章 4: Chapter 4 : A Nightmare
Thump! Thump!
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Thump! Thump!
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Thump!
"Ahhhhhh" Sunny woke up suddenly in the middle of night while screaming his lungs out.
He looked at his body, and saw it covered with sweat. He was breathing heavily from horror and he was shivering like crazy.
'What... what was that?!' Sunny looked at his hands that were shivering intensely and his face paled
Just now, he had a weird nightmare. He saw himself, the version of him before regression. falling in a river that looked similar to the river of time that he saw in the Tomb of Ariel. But it also looked totally different. It looked all dark, Real darkness.
Sunny saw himself dying in this river countless times. Sometimes a cursed titan killed him. Sometimes he suffocated from the pressure of the river. And some times he drowned, he didn't have any essence to summon his memories to survive.
But what was the most scary thing out of all of these. Were the sudden, heavy gaze, that fell on him.
He felt his world crumbling under this look. He felt so weak, so worthless. It was like he was an ant. And after that, he woke up. Seeing himself shivering and covered in sweat.
Sunny, couldn't think at that moment. All what he wanted to do was just forgetting that gaze.
After a whole hour. Sunny finally calmed himself down. He took a deep breath. And went to wash his body.
When he finished, he started thinking about what he saw.
'This can't be a normal nightmare. It clearly showed my past self. And it seemed like I was falling into a river over and over again. And died countless times.' Sunny's face frowned from the fact that he was shown dying many times.
It wasn't like he didn't feel getting killed before. But seeing himself dying again and again was scary.
'But more importantly. Whose gaze was that? Could it be Nether? No, all the deamons and gods died long ago. But... is it really the truth? Maybe some of them survived. Maybe Weaver did that brought back to life? So many questions, yet there isn't a clear answer.'
Sunny stopped thinking about it. Seeing that this nightmare is still a mystery. He came with some theories, but there is no evidence that supports any of them.
Sunny couldn't get back to sleep after that, so he went to the dojo to test something.
There, standing in front of the measuring machine. Sunny delivered a strong swift punch. He got eleven. But then, he ordered his shadow to wrap around him. He punched the machine again. This time, he got a twenty-seven.
Sunny was shocked, he knew that his Aspect made his shadow powers stronger. But he didn't expect to see that it was almost 50% stronger.
...
After experimenting for a while he was sure that his improved aspect increased all his shadow related strengths.
Sunny was excited to see what changes it will bring to his essence later when he becomes an awakened.
But that will be for later. before realizing, It was already the morning. So he went to the cafeteria to get breakfast.
"Good morning" Sunny said as he sat with Cassie. She greeted him with her usual smile.
Just like that. The days flew by. Sunny and Cassie became close friends, since they chatted daily. But his relationship with Nephis was no more than a sparring partner. Neph didn't try talking to him outside their training. And Sunny too didn't chat with Neph.
It was mainly due to two reasons. One, Neph's reputation was high between the sleepers. So if he was seen with her out of classes. It will draw attention towards him. Two, he knows that Neph still thinks his suspicious.
He can't blame her though, he knew how her life went, and how she knew someone will try assassining her in the dream realm. And him, a random boy. who coincidentally arrived at the same time with her. And he's surprisingly very strong. If he was in her place he'd think that he's suspicious.
But what changed the most in these days. Is that he finally achieved the first step of the shadow dance. He finally got serpent back. But serpent was still weak. He was just a dormant beast. But hopefully, before entering the dream realm. He'd achieve the second step which will make serpent an awakened beast.
Sunny discovered that Serpent ability which helps him with controlling his essence can work. Although he was a sleeper. There was just a bit of essence in his dormant core. Although it was too little to do something, but Sunny already has an idea of how to make use of it.
Another weak later. When Sunny was training with Neph. He heard the spell announcing that he achieved the second step of his legacy.
After returning to his room, Sunny summoned his runes
Aspect legacy: [Shadow Dance]
Shadow Dance Mastery level [2/7].
First Relic : claimed
Second Relic : [Claim]
Third Relic : unearned....
Concentrating on the second Relic, Sunny said :
"Claim"
the Spell voice echoed in his head:
[You have claimed an Aspect Legacy Relic.]
[You have received a Memory.]
Sunny then looked at his Memories.
Memories: [Silver bell], [Puppeteer's Shroud], [Drop of Ichor]
Sunny concentrated on his new memory.
Memory: [Drop of Ichor]
Memory Rank: unknown
Memory Tier: unknown
Memory Type: unknown
Memory Description: [Before, there was only boundless, eternal void. From that dark abyss, the -unknown- were born. Just like chaos itself, they were endless and everlasting, vast and forever changing. But then came desire, and with it came direction. From it, the gods were born. ]
Sunny sighed as he saw the same description. He thought for a moment that there could be some changes, considering he knows about the existence of the 7 gods and the void.
The room was submerged in darkness, and as soon as Sunny willed the drop of ichor to manifest into reality. the darkness suddenly came to life. Countless shadows moved and danced around him, forming an invisible whirlpool. Their movements were strange and erratic, fraught with anticipation, excitement, and longing.
'Tsk, the Spell said the shadows recognize me as the heir of the shadow god. But they never acted to me like this' Sunny bit his tongue. It took a whole minute for the memory so manifest into reality.
Sunny thought for minutes while looking at the the golden drop of blood.
'What would happen now? I don't have Weaver's lineage yet, so that means I'll truly become the heir of the Shadow God after I use the drop of Ichor. But....' Sunny stopped for a while
'what would happen later when I get [Blood weave]? What if it lost later to the Shadow lineage. I'll lose the ability to make weave memories.'
Sunny lingered for a while 'is it worth it? Should I just wait to get [Blood weave] then use it?'
Sunny sighed and then dismissed [Blood of Ichor] he laid and the bed 'I'll think about it later' as this thought appeared in his mind he drifted to sleep
....
A week pass by, now there was only one week left for the winter solstice. He thought about wether he should use [blood of ichor] or not for multiple times.
And now, there he was, sitting on his desk looking at the golden drop of blood
[Do you wish to consume it?]
Sunny sighed, preparing for what's going to happen.
"Yes"
The golden drop shot towards his chest. It entered his shadow core and disappeared inside him it. Dissolving in his soul.
Sunny felt a cold energy surging in his body. The shadows around him danced in happiness. Then he felt an indescribable pain. It was nothing like when he used Weaver's lineage.
He clinched his teeth. Resisting the urge to scream. There were Sleepers next to his room. If they heard the loud screams of pain it would result in unwanted attention.
Sunny tears came down his eyes as he felt the huge pain. He felt like his entire being changing. It was like every part of his body is transforming into a shadow.
After what seemed like eternity. The pain started disappearing. Sunny, felt much stronger than he ever was.
[Shadow has evolved.]
[Mark of Divinity has evolved.]
[Your Memory has been destroyed.]
Sunny kept still for a while. Enjoying the peaceful moment. He felt a drastic change in his body. If he felt like he's one with shadows. It felt now like he's the shadow himself. It felt like every Shadow that exist is an extended part of him.
All his shadow senses were strengthen. His body felt much stronger. Summoning his runes, Sunny checked his attributes. But then he frowned in confusion as he looked at them
***
Name: Sunless
True name: Lost from Light
Rank: dreamer
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Attributes: [Chain Breaker], [Ember of Divinity], [Shadow]
Aspect: [Shadow].
Aspect Rank: Divine
***
'What the heck!? I Spell clearly said it evolved!'
Sunny was filled with confusion, but then he focused on his Aspect, then his yes widened
Aspect description: [You're a miraculous shadow left behind by a dead god. You inherented the whole lineage of the dead god and became a truly heir of him. You have broken free from the chains if fate and time and escaped certain death. The shadows recognize you as the real heir of the shadow god. You possess a plenty of strange and wondrous powers]
Sunny noticed the description and was I'm shock. Unlike Weaver's lineage were it was separated into 7 parts. The lineage of the shadow god was whole. 'But what does it mean that they recognize me as the real heir?' Sunny thought for a whole and came with a conclusion
'The spell said before that they recognize me as the heir. But it didn't say that I was really the heir. It's like using an ID of a person when you're not really him. But now that I become the true legacy. They recognize me as the real heir. Interesting'
In excitement, Sunny went to the dojo. It was the middle of the night so there wasn't anyone.
He stood in front of the measuring machine, he delivered a strong punch without wrapping the shadow around him. After that, a number displayed on the screen. Sunny's eyes widened
'Thirt.....Thirty-Three!' Sunny looked with disbelief, he knew he felt much stronger. But this is crazy.
He then wrapped his shadow around him and punched again "Sixt... Sixty-Six!"
"He....Hehe" Sunny giggled like he was some kind of pervert
'Weaver's lineage my ass. After all, this is the complete lineage of a God! Not some deamon!'
'But seriously, how did my body become so strong?' Sunny thought for a while. 'Isn't it obvious? It seems that my shadow was stronger than me before I used the lineage. It was because of my improved aspect. And now, not only it increased again. But I myself became a shadow, so obviously anything that strengthen my shadow abilities will of course increase my strength'
Sunny smirked with this realization. 'With this strength. I'll be able to save Neph from the forgotten shore. And I'll be able to get back many survivors'
Clenching his fists. A cold look appeared on Sunny's face 'I don't know if my regression is a curse or a blessing. But I'll make sure to make the most of it' with that. Sunny went to his room, preparing for the winter solstice.
...
The night before the winter solstice. Sunny woke up in the middle of the night in horror.
'Wh...why did it appear again' just now, Sunny has seen the same nightmare. Seeing himself die again and again. But his deaths were different from the first time.
But more importantly, the gaze was still the same. Making his world crumble under its stare.
Sunny couldn't sleep the rest of night. Scared that he'll see the same nightmare. But it already was almost morning. So, He took a shower and headed towards the cafeteria.
Everyone were looking down, their faces looked pale. Except the legacies and Neph... and him. Sunny was prepared for what's coming. unlike the others, whose their eyes looked dead. In his eyes, there was a huge flame of determination. If he survived it before, what's stopping him from surviving it now?
After greeting Cassie he sat on the table. Unlike before. She replied with a dead smile. Her tone was filled with sadness. The spell was cruel with her. But Sunny was determined to save her, not just her. But everyone in the forgotten shore.
Cassie then looked at him for a while and said "happy birthday, Sunny" Sunny opened his eyes wide, totally forgetting about his birthday.
"Thanks" he replied to her but didn't ask her how she knew. Cassie was relieved a little. She was okay with telling him how she knew, but seeing him kept silent made her comfort.
....
After that, instructor Rock took everyone to their personal rooms to enter their pods.
In the corner of his eye, Sunny saw Neph, who she looked with indifference. And Cassie, who cried hopelessly.
'Who would've believed that this hopeless blind girl became a fearsome figure in the future' Sunny chuckled as this thought appeared on his head.
With that, Sunny stepped forward towards the pod and laid down inside it. He closed his eyes and let himself sleep.
...
In the vast echoing darkness, he heard:
[Welcome to the Dream Realm, Sunless!]
'More like, welcome again.' Sunny chuckled to himself but then turned serious.
'But this time. It well be different'
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