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

water one after another. Soon, the

it was

the ancient serpent into a pincushion. Even if the might of his arrows was not enough to pierce the azure scales

the only one feeling endless

willing to waste it

his teeth, Sunny steeled his will and continued flying

hour went by.

unreliable to use them for measuring the time. He just guessed how much of it had passed based on intuition, but he could have easily

Or was it Sunny who was flowing through time? Questions like this were

am really starting

looked at a certain spot on

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

'Land?'

the water right below him. Then, he

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

Sunny's ears as he glided along the current of

able to see a

was a dark island. The island was not very large - no more than a kilometer across - and consisted entirely of black, weathered rock. It had steep slopes, with deep grooves

were vast patches of green moss scattered across the surface of the island, as well as

felt a

enough to pose an obstacle for the sea monster. If the abomination wanted to follow Sunny to the

not climb out of the

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

jade blade promised immense power to those who succumbed to