A person.
Walked through a long, deserted tunnel.
-Brains covered its entire body.
The brains writhed constantly, while skinless, blood-red muscles bound them tightly, keeping them from falling off.
The Many-Brained River!
It had finally found the passage Xiatelai had left behind.
A moment later.
Its voice rang out in the silence:
"We-"
"Read some fragments of your memories."
"There was a nursery rhyme among them, just right to dedicate to you."
Whistling began.
The brains vibrated together against the air, producing a whistle that drifted through the passage.
The humanoid monster skipped forward as it whistled.
After finishing its whistling, it began singing the rhyme loudly:
"Looking, looking for a friend, found myself a lovely friend. Give a salute, shake a hand, you're my lovely friend!"
After singing a verse, it found it so amusing that it burst out laughing again.
But soon-
Its laughter stopped abruptly.
Ahead.
At the end of the passage.
Two brilliant streaks of Blade Radiance formed a cross, with a man nailed to it.
Augustus.
His eyes were closed as he floated in midair along with the cross.
The Many-Brained River watched from a distance, pondered for a moment where it stood, then suddenly clapped.
"A work of art."
"To create a masterpiece like this and trap an enemy far stronger than yourself-what a fine brain."
"I want you even more now."
The Many-Brained River tiptoed quietly toward Augustus.
It carefully circled Augustus and the cross-shaped sword radiance behind him.
"Is this a gift for me?"
"A gift-to thank me for allowing you to join, or to reject me because you have a reason you must leave?"
The Many-Brained River's body "opened."
The muscles all over its body spread out, like an "octopus" made of mingled flesh and brains, attempting to envelop Augustus whole.