Cobra Lily summoned the sleepers to her building. Nico hadn’t realized just how many people were living here. There were well over a hundred sleepers inside the building, with more standing up and down the stairs.
“The locusts have been beaten back this month. This gives us a window to explore the Hollow mountains.” Cobra Lily informed. “Like before, Justin will be leading the expedition.” Cobra Lily stepped back from the table. A rugged, red haired man stepped forward. His armor was the same plastic look as the bugs, with swords sheathed on his sides.
Memories were usually stored when not being used, but this man wore his swords with pride. Inspire confidence. The man was the perfect image of a leader, probably something these people needed given the situation.
“Last month our path was infested with horrible insects from beasts to devils,” The grim news sent everyone into a depression. “This month we are checking on that path. Hopefully the bugs have moved. If not then we’ll chart a path around them. We are not far from the peak.” Nico felt a sudden rush of excitement. The other people gathered did too, looking much happier. Nico slapped himself. Justin was using an aspect or memory of some sort.
“Now we need volunteers for the expedition. If you are weak I cannot let you join, but don’t let that stop you. You won’t stay weak for long.” Justin stepped back into the line of people with Cobra Lily and she started organizing the people. They planned a funeral for the dead. Seven people died in the last attack. Nico didn’t know them.
“Nico, a word.” Cobra Lily pulled him aside as everybody else left. “I want you on the expedition.”
“Why?”
“You spent two days in this hell and you already survived fighting the swarm, and killed one of the black ones. You have an awakened beast as an echo. I would be remiss if I didn’t ask you to lend you strength.” Nico scratched the back of his head and had Ape put him down. He sat on the stairs. He could see over the walls to the endless jungle just on the doorstep. A small drop in the ocean of the dream world.
“I’ll help,” Nico replied. He didn’t have much of a choice, but Cobra Lily looked about ready to hug someone. “Could I get some clothes too?”
Nico laid down on the floor. He was where he had started the day, but now he had a proper pair of pants and shirt. His wounds were bandaged and all, but his body refused to stop hurting. Every muscle in his arms and legs, even most of his core was sore beyond belief. That’s Why Nico was standing up.
Weakness meant death in the slums. Too sick to move? Starve. Too weak to work or steal? Starve. Every decision was life and death there. Nico summoned the Scythe again. The tall weapon balanced on the floor before Nico grabbed it. He was right. The weapon wasn’t heavy, with a light blade on the top.
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He swung it, and the wood spun in his hands, the blade pointing backwards. He tried gripping it tighter and got it to point the right way after a few tries. Already he was sweating. Nico put down the memory and looked at his runes.
Echoes: [Steel Hide Ape] [Marshal Locust Guard]
Nico let the tranquil sea ripple as the orb fell. He read the runes.
Echo type: Beast
Echo core: Dormant.
Echo Attributes: [Silent flight][Acid spit]
Echo description: [Born a guard, died a traitor, reborn a guard.]
Nico wild the echo into the world. Two mandibles rested an inch from his face. The bug had two white marbles for eyes with the rest of its body covered in black armor. Its tail swished, almost knocking over the table in the hut. Ape huffed at the bug, sizing the new echo up. With the two of them together, the hut was crammed full. Nico sent the bug back to the soul sea before the two started fighting. The bug was the same rank as him, but had a whole extra core.
‘What constitutes stronger than me?’ The Ape was a beast, the same as a sleeper, but its core was awakened. The bug was the same rank, but had another core. So there were two ways to get an echo. Nico smiled. If he went around killing awakened beasts, he’d have plenty of echos to kill monsters.
‘Don’t get ahead of yourself.’ Nico brought his mind back to reality. To actually kill nightmare creatures, he needed to be able to fight. He eyed the scythe and lifted it again. He had shards and hours of the night.
Vivian strode into the hut, took one look at Nico and smiled. “You look well rested.” Her hair was tied up in a ponytail, with the shorter strands hanging loosely. Nico had spent the night swinging his new memory. Ape sat in the corner with a wooden stick, blocking each of Nico’s attacks.
It made no sense that an ape could wield a sword, but here it was taunting Nico with grunts and whistles whenever Nico messed up his swing. Nico was about ready to send the echo to oblivion, but his common sense won out. He didn't even know if he could kill the echo. All the shards he collected from the previous day were gone, yet Nico still felt the same. He wasn’t exhausted, but not brimming with power.
Core: 47/1000
Nico frowned. He looked at Vivian who was examining Ape. He had agreed to join the expedition, but fighting with a cohort wouldn’t strengthen him individually. Yet he also lacked the strength to fight alone. His runes flickered as they came into existence. Making up his mind he walked out of the hut.
Justin was waiting outside the village with a group of two dozen or so sleepers. He eyed Nico and Vivian as they approached and looked warily at the Ape following behind them. His red hair and armor caught the rising sun, making him literally glow in front of them.
“Vivian, why are you bringing the new guy here? I specifically said no weaklings.”
“I brought myself, thank you very much.” Nico said. Justin stepped in front of Nico, the two staring at one another. Justin was at least twenty and stood well above Nico.
“You have guts.” Justin patted him on the shoulder. “Welcome aboard. Let's hope you don't die on the first day.” Despite the friendly look he gave, there was something Nico could quite understand in his voice. Justin marched ahead and the group followed. The flat river bank was replaced with rocky roads, with a giant mountain face in front of them. Nico gulped and started the march.