The faint green glow from the MidSummer domain gate pulsed softly, casting a soft hue over the group.
It was the sort of light that promised little danger—but even less reward. Aether stood at the threshold, the weight of the F-rank emblem heavy in his chest.
Aether had found himself with Sucrose and Barbara as well as Razor, who'd gotten a C rank. Albedo had been allocated with Eula and some other A ranks.
The teams were each given a domain compass and allowed to enter the domain one at a time. The domain had multiple tunnels that split at the entrance and the teams were given leeway to choose what they wanted.
"Don't let the rank get to you," Barbara said to comfort Aether, her voice gentle like milk. "Just focus on clearing the domain. We'll figure the rest out later."
"You worry too much," Aether smiled calmly, eyes scanning the tunnel paths ahead.
Razor snorted from behind. "It won't change anything. The affinity test is never wrong. If you're ranked F, that's what you are. Permanently. It's good to be realistic."
"That's not true," Sucrose cut in quickly, fidgeting with the straps on her satchel. "They said Aether would be re-evaluated. They promised."
"They say a lot of things," Razor muttered. "Especially to people like him. You think they'd give a second chance to someone who wasn't the son of Master Diluc and Lady Jean?"
Aether turned slightly, his eyes meeting Razor's. No emotion. No rebuttal. Just a cool, steady gaze.
Barbara stepped between them. "Enough. We're wasting time."
She looked at Aether again, softer now. "You're the leader. Pick the path."
Aether didn't speak. He took one step forward, pointing toward the tunnel on the far right. Then, without another word, he started walking.
The others hesitated a moment before following.
"Always the quiet ones," Razor muttered under his breath.
Sucrose shot him a look but said nothing.
[
New Quest available : Defeat Hillichurls x 10, SLimes x 10
New Quest available : Absorb shadows x10
]
They moved deeper into the domain, the tunnel narrowing into a stone corridor lined with flickering braziers.
Without warning, a cluster of Hydro Slimes oozed into view, followed by the thudding arrival of an armored Geo Slime. It bounced once, twice—then launched itself straight at them.
"Watch out!" Barbara shouted.
The Geo Slime hurled toward Sucrose. She froze.
Aether raised one hand and unleashed a sharp burst of Anemo. Wind surged forward, striking the Geo Slime mid-air and knocking it off trajectory. It slammed into the wall instead, skidding across the stone in a brilliant trail of sparks.
Barbara rushed to Sucrose's side, already casting her healing ability. A faint blue light wrapped around Sucrose's grazed hand, mending the cut left by the slime's jagged shell.
"You alright?" Aether asked.
Sucrose gave a small nod, still catching her breath. "Y-Yeah. Thank you."
"Good. Use Anemo—swirl the Hydro slimes," Aether said, already stepping into position.
Sucrose focused, summoning a vortex of wind that spun through the air, catching the moisture from the slimes and turning the swirl a deep, saturated blue.
Before Aether could speak again, Razor stepped forward without a word. He raised his clawed hand and sent a crackling arc of Electro straight into the swirling mass.
The elemental reaction was instant. A sharp explosion of steam and lightning lit the corridor, slamming into the slimes. Two burst into mist and disappeared.
Three remained, now agitated and advancing fast.
The system prompted Aether :
[ Absorb Fallen Shadows? ]
Yes / No
Without hesitation, he selected Yes.
The ground where the two Hydro Slimes had been began to shimmer, dark liquid seeping up through the cracks in the stone.
Smoke—thick, black, and tinged with violet—rose in coils from the wet marks they left behind.
Aether stepped forward, lifting one hand.
"Arise."
The shadows pulsed in response.
From the smoke, two forms began to take shape. Slime-like in outline, but darker, leaner—more defined.
Their eyes glowed a deep purple instead of soft blue, and they gave off a strange, abyssal pressure.
The dark Hydro Slime Shadows hopped forward, then stopped just behind Aether, silent but alert. They radiated with eerie loyalty.
[ Successfully acquired shadows of Hydro Slimes x2 ]
Barbara instinctively stepped back, uncertain. Sucrose stared, her mouth slightly open and Razor squinted, his grip tightening on his weapon.