In the Dream Realm, Tenebrae was stuffing True Names, sentence constructions, and runes into Samael's head at a speed far greater than he could handle.
However, necessity forced him to understand all of it while continuing the journey.
In America, meanwhile, things weren't going nearly as well.
In a forest, the expedition group had stopped.
A suffocating silence hung over them, weighed down by exhaustion.
Acheron was sitting while bandaging her own arm. Her body was covered in wounds.
She was utterly exhausted.
For someone who had always displayed unwavering power and confidence, seeing her in such a state was unsettling.
A short distance away, Bel and Vanitas were lying on a rock.
Both were in deplorable condition.
Even after Enkidu healed them as much as he could, they were still covered in scratches. Bel's arm was completely torn open, apparently by some creature that had attacked him.
Vanitas, on the other hand, no longer had any serious injuries.
His eyes, however, were empty.
It was as if he were staring into nothingness, incapable of thinking about anything due to sheer exhaustion.
The one in the best condition was Cyrene, mainly because she was a support fighter.
Even so, she was also injured and completely drained of Soul Essence.
Liu was covered in wounds.
However, hers had been frozen by herself, keeping the bleeding under control.
Elizabeth was beside her, using Samael's sleeping body as an improvised pillow. A piece of cloth covered her eyes.
She had abused her Awakened Ability so much that blood had begun flowing from her eyes.
—I've finally understood the point of the Second Nightmare. We barely crossed a single city, and we're already in this state — Liz commented.
Liu looked at Elizabeth, who remained lying down.
—We're already making preparations for the Second Nightmare and... hopefully, we'll be able to challenge it in time.
She took a deep breath.
—Because I don't think we'll survive if we remain Awakened. Our souls are too attractive.
Liu looked at the surrounding forest.
—The number of Nightmare Creatures we encounter will increase with every passing day.
She paused.
—We've already met in the Dream Realm, and we managed to convince Enkidu and Cyrene to come with us.
Her eyes narrowed.
—All that's left is to find him in the Dream Realm and test our luck.
Upon hearing that, Elizabeth remained silent for several seconds.
Then she sighed.
—I don't like relying on luck.
At the same time, Bel's eyes were fixed on Liu.
Tired and empty, yet still focused on her.
"She protects him."
The thought bothered him.
Bel tried to push it away, not wanting to keep thinking about it.
However, Liu's words about her Sun still made his chest ache and burn with passion.
It was something inexplicable.
If someone asked him why, even he wouldn't know how to answer.
—No... I can't love her. Otherwise, it'll happen again — Bel whispered as he looked away and observed some runes.
[Flaw: Love]
[Whenever you feel love for someone, something takes control of your body and will kill those you love.]
As he read those words, memories of himself killing his parents consumed his mind.
They haunted him day and night.
After remaining there for some time, they resumed their march through America.
After all, they needed to reach the other side of the vast continent.
If they used humanity's old maps, they would have been in a region that had once been called Mexico.
After a few minutes of rest, everyone stood up and continued marching.
After all, the sounds of approaching Nightmare Creatures were already beginning to reach their ears.
America wasn't kind enough to let them rest for very long.
Rime Kingdom — Three Weeks Later
Samael was standing beside Tenebrae.
—Light.
The word left his lips in a strange language.
It was the True Name of Light.
Over the past three weeks, Samael had been learning True Names and runes while continuing his journey through the Dream Realm.
He had already memorized several runes and True Names.
Today, finally, was the day to put that knowledge into practice.
—Light — Samael repeated.
He still found pronouncing True Names strange.
There was something wrong about them.
True Names didn't seem like something humans were supposed to pronounce.
Nothing happened.
—You pronounced the third letter incorrectly. Try again.
—Light.
Again, nothing happened.
"If he weren't a monstrous crow over three meters tall, I'd suspect he was a fake mystic."
Samael was so tired that he couldn't even find his own joke funny.
—Light.
This time, he finally succeeded.
A small amount of Soul Essence was consumed.
Then Samael's body began emitting a faint light.
His mouth fell open.
He stared at his own hands in wonder.
—It took a Nephilim three weeks to accomplish something this simple. You truly are disappointing — Tenebrae commented, apparently allergic to compliments.
—Tenebrae, I did it! I actually did it! — Samael celebrated, completely ignoring the attack.
Tenebrae merely snorted.
—Hmph.
For some reason, however, he didn't try to ruin Samael's happiness.
—Now try the Light Rune — Tenebrae ordered.
Samael knelt down and drew the rune in the dirt.
Then he infused it with his own Soul Essence.
The rune began to glow.
Rune Sorcery was easier than Shadow Shaping.
At least for Samael.
—See the difference? While Shadow Shaping made you glow, the rune itself began to glow. Even when using the same spell, the two schools of sorcery manifest differently.
However, Samael was no longer listening.
The spell's runes covered his vision.
Then, new words appeared before his eyes.
[You have unlocked your Legacy Aspect Ability: Chaotic Dance and Song.]
A series of images appeared in Samael's mind.
It was someone he didn't recognize.
In the vision, they danced and sang impressively.
But it wasn't the dancing or singing that captured Samael's attention.
It was the words.
The song consisted of True Names and Shadow Shaping phrases.
They were using their own singing to perform sorcery.
Their bodily movements also formed a pattern.
Samael had to observe them for several minutes before finally realizing it.
The movements were simulating runes.
They were using their own body as a constantly changing rune to perform Rune Sorcery.
And the effects of the two forms of sorcery merged together in a harmonious and methodical manner, producing something magnificent.
Around them, reality seemed to distort.
Objects Samael couldn't identify constantly changed size, growing and shrinking at an impossible speed.
His mind was flooded with information.
He was learning that strange form of sorcery.
The information was being forced into his mind.
More and more.
Until—
—If you keep ignoring me, I'll kill you.
Samael awakened.
One of Tenebrae's talons was pressed against his face, threatening to destroy him.