Shadow Slave

Sunny glided through the dark sky above the luminous expanse of softly shining water. The wind was caressing his skin, and tranquil silence ruled the world. If not for the need to pierce himself with the sharp needle over and over again, he would have found the situation relaxing.

Of course, there was also the monstrous sea serpent that patiently pursued him, staring at the perfectly black canvas of the night sky with cloudy eyes.

He also had to constantly remain on high alert - there was no telling what else could attack him from above.

After a while, Sunny let out a sigh.

'How tiresome.'

He was starting to miss the days of plummeting into the Sky Below. At least he had the dead mimic to sit on back then. Now, there was nowhere for him to rest - Sunny continued to fly forward, surrounded by nothing except empty air.

He had the Sin of Solace with him instead of Mordret, too. It was really hard to tell which one of them was worse company.

"What? Have you lost... I strongly protest against this comparison!"

The apparition glanced at him with contempt, then looked away.

Sunny sighed again.

"Yeah, yeah... you are way more handsome than that guy. Sorry. I went too far."

The Sin of Solace scoffed, and they continued forward in silence.

After a long while, the faint radiance of the flowing water grew a little dimmer. The eastern horizon brightened, and then, the first of the suns appeared from below in a crown of lilac hues.

new day

dissipated, and the seven suns appeared from below the water one

it was bright

start turning the ancient serpent into a pincushion. Even if the might of his arrows was not enough

should Sunny be the

was only going to consume his essence. He wasn't willing to waste it needlessly in a

will and continued flying above

by. Then,

above the Great River were too bizarre and unreliable to use them for measuring the time. He just guessed how much of it had passed based on intuition, but

time flowed past him. Or was it Sunny who was flowing through

really starting

at a certain spot

had finally appeared atop the sparkling water. His heart skipped a

'Land?'

shadow hiding beneath the surface of the water right below him. Then, he changed the direction of his flight slightly and

was no guarantee that finding a place to land would save him from the great abomination. But maybe he would

current of the Great River,

the dot grew larger, and he was able to see a few

a kilometer across - and consisted entirely of black, weathered rock. It had steep slopes, with deep grooves and twisting

island, as well as towering outcroppings of something that resembled

a bit of

it was large enough to pose an obstacle for the sea monster. If the abomination wanted to follow Sunny to the surface, it would have to leave the water entirely - and fighting on land would be

serpent would not climb out of the river

it did, it would be out of its element. With Sunny, Saint, Nightmare, Imp, and the five shadows... maybe they stood a chance of driving the creature away, or even

immense power to those who succumbed to its madness... and, judging by how real the sword wraith seemed, Sunny had met