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.

spew fire, and swallow entire towns. Not too often, though. Mostly when a volcano erupts... oh, a volcano is just a 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

old man's

never want to live on land... it sounds

stared at him

falls into a bottomless abyss,

shook his head, then

"Nightmare, come out."

flames ignited in the darkness, and the shadows surged, forming into the shape of a dreadful black steed. Light glistened on Nightmare's steel fangs and

Cronos yelped.

"Ah! A... a horse!"

wrinkly face grew pale, and he

tell me that horses are such terrifying beasts! Do land

looked at the youth vindictively, then felt bad about it. The kid was very old, after all... what

a moment, then

is not your usual horse. He is an ancient shadow creature that used to serve an immortal Transcendent before

summoned the nacre ornament,

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

thoughts of Nightmare's Ascension, Sunny smiled

have what I need

he gave the old man a strange

buddy. Sorry it took me so

his hand and pushed it, throwing the Memory to

into six streams, each flowing into one of the dark embers burning within the shadow that served

'Here we go... finally!'

black steed a little. It was 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 much more valuable than an additional combatant

been a long

were absorbed into the darkness hiding inside Nightmare, his silhouette suddenly grew vague. Then, the destrier

lightless silence, he saw his Shadow standing on the surface of the

'Yes!'

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

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 only going to take

He waited patiently.

near, but away from their