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 was

soft light suffusing the Great River slowly dissipated, and the seven suns appeared from below the water one after another. Soon, the

else, it was bright

turning the ancient serpent into a pincushion. Even if

the only

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

Sunny steeled his will and

hour went by.

suns shining above the Great River were too bizarre and unreliable to use them for measuring the time. He just

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

am really starting

froze and looked at a certain spot on the

away... a black dot had finally

'Land?'

the surface of the water right below him. Then, he changed the direction of

save him from the great abomination. But maybe he would be able to rest, at

glided along the current of the Great River, moving

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

- no more than a kilometer across - and

vast patches of green moss scattered across the surface of the island, as well as towering outcroppings of something that resembled

felt a

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 very advantageous to

ancient serpent would not climb out

out of its element. With Sunny, Saint, Nightmare, Imp, and the five shadows... maybe they

stronger, as well. After all, the [Hideous Truth] enchantment of the jade blade promised immense power to those who succumbed to its madness... and, judging by how real the sword wraith seemed, Sunny had