They approached slowly, drawn by its presence. There was no moss growing on it, no vines wrapped its surface, or even any roots wrapped around it.

It stood pristine, untouched by decay that consumed everything else, and that's why it looked so out of place compared to everything else.

Reinhard and Marie moved close, their hands reaching out to gently trace names on the monument. The gold felt warm beneath their fingers, with the surface feeling soft with no scratches or marks.

Footsteps approached from different directions, leading Reinhard to realize the others seemed to also find this spot. Amiya and Janus from the west, Veryn and Casseo from the east.

All of them stopped, staring up in awe and amazement.

"This is the Memories Pillar." Amiya said softly, her voice carrying reverence. "It's said as long as this pillar stands, the Forerunners people will never be forgotten."

Janus smiled, though tears gathered in his orange eyes. "To think this could still be standing. I'm honestly amazed..."

Veryn sighed in awe. "I only heard stories about it, but it's even more stunning in person."

Reinhard sighed before his eyes saw golden light appearing near the pillar's top. As he watched, letters began forming from nothing, inscribing themselves into gold. Reinhard realized it was a new name, that meant someone had died, and the pillar remembered.

But I am sure over at least a hundred thousand people have died before. Could this pillar really have recorded their names as well? Reinhard though.

Brunhilde sighed softly. "Even now, it's still recording the names of its people who died."

Amiya and Janus trembled with them, clenching their faces before stepping away from the pillar and looking away.

"Did any of you find the Star Jewel or anything related to it?" Janus asked, his voice rough.

Everyone shakes their head, with Marie frowning, Joseph sighing, and Reinhard remaining silent.

"We found a building." Casseo said, his voice carrying through his helm. "It has an open entrance that leads all the way down. This might have been where researchers in Melo City had their home."

Veryn nodded. "We might be able to find clues about the Star Jewel if we look around there."

"Alright, let's go," Reinhard said.

Everyone followed Veryn and Casseo.

They led the group through the golden streets, past more collapsed buildings, around courtyards choked with vegetation. Finally, they stopped before a structure that looked different from the rest.

It was smaller with a different design compared to the previous buildings. Where other buildings had been decorated with celestial patterns, this one bore symbols of books, scrolls, and instruments of measurement.

With golden steps leading up to an entrance.

They climbed up the steps before stepping inside to see that roots filled the space like veins. Dust covered everything, disturbed by their passage and creating clouds that caught light. While cracks ran through the walls, and debris littered the floor.

But in the middle stood golden steps leading downward into darkness.

They all glanced at each other with unspoken questions passed between them. What waited below? What had the researchers been working on? Would they find the Star Jewel?

Then Reinhard stepped forward first as he began heading down with the others also following behind. On their way down, roots hung from walls like curtains, forcing them to duck and weave.

Reinhard summoned Zenuken mid-stride, the black-blue jagged sword appearing in his grip. He swung horizontally, cleaving through a barrier of roots blocking their path. The severed pieces fell away, revealing more stairs descending deeper.

But then the roots around began to tremble before moving, leading their expression to change. All of them instantly began rushing forward as the roots also began rushing out towards them.

Marie's Longinus blazed with golden light as she thrust forward, piercing through single strands of roots attempting to wrap around her legs. Joseph used Wind Drift, gusts carrying him over obstacles, while Arondight swept in wide arcs, clearing their path.

They burst into a wider chamber and stopped abruptly.

As they saw eight humanoid figures standing before them. They were made entirely of roots, woven together to create approximations of human forms. Arms, legs, torsos, and heads were all crafted from pale white wood, with an empty eye socket.

Reinhard blinked, his light blue eyes narrowing. "Are those humans surrounded by roots?"

Brunhilde shook her head, her violet-blue hair swaying. "I don't sense any souls in their bodies. They're just figures made out of roots."

Joseph's bright green eyes widened in surprise. "The roots can do that?"

Marie's eyes shone as she held her chin thoughtfully. "Either these are very recent, or they could always do that but never did it outside..." She paused, processing implications. "Unless there's a reason they stayed hidden."

Amiya furrowed her brows. "Unless they're formed around extremely important areas. Such as the Center, and a place that holds the key to its weakness."

Casseo nodded, his voice resonating through his black helm. "Then this further implies we're in the right place."

"It seems so." Brunhilde confirmed. "Alright, let's go. Just smash anything in our way and continue moving. You don't need to worry about them."

Everyone nodded before they rushed away.

The root humanoids moved to intercept with their limbs bending at wrong angles.

Veryn's hands shone before a grimoire appeared in her hand, its pages glowing violet. Her eyes turned purple with slitted pupils appearing reptilian while markings spread across her face in intricate patterns.

And scales appeared over her hands, overlapping like armor.

Rain of Light!

Several circles formed in the air around her, patterns glowing with white radiance. They rotated before then unleashed rapid volleys of light beams. T

he beams struck two root humanoids simultaneously, blasting holes through their wooden bodies. The creatures staggered but didn't fall, roots already weaving to repair damage.

But Veryn simply blasted down with more beams, which shredded the creature until it couldn't repair itself any longer.

Casseo's eyes glowed crimson while his muscles bulged slightly beneath his armor as black scales formed over his limbs. A faint dark aura shimmered around his form, making the air seem heavier.

Black Hide.

More scales erupted across his body, overlapping to create natural armor far stronger than what he wore. He charged forward as his black sword hacked through a root humanoid's torso, splitting it cleanly. But even severed, the pieces writhed, attempting to reconnect.

Drasil Step.

Blue ripples swept from beneath Reinhard's feet as time slowed down, and the root humanoids' movements became almost frozen. He rushed forward as he began hacking, chopping, slashing, and turning the bodies of the humanoid into pieces.

Then time returned to normal after he released Drasil Step. And the three humanoids collapsed to the ground in pieces, unable to repair themselves.

He released Drasil Step. Time snapped back. The three humanoids collapsed into pieces, their forms unable to maintain cohesion from such precise dismemberment.

Marie leaped high, golden light erupting around her before four light clones separated from her body, each wielding swords of pure radiance. They descended on two root humanoids from different angles, each clone struck simultaneously, light cutting through wood like it was paper.

Marie herself came last, Longinus thrust downward with devastating force. The spear pierced through both humanoids, pinning them to the ground. Golden-white light exploded from the impact, consuming their wooden bodies entirely.

Amiya's scythe appeared in crimson-black with trails of darker energy leaking from it. Her eyes glowed the same color as she swung the weapon in a wide arc. "Flame Scythe!"

The blade unleashed a wave of crimson-black energy that tore through the air. It struck the final root humanoid, cutting through its body before flames erupted, consuming the wooden body. The creature collapsed into ash, while the other remaining creatures were also destroyed by the others.

"Keep moving!" Brunhilde called out.

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