Chapter 29: (ch29) DONT TRUST THE TREE
*Did she…..she just said…*
*Indeed she did. A new memory from an awakened demon*
*A demon!*
*That made the Awakened Memory of the third tier, two whole tiers above the Azure Blade.*
There were a total of seven tiers, each representing a different class of Nightmare Creatures, ranging from simple beasts to mighty titans. While a higher tier didn't necessarily guarantee a more powerful Memory, typically, the further advanced a creature was, the more distinct and formidable its Memories tended to be.
The Widow's Bane held immense value because it originated from the demise of a tyrant who had been awakened. This unique weapon earned its status as a Tier Five Awakened weapon, underscoring its rarity and significance among its kind.
*Please, be awesome!*
*Why do you care you're not gonna be using it*
*hey the stronger she is the more of a chance we have at surviving this sh#t hole*
Sunny made a conscious effort to conceal his bubbling excitement, determined not to give away his inner enthusiasm through his facial expressions. Adopting an air of nonchalance, he carefully maintained a steady tone of voice as he spoke:
"Really? That's good."
Nephis took his hand.he was Hiding the startled expression on his face,
*Oh god shes actually giving it to you*
*Oh yeah hold on let me show you*
[You have received a Memory: Midnight Shard.]
*Huh. Cool name.*
He summoned the runes and sent it to Rin for reading
Memory: [Midnight Shard].
Memory Rank: Awakened.
Memory Type: Weapon.
Memory Description: [Forged from the shard of a fallen star, this stalwart blade is firm and unyielding. It favors those who are willing to fight to the last drop of blood and knows no surrender.]
*Interesting.*
Without a moment's delay, Sunny called forth the Midnight Shard, and in an instant, a gracefully crafted sword materialized within his grasp. The weapon bore a semblance to the Azure Blade, sharing the characteristic of a single edge and a lengthy hilt perfect for a two-handed grip. Yet, that's where the parallels ceased. Notably, the Midnight Shard distinguished itself with an extended blade, measuring between seventy and eighty centimeters, displaying a subtle curvature. Crafted from the radiant, glossy metal akin to the armor of the formidable Carapace Demon, it exuded a unique allure.
*It looks incredibly sharp.*
*Wanna hold it*
He handed it over to her, and she gently took it, holding it up in front of herself.
The handle was crafted from sleek ebony wood, bearing a striking resemblance to the majestic onyx branches of the ancient tree. Its crossguard, rounded and more prominent than the one on the Azure Blade, provided superior stability and defense for the wielder's grip. In many ways, it resembled an amplified iteration of her trusty weapon, but on a grander scale.
The sword lacked any adornments or fancy details, embodying a stark simplicity that spoke of its singular purpose: to excel in combat. Its unadorned form exuded a chilling, ominous presence, hinting at the power it held within.
She passed it back
*i feel a weird empowerment when holding it I don't quite understand how to access that power yet, but it was certainly real*
Gazing fondly at his shiny new weapon, Sunny turned to Nephis with a grin and remarked:
"Even I know what type of sword this is. It's a… a katana, right?"
Nephis carefully examined the Midnight Shard, her eyes tracing its intricate patterns before she replied:
"Technically, it's a tachi. It's longer than a traditional katana and has a slightly different blade shape. But they're quite similar."
*A tachi…*
*Not my style*
He glanced in her direction, curiosity etched across his face as he sought answers from her word:
*Huh why?*
The unexpected question caught her off guard, leaving her at a loss for words as she grappled with how to respond without revealing the secrets of her past.
*I like fighting close….i..um.. studied a lot for it….the sword sounded nice the name is cool…*
*You alright?*
She enthusiastically nodded her head, expressing agreement or panic
*Fine…yep super fine*
He gave a slight shake of his head and decided to switch up his line of questioning.
*Most of the principles i had learned with the Azure Blade could be applied to a sword of this type as well, since they shared the same foundation.. right*
*You'll adapt, you always do*
Her smile was warm and encouraging as she looked at him
The new acquisition wasn't quite enough to make Sunny forget about the loss of the Echo, but she could tell his mood did improve significantly.
She admired Sunny's sword; it possessed a subtle elegance yet harbored a lethal edge, much like Sunny herself.
It was a significant upgrade, but was Nephis really giving this sword away
*Is she taking it back*
*I hope not*
"Uh… it's a very nice weapon. Tier three, no less. Are you sure that you don't want to keep it for yourself?"
Changing Star delivered the decisive blow to the Carapace Demon, making the Memory rightfully hers. However, Rin earnestly wished that she would decline and ensure that Sunny retained it.Nephis shook her head.
"I already have a sword. It suits me."
*Good*
*Makes you wonder, though — if she's unwilling to exchange her longsword for a tier-three weapon… then what is the tier of that silver sword of hers?*
She couldn't accept the notion that it was just a better fit for Changing Star, not even for a moment. She'd made it clear that the fundamental principles of wielding these swords were essentially identical. Upgrading to the Midnight Shard and passing her old weapon to Sunny wouldn't have posed any issue for her. The sole reason for her refusal was simply because it would have felt like a step down.
Once again, they found themselves intrigued by the precise circumstances surrounding Neph's acquisition of her True Name. In order to earn her own, Rin had to confront and defeat both a tyrant and her impostor brother.
'I still can't get over how much he looked like Ryo. Ryo would never do something like that; he adored his little sister.'
'Is it possible she did the same, or perhaps something even more incredible?'
However, she was too exhausted to attempt to gather information. In fact, they all felt the same. With the fear lingering that the peculiar winged creature they had witnessed consuming a fallen centurion might return, this time to seize the remains of the Carapace Demon, the four Sleepers decided to relocate to a remote corner of the island and seek refuge behind the trunk of the towering tree.Only when they were sure that nothing would be able to notice them from above did they finally allow the exhaustion to prevail
Rin walked away from the group, finding a secluded spot near the base of the tree.
Nestled in a slight cave, she settled down, inhaling deeply as she prepared to focus on honing her sensory technique. With a slow exhale, she centred herself, allowing her mind to expand, feeling her essence ripple out in a circular wave from her centre.
The impact hit her like a bullet, shattering her focus with a wave of the most malicious, negative energy she'd ever experienced. It was so intense, it stole her breath away, leaving her struggling to regain control amidst overwhelming emotions urging her to flee.
Her heart pounded harder and harder as she finally gave up trying to use her technique. Her breathing was ragged, as though she had been running for hours.
She blinked, and almost as if her mind had slipped, she stood up, ready to leave. Then, her gaze caught something written on the wood of a tree inside the cave. It was hastily yet clearly inscribed in bold, with her katana rammed next to the statement
She stopped to read it
DONT TRUST THE FUCKING TREE RIN I BEG OF YOU DON'T TRUST THE BLODDY TREE
She smiled removing her sword from the wood and walked away the sand crunching and moving as night approached
'what was i doing again, oh yeah sleeping yes, i need so much sleep'
Rin quietly approached Sunny as he slept, gently dismissing her sword. Without a second thought, she adjusted his outstretched arm, seeking the comfort of his warmth against her own body as she settled in for the night. As his arm instinctively wrapped around her waist, she drifted into a peaceful slumber. But this night held an unexpected turn of events.
She actually saw a dream.
Which was strange because
'you can't dream in the dream realm'
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Dashkins74
Dashkins74 Thanks again for your patience with these chapters. Exam season has been a drag...
I'm really looking forward to the upcoming lore dump. Oops, I might have said too much!
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