56. Beginning of the plan

After confirming Elizabeth's abilities and forming a rough outline of roles, Murphy turned his attention toward Lucas.

"Lucas," he said, voice steady but kind, "I know you're amazing at scouting, but I want to understand how. Can you explain your Aspect and Attributes in more detail?"

Lucas blinked. "You don't have to ask me so politely, Murph. I was gonna tell you anyway."

Murphy smiled. "Still, I'd like to ask you politely."

"Well," Lucas rubbed the back of his neck. "My Aspect is called [Builder]. Not exactly made for scouting… at least not traditionally."

He paused, eyes drifting toward the labyrinth far below them.

"But here's what it does: it lets me analyze structures—terrain, ruins, nests, whatever—and instantly translates them into blueprints in my head. I see the bones of the structure. Weak points, escape routes, climbable angles… even airflow patterns if I focus."

"That's…" Elizabeth murmured, surprised. "Incredible."

Lucas shrugged, but couldn't hide the pride behind his grin.

"It gets better. One of my Attributes is [Mathematician]. Sounds lame, right? But it boosts my thought speed—ten times faster than normal. Makes processing the information from [Builder] feel… natural. Like second nature."

Akame raised an eyebrow, genuinely impressed.

Lucas continued. "The second Attribute I've got is [Doctor]. It doesn't give me any actual healing magic or anything fancy like Murph's or Elizabeth's, but it lets me understand herbs, chemicals, poisons—stuff like that. I can whip up cures, stimulants, maybe even toxin-based weapons if I have the ingredients."

Murphy nodded, already filing away the synergy possibilities in his head.

"Oh," Lucas added casually, "and I have a minor affinity with flame. It's weak, but if I really need to light something up, I can manage small combustions or chemical reactions."

Murphy gave a low, appreciative whistle. "So, you're a mobile tactician, field medic, saboteur, and structural analyst."

Lucas smirked. "Basically, a one-man army."

"You just described someone who can single-handedly collapse a canyon and mix a painkiller while doing it," Akame said dryly.

"So, Mr. One-Man Army," Murphy said with a sly grin, "how much of your Soul Core is saturated?"

Lucas puffed up a bit, clearly proud. "Well, after taking care of everything in that lovely nest and absorbing a few soul shards, I'm sitting at a solid 43% saturation."

Murphy gave an approving nod. "Not bad at all. You're catching up."

Lucas smirked. "Please. I'm already ahead. You just haven't realized it yet."

Murphy rolled his eyes, but the playful energy between them lightened the mood around the fading campfire.

"Now that we've got everyone's abilities and conditions sorted," he said, his tone shifting slightly more serious, "we can finally start talking about what comes next."

Akame, who had been quietly polishing a blade beside Elizabeth, looked up. "Oh? Then what are we supposed to do now, Murphy?"

Murphy leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees as his eyes scanned the horizon beyond the sea of coral spires.

"We're going Demon hunting."

Akame raised an eyebrow. "A Fallen Demon exists here?"

Murphy shook his head. "No. Just an Awakened one."

Lucas frowned. "Then why do you sound like we're heading to our graves?"

Murphy's voice turned serious. "Because this Demon's strength rivals that of a Fallen Beast—and it's smart. It also guarded this statue."

Elizabeth blinked. "Wait… guard? You're saying that Awakened Demon was protecting this thing? Why?"

Murphy nodded. "That's how this place works. There are seven statues scattered throughout the Crimson Coral Labyrinth. Each one is protected by a Lord."

"Lords?" Lucas echoed.

"A title I gave them," Murphy replied. "These aren't just powerful Nightmare Creatures—they were placed here. Guardians."

"Different types?" Akame asked.

"Monsters, Demons, Devils, Tyrants… Each one either belongs to the Fallen Rank, or has strength equal to it," Murphy said grimly.

Lucas crossed his arms. "And the one we're after now?"

"The weakest of them," Murphy said. "An Awakened Demon."

"And the strongest?" Lucas asked.

"A Fallen Tyrant."

Everyone went quiet.

Elizabeth glanced between them, then asked in a wary voice, "Why are we supposed to hunt them in the first place?"

Murphy met her gaze. "Because each statue holds something hidden. If you touch the statue and slay the creature that once guarded it, you receive a Shard Memory. A piece of something."

Lucas frowned. "What kind of memory?"

"I don't know," Murphy admitted. "But we'll need them all. That much I'm sure of."

Akame narrowed her eyes. "And what happens if we don't?"

Murphy's expression darkened. "Then we stay trapped in the Forgotten Shore. The only Gate out is where the Crimson Spire stands."

"Crimson Spire?" Elizabeth asked, tilting her head.

"Yes," Murphy replied. "A monument west of here. If I'm right—and I usually am—that's where the Gateway lies. Unless, of course, you'd rather try your luck crossing a Death Zone."

A heavy silence followed, broken only by the distant wind whispering through the coral labyrinth.

Lucas exhaled. "Alright… but how are we supposed to fight this thing? If its strength really rivals a Fallen Beast…"

Elizabeth stepped forward, her voice steady despite the flicker of fear in her eyes. "We follow the same plan Murphy laid out before. I'll act as the bait—draw its attention. Akame and Lucas handle the offense. Murphy stays in the rear to support and heal."

She looked at the others, her gaze lingering just long enough to read their expressions.

"It's the most efficient strategy we have. And it keeps our chances of survival highest."

Lucas nodded. "I agree. If we're going to survive this… coordination is everything."

Then her eyes fell on the two who had yet to answer.

"How about it, Murphy? Akame?"

But Murphy didn't answer her question. Instead, his gaze turned to Lucas.

"Who said you would be fighting, Lucas?"

His voice was calm. Too calm.

Lucas blinked. "What?"

"Only I and Elizabeth will hunt the Demon. You and Akame will have another task."

There was a beat of silence. Then—

"NO!!"

Lucas took a step forward, fists clenched.

"I will not allow this. It's an Awakened Demon, Murphy! An Awakened Demon! For god's sake!"

"Yeah, yeah. I heard you the first time." Murphy shrugged casually. "It's just an Awakened Demon. I know."

"MURPH!" Lucas's voice cracked, raw with frustration. "It's not time for jokes!"

Murphy's eyes finally met his. Calm. Clear. Unshaken.

"Are you worried about me?"

Lucas didn't respond—he didn't have to.

"If I kill three Carapace Centurions within a minute," Murphy continued softly, "without help… will that ease your mind?"

Lucas froze.

The others looked between them, both the women reacting in stark contrast.

Akame didn't even flinch. Her face was calm, collected—like Murphy had just stated the weather. As if killing three Centurions in under a minute was simply a part of who he was.

Elizabeth, on the other hand, looked at him like he had grown horns. Disbelief and something close to horror widened her eyes. "You… what?"

Lucas's voice cut in, low and stunned. "You're bluffing."

Murphy turned to him slowly, the same quiet smile still resting on his lips.

"I don't bluff, Lucas," he said softly.

"Especially not when my life is the one on the line."

After a long silence, Lucas finally spoke—his voice quiet, but firm.

"Fine. But we'll be nearby… in case something happens."

His gaze locked with Murphy's, the usual humor in his eyes replaced by something rawer. Not doubt. Not fear. Just… the heavy weight of care.

Murphy gave a slow nod. "That's all I ask."

"I saw a nest when Murphy was looking around for you guys," Akame said casually, twirling a dagger between her fingers. Her tone was light, but her eyes were sharp—focused. "We could use that."

Lucas, still slightly pale after witnessing the earlier massacre, raised an eyebrow.

"We're seriously doing another nest?"

"I'm ready," Murphy rumbled, his deep voice thick with concern. His golden eyes flicked to Elizabeth. "What about you?"

She drew a slow breath, fingers tightening around her weapon. When she looked up, her expression was all sharp edges and stubborn resolve.

"Let's do this."

***

The nest was a jagged cavity of coral and bone—pulsing with sickly red light. The air reeked of rot and perverse smell. Within the cave, seven figures stood. Mating with other creatures to use as an incubator.

Four Scavengers, claws twitching and mandibles clacking.

And behind them, towering nightmares—three Carapace Centurions.

Lucas's breath caught. Even at a distance, he could feel the pressure they exuded. Elizabeth gripped his arm unconsciously.

"I-is he seriously… going in alone?" she whispered.

Before he could answer, Murphy moved.

No words. No signal.

He stepped forward like a whisper through ash, cloak flaring behind him—then vanished.

A heartbeat later, he was in the nest.

[Rengoku] sang.

One week.

A golden arc cleaved through the air like a stroke of divine judgment. One Scavenger didn't even scream—it simply fell apart, bisected cleanly.

[You have slain an Awakened Beast, Carapace Scavenger.]

[You have gained a soul.]

A Centurion lunged, spear-arm thrusting like lightning.

Murphy didn't dodge.

Instead met it head on with his blade.

The centurion was thrown three steps back while Murphy stayed in one place.

[Rengoku] moved again.

A deep, resonant hum echoed as the blade shone with Sacrifice—a sacred golden light as it illuminated everything around it.

Murphy carved an upward slash across the Centurion's chitinous chest—splitting armor, severing its heart.

Boom.

The creature fell down. Its blood pooled around it.

[You have slain an Awakened Monster, Carapace Centurion.]

[You have gained 2 souls.]

Two more moved in from both flanks.

Murphy ducked low beneath one's claw swipe, dragging [Rengoku] across its belly—then spun, driving his palm into the other's chest.

One day.

Time flared golden, and the creature exploded into flesh and blood.

[You have slain an Awakened Monster, Carapace Centurion.]

[You have gained 2 souls.]

He pivoted, eyes glowing faint gold, and hurled [Rengoku] like a spear.

It pierced the remaining Centurion's skull clean through, then Murphy jumped onto its body and withdraw his sword.

[You have slain an Awakened Monster, Carapace Centurion.]

[You have gained 2 souls.]

The last three Scavengers turned to run.

They didn't make it three steps.

Murphy raised a single hand.

Half a week.

A golden ripple pulsed from his palm, washing over the nest.

The scavengers froze—eyes wide, limbs trembling.

In the next breath, all three were cleaved apart—each with a single, perfect stroke of blade of light.

Silence fell.

Elizabeth's jaw dropped. Lucas simply stared, dumbfounded.

"I thought I or she was the strongest between us," he muttered. "What is he…?"

Murphy turned back to them, [Rengoku] resting casually on his shoulder, eyes calm.

"Wait for a while, everyone," he said softly. "I should at least kill them. That's the least mercy I can show."

His voice didn't tremble—but something in it ached. The weight of it settled over the group like a hush.

His gaze drifted to the twisted, half-born things—Nightmare creatures barely alive, writhing in the corruption of their unnatural birth. Creatures who had never been given a choice, only suffering.

Pity filled his eyes.

He stepped forward.

Each swing of [Rengoku] was silent, clean. No agony. No resistance. Just release.

One by one, the abominations fell.

Murphy didn't flinch, didn't hesitate. His expression remained quiet—like someone delivering a prayer through the edge of a blade.

When it was done, he knelt and gathered their Soul Cores with care, setting them gently aside. Then, one by one, he dug shallow graves—not deep, but enough to keep them from the scavengers. Enough to mark that someone, even in this cursed place, had seen them.

Not as monsters. But as victims.

He stood slowly, brushing dirt from his gloves.

"All clear," he called over his shoulder.

A whisper echoed in his mind.

[367 Souls.]

He didn't respond. He just turned to the others with a tired nod.

There was no pride in his posture. No triumph.

Only silence.

And the quiet burden of remembrance.

Lucas didn't speak. Elizabeth swallowed hard, her heart racing.

Murphy stood amidst the ruins, bathed in the fading radiance—less a man than a storm given form.

***

"Elizabeth," Murphy said, his voice calm but firm, "all these Soul Shards are yours."

Elizabeth blinked. Her eyes widened as she looked at the pile, then at him. "Why…?" she asked, hesitant, almost suspicious.

Murphy met her gaze without flinching.

"Because you're weak," he said flatly. "And I'm pretty sure you already know it."

Her shoulders stiffened. For a moment, it seemed like she might take offense—but then, something in his expression made her pause.

There was no cruelty in his words. No condescension. Just cold, brutal truth—and beneath it, a strange sort of care.

"You survived because of luck," he continued. "But luck runs out. We or someone else won't always be there to save you."

Elizabeth looked down at her hands, fingers trembling slightly.

"These Shards won't make you strong overnight," Murphy added, turning away. "But it's a start. Use them to survive."

Akame gave Elizabeth a glance—measured, respectful. Lucas said nothing, but the stiffness in his jaw eased just a bit.

Elizabeth slowly nodded, her voice quiet but steady. "I… understand. Thank you."

"After the sun rises again," Murphy said, his tone firm, gaze lingering on the darkening horizon, "we go after the Awakened Demon. And you two know what you have to do."

Akame gave a lazy salute from where she leaned, her tone light. "Can't really say why you're so secretive about it, but it must be important, right? Mr. Regressor."

"What!?" Lucas jerked around to face Murphy, stunned. "Murph, you're a regressor?"

Murphy let out a tired sigh. "No. Don't listen to her. She just knows how to run her mouth."

Akame stuck her tongue out at him in reply, grinning as if she'd just won a petty game.

Lucas, still confused, gave Murphy a skeptical glance, but didn't press further. Instead, he and Akame turned their attention back to planning their role in tomorrow's task.

Murphy didn't join in.

His eyes stayed on the sky, now bleeding into a deeper shade of indigo as the last rays of twilight slipped beneath the horizon.

'Tomorrow,' he thought, heart steady but heavy, 'I'll begin the first phase of Nether's plan.'

His hand gripped the hilt of [Rengoku] without even realizing it.

There would be no turning back.