Shadow Slave

Now that Sunny had experienced moving up a class without simultaneously rising to a new Rank, he understood the difference between the two more clearly.

Ascending to a new Rank was a much more profound change. It elevated the quality of his shadow cores and essence, gifted him with new abilities, and allowed for a deeper access to his Aspect. The resulting jump in power was nothing short of tremendous.

Reaching a new Class, on the contrary, primarily affected the quantity of his shadow essence, and as such, the increase in power was much more gradual. Sunny didn't feel much stronger than he had a few hours ago… but that was because he had already been enjoying the extra strength and essence capacity for a long time.

In fact, the main benefit of having several cores had been aiding him ever since Sunny passed the one-thousand mark on the counter of shadow fragments. Unlike all other Awakened — excluding Nephis — there was no limit to his capacity to store essence and reinforce his body. Or rather, that limit was so high that it might have as well not been there.

…However, that was not to say that Sunny didn't get other, incredibly potent benefits from manifesting a third shadow core.

Standing up with a groan, he allowed the moonlight to bathe his slender figure and looked down, at the three dark silhouettes sprawled on the ancient stones in front of him.

One shadow looked like it was suffering from a toothache, the other was beyond itself and jubilant, and the third one…

'Uh…'

The third shadow was just standing there motionlessly and staring at him, its dark figure not betraying any hint of emotion. Under its silent and unnerving gaze, he suddenly felt a bit uncomfortable.

For some reason, Sunny shivered slightly.

'Is it just me, or is this guy a bit… uh… creepy?'

The creepy shadow didn't react at all to this thoughts and just continued staring at him without moving.

Sunny hesitated, then cleared his throat.

"Uh, well… welcome to the team. Meet the other two, your elder siblings."

a few moments, and then slowly turned its head to look at his other

move to welcome it, but then stumbled midstep, shivered a little, and slowly backed away, somehow ending

contempt, then faced the new guy and glared at him, clearly unimpressed.

over to one of the ancient

but Sunny could tell that

He smiled.

is a real menace! Even I am afraid

shadow looked at both of them with disdain, shook its head,

Sunny chuckled.

to experiment a

his skin turning hard as stone, his speed increasing tremendously. It was as

dark grin found its way onto his

that is how it

to the wall of the vast chamber, then ran back, raising a gale of wind in his wake. Then, he brought his fist down on a piece of rubble, making it explode into a cloud of shards. Finally, he saturated his muscles

heart was beating fast

"Incredible! This is amazing!"

who was far below him now,

supposed to be. In fact, in terms of pure physical ability, he was much closer to Masters, perhaps even at the same level as those of them who had just reached their Rank and had

was not to say that he had a good chance of prevailing in a fight against an Ascended. Physical ability was not what made them so deadly, after all. Remembering the ease with which Master Jet had severed the arm of a Fallen Tyrant, Sunny sighed

him, Sunny could enhance his body, his armor, and his weapon simultaneously. Depending on the situation, he could also stack augmentations either on the Cruel Sight or the Undying Chain, which gave him much more choices during a battle with especially

there was

runes and glanced at a particular

Shadow: [Soul Serpent].

Shadow Rank: Dormant.

Shadow Class: Demon.

as