I forgot to mention timeline in previous chapter, sorry.
Timeline: After Sunny got [Mind Weave], but before Mordret achieved Supremacy.
Sunny was dazed for a few seconds before coming back to reality. A dull ache was radiating through Sunny's bleeding feet as he shivered from the cold.
He looked around and saw slaves going up to a black-cut mountain with shackles around their bodies, like him. Imperial soldiers were guarding from the sidelines.
'I am really back in the past, huh?'
Sunny shook his head and tried to open up Spell's runes. Shimmering runes appeared in the air in front of him.
'Ahh, I didn't realize how much I missed you. Is this what people call Stockholm Syndrome?'
Sunny chuckled and looked back at his runes.
Name: Sunless.
True Name: —
Rank: Aspirant.
Soul Core: Dormant.
Memories: —
Echoes: —
Attributes: [Unseen from Fate], [Mark of Divinity], [Child of Shadows].
Aspect: [Temple Slave].
Aspect Description: [Slave is a useless wretch with no skills or abilities worth a mention. A temple slave is just the same, except much rarer.]
'Interesting, this is a new one. This new Attribute replaced [Fated]. Other than that, nothing changed.' With that, Sunny focused on the runes describing [Unseen from Fate] Description.
[Unseen from Fate] "Attribute Description: You aren't bound to prophecies, destined encounters, or inevitable downfalls. Small changes you make don't ripple outward in destructive or noticed ways. You can tweak things without attracting attention from fate."
If not for the fact that other people were also here, he would have started laughing like a lunatic.
After a few seconds, he pulled himself back and started thinking about it.
'You aren't bound to prophecies, destined encounters, or inevitable downfalls, huh? This means my future is not inevitable. I can, like, save Antarctica or stop Asterion without being noticed by fate! Plus seers also won't know what I will do!'
But his face soon darkened. Because of excitement, he hadn't noticed it before.
'Small changes you make don't ripple outward in destructive or noticed ways.' Meaning small changes, like saving a few more sleepers in Forgotten Shore, won't be a problem. But big changes like not saving Mordret, evacuating everyone from Antarctica's center and... Nephis coming back with everyone else, instead of staying back, will be a problem.
'Damnation! Why does this always happen! Every damn time we find a way, but an obstacle always comes into our plans!'
He put the thought in a corner of his mind, planning to talk this out with Nephis. Now he would focus on his nightmare.
Everything went according to how it happened originally.
Mountain King attacked the camp, everyone died except Sunny, Shifty, Scholar, and Auro of the Nine.
Same as before, Sunny explained to them why they shouldn't go down the mountain. Sunny killed the same soldier and received [Silver Bell] again.
He looked at it and smiled, a bittersweet smile.
Then Sunny went back to the group, gave them their water flasks, and started climbing up the mountain. But before that, though, Sunny had an idea to poison Auro more before discarding it.
Because if Auro had suspicion of Sunny, he was as good as dead. Plus, even if Auro was heavily poisoned, there was no chance Sunny was killing him with this body. Plus, what if Mountain King finished him quickly because of it?
Then the same thing again: first they rested in a cave for the night. In the morning, Shifty died.
The rest of them climbed up the mountain. There Scholar tried to convince Auro to leave Sunny here to die, and Auro killed him.
Then, the two of them rested in a cave, where Auro tried to kill him, but couldn't because of poison.
Then Auro asked the same questions, and Sunny repeated his previous answers.
Then the same happened: Sunny ran outside with Auro chasing him. Sunny summoned the [Silver Bell] and shook it.
He turned around and started running as fast as possible, without looking back.
Then he finally saw it again. A black temple. He came to the temple gate and went in. Guardian didn't stop him because of [Mark of Divinity].
Sunny thought about performing Shadow Dance, to please the Shadow God. But quickly abandoned it. Because even if Sunny had more endurance than last time, there was no way he could perform Shadow Dance in this body.
He waited for a few minutes, then saw Mountain King come to the gate. He, who was already ready, cut his thumb with a sharp stone and let blood drop onto the altar.
Spell's voice resounded in the dark temple.
[You have offered yourself as a sacrifice to the gods.]
[The gods are dead, and can not hear you.]
[Your soul bears the mark of divinity.]
[You are a temple slave.]
[Shadow God stirs in his eternal slumber.]
[He sends a blessing from beyond the grave.]
[Child of Shadows, receive your blessing!]
Shadows crowding the great hall suddenly moved, as though coming alive. Tentacles of darkness surged forward, entangling Mountain King's arms and legs. The mighty tyrant struggled, trying to get free.
The next second, its body ruptured, torn apart into pieces.
And then the Spell whispered:
[You have slain an Awakened Tyrant, Mountain King.]
[Wake up, Sunless! Your nightmare is over... again.]
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