A massive black cat, sleek and four-legged, streaked through the lush grass, its passage sending waves across the golden horizon. His icy blue eyes swept the prairie, drinking in the sun that spilled color over the world.

"Take him to every corner of our world." The white-haired man said, carefully lifting the young one and setting him atop the huge cat's back. He faced the cat. "As your savior, I suggest you follow what I say. You are my son's guardian, Ames, and you shall follow him wherever he goes. I gave you communication so you can form a bond with my son. Understand?"

"Yes, savior." Ames bowed his head, tail whisked by the wind, pride shining in his eyes as he addressed the white-haired man. "I will care for my master, in every stage of life and in every circumstance."

From that day forward, the giant cat became the boy's steadfast steed, gliding through endless prairies in a joyful, devoted waltz with the wind.

Through boyhood and into his teenage years, Ames grew with Asahi, always shouldering his weight with quiet care. One day, when he was wandering from his shelter, Asahi almost fell off a cliff. But luckily enough, Ames caught complete action and caught him mid-air. Then another one, when Ames was teaching the little white-haired boy to write, he pointed with his tail and

These memories of early devotion and love, all of it, clung to Asahi's heart... as if trying to surface from the boiling rage in his heart. Then suddenly....

Vanished.

. . .

Snow fell in a silent veil, dusting the wooden beams and melting as it touched the warmth below. Asahi waited at the battered outpost on the town's fringe, gathering his companions. Primrose, Trid, and Ames stood nearby, their eyes watching Ignatius and Kenneth argue with the adventurer's guild.

"What? What do you mean we can't bring the pink-haired maiden?" Ignatius muttered as people traded glances.

"Look, the rule is clear: no more than three people are allowed on an expedition, and that includes everyone, at least for now."

The final verdict left everyone reeling in confusion.

"No more than three. So does that exclude Trid, too?"

The guild member nodded in agreement.

"Dang it. Well, plan B, I guess, guys."

After the debate, Asahi stood beside Ignatius, rubbing his neck as his thoughts tangled. With only three allies allowed, each choice was perilous. Knowing the risk if the Orb failed, he questioned bringing Primrose, despite her immortality. Trid, though haunted, had proven reliable in difficult situations, prompting Asahi to deeply consider his loyalty.

Grandpa's silence and unreadability offered no reassurance, so Asahi weighed which of the three Flameweavers—Ignatius, Kenneth, or another—would prove most valuable in the coming expedition.

"Need a hand?" The question rumbled from a towering, broad-shouldered man who strode forward. Soil canisters hung from his waist and arms, and strapped to his back loomed what looked like a massive shard of...

"The molten moon?" Ignatius mumbled under her breath.

This stranger, his body exposed and carrying Soil canisters and a massive moon fragment on his back, stepped forward to offer his help.

But not once had he smiled.

He kept a straight face, clutching a hefty hammer. It seemed that 'need a hand' was the only thing this man had said for the time being.

His presence was awfully alluring and captivating, radiant and exuding the aura of a warrior. But Asahi, staring at Ignatius, decided...

"Ignatius, come here."

Immediately, the large man nodded, stepped back, and allowed Ignatius to move to Asahi.

"It's clear now. It's me, that boy Asahi, and that strange cyan-eyed man." Asahi paused, reflecting on his decision, realizing that these specific companions balanced risk and trust for the mission ahead.

Choosing companions for the expedition was no simple task.

Ignatius' bravery exuded value to Asahi. Just from her actions alone, she was the right one for the job since she had saved him.

As for the cyan-eyed man, Trid, his aura and formidable presence suggested untapped potential. Being Primrose's father, Asahi hoped Trid's experience and connections would tip the balance in their favor.

Asahi felt a pull toward him, confident that this choice aligned with their mission's demands.

In this unpredictable world, every decision counted, and this trio, though unusual, felt inexplicably right.

As soon as they knew it, they departed the town, waving goodbye.

Knowing that he could fight again, Asahi decided it was best to take the expedition carefully. He brandished his Sword of Eventide, then placed it on the...

"Wait, where is the carriage?" Asahi asked, trying to find possible transportation methods. " Or wagon for that matter?"

Now, Asahi hadn't thought that they would pay them for the expedition.

At a hefty price of twenty thousand Gincoins, Asahi realized that he was flat out broke. With nothing to look up to, Ignatius and Trid looked for the nonexistent carriage and saw none.

"So, Asahi, how are we going to get there?"

Silence erupted between them. Primrose was waving goodbye at him. And the distant sound of footsteps resonated with the cobblestone roads. Asahi muttered.

"Uhh."

He had looked left and saw nothing. Then right... and still nothing.

"I guess we have to... walk?"

Then, from afar, loud footsteps pressed around. All surrounding them wore faces of shock, reeling away from a...

"Master? Is something the matter?"

Ames had grown fifteen times his normal size. This quickly captivated Ignatius, backing away while the crowd gathered.

"What? Did I scare you? Sorry, it wasn't intentional." He said as he rested on the cobblestone roads, waiting for a saddle to appear. "I'm Ames, Asahi's companion."

"It talks?!" Ignatius exclaimed, staring at the cat from different angles. Its fur brushed with the chattering snowflakes, falling one by one as its warmth alone was enough to heat up the coldest of beings. Now that Asahi saw Ames in this form, he recollected vibrant memories from long ago, marveling at the magic that allowed Ames to change his form and communicate.

If it wasn't for Acheros, Asahi would never have understood his cat companion.

Before he had returned to this world, Ames was nothing but a fluffy object, making Asahi look sharp.

But then Asahi remembered riding Ames through the snowy landscapes of Gwenneg and through the grassy sanctuary of Callista.

Now, with the snow falling, Asahi drew a careful realization,

...He had a means of transport and a following friend.

And... even though it had been years since Ames had blossomed to his current state, he still kept that dignity and persisted and served as...

"Transportation of the mighty Ames!" His tail wagged back and forth.

Asahi had not only a furry companion, but a useful one.

...

Moments later, Ignatius, Trid, and Asahi—prepared now for their journey—saddled onto the back of the large black cat like a horse, ready for the next leg of their expedition.

"Are you sure this is safe?"

"Quite sure," Ames replied for Asahi.

After a brief moment of awe, the trio settled atop the giant feline.

After one last goodbye, Asahi, Trid, and Ignatius departed and embarked on the expedition, holding the map in their hands.

...

(Ten minutes later...)

Ames hadn't carried them far, but compared to trudging on foot, every stride felt like a small triumph.

Battling through the blizzard's roar, Ignatius conjured a flame in her palm, holding it close to Asahi for warmth. As the fire pierced the snowy veil, Trid halted Ames and spoke up.

"I sense... Cesspids." Trid muttered under his breath.

Suddenly, a shrieking, four-legged beast burst from the ice. Its ten rows of teeth gaped hungrily, ready to strike. It writhed and bounded across the snowy hills, legs churning as it howled.

"Asahi, stay back," Ames said as he held onto the trio tightly.

Ignoring Ames's warning, Asahi drew his Sword of Eventide, ready to cut through the creeping black ooze. The tar-like muck devoured the snow, spreading across their path. Looming mountains and entombed castles surrounded them, and Ames knew they would have to move with caution if they hoped to cross beyond.

"Asahi, I suggest staying on my back," Ames informed as Trid and Ignatius fought the incoming cluster of Cesspids. "Even more demons are lurking here, worse than ever, mind you."

More creatures slithered from the snow-choked path, devouring the falling flakes. The spreading muck forced Ames to weave and dodge with every step.

But then he slipped on the ice and crashed on a snowy hill, with giant serpent-like entities crawling out from the ice. This was an even worse threat than Sleepy Serpent shores; creatures of all types had mysteriously gathered on this surface. Asahi felt his cold breath touching his warm hands. He tried to swing, but dropped his blade instantly. Asahi's eyes locked on his hands, beckoning him to snap his fingers. However, he had not wanted to fail, not in this loop. Sooner than they knew it, Asahi, Trid, and Ignatius were surrounded by creeping abominations.

The snowfall and treachery were bad enough. And now even their mode of transport was sabotaged. Asahi, Trid, and Ignatius raced up the stairway leading toward a shattered hallway. Stone floors had expanded greatly, covered in a layer of frost. After finally getting up, Ames sprinted along with Asahi, striking one of the beasts with his tail. Then, the creatures reeled back, preparing to unleash an even deadlier blow. But just before the frost monsters scraped a touch on Asahi, it was instantly pulverized by an engulfing flame.

Ignatius, who held onto a flame, unleashed it from the palm of her hands. Quickly, the creature shrieked and screamed, deafening the trio's ears. As if that wasn't bad enough, mimic bears emerged, chasing...

"Asahi, Trid, Ignatius, get on my back now!" Ames had offered a promise of security. The two had an urge to object, but after meeting the ends of the creatures, they decided to saddle up and run as fast as possible. The cat jumped back and forth, launching and gliding through the abandoned castle ruins. He started from a stairway, before leaping to the dining room, and lastly, the storage. After landing, Ames panted in exhaustion, unable to speak. While doing so, Asahi patted the cat's back and nodded as it wrapped its tail around his neck.

"This is as far as I can take you," Ames said as he slowly shrank to his normal size. "Be careful out there, master."

"You're leaving, already?" Asahi objected, protesting at Ames' refusal to push harder. "But what about..."

"Like I said, it's all up to you. The hallways you seek are within these boundaries. I just have enough mana to stay in this giant form. But now..."

After slowly transforming back to the black scapular, Ames' final words rested deep in Asahi's mind.

"... it's all up for you."

And with that, only three were remaining. Trid, Ignatius, and Asahi. Inside the castle, it was awfully dark, like the dungeon of bones Asahi encountered in a previous loop. The trio's footsteps tapped on the ground, Ignatius illuminating the dark mist that enveloped the hallways. The strange howls of the wind swallowed the silence before it, too, vanished.

"So, Asahi, tell me more about yourself," Ignatius asked as she stared at the paintings sashed at every corner of the entombed castle.

Asahi wanted to be as careful as he could; he didn't want to accidentally reveal too much. So...

"I am a wanderer," Asahi replied as he stared at the walls covered with hieroglyphics, carvings, and paintings. "Seeking to reclaim a world I thought I lost."

Trid and Ignatius went silent at his words.

"What?!" Ignatius yelled, her bright orange hair shining in the darkness. "Reclaiming a world? Who are you? I'm just a descendant of Agni..."

"Yes, Agni: The Greater Ruler of Fire," Trid intervened, walking up the stairs of the spire. "...said to be the creator of the molten moon and the flame spires. He was immensely powerful at his craft back in the day, creating warmth for everyone in need. How do I know this? Heh, it's because I lived through that age."

"What happened to him?" Asahi blatantly asked Trid as Ignatius backed away in shock.

"He... lost himself to the Inverted Volcano."

"Inverted Volcano?" Asahi questioned. "Like a volcano upside down."

"Exactly," Ignatius yelled, her voice echoing through the hallways. "Oh, just before...we leave... I have one thing to say..." It was too late. Ignatius couldn't get a word in.

They have arrived at the second layer of the entombed castle. And in that overlapping layer, there seemed to be yet another...

"Resurrection circle?"

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