No Return (Shadow Slave Fan-Fic)

Grey sky above, black mud below, an endless sea of crimson in between. On this dreamlike backdrop, two beautiful girls were walking across the labyrinth.

One was delicate and fragile, with blond hair and cerulean, aimless eyes. She was dressed in a simple tunic, with leather sandals on her feet and a cloak the color of sea waves draped around her shoulders.

The other was tall and lithe. She had silky silver hair and clear, grey eyes. Her revealing clothes were crudely made out of black seaweed, leaving her fair skin and athletic build exposed. She was poised, alert, and barefoot.

A golden rope connected two girls together.

Not knowing how to approach them.. he decided to go along the safe route , and he called out to them loudly. Not before de-activating his [Corrosion] imbued body of course. He didn't want them to assume that he was taken over by a creature due to the black veins.

"Hey!"

Nephis immediately turned his way and looked directly at him , raising her sword. Her gaze was piercing , she was analyzing him. Cassia also turned to the source of the voice , her aimless eyes wandering around.

Levi raised his arms , indicating he would cause no trouble.

"..Its Levi right..? The person who was third in the rankings.."

"That's me.."

She was looking at his torso.. wait.. why was she looking at his torso..? Was she a pervert like Sunny?

"What happened to you?"

'Oh that's why.'

"Carapace Scavenger happened."

She raised a brow at him. Did this guy defeat a Scavenger with no armor and no weapons..?

"I see , it's good that you managed to get away from it with no other injuries."

Levi scoffed.

"I killed it."

He pointed at his trousers , they were made from Scavenger skin..

"I see , you did well then.. and it seems your good at making clothes."

He already knew what he would be forced to do in the future: More sewing... Then he finally asked.

"Are you the ones who lit a fire in the night?"

This time Cassia replied.

"Yes.. we were just about to go back , oh and.. its nice to see you."

"Its nice to see you too."

He looked at Nephis.

"May I come with you?"

"Yes."

Levi was about to say something , but his gaze drifted onto a shadow.. It was waving at them.. Nephis had noticed it too and readied her sword.

"What is happening..?"

Cassia asked , she was blind.. she could not see what was happening..

"A human shadow is waving at us.."

Levi replied.. He was calm.. he had not summoned anything yet.. because the shadow looked eerily familiar..

"What..?"

"I said: it's waving ... "

"Yes, I know! I mean ... why is it doing that?"

Nephis opened her mouth, then closed it again.

"I don't know. Maybe it's a distraction to lure us into a trap."

There was a voice that came from the shadow , making Levi's lips form a smile. He was here too..

"Actually, I just sent it ahead to make sure that you don't stab me with that sword before realizing that I'm human."

Immediately, Nephis turned her head, pinpointing the exact location where the voice was hiding in a blotch of shadows. Her sword slightly shifted, aiming at the new threat.

"If you're human, why are hiding in the shadows like a creep?"

Levi decided to just watch , crossing his arms , he observed the scene with a smug smile on his lips. 

'Creep huh..? How fitting..'

"I mean, you're Changing Star Nephis. To be honest, I'm a little afraid."

Nephis did not answer.

Luckily, Cassia was more expressive.

"Are you the boy who sat with me in the cafeteria?"

 Nephis glanced at the blind girl.

"Do you know him?"

Cassia nodded.

"I recognize his voice. His name is Sunless. He was in second-to-last place in the rankings, right above me , he was usually with Levi.."

Nephis looked at him , and Levi nodded. Then said to clarify.

"He is the famous pervert."

"I have heard.."

Nephis dismissed her sword , and said.

"okay , you can come out."

Sunny limped out of the shadows, summoning his own back. 

Stopping a few meters away from Nephis, he raised his hands, showing that he didn't mean the girls any harm. Changing Star gave him an inquisitive look , but levi asked faster.

"What happened to you?"

"Carapace Scavenger , and what happened to you? That's a nasty cut."

"I was also attacked by a Scavenger , did you kill it?"

"Yeah.."

To prove his point, he gestured at his rucksack, full of delicious monster meat. Nephis looked him over again, reevaluating her opinion of him. Now, there were hints of approval in her eyes

Carapace Scavengers were only beasts, but they were still awakened. With the addition of their mighty physique and natural armor, defeating one was not an easy feat for any Sleeper, who all had a dormant core. Let alone someone from the very bottom of the ranking list.

Come to think of it, it was even a bit too outstanding.

Sunny lowered his eyes.

"Eh ... it was already wounded."

Nephis shrugged.

"A kill is a kill. You did well."

After that, she fell silent, as though not planning to say anything else. Sunny also wasn't sure what to say. Luckily, Cassia came to the rescue.

"Are you seriously injured?"

He shook his head.

"No, it's just that my ribs and leg are bruised - I'll be fine in a day or two. My armor is pretty resilient."

"Where did you even get it?"

Levi asked , crossing his arms. It seems he was the only one who was stuck with only one memory..

"My first nightmare.."

Before he could speak Nephis suddenly spoke to Levi.

"How did you kill the Scavenger? You don't seem to have any memories."

He looked at her.. , he didn't really want to reveal anything.. but he needed to reply with something since they will be traveling together..

"With my aspect."

Seeing that he didn't explain further, she dropped the topic. He could guess she most likely assumed he had a Empowering type of aspect , it was partially right. But its strength laid in different areas.

Then Sunny spoke up once again..

"Before stumbling on the Scavenger, I was heading for the tall hill with the massive coral pillar on top. But after the fight, my speed decreased. Now I'm worried about not making it in time. Do you perhaps know the way?"

Cassia smiled.

"Actually, we spend the last days on that hill. We were just about to go back."

Nephis didn't say anything, looking at the sky.

Sunny licked his lips.

"Well ... can I come with you?"

Nephis then spoke slowly..

"No.."

Sunny's eyes widened , but Nephis wasn't done speaking.

"..problem."

Levi smiled to himself as he saw Sunny sigh in relief.

"Well alright.."