The cohort gathered to face the coming storm (a literal one this time). The harrowing echoes of the rising tide and deadly lightning caused a sense of dread to take over the group. Well, all except for Gehrman.
He was scared of course, but he was also very, very blood drunk. At this point he was around 50%, and his thoughts had become sluggish and strange.
As the crew talked strategy on how to best brace for the storm, Gehrman turned to Caster. "Hey, remember when I said I would have to go really mad at one point in the journey. This is as good a time as any right? I doubt we will be in a less dangerous situation. Plus, I'm already halfway there."
A dark look came over the Legacy's face. "Absolutely not," he said in a hushed voice. "There will definitely be safer opportunities, and besides, as you are, I'm already expecting you to fall off on your own."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence."
Both boys scowled at each other, a silent deep annoyance was clearly displayed. It would surprise any of the cohort if they were paying attention to the exchange. Instead, a much cuter conversation was happening.
Changing Star was approaching Sunless, a look of genuine worry on her face. It was the first time Gehrman had seen emotion coming from their intrepid leader. What was more surprising was how raw it felt.
To be fair, Sunless was coughing up blood. Even still, the tough little bastard waved her off. "Don't bother. I'll be fine. Take a look at Cassie instead."
"But doesn't it hurt?" she asked tentatively.
"Not as bad as it's going to hurt you."
"...I am used to it."
"I know. But I don't want you to be used to it. You shouldn't be. Especially not on my account."
Gehrman stared at them mouth agape. Then he turned back to Caster, still speaking only so the Legacy could hear. "They are going to get married one day. Their chemistry is amazing," Gehrman said with a wolfish grin.
In response, the most disgusted look Gehrman could ever imagine came across Caster's face. "You are really vile, you know? There is no way they would ever be…involved. Sunless is a useful tool, but Changing Star is still a Legacy. It is already a blessing for her to even associate with him."
"You classist bastard. I love it when you show how crazy you are. I am so proud of you." Then, Gehrman enveloped the boy in a hug. Somehow, Caster's face grew even more contorted.
"Let. Go." He spoke with a promise of death.
Gehrman complied, but not before teasing the brat one last time. "You know, it's probably because of a lack of hugs growing up that you became such a hateful man."
Caster grabbed his collar. He moved so fast that it surprised even Gehrman. Even at the top of his game, it wouldn't have been easy to dodge.
"You little–"
He stopped.
The entire cohort had turned to face them, eyes wide with shock. Well, except for Sunless, he seemed to expect this. In fact, they had been observing their exchange ever since the hug, though they couldn't make out the words.
Veins popping from his powerful grip, it took a while for Caster to drop the boy. He brushed his hand absent mindley and explained to the group. "He is more crazy than usual. But he wanted to take even more blood to descend into total madness… Apparently it's vital for his growth." Caster's cold eyes somehow melted into pity and solemnity. "I haven't seen him like this before. His words…cut deeper than they should have. I lost control. Whatever punishment you deem fit I will take it. I understand this kind of infighting can't happen."
This guy's acting is seriously on another level. He couldn't help but be impressed. Before anyone could say anything, Gehrman came to his rescue. "That's dumb. I was the one who provoked you. When I get to this stage, I lash out at everyone and everything. You were just the person closest to me," he said with a clarity that did not match his demeanor. "Your punishment is to survive this storm and eventually see an even worse version of me."
Gehrman fell to his knees and crushed the stone beneath him, creating a hand hold.
The others all looked among each other. They would probably pursue this later, but at the moment they had far bigger issues.
…
The storm was brutal. The hurricane winds even pushed back the Stone Saint who Sunless had summoned to hang onto. However, Gehrman did not feel true fear.
That was, until he saw the colossal black tentacle. The creature had easily wrapped around the highest point of the stone colossus. Its strength…was incomparable to the Fallen Devil of before. It was of a Corrupted Rank, and possibly an even higher class. Whatever monstrosity had grabbed onto the stone colossus, was quite simply in a whole other dimension. Even if Gehrman and the cohort could miraculously fight creatures two ranks above them, this was a truly hopeless endeavor.
The only thing keeping them alive was the fact the giant statue was continuing its movement and the storm's horror had not slowed down. The creature hung on with seeming ease, but there was no doubt that the majority of its power was focused on staying attached. Unlike the Fallen Devil from before, this creature was not made for sticking to larger prey.
Gehrman did not process any of this, as all he could do in that moment was dodge. He was already summoning his strongest Memory, the [Burial Blade (Sealed)] as well as bringing out every last vial of Fallen blood he had accumulated.
The viscous red liquid shot out to meet the tentacle, but it was unable to do anything. Before Gehrman could even charge up the blow, before the scythe even finished appearing, the tentacle slammed into the stone. Even without direct contact, the force of the impact sent Gehrman flying backwards, over the edge.
The blade then appeared, and it was sunk in the stone at the last moment. Gehrman did not fall into the sea, but the resulting shock was likely the same.
For the first time since coming to this world, he felt utterly powerless. What's more, it was all being done by a random creature. This thing had come out of nowhere. It had no preamble. No name. No legend preceding it. And yet it outclassed Gehrman in every possible way. No manner of strategy could allow him to slay this beast.
Is this the true horror of the Dream Realm? Gehrman moved as he pondered the insignificance in his chest. This feeling of helplessness. This feeling of looming death.
He hated it.
It was not a rational hate, but one that overpowered all other emotions until it was the supreme authority over Gehrman's mind. From the cracked stone, the quickly dissipating Fallen blood spread out and dissolved from the rain. In that moment, Gehrman willed the last of it to come to him and coat his blade.
The enchantment worked. [Forged by Blood] put the Memory into overdrive, nearing the level of a Transcendent weapon. Further augmented by Fallen blood, it reached the absolute peak of Ascended weapons.
Gehrman took stock of the situation. He couldn't make a perfect prediction based on only one swing. He didn't even know how the creature perceived them. All he had were his instincts and wrath.
He said no words. Made no promises of death. Gehrman only leaped forward. Blood pushed his body forward, pulling it to greater heights. He swung with all his might.
The moment the blade met the creature a shockwave so monstrous stopped the falling of rain in the surrounding area. Gehrman pushed his body far beyond its limits, rage unlike any he ever felt numbed all pain. Adrenaline pushed him even further beyond.
…Then he was on his back. The second he heard the crack of his body hitting the stone all sound disappeared. The howling winds were gone, the yelling was gone, all that was left was silence. And pain.
The numbness from before was shattered. His nerves pierced. His muscles tore. Bones broke. A rib jutted out from his body. He felt like it was on fire. Every muscle and bone screaming irrevocable damage. Gehrman's mind slowed time. He returned to a natural state of clarity, not the one found in combat, but the one felt after finding a Truth bestowed by [The Inheritor of Madness] Attribute.
The dull colors of the Forgotten Shore seemed to go monochrome. The black sky and clouds melded together. The streaking lightning was a pale white. The souls on the statue's neck showed a brilliant light. It was as if a master painter had rewritten the world in his image.
And in that image, there was a single splash. A trail of red. As if the painter had simply waved his brush and left a mess of dots at its center. It was glorious.
Each type of blood had its own scent and thus its own uniqueness. And this blood was by far the strangest he'd ever seen. It screamed at him. Cursed him. Disobeyed him. Even outside of its body, the blood of this creature would not heed the command of a mere Sleeper. It would simply keep flying and dissolve into the Dark Sea.
Stop. Gehrman's inner voice cried out to the blood.
It did not stop.
Stop, please. Gehrman cried in fear.
It did not stop.
Stop…now. Gehrman's tears turned red.
It did not stop.
Come to me. Gehrman's resolve steeled and his will sharpened.
It did not stop.
STOP AND COME TO ME! I AM THE AUTHORITY!
"YOU! ARE! MINE!"
The blood relented.
It flew to the Hunter. It entered his mouth. And his sanity dropped to zero.
…
Sunny felt the change immediately. The unnerving kid's strength and insanity made him want to stay as far away as possible. Though, he had to admit it was nice having a powerhouse on their side. After all, if Gehrman hadn't dealt with that "passenger," a couple of hours ago he would likely have to do it himself.
However, he always had a latent fear that he would eventually snap. And when he did, it would be a catastrophe.
Gehrman had chosen the absolute worst time for the catastrophe. His shadow focused intently on the Sleeper who had just taken in the blood of a Corrupted creature. Sunless was not sure exactly how his soul worked, but he was willing to bet at this point that Gehrman also had a Divine Aspect. The unique growth and ridiculous power was proof enough. The difference between them was that Gehrman had far less utility than Sunless. He was only good for hunting and killing. However, when it came to hunting and killing the gap was massive.
Sunny had already begun to feel resentful of Changing Star for her absurd strength, but this guy was on another level.
The proof was right in front of his eyes.
A Corrupted creature was bleeding. Granted, the wound was miniscule, especially when taking into account the creature's enormous size. However the crazy bastard had managed to pierce its skin. The feat alone was impossible for Sunny to imagine.
But he found what happened next to be even more ridiculous.
The second the blood entered Gehrmen, everything changed. The aura exuded by the near corpse changed drastically. Instead of a strange and eccentric insane man, an avatar of madness had descended upon the realm.
The air around him seemed to vibrate, as if reality itself was displeased by his presence. A tortured scream was brutally torn out of Gehrman's throat. His bones repaired themselves and muscles and nerves stitched back together.
During that time, the Corrupted creature turned its sights elsewhere. Several more tentacles erupted from the sea, all grabbing onto the Stone colossus with horrid power. The ancient stone started to crack under the weight. Then, for the first time, the statue showed initiative.
Its weight shifted and a dire premenation dawned on all of the cohort. Sunny turned to the defenseless Gehrman. He was still down for the count. Taking a blow from a creature three Ranks above him was a surefire way to commit suicide. And yet, he still clung on desperately for life. Even so, Sunny hesitated. He did not move toward the madman, he wasn't a part of the cohort, and his strength was terrifying enough to challenge even Changing Star while also being extremely unstable…should he even be allowed to live? In his bones though, Sunny felt this was wrong. No matter how strange he was, no matter how terrifying, on that night he was disemboweled by the Black Knight he had come to aid him. There was no doubt in his mind that this was done for some nefarious purpose. Even so, he couldn't bring himself to let the boy die before finding out what it was.
Sunny moved forward, but he did not reach the boy first.
Instead, Caster of all people used his ridiculous speed to kneel beside the boy. Then, that ghostly green blade of his was thrust down.
Sunny's mind stopped working. Had the legacy seriously just stabbed him? Indeed he had, but not in the way that he had originally thought. Instead, the blade had passed through Gehrman's forearm, sliding between the muscle and bone and nailing him to the surface.
There was no time left. The stone statue dropped under the surface. The waters hit them all, trapping them in place as they all returned to their previous holds. Gehrman's wound split further open, and he started to bleed profusely from his arm. But he was still with them on the statue's neck.
That statue, which was not running away, picked up the Corrupted monstrosity. They were shot upward, back to open air. And with them, a massive patch of sea relented to the massive weight of the creatures, the true form of the tentacle monstrosity became apparent.
A giant skull with three holes indicating three eyes, and from within it seven of the disgusting tentacles that had broken pieces off the statue. And that statue was not pleased. Suddenly, its other arm raised, causing an even more deafening crash of the sea. With it came the massive hammer. An unbelievable power started to hum, arcs of light spun around the head of the massive tool. Culminating in several lightning bolts striking the massive tool. Then, with a single swing, the skull cracked.
A tide of darkness–darkness Sunny couldn't see through–came roaring at them. His intuition honed from months in the Dark City screamed at him.
"Neph! Light!"
Changing Star did not hesitate. Breaking through the impenetrable darkness, an impossible light easily shattered the remnants of the creature.
The statue dropped its hammer, and resumed traversing the storm.
All the while, the winds and rain drowned out a sound.
The screams of Gehrman, whose shattered mind broke under the pressure of an overwhelming seizure of madness.