After Nephis and Sunny finished their... morning routine in bed and felt sore after, they got ready. Sunny wore his usual armor, Puppeteer Shroud, and Nephis in her signature starlight legion armor. Walking out of the cave after destroying and packing up camp Sunny and Nephis went exploring for an especially massive tree. They needed a tree that would raise them above all others to find the tree Cassie was talking about in her vision. After that, they would travel to the tree and enter their second nightmare.
Sunny shuddered a bit from the thought, after all the second nightmare was known to be dangerous, even for awakened cohorts. The fact that they had made it this far through all they've been through was a miracle and luck, or more like 50% effort and 50% pure luck. Going through the second nightmare as dreamers was unheard of, but Sunny and Nephis didn't have another choice. Trying to conquer another gateway with just the two of them was a death sentence, no matter how many abilities or cores they have because they lack true strength and neither of them could even use any essence without Serpent's help.
They didn't have an army like back then to help siege another citadel, and Nephis had gotten lucky that the terror was undergoing its transformation. If it wasn't... well he wouldn't be having a master.
Noticing his shiver Nephis grabbed his hand.
"What's wrong Sunny?"
"I'm just worried about facing the second nightmare, especially since we're Dreamers."
Nephis simply stared at him before replying, her voice laced with confidence.
"I'm sure we will make it, after all we don't have a choice in the matter. Even so, I doubt there's been a better duo of Dreamers that have a better chance of conquering the second nightmare than us. We might even be the first humans with divine aspects, and aren't you the heir of death? I'm sure whatever comes our way will fall to your blade. If not, I will pick up your slack." As she ended her speech Sunny stopped dead in his tracks and so did Sunny.
Sunny stared at her before breaking into a hearty laugh, which sounded abnormal but soothing in the forest.
"Why are you laughing?" Nephis asked as she raised an eyebrow.
"I-I'm sorry! It's just you sounded so serious for what you were saying!"
Sunny laughed some more, his stomach starting to hurt from the constant laughter.
"You truly are the worst at social interaction!"
Nephis gave him an expression between embarrassment and anger.
'Wait anger?'
"I knew I should have saved that speech right before we faced the second nightmare. I had that ready in my head." Nephis said as she shook her head in disappointment.
Sunny in turn patted her back, which looked quite weird since he had to be on his tiptoes.
"There there, if it makes you feel better, I think it was an excellent speech." Sunny kissed her on the cheek which made Nephis small blush grow a little more.
"Thanks," Nephis muttered.
'I'm still very annoyed at his response though...' Nephis thought internally but made sure not to show it on her face.
They walked in silence a bit more, enjoying the serenity the jungle offered them. It was weird that they weren't immediately attacked by creatures every moment, especially with [Fated] always causing him trouble. But he guessed it they were on the outskirts of the jungle which made sense as to why there weren't hordes of creatures. They walked in the heat as the burning yellow sun stood supremely in the sky, unmoving and impenetrable. The vines from the trees started to get thicker as they moved forward which Sunny hoped was a sign they were going deeper in the jungle. After a while, they found an especially large tree, about seventy-five percent the size of the soul devourer, and decided to climb that one.
Of course, though it wasn't that simple as they got to the tree.
'Damnation,' Sunny thought as his gaze overlooked the tree.
Sunny and Nephis were practically experts at climbing different terrains. But the tree that stood tall was missing what most natural terrains had, footholds. Even the Dark City's outer walls had footholds because of natural decay from the water, but here the trees' wood was seemingly perfect. Even so, that didn't mean there were out of options or that they couldn't climb the tree, they just had to be creative about it.
"Nephis, summon your dream blade please, and your rope." Sunny summoned Midnight and Serpent in his weapon form.
One Nephis handed over her sword and rope Sunny cut the rope in three and told her to make them extra long. He then tied one end of the rope to Dream Blade before tying it around Nephis's waist. He did the same with midnight as he attached the third to serpent but instead of tying it to one of them he tied his and Nephis' rope before tying it into the middle of that, thus making a primitive climbing gear for them.
Sunny then got on Nephis's shoulders before surgically stabbing Serpent high up above them. Sunny got on Serpent before stabbing Midnight higher and starting to get on it as Nephis stabbed her sword into the wood and used it to get on Serpent before removing it and placing it higher and getting on it. The plan was to use their swords as small platforms and use Serpent as a safety net for them as if they fell Serpent would be able to hold them until they get their footing and sword into again. They would also have to go up in sync with Serpent or else one of them could be stranded without a stepping sword.
They started climbing but Sunny found it extremely difficult. Not only did the tree make it difficult with not having any footholds, but it also strengthened a bit more each time Sunny stabbed it with his sword, almost as if it were adapting. Either way, they were undeniably making progress as after one hour of climbing they had made it halfway with no accidents happening yet.
'God damn it... this is starting to get tiring, not to mention repetitive.' Nephis thought as she stabbed her sword once more into the sturdy wood, noticing how it would get tougher each time she stabbed into it.
She looked above to see Sunny having the same struggle, it was getting harder to make progress and they were starting to tire out. Although they had multiple cores it didn't mean that they had inexhaustible energy. Resting in a partially shaded place they set up a small resting post by placing the three swords next to each other. Finally having a chance to relax Sunny immediately took a large sip of water from [Endless Spring], gave it to Nephis, and ate some cooked monster meat before falling asleep holding tight to her arm so he didn't fall.
'He looks so cute when he's asleep.' Nephis slightly poked his cheeks when he made his smile in his state.
She decided she would not let the opportunity go to waste as she moved his head to her lap before stretching out his hair which had grown to his shoulders, which admittedly made him look more doll-like. Grabbing a small strand of hair she began to do his hair as he rested peacefully. She did a simple design she always did on him, a simple knot at the back of his head, and made it stream down his back like a waterfall. She also cleaned it of dirt and combed it with her hands which she found comfortable and pleasant as it ran through his silky hair.
'My little shadow huh," Nephis smiled at the thought before planting a quick kiss on his cheek before taking a nap as well.
***
*woosh*
Stirring from his delightful nap, Sunny woke up to a wooden log the width of a human leg and half a foot long which missed his head by half an inch as it hit the edge of their swords before rolling off. Sunny quickly got up which awoke Nephis who had been starting to wake up too before reaching his side as he summoned his daggers. Another log fell from the sky, aimed straight at them, but this time Sunny was ready. As it got close Sunny threw one of his daggers but augmented himself with two of his shadows and the same for it. When they collided the dagger penetrated the log and was thrown aside.
"There's something up there, I don't know what but we need to be careful now," Sunny said as he got a nod from her before they started climbing.
The logs only continued to barrage them as Sunny was straining himself at reflecting them and keeping in sync with Nephis. The higher they got the faster the logs reached them. First, they started at one, but then two were sent at a time, then three, and then four were sent at them with near-perfect precision. Sunny couldn't see who was throwing the logs but could tell from its shadow that it was huge, at least a couple of feet tall and muscular, definitely not scrawny like Sunny had looked as a street rat. Its shape was distorted by the sun's unwillingness to move but Sunny could tell it was an abomination of a monkey on steroids, or perhaps just a jacked gorilla-shaped figure.
Nephis made sure to slow down whenever he had to throw his daggers and would dodge any that came her way that he couldn't deflect. It took some time for the memories to come back to the owner so each time he threw his daggers they were momentarily defenseless. Nephis had considered summoning a bow, but it would've been hard to maintain her balance and shoot with enough strength so she had decided against it. She hated being useless, which she then realized was probably how Cassie felt back in the labyrinth.
Nephis had tried to cheer her up the best she could, the keyword was tried. She had sucked at comforting her best friend, and Sunny wasn't any better as he was nothing more than a treacherous and cautious person when they met.
'I suddenly feel remorse for her,' she would make sure to give a hug to Cassie when they returned.
*woosh*
Nephis suddenly fell down but was caught by the safety sword, all because she was in her head. Sunny was about to move Serpent when he heard her fall and saw Nephis dangling rather embarrassed. Sunny tried hard not to laugh but a giggle escaped his lips which made Nephis rather mad before turning her face away from his before starting to get back on. Sadly, the creature above was relentless and used the opportunity of Nephis' vulnerable position to hurdle a few logs her way.
Thinking on his feet he jumped down to midnight before unlogging midknig hit and got in a stance, ready to slash the logs flying towards them. They did not keep him waiting as the first one was about to hit him straight in the head. He slashed upward but the rope constricted his movement as his intended upslash turned more diagonal than he wanted to the left. Sunny then slashed horizontally for the next one as Nephis burst into white flames and she quickly got back up. After he finished the last of the logs they continued climbing.
Eventually, they reached the top so Sunny summoned Weaver's mask and had Nephis augment both of them.
"Let's not get up there," Sunny said just as Nephis was about to vault and roll into the top.
"What? Wait you're wearing Weaver's mask... which means you mean let's go up there." Strangely Sunny could sense a hint a pride laced with her voice.
'So pretty yet so strange.' They both jumped onto the top of the tree which was carved into a flat platform from whatever was living at the top.
Swords at hand Nephis shot up like a roaring flaming lion while Sunny covered her under her like a devouring shadow. Looking around they saw at the far end a... a small doll-like monkey looking innocent.
A small monkey.
'Wait that's not what my shadow sense is telling me!' Sunny could still see that its shadow was still a pumped monkey figure, and yet a small monkey was currently facing them.
Before they could do anything the monkey's form suddenly started to shift and grow bigger. Its arms and claws started to grow and get buffed, legs lifting its body by several feet - maybe even tens of feet, - and its head went from being a small adorable normal monkey head to bearing razor-sharp fangs that could probably rip him into shreds. Its eyes bulged as it glissened pure darkness, the oppressive time that reminded him of pure darkness. Sunny felt his hair tingle and goosebumps form on his skin as the creature started to tower above them like their ants.
Nephis was the first to break out of her stupor as she rushed at the beast with precision as she slashed at its stomach. Unfortunately, it blocked it simply with its hands, catching the blade with its dark hands. The monkey was at least three times their height, Nephis' height at least, which was unlucky for him since he barely reached her shoulders on his tiptoes. Nephis quickly backed away, which was a good thing since it threw the blade back at her at incredible speed that Sunny could barely see. It reminded Sunny of Caster's speed back in the academy.
Fearing for Nephis' safety Sunny moved in and dashed at the creature. Sunny side stepped when it threw a log at him and once at its side Sunny slashed his sword against its arms. It slashed its claws downward so Sunny rolled under its legs and tried to plunge his sword under it but its natural armor was too thick and failed to penetrate its flesh. Feeling flames augment his sword right before he got out he tried again, and this time it got through but only about halfway until he rolled out of the creature's legs.
Sunny saw Nephis dueling with the creature, but it seemed that she was taking the brunt of it all. Sunny had dismissed midnight because Serpent was a more viable choice and had healed itself back into fighting shape, a benefit of [The Shadow]. It healed/repaired all his memories, echoes, and shadows at an increased rate which Sunny noticed later on after consuming the Shadow lineage. There were other benefits but Sunny found this one the most beneficial since he was always fighting, and if he wasn't fighting he was sparring with Nephis or Saint.
Nephis slashed at the creature's arms but each time she had to deflect them when it attacked back. Sunny took the liberty of it being solely focused on her to go behind it. He got to its back and found a weak point between the leg joints and he made sure to stab it deep this time. It shrieked in pain as it turned around, which was a terrible mistake as Nephis went all out with her flames and Sunny stabbed another joint in its arm joints before it fully turned. The pain from being slashed at its side with Nephis's flames and having two of its limbs injured was something Sunny never wanted to experience.
Sunny had to duck as a claw grazed his back and rolled to the right as its other claw smashed where he had been a moment ago. Sunny threw his daggers at its eyes but they simply bounced off its crazy eyes, not even dealing a scratch. Enraged, it got on its fours and ran towards Sunny. Nephis tried to distract it by stabbing its back but it shook off her attack before it dug into its skin and reached Sunny in mere moments. Sunny parried an attack from it but his arm joints ached from the effort and he had to roll under its other arm. Using the roll he swiped at its arm and slashed its right hand off. It roared and punched at Sunny's stomach in retaliation.
Sunny guessed it must've been at least a demon as it seemingly knew it couldn't win so it leaped back and used its remaining hand to swing from branch to branch and onto other trees. But not before giving him a hateful stare once it made considerable distance before disappearing into the scenery. Sunny would've chased it down but his ribs shattered even with his ascended armor. Nephis ran towards him before placing her delicate hands on his stomach and healing him with her flames.
"Ah sorry, it caught me off guard," Sunny said sheepishly as Nephis but her lips.
"It's fine just be more careful."
After Nephis finished healing him and wiping away her sweat from her forehead they went to the edge of the tree. Nephis and Sunny saw in the distance a tree that seemingly touched the sky. Its leaves looked small but Sunny knew they must've been huge considering they were able to see it hundreds or thousands of miles away. Turning around Sunny could see a tall rough mountain wall that served as the border between the two death zones. The light from the jungle seemingly stopped abruptly at the border of the Forgotten Shore. The sewer hole that shot them out of the corrupted city was at the bottom of the wall and barely visible from their vantage point.
"So that's the tree Cassie was mentioning?" Nephis spoke which brought Sunny back to the tree.
"Yeah she said we have to reach it and the seed will be under its roots. We should be able to reach it in a few months, hopefully."
"Let's go back down then."
They climbed back down the tree using the indents they had made which made the climb down significantly faster. Once down Sunny they started walking in the direction of the tree, their journey to face the second nightmare clear yet filled Sunny with dread.
'Whatever it takes.' Sunny thought as they walked.
***
I changed [Death] to [The Shadow] to match Nephis's [The Flame] because of a suggestion a commenter made, I forgot their name.