The morning air in the Dark City was thick with the scent of brine and old stone. Alista Tudor sat on a weathered stone slab, his posture relaxed but his eyes sharp with intent. Opposite him sat Klaus, idly tapping his spear against the ground.
Today was the day they had set for their initial reconnaissance of the Slayer Statue. In this treacherous environment, knowledge was the only currency that mattered more than Soul Shards.
"So," Klaus began, breaking the silence, "the plan is a war of attrition? We're not directly engaging the thing?"
Alista nodded slowly. "Exactly. We poke it repeatedly, draw out its patterns, and chart every weakness it has. Once we have the full picture, we destroy it. We don't have the luxury of an Oracle like Cassie to tell us the future, and while Fors might have [Astrologer], that's a distant dream until she reaches the Awakened rank. For now, this repeated intrusion is our only way to bridge the gap."
Klaus smirked, a dangerous glint in his blue eyes. "Poke and retreat. It's tedious, but it beats walking into a death trap blindly. Any idea where the ladies went?"
"They mentioned they wanted to meet with Seishan," Alista replied, his voice carrying a note of quiet appreciation. "Apparently, she's providing them with specific Memories to aid us in this expedition. It seems Artemis and Fors have built quite the rapport with her."
Alista smiled inwardly. Seishan was a powerful figure in the Castle, and having her favor—even indirectly—was a massive strategic advantage. 'After this trip, I'll need to thank her personally,' he thought. Convincing Seishan to lend more permanent aid was a key part of his long-term plan to secure their position in the Forgotten Shore.
"It's smart of them," Klaus admitted, looking toward the distant silhouette of the Bright Castle. "Every bit of gear helps when you're dealing with the Dark Sea's residents."
Alista stood up, the weight of their upcoming task settling onto his shoulders. He needed to be sure of his own strength before they stepped into the territory of a monster that could potentially end them all. With a silent command, he manifested his status.
"Let's see where we stand," Alista muttered.
He summoned his Runes,
Name:Alista Tudor
True Name:Blood Emperor
Rank:Dreamer
Soul Core:Dormant
Soul Fragments:[250/1000]
Memories:[Flame Armor], [Hunter's Sword][Dawn Shard][Light Lamp][Heaven's Jar][M… Un…old]
Echoes:—
Attributes:[Uniqueness of Black Emperor], [Instincts], [Barbarian], [Battle Analyzer]
Aspect:[Black Emperor]
Aspect Rank:Divine
Aspect Ability:[Bribe]
Alista focused his mind, manifesting the shimmering golden runes that floated in his vision. Among his inventory, he noted two new Memories acquired during the grueling weekly hunts: a glowing torch that never flickered out and a waterskin that refilled itself with a minimal but life-saving amount of fresh water.
However, his eyes lingered on a specific, locked attribute: [Uniqueness of the Black Emperor].
'I need to utilize this or figure out how to unlock my Aspect Legacy,' Alista thought, frustration gnawing at his focus. 'As for the Legacy, I have no clue where to even begin. Is it a trial of blood? Or a trial of leadership?'
Breaking his train of thought, Klaus shifted on his seat. "Blood Emperor, may I ask a question?"
Alista frowned, closing the rune interface. "Go ahead."
Klaus's smirk was sharp. "What exactly is between you and the Changing Star? You seem to dislike her quite a bit. Do you guys have a history?"
Alista was caught off guard, but his expression quickly hardened. "No history. She just reminds me of someone I hate."
Klaus chuckled at the curt response, but Alista's mind went deeper. 'She reminds me of Clara,' he thought bitterly. 'Both are frighteningly similar—willing to sacrifice whatever and whomever is necessary to reach their goal, all while being massive hypocrites. The only difference is that Clara did it on her own, whereas Nephis has every kind of support imaginable, including the very threads of fate itself.'
"Here come the ladies," Klaus remarked, his tone shifting to amusement. "Wow, Gwen seems to have taken all the makeup for herself today."
Alista turned to see the three women approaching. Each wore a distinct suit of armor that marked their role. Gwen was clad in sturdy, brownish plates; Fors wore shimmering silver armor; and Artemis stood regal in a suit of midnight-black plate.
Gwen walked straight up to Klaus and delivered a swift punch to his jaw. Klaus tanked the hit with a lazy smile, seemingly enjoying the interaction.
"She is mentioning that you are a moron," Fors translated with a dry tone.
Artemis ignored the antics, her eyes locking onto Alista's. "Are you guys ready?"
Alista and Klaus nodded. The group filed into their makeshift meeting room, where Alista unrolled a weathered map and pointed to a marked location north of the Dark City.
"This is the Slayer Statue," Alista said, his voice dropping into a commander's tone. "Remember the formation. Me and Klaus will take the front. Artemis and Gwen, you protect the rear. Fors, you are our wildcard—switch your position based on the flow of the battle."
Everyone nodded in solemn agreement. The time for practice was over.
With Klaus leading as the pathfinder, the journey was remarkably efficient. Five years of experience in the Forgotten Shore was no slouch; he knew every shortcut, every blind spot, and every hollowed-out ruin. He led them through the shadows of the city's edge until they reached the outermost point of the Dark City.
By then, night had fallen. The Dark Sea had returned, its black, oily waves crashing against the ancient walls.
Klaus led them into a reinforced room high above the water line. "We stay here for the night," he instructed. "When morning breaks and the tide recedes, we leave these walls and march straight for the statue."
The group set up a cold camp. Klaus picked up a handful of debris from the floor, his eyes glowing as he infused it with his essence. The stone twisted and reshaped itself into a small, fly-like creature that buzzed away into the darkness. While the others rested, Klaus remained perfectly still, monitoring the surroundings through his creation's eyes.
When the pale light of morning finally touched the grey sky, the march began. They traversed the labyrinth of coral and bone at a high pace. Any monster that stood in their way—skulking Centipedes or scavenging Carapace beasts—was cut down without a word. They moved like a single, well-oiled machine.
Because the statue was relatively close to the Dark City, the journey didn't take long. As the towering, weathered silhouette of the Slayer Statue finally loomed over them, Alista signaled for a halt.
"Time to camp here," Alista commanded, looking at the monolithic stone figure. "The real work starts now."
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