Shadow Slave

The crow hopped on Sunny's shoulder, and they headed toward where Nightmare was hiding. Cronos, annoyingly, followed them with an excited smile. That said, Sunny couldn't remain annoyed for long because of the worshipful gaze the old man was giving him.

"Lord Sunless... if I may ask..."

He rolled his eyes and sighed.

"What?"

Cronos hesitated for a moment.

"...What is a horse?"

That almost caused Sunny to stumble.

'What the hell... why does it sound like something I would say?'

He shrugged.

"It's a large animal that runs really well. People used to ride them to get around. Of course, my horse is no ordinary horse... he's a real menace, that beast."

The old man frowned in contemplation.

"But why wouldn't they just use a boat?"

Sunny suppressed the desire to grind his teeth and answered in an even tone:

"The world outside the Tomb is not all water, remember? Most people live on land. Horses are land animals."

Cronos looked into the distance, confusion written all over his face.

"Ah... I see, I see. Are there no land boats? That seems strange!"

The barrage of questions continued.

By the time they reached the deep shadows where Nightmare was hiding, Sunny felt a bit tired.

fire-breathing mountain. And a mountain is basically a big sharp rock, tall enough to reach the clouds. There's ice and snow on top, but not

man's

never want to live on land... it

stared at him

that falls into a bottomless abyss, plagued by

head, then said in a

"Nightmare, come out."

the shadows surged, forming into the shape of a dreadful black steed. Light glistened on Nightmare's steel fangs and sharp horns, tinted red by

Cronos yelped.

"Ah! A... a horse!"

and he took

tell me that horses are such terrifying

the youth vindictively, then felt bad about it. The kid was very old, after all... what if seeing Nightmare gave

for a moment, then patted

your usual horse. He is an ancient shadow creature that used to serve an immortal Transcendent before becoming mine.

Sunny threw an excited glance at the black steed and summoned

does this dreadful beast even eat? You... you don't seem to

by thoughts of Nightmare's Ascension, Sunny

have what I need to satiate his hunger right

few more steps back, he gave the old man

buddy. Sorry it took me so

the Memory to the ground. Then, he crushed it

ornament and separated into six streams, each flowing into one of the dark

'Here we go... finally!'

not without a reason, of course. Nightmare's main purpose was not to be a destructive force in combat. He was a loyal steed first and a fighter second. The utility he offered Sunny was

been a long time

of sparks were absorbed into the darkness hiding inside

he saw his Shadow standing on the surface of the still water.

'Yes!'

the glow of the six dim embers was growing more and more intense. The water suddenly surged, as if assaulted by an invisible wind. Wisps of black flame rose from Nightmare's sable coat,

had already seen a Shadow rise to a new Rank several times. He knew that the transformation would not take long - unlike evolving to a new Class, this change was

He waited patiently.

importance of what was happening somewhere near, but away from their eyes, both Crow