Shadow Slave

After making the bold proclamation, Sunny paused for a moment, and then added in an emotionless tone:

"Or rather, two worlds. One more, one less... it doesn't really make a difference.

Jet chuckded at his words, while the others just nodded with varying degrees of seriousness. Only Nephis did not react, simply looking at him calmly.

Sunny sighed, leaned back a little, and said evenly:

"However, let us return to the initial conversation. Lady Nephis, you said that your source element is the people whom you inspire, and that they are the foundation of your Domain. However... what comes next? How do you plan on building upon that foundation to actually reach Supremacy?"

He was quite stumped. It seemed that Nephis was half of a step ahead of him - she had dived deeply into the nature of her source element, to the point of being able to enhance it. Sunny, however, had never even questioned whether his connection to the shadows could be deepened.

What was he supposed to do? Actively try to build rapport with the wild shadows? Turning them into his zealous followers? Would that bring him closer to Supremacy, as well?

'No, I am thinking about it wrong.’

Nephis had said it herself, and he knew it too - each Aspect was unique, and the process of realizing a Domain differed for each Awakened. What worked for her would not work for him, and vice versa.

She had to weave a vast tapestry of yearning souls, inspiring people one by one. But his source element was shadows - as their Lord, he already enjoyed the veneration of every shadow in existence.

Sunny had no need to build a foundation for his domain...

Or did he?

If there was a process of accumulation involved in the initial stages of attaining Supremacy, then what was he supposed to accumulate?

The thought resonated with him so deeply that even the humble shopkeeper stopped what he was doing, far away in Bastion, frowning for a moment.

‘...Isn't it quite obvious?’

Unseen, Sunny's eyes gleamed under the mask. Had he not been accumulating something from the very start of it all?

The legion of silent shadows dwelling in his soul... were they the foundation of his future Domain?

Shadow God had been the God of Death as well, after all. Was Sunny limiting himself by ignoring the connection shadows had with death?

If so... what the hell was the nature of his Domain supposed to be?

He grimaced, feeling more lost than he had been a minute ago.

will enlighten

waited patiently for her

doomed to

finally spoke, a slight frown twisted her

There has to be some kind of catalyst that will ignite the foundation I've built, turning it into an actual Domain. The soul, the source element, the world once all three are fused together by will, a Sovereign is born.

‘...Damn it.'

Sunny sighed secretly.

easy if the

silent for a while, then

saying is that you must become a Supreme to defeat the Sovereigns without drowning the Dream Realm in the blood of mundane humans, However, you have no clue how

Nephis smiled faintly.

life? If you know a way

his head and stared at

be a Saint? The last Sovereign I killed was not very talkative, so I

of the Twilight Sea had been entirely incapable of

Kai's chair suddenly wobbled.

a glance, then

up to fate. In fact, I have a reason to believe that there will be

eyebrow behind

"Oh? How so?"

for

enter Godgrave, there will be plenty of Great Nightmare Creatures abound, as well as some Cursed ones. Watching how they impose their will upon the world might give us a clue,

then added

Aspect Legacy. I suspect that receiving that boon

blinked a couple of

last time he had glimpsed her runes, only one of the seven fruits was unlocked the Knowledge of Fire. It deepened her already startling connection to that element and bestowed knowledge upon her, including the True Names having to do with

were there? Knowledge of Souls? Knowledge of Authority? What knowledge was she hoping to

for a

kind of breakthrough are you

met his gaze and

as of late, and have already made

it was Sunny's time to

all his self-control not to fall out of his chair. He remained still through sheer will, not allowing even

What great strides?! What exactly is she mastering, and

remained calm. But Internally, he was fuming! After a long silence, he

have to do with