Step after step, Sunny's bleeding feet met the cold, hard ground. The feeling stunned him for a moment before his battle-hardened instincts kicked in to survey the area around him. A familiar line of people stretched out in front of him—the slave caravan he had found himself in back during his First Nightmare.
"This can't be real," Sunny mumbled under his breath.
"Oh, it's real, alright, boy. Best get used to it," a voice behind Sunny grumbled. Turning around, Sunny saw a face he recognized—Shifty. Did I really go back in time? Sunny couldn't help but wonder, surprised. Is this real? Only one way to make sure.
Name: Sunless.
True Name: —
Rank: Aspirant.
Soul Core: Dormant.
Memories: —
Echoes: —
Attributes: [Fated], [Mark of Divinity], [Child of Shadows], [Fooling]
Aspect: [Temple Slave].
Aspect Description: [A Slave is a useless wretch with no skills or abilities worth a mention. A Temple Slave is just the same, except much rarer.]
It was the same. Sunny couldn't take his eyes off the runes he saw. I really am back in the First Nightmare. And… I have a new Attribute. There were only three, but this time I have four. Let's see.
Attribute: [Fooling]
Description: You have fooled time and fate itself. You can make fools turn into truth.
Okay, let's think things through. I returned back in time into my First Nightmare with the use of charge of time.
With his current questions answered, Sunny focused back on the problem at hand. I need to survive the Awakened Tyrant and make it to the temple at the top of the mountain. As much as I had a problem with my aspect making me a slave, it was still too good to pass on. I could try to do things differently to get a new Attribute even with Fooling, but there is no guarantee that would work—or that the aspect would be powerful enough to handle what's to come.
With a plan in place, Sunny paid attention to the slaves talking around him.
"…really want to risk angering a god?"
Oh, so they were talking about killing him again. Great.
Sunny's thoughts were cut off by another familiar face—Hero. With no commotion to draw his eye, Hero simply looked at Sunny with pity before reaching for his flask, as if to offer him some.
Sunny kept walking, knowing that if he took the offer, he would be whipped by the older soldier.
Hero, mistaking the dismissal as fear, shook his head slightly and continued on his way.
He is different than the young little boy in the memories in Ariel's game. Now I know why he can't afford to die… but me too. I can't afford to die in this place.
A little while later, a call to make camp sounded, and Sunny knew he needed to start preparing for what was to come. Being led to the fire, he took the sip of water given by one of the soldiers and looked over to see a bush of Bloodbane berries.
Sunny ignored the sound of Scholar telling Shifty what kind of berries they were, as he looked around and formed a plan. Sunny positioned himself with a broad-shouldered slave between him and where he knew the Mountain King would fall—and not long after, it happened.
The camp fell into chaos, but Sunny had no time to focus on that. He had a plan, and he would survive.
A claw struck the broad-shouldered man, but Sunny was ready. He dodged as far as the chain would let him, and the body fell closer to Scholar. While not seeming important, the moment the body began to move, the reason became apparent. The monster lunged at the man and landed a glancing blow, knocking him down. Sunny ran toward the beast and grabbed the length of chains on either side of his restraints. Wrapping them both around the beast to restrain its movements, Sunny shouted for Shifty and Scholar to pull.
As the chain tightened, the beast strained against it, the sound of stretching metal filling the air.
"The chain won't hold!" Scholar yelled, his voice strained from exertion and injuries.
"I'm on it!"
As the first wrap of chain broke, Sunny grabbed the now shorter length and wrapped it around the beast's neck. Using all of his mediocre body weight and the leverage of being on the creature's back, Sunny strangled it.
The second wrap of chain broke as well—but it was too late for the beast. As its body went limp, Sunny heard the spell announcing his kill.
[You have slain a dormant beast, Mountain King's Larva.]
Sunny dropped down, gasping for breath. His body, not yet used to vigorous exercise, trembled. With the chain broken on both his left and right, Sunny was free to move as he pleased—useful when Hero arrived, cutting down monsters as he went.
"Free the rest!"
A key was thrown at Sunny. He caught it and quickly undid his, Shifty's, and Scholar's restraints. As Shifty ran off and Scholar reminded him about freezing to death, Sunny stared at Hero—more specifically, at Hero's shadow. Watching the way it moved and swayed.
I can see it, but I'm not yet ready to copy it.
Sunny wasn't sure if he'd be able to get this far in the Shadow Dance without his divine aspect, but remembering the dream of the female slave who did it gave him hope. And for once, his hope came true.
Enough daydreaming. Time to push this bastard off the cliff again.
Sunny led Shifty and Scholar to the wagon and instructed them to wait for his signal and push. Running up behind the beast, Sunny grabbed a broken chain still attached to the cart, unlocked it from the corpse, and threw it at the Mountain King.
With Hero distracting the beast, the chain wrapped around its neck just in time for Shifty and Scholar to push the cart off the cliff—taking the Mountain King with it.
With the fight over, the three slaves and the soldier made their way back to the bonfire. Sunny watched as they discussed going down the mountain and decided to speak.
"I don't think the monster died."
The others looked at him in surprise.
"Why do you say that?"
Inwardly chuckling at getting the same response as last time, Sunny pointed up from where the Mountain King had fallen.
"If it survived the fall down to the camp without a scratch, I don't see how another fall will kill it."
With his piece said, Sunny watched them discuss their next moves. They would go up the mountain. When the topic of provisions came up, Sunny spoke again.
"I guess I'll collect water."
Hero turned to Sunny.
"Most of our water was stored on the wagon. But each of my fallen brothers carried a flagon. Gather as many as you can find."
As they separated to work, Sunny began the next step of his plan. Finding a flagon on one of the dead soldiers, Sunny drank it all—knowing he would need all the strength he could get. As he gathered the flagons and began poisoning them with Bloodbane berries, he spotted Hero's flask on the ground—having fallen during the fight with the Mountain King. Sunny made sure to add a few extra drops of berry juice to it.
When Sunny reached the older soldier lying on the ground bleeding out, he did not hesitate. He picked up the shattered sword and swiftly cut the man's neck.
[You have slain a dormant human, name unknown.]
[You have received a Memory: Silver Bell.]
Looking at the runes for a moment, Sunny remembered all the times that bell had been with him. It was one of the few Memories he wouldn't feed to Saint, and it held the first rune he learned to weave. The fact that he was truly back hit him fully, almost bringing him to tears.
There will be time for that later. Now it is time to act.
Sunny noticed movement nearby—a Mountain King's Larva. The beast was missing a leg and pinned under a soldier's corpse. Sunny plunged the sword into the creature, hoping for a memory.
[You have slain a dormant beast, Mountain King's Larva.]
He waited a moment, but seeing the Spell had finished, he walked away, grumbling.
Stupid stingy Spell.
Gathering back at the bonfire, the group rested until dawn before setting out up the mountain pass. It wasn't long before they came across a chasm where the path should have been. Scholar, always the first to speak, piped up.
"What do we do now?"
"We could get rid of some dead weight."
Shifty glanced at Sunny.
"I didn't know you wanted to be left behind so badly," Sunny scoffed back. "Or did you forget I saved your life three times now?"
"There's no need to fight. We won't be leaving anyone behind."
Hero's voice cut through the argument, followed by Scholar.
"I know an old mountain path, but it'd be a bit of a climb."
With the decision made, they began their ascent. Knowing his body couldn't handle extra weight, Sunny left the scavenged sword behind and climbed.
With nothing to do but climb and think, Sunny's mind drifted.
What should I do with this second chance I got? Many events are going to happen—most I can barely affect. And the ones I could… should I? Bad things happen to those who mess with fate. But when fate is already bad… is it such a crime to change it? But now I have the Attribute Fooling.
Let's see what this Attribute can do…
After climbing all day, his thoughts were interrupted by Hero calling for a rest. Everyone looked tired. Hero looked the best—but even he looked more worn down than last time.
Good. The extra poison is working. Maybe too well.
Sunny used the time to try learning his new Attribute for a while, but in the end, he got nothing.
Maybe this is an Attribute or a sign of fate I gained when I traveled back in time, Sunny thought as he watched the other slaves.
Shifty collapsed, looking terrible. He had already drunk all his water and shook his flask desperately. Hero, taking pity, offered his own.
"You should have conserved your water. Here—have some of mine, but be quick."
Shifty grabbed the flask and drank in large gulps, but he only looked worse.
"We'll rest here. Everyone, make camp for the night. I'll take the first watch."
With Hero's declaration, everyone made their way into a small alcove and built a small fire. Huddled around it, they ate strips of roasted oxen meat Hero had cut earlier. As the slaves lay down, Hero sat at the opening, looking into the night.
[You have slain dormant human, name unknown.]
The familiar sound of the Nightmare Spell snapped Sunny awake. Scholar was on watch now, and Hero was sleeping.
"Nightmare?" Scholar asked, fake compassion in his eyes.
"Yeah," Sunny answered. The fact that he could lie surprised him for a moment. Right—no Aspect, no flaw.
"Well, you still have another shift before you keep watch, so go back to sleep. Speaking of which, it's time for my watch to end."
Scholar walked over to Shifty and shook him. When there was no response, he shook harder—but Shifty wouldn't wake.
"He's dead. Oh my God, he's dead!"
The shouting woke Hero, who shot up with his sword drawn. Seeing Scholar hunched over Shifty, he walked over.
"What happened?"
"I don't know. I came to tell him it was his time for a shift, but he wouldn't wake. He has no pulse, and he's deathly pale. He's dead."
A tense silence settled over them.
"How?"
Scholar looked closely at Shifty's pale face. No injuries. No obvious signs—until he noticed the strange coloration of Shifty's veins beneath his skin.
"Looks like poison."
"How would he have gotten poisoned?"
Hero turned to Scholar, suspicion in his voice.
"I saw him eat some of those berries."
Both turned to Sunny.
"Are you sure? I told him they were poisonous."
Scholar looked suspicious, but Hero nodded.
"In desperate times, even wise men make foolish choices. Regardless, it's too dark to climb. We should rest."
The three sat around the fire in silence.
No one slept again that night.
Seems I added more berry juice than I thought. And him drinking from Hero's flask—more poison. Oh well. No reason to feel guilty. He would've killed me if he could. I was responsible for his death the first time too. Only difference is the Spell announced it this time.
As Sunny was thinking, the silence of night was broken by crunching bones. All three stiffened and made their way to the alcove's edge.
It was too dark for Scholar and Hero to see, but Sunny watched with his night vision as the Mountain King devoured the dead below.
Hero grabbed Sunny and Scholar, pulling them back.
"Make no noise," he whispered. "We leave at first light. If the beast is eating the dead, it will be on our tracks soon."
The three nodded and waited until sunrise.
At dawn, they resumed their climb. Higher and higher they went. The air grew thin, and winds whipped at their backs, threatening to throw them off the mountain.
After hours, Sunny recognized the place—they had found the path.
Looking back down, Sunny saw the alcove where they left Shifty's body.
I wonder if the monster ate it. Either way, without the body visible, nothing will alert others we're being followed.
They continued along the path until they heard something behind them.
"What was that?"
Hero turned. Scholar behind him.
"There is nothing that lives in these mountains except that beast. We're being hunted."
Scholar looked from Hero to Sunny.
"We should leave a diversion to throw the beast off our trail."
There it is. That's the true Scholar I remember.
"What kind of diversion?" Hero asked.
Sunny listened as Scholar tried to convince Hero to leave Sunny behind. But Sunny was prepared.
"If it's following the smell of blood, then it's following you. You're the one who got scratched."
"The only reason I was scratched was because you ran away! And your cloak is dripping with blood!"
"I didn't know the body would turn into a monster. And it's not my fault you couldn't dodge. Besides, my cloak doesn't have any blood on it."
Sunny lifted the bottom of his stolen cloak. The hem, once soaked with blood, was missing—ripped off.
"It tore while I was climbing."
Scholar stared, shocked.
"You planned this. You knew we were being followed. You tore your cloak, leaving me the only one with blood. I'll kill you!"
Scholar's facade crumbled. He lunged, but fell face-first as Hero cut into his leg.
"You are so far gone you'd accuse a child of masterminding this. I knew you were disgusting, but this is lower than I thought."
Hero looked at Scholar with disgust, then at Sunny.
"I'll take him down the path. Wait here."
Moments later, a scream echoed down the path, and Hero returned.
"Don't feel guilty. That man committed many atrocities. Pay his nonsense no mind. I know these circumstances are too much for a child like you to plan."
I'm not a child, and I absolutely planned everything. Thank you very much.
Sunny just nodded and walked silently. Hero mistook the silence for acceptance.
As the sun began to set, Hero and Sunny found a crevice.
"Tonight, we camp without a fire. The beast is too close."
Sunny nodded, lay inside with his back to the entrance, and closed his eyes.
"Are you asleep?"
With no response, Hero stood and drew his sword. He walked over to Sunny, preparing to kill him mercifully—painlessly.
"I wish you luck in your next life."
He raised his sword—but at the last moment, Sunny rolled toward him. He drew the knife he'd looted and hidden beneath his cloak, and stabbed Hero in the neck above his armor.
Blood bubbled from Hero's mouth as he struggled to speak.
"You were making a shadow on the wall," Sunny said, nodding to the wall behind them. The Moon's rays cast both their shadows clearly.
Hero tried getting up, but between blood loss and the poison in his system, he was losing fast.
"You should've listened to the other guy. I did plan everything that happened."
Hero's eyes widened.
"Poisoning the waters to weaken you all—though I expected Shifty to collapse on the climb, so that almost ruined things. And making sure Scholar was the only one with blood. But with you, I had two outcomes…"
Hero struggled harder as Sunny smiled.
"With you, I wondered if you'd try to kill me. I had no blood to attract the monster, and I was in better shape than the others—though to be fair, I wasn't drinking poison. Still… I wondered."
Sunny leaned over him.
"You're no paragon of good. You were going to kill me to increase your own chance of survival. We're no different. The difference is that my plan worked."
With that, Sunny grabbed the knife in Hero's throat and ripped it out sideways.
[You have slain Awakened human: Auro of the Nine.]
[You have received a Memory: Loyal Oath.]
Sunny had no time to think. He turned and ran as fast as he could to the temple. The scent of blood would draw the beast soon.
Though not dripping blood like last time, Sunny still shivered from the cold and exhaustion. The thin air weighed heavily on him.
Reaching the top, he saw the temple—exactly as he remembered. Tall black columns, broken gates, bones scattered everywhere. As he climbed the steps, a shapeless being of shadow approached.
Even without seeing souls anymore, Sunny knew this creature was far stronger than the Mountain King.
What the hell is a thing like that doing here? It wasn't here last time.
The shadow approached, stopped, then stepped aside—letting Sunny pass. He continued to the altar.
Cut from a single slab of black marble, untouched by ice or snow, the altar stood out. But Sunny wasn't ready to lie down yet.
He summoned his runes to inspect the memory he acquired.
Memory: [Loyal Oath]
Memory Rank: Awakened
Memory Type: Weapon
Memory Description: [A soldier's life is not their own. A soldier's oath is an unending duty to be fulfilled. Their armor, a bond that keeps them in place; their sword, a burden that few can carry—an oath to change everything.]
It was a longsword—simple but efficient.
Sunny held the memory for a moment. It felt… different, as if he had changed the strings of fate slightly.
Taking the blade, Sunny began to swing it. Though he lacked his former muscle memory, he was still proficient. His first swings were weak—cold bones, exhausted arms—but he pushed through. His stance shifted between Nephis's adaptive offense, Saint's defensive power, and then Hero's style.
The formless guardians watched as the small figure—one with the scent of divinity—moved the blade. His movements grew less rigid, more fluid, formless—shadow-like. He was blending the Shadow Dance into swordsmanship.
The guardians were entranced until a creature entered the temple. As they prepared to kill the intruder, they felt a presence long gone. Their master was watching. They retreated.
[You have received an Aspect Legacy, Shadow Dance.]
Opening his eyes, Sunny had no time to admire the runes. The Mountain King stood before him—five milky eyes staring, jaws open.
Sunny took his sword and dragged the blade across his wrist.
His blood dripped onto the altar, the marble absorbing it. The Spell echoed:
[You have offered yourself as a sacrifice to the gods.]
[The gods are dead, and cannot hear you.]
[Your soul bears the mark of divinity.]
[You are a Temple Slave.]
[Shadow God stirs in his eternal slumber.]
[Shadow God was moved and amazed by your Dance.]
[He sends a blessing from beyond the grave.]
[Child of Shadows, receive your blessing!]
The shadows of the great hall stirred. Tendrils of darkness wrapped around the Mountain King, tearing it apart piece by piece. Blood splattered as the massive tyrant was reduced to meat.
[You have slain an Awakened Tyrant, Mountain King.]
[Wake up, Sunless! Your Nightmare is over.]
[Prepare for appraisal…]