Shadow Slave

Sunny remained motionless for a while, looking at the string of shimmering runes. A sense of profound relief and exhilaration washed over him. He suddenly felt refreshed and invigorated, as if his fatigue had receded a little, his mind clearing.

...No, not suddenly. Touching the smooth silk of the Shroud of Dusk, Sunny belatedly realized that it was already being augmented by the passive enchantment of the empowered Crown of Dawn.

'It's working.'

He closed his eyes for a moment, then took a look at the rest of the runes describing the band of bright metal. They were the same as before - only the Rank of the Memory had changed.

Sunny had expected that. In fact, anything else would have been a cause for concern. The goal of the alteration was to strengthen the existing enchantment, after all, not change it.

The Crown of Dawn would still be able to enhance all Memories in a large area around it, with no limit to their number. It was just that the augmentation it provided had become much more potent.

Most miraculous of all, that enchantment somehow remained a passive one.

His eyes gleamed darkly.

'I think...'

Armed with that power, the cohort would be able to challenge enemies far beyond their own level of prowess. Which meant that they would have a much higher chance of conquering the Nightmare and returning to the waking world alive.

Just like they had conquered the Forgotten Shore and returned from its unforgiving expanse alive.

He smiled, then dismissed the Crown of Dawn and rose.

Heading to the stern of the ship, Sunny tried to contain his emotions. His face remained neutral, with only a faint smile playing on his lips.

Soon, he saw Nephis. She threw a glance at him with the same calm expression she usually wore, then asked evenly:

"What was the shouting about?"

Sunny stumbled.

'Right... I did curse the Spell out, didn't I?'

In hindsight, that was probably not wise. He wouldn't put it past the damn thing to know how to hold a grudge... the descriptions it made of him were already vaguely snide, so Sunny shuddered at the thought of what the next one was going to say.

'Whatever. That will happen later... right now, though...'

Walking over to Nephis, he shrugged.

really. I just got a bit emotional and let the

at him

say that I

Sunny coughed.

anyway. Give me your

for permission, he grabbed it, lingered for a moment, and sent the

into the distance - or rather, it seemed like she did. In truth, she must

name has

was not the

"...huh?"

He laughed.

finally noticed its Rank, didn't you? Well, well, well... no need to praise me too much! I just took the soul shard we scavenged from inside the Black Turtle and transplanted it into the Dawn Shard, strengthening the weave of

Sunny looked down modestly.

among peerless geniuses. You absolutely don't need to

suddenly gripped his hand tightly and pierced

you can elevate Memories

enjoying the intensity

a little bit the next

yes. But

Sunny sighed.

because it possesses an enchantment that enhances itself. That is why I was able to outfit it with a Supreme soul shard and elevate its power

stared at him in silence. He hesitated for a few moments, then said in a somewhat

"But, Neph... uh..."

an eyebrow

"Yes?"

Sunny coughed.

my hand? You're sort of crushing

couple of times, then hurriedly

"Oh!"

didn't really hurt, but he had suddenly become painfully aware of how close they were standing. His

he shook his head

came here right away, so I don't

her. Soon, a band of bright metal manifested itself from thin air, its

'Let's do this...'

next half an hour, Sunny and Nephis were engrossed in testing the effects of the Crown of Dawn

that was a Supreme one in name but not in power. And there was some loss, inevitably... but so little that it could