Shadow Slave

Sunny found himself surrounded by six identical versions of himself, all staring at him with confused expressions. Alabaster skin, raben-black hair, eyes that were like glistening onyx... all of them were clad in full suits of fearsome onyx armor, as well, its design both intricate and impregnable.

He stared at them back.

For a moment, Sunny was scared.

And who could blame him? He had just managed to rid himself of the Sin of Solace, avoided being consumed by the Mad Prince, and survived a meeting with his frightening future self — each a version of him.

But... no.

None of the three was among the six copies that were sitting around him in a semicircle. In fact, the six impostors looked strangely familiar. And not just because they looked exactly like him.

Rather, they were like versions of Sunny that each possessed a distinct personality, which subtly changed how they looked.

One was sullen. Another was joyful. One was deadpan and unsettling, while the one next to him was arrogant and disdainful. The fifth copy seemed mischievous, while the last one looked like a complete lunatic.

They were... his shadows.

Sunny felt like pinching himself.

"Hey, you guys... what, uh... what are you doing?"

Six identical copies of him glanced at each other, then shrugged in unison.

"That's not helping!"

When it became clear that none of them was going to explain himself, Sunny shook his head in bewilderment.

So... this was his Transformation Ability?

'Come to think of it. It makes sense?'

Saints to assume the shape of powerful beasts. Sunny had expected to become a giant

all manner of creatures, provided he knew how. Serpents, leopards, and winged horrors... as long as Sunny studied someone for a bit, he could grasp the essence of their being through Shadow Dance and recreate it through Shadow Manifestation. Of course, that transformation was purely physical, and did not grant him the mystical powers of the beings whose forms he used.

would have nothing to

the invaluable helpers that

His shadows.

from simply making them tangible through Shadow Manifestation. If simply

just as strong and durable as Sunny's own body was. That much was already apparent — he could see the proof

the Marble Mantle... no. It would be the Onyx Mantle now, wouldn't it? Its [Bound] trait was supposed to make it as strong as his soul was. Since Sunny was

of the Onyx Shell Attribute. And since each of the

the rest of his Attributes, too. [Master of Shadows], [Flame of Divinity], [Onyx Shell]... and the three Weaves: [Blood Weave], [Bone

was not sure

a

them strength and made their bodies exceedingly tenacious, while the Onyx Shell granted them protection against all kinds of attacks, as well as a

just as robust

they as powerful? What, exactly,

for a moment, and then decided to find out just

could give them a few simple commands to see what they were capable of while manifested through

to open his mouth to give the command, but at that

its perception... it was as though their

the sullen version of himself, and in turn looking at himself through the eyes of the sullen shadow,

though he was not just perceiving himself from outside

Startled, Sunny flinched back.

flinched back, too, and he felt himself

He opened his mouth:

"What the hell?!"

"What the hell?!"

the silence of the dusty pocket of space at the same

at the same time, his other body also froze,