The march was horrible. Imagine the steepest mountain paths and most jagged roads. Now add on slippery stone. Then you need to worry about the constant rain storms with whipping winds and bullets for rain. It was just the first week, and yet everyone was battered and beaten. And finally, the nightmare creatures. They attacked in the apex of every storm, coming like gusts of wind and vanishing in the rain.

Nico had given up on walking, having Ape carry him when it could. There were many places where only one person could walk with their back scraping the wall. Justin maintained his calm, and even when constantly wet, he seemed to glow. It was because of him that nobody died. Several people already turned back, now the cohort was a small group of six. Justin was the leader. Vivian was a long ranged fighter. The tall burly man with a braided beard was Marcus, he diced monsters with his ax.

Byron was the second in command of the cohort, bringing up the rear. He was the most mysterious one of the group, always vanishing in the rain and coming back with bloodied fists.

We took a break on the edge of a cliff, the usual place. Lucy sat crossed legged overlooking the wide canyon. She wasn’t a fighter, but Nico didn’t judge yet. The girl had something that kept her alive here, also she could cook, so Nico didn’t complain. The smell of meat made Nico salivate. Monster meat wasn’t appealing alone, but once Lucy performed her magic, it was better than anything Nico could remember.

Nico put his mouth under a stone, letting the run off water quench his thirst. That was the only upside of all the rain, they never ran out of water.

“First piece is up.” Lucy called, and Vivan grabbed it first, glaring at Marcus and Byron as she ate it. The group was almost like a family. I guess being trapped in the same nightmare does that. He spent most of the trek spotting things for Ape to kill. He wasn’t ready to try to use his memory, lest he swing himself off the cliffside.

The smell made the area feel more comfortable. Nico summoned Ape to stand guard at one of the paths before joining the group around the fire.

“Nice of you to join us this time.” Marcus smiled and passed a piece of meat. Nico wolfed it down, then realized they were all watching him.

“What?”

“We were just talking about you, and we were wondering if you could clear something up?” Nico’s guard was up. Lucy spoke again, her voice carefree as ever.

“Are you just lazy or weak? It seems like your echo does all the work.” Lucy handed more meat around, holding his hostage until he answered.

‘What should I do?’ These people obviously trusted each other, he was a newcomer and a stranger. He could tell them about his flaw. No. Telling someone your weakness is never a good idea.

“Lazy. I try to save my strength.” Nico reached for the meat, but Lucy pulled it back. This went on for a bit until Marcus took the meat and ate it.

“You took too long, it was getting cold,” he smiled. “There will be more.” He took the next piece of meat, and held it away from Nico. Now everyone was taking his food.

“My turn. Do you have any family in the waking world?” This was a harmless question, but Nico snatched the meat.

“One.” He replied, his tone turning dark. Marcus was taken aback. Ucy nudged him.

“You’re supposed to apologize.” She turned to Nico. “I’m sorry for him, can you forgive him for…making you uncomfortable?” She sounded uncertain of her own words.

“No it’s okay. It’s just that I don’t like talking about it. What about you guys?”

“Nope, I was a only child, and the nightmare was an escape from my parents.” Lucy sounded cheerful. This was odd, who would be cheerful about being stuck here?

“Wait, how old are you?” Nico asked, dreading the answer.

“Sixteen why?”

“You look a lot older.” Nico said. He thought he was the youngest of the group. Lucy puffed her cheeks. “I don’t know if I should be offended or flattered.

“Offended.” Vivian said, sipping from a cup.

“Who is this one family outside?” Byron said something. Nico had only witnessed him talk once, the rest of the time he grunted and pointed.

“My older brother, Rio. He’s a master.” Nico answered. Lucy’s eyes widened.

“Riollo Song?”

“Yes, how’d you know?” Lucy shuddered as if a sudden cold fell upon her.

“I’ve heard stories of a nefarious Master of Song. The cursed One. And that creep is your brother.”

“Why is he called ‘the cursed one?’” Nico asked.

“I don’t know the details, but it had something to do with his aspect.” Nico looked down. Rio never told him about his aspect, and Nico thought it was because he was being considerate. Maybe it was because of something else.

“What was his aspect?”

“I don’t know, all I know is the folklore passed around in school.” Lucy shivered again. Nico dismissed this immediately. He would believe something that came from gossip. At least he didn’t think so.

“How about you guys?” Nico diverted the attention to Byron and Marcus. Marcus stroked his beard before letting out a laugh.

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“My family owned a brewery. Once i get out of here, I’m mixing booze until I die.” Byron shrugged, shaking his head, not having anything to share, or not wanting to.

“What about Justin?” I glanced over my shoulder to see if he heard me. The man stood stoically, watching the cliff side with unfettered dedication.

“He’s an odd fellow.” Marcus said. “He joined us a little over four years ago, and with him, we started making rapid progress on mapping the mountains. He doesn’t talk much about his family though.” Justin turned and we all quickly looked every which way.

“Time to move, we need to cover more ground before the storm sets in.” Nico poured water on the fire, and everyone gathered their things. He ordered Ape over, and they began the march.

Justin was right, soon after they began, the rain started. The clouds unloaded everything they had before cresting the peaks and vanishing. It was almost impossible to see ten feet ahead, with the rain battering their eyes and blocking their sight. A roll of thunder sent rumbles through their bones, and the weather got dreadfully cold.

“Incoming!” Lucy shouted over the rain pointing off in the distance. Nico peered forward, straining his eyes. He could make out some blurry figures in the rain climbing the slippery rocks towards them.

“Vivian!” Justin pulled his twin blades and everyone armed themselves. Byron pushed Nico back with Lucy and he stood protectively in front of her. Ape stood protectively in front of him. The nightmare creatures got closer and it was easier to distinguish them. Large four legged goats with spiky horns and sharp hairs. They came in waves trying to push you off the mountain and find your corpse later to eat. They bleated, as they got closer, more and more of them appeared from the veil of rain. Vivian nocked an arrow and sent it through the storm. One figure disappeared down the mountain. Ape beat his chest and let out a mighty roar. I covered my ears and the battle began.

Vivian continued to shoot arrows at the ones still climbing. Justin and Marcus took the front, being the vanguard. They hacked the first few goats in unison. The sound of splintering horns was only made worse by the fact that Nico could hear it over the storm. Despite being beaten down by two sleepers, the goats still charged, sticking to their plan of overwhelming their enemy. A few got through and Byron grabbed one by the horns and threw it up and off the ledge. His hands were bloody, but he didn’t seem to notice. Nico had never heard of a sleeper being able to perform such a feat of strength. The goats were more than double his weight, but he threw it like it was nothing.

But there were still goats. Ape bared his teeth and backhanded one across the face and punched another. The goats defended with their horns and pushed forward. At this rate they’d be overwhelmed.

Nico could summon his other Echo. Yet something stopped him. He didn’t know these people. Should he reveal his cards?

‘What are you thinking about?!’ Nico yelled at himself. They were all going to die. Mongrel wouldn’t be so selfish. Nico looked into his soul sea and called upon the black bug. The goats pushed, Ape struggling to hold them. Then the bug manifested, tearing one of them in half. It swiped its front legs cutting cleanly through the goats horns and killing them.

Locust stung the goat that Byron was holding and threw the goat at its friends. Marcus, Vivian, and Lucy all starred, stunned at the sudden appearance of the echo. Justin and Byron regarded its existence before turning to the battle. The goats bleated furiously at the echos, trying to overwhelm the bug. But Locust was able to cut them down faster than they could charge.

‘That should do it’ Nico was relieved now that the tide of the battle was in their favor.

“Um. nico.” Lucy grabbed his shoulder and he looked at the girl. She was pointing back down the mountain from where they came from.

“APE!” Nico called the echo and pulled Lucy further up the path. His body gave out and they both slipped on the flooded stone. Ape covered them and arrows impaled the monkey’s arm. Nico recognized these creatures. They were the same ones that Mongrel fought when the gate appeared.

‘That means…’

“Justin, awakened monsters!” Nico shouted over the rain and ordered Locust forward. The bug could handle the dormant beasts at the front, but without the ability to fly, it was useless against the long ranged monsters. Justin turned and rushed back, Locust taking his place.

Justin cut the arrows out of the sky, standing his ground in front of the dreadful monsters. He shines brighter now, his red hair like a beacon in the dark. Nico felt exhilarated and summoned Backstabber. He didn’t know how to use it well, but it was better than nothing. The two of them faced the awakened monsters, while Marcus, Byron, and Vivian dealt with the waves of goats.

“They have bows, but once they figure out those are useless they’ll attack with melee. I want you to get behind me and strike them when I disarm them.” Nico nodded, and gripped his weapon. He took out his last soul shard and absorbed it, letting the strength fill him.

‘Isn’t this like taking steroids?’ The stupid thought entered his head, making him smile. Another volley of arrows. The Wraiths grunted and pulled swords, clubs, and spears, and marched up towards them. Ape jumped up and down, going crazy, Justin took this chance and swiftly cut the arms off the first monster. He kicked the monster back down into the others before retreating back up. A few monsters fell off, being shoved around the thin path.

Another wraith attacked. Justin’s blades rang and sparks flew briefly in the downpour. Nico swung the scythe, at the Wraith. His grip was too weak and he bashed the Wraith instead of slicing it. It still had an effect, allowing Justin to sever the monster's head.

Nico snatched up the stone weapon and dragged it to Ape. The echo nodded and pitched the weapon through the air. It cut droplets in its path and landed in the chest of a Wraith. The monster heeled over and fell, smashing against rocks on its way down.

‘Where's my reward?’ Nico waited for the spell to declare that he slayed the beast. ‘Don’t tell me that the spell thinks the fall killed it?’ Nico cursed and swung Backstabber with bitterness. The weapon cut the shoulder of the Wraith, and Justin kicked it back into the others like they were bowling pins.

So far both sides were holding up. One should know not to think such things. The Wraiths gave up single file slaughter and moved together. Ape chucked another stone weapon. Nico kept swinging, but he knew he couldn’t do much more. Justin was using the moments Nico created to slay the monsters, but alone, neither of them stood a chance.

They needed to end this fight fast. Nico turned the scythe around and jabbed at the monsters, keeping them off balance. Ape stomped forward and stung the sword in its hand, looking more like a dagger than a sword. The Wraiths spread out and cut at Ape, and another pulled a bow, striking the echo in the chest. Ape groaned and resorted to his fists, punching one off the cliff. Nico recalled the echo before the Wraiths could destroy it, and then summoned it back.

“Justin, take Lucy back.”

“What are you doing?”

“I have a plan.”

“I’m not letting you sacrifice yourself.” The man was stubborn.

“I’m not planning on dying, and don’t think I’m doing this for you guys. Now run.” Justin cut another Wraith before reluctantly retreating. He picked up Lucy and helped Byron and Marcus with the goats. Nico raised his scythe as high as he could and summoned Locust and Ape in between him and the Awakened monsters.

“Stay there dammit.” Nico shouted. The Wraiths were disorganized by the sudden bug, but were quickly adapting.

‘Come on.’ Nico thought. Ape and Locust wouldn't last long.

He felt a tingle in his body, his hair standing on end. ‘Now.’ Nico called his echos back. The Wraiths looked confused, but turned their attention to the boy standing in front of them.

‘Was this a bad idea?’ Nico could only think that before the pain. The air froze and his ears exploded. Nico closed his eyes and felt every fiber in his body being charged with millions of shocks. Then silence.