Sunny fist met Auros chest.
He was growing tired of wasting time in these battles for loyalty. Sunny had already killed every one of these shadows, what gives them the right to challenge him again? They had no right.
Sunny didn't call upon the shadows to form a blade. No, instead Soul Serpent slither down his arm, taking its Soul Weapon form. A menacing, formidable, foreboding black-bladed odachi. Including the hilt, the odachi was as long as he was tall. It was surprisingly light for its length, but heavy enough to inflict truly devastating wounds. Almost invisible on the dark steel, a lifelike image of a coiling serpent was etched into its blade.
This blade also carried a Will of its own.
The Will of Death.
Auro slid on the snow, remaining on his feet, his shadowy features indifferent to receiving a blow from a Supreme.
Sunny's eyes darkened.
'Of course it wasn't gonna be that easy.'
When was it ever easy for him? Even after losing that damn [Fated] Attribute, lady luck was never on his side.
"Don't look so upset, my Liege… I'm no ordinary Awakened."
'What the hell is that supposed to mean?'
Drawing his spear, Auro dashed, its blade meeting the serpentine metal of Sunny's odachi. Auro fought with a grace beyond anything Sunny had ever seen..
Sunny had encountered many warriors in his time, some fought with grounded stability, their defenses like brick walls. Some fought with outrageous speed, forcing their opponents to lag behind them, creating openings. Some fought with primal recklessness, abandoning all forms of defense, not trying to out-think their opponents, but simply trying to kill them at any cost.
Those who fought like that were particularly deadly.
Auro on the other hand, was not any one of these, he and his spear were one, when the spear spun, so did he. When it lashed forward, so did he, every step he took, every glance he made, was all methodical, calculating. All of it culminated into a dance so graceful, it was almost hypnotic.
'Damnation.'
Defecting a slash at his chest, Sunny leaped back, falling into the shadows.
'Fine, a different approach then.'
Emerging to the side of Auro, he lashed out, two quick slashes, then melted into the shadows once more. Again he rose, this time on the opposite side, two quick pokes at Auros chest, in a style similar to a fencer. Auro did not have time to react to either of these, however, even with the Will of Death on Sunny's side, his blade failed to land true.
Sunny fell back into the shadows.
Rising from the shadows only to his waist, Sunny grabbed Heros' legs and pulled him into the shadows. Sunny felt a great amount of essence leave his cores, more than should have, giving that Auro was merely an Awakened.
If Sunny had eyes as a shadow, they would be wide open, the shadow of Auro was quickly slipping from his hands. It was also taking shape.
'How the hell? Damned Nine, I'm starting to really hate these guys!'
Auro was thrusted of the shadows, flipping and landing on his feet, his face managed to remain unbothered.
Sunny rose a few strides away from him.
"Okay…What's your deal huh? First you take a full power punch from a Supreme, and now you are managing to have such a strong sense of self, you were building yourself back together in the shadows!"
Auro stared at Sunny.
"Answer me dammit!" Auro did not respond.
Sunny's eye twitched.
"Oh, now you don't want to talk… Fine."
The breeze on the black mountain began to pick up, the dark shadows nesling in each crevasse of rock, started to tremble. They clawed their way through the snow, circling around Sunny.
"You Nine sure know how to piss someone off don't you..'
The circling shadows quivering at their lord's words, motes of black started to rise in anticipation, they wanted to help, they yearned to be wielded by the Lord of Shadows. More and more shadows swirled around Sunny, the pool of darkness becoming so vast, it encompassed the entire Black Mountain. Truly living up to its title.
Sunny allowed himself to enjoy it, his gaze shifted around, the countless motes of black rising into the air, colliding with the snow falling down. It looked as if an angel casted down a snowy blessing. Whilst a demon sent up a shadowy curse. Blending into each other. A true Yin and Yang.
Hero looked at the scene, a hint of an emotion shone through his shadowy eyes.
Was it fear?
To Sunny's right something began to rise.
Emerging first were two ruby flames, burning in the deep shadows of a visor, rising higher, the being was cladded in lusterless black jade armor, similar to the one Sunny wore. The Shadow radiated a sense of cast, dreadful power, armed with a sword so dark, it could command Darkness itself.
Saint had now entered the Shadow Gauntlet.
However, she was not alone.
She had brought her little brother to join the fight as well.
***
To Sunny's left something began to rise.
Emerging from the shadows, a five-meter tall, four-armed fiend, with a body forged from polished black silver. His steel carapace protruded with long, sharp spikes, resembling shattered swords. The infernal flames burning in his eyes ignited with hungry malice. His body is incredibly durable and almost immune to fire.
Fiend had now entered the Shadow Gauntlet.
Fiend looked over to Saint, his eyes burning a bit brighter, turning back to face Hero. He–puffed his chest?
Sunny stared at the idiot.
He figured that he was thinking that big sister looks so cool, and that he should try to make himself look cooler.
'Why did I waste Shadow Fragments on you?'
Shaking his head, Sunny brandished Soul Serpent, he had not brought out his loyal Shadows in his fight with the Forsaken Knight for a simple reason. He wanted to get the hang of his new power… and he wanted to rough that guy up himself this go around.
"So, you think you'll be able to handle us three?"
Auro looked at both the Shadows.
"Me? No, I wouldn't dare to contend with the likes of the great Generals of the Shadow Legion. However…"
Behind Auro the black pool of shadows rippled.
Sunny felt a dark, dark premonition.
A massive, winged creature with a pale body and black feathers stained by blood, rose from the darkness. When its terrifying beak was open, it revealed rows of sharp, needle-like fangs and a long red tongue.
'Shit..'
The monstrous creature resembled a cross between a lion and a raven stretched its numerous limbs. Its body was pale as a corpse, while its head and chest were covered with dark feathers. It was massive in size, with muscles rolling like steel cables under the skin. It had two powerful hind legs and six more protruding messily from its wide chest, each ending with a set of deadly claws. It also possessed a long, jagged black beak.
Auro spoke once more.
"My friend might.."