Death... and me

Kentucky then contacted the twins with his Divine Sense. 'Hey, how's Rafatia?'

'She's fine,' Rean answered. 'Kentucky, does that white powder have any effect on you?'

Kentucky shook his head, replying, 'I'm not sure. When Rafatia began to transform, she didn't seem to be in pain or anything like that. I wonder if she even noticed what was happening to her until it was that late.'

Roan, who was also listening in, added, 'Let's just keep these bubbles for a while as the Salt Sweep continues. As I said, I don't know if things will get worse or not since it's just the start of the event. However, at the very least, it doesn't seem like the white powder can exist without water.'

Indeed, the twins could only see those tiny specs of the white powder in the saltwater around them. However, once they created those bubbles around them, it seemed like the white powder couldn't get close.

Falangia didn't hear their conversation, so she was somewhat concerned by the silence. "Could it be that we don't have a way to leave this place?"

Rean shrugged his shoulder in response. "None that I can think of. At the very least, we have a way of dealing with the salt transformation. I just need to cut off the parts that begin to transform and heal them. Fortunately, this transformation seems to start from the outside before going deeper inward, so we will see if someone gets affected and have the means to deal with it. We can prevent the transformation before it reaches an important part of the body."

Falangioa sighed in relief and added another point. "That's good. Another thing this salt transformation seems to do is that it makes the target absent-minded. Rafatia simply seemed to not be herself anymore when the transformation began to happen on her body. If we have some code of awareness between us, we can identify ahead of time if this transformation starts on any of our bodies."

Rean and Roan had to admit Falangia's idea was good. Of course, there was an even better method to add to the pile. "Let's do as Falangia says. Also, keep your Divine Sense focused on everyone's bodies. If you see the salt transformation happening to anyone, let Rean or I know."

Everyone there nodded in response. It was then that Sister Orb contacted the twins. [Well, if something really happens to you two, I'll be the very first one to notice. You don't have access to the Soul Gem Dimensional Realm and its perks at the moment, but at the very least, I'm still here.]

'Thanks, Sister Orb.' Rean was happy that they had another layer of assurance.

"Well then, what should we do now?" Falangia asked.

Roan included Rafatia and Falangia into his bubble. At the same time, Rean headed to the door as he said, "Well, I'm heading back to talk with that guard. The city seems pretty quiet now that the Salt Sweep is ongoing, so I guess he won't mind answering a few questions."

Roan wanted to go himself, however... "Good. Luan is in the Mental Sea of Stars at the moment, so I can't leave him alone. I'll be watching you anyway. See what you can find."

When Rean passed by the inn's entrance, the worker at the counter obviously noticed him. "How did the girl end up? That's why I asked if you really wanted to stay before. Humanoid race beings never stay in the city during the Salt Sweep."

Rean shrugged his shoulders as he replied, "I was able to get rid of the transformation, so she's fine.

The worker was taken aback. "You got rid of the salt transformation?!" It was as if he had heard something impossible. "H-How?"

Rean smiled in response. "Simple, I cut off all the parts that began to transform. It was quite a bloody event."

The worker couldn't help but feel a chill on his back. He didn't expect Rean would go that far. However, it at least made some sense in his mind, even though it was quite brutal. "That's quite cold."

Rean shook his head as he said soon after, "It's still better than becoming a salt statue. Though, you could at least have told me about the Salt Sweep."

The worker was taken aback again. "Wait! You didn't know about that? No one would come to Salt Canyon City without knowing that, at least. I thought you wanted to test your resistance or something. We always have some crazy people like that."

Rean sighed after hearing that. "So that's why no one tried to warn us. I guess my group was really lacking in knowledge." Though, it was then that Rean noticed something. "Wait, did you say that there are always people who stay here during the Salt Sweep on purpose?"

The worker nodded in response. "Yep."

"Why would they do that?" Rean asked. "I want nothing more than get out of this place already."

The worker then explained, "As you probably know by now, that white powder isn't really salt, but something else. Suppose you let the white powder enter your body and refine it. In that case, you can eliminate the transformation and take the energy the powder is made of for yourself. However, it's very hard, and you'll be facing the threat of being transformed all the time."

Rean was surprised to hear such a thing. "Is there such a thing? If so, what is this energy that the white powder is made of? Divine Origin Energy?"

The worker laughed out loud after that. "Hahaha! Divine Origin Energy? If that was the case, our Salt Canyon City would be flooding with cultivators and demon beasts during every sweep. No, it's just normal Divine Energy. However, it is more or less equivalent to a Rank Three Divine Stone. Not bad, right?"

Rean found it strange, though. "Rank Three Divine Stone? Then why don't I see more aquatic demon beasts here? The white powder doesn't affect you as much as it does other races, right?"

The worker shook his head as he clarified, "Only if we don't try to absorb it."

Rean understood after that. "I see... thanks for the information."