Chapter 138 - Vulnerable

Nova descended through the crisp air, catching a few updrafts as he navigated toward the familiar wooden structure below. The cabin sat exactly where he had left it, nestled between an opening in the towering trees.

He landed softly on the ground, then folded his wings back into his back as he approached the cabin entrance, taking care to step only on bare ground rather than the network of roots that sprawled across the forest floor. Every root could potentially be connected to some ancient consciousness that viewed him as an intruder.

Nova pushed the door open and stepped inside, hoping he would be safe from danger here. The temperature dropped several degrees, and the constant background hum of magical energy that permeated the forest faded to almost nothing.

(Hey, are you still alive?) he projected through their ring connection, settling onto one of the simple wooden chairs that furnished the sparse interior.

(Who's asking?) Anny's mental voice carried a hint of dry humor, though he could detect a hint of worry.

(Good one. Hey, this place is much worse than we expected.) He ran a hand through his white hair, disturbing strands that were still growing from his fiery trip through the air.

(Oh?)

(Yeah, first I encountered a forest guardian that was nearly as strong as me. I could have defeated it, but it called for its friends after my first attack, and if I had stayed to fight them all I would have died.)

He paused, running his fingers along the rough wooden surface of the table as he gathered his thoughts for the next part.

(Then I encountered a thunderbird while flying through the sky, and it used its magic to call down a massive lightning bolt directly onto my position. It was a mix of luck and quick thinking that let me leave that fight alive.)

(What the hell?! Are you okay?) Anny's mental voice exploded through their connection with such force that Nova actually winced. Her concern hit him like a physical blow, carrying undertones of fear and barely restrained panic.

(Yeah, I’m good now, but I'm still healing from that lightning strike.)

(You were hit?!)

(Yes, but like I said, I’m fine… I think you need to absorb the heart for us to get through this floor safely.) Nova flexed his fingers, feeling the lingering ache from electrical burns that were only partially healed.

(Really? Just like that?)

(Do you see any other solutions? Even if I can handle the normal monsters here, which seems unlikely, we still need to defeat the dungeon king at the end.) He leaned back in the chair, feeling the wood creak under his weight.

(...Tell me more about the layout of this floor.)

(It’s pretty weird. To me it appears to be nothing more than a floating island suspended in empty space. There's this forest where we are now, then a large city visible on the other side of it, where Millie's signal is coming from.)

(Can’t we just… fly there?)

Nova paused, feeling a hint of anger building in his mind. But at the same time, confusion.

‘Why hadn’t I thought of that? That seems so obvious… And why am I mad about it?’

(Nova?) Anny's mental voice held concern, probably sensing the sudden shift in his emotional state through their connection.

(Yeah, I just… Hold on a minute.) Nova pressed his palms against his temples, trying to understand what was happening to his thought processes.

‘This feels wrong. Why does it feel wrong?’

(You don't have the immunity anymore, you know? To madness.) Anny's mental voice cut through his rising confusion like a blade through fog.

A surge of anger shot through Nova's mind at the mention of that trait, but then the emotion suddenly lifted. Whatever force had been clouding his thoughts was forced to release its grip on him.

‘So that’s what is going on! The heart is messing with my head, trying to be absorbed!’

Nova reached into his core storage, pulling out a piece of silver from an earlier floor and pressing it against his forehead. An instant flash of relief washed over him, like cool water clearing away a thick layer of mud from his thoughts.

(Thanks, Anny. I was being careless.) He kept the silver pressed to his skin, feeling the mental clarity return bit by bit.

(What happened?)

(I think the heart was trying to mess with my mind, pushing me to make you absorb it. Maybe it would be better to just destroy the thing and forget about it…)

(...Do you have it under control now?) The worry in her tone was clear, even through their mental connection.

(Yeah, I'll be keeping a piece of silver on me from now on. That's what this creature was weak to, as you probably remember from our fight.) Nova moved the silver from his forehead to his pocket, making sure it stayed close to his body.

(Good. But what do we do now?)

(You should stay there until I can scout things out a bit more. I'll try flying directly to the city to meet up with Millie first. And if flying seems safe enough, I'll come back to get you later.)

(Right… That’s probably the best course of action. For now.)

Nova stood up from the wooden chair, already planning his next moves. The silver in his pocket felt reassuring, like a small anchor of clarity in what was turning out to be a very strange floor.

(This does make it much less likely that we will be able to defeat the dungeon king, so, in the worst case scenario, you can absorb the heart then. It’s likely better than dying down here, after all.)

(...And I’ve been consumed by the void in the past. It won’t destroy me.)

(We just have to hope that's true… and I'm only saying this because I can't absorb it the way you can.) Nova felt a pang of guilt at having to put this burden on her.

(I know you would rather do it yourself.)

(I'll make you a silver crown or something in the city. That should help protect you.) Nova moved toward the cabin door, checking his equipment one more time. (Oh, right, I should put on clothes…)

(...You’re naked?)

(Just a little bit. I kind of scorched myself earlier.) He summoned a pair of pants and a shirt from his ring, covering most of his body. It should at least let him walk through the city without attracting too much attention. (That should do it.)

Anny sighed audibly through the rings. (How much essence do you have left?)

(...Enough.)

(Give me a percentage. And before you lie, remember who you trust more of the two of us right now.)

Nova sighed, looking at his stat sheet again. The numbers weren’t great. (About twenty percent.)

(Meaning below twenty. Rest here until you have at least sixty back.)

(She’s right there, Anny.)

(I know. But there are so many reasons you should at least be prepared when going there. It could be a trap, or the city could be far more inhospitable than the last one we visited, or you could get caught by the forest or another thunderbird before getting there.)

She was right. He knew she was. But he really wanted to leave.

(She’s been there for days by now. She can spare a few more hours.)

(...Fine. A short rest, then I’m off. But I will be actively circulating the Meridian Cleanse, so don’t disturb me.)

(Do as you wish. I can sense your position, so I’ll know if you leave.)

(I’m not that underhanded.)

It had passed his mind, but he decided against it. As the creator of the rings, he could find a way to fool the tracking if he really wanted.

Instead, he sat down on the cabin floor with his legs crossed and started focusing on his breathing. And then his essence recovery sped up.

Three hours passed in silence as his essence bar filled, giving Nova plenty of time to think of all the dangers Millie could be in. So the instant it hit sixty percent, he stood and got ready to leave.

(I’m at sixty now. Will you allow me to leave, my Lady?)

(If you have time to crack jokes, I’ll assume you’re ready. So, go help her now. I’m sure she has been waiting for you since you arrived.)

(Of course she has. I’ll be back. And I’ll use the same signal if I need you to come to us.)

(Sure. Give her a hug from me.)

Nova pushed open the cabin door, stepping back into the strange forest of the tenth floor. (I will give her a hundred.)

The sky had started turning dark during the time Nova had been inside the cabin. The sun was still hanging in the air above them, but now it cast a reddish glow over the treetops instead of the bright white light from before.

‘I didn't see any more birds while I was up there. I really hope it was just a special creature, like the leviathan on the previous floor. The same could be true for the forest guardian, but I think a forest of this size should have several. Plus, it was definitely calling out to something when I attacked it.'

The sylph wings emerged from his back once again, spreading wide as they prepared to carry him across the floating island to the distant city. They were starting to feel slow compared to his current level of power, so this time he decided to keep a burst spell ready in his mind—one that wouldn't burn his skin off like the rocket spell had done.

Nova launched himself into the air with a powerful beat of his translucent wings. As he climbed above the treetops, the same strange view spread out below him. The island of forest and city floated alone in an endless blue void, like a piece of land that had been torn away from a larger world. It reminded him of the pocket dimension where the Signus had been trapped during their fight at the rift.

‘Whatever, not important right now. Millie is in that direction, so that’s where I’m going.’

He kept himself a few hundred meters above the trees as he flew toward the city, staying high enough to avoid any ground-based threats while remaining low enough to react quickly if needed. 

The flight went smoothly—almost too smoothly. Not a single creature emerged from the forest canopy to challenge him, and no birds appeared to contest his passage through their territory.

The city grew larger as he approached, and Nova found himself surprised by what he could sense from it. The place seemed to be full of life and activity, nothing like the quiet city on the ninth floor, which seemed more like a stage.

Songs drifted up from the streets below, mixing with the occasional shout that sounded like people having a good time in taverns that had been serving drinks for hours. The whole place had a festive feeling that seemed completely out of place on a dungeon floor designed to kill anyone who entered it.

The smells that reached him were pleasant too—cooking food, wood smoke, and other signs of a living city. But as Nova flew closer, he spotted an issue.

A barrier shimmered into view as he got within fifty meters of the city walls. The magical wall surrounded the entire settlement, rising high into the air above the tallest buildings. It looked incredibly strong, the kind of protection that would take serious effort to break through.

‘Figures there would be a problem… Wow, it even prevents Shadow Step. Though it’s not like I planned to use it.’ 

The warning from Lady Silveria still rang clear in his mind. And doubly so now that he was without his immunity to madness.

Nova reached out with his senses, trying to feel for the connection he normally had to shadows in the distance. The link simply wasn't there. The barrier was somehow cutting off his access to the void, despite the fact that light was clearly passing through it.

‘This is an advanced barrier, and even if I could get through it, I would be noticed. Do I have to risk going through the entrance?’

Ch.137 --I-- Index --I-- Ch.139