Knowing was one thing; having a way forward after learning the truth was another.
Judging by the map, there was no doubt this was the right location.
But with the terrain looking different, they could only rely on their own two pairs of legs to explore bit by bit and search for the marked center.
There was no other way.
With no choice, the two rested briefly before getting back to work.
By the time they were done, night had fallen again.
Hardly anyone ever came here, so master and apprentice simply found a slightly elevated spot to rest. They did not even need to keep watch.
Both were strong and healthy, with no fear of catching a chill, so they kept everything simple.
In the middle of the night, Tetsu no Sosuke suddenly opened his eyes.
He gazed at the starry sky overhead, staring blankly.
Starlight enveloped the land, and beneath the veil of night, the cold was biting.
Tetsu no Sosuke watched the stars overhead for a while, then glanced at Yuichiro, who was dead to the world. He sighed softly and sat up.
He picked up the Sunflare Hammer beside him and spoke quietly. "There isn't a soul here, so why are you here? I'm very curious about that."
Silence surrounded him. The only answer Tetsu no Sosuke received was the continued bubbling of the swamp.
The silence persisted. Tetsu no Sosuke smiled. "Would it be too boastful of me to say that once you've met me, you'll never have another chance to escape?"
The instant those words left his mouth, Tetsu no Sosuke abruptly tore through the air, vanishing from the rock. In the blink of an eye, he appeared elsewhere, the Sunflare Hammer crashing down in his hand.
A storm of hammer strikes sent foul-smelling