Shadow Slave

There had been a time when Sunny studied Changing Star's runes like a man obsessed. His whole life had been built around the desire to overtake her on the path to power.

He might have even done a few careless things in that pursuit.

At some point, however, Sunny had lost the desire to compare himself to Nephis, at least in this way. The first change had happened because of her return from the Dream Realm. The second... sometime in the Antarctic Center, he had lost the habit of summoning her runes every day.

Shadow fragments, soul fragments - those were not a true measure of strength, anyway. Sunny had seen countless mundane soldiers stand and fight against the Nightmare Creatures, never surrendering despite the dire disparity of power between them. If those people were weak, then he did not know whom to call strong.

And so, at some point, he had stopped paying constant attention to Neph's runes without even noticing it.

Now, however, Sunny had the Mirror of Truth. So, he decided that it was worth taking another look.

The familiar symbols shimmered, forming into strings:

Name: Nephis.True Name: Changing Star.Rank: Ascended.Class: Tyrant.Soul Cores: [5/7].

He stared at that number for a few moments.

After years of lagging behind, Sunny had finally caught up to her... wasn't it so very funny that he had only been able to do so after stopping caring about the race?

A light smile appeared on his face.

'Whatever... she still has more fragments than I do. She'll be a Terror sooner than me.'

But did it really matter? In the end, they would both be Titans. That day was not as far away as it had once seemed, now.

Sunny continued to read:

Soul Fragments: [2719/5000].

the treasury of clan Valor after being adopted by them. However, she could not reveal the fact that she possessed a Divine Aspect and multiple soul cores - requesting more than a thousand would have

the Antarctic Center,

many soul fragments she had received in the recent battle, then

Legion Armor],

challenging the Second Nightmare... in fact, Sunny could learn a few things about

want to talk about her harrowing experience, he held himself back. Perhaps it was stupid, but... he did not want to invade her

thing trust was... it had taken a lot for him to extend his own trust toward Effie and Kai. Before that, his friends had respected his

to Neph. They were incredible Memories,

borrow a few to study their weaves. He just did not

please take off your armor? I need it for a couple of weeks... no, no I

thinking about it

away the dreadful image, Sunny continued

[Dreamspawn], [Nephilim], [Flame of Divinity], [The Fire].[Dreamspawn] Attribute Description: "You are born of two worlds, belonging to both, but welcomed in neither. Your soul

the divine and the profane. Nephilim were the most beautiful, and the most harrowing

soul is aflame with the

"You have inherited the lineage of Sun

Attributes in the past years, but Nephis had not. Neither had she unlocked her Aspect Legacy... which was not very surprising. Each Aspect was unique, after

an even smaller number doing so as Masters. Otherwise,

Sunny who was an

thinking of Serpent, and turned back to the

to exist in the darkness. You bring radiance and warmth

[Halfbreed].[Halfbreed] Ability Description: "You can directly absorb a portion of the soul essence of any Nightmare Creature destroyed by your flames, as well

Manipulation], [Longing].[Soul Flame] Ability Description: "Your soul burns with the purest of flames. That flame can both restore and destroy, and is both a blessing

was perfectly familiar with the first of Neph's three Aspect Abilities - it had grown slightly more versatile since the Forgotten Shore, now augmenting the soul, as well, but

Ascended ones, respectively - were new. The

"You can

not have to be her own - although she could produce flames if there were none around at

Ascended Ability, on the other hand... was