It took Kane a couple of seconds to fully process what she was talking about, his mind catching up to the gravity of her words.
"The spire from your vision?" he asked, his voice a low murmur. "The one with seven seals?"
Cassie nodded, her eyes distant as if peering back into that nightmarish dreamscape. "Yes. In my dream, it was as colossal as a mountain. I could see it even from the distant walls of the human castle, a solitary monolith looming on the horizon like a crimson spear aimed at the very heart of the heavens. When the sun began its descent, the Spire's vast, oppressive shadow would fall over the castle and stretch eastward, a tide of darkness swallowing everything as far as the eye could see."
She fell silent for a moment, her gaze drifting towards Sunny before she pointed a slender finger. "The feeling I got when looking at the Crimson Spire… it was so similar to what you described feeling from your own curse, only magnified a thousand times, an intensity that felt like it could crush your soul."
Kane's mind raced, trying to recall the fragmented details of the vision Cassie had shared with him before. A tower that pierced the sky, a source of immense, dreadful power. 'What is in that spire?' he thought, a cold knot forming in his stomach.
Breaking the heavy silence, Sunny spoke up, his practical nature seeking a tangible explanation. "Is it crimson because it's made from the same material as the Labyrinth?"
The crimson "coral" that surrounded them on all sides was not, in fact, coral at all. It was merely a name they had given the strange, ubiquitous substance for its vague resemblance and for the sake of simplicity. The true nature of the alien material, which pulsed with a faint, malevolent energy, remained a profound mystery.
Cassie hesitated, considering his question. "Maybe," she said slowly, "it's the other way around. Maybe the Labyrinth is made from the same stuff as the Spire."
The implication hung in the air, chilling them all. The Crimson Spire might be the origin point, the very source of all this madness. It was a terrifying thought, but for now, it was just a theory. They had far too little information to confirm anything.
After absorbing this new, unsettling possibility, the group turned their attention back to the immediate goal. They began to move again, their footsteps muffled by the crimson terrain as they advanced towards the Bone Ridge.
The name had come to their minds instinctively the moment they first laid eyes on the towering landmark. It was visible from a great distance, a stark and magnificent anomaly sharply contrasted against the endless crimson coral and the perpetually grey, overcast sky. It was a monument of ivory splendor in a world of red and grey.
The Bone Ridge was, quite literally, made of bone. It was the skeletal remains of a truly colossal sea monster, its ancient carcass draped over an enormous mound of chaotically growing coral. Its arching spine protruded highest, a pale, serrated crest against the sky. It was impossible to guess what the terrifying creature might have looked like when it was still alive, but one thing was certain—it was gargantuan, even by the standards of the dark sea and its monstrous denizens.
This wasn't the first giant skeleton they had encountered during their perilous journey. The Labyrinth was littered with the remains of dead leviathans, their massive bones forming natural arches, caves, and eerie palaces throughout its expanse. These skeletal landmarks were easy to spot from afar because the coral formations grew especially tall and dense in their vicinity, as though the crimson growth was actively trying to bury any trace of whiteness, to consume all that was not of its own color.
Kane stared up at the massive bones, a sense of profound awe mixed with dread washing over him. 'What kind of creature was this? And how in the world did it die? It had better have died from sickness, because I can't imagine what could have killed it.'
With evening fast approaching, their next task was crucial. They had to scale the dead leviathan's remains and ensure that no other creature had decided to claim the skeleton as its shelter. If something had made a lair inside, they would have no choice but to fight and kill it. There was no time to retreat to their previous safe haven before the tide of the dark sea returned. As always, the final step to safety was often the riskiest.
Reaching the base of the coral mound that served as the creature's foundation, the group began to circle it, searching for a viable path upward. Eventually, their search led them to the front of the creature's cracked and misshapen skull. Its lower jaw was either missing or buried deep beneath the crimson mud, but the upper jaw formed a vast, cavernous opening, like the mouth of a cave promising both shelter and danger.
Once inside the spine, they found the bone surface under their feet was as wide and flat as a road. In fact, the entire structure felt like a bizarre highway running through a long, skeletal tunnel, with stark beams of dim light filtering down through the gaps between the massive vertebrae. The tunnel inclined gently upward, its full length hidden from view behind a gradual bend in the ceiling.
As the Echo, their pack creature, stepped into the spine, its chitinous legs produced a loud, echoing clatter that seemed to fill the immense space.
Nephis grimaced at the noise, her hand immediately going to the hilt of her sword. "Any movement?" she whispered.
Sunny, his connection to his shadow extending into the darkness ahead, took a moment before shaking his head. "Nothing."
Changing Star, ever stoic, looked forward and gave a slight, decisive dip of her chin. "Let's proceed."
Despite the shadow's report, none of them were foolish enough to relax. They summoned their swords, the hiss of steel sliding from scabbards adding to the strange acoustics of the bone tunnel. It was not their first time being ambushed at the very edge of safety.
Fortunately, their precautions turned out to be unnecessary. Nothing was hiding inside the gargantuan remains. They were able to reach the highest accessible point of the spine without having to cut their way through an unknown number of monsters, a small mercy in this unforgiving world.
By the time they established their position, the sun was already setting, its weak light fading from the sky. The dark sea was returning, its arrival heralded by the echoing sound of rushing water filling the Labyrinth below, a sound that resonated deep within the leviathan's spine. Sunny took the saddlebags off the Echo and dismissed the creature, its sudden disappearance making their camp feel instantly much roomier.
It had been a while, and all four of them were in desperate need of a bath. Leaving the girls to their privacy, Sunny and Kane walked some distance away and sat down, letting the exhaustion of the day settle into their tired bodies.
Kane summoned his runes, a faint light glowing in his palm as he checked his progress.
Rebirth Fragments: [114/1000]
'Good,' he thought, a flicker of satisfaction cutting through his weariness. 'That's progress.'
Sunny watched him for a moment before asking, his voice low, "What did Cassie say to you earlier, when you were alone?"
Kane's gaze remained fixed on the fading light outside. "Nothing that concerns you," he replied, his tone flat. "Something I need to figure out for myself."
Sunny stared at him, a question in his eyes, but he chose to let it go, respecting the boundary Kane had drawn.
Kane's mind, however, was a whirlwind. 'I need to understand what is really going on here,' he resolved internally. 'Then, and only then, should I speak to the others about this.'
After the women had finished, Sunny and Kane took their turn to wash away the day's grime. Meanwhile, Nephis used the remaining twilight to build a small, efficient fire and cook some meat. These days, they even had salt to season it. The idea of using the sea salt left behind by the receding dark sea had initially seemed unappealing, but hunger and time had worn down their reluctance. Now, the simple mineral was a cherished luxury. The salt made every meal they had infinitely tastier, a small comfort in their harsh reality.
They ate in silence, too hungry and exhausted for conversation. Soon, the need for sleep became undeniable.
This time, Kane insisted on taking the entire overnight watch. The others protested, as they always did, but this time, his resolve was unyielding, and they relented.
After they settled down to sleep, he began his routine. For hours, he practiced the basic katas Nephis had taught him, his movements fluid and precise in the darkness, a silent dance of combat. He pushed himself through two thousand repetitions, his muscles burning as he maintained a simultaneous, vigilant watch over their surroundings.
The night was eerily calm.
After finishing the exhaustive workout, Kane sat down, meditating mildly to calm his heart and sharpen his senses. He then stood, a silent sentinel for the remainder of the night.
Hours later, Nephis stirred. She rose silently and approached him.
"The sun hasn't risen yet, Nephis," Kane said without turning.
"I know," she replied, her voice soft in the pre-dawn stillness. "I just want to ask you a question."
"Continue."
"Why do you insist on taking the watch all the time? Why not allow us to switch?"
Kane was silent for a moment, considering his words. "I am the most ideal person for this, other than Sunny. That's why. I believe I've explained this to you already."
Nephis nodded slowly. "You have," she conceded, then paused. "Do you have any questions for me?"
Kane's mind went blank. "Nah."
Her expression, barely visible in the gloom, became unreadable. "Did… you forget?"
He was confused for a second, and then the memory surfaced, faint but distinct. "Actually, I did," he admitted, a rare hint of awkwardness in his tone. "But you just rekindled my memory."
A flicker of embarrassment crossed Nephis's features.
"If you want me to forget it again," Kane continued, his voice returning to its usual flat affect, "just leave it as it is."
She nodded, but instead of returning to sleep, she sat down nearby.
"What are you doing?" Kane asked, a hint of exasperation in his voice.
"Giving you company," she said simply. "As long as you're awake."
Kane mentally facepalmed. 'Seriously. A pain in the ass. But… now that I think about it, she kind of reminds me of that wretched woman.'
The thought was a key, unlocking a door in his mind he kept perpetually barred. The memory of the day his mother died flooded him with the force of a tidal wave.
[Flashback]
It was that day. Kane and his mother, Clara, were standing on a particular rooftop, the choking stench of acid rain and industrial pollution heavy in the air of the Outskirts. The world around them was a suffocating grey haze.
Clara held Kane's small hand tightly in hers. Her face, which he remembered as the most beautiful in the world, was now etched with gloom and exhaustion. Faint scars marred her skin, and a rash covered her neck from the continuous, desperate fighting. Day and night, they had been on the run from the retainers, the government officials… the hunters. Clara was trying to expose a terrible truth, contacting every connection she had, but her friends had abandoned her. Some had even informed the government of their location, betraying her out of fear. No one was willing to help, much less take in her son. Who would adopt the child of parents publicly declared as 'Serial Killers'?
Kane was heartbroken. His father, Sam, whom he believed to be the strongest man alive, was dead. His beautiful mother was scarred and hunted.
"Mom," he whispered, his voice trembling. "Can you take me with you?"
"No, Kane. Stay here," Clara said, her voice gentle but firm. "The place where I am going is only for adults."
He couldn't protest. With a final, desperate squeeze of his hand, Clara was gone, vanishing into the smog.
Kane sat there, waiting. After a long time, an old lady approached him. She leaned forward, her face creasing into a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "You must be Kane," she cooed. "I saw you with Sam and Clara at your birthday party. I'm a friend of hers, in her time of need. Where is Clara?"
Kane's gloomy face brightened with a flicker of hope. "Yeah! She went to contact… you, I guess."
The old lady laughed, a dry, rattling sound. "Yes, yes. I came in a hurry to meet her. Where is she?"
"I don't know," Kane said honestly. "She told me to wait here."
She came closer and took his hand. Her grip was uncomfortably tight. A seed of doubt sprouted in Kane's mind. "I… I don't remember seeing you at my birthday, Ma'am."
The old lady's face twisted, the mask of friendliness dissolving into pure malice. A terrifying surge of killing intent washed over him, rooting him to the spot. "Ma'am," he whimpered, "you're scaring me."
Meanwhile, Clara met her contact, an Awakened named Julius.
"Clara, what in the hell is going on?" Julius demanded, his voice tense with worry. "Suddenly, Sam is declared a rogue Awakened and killed, you're being hunted as a serial killer, I haven't even gotten to see your son—heck, I don't even know his name!"
Clara held up a hand to calm him. "Julius, I can't tell you the exact details, or you'll meet the same fate. But please, I need your help. Two things. First, I'm trying to contact Rudra, but I can't get in touch with him. If you find him, tell him to visit 'Noctis's friend' and get the details. It's a copy of the proof I have. He's the only one capable of defeating Broken Sword. Second… I want you to adopt Kane. Teach him to survive in the Dream Realm. Make him strong enough to protect himself."
Julius's face hardened with resolve. "Okay. I lost Rudra's contact a long time ago; last I heard he went to the Eastern Quadrant, what used to be Australia, in search of something. But the second one, of course. I'll adopt him and protect him with my life. But what about you? Are you planning to die?"
Tears filled Clara's eyes. "Yes. If it means he is safe. Meet me tomorrow at noon, near the old house. I'll bring him to you."
"Sure," Julius said, his voice thick with emotion. "Just… don't die."
Clara ran, her heart pounding, back to the rooftop where she had left her son. But what she saw shocked her to the core. The old lady held Kane's hand in a vice grip, surrounded by barely noticeable assailants hidden in the shadows.
"Allow me to introduce myself—" the old woman began.
"I know who you are," Clara spat, her voice dripping with venom. "Who doesn't? You're the legendary Smile of Heaven's mother. The Elder Lady of the Immortal Flame clan."
"Then you should know why I am here," the Elder Lady sneered, "and what I am about to do."
"You've already messed everything up!" Clara screamed, her voice raw with fury and despair. "We're already fugitives, hunted down like animals! Isn't that enough?!"
"No," the Elder Lady said, her voice cold as ice. "It is not. You tried to damage the Immortal Flame clan's reputation. You will pay the price."
In a flash, a group of Awakened swarmed Clara, dragging her into a nearby alley. Kane screamed for his mother, but the Elder Lady threw him to the ground and began to beat him, her words a torrent of poison.
"You little vermin! You wretch! How dare your family do this?! If the world is destroyed, so what? The Immortal Flame will live on! It will shine! If it is our Will, who dares to stop us? You worthless piece of shit!"
Through the haze of pain, Kane could hear his mother's screams. After what felt like an eternity, the beating stopped. The old woman loomed over him. "You are a wretch who doesn't have a right to live. You will die in these gutters." And then she was gone, vanishing without a trace.
Kane scrambled to his feet and staggered into the alley, searching for his mom. He found her. Her clothes were torn to shreds, her guts spilled onto the filthy ground, her legs broken and twisted at unnatural angles. She was barely alive. He went to her, and they had one last, brief conversation as she passed him an antique book, a vessel of her memories.
After she was gone, Kane wanted to bury her. He dragged his mother's body for days through the indifferent, hostile city. No one helped. No one cared. He tried to cover her with what little rubble and trash he could find. A few days later, he found a solitary, struggling tree and buried her there.
Awakened Julius waited for Clara at the designated spot, but she never came. When he heard the news of her death, he grieved for his lost friend and her family, then left, never knowing that her son had survived.
[Current]
The memories, sharp and brutal, finally receded, leaving Kane standing in the cold, pre-dawn air of the Labyrinth. He had stood his watch through the entire night, the past a heavier burden than any physical exhaustion.
As the others began to wake, greeted by the first faint rays of the rising sun, Kane moved with purpose. He went directly to Cassie.
"I need to talk to you alone," he said, his voice leaving no room for argument. "Now."
Cassie, sensing the urgency, nodded and followed him to the other side of the cavernous spine, away from Nephis and Sunny.
"What is it, Kane?" she asked, her voice soft with concern.
He looked directly at her, his eyes cold and unwavering. "I have decided on my answer regarding your solution."
Cassie immediately held up a hand. "Take your time, Kane. It's a difficult—"
"I don't need any more time," he cut her off sharply. "I don't accept your solution. I will stick with Nephis by my own intuition and judgment and as long as it is reasonable,Not as her follower or safety from my impending fate"
The air crackled with the finality of his statement. Cassie, the seer who saw so many possibilities, was now visibly, utterly shocked.
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I tried to introduce New characters and Have a future Set-up ,kindly let me know how is it?