Shadow Slave

1020 The Fall of Falcon Scott (38)

Sunny had never even thought about using that deadly enchantment after the first time. Back then, moments before falling into the Sky Below, he had activated it out of sheer desperation.

His gamble had paid off, but it almost cost him his life.

[Where is my eye?) allowed the wearer of the mask to gaze upon the tapestry of fate in all its harrowing glory. The endless, beautiful eternity of twisting threads transfixed all existence, stretching infinitely in every direction, as well as into the past, present, and future. It connected everyone and everything like an inconceivable, unknowable web.

Weaver might have been capable of witnessing the great tapestry... but mere mortals like Sunny were not.

A single moment of looking at fate had almost caused his mind to collapse. If his essence had not run out after that single moment, he would certainly have been killed, his head exploding in the most violent fashion. Luckily, he had gotten off easy by only experiencing unimaginable pain and pure agony, the memory of which still made him shudder.

...The Terror was very welcome to try doing the same.

As the last of Sunny's essence was disappearing, causing him to experience painful backlash, the inconceivable sight of the great tapestry of fate superimposed itself through and above the world. It was as stunning, breathtaking, and utterly overwhelming as he had remembered... however, funnily enough, Sunny saw the beautiful threads differently this time.

To him, they seemed like nothing but chains now.

Granted, he did not linger trying to look, only catching a small glimpse of the cosmic tapestry. Prepared for what was to come, Sunny used a little, but rather devious trick.

His consciousness was still split between reality and the illusion of the endless expanse of billowing white silk that the Terror had created to mesmerize its prey. So, Sunny made himself blind to the actual world, concentrating entirely on the illusory realm of pure whiteness.

upon the world through his eyes, was the only one to gaze upon

him quiver, as if the pallid

pain because of that one short glimpse of the Strings of

'...Look well, wretch."

The tapestry of fate disappeared, and Sunny suddenly found himself freed from the alien presence devouring his mind... or rather, it was still there, but now

his body had come a little loose,

single moment, Sunny used that slack to thrust his hand forward. The tip of the Sin of Solace pierced the wall of the

the dark water, incredibly happy to be in the oppressive embrace of the

surroundings, knowing that he did not

— if that was truly what the dreadful flower of

petals contorting in grotesque convulsions. The graceful harmony of their eerily beautiful dance had been broken, replaced instead

be pained

abominable creature, Sunny became even more convinced that fate was something that only gods were meant to see... or maybe no one at all. If even a Corrupted abomination of great and terrible power was reduced

life, but had not even begun trying to free themselves yet. Chances were, the Terror would come to its senses before

to finish the battle

propelled himself forward. He fought against the weakness that had been left behind by draining all of his essence, pushing his body through the water as fast

into a useless piece of net, its active enchantment silent. Luckily, the enchantment of the Essence

burning by the time he reached the white flower. It had only been a dozen seconds or so, but the convulsions of the

terror grasp his heart, Sunny gritted his teeth and dove into the mass of

goal was the small shape hidden in the center

again at any moment. That his mind would be devoured, and his will would