Night fell. The moon was not visible due to all the storm, and the snowfall was not stopping. The wind was blowing hard, but it was not reaching Arix because of the rocks, though he could still hear it clearly.

  He was digging hard and fast with his bare hands, only covered with gloves. With every breath, snow blew into his mouth and nose. He was cold but still couldn't stop digging the snow.

  "Finally, I found it. How did I miss it the first time?" he thought, realizing that his hands were too cold to dig fast. The gloves were not helping much in this much snow, but still he continued slowly.

  "How dumb can I be? I should have known the sword would be buried by now. It's been ages since Theo's group dropped this here," he thought again, not letting his hands stop, but not for long.

  After a while, he stopped, gasping for breath. He turned left to look at all the snow. Nothing came to his vision except for snow, the wind, and walls in front of him.

  The rocks were in a narrow path. Both sides were covered with rock walls covered in snow.

  He saw a few rabbits run past in front of him. Their red eyes were clearly visible against the snow.

  "Their fur must be warm. Gosh, I wish I had that," he thought, taking deep breaths.

  After a moment of staring at the view, he started digging again, this time slower than before.

  "I have to get stronger, and this weapon can help me," he thought, grinding his teeth in desperation.

  "I can't let anyone else die in front of me." These thoughts were spiraling through his mind constantly.

  Not long after, he saw blades completely covered in black. His eyes lit up as he dug faster than before.

  The wind got stronger. "It might be past ten already," Arix thought, not letting his hands stop.

  He forgot about the passage of time in the process of digging.

  After a long while, he finally stopped. He was breathing fast and sat there on his knees, looking at the sword in front of him.

  The sword was held by a body covered in snow. Arix didn't think digging the body out would be helpful, so he left it there in the snow. The sword was completely black with a black grip.

  Arix felt warmth suddenly. The snowstorm was still strong, but somehow he didn't feel cold, probably because of all the sweat he had released even in this cold weather.

  The body's face was not recognizable as it was a skeleton by now. It was holding the sword with two hands.

  "She must have died holding it," he said as he went forward to hold the sword.

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  When Arix grabbed the grip, a voice from somewhere startled him.

  He quickly let go of the grip and looked all around him, trying to find the source, when suddenly a voice came from the blade itself.

  "Another human?" the sword said in a high-pitched voice, almost like a woman's.

  "Oh yes, it can speak. Theo mentioned it in his diary," Arix thought, still breathing hard.

  "State your name, human," the sword spoke again.

  "Arix," he replied. "I want to use you in upcoming combat."

  The sword burst out laughing. Arix kept staring at it, not making any expression.

  After the sword stopped, she finally spoke. "A human trying to hold the sword of God?"

  "Sword of God?" Arix asked.

  "I am the sword of the almighty God Nexur himself," the sword stated.

  "God Nexur? Haven't heard of him," Arix thought.

  "What is the sword of a god doing here in the snow, in the grip of a mere human? Where is your GOD?" Arix asked.

  "Nexur is Dead and I was seeking revenge, but this girl failed me," the sword replied.

  "Revenge from whom?"

  “From the lord of this land himself, He is the one who killed Nexur." the sword answered.

  "Lord of this land?" Arix said.

  "Yes. Tell me, Arix, why do you want to get hold of me?" the sword asked.

  "So I can kill the monsters of this land and bring my island people here."

  "Monsters? There are no monsters in this land. But even so, I am impressed. You don't fear the power I hold. It seems like you cannot even feel it," the sword said.

  The sun was about to rise. Arix could already see the first ray of light shining on his face through the storm, but he didn't mind it at all. He replied, "Power?"

  The sword replied, "I hold the power of darkness itself, which everyone fears. The last human who held me feared it so much she never used my power in combat."

  "I will use your complete power, so let me hold you," Arix said.

  “His eyes... they look desperate," the sword thought.

  "If you will help me in my revenge, I will help you instead. And it seems like our goals are the same. In order to free this land of those monsters you speak about, you have to face the Lord," she stated.

  "Well then, this Lord of yours has to die then. So can I use you now?" Arix brought his hand forward to grab the sword.

  "You do know that if I pact with you, you cannot use any other weapon, right? And even if you drop me, you will die," she stated.

  Arix’s hand stopped midway. Completely still, he took a deep breath and stayed silent for a while. The memory of Elena’s death came to his mind—how he was weak and helpless, how if he had been stronger, he could have helped her. How he had vowed that he would not let anyone else die in front of him.

  "Yes, I know that," he stated in a low voice. "Vaelor told me."

  "Hmm. Then pass a test of mine, and I shall be yours," the sword spoke.

  Arix stopped and sat straight on his knees again. "What test?" he asked.

  "In order to prove that you are worthy of holding me, you have to prove it."

  "What do I have to do?" he asked again.

  "There is a mythical beast wandering this area. You have to tame it," the sword answered.

  "Mythical beast? Is it the same one I saw earlier?" Arix thought.

  "Once you tame it, bring it to me, and I shall be yours."

  "Well, if that's what you want, I will do it. And then you have to let me use your powers," Arix said.

  "We have a deal then," the sword said.