Shadow Slave

The six of them… were going to destroy the Sovereigns.

Sunny was silent for a while, staring at the members of the cohort from behind his expressionless mask. Then, he chuckled.

«You want to topple both Domains and completely change the world… with just six people?»

Nephis remained composed and gave him a nonchalant shrug.

«Why not? Wasn't the world I want to change shaped by just three?»

He had no retort. The current shape of the world had indeed been dictated by three powerful individuals — Anvil of Valor, Ki Song, and Asterion. For the past two decades or so, they had been acting as the gods of humanity, deciding its fate from behind the curtains.

And now, Nephis and her cohort were preparing to rise in rebellion against the gods.

It was strangely poetic. It was also a little ominous, as if history was repeating itself.

Sunny sighed.

«So, you are welcoming me into your underground revolution club. Well… fine. That has been my intention all along, as well. But now that we have reached this point, I need to ask you the same question again, Lady Nephis. This time, in a less hypothetical context. How do you plan to defeat the Sovereigns?»

She met his dark gaze calmly.

«My answer stays the same. By attaining Supremacy myself.»

His gaze suddenly turned much more intense.

«Oh? Have you… found a way to become a Supreme without challenging the Fourth Nightmare?»

Sunny would lie if he said that he wasn't interested in hearing the answer. He had been trying to discover the secrets of Supremacy himself, after all in Neph's case, she couldn't challenge the Fourth Nightmare because she wasn't allowed to. But in his case, he simply couldn't — without the Spell, coming into contact with Nightmare Seeds was meaningless.

Not only was Sunny unable to enter a Nightmare, but getting too close to a Seed put him at risk of becoming corrupted.

hint of tension appearing in her eyes for a short

a way? This is… a complicated issue. In a sense, yes I did find a way to become Supreme. However, I am still searching for the means

behind

have to be more specific than

away and

the act of Imposing your will upon the world, thus attaining authority over it. But the actual imposition differs from Aspect to Aspect, as

was

she said next, however, surprised

to feel a sense of longing, the more of them become a part of my source element. By building up my source element, I am building the foundation of my future Domain.

at

«Huh.»

saw many of the actions Nephis had taken in the last four years in a new light. The tireless wandering, the endless battles against the tide of Nightmare Creatures, the wordless compliance with being sent to handle the most deadly of calamities over and over again, the public appearances…

his head a

her own propaganda machine to

It seemed very likely.

head and stared

at

working hard on their side, I've been subtly pulling the strings of the government to fan the flames. The initial decision to make Changing Star into a martyr was not my decision, but the reason why we haven't abandoned this narrative

for a

doing, and why Song of the Fallen is supporting her. But what about you, Soul Reaper? You as well, War Beast and

Jet chuckled.

is too stuck on the idea of maintaining neutrality. It has served them well in the past, so they are naturally biased and assume that it will continue to work. But I am of the opinion that they are wrong. In this new world, neutrality is a myth. No one will be allowed to remain on the sidelines once the Sovereigns start fighting for dominance… let alone if one of them becomes a true

She shook her head.

while we have few Saints, the ones we do have are among the most powerful ones in existence. For all intents and purposes, the government is like the fourth Great Clan now. Maybe even the third, considering the dwindling

for a moment, then

will have to change — if we don't adapt,

dark smile appeared on her ivory face, never reaching her

Swords? The Queen of Worms? Or the third one?