Shadow Slave

The giant Great Beast was growing smaller and smaller as Sunny rose higher into the sky. The winds were howling, and he was slowly starting to feel apprehensive about how long it would take him to fall back down. The view was simply breathtaking... but even from such a high vantage point, Sunny could not see a single piece of land.

There were no islands, no continents, and no ships. There was not even another piece of flotsam.

He sighed.

'What a predicament.'

"Enjoying the view?"

Sunny flinched and craned his neck, looking at the Sin of Solace.

His identical copy was calmly standing on thin air, looking down at him. The wind was playing with the apparition's long black hair.

Sunny frowned.

'I... really need to get a haircut.'

"You're ignoring me now? Ungrateful."

He glared at the apparition silently, then asked:

"How are you doing that? Why aren't you falling?"

A wicked smile appeared on the face of the cursed spirit.

"It's because, unlike you, I'm not weighed down by sin."

Sunny scoffed.

"Bastard... it's literally in your name..."

The two were silent for a few moments, giving him ample time to enjoy the fact of just how insane he had become. After a while, the Sin of Solace pointed down.

an idea... just go jump into this beast's maw. Haven't you heard the stories about people traveling inside a sea creature's belly? With your luck, it will definitely bring you

porcelain face

I die, you die

Sin of

I would rather die than spend more time in your company. Have you ever thought

gritted his teeth,

not real... he's just a part of

his back and turned into a blur. The shadows moved,

seven suns, Sunny followed the current of the Great River as he glided forward. To his right, the world was painted in hues of lilac by the light of dawn. To his left, the water was like a sea of burning blood because of the crimson dusk. All around him,

Solace calmly walked across that sky, following him. His hands were

- in this Nightmare. It

there would be some place where he could land. Otherwise, the trial was too unreasonable... anyone without Memories like the Essence

he might have been sent thousands of kilometers away from the nearest piece of land. That would not be the first time Sunny found himself on the receiving

was only one way to find

my eye?] enchantment for the third time. And he would, if there was

and then dove back into the water. However, its vast shadow remained, moving slowly just below the surface. It was keeping

Sunny's expression grew bleak.

willing to let go,

offend the serpent's ancestors in his

its head above the water from time to time to throw a chilling look

if there was one below, there could easily be one above. Being attacked by a flying abomination was the last thing Sunny wanted to happen - but if it did happen, he wanted to at least have the opportunity to dive back into the water and try his luck in the depths. Maybe the two

neither rise too high above the

tense, somber... and a bit

kind of

turned into

a while, he winced and pushed the black needle

And so it continued.

Sometimes, he would rise, and sometimes, he would descend. The Heavenly Burden continued to poke small holes in his skin, which then immediately healed thanks to the

Sunny grew angry.

Then, he grew depressed.