Shadow Slave

Rain looked at him with a serious expression, thinking.

Inwardly, Sunny sighed.

He still didn't know how to change her mentality and make her vicious enough to survive the Dream Realm. He didn't even know if he wanted to, and if that was the right thing to do.

At least she seemed to understand a little bit more about the truth of the world after surviving the Gate opening. For now, that was going to have to be enough.

And this conversation was his attempt to make the lesson stick.

After a while, Rain said with uncertainty:

"Survival?"

Sunny raised an eyebrow, looking at her with surprise.

What were the chances that, despite their different life experiences, his sister would answer the question the same way he had, all that time ago, in the desolate hell of the Forgotten Shore?

He remained silent for a while, remembering those terrible, wonderful days. Then, he shook his head.

"No. The essence of combat is murder."

Rain shivered slightly.

"M—murder?"

Sunny nodded.

"Of course. What else would it be? You have to kill your enemy, or die. Either way, someone ends up murdered, and someone ends up as the murderer. So, the purpose of combat training is to make sure that you're the murderer. It is really that simple."

He paused, and then added:

"Survival is important, of course… but that can't be your primary goal. Such a goal is a terrible one to have. Even in life, it is not enough. You have to survive to continue living, but if you only live to survive, then what is even the point? More than that, if you don't strive for something bigger, something better, then you will only ever do what is required and nothing else. Which will make you weaker than those who want and dare to do more, and that weakness will cost you your life…"

voice trailed off, and Sunny suddenly fell silent. Rain looked at

"Uh… Sunny?"

blinked a couple

"Yeah. Sorry. So…"

what they say, the best way to

stronger. Everything Sunny had told Rain could be applied to himself. He

obsession? Would he really be able to

gave Sunny a lot to think

Rain, and then

the mind. Your body can be trained through exercise, but your mind… is much more tricky. If you can understand the true essence of combat, however — truly grasp it with your very core — then you will have

***

some time explaining the fundamental laws of combat — at least to the extent that he himself understood them — to Rain. In the end, he wasn't sure that she really grasped the knowledge he wanted to share with her, but

First Nightmare and several days of fighting for his life on the Forgotten Shore. Even then, it

certainly wasn't going to run her through with

for now, this was going to have to

few basic stances and katas of Saint's style, and watch her struggle to replicate them. The

Awakened. Her body could be trained… of course, Rain was never going to be

or Master Roan

to apply to deliver a lethal blow. Unless one planned to beat their enemy to death with their fists, technique and skill were

make that inherent disadvantage

a while, Sunny judged that Rain had enough. The girl seemed to be sufficiently exhausted, and pushing further would not do her any good. He gestured for

glistening with sweat.

that a

his

are

grabbed the Endless Spring and studied it from all sides, then

it! I've never seen a real Memory up close before. It… it feels so

stared at her

is real. What

with scorn, drank the water greedily, and then

it after defeating

frowned, hesitated for a moment, and