Shadow Slave

So... this is it, then.

The Tomb of Ariel had been built from the remains of the Stone Titan, while the Great River created from its blood was contained within it, illuminated by the seven suns made from its broken soul cores.

The secret hidden at the Estuary was the truth that Ariel had wished to forget. The Nightmare Desert was the result of the battle between him and the unholy creature.

Looking at the blue sky above them, Sunny couldn't help but wonder...

So the daemons were capable of creating artificial worlds?

Then, a sudden thought made him shiver.

What is the difference between a real world and an artificial one, though?

Was there even a difference? And if there was not... had the rest of the worlds been created by someone, as well? The daemons? The gods? The unknown?

He sighed, then shook his head.

Do I really have time to ponder the cosmic origins of the world?

Right now, they had more practical questions to answer. Many of the mysteries of the Third Nightmare had been revealed to them, but many more remained. At least they now knew where they were, and what their next step had to be.

Travel downstream, find the syblis, and learn how to conquer this Seed.

Well... that is easier said than done, though.

Great River and saw the sharp blades of the azure serpent's dorsal fin break its surface as

dark expression appeared

said: "Neph... do

Sunny had expected to hear some kind of a crazy answer, like always, but she unexpectedly gave him a sober

This Beast is two whole Ranks above us, which would usually mean that there is no hope. But then again,

and then added somberly: "However, the gap between Ranks grows much wider the higher those Ranks are. The difference between a Corrupted creature and a Fallen one is much greater than the difference between a Fallen creature and an Awakened one... while the gap between a Great abomination and a Corrupted one is even greater still. Worse yet, this Great Beast is in its natural element in the water, while we are not. My Aspect will

Sunny slowly nodded. Everything

bet I can still kill

unexpected words, Nephis

and they were even stronger together. There were his Shadows, and the powerful Memories they possessed. Most importantly,

kinds of devious schemes, with Nephis trailing not

were perilous,

maybe we won't need to gamble with our lives. There might not be a need to fight it at

a while,

Their current goal was to travel downstream, far into the past, and find those humans who had escaped the war between the gods

corpse of the Great Monster they were using as shelter, meanwhile, was being slowly dragged in that same

to their destination. Since that was the case, there was no reason to battle

worse at any moment. The future was unclear, and there was no way to tell what would

since we are moving downstream, wouldn't it be

and glanced at Nephis: "What do we do, then? What is

the radiant waters of the Great River, and

Nephis lowered her gaze.

in the morning, with fresh eyes. I don't know about you, but I am thoroughly exhausted. I haven't slept in a long while, and the battle between the turtle and the snake took a lot

Sunny smiled crookedly.

exhausting. Especially when one was suspended between the surface