Nis restrained the eager thoughts in his heart and continued to listen to Nausicaa’s narration.
The content that followed was basically the same, the situation in the laboratory was not much different from Reynaud’s account. The only thing worth mentioning was that on Reef Island, Reynaud had concealed one matter: why must he take Nausicaa to the laboratory?
Reynaud had expressed at the time that he didn’t take Nausicaa to the lab for free, he wanted to search for some information, and after finding this information, he needed Nausicaa’s assistance.
But specifically what help, Reynaud did not say at that time.
And now, Nausicaa has revealed the secret among them.
The information Reynaud was looking for was data for the removal of soul marks. He wanted to remove the "X," "1" number on his face, which for him, was like a slave’s mark, starkly displaying his painful past.
During the initial Star Tournament, had Reynaud used his soul force, he might have achieved a better ranking, but he did not use his best ability because he didn’t want to expose the soul mark.
Moreover, as long as this mark exists, he can never escape the pursuit of the laboratory.
So, he must remove this mark. The removal process required someone’s help, and he ultimately chose Nausicaa.
Reynaud’s mindset was understandable to Angel and Nis, so they had no objections to his hiding this matter, and just signaled Nausicaa to continue.
The following content was about triggering a device left by Number 17, and being chased by a magical creature, forcing them to escape the laboratory.
Although this magical creature was in its infancy, its bloodline was extremely strong, being a descendant of a True Knowledge level magical creature in the Mist Belt, it was just a few years old, yet already possessed abilities comparable to a wizard.
At the critical moment, Reynaud pushed Nausicaa out of the laboratory; he himself took out his weapon to face this magical creature.
The middle battle process was not detailed, but the final result was that Reynaud struggled with all his might to halt the creature’s advance, but before long, the creature surged forward again. Nausicaa was not one to abandon teammates, she did not leave, and even wanted to re-enter the laboratory to assist Reynaud.
Reynaud wished for Nausicaa to survive, he deemed himself unsalvageable, so at the last moment, he entrusted his weapon to Nausicaa, and once again pushed her into the deep sea. This time, Nausicaa did not return, as she was swept away by an ocean current...
Subsequently, it was the story of Nausicaa drifting at sea and finally arriving at Ghost Dock Island.
The situation on Ghost Dock Island was already recounted by Nausicaa back in the Wilderness of Dreams, but the retelling involved more details.
Among them, the matter that drew Angel and Nis’s attention was undoubtedly the battle after Nausicaa’s awakening.
At that time, her magical core was depleted, to conserve magic power, and to end the battle quickly, Nausicaa used the weapon Reynaud gave her.
"Is this weapon the Soul Arms?" Nis asked.
Both Reynaud and Nausicaa nodded.
Nis turned his gaze to Reynaud: "So, without transplanting organs, the Soul Arms can be transferred for use by others?"
Reynaud: "Yes, but many inconveniences arise in between."
Nausicaa explained on his behalf: "Using Reynaud’s weapon, I could clearly feel an obstinate resistance, as if separated by a layer of gauze, unable to masterfully utilize it. Moreover, the energy consumption was extremely high, completely different from the low consumption described by Reynaud for Soul Arms."
Reynaud: "Because it’s not the most suitable one... the most suitable to bear the Soul Arms are corresponding organs and a resonant soul."
Nausicaa used Reynaud’s Soul Arms, naturally unable to wield it adeptly, barely manageable.
Nis pondered thoughtfully: "I see. May I take a look at the Soul Arms?"
Nausicaa turned her head to look at Reynaud, as the chain belonged to him.
Reynaud nodded.
Although Reynaud agreed, Nausicaa still did not immediately take it out. It wasn’t that she was unwilling, but that her soul force had been consumed to a critical point, unable to present the Soul Arms, and she didn’t possess the ability for astral projection.
Nis noticed Nausicaa’s predicament and reached out his hand toward her: "Do not refuse, I’ll transfer some purified soul force to you."
However, before his hand touched Nausicaa, Angel stopped him.
"The forehead will do," Angel said calmly.
Nis’s mouth twitched awkwardly and he grudgingly cursed a few words, but eventually moved the hand that was reaching toward Nausicaa’s chest, slowly upwards to her forehead.
"The soul force I purified greatly supplements her kind of soul, possibly even enhancing her soul strength," Nis murmured, "I am enhancing her soul at my own expense, so why not take a little advantage? Is that too much... not like I was really going to do anything."
Angel also understood Nis’s nature, back when Sanders took him to Soul Valley to examine soul anomalies, even with Sanders around, he took a chance to fool around with a woman during an experimental gap.
Usually, Angel couldn’t be bothered to manage, as it was consensual. However, as Nausicaa was his friend, he couldn’t allow Nis to ruin her, even a small advantage was out of the question. Nis was the kind of person who would take a mile if given an inch, no opportunity could be allowed.
Ignoring Nis’s complaints, Nis’s solo act could only be played by himself.
After transferring soul force to Nausicaa, he helplessly concluded his monologue.
"That should be about enough." Nis indicated Nausicaa could summon the Soul Arms.
Nausicaa nodded, closed her eyes and sensed some soul force, feeling an unprecedented comfort from the soul force so abundant it was nearly overflowing.
With the harmony of her body, mind, and soul, Nausicaa began trying to pull the chain within her soul.
In others’ eyes, it seemed as if Nausicaa gained a phantom.
When the phantom converged with Nausicaa again, a black hole, akin to an abyss, appeared on her chest.
A jet-black chain, like a venomous snake capturing prey, shot out from that deep black hole.