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

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

it was

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

Sunny be the only

essence. He wasn't willing to waste it needlessly in a situation where it was impossible to

his will and continued flying above the

hour went by. Then,

no idea if those were really hours - the seven suns shining above the Great River were too bizarre and unreliable to use them for

him. Or was it Sunny who was flowing through time? Questions

am really starting

froze and looked at a certain spot on the

finally appeared atop the sparkling

'Land?'

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

that finding a place to land would save him from the great abomination. But maybe he would be able to rest, at

he glided along the current of the Great River, moving

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

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

of the island, as well as towering outcroppings of something that resembled tarnished silver. The glistening

a bit of

to follow Sunny

not climb

With Sunny, Saint, Nightmare, Imp, and the five shadows... maybe they stood a chance of driving the creature

of the jade blade promised immense power to those who succumbed to