The legacy was unjustly fine. The days in the dream realm had done nothing to dim his sharp features, and what little grime was there only served to make him look ruggedly handsome. To add insult to injury, Gen had shiny dark metal armor while Nico was left in the tatters of his tracksuit.

The legacy nodded. “I’m surprised you’re alive,” he said. “You just waltzed into the den of an awakened monster.”

“I was mostly lucky,” Nico said. ‘And had a little help.’ Nico sat up and put his hand over his wounds. Blood was seeping through the feathers.

Gen sat on a flat stone, facing a small fire pit. The smoke smelled like nothing and rose up and down, forming a mysterious veil. ‘Memory or aspect?’ Nico wondered as he resummoned his sword from the monster’s leg.

Nico heated the metal to a nice orange color. “Do you have any clothes?”

The silent legacy shook his head, and Nico tore his jacket sleeve and rolled the fabric up, putting it into his mouth. He bit down and held the metal against his shoulder.

Nico was close to passing out, and he groaned in agony as the metal burned his wound closed. After counting, Nico let the sword drop and gasped. When he recovered, Nico found Gen eyeing Whispering Reed with disbelief.

“What?” Nico asked. The legacy pointed to the memory.

“That’s an awakened memory.” Gen gave Nico a reevaluating look and smiled.

“So?” Nico tilted his head. “I have two.” Gen’s smile grew slimmer, and Nico felt an ominous feeling from the legacy. ‘Does he want to fight me?’ Shivering, he looked away. The fireplace was surrounded by a veil around six meters wide. Besides the fireplace, the rest of the cave was an ordinary boring cave.

“How long have you been here?” Nico asked. With a closer look, Gen wasn’t as okay as Nico initially thought. There was a wound on his thigh, and his armor showed corrosion and cracks all over the chestplate. Nico touched his thigh, feeling a small amount of pain. He was a little numb to everything right now.

“Since we were sent here. The spell had fun with it and put me right between two fighting monsters.”

“I have some food in my bag…” Nico trailed off, looking past the veil to the pile of feathers the monster was chewing on. Nico recognized the monster. It was one of the many corpses he’d seen picked apart. ‘This one’s a lot bigger,’ Nico laid down, letting the warmth of the fire soothe his body.

“I have some food. I stole some from the loser’s body.” Gen produced some meat and roasted it over the fire. Nico greedily gulped down the meat. Apparently, Gen tried to leave, but a flock of Scavengers cut him off. One wounded him, and he fled back to the cave. He hadn’t seen any other sleeper.

Nico fell into a contemplative mood. He was currently safe, but that status could change like raindrops. Gen’s emotions were muted compared to those of the other sleepers Nico was around at the academy. ‘Legacy training?’

His flaw gave him an advantage in this situation. Nico would have some notice if Gen was planning a betrayal. Returning to the problem, both of them were stuck in the lair of an awakened monster.

“Any idea how we can kill that thing?” Nico asked. Gen looked at him like he had just grown a third eye.

“What? Your first thought wasn’t ‘how do I kill it?’”

“Oh, it was.” Gen replied, a hint of arrogance seeping through his voice. “But the answer was only death.”

“Hm. But now I’m here. I think I’ve proven my worth. Wouldn’t you agree?” Nico raised White Reed into the firelight.

“Tell me your abilities and I’ll decide if you can be of use.” Nico snorted at the pompous legacy and leaned against the wall.

“You go first.”

Gen stayed silent, and the two stared at each other, the crackling fire between them.

“I’m not offering to be your pawn. I’m offering a partnership. Weren’t we friends back at the academy? We go way back.” Nico concentrated on the ripple in Gen’s mind.

“Or are you scared that I might be stronger than you? That a rat could harm a legacy?”

“It’s not the rat in itself that is a threat. Rats carry disease and where there’s one, there are many more.”

“I don’t see many other sleepers here, do you?”

“Disease,” Gen calmly replied. Nico rolled his eyes. “Rude.”

“Alright. I can merge living things into bigger living things and nature loves me.” Nico smiled pleasantly. It was genuine. Gen’s emotions proved that he won.

The legacy sighed. “My battle power increases proportional to the number of allies nearby. I have an innate understanding of handling all sorts of weapons.”

‘How honest.’ Nico mused. “Is your flaw something I need to worry about?” Gen foreword his brows. “Why would you need to worry? No.”

Relaxing a little, Nico turned his attention to the monster. ‘Your true name is Treacherous Savior. That alone is a red flag,’ Nico asked the question to gauge Gen’s reaction. Gen's confusion meant that his flaw wasn’t anything sinister.

“Do you have a plan to kill that monster?” Gen inquired.

“Not yet. But someone told me that every living thing is incomplete and lacking. If we find its flaws we can surely exploit them and kill them.”

“You are awfully confident. Did your brother hammer combat into you?”

“I’m not like you silver spooned legacies.” Nico sourly whispered. Putting on a grin, Nico turned back to the monster prowling around the cavern.

“Can it get to us?”

“No. To put it simply, my memory makes this area its own world. I can let people in and out whenever I want.”

“So you can trap me inside with the monster and leave?” Nico theorized. Gen coughed awkwardly. “I supposed.”

The monster didn’t leave the cavern, preferring to stay near the pool. The water originated from the pool and flowed down into the hollow darkness. ‘It’s like the monster is guarding the entrance.’

Long after Gen fell asleep, Nico was wide awake, observing his prey.

The monster was savage and swift. When some Night Marauders appeared, the fish monster dispatched them like toys thrown to a cat.

The vitality drained away as the sun rose and the monster slept in the pool during the day. Nico spent those hours experimenting. Gen was initially skeptical of Nico, but soon, the legacy listened, intrigued by the rat’s ideas.

Nico pushed his sword out into the empty air. His sword was normal, and nothing changed. Dropping the weapon, he stepped forward. A slight, suffocating feeling was in his chest as he stood silently.

‘Nine, ten.’ Finishing his count, Nico was pulled back into the hidden veil. His feet were suddenly scorched, and he skipped a foot into the air and rolled to the side. Resting the flats of his feet on the cold stone, Nico put together a plan in his head.

‘The monster can’t see well in light and tires itself out at night when weaker creatures are around.’ Sitting up, he looked at Gen. The legacy raised an eyebrow, and Nico spoke with a sweet voice.

“We’re friends, Gen.”

“No.”

“I didn’t even--”

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

“No.”

“Will you not lend me your memory?” Nico rushed out.

“N-Yes!.” Gen shot Nico a look. Nico returned the annoyed expression with arms in the air.

“It’s paramount that I have control of the memory.”

“Why?”

“Frankly speaking, you’re a much better fighter than me, and it’s easier for me to sneak around.” ‘That’s it.” Nico had gauged Gen’s personality reasonably well. He was a loyal and intelligent fellow. Nico had offered the logical portion, now to wrap it with a pretty bow.

“Shouldn't I have the fireplace to execute this plan since I’m stronger?” The legacy shot back.

“No.” Nico quoted back.

“I can’t trust you to return it.” Gen went on.

Orange sparks shot from Nico’s hand, and Duality Feathers manifested in his hand. “I can offer this awakened memory for a temporary trade.” Honesty was gold with Gen.

The legacy regarded Nico with the eyes of a lion. ‘Was I careless?’ Nico swallowed and managed a smile behind his forming sweat. The killing intent was powerful and frightening, leaving Nico paralyzed.

“Rest, then we can talk.” Gen turned away. Nico dropped like a doll cut from its strings. Gen laid on his side, his back faced Nico.

Nico looked past the veil at the rising sun. ‘Sleep when your enemy is sleeping…’ Nico understood the idea but came up with a better idea.

“I’m wide awake already.” Summoning Whispering Reed, Nico stepped out of the veil. The veil worked on two permissions. One to enter and one to leave. Once the owner permitted one, the guest had permission until it was revoked.

Nico basked in the sun for a moment, comforted by its warmth. Then he walked over to the remains of his feather sack and picked up the black metal lying on the ground.

Tapping the stone, a sonarious ring echoed in the cave. The water rippled, and the monster snarled viciously from the pool. It swung its head from side to side, trying to find the intruder.

“Over here.” Nico said. Backed by the sun, the monster winced from the brightness and attacked wildly.

Ducking under the attack, Nico braced his sword and thrust it into the monster’s chest. The monster was mostly blind but not inept. It quickly halted its advance and crouched, avoiding a fatal injury. Whispering Reed cut harmlessly through the monster’s shoulder.

The monster slammed down where Nico was. However, the sleeper had already jumped out of the way after his attack was foiled.

The monster turned, following the sound of Nico’s pattering feet. Nico reached up, hit a stalactite, and rolled under the monster’s high attack. The monster splashed into the water, and Nico dashed towards a particular part of the cave.

The splashes covered Nico’s escape, and the monster emerged into a silent cave. It sniffed around, searching for the rat in its cave. Sadly, there was no sign.

Nico sat breathlessly by the fire. ‘Gen…slept through that.’ The oh-so-diligent legacy was unmoved by Nico’s escapades.

Ignoring the sleeping beauty, Nico watched with amusement at the monster searching the cave.

By the time it gave up on finding Nico, the sun had started to set, and now it had to deal with the regular visitors.

Gen stirred and sat up, brushing his oily hair up. “What’s with that look?” He furrowed his eyebrows at Nico.

“I just started my plan, and it went perfectly.”

“I thought I told you to rest.”

“I will.” Nico said. “But first. I need the memory.”

“That's a stupid idea.” Gen was referring to the battle going on not too far from them. Nico rolled his eyes.

“I don’t mean now. But tomorrow. I need your answer now since we need to start our plan at dawn.” Gen looked at the battling monster, then at Nico, going back and forth between the two. Nico’s flaw picked up his sporadic emotions, and Nico was uncertain of Gen’s answer.

“Fine. Tomorrow. What do the feathers do?”

“They make you fall with grace and in your case, style. Not as wonderful as this magical fireplace, but still valuable to me.” Nico put out his hand. Gen slowly took it and shook it.

‘You’re scamming yourself.’ The memory surfaced. For a moment, Nico lost his act, his face going solemn. Matthew’s last words sobered him.

Returning to the present, Nico transferred Duality Feathers to Gen. Leaving the surprised legacy alone, Nico went to sleep.

The night was old, and the faint light of sunrise approached. The monster entered the calm water of the pool to rest. But Nico had no intention of letting it rest.

They were ready. Nico summoned both his weapons. Sparks flew from Gen’s hand, and an ornate curved sword shimmered in his hands. ‘A cavalry sword,’ Nico whistled at the sight. Gen noticed his look and smiled.

“Jealous?”

“Why is a legacy looking for the admiration of an ant?” Nico said, faking a sardonic tone.

“It feels good. Vice in small amounts.” Gen shrugged. “We need to hurry,” Gen raised his hand at the logs. The fire was snuffed out, leaving the bright glow of charcoal.

The black veil lightened up and soon dispersed. Gen grabbed Nico’s hand, and the spell acknowledged the transfer.

[You have received a memory.]

Nico summoned the runes and skimmed them.

[Loki’s Fire] [A gift of a deity wrapped in trickery and who solved many problems for his blood brother and the Vanir]

Nico summoned the fire pit back and exited the veil. Nodding to each other, the sleepers faced the pool.

“Hey, ugly. Remember me? I stabbed you in the foot.” Nico called out. Unlike before, the monster shot out of the water with surprising speed. Nico would have been gutted if Gen wasn’t there.

The legacy blocked the monster’s claws and delivered a powerful kick to its ribs. Overcoming his initial sluggishness, Nico swung White Reed and Backstabber. The scythe cut the monster’s spines like wheat, and White Reed hissed as it flew through the air.

‘Inside.'

The monster bashed Gen away with its tail and unhinged its jaw at Nico. This time, it wasn’t taking chances. ‘Crap.’

A wall of flesh bloomed from the monster’s mouth and engulfed him. The opening closed, leaving Nico in a dark world of acid.

Feeling his skin burn, Nico thrashed, trying to stab a hole in the fleshing wall. In response, teeth poked out of the wall, ready to shred Nico.

Before Nico became digested minced meat, a slit of light formed in the black walls, and a hand pulled Nico out. Rolling to his feet covered in gastric juices, Nico recovered in time to block a heavy tail.

The monster’s stomach receded back into its body, and Nico held in his need to vomit as he attacked the preoccupied monster.

Backstabber cut a few spines off and lodged into the monster’s back. Nico let go and dedicated his two hands to a downswing. As the blade cut an arc in the air, it spoke again.

‘I-inssside,’ the soft voice said. The copper blade cut into the monster’s fur, drawing blue blood. Nico disengaged, giving his sword a look.

‘What the hell?’ He didn’t have time to wonder before a tail came at him. Nico ducked under the attack and moved back, trying to observe the battle.

Gen was moving swiftly around the monster, delivering cut after cut and dodging all counterattacks. The monster had many methods of attack, but its eyesight was poor. Each strike it made was off its mark by small or large margins. Nico dismissed his scythe and gripped the short handle of his sword with both hands.

Running forward, he blocked the monster's paw and moved into a cut. Then he heard the voice again, saying the same thing: ‘Inside.’

The beast roared and opened its mouth. Nico was almost too late to dodge. A long harpoon-like thing shot out of the monster's mouth, piercing the stone and breaking the ground. The tongue whipped around like a deadly game of jump rope and swept Nico’s feet out from under him.

The harpoon retreated into the monster and fired again, skewering the shoulder of Gen’s armor. Nico let out a muffled scream of pain, touching his shoulder. The legacy slashed at the monster, attempting to sever the tongue, but the wall of flesh reappeared, trapping the weapon.

“Catch!” Nico threw the black shard of metal. The legacy let go of his sword, caught the metal, and stabbed the monster in one of its inky eyes.

The monster hissed in pain but did not let go of Gen. Nico, who had enough time to get between them, cut the tongue, and told the voice to shut up after it repeated the same word for the third time. Gen was free, but Nico stood before the closing stomach.

Nico grabbed the fleshy surface and willed the monster to merge. After his first use of his aspect, Nico constantly wondered: What if he merged himself?

Pain flared through Nico’s abused body, and he flew back, rolling into the wall. The monster jumped after him. Inhaling sharply, Nico moved between the stalagmites. The monster crashed through the narrow spaces to get to the wounded meal.

Pain flashed through Nico's legs as he lunged forward at the beast. The two of them traded blows. The monster’s hide developed more shallow cuts, and Nico used the stone for cover.

Each time he swung Whispering Reed, the voice repeated the same word. Twisting the blade into the monster’s eye, Nico summoned Backstabber. He raised the weapon over his head. ‘What the-!’ A sharp tongue shot out of the monster's mouth, scraping Nico's cheek. The muscle contracted, and Nico braced for the impact. However, Gen ran between them. His cavalry sword severed the tongue.

Having broken the chain of attacks, The monster unhinged its jaw, and the wall of flesh returned. Unable to resist, Nico was swallowed.

The shaft of Backstabber bent and cracked under the pressure. ‘Damn it’

Reversing his grip, he plunged Whispering Reed down the monster’s esophagus. ‘Happy now?’ Nico thought.

Smelly blood sprayed from the wound, and the monster let out a guttural gurgle. Nico jerked the sword out and stabbed the monster again.

The monster let go of Nico and spat him out. Nico struggled up, coming eye to eye with the mad monster.

The monster, sapped of most of its strength, lunged in one last attack. Nico was too weak to resist. At best, he could achieve mutual destruction. That is, if he was without a plan.

A slim line curved on Nico’s lips, and he vanished.

The monster was confused, passing over the now empty area. A minor tightness appeared in its paint chest. A long second passed before a copper blade stuck out of its back and slid down its side, leaving the monster wide open.

[You have slain awakened monster, Guardian Aureus]