Sunny Upon sunny closing his eyes he found himself back on the black mountain. The familiar landscape almost making him feel nostalgic
The first thing Sunny noticed upon taking his place in the nightmare was - like last time the cold, the only difference was that it was not the cold, snow or the winds rather it was how sunny could not feel it almost like it was not there
Initially Sunny became worried thinking that he took the place of one of the slavers rather than the slave - their fur coats preventing the cold, but that was not the case rather it was that his body simply didn't suffer the cold, but quickly that worry shifted Afterall the chains still bound him, and he could still see the emotionless eyes of the slaves on the chain, their feet crunching on the cold snow
"A slave even in the first nightmare... maybe I was really fated to be a slave all my life"
he shook his head and began laughing hysterically, so much so that shifty in front of him turned and could only wonder if Sunny had gone insane
'Like hell I'll be a slave just because I was fated to. I'll lose my fate again if I must'
Sunny chastised the thought of being comfortable with the status of a slave as he continued to walk slowly the clinkers of steel sounding through the chilly wind.
As he walked sunny summoned his Runes expecting to see his old attributes
[fated], [child of shadows] Etc.
But what he read caused him to get an interested expression
[some of your abilities are sealed. Your blessings have not been fully assimilated. The attributes that can aid in your survival will still have their effect. Complete your trial to retrieve your power]
It was a shame truly, Sunny desperately wanted to know the extent of the blessings he was given and he continued thinking about what his attributes and even his aspect
He stopped just in time to hear a particular solider speak to him, the soldiers' eyes seemed actually caring
"You seem tired... here have some water"
Auro held down the water bottle from his horse - despite being involved in salve transport sunny couldn't help but notice the kindness in his eyes, unfortunately for Auro Sunny did not share that sentiment
" I'd rather die of thirst than drink from someone like you" - The scorn in his eyes did not go unnoticed, leaving a stunned Auro sunny continued his walk
Their journey continued minute after minute Sunny stirred up plans in his mind, he recounted the events of his first nightmare from the first time
Once the slave caravan had stopped Sunny had begun the makeshift plan that he concocted. He positioned himself next to a an oddly sharp edge spiking from the mountain they were scaling and close to a good weapon source - that was to say that a slaver was going to die and get a whip, the fact that it was the slaver he killed in the past to get the [silver bell] was just a wonderful coincidence
Sunny noticed a bit of tiny rock and dust falling from above and so sunny prepared himself and allowed a small smile to creep up onto his face
Mountain king had come
The awakened tyrant fell from above landing with a loud thud sending snow flailing into the surrounding air and simultaneously as everyone in the area begun to panic and the roars and screams combined sunny brought his hands down
Melding together the sounds of mountain kings coming and the sounds of Sunnys chains falling to the ground, so everyone focused on the Tyrant had no time to notice how he had already begun his sprint towards the slaver
jumping onto the man's back sunny used the cold shackles now simply rusty bracelets due to the now broken chain to slam down hard onto the man's head, Sunny watched as the body fell and the blood and brain matter seeped from the man's cranium
[You have slain a mundane human: Name Unknown]
[You have received a memory: Silver bell]
He smiled widely feeling a flurry of happy emotions to the return of his very first memory but before he turned his head and saw the carnage
He saw the battle between Auro and the Mountain King and shifting his eyes from the distant battle and watched as 2 corpses close to him rose from the floor and set their eyes on him, making use of the whip that just lied in the slavers hand and struck it in the direction of the danger striking at an angle the whip struck their heads destroying the brains
[You have slain a dormant beast: Mountain Kings Larvae]
sunny made his move and killed all the available larvae hosts ending with a total of 7 kills, including the original 2
Sunny looked up looking around, once it was confirmed that Shifty and Scholar still drew breath, even if they were to be killed for now, they were needed for the plan. Looking in another direction, he saw the ongoing battle between Auro and the Tyrant.
he contemplated striking now while they were engaged but decided against it, he was still mundane right now.
"Not that it matters I'll wait to kill you both myself"
turning away slowly sunny suddenly charged explaining the plan to shifty and scholar and after a bit of physical motivation for shifty the plan had been set in action, and so like last time mountain king fell
"Couldn't you imperial bastards choose a safe route" - Shifty yelled loudly at Auro poking a finger into his chest plate
perhaps realizing that the man in front of him had just held back a literal monster he shrunk back not without clicking his tongue he continued
"I don't think we are going to our destination so I'm going down" he paused turned around and looked at Auro "Unless that's a problem"
sunny laughed mockingly cementing Shifty's assumption that he is mad
"Are you people fools? Why in the name of the gods would we venture down?"
Auro had responded
"do you not like the idea of going back down and getting freedom? Of everyone you should be the happiest no? You were meant to be executed at the war domains event, slave of peace"
Sunny looked at Auro as if he were a fool
" That beast jumped down from that height on its own free will... "
Sunny paused pointing up to the ledge protruding from the mountain where the tyrant had descended before continuing
"... and didn't even buckle its knees. What makes you think it died from falling from here. slave of war"
sunny smiled knowing that calling Auro the slave of the empire he was currently on his way to destroy would definitely piss the young awakened off
The hero's eyes seemed to shift into a new light when looking at Sunny. Scholar and Shifty sitting beside him were a bit slower after a few moments realizing he was right.
Quickly the 4 made their plans to move up the mountain as planned originally but first they would need to get supplies
Perhaps because sunny had been the main reason they lived. They seemed to trust him willingly turning their backs as they went to accomplish their tasks. Naturally the slaves went about finding warmer clothes as Auro looked around the area scavenging for any supplies that may have survived
Sunny once he had finished fastening his new clothes onto himself. The warm garments of fur around his body he had got 4 canteens lying on the ground that were once attached to the slaves belts.
The kind boy had evenly distributed the water amongst the 4 canteens for an equal share and had been sweet enough to add a lovely amount of fruit juice. The blood red fruit juice from the poison berry that was, but fruit juice non the less. He had made sure to add an extra-large helping to Auro's flask this time around
The journey was almost as tiring as the first time. The only difference was that Sunny was now immune to the cold and had a significantly larger amount of stamina in his body than he did the last time. Or maybe that was just is will
Ascending the black mountain sunny watched shifty sink. Into his illness caused by the berries and fall of the mountain. Listening to the spell sunny maintained a serious look and continued walking
Upon reaching the cave where scholar had once attempted to get rid of sunless. The very same events occurred with a slight twist. When scholar had suggested killing sunny. He had taken it into his own arms, perhaps it was the berry's messing with his mind, but scholar charged at the little boy. Only to be met with his death shortly after. Sunny had merely sidestepped tripped the disgusting man causing him to crush his skull on rock that rested on the ground.
Upon hearing the spell sunny looked at Auro who was watching this happen with a gloomy face
"I hope you don't hold this against me hero. I won't just let him kill me whilst I'm awake and moving"
Looking at him Auro responded. A decent amount of disgust in his words
"you've done this world a favor by removing that filth"
The noble hero did not elaborate any further towing the corpse down the mountain and letting it rest in the cold for the mountain king's
Sunny and Auro had found a cave where they could relax further up. To which the temple slave sat down and appeared to be asleep peaceful. His chest rising and falling steadily
"For what it's worth boy... I truly don't wish to kill you"
Auro walked towards sunny holding his blade in his hand
"You had said that you won't allow someone to kill you whilst you're awake... So, I will free you while you sleep"
He raised his blade expecting to slaughter the boy and give him a quick death
But there was no such luck
The boy in question rose as fast as a shadow. A dagger in his hand which made its way into the hero's neck
In mere moments a valley of emotions stormed Auro's eyes. Rage and regret, sadness and pain but they all disappeared when looking into his killers' eyes
Those cold deep eyes that seemed to encompass the world like a bottomless abyss filled with darkness. Eyes that seemed to know it all
The hero was an awakened, so his body had allowed him to remain conscious for a few moments as he back tracked and slumped against the cave wall
"... How"
he had barely managed to get out.
Sunny looked at the boy. The boy who had once become one of the most revered names in history. Part of the group that had once slain gods
"it's simple shitty hero. I'm a time traveler"
Sunny had begun to laugh. But when his eyes fell on Auro's eyes. As he watched his life slowly fading
"I am really enemy of war. My god had given me a chance to return and complete my life properly; you prepared your little speech for killing me but let me tell you mine"
Sunny took in a breath
"When I came here, I was prepared to die. But somewhere along the lines I had decided to live. To live so I can spite you all"
The noble awakened hadn't wanted to listen to the ramblings of a madman. But something told him that this boy. He was not lying.
"You say.... When you are first so... What's your reason now"
Sunny looked at him. He didn't feel the pain of his flaw forcing him to answer. Of course he didn't have his flaw as yet. But he chose to answer truth fully regardless
"to kill those who stand in my way and protect the lives of those I care for"
Those words seem to allow a glint to appear in the dying eyes of Auro. as if maybe, he was content dying at the hands of someone with a noble cause like that
Sunny had spoken again. Just as the mercy of shadow had claimed Auro
"I'm an enemy of the war domain too hero. And if it makes you feel any better, I will soon kill the holder of war god's lineage myself"
Auro's head dropped a small smile trickling his face with the blood leaving his throat and mouth
[you have slayed an awakened human. Auro of the nine]
[you have received a memory]
Sunny paused momentarily
"I didn't get a memory from you last time Bastard"
He looked at the cave entrance. He had arrived at this stage slightly faster than the last time, so he made use of it
Dragging Auro's corpse to the cage entrance sunny pushed it off and watched it land slightly below and then he had begun his climb again
"That should keep the mountain king busy for a bit"
Soon sunny had reached the Peak. Now with the time sunny looked around and saw it. The surroundings were laced with the skulls and bones of various creatures. Some humans some nightmare creatures
And the sunny sensed it.
Rising from the shadows faster than he could blink sunny fell back as he looked at the being in front of him. It was humanoid in appearance aside from the fact that it was 8ft tall. It's armored a magnificent piece of craftsmanship
Sunny didn't know for sure, but he had guessed correctly regardless
"Awakened devil"
Sunny had realized. This was not just an awakened devil but one of the very few shadow creatures he had seen. Fear pulsated though his body but then
The giant being that resembled a knight.
Bowed
It bowed to sunny. Falling to one knee it's arm at his chest and the other on the floor holding its blade.
The knight spoke no words but sunny could feel it. As if he could perfectly understand what was happening as if he understood what the knight was saying
It recognizes him.
"It recognizes me as the heir of shadow god"
Sunny looked at the knight
"You were the reason the mountain king took longer to enter the temple last time weren't you"
The shadow Knight simply looked at him nodding
Sunny stood from the ground where he had fallen. Looking like a child despite the knight kneeling. He put his hand out to the creature. A thanks of sorts as if without
it he would have probably died a long time ago when the knight took it something happened
Sunny waited for the knight to shake his hand, but the being didn't
"Ah handshakes weren't a thing at this time were they"
But then. The knight stood from the ground and placed his hand on Sunny's head. Sunny stood there. Confused
[you have acquired a shadow.]
Sunny confusion only grew. But a moment later he got over the shocking message and walked to the temple entrance.
But he knew one thing for sure. This shadow. This knight was more powerful. Much more powerful. It was simply the doings of time that dulled his blade
Entering the temple sunny walked and stood in the middle of the room where the alter stood. He summoned the blade that he had gotten from Auro
A magnificent blade its silver blade etched with veins of red
It's hilt, gold with each side of it the head of a dragon. the very end of the blade lied a beautiful blood red ruby
Holding the blade sunny recalled a memory of his. And began. He danced a beautiful dance in the hall. Formless and shapeless naturally it was shadow dance. His soon to become aspect legacy
He stopped only when he heard the voice of the spell announcing his success
[you have acquired an aspect legacy: Shadow dance]
And then. Butting through the doors of the temple the mountain king stepped in. Roaring loudly causing the surrounding dust to be uplifted. The tyrant was unable to locate sunny due. To its blindness but it had begun to sniff the air
Sunny knew he couldn't overstay his welcome. Dismissing the memory sunny took out the mortal dagger he had used to stab Auro and slit his palm. He bloods leaking onto the midnight black alter and soon disappearing
And then it began
[you have offered yourself as a sacrifice to the gods]
[the gods are dead]
[ From beyond the grave the divine sense your existence. A being that had suffered so much. A being that had once braved tasks caused by them. A being they feel connected to.]
[ the daemons see your existence from beyond the grave. A being who had suffered so much. A being that held the lineage of their kin]
[ both the divine and profane bless you. The cure to corruption]
[ sovereign of shadows. Receive your blessings]
[you have received shadow god's blessing in unsealing your abilities]
[you have received weavers blessing to unseal your abilities]
[you have received fates blessing to unseal your abilities]
[the daemon of desire. Hope. Looks at you. She senses that you have once saved her. She sends her blessing]
[Ariel recognizes you as a being that has survived his tomb. He is impressed. He sends his blessing]
[the prince of the underworld, Nether, recognizes a being of darkness. One who will bring perfection to once of his creations. a new God of darkness. One who's will intrigue him. He sends his blessing]
[storm God recognizes you as a holder of a minor water domain once in a Nightmare one who relieved his heir from corruption. He sends his blessing]
[Sun God recognizes you as the lover of his heir. He sends his blessing]
To say sunny was stunned was a gross understatement but before he was about to cuss in surprise especially at sun gods reason for blessing him
The shadows in the room moved and ripped mountain king apart
[you have slain an awakened tyrant. Mountain king]
[Aspirant. Your trial is completed]
[Sunless. receive your boon]