The main value of the Remnants was not in defeating a powerful enemy or preventing further territorial changes. No, this victory had a much more important trophy — the Echo.
Inside the Echo were rewards, and in some ways, the Echo resembled a treasure chest, but this chest operated according to several rules. The rewards could not be higher than the level of a Remnant, so there was no point in hoping for a Second Rank Artifact.
The Echo also took into account the territory where the Remnant was cleared and the number and traits of those who fought against the Spirit.
The Echo was the reason why fighting Remnant Spirits was much more profitable than fighting ordinary monsters. Sure, sometimes it was a matter of territorial safety if a Remnant grew too large, but more often than not, it was all about the rewards from the Echo. Also, finding a Remnant was much more difficult than hunting monsters.
Tremble. Tremble. Tremble.
The shimmering orb hovered over the ravine, trembling from time to time. A multitude of colors like a rainbow wandered around the edges, but in this case, the main color was crimson, the same as the flowers nearby and the blood.
The Echo waited for someone to open it.
"Hah... We did it!" Koros clenched his fist in joy, his light hair soaked with sweat sticking to his forehead.
Diatra smiled as well, though she held back her emotions.
"Damn. Is that...?" Ethan raised his head, looking at the Echo.
Step. Step. Step.
Menir approached from the side, wiping a trickle of blood from the corner of her mouth.
"The Echo. It's the result of how much energy a Remnant has been absorbing all this time. In the end, the energy turned into this."
"Oh, that sounds cool."
Ethan gazed up.
"So... How do we absorb this energy cluster?"
Menir shook her head in response.
"We don't need to do that. The Echo isn't a resource, it's a reward made up of many components."
"Tsk. How do you know so much?"
Menir glanced at him with scorn. "Forgot? Unlike some people, I've been a Carrier for more than a day."
"Pffft!" Ethan snorted as he got up from the ground and pointed at the Cursed Hunter. "Still, I was the one who landed the last hit on that big guy, wasn't I?"
"Sure. The fact that I know more than you doesn't diminish your achievements, and..." Her eyes turned to the Echo. "Thank you. I can feel it. That's where my Pattern is."
"Well, as the Blind Voyager pointed out, didn't it?"
Everyone was ready, including the Echo.
"Come on, you have to do it, kid." Koros nodded forward. "Release some of your energy and you'll see for yourself."
Ethan did as he said.
A light darkness scattered through the air and headed toward the Echo, as fragile as a soap bubble.
Tremble.
With a single tremor, the Echo burst apart, releasing three red flashes, each stopping in front of Ethan, hovering above the ground.
The first flash was a bow woven of intertwined red roots, with veins running along its outline, creating the appearance of a formidable weapon.
The second was a scarlet stone with a faint glow inside and a red star spinning around it like a satellite of a planet.
The third was a mysterious cluster of energy made up of rapidly changing symbols that could only belong to one being in the entire world — the Pattern.
Ethan tilted his head, confused.
He had no questions about the bow. It was obvious that it was an Artifact, and everything about the Pattern was clear. He and Menir had come here for this very reason.
"But... What is this stone?" Ethan raised an eyebrow.
"Hahaha!"
Koros laughed loudly.
"Damn, you are a newbie. That's a Soul Stone! Hah, it's a very powerful weapon, but it's a one-time thing, so I advise you to use it only in an emergency."
Soul Stones were very rare but powerful weapons. In some ways, they were similar to Artifacts, as they also gave the Carrier the ability to use external power, but the differences were obvious.
Most Artifacts could be used repeatedly, like Ethan's dagger, but Soul Stones could only be used once. The Soul Stones temporarily gave the user the power of the soul of the creature imprisoned inside. In this case, it was the Remnant Spirit—the Cursed Hunter.
It was a trump card to be applied when there was no other way out. Well... or sold for a huge amount of money, but that would be a stupid decision.
Menir stepped toward the Pattern, showing that she was definitely going to take it.
"How are we going to divide the rewards?"
Koros and Diatra exchanged a glance.
"Well, it's good that the Echo takes into account the nature of the cleared Remnant, its Spirit, and the qualities of the participants in the battle. That makes everything easier."
Then, he pointed to the bow.
"Considering that you delivered the final blow and were at the forefront, and that this was your mission, we'll be happy to take just the bow. You can keep the Soul Stone and the Pattern."
Menir nodded deeply. "We agree. Now, when will you be able to sell the materials from the Crooked Growon and give us our share?"
"Damn, girl, you don't waste any time and get straight to the point? I like that. What do you say, Diatra?"
She thought for a moment, holding her chin. "Two days. Just let us know where to meet."
"Sure." Menir nodded. "Now, if you don't mind, I'd like you to leave. We have an urgent matter that can't be done with strangers around."
Diatra clenched her teeth in annoyance.
"Bitch. You're acting too arrogant for someone who was just helping out! I'm tired of how you...!"
Tap.
Koros's hand fell on her shoulder, stopping Diatra's anger. He took the bow and waved his hand.
"As you say, we're leaving. But I wouldn't advise you to linger in this forest, especially near that ravine. The purification of the Remnant is not what you would call a stealthy event."
Menir said nothing. She just watched as their backs disappeared into the forest in the distance.
"So, we'll finally become True Carriers and solve our problem?" Ethan asked, looking at the energy cluster. "This will be your last Pattern, right?"
Each Circle had a Catalyst containing abilities, or Patterns, which were what Ethan and Menir needed to restore their Circles through copies.
Menir was a good example of how this worked. The first Pattern of her Catalyst was the Blind Voyager, the main ability of her Catalyst. With this ability, she could find valuable items, and a hand would show her the way. Her second Pattern summoned crimson hands with bloody chains that could immobilize an opponent, and she had used it many times before.
Regardless of how many Patterns her Catalyst had, each one had to have something in common with her main ability, that is, with the First Pattern. This rule worked for her, for Ethan, and every Carrier, Broken One or not.
In response, Menir shook her head.
"Not exactly. For our Circles to restore each other, my inferior circle must receive all the Patterns. Judging by the looks of it, your Catalyst has three Patterns, right?"
Ethan nodded in confirmation.
"Well." Menir touched the energy cluster. "Unfortunately for our situation, my Circle has four Patterns."
Before Ethan could respond, Menir touched the energy cluster, absorbing the suitable Pattern.
A slight envy arose within Ethan. He also wanted to become stronger and learn new abilities.
Crack. Crack. Crack.
Suddenly, not only Menir's Circle but Ethan's as well began to move. The two Circles began to fill in their missing parts.
Menir's Circle was filled with symbols from the found Pattern, while Ethan's Circle copied parts of Menir's. Normally, this was impossible, but only in their situation, where they were both donors to each other, which was an unprecedented rarity.
[Second Pattern began to develop: 23% -> 31% -> 45% -> ...]
[Second Pattern reached 100%. Second Pattern is complete!]
[New ability of the First Circle Catalyst obtained!]