain washing away the blood from his face.

Trees bent in the gale-force winds with roots torn from the earth to be dragged along the rocky beach. His wind-attuned body gave him limited immunity from the wind's onslaught while Black-Rock sheltered inside his shell. Rocks rolled toward the tree line as waves as tall as skyscrapers raged off the coast. Noah was oblivious to it all as his mind entered a different world. He was immersed in a world of lights falling from the sky in iridescent colours.

Light flared as it made contact with his skin, filling his body with lifeforce. Even after the rain ended, Noah continued to revel in the world. Drawing light from the very air itself to become one with him