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The entire audience sat waiting for the next screening.
But, strangely, the screen began to distort, flickering, and shimmering with colors.
"Strange... this has never happened before," someone muttered.
Then the image stabilized, and everyone in the audience froze in shock.
Why?
Because the figure on the screen wasn't Sanless, nor was it any of his dark, twisted stories.
It was just... a teenager.
A perfectly ordinary young man with black hair, blue eyes, a simple white T-shirt—and a mischievous smirk on his lips.
Before anyone could react, a cheerful voice came from the screen.
[Greetings, everyone!!]
The unknown speaker's voice sounded excited, almost too cheerful.
The audience exchanged puzzled glances.
Who is this? Is he talking to us? What's going on?
No one answered, and the young man frowned, tapping his microphone.
[Strange... why aren't they answering? Can they even hear me?" he muttered under his breath.]
Finally, a calm, commanding voice broke the silence.
"Who are you?" asked none other than Daeron.
[Ah, I see you're curious. You can call me Magdi], the voice replied nonchalantly.
"That doesn't explain who you are," another voice said from the audience.
[Okay, okay, I get it. Let's just say... I'm the master of this place—and the one who gathered you all here.]
Sighs and murmurs rippled through the crowd.
[Don't worry, I won't harm any of you," he said soothingly.]
"And why should we believe that?" Morgan asked sharply, earning several approving nods.
"Think about it," he replied with a mocking smile.
[If I could gather you all here—from different worlds, even different points in time—don't you think I'd already be capable of something far worse if I wanted to?]
No one argued with that. The logic was frighteningly sound.
Seeing their silence, Magdi's smile widened.
[Come on, no need for those dark looks. If I wanted to harm you, I would have done it long ago.]
[You're probably wondering why I brought you here, why I appeared before you, right? Well, let me give you the answer.]
He paused dramatically.
[Aura farming.]
The entire room froze.
"What? Aura buildup? What does that mean?" Daeron demanded, his voice even but tense.
The broad-shouldered man stood up, his presence as commanding as ever.
"What are you talking about… 'aura farming'?" he repeated.
Magdy merely smirked.
[Unfortunately, we don't have time for that. Let's save it for another meeting.]
[Now the second, and no less important, reason for my visit: gratitude.]
"Gratitude? For what exactly?" several voices asked, puzzled.
The screen changed again before anyone could process anything.
The same young man appeared, but now wearing glasses and holding a pointer.
Behind him, as if out of thin air, a board materialized, covered with neatly written names.
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Amadou_Tidiane_AW
LogicWeaver
TheDarkest_Flame
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[You're probably wondering who these people are and what these names mean.]
[These are my readers—those who support me, share their ideas, and inspire me. And for that...]
[As a grateful author, I must say—thank you.]
He theatrically tapped the board with his pointer, grinning broadly.
The audience was stunned. It all seemed pointless.
They felt the absurdity of the situation weighing on them like a fog.
The young man, however, stood calmly and waited, still smiling sweetly.
Finally, a voice from the front broke the silence.
Effie, as usual, spoke first.
"Why do we need this? "And what do we even have to do with this... 'gratitude' of yours?"
[Why? Hm... Because I said so. And you're involved because you're part of this story—nothing more, nothing less.]
"And what if we refuse?" the same voice answered defiantly.
A dull thud echoed through the hall, followed by a piercing scream.
Effie rolled on the floor, clutching her head.
"Ouch, ow, ow, ow! What is this for?!" she moaned.
[It's not fitting for a woman to be ungrateful,] the voice said coldly.
The audience was horrified. None of them saw him move—no one felt the blow, not even the most exalted among them.
What force could have made the Saint writhe in pain on the floor?
Rain was the most terrified of them all.
[Okay, if we're done, it's time to thank our readers.]
And just like that, a chorus of shouts echoed through the room:
"Thank you to all our readers!!!"
Some shouted nervously, others with awkward smiles.
In the front row, Effie, especially offended, muttered these words through clenched teeth.
"Why did he have to hit me? Wait until I leave here, you smug idiot..."
[You're mocking me.]
The voice made her freeze.
No one else understood who he was talking to—except Effie, who looked up with a strained smile."I didn't say anything," she laughed nervously.
He can read thoughts?! Wait—can he hear this too?
Magdi's only reply was a knowing smile, followed by a glance at his wristwatch.
[Oh, look at the time… Well then, I've got to run. Thank you for your cooperation—see you next time!!]
And with that, the screen flickered again, colors swirling before fading back to normal.
The hall was silent.
Everyone was still sitting in confusion, processing what had just happened.
What was that?They had come expecting another episode about Sunless—and instead, some strange young man appeared, called himself the owner of the theater, mocked them, made them thank his "readers," and vanished.
Like a storm that appeared out of nowhere, only to disappear just as suddenly.
After some time, the tension faded.Everyone settled back in their seats, silently praying that they wouldn't see that bizarre man again.
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[Preparation complete. The viewing will now continue.]
[Episode Three begins — The Shadow Gladiator]
The screen announced the beginning of the next episode.Cassie's outburst still lingered in everyone's minds, but they decided it was best to focus on the viewing.A heavy silence settled over the room in anticipation of what was to come. The screen shimmered, shifting through a spectrum of colors before finally displaying an image.
Sunny saw an endless expanse of blue sky.
Beneath it, floating in the air, were patchwork islands, scattered across the velvet darkness like pieces of a beautiful mosaic. Some were covered in greenery, others barren and desolate, while a few bore ancient ruins — weathered stones overgrown with moss.
All of them were bound together by colossal iron chains that clanged loudly as the islands rose and fell, drifting above the abyss. Far, far below, a scatter of pale stars shimmered faintly. At the center of the mosaic yawned an ugly wound — a vast tear in space where nothing existed but emptiness.
Above that wound floated a lonely island, seven torn chains hanging from its slopes. Upon its surface, rising through a mantle of clouds, stood a magnificent white pagoda.
Suddenly, the sun rolled backward, soon vanishing beyond the eastern horizon. The sky darkened, then brightened again as a shining moon swept across it — moving so quickly that it left only a blurred streak of light. A moment later, day returned, then night once more.
The sky tore itself between light and darkness; time flowed backward with terrifying speed. Sunny watched as the islands below slowly changed shape, as ruins rose from the ground and formed unyielding structures, as the stars burning in the abyss grew ever brighter — until the entire void was drowned in a blinding white light.
One by one, the fallen islands emerged from the consuming brilliance, and the chains that bound them to the rest of the mosaic reformed. Soon, the tear at the center was gone, replaced by a vast ashen wasteland scattered with scorched islands. The Tower of Ivory descended from the heights, taking its place at the heart of the wasteland.
A moment later, the ashes vanished, revealing a breathtaking floating city spread across dozens of islands — all connected by arched bridges and overflowing aqueducts, built of pristine white stone. Flags fluttered in the wind, and radiant waterfalls cascaded down into the endless void below.
"Chained Isles again?" the professor wondered aloud. "And judging by the beginning, this must be a Nightmare Trial." His statement immediately caught the monarch's attention.
"So these are the so-called 'Nightmares'? Do they always start like this?"
"Yes," the professor replied eagerly. "According to reports from numerous Awakened, we've learned that every Nightmare begins this way — as if time itself is flowing backward. From this, one can sometimes glean clues that may help overcome the trial. That's why, in our age, the history of the Dream Realm has become just as important as strength itself."
His explanation was met with a thoughtful nod.
But for the first time since the viewing began, a dazzling young man, Saint Kai, stood up.
"I would like to clarify something," he said in a firm voice, drawing everyone's attention. "As many of you know, we—Saint Affina, Lady Cassia, and I—experienced the Second Nightmare together," he paused for emphasis. "And also with Mordret, although that was an unforeseen circumstance." Kai cast a glance at Mordret, who only smirked.
"This nightmare also took place on the Bound Islands—the same place where Sanless is now. And I dare suspect that Sanless went through it with us."
The members of the cohort sat in thoughtful silence, their faces dark. "So he was with us even there…" "He went through so much with us…"
Gradually, Sunny's gaze turned westward, toward the very edge of the Chained Isles. There, one of the Great Chains connected them to the lands beyond, and at the brink stood a mighty fortress — much like the other border strongholds he had seen before. The island beside it resembled a vast stone bowl, with rows of seats carved into its weathered white slopes and a circular arena at its center, stained a dull crimson.
Farther still lay another island, crossed by a strange river that flowed endlessly in a perfect loop around an ancient statue of a beautiful woman. In one hand, she held a spear; in the other — a beating human heart. Her nudity was concealed only by a pelt wrapped around her hips, and her face was lost in shadow.
This was the island where Sunny had been cast.
...And, of course, he was thrown straight into the damned river.
"D-damn it! Why does this keep happening to me?!"
Sunny was so furious that he didn't even feel panic this time — unlike the two previous occasions when the Spell had decided to greet him with a cold, soaking welcome: first on the Forgotten Shore, and then in Noctis's Sanctuary.
A few chuckles echoed through the theater. Many found the situation amusing — it seemed the esteemed Sunless wasn't particularly fond of water. Rain sat quietly, giggling to herself, delighted by this rare chance to tease her teacher. Noctis, in particular, was quite entertained.
"Oh, so he was in my sanctuary! Honestly, I'm rather curious to see what it looks like in the future."
This time, at least, Sunny knew where he was and which direction to swim if he wanted to reach the surface.
He tensed his muscles, fighting against the strong current...
And then he realized that something was terribly, terribly wrong.
His body refused to obey him — or rather, it obeyed, but in a meaningless way. His limbs didn't move as he commanded, and instead of swimming, he only thrashed about helplessly, sinking deeper and deeper into the cold, dark water. His senses were in complete disarray, and he couldn't even tell what exactly had gone wrong.
"W-what the hell?!"
Now, Sunny finally began to panic — just a little.
This was far beyond anything he had experienced in the First Nightmare. Back then, the body given to him by the Spell had felt almost identical to his own... but this time, it was far too strange.
Was this what Master Jet had warned him about?
Sunny tried to stay calm and swim toward the shore, but moving through water — especially in such a strong current — was no easy task. It required coordination and balance, both of which he severely lacked right now. Whatever he tried only made things worse.
He sank deeper and deeper into the river, slowly drowning.
His lungs began to burn from lack of air... they felt strange, just like the rest of his body. Darkness crept into his vision...
Sunny clenched his teeth — a wave of pain shot through his jaw — and then stopped struggling, allowing the current to drag him to the bottom. Focusing on his sense of shadow, he waited until his body touched the rocky riverbed… and then stepped through the shadow, emerging near the stone statue.
Sunny collapsed onto the grass. Coughing violently, he tried to take a breath of fresh air — only to find that even that was a struggle. His lungs refused to function properly, and even when he managed to inhale, it wasn't enough to chase away the suffocating pressure in his chest.
"What... the hell... is happening?!"
Sprawled on the ground, Sunny closed his eyes, shutting off all his senses to focus on gaining control over the chaos of his new body.
Don't think. Thinking will only make it worse. This body has its own instincts... now you just have to let them work.
He cleared his mind of any thoughts about breathing and oxygen — and soon, the instincts truly took over. It was like the story of the centipede that was asked how it managed to walk, and then fell because it couldn't remember. As soon as Sunny stopped thinking about breathing, his body did it on its own.
Suddenly, his lungs filled with sweet air, and strength flooded back into him.
"Oh, thank the gods..."
For a few moments, Sunny didn't move, just lay there breathing deeply. Then, he tried to understand what vessel the Spell had chosen for him this time...
But before he could, a beautiful voice, filled with curiosity and amusement, echoed above him:
"How strange you are..."
Sunny opened his eyes and struggled to his feet, quickly turning toward the source of the voice.
When he did, he froze.
Kneeling beside the statue was perhaps the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Her skin was soft and luminous, her face delicate and refined. Her chestnut hair flowed over her shoulders like strands of shimmering silk. Her eyes glowed gently, filled with light — two radiant silver stars.
In his life, Sunny had seen many stunning beauties, but none could compare to the quiet, breathtaking grace of this stranger. Just one look at her made his heart pound and his face flush. She seemed more like a fae than a mortal woman...
And perhaps, she truly was.
The beautiful woman was dressed in a simple red tunic that left her shoulders bare and carried no weapon. Yet her presence filled the entire island — immense, serene, and overwhelming. The blades of grass seemed to bend toward her, the rays of the sun shifting their path just to caress her skin. It was as if she didn't exist in this world — but rather, the world existed around her.
And something about her... something felt strangely familiar.
Many heads turned toward the beautiful Priestess of War, silent questions written on everyone's faces. But Solvein, as indifferent as ever, met their gazes firmly.
"What are you all staring at? I don't remember this meeting either," she said irritably.
This marked the second time the audience had seen someone from among their own appear in the stories of Sunless.
Sunny opened his mouth, stunned, and said:
"Uh… hello?"
…Or at least, he tried to.
Instead, what came out was a guttural, bestial growl.
"What the…"
He tried again, but once more his mouth produced nothing but a deep, menacing snarl.
The woman frowned.
"One of the Shadow God's creations… how curious. I didn't realize that any of your kind still lingered here, in the Kingdom of Hope."
Sunny stared at her in shock. Then, slowly, he looked down — and finally saw himself.
"Oh… no…"
Well, at least one of his wishes had come true. He was no longer short. In fact, he stood at least two meters tall.
The problem, however…
Was that he was not human.
His skin was pale gray, the color of stone. His legs were long and digitigrade, bending backward and ending in powerful, clawed feet. He had four arms, each longer and stronger than a human's, and a long, sinuous tail that twitched behind him. His face looked demonic — sharp, predatory features and a mouth full of terrifying fangs. Two curved horns jutted from his forehead, and his hair was long, coarse, and black.
His eyes were entirely black, without irises, only two vertical, feral slits gleaming within.
…And worst of all, Sunny seemed to lack human vocal cords.
He couldn't speak.
"Oh, damn it!"
"What the hell? That's Master Sunless?" Effie shouted. "Why did he take the body of a demon in the Nightmare? Does that mean I won't get to see his handsome face anymore?"
No one seemed to notice her last remark — the situation truly was strange. Normally, people assumed the bodies of other humans during Nightmares. Sure, there could be differences in height or age, but never in species. At least, there had never been any recorded cases of such a thing.
"Indeed… this is rather unusual," the professor said uncertainly, prompting Noctis to step in with an explanation.
"He's not just any demon," Noctis declared, drawing everyone's attention. "Remember that gloomy guy I once told you about?"
Receiving only puzzled stares in return, he sighed in disappointment. "Honestly, you people are no fun… The Shadow! I told you about the Shadow and his followers."
"Well, he's inhabiting the body of one of those followers — a spawn of the Shadow."
Now everyone looked at the situation from a different perspective. Of course, Sunless couldn't speak and would need time to adapt to his new body. But there were also many potential advantages.
However, within a minute, everyone's opinion changed again.
The beautiful woman looked at him and smiled.
Her smile was dazzling and breathtaking—yet somehow, it made Sunny feel a chill of pure fear.
"You should not have trespassed upon my lands, little creature. But do not worry… I shall grant you a most glorious death. This, I swear before the gods."
She rose to her full height before the ancient statue.
"After all, I, Solvane, am nothing if not merciful…"
"Hold on, lady…"
Sunny tried to step back, but wobbled and nearly fell. Somehow, he managed to regain his balance by crouching, his claws digging into the ground. His four hands rose, sharp claws aimed at Solvane.
All this talk of glory and death made him tense—very, very tense.
"Solvane… wait. Solvane?"
A low growl escaped Sunny's mouth as he realized who stood before him. So this beautiful, graceful woman… she was the vile living corpse he had destroyed in the cargo hold of the crashed ship? Or, rather… could have been?
After all, he was traveling in the past of the Bound Islands—or at least in its illusory reconstruction. It made sense that Solvane hadn't succumbed to her dreadful fate.
…And yet.
Sunny shuddered, recalling the silent plea and boundless torment in the empty eyes of the Wormhole bearer. How could those horrifying eyes match the radiant ones now looking at him?
Suddenly, he was overwhelmed with pity, compassion, and sorrow.
And fear.
For if he was right, and this was indeed the very Solvane, then the dazzling stranger who had just promised him a glorious death… was a Saint.
And a Saint promising to kill him was certainly not what Sunny wanted to hear.
Jumping up from her chair, Effie sent plates and food flying, shouting in disbelief.
"What?? How is this possible?" "An Awakened defeated a Transcendent?"
The audience was stunned by this revelation; chills ran down everyone's spines, even the Saints. Why? If Saint Kai's statement was true, this had been their Second Nightmare—they had been Awakened. And are you telling them that he killed an echo of a Transcendent while being Awakened!? How!? The questions remained unanswered. All they could do was hope they would never face this person in battle.
A flood of questions swirled in Solveyne's mind. "How could he have defeated me? How was I desecrated? Did he really give me a worthy end?"—she couldn't decide whether to feel joy or anger.
"To kill a Transcendent while Awakened!?!" Reine mentally cursed, her hands shaking uncontrollably. "How is that possible!? What kind of monster are you, Teacher!?"
Nefis was thinking only one thing. "Strong… very strong."
"I want to fight him." Her statement drew several questioning looks from her cohort.
He peered beneath the surface of the beautiful figure of Solveyne and saw a single sphere of light blazing brightly in her chest, so radiant it seemed almost blinding. The core of her soul… the core of the Transcendent's soul.
His vertical pupils narrowed, and a single thought echoed in his mind:
"Run!"
Sunny felt that his body was far stronger than his own, inhumanly powerful, but not knowing how to control it properly, running from the Saint was out of the question. If it was even possible. So his only hope remained the Shadow Step…
He had already begun to slip into the shadow when suddenly a graceful silhouette appeared beside him. An elegant hand came down and seized one of his hands in an iron grip. Without the Bone Weaving, his wrist would have shattered like glass.
The Saint's grasp was as inevitable and inescapable as death.
Sunny could no longer hide in the shadows, and summoning any Memory would take too long to be useful…
All except one.
A spectral stiletto suddenly appeared in his trapped hand and awkwardly lunged upward, leaving a thin scratch on Solveyne's perfectly smooth, silky skin.
She looked at the scratch, which slowly filled with blood, and a single crimson drop fell onto the green grass. Her glowing eyes shone.
— So, this is fate? A blood sacrifice has been offered on the Altar of War. Little shadow creature, how special you are! Ah, so be it…
With those words, she smiled radiantly.
In the next instant, her other hand moved forward, and before Sunny could even feel fear…
The world exploded in pain and then plunged into utter darkness.
The viewers, still reeling from the previous statement, remained speechless. Only a few dared to glance at Solveyne.
Shadows… shadows…
Sunny was surrounded by shadows.
Some were close to him, and some were far away. Some were small, and some were large. Some moved, and some remained motionless.
He, too, was one of the shadows.
No… not one. He was a whole swarm. A legion of shadows, hidden within one vast and impenetrable soul. Quiet and calm, free from all burdens. Free from all desires, free from reason and will.
For now…
"Ugh… my head hurts…"
Slowly, Sunny came to his senses. The first thing he felt was pain, and then—the steady thump of hearts. Hearts? Yes… obviously, he now had two. And four lungs as well.
His body was heavy and unfamiliar, too large, too cumbersome, and too strange. Something hard and cold pressed against him, causing dull pain in his limbs. His head hurt too, as if it had been struck hard enough to shatter a fragile skull.
Well… so it was. Wasn't it?
The breathtaking beauty, Solveyne, had struck him. She had killed him.
"Damn… why do I still feel pain if I'm dead? What the hell is this?!"
Filled with outrage, Sunny tried to push the pain away. But it remained. Why hadn't it vanished? It shouldn't still be tormenting him.
Unless… he wasn't dead.
And the Saint hadn't actually killed him with a single blow.
Sunny hissed and opened his eyes.
What he saw made him stare for a few moments, then laugh. Or rather, he wanted to laugh—but instead, a chilling, deeply unsettling, uneven howl escaped his mouth.
"Oh, gods… this is just too intrusive, really! Come on!"
Sunny was so amused because the hard, cold objects painfully pressed against his body… were the solid bars of an iron cage.
He was back in a cage, and a steel collar encircled his neck.
Sunny had been turned into a slave once again.
"Hey, Spell! You think this is funny? You satisfied with yourself, you bastard?!"
His new cage was much smaller than the previous one in the Night Temple. In fact, it was barely large enough to contain his lanky body with all its limbs, claws, and horns. The cage was suspended from the ceiling by a rusty chain, and every movement he made caused it to sway slightly, the bars digging painfully into his flesh.
Sunny growled angrily and looked around, trying to make sense of the sensations he had just felt. What were those shadows he had sensed nearby…
"…Damn."
Rows of hanging cages of varying sizes surrounded him, each containing some creature. There were monstrous wolves, stone gargoyles, gigantic crawling worms, bulging masses of flesh with gaping circular maws, and all manner of abominations, some he had fought before and others he had never even heard of.
There were closed metal boxes, the surface alive with the sound of hundreds of tiny claws scuttling across them, and cages large enough to contain a Chain Worm. In one of them, not far from Sunny, such a creature was imprisoned. There were even cages holding humans.
Sunny looked over this dungeon of horrors and shivered.
"What the hell… what kind of place is this…"
Everyone shuddered at the sight. What a horrific place—Master Sanless had truly been unlucky. And, as if hearing their thoughts, Solvain spoke:
"This is the Red Colosseum. It was built by the followers of the God of War for spectacle. We force prisoners to fight to the death until one falls. Those who survive are granted the honor of living another day. And then the process repeats."
Next to her, Noctis shuddered slightly—and why not? A truly terrifying woman stood beside him...
Disgust was written on many faces. Even by the standards of Saints, this was a horrific place. And now Sanless found himself trapped in this Colosseum, cut off from everything—from his own appearance, even from his memories. How could he escape?
Mordred, however, smiled pleasantly. "The Night Temple, huh? Perhaps it was he who freed me?"
"It seems like we really were friends!"
Time passed, and Sanless had grown accustomed to life in the colosseum. Every day, he had to face seven arenas filled with nightmarish creatures. He fought monsters stronger than himself, yet he never gave up. He constantly sought a way out, trying to escape this blackened place. During this time, he met a young man named Elias. The boy was a healer, which proved invaluable to Sanni—he would take on the monsters while Elias sustained his life.
Sanni tore the Chain Worm apart, chunks of flesh and pools of blood covering the red stones of the arena like a gruesome carpet. Then, shrouded in impenetrable shadows, he plunged his hands into the shredded carcass of the slain monstrosity and tore out three bloodied Soul Shards.
…Strangely enough, killing the Fallen Demon was not particularly difficult for him. Long ago, Master Roan had described these vile creatures as incredibly formidable and deadly opponents, ones he himself would never dare face alone. But that was because Master Roan was human.
Chain Worms fed on metal, making steel weapons and armor useless against them. Sanni would have been in trouble had he remained in a human body, and much of his arsenal of Memories would suddenly have been ineffective. But now he was a demon—one of the shadow-born, a kin of the God of Shadows, or whatever he had been turned into.
His claws, fangs, and shadows were the perfect weapons to annihilate such abominations.
Of course, fighting a creature ranked above him was no easy feat. But empowered by three shadows, he managed to dispatch the massive monstrosity without much trouble. In fact, killing the Chain Worm was far easier than defeating Master Pierce. He wasn't even seriously wounded.
The crowd fell silent, stunned by his ruthless brutality, and then erupted in joyous cheers. Glory, glory… it seemed they enjoyed the victory over a stronger opponent more than anything else.
"Insane bastards…"
"Now that's what I call a will to live! I bet he's a suburban rat like me!" Jet exclaimed excitedly.
"Agreed. Even in this situation, he's trying to find a way out. Moreover, he's capable of fighting fallen creatures and defeating them without effort," Saint Cor corrected.
"But don't forget, he's in the body of that demon, which is far more powerful than a normal human," Jeste remarked sarcastically, only to be immediately rebuked by Gilead.
"But he's still an Awakened One. Whatever one's power, one must know how to use it, and he's smart and resourceful enough to do just that," Saint Dagonet could only click his tongue.
While everyone was engrossed in their discussion, Saint Tiris turned to Roan. "He mentioned you... do you know him?" Roan merely shook his head nervously. "What can I say, my dear... I would tell you if I could."
A few days later, looking more like a corpse than a living being, he lay at the bottom of the cage, staring at his hands. Between them, a complex cradle of black threads weaved together, forming a strange, hypnotic pattern. Sunny had made significant progress in his ability to intertwine shadow threads and weave them between his fingers… but unfortunately, it hadn't come easily.
The threads were ethereal and invisible to anyone but him, meaning they could not interact with the material world. However, they could interact with his flesh, which was why two of his fingers were gone—each cut so cleanly it was as if they had never existed.
Even his phalanges, reinforced by his advanced Bone Weaving, offered no resistance to the threads of the entity. Only two bloodied stumps remained.
The other fingers were sliced and mutilated, yet still intact. Considering he had eighteen left, he still had more than a human. Not that it lessened the constant pain he endured.
Finally, they became witnesses to the weaving. After the War Priestess of the Nightmare's statement, everyone present was curious about the craft. How does it look? How difficult is it?
And as they watched, they understood the priestess's reaction: countless threads intertwined, enclosing a single shard.
And this was created by the Awakened.
"Weaving… truly, the heir of the Demon of Fate," Ananke said, mesmerized.
"How could he master it?" Rain asked.
With a warm smile, Ananke replied, "Remember, he was able to peer into the soul of the War Priestess?" Rain nodded faintly. "I suspect he possesses the legacy of the Demon of Fate. That's why."
Rain immediately recalled her teacher's joke. "Of course… the blood of a demon flows through my veins…"
"Teacher… what are you? Are you even human?" Rain lamented in her thoughts.
While Rain was lost in her musings, the theater fell silent, save for Saint Affina, who was swearing loudly.
"How is this possible? How can he possess the lineage of the Shadow God and also the lineage of the Demon?!" No one blamed her. Even the usually composed Daeron was slightly stunned. Many dream of obtaining even a single godly lineage, and he had two.
All Ananke could do was shake her head.
"Alas, dear, even I do not know that."
But the screen showed no intention of giving them time to ponder.
Today, Sunny was preparing to conduct another experiment… perhaps the final one. He was tired, exhausted, and grievously wounded. All the hope he had managed to grasp in this blood-soaked hell was on the verge of vanishing. He was… he was almost ready to give up.
But not now.
Within all the Memories, there was one more thing… not part of the pattern of the incorporeal threads, but something else. A bright spark, serving as an anchor and connecting link for the threads, the point around which the entire pattern was built. First-level Memories had one, while higher-level Memories had several.
Contemplating this fact, Sunny brought something from the arena today… a single Soul Shard, which he had not given to Elias, keeping it for himself. The Shard belonged to a terrible Awakened Demon, which he had slain earlier in one of the killing boxes of the Red Coliseum.
Now, staring at the cradle of incorporeal black threads stretched between his fingers, he hesitated for a long moment, then carefully placed the glittering crystal at its center.
Holding his breath, Sunny slowly began connecting each of the strings to the Shard, moving his fingers with extraordinary speed and dexterity. Gradually, a black pattern began to form around the bright ember, strangely refusing to touch any other object, instead looping in on itself.
And then, after what seemed like an eternity, as drops of blood ran down his hands… Sunny finally released the strings and stared at the Soul Shard resting in his palm.
A beautiful pattern of dim threads hovered in the air around him, stable, without a single flaw or weak point that could cause it to collapse.
He exhaled and wove the final thread into the pattern, connecting its other end to the shadow core in his chest.
Finally, Sunny closed his eyes and issued a mental command.
The Soul Shard shattered before him into a rain of white sparks, then reformed, creating itself from nothingness.
Sunny let out a long, heavy sigh.
…This was the first spell he had ever woven.
Seeing the failures Sunny endured, the spark of hope that had once shone in his eyes began to slowly fade. The audience grew worried about his condition. Could it be that he was about to give up?
But after so many setbacks and disappointments, right before their eyes, he succeeded. He achieved it. They all became witnesses to his first weaving—a small victory, the beginning of something greater. A new fire ignited in Sanless's eyes.
Slowly but surely, he wove the spell into the shackles around his neck, immersing them in the flowing stream of soul essence. The task was difficult, complex, and intricate… but not impossible. The pattern had already been created, and all that remained was to connect it to a new vessel.
After some time, he finished. The Soul Shard vanished from his hands and from the material world entirely. Instead, it now burned beneath the surface of the collar, black threads stretching from it and spreading across the steel. The collar now resembled a Memory, and even its knot was nearly indistinguishable from the sparks Sunny had seen before.
Of course, inside it was a second enchantment, far more complex and elaborate, crafted from incorporeal runes. Everything was in complete disorder… just as he intended.
Sunny held his breath… and then attempted to remove the collar.
The metal band around his neck shimmered and suddenly became ice-cold. Two energies collided within, and both spells instantly shattered.
He felt a sudden shift… an abrupt change in the air and within himself, as if a long-forgotten part of his being had awakened from a deep slumber. Filled with fear and anticipation, Sunny did what he had done countless times before, yet had never truly appreciated.
"One…"
He summoned the runes.
Familiar symbols appeared in the air before him, their appearance as sweet as honey.
Name: Sanless.True Name: ***********Rank: Awakened…
"Two…"
Sunny turned away from the runes and glanced at the collar, observing the clash of the two spells within. Simultaneously, he grabbed the steel with both hands and poured all his monstrous strength into tearing it apart.
But the collar held firm, as if absolutely indestructible.
"Three…"
On the count of "seven," the Soul Shard he had placed in the steel band suddenly shattered into a myriad of sparks, and the interwoven black threads he had so diligently threaded collapsed into gray mist and disappeared. The original flow of soul essence resumed unhindered, and the runic enchantments resumed their function.
…Sunny was not disappointed. Now, he only wanted to see how long his diversion would last.
"Seven seconds…"
A grim smirk appeared on his face.
"…Seven seconds will be more than enough."
The eyes of everyone burned with silent support. Many shouted words of encouragement. Seeing his efforts and his will to live, many were inspired. Most, having become so strong, had forgotten just how terrifying the Realm of Dreams could be. And witnessing Sanless's situation, many were reminded of their own nightmares. Though they were not as horrific as his, they still evoked dreadful memories.
The next day, battered and barely alive, he brought another Soul Shard from the arena. Tonight was to be the night of their escape… Sanni wasn't sure he could endure much more. If he had any chance of breaking free, he had to take it now.
The plan had long since formed in his mind, and though he was terrified to put it into action, there was no other choice.
When Elias collapsed to the bottom of the cage, too exhausted to eat the disgusting raw meat thrown at him by the Ascended Warrior, Sanni focused on weaving a new spell. By now, he was skilled enough to create black threads fairly quickly, though haste could cost him another finger or two.
Nevertheless, over the course of several hours, he wove enough threads to replicate a simple summoning spell.
Following the same steps as yesterday, Sanni created a pattern around the Soul Shard and then integrated it into the collar.
The two spells clashed again, granting him a few brief moments of freedom.
This time, Sanni wasn't going to waste them.
As soon as the collar's enchantments were broken, severing its connection to the Red Coliseum, he took a deep breath… and slipped into the shadow.
A moment later, Sanni found himself standing on the cold stone floor, just a few steps from the swinging empty cage.
He was free!
At least, for another six seconds…
"Seven."
Sanni stepped through the shadows and emerged outside the cage; his towering figure was finally free, no longer constrained by the suffocating iron bars. He wobbled as excruciating pain coursed through his mutilated flesh, the myriad of poorly healed wounds reminding him of their festering existence, and he hissed.
Elias stirred, unsure where the familiar hissing sound came from. Then he gripped the bars and stared at Sanni with wide eyes.
"Ho-how…"
Suddenly, he could clearly see his companion in the darkness, as the obsidian body of the shadow creature became enveloped in a storm of swirling sparks. Sanni began summoning his Memories — the Unbreakable Chain, Cruel Gaze, Midnight Shard, Nimble Thorn…
"Six."
The Stygian serpent tattooed on his skin suddenly stirred and transformed into a fearsome black odachi. Its sharp tip appeared in the air above one of Sanni's hands and quickly grew into a massive blade.
At the same time, deep within his shadow, two ruby eyes flared with fierce light.
Elias shivered and stared in stunned awe at the emaciated demon standing before him.
"Five."
The Saint stepped from the darkness, her elegant form black as onyx, her posture straight and unyielding. Her hands were empty, currently holding no weapons.
Sanni stared at his Shadow with grim delight, baring his fangs in greeting. He wasn't certain, but it seemed he noticed a small change in the behavior of the silent knight's shoulders. Could it be… she had missed him too?
"Four."
The hilt of the Soul Serpent fell into his hand, the odachi lengthened significantly to accommodate his towering height. Sanni, without hesitation, hurled the massive blade toward the Saint, who calmly caught it and weighed the weapon in her hand; the hue of her ruby eyes suddenly brightened slightly. It seemed as though the Shadow was… excited?
Sanni glanced toward the depths of the underground, where dozens of mighty Nightmare Creatures remained trapped in cages, awaiting their turn to be slaughtered in the arena.
Then he turned back to the Saint.
"Three."
…and said:
"Kill them. Kill them all!"
She tilted her head, casting him a brief glance, then silently vanished into the darkness, the black blade of the Soul Serpent raised to deliver the first lethal strike.
"Two."
A moment later, something whistled through the air, and a bestial cry echoed through the silence of the nightmare dungeon. But Sanni paid it no mind… the plan was already in motion, and his efforts were needed elsewhere.
A familiar voice whispered in his ear, making him flinch.
[You have killed…]
…Oh, how he longed to hear it again!
[Your shadow grows stronger.]
In one of Sanni's hands appeared a grim sword, woven from thick mist.
"One."
In the other hand manifested the Unyielding Tachi. Sanni gripped the hilt of the Midnight Shard with both upper hands, leaving the Cruel Gaze in one of the lower ones.
Finally, from a whirl of white sparks appeared the Unbreakable Chain, enveloping his body in a carapace of grim steel. His form shifted to match Sanni's monstrous body; new plates of perfectly fitted armor covered his digitigrade legs, four arms, and even his long tail, which ended in a sharp metallic spike.
His gauntlets ended in vicious steel claws, and the helmet had two openings at the top to accommodate his curved horns.
Where once stood an emaciated creature with horribly mutilated flesh among the empty cages, now towered a fearsome steel colossus, its jagged horns crowning the faceless steel plane of its head.
"Why didn't he just teleport out of there?"
"What is he planning?" everyone wondered.
"I understand that he has a divine aspect and all that, but he's still an Awakened. How is he going to defeat the Ascended?" Effie asked.
"Don't forget he has that Shadow… the Saint," Seishan noted.
But Daeron objected.
"Yes, he does, but for some reason he sent her to exterminate the other Nightmare Creatures. All he has at his disposal are those Memories."
Everyone gripped their seats tighter, anticipating what Sanless would do next. He had surprised them more than once, and they were confident he had a plan. But what kind of plan? That was the question.
With a low growl, Sanni leapt onto the hanging cage, digging his curved claws into the bars with his feet, and swung the Shard of Midnight. He wasn't aiming at the cage itself… instead, he targeted the chain that held it to the ceiling.
Empowered by his Shadow, the deadly tachi sliced through the rusted chain, tearing it apart with ease. The cage crashed to the floor with a loud clatter that echoed through the dark underground chamber, then toppled onto its side.
Locked inside, Elias was thrown downward. Yet almost immediately, the young man regained his balance and crouched, staring at Sanni with wide, wild eyes.
"Faster! Whatever you're planning, Demon, hurry! The Priest will be here soon!"
Sanni shivered, recalling the aura of wild, crushing power radiating from their Ascended jailer, and the cold gleam of his terrifying blade.
Elias didn't need to remind him… Sanni painfully realized just how little time he had left…
"All right, they've freed themselves, but the question remains—how will they escape from the Ascended? Not to mention the Coliseum itself," Morgan said, her genuine curiosity clear.
"I suggest we just watch and find out, rather than speculating," Noctis replied, keeping his eyes fixed on the screen.
The metal of the collars and cages couldn't be broken… but that didn't mean it couldn't be bent. Twisting the steel band tightly wrapped around his neck wouldn't have been the best idea, but the iron bars of the cage holding Elias were a completely different matter.
Sanni just needed a good leverage point, and that was exactly why he chopped at the cage.
Casting a nervous glance back toward the direction from which the Red Priest usually appeared, he gritted his teeth and slid one hand through the bars, pushing Elias back. First, he needed to soften the metal, and that was a difficult process.
The blade of Cruel Gaze suddenly blazed with a blinding white light, radiating an almost tangible heat into the cold air of the grim dungeon. Sanni didn't hesitate and pressed the dark sword against the steel bars, letting the divine flame within it share its searing intensity with the enchanted cage.
"Come on… come on…"
There were two possible outcomes to his actions. One, he could soften the metal and bend it… the other, he could cook Elias alive inside the cage.
There was also the chance that their Ascended jailer would arrive faster than usual, which would be very, very, very bad…
Sanni counted the seconds and stared at the iron bars, wishing they would heat up faster. Slowly, the cold metal began to glow faintly red, then bright orange. Finally, where the searing blade of Cruel Gaze had touched, it glimmered with a shade of pure white.
Sanni would have preferred to wait a little longer, but there was no more time.
Dropping the sword to the ground and biting down on the Shard of Midnight with his fangs, he grabbed the blazing metal with all four hands, enduring the pain from the intense heat slowly spreading through his gloves to his bare skin. Then he planted a foot on another bar, ordered all three shadows to coil around his body… and pulled.
Tension hung thick in the air; everyone expected the guard to appear at any moment. Why hadn't he just run? He could have easily escaped—they weren't real. No one knew what motivated Sanless's unusual kindness. One thing was certain: time was running out.
For some reason, Nefis felt strange. She couldn't understand why she was so deeply worried about him. Her fingers clenched until they went white. She was confident he would succeed, yet at the same time, she feared for him. She couldn't make sense of it. "Why do I feel so… strange?"
Sanni pulled and pushed in every direction with all his monstrous strength. Already a demon, enhanced by three shadows, he was terrifyingly powerful. And yet, the glowing-hot bars refused to budge… at least for a few seconds.
Then, just as it seemed his muscles might burst from the inhuman strain, the metal finally gave way. With a metallic groan, one of the bars began to bend, first slightly, then more and more…
"Yes!"
Elias, however, did not share Sanni's triumph. Instead, he went pale, a look of fear spreading across his face. Without a word, the boy raised a hand, pointing somewhere behind his partner.
— P-priest!
At that moment, Sanni felt a massive shadow surge from the edge of his shadow-sense, approaching faster and faster with terrifying speed.
"Damn it…"
The Ascended had arrived several seconds earlier than expected!
Without turning, Sanni gave one last pull on the heated bar, creating enough space between it and the next so the boy could slip through.
Then he entered the cage, grabbed the young Awakened, and roughly dragged him through the narrow passage.
He could already hear heavy footsteps behind him.
"Shit, shit, shit…"
Elias stared into the darkness with eyes full of fear.
— Demon! P-pose…
Before he could finish, Sanni shoved the boy forcefully, then spun swiftly, grabbing the Cruel Glance from the ground and catching the handle of the Midnight Shard.
The warrior in the torn red mantle and worn leather armor was already advancing, his terrifying heavy blade cutting through the air with impossible speed. Sanni thrust his weapons forward, trying to block the devastating strike…
But his battered, wounded body seemed to betray him at last. He faltered, missing the moment by a fraction of a second.
It was like the tiniest mistake…
But one mistake was enough.
The massive blade of the powerful Ascended slipped past Sanni's defense… and struck him directly in the neck.
The sharp metal cut through his tough skin, muscles, and spine, bursting out the other side in a fountain of blood. Sanni felt excruciating pain tearing through his entire being, and then the world suddenly spun.
…The head of the shadow-demon soared high into the air, disbelief frozen in his pitch-black eyes. It seemed to scream… as if trying to say something. To share a fateful revelation that had come too late.
That there was no way out.
…No way out except through death.
"W-what?"
The hall fell into a deathly silence. No one dared to speak a word. Only a single question, whispered by Rain, seemed to echo through the air.
Rain stared at the screen, eyes wide open. Tears slowly streamed down her cheeks."What? How? Why? For what?" — countless questions circled in her mind, only to be met with silence.
In that moment, something deep inside her snapped.
She had just learned that she had a brother… and only a few hours later, she was forced to witness his death."Why?"
Nephis slowly shifted her gaze from the screen to her trembling hands. Just moments ago, she had been certain he would survive, though her heart had been filled with worry. And now… it seemed her fears had been justified.
If I had been there… I could have healed him.
Her vision blurred as tears welled up in her eyes. When she raised her hands to her face, she realized she was crying."How could he just… die like that?"
Everyone stared blankly at the screen, speechless. Even Daeron, the Monarch, looked mournful. No matter who you are, you can never truly grow used to death.
Neither Noctis nor Solvane uttered a word.Only Mordred… smiled.
But to everyone's astonishment — the screen continued to play.
Elias staggered, a stunned expression twisting his soft, youthful face.
"D-demon… you…"
Before him, the decapitated demon's legs gave out, and his massive body, still clad in grim steel, collapsed heavily to its knees.
Just like that, his partner was gone.
His partner's nightmare had ended.
The young man froze for a moment, then turned toward the indifferent killer. Sorrow and fury mixed in his hollow, weary, light-blue eyes.
"You… I'll kill—"
The Priest of War remained silent, uninterested in the delirious threats of a young slave. He turned toward Elias and took a step forward, raising his monstrous blade once more.
It was over.
…Or perhaps not. Because in that instant, the decapitated body suddenly moved and lunged at the indifferent warrior: the glowing blade of Cruel Glance drove deep into the man's abdomen, while the tip of the Midnight Shard pierced through his chest. At the same time, the dead demon's tail lashed over his shoulder, the long steel spike impaling one of the Red Priest's eyes.
Lying on the filthy stone floor several meters away, Sunny's severed head watched it all with an expression of terrible pain.
"It hurts… damn it, dying hurts so, so much!"
Yes, having your head cut off was not a pleasant experience. In fact, it was probably one of the worst.
But Sunny needed this to happen. It was the only way he had found to free himself from the unbreakable slave collar. He had even considered cutting off his own head, but realized he lacked the strength to overcome the durability of the Bone Weave.
So instead, he had decided to use the strength of an Ascended Apostle of War.Death, indeed, was the only salvation.
Now everyone sat with their jaws hanging open.
"WHAAAT!!!??? How the hell is that bastard still alive?! And that was his plan all along?! What kind of plan involves getting your head chopped off?!" Effie shouted, cursing in disbelief. "Gods, please take me away from here — I don't want to be part of this anymore!"
No one could argue with her. How did he survive? What kind of trick had he pulled?
Hearing Effie's yelling, Rain slowly lifted her head toward the screen and began mentally cursing her teacher."You stupid bastard… how could you make your student worry like that? It would've been better if you'd actually died, you dumb idiot."And yet, despite her words, a smile crept onto her face.
Noctis, however, was laughing uncontrollably."Hahaha! What a devious shadow, after all!"
Nephis's hands were still trembling, and as she stared at the scene, a question crossed her mind:"Can he heal himself too? Is his Aspect similar to mine?"
But before she could think any further — as if answering her unspoken question — the screen continued to play.
As the body in the tattered red robe slowly turned over and fell to the ground, the headless body of the demon raised one clawed hand, hooked a finger beneath the slave collar, and tore it off his severed neck.
The metal band fell to the floor with a ringing clang.
…Sunny, of course, wasn't actually dead — not thanks to the enchantment [Immortal], woven into his Transcendent Armor. As long as it remained active, he was alive and could even control his body. That was the good part…
The bad part was that the spell devoured his essence at a terrifying rate. In just a few more seconds, once his reserves were completely drained, Sunny really would die.
But before that happened...
The headless demon staggered forward, raising his hand to pick up his severed head and awkwardly place it back onto his neck. Then he turned to Elias and collapsed to his knees before the petrified young man.
"C-come on, fool! I don't have much time!"
Since his mouth wasn't connected to any lungs, Sunny couldn't even growl to snap the young Awakened out of his stupor.
Thankfully, Elias flinched on his own, shuddered, and lifted his trembling hands, placing them on both sides of Sunny's mangled neck.
"Oh Lord… oh gods… oh Lord! Hold on, Demon!"
He activated his healing ability, desperately trying to reattach the cleanly severed head of the shadow creature back to the flattened stump of its neck.
Sunny convulsed, overwhelmed by excruciating pain.
"How… how does this even make sense?! Why does it hurt so much?! My brain isn't even connected to these nerves— argh! Damn it! Damn it all!"
For almost anyone else, recovering from decapitation would have been impossible. But Sunny was… a bit different. Avoiding death had always been one of his specialties.
Several factors worked in his favor.
First, the [Midnight Shard] recognized his condition as dire enough to activate the hidden well of power granted by the spell [Unyielding].
Second, his bones and blood had been transformed by the Weaver's bloodline, granting him inhuman resilience. That was why he hadn't yet bled out, and why his body was capable of such rapid regeneration. These qualities were amplified by a drop of the Shadow God's ichor, which had been absorbed into his Blood Weaving, and then further enhanced by the [Midnight Shard] itself.
And finally, while [Immortal] consumed his shadow essence at an alarming rate, the Saint was still out there in the darkness, slaughtering one powerful Nightmare Creature after another. She wielded the black odachi whose ability, [Soul Devourer], transferred a portion of the essence of every creature slain by the Serpent — whether in its Soul Weapon or Soul Beast form.
Thus, with every abomination the Saint destroyed, Sunny received a surge of essence, allowing him to maintain the [Immortal] enchantment a little longer.
But would it be enough for him to survive?
That was what he was about to find out…
Agonizing seconds passed. Elias worked desperately to close the wound, while Sunny could only watch his shadow essence reserves drop lower and lower. The rate at which the [Unyielding Chain] devoured his energy was far faster than the rate at which the Saint and the Serpent could replenish it.
He could only delay the inevitable — not stop it.
His entire being was consumed by agony and pain… but was that really anything new? Sunny had never been beheaded before, true, but he'd endured tortures just as bad — if not worse.
His cores were nearly empty of shadow essence…
And then they were empty.
The enchantment [Immortal] deactivated.
…But Sunny was still alive.
He moved his lips, then slowly touched his neck, where an ugly scar now ran across his skin.
Then he bent forward, and a stream of blood poured from his mouth.
Sunny felt terrible. He felt like a corpse…
But he wasn't dead.
More than that — he was truly, truly free now.
And with that, the tension in the room finally eased. Sunless's plan became clear to everyone—though that didn't make it any less insane. And, as if voicing everyone's thoughts, the fiery huntress was the first to protest.
"IS HE CRAZY!? HOW COULD ANYONE EVEN THINK OF THIS!?"
"Okay, you know what? Forget what I said, I've had enough," she sighed and collapsed into a chair.
Next to her, the Holy Nightingale shook his head vigorously, clearly agreeing with his companion. "For the first time in my life, I agree with her."
"Ha-ha-ha-ha! Come on—that shadow had everything under control!" Noctis chuckled, clearly amused.
"So that's how he survived," Daeron muttered under his breath.
In the front row—among the Blood Sisters—the Beast Master lay unconscious, two thin streams of blood trickling from her nose. The Sisters of Song stood nearby, confused and questioning, looking at her with disbelief.
"Whatever they say, I'd say his plan worked, I suppose?" Jet remarked.
"Though they still need to find a way out of the Colosseum."
"True," Morgan quietly agreed.
Rain sank even deeper into her chair, clutching her knees tightly and silently cursing everyone around her.
"They're all mad. Every single one of them. But most of all... my teacher! Gods, who have I spent four years with!?"
It seemed that some time had passed — Sunny and Elyas were already standing outside.
Dawn was approaching, and that meant they didn't have much time left. Sunny and Elyas had to escape the cursed island of the Red Colosseum before night ended and the hordes of War God's worshippers arrived to witness the sacrificial slaughter on the blood-soaked arena.
Once they made it somewhere else, it would become much harder to pursue them — not only because the ancient magic of the Demon of Desire would be far behind, but also because the warriors would have to divide their forces to search all the neighboring islands. The farther the two fled, the wider the net their pursuers would have to cast.
"Well, it looks like they've cho—" Jet didn't have time to finish her sentence. The entire hall was suddenly plunged into darkness, and only the bright screen continued to illuminate them.
Hiding in the darkness, Sunny and Elyas ran across the meadow, desperate to reach the edge of the island and one of the heavenly chains that clanged far below, disturbed by the stormy winds howling along the border between the two skies.
"Come on… come on…"
Once they reached the edge, Sunny would be able to summon the Sky Burden and the Dark Wing to carry them onto the chain — or even hide them for a time within the darkness of the Lower Sky.
Their escape was so close! Only a few more meters…
But then his heart suddenly went cold.
"No…"
…In the end, it wasn't close enough.
As they approached the edge, a soft sigh echoed from the darkness — and suddenly, Sunny was lying on the ground, his vision blurring, his entire body going numb.
There was no air in his lungs, and no matter how hard he tried to breathe, it was useless. His chest burned like fire.
After a few seconds of agony, the shock from the devastating blow — the one that shattered the breastplate of the Unbroken Chain and sent him crashing to the ground — began to fade, and Sunny finally managed to draw a ragged, desperate breath.
"D… damn it…"
He moved his hand, reaching for the handle of the cleaver lying nearby, half-buried in the soft grass.
But before his fingers could close around it, a slender foot pressed down on his wrist — and suddenly it felt as if the weight of the entire world had fallen upon him.
Sunny groaned, clenched his teeth, and looked up at the terrifying being that had struck from the edge of the island.
It was a graceful, breathtakingly beautiful woman in a simple red tunic. Her face was gentle yet solemn, and her dazzling eyes shone like two silver stars.
Solvane looked down at him and smiled sadly.
"I'm afraid this is where your journey ends… ah, we meet again, child of shadows."
Now, no one dared to look away from the Priestess of War; countless eyes drilled into her, as if trying to pierce her very being. Yet the stunning priestess seemed entirely unfazed. Her gaze remained fixed on the screen, a smile playing on her lips as she softly hummed,"Glory, glory, glory."
A chill ran down Noctis's spine, and he shifted slightly, trying to put as much distance between himself and her as possible.
Many thought this was the end, that they had finally escaped. Freedom was so close… But the fiend had caught them. Everyone expected Sanless to pull another trick, to somehow come up with a plan.
But they were gravely mistaken. Before the Transcendent, no trick would ever work.
Sanni glared at the beautiful Saint with dark indignation burning in his black, shadowy eyes. He remained still, knowing that his worst fear had just come true…
The Transcendent Immortal herself had arrived to hunt them down.
He racked his mind frantically, trying to figure out how to escape the Priestess of War… The Serpent and the Saint still hid within his shadow, and he could command them to attack.
But what could an Awakened and Ascended Demon do against a Transcendent? An Immortal, chosen by the gods and who had lived for no less than a thousand years… no, sending them to fight this horror would be nothing short of a death sentence.
Throughout all his travels, Sanni had never encountered a being more terrifying than Solwein. He was certain of that. Even the Corrupted Leviathans of the Dark Sea had not filled him with such dread. Perhaps only the ghastly decay within the Ebony Tower, but he dared not call that a living creature.
Then… what? What was he supposed to do?!
"Curse you… curse you, fate! You never let your prey go, do you?!"
Sanni gritted his teeth, then growled and tried to strike Solwein with Cruel Gaze. Yet the beautiful woman merely waved him aside, snapping his fingers and sending the dark blade flying over the edge of the island.
She shook her head.
— No… not like that, little demon. You deserve a better end…
Then Sanni felt himself lifted into the air and thrown to his knees. A moment later, a stifled scream announced that Elias had also not escaped the Immortal Transcendent. His emaciated form collapsed beside him, a pained grimace twisting the young man's youthful face.
Soon, the unyielding force that had pinned Sanni to the ground vanished, and he could breathe again.
Raising his eyes, he saw Solwein standing before them, her silky skin caressed by the gentle starlight. She looked at them with an unreadable expression, her long chestnut hair flowing softly in the wind.
"There must be something I can do… think, think!"
The Transcendent priestess smiled, and the very world seemed brighter from her mesmerizing grin.
— Ah… the Trials of Life are over! I congratulate you, champions. Though some of your foes were defeated under the cover of darkness, not in the bright light of day, under the gaze of the gods, you still emerged victorious. You even killed one of my blessed. I thank you! Thank you for giving what I could not obtain… I am grateful to you. You both…
Sanni stared at the beautiful Saint, frozen in place. Despite all the hatred he felt for the monstrous priestess, despite how much he wanted to repay her a hundredfold for all the suffering she had caused him… he could not suppress his awe at her beauty.
Solwein was too magnificent, too stunning… her eyes too brilliant, her smile too enchanting, her soft lips too alluring. This woman was made to be worshiped… for men to wage wars hoping to earn the right to stand beside her…
"Stop it, idiot! Haven't you ever seen beautiful things before?! Beautiful things are always the deadliest!"
Sanni bit his lip, letting his sharp fangs pierce it. The pain sobered him slightly.
Beside him, Elias glared gloomily at Solwein… strangely, the boy seemed completely unmoved by her transcendent beauty.
This was understandable. His entire family had been slaughtered by her followers on the orders of the dazzling priestess.
…Meanwhile, something appeared in Solwein's hands. It was a small object that caused her eyes to narrow suddenly and her breathing to quicken.
The Saint exhaled and extended her hand, and in her open palm lay a simple knife, carved from a single piece of wood.
— …The Trials of Life are over, and thus I offer you this gift and the right to fight for your freedom. To fight for your life, for life is an eternal struggle. Will you accept this gift, champions? Will you take this wooden blade and wield it? This… this is all I can give you…
Sanni's heart skipped a beat.
"Be… I am cursed…"
The story of the wooden sword that Elias had once shared with him inexplicably proved true.
…Moreover, Sanni immediately recognized this "sword."
He had held this wooden knife once before, long, long ago… far, far in the future.
It was the very knife with which he would one day kill Solwein.
"WHAT KIND OF MONSTER ARE YOU?!" Effie shouted in rage. Yet Solwein didn't even spare her a glance.
"If it weren't for that stupid rule, I would've—" Kai slowly pulled her back into her seat. "No, Effie… you can't…"
Everyone was furious at the little girl but could do nothing. All they could do was watch.
Rein clenched her hands so tightly that blood began to seep from her palms. Noticing the girl's distressed state, Ananke gently placed an arm around her shoulders. "Teacher… don't give up…"
Elias hesitated for a moment, then looked at Sunny with a sad smile.
"Everything… everything is fine, Demon. Thank you… thank you for bringing us this far. But now it's my turn. This is our chance. This is what we've been fighting for all this time, isn't it? The stories my mother told me were true… I will free us both! You'll see. The Lord of Light will guide my hand…"
With those words, he reached out and took the wooden knife from Solwein's hands, his fingers gripping the hilt tightly.
The priestess smiled radiantly and stepped back. Her beautiful eyes shone with joy, and her voice rang out into the dying night, filled with longing and hope:
"Be brave, boy. The gods are watching!"
Sunny struggled desperately against the crushing force pressing him into the ground, but it was useless. A strangled roar escaped his mouth…
A few steps away, Elias straightened, calmly met the Transcendent beauty's gaze, and assumed a battle stance. He knew what he was doing; after all, the boy was as skilled a fighter as Sunny had been at his age—perhaps even better.
Two months of constant battles in the arena had given him a wealth of combat experience. More than many could gain in a lifetime, and certainly no less than Sunny had on the Forgotten Shore.
"No! It's not enough!"
But what if… what if Elias really did have a chance? Sunny himself had accomplished many impossible feats, and had seen others do the same.
Even in the direst situations, there is always hope… This was a lesson he had learned, against all odds, in the hell of the Forgotten Shores, and later in the stone mausoleum of the Temple of Night.
Without wasting time on doubt or hesitation, Elias sent his soul's essence into the raging flow and lunged forward with a grace and speed few Awakened could hope to match. His hand moved through the air fast enough to blur into an almost imperceptible streak.
The strike was quick and cunning… but it was only a feint. His true intention was to attack from below, and it was hidden almost perfectly. There were no signs that the boy was about to change the direction of the blow. He had learned well by observing Sunny in battle…
But if Sunny could see it, so could Solwein.
Her eyes narrowed.
A split second before the wooden knife reached the Transcendent's flesh, Elias suddenly stumbled, then slowed. Taking a few uncertain steps forward, he wavered and suddenly collapsed to the ground.
A thin red line appeared across his chest, then the cut widened, spilling blood everywhere.
Solwein sighed sadly and lowered her hand; a single crimson drop fell from her delicate fingers. Her lips quivered, and then Sunny barely heard her whisper:
"…Not today."
But he didn't hear it. Frozen, Sunny stared at Elias, lying motionless on the ground, the grass soaked with his blood. The boy's still face was turned toward him, his light blue eyes still open. Yet those eyes, once bright and lively, were now dull and empty, reflecting the boundless darkness of the night sky. Elias's face seemed almost… peaceful.
Sadness was reflected in everyone's eyes. Two opposites—a human boy and a demon—had joined forces in pursuit of freedom. Yet, standing in their way was a merciless god.One who showed no mercy.
"What kind of nightmare trial is this?"—everyone had that question. Why? Because it felt more like hell. To accomplish so much, yet gain nothing but failure. Truly, a sorrowful end.
Nefis saw herself in Sunny, for she still remembered her own nightmare. That helplessness in the face of an insurmountable enemy… that sorrow for the people devoured day after day. And yet, she had survived—survived at the whim of her foe, perhaps even out of pity. And she knew that nothing could help. Only a miracle.
And in this gloomy atmosphere, as if mocking them, the screen continued showing.
The boy was finally free.
…Sunny growled, struggling furiously to rise, but all he managed to do was further injure his mutilated body. Ignoring the pain, he continued fighting the invisible chains that bound him, feeling the ground slipping from beneath his knees.
"I'll kill! I'll kill her! I'll tear her to pieces!"
Solwein remained still for a moment, then silently bent down and took the wooden knife from the bloodless fingers of the boy.
Stepping closer, she fixed Sunny with a grim expression and asked:
— And what about you? Are you ready to fight me, little demon?
Sunny glared at her, baring his teeth in a hateful snarl. He wanted… oh, how he wanted!
But he could not. Fighting Solwein promised nothing but death…
Slowly, he shook his head.
The beautiful priestess sighed.
— …Of course. Why would I expect anything different from a servant of a cowardly Shadow?
Her hand suddenly flared, and excruciating pain ripped through Sunny's body.
Looking down, he saw, in a sickening déjà vu, a slender hand protruding from his chest, and the breastplate of the Unbreakable Chain shattered into pieces.
Solwein contorted her face into a grimace and pulled the hand from his chest, effortlessly extracting his still-beating heart. She looked at him with disappointment, then sent the four-armed demon's body tumbling over the edge of the island.
The last thing he saw before falling into the abyss was her graceful, beautiful figure, standing forlornly amid the tall grass.
Then Sunny sank into the embrace of darkness...
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So, I've finally finished the chapter. Thoughts? Honestly, I feel awful 😅 12,000 words… I have no idea how long I spent writing this chapter—five hours? Ten? Honestly, I forgot. But one thing I know for sure: I'm exhausted, and I'm probably taking a short break. And don't get me wrong—I'm not talking weeks or months. Just a couple of days.
Honestly, I didn't expect this chapter to be this long. As I was writing it, there was so much I needed to show that everything kind of got out of control 😅
I don't even know how I managed to get through this chapter; I'm too tired to even proofread it properly, so I'll trust your feedback. I hope we can get at least five reviews by the next chapter. If there are more, even better.
Thank you for taking the time to read this chapter!
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