Shadow Re: Slave

He felt it immediately. He had changed—his mind sharper, clearer. He could absorb and comprehend the flood of information from his senses, his shadow sense now far stronger than before. This alone was a great boon, because he knew that someday soon he'd have to operate through multiple bodies at once again. A heightened adaptability and sharper mind would make that easier, help him adjust on the fly. It was truly a gift. He was fully satisfied. Serpent had been an Awakened monster for a while now, which made things even better. But Sunny hadn't been able to enjoy that victory—at least, not when he mastered the second step of Shadow Dance in the middle of a brutal battle with a particularly dreadful abomination. He had always feared that something might go wrong with his natural awakening. That the spell within him would interfere. That it might be outright impossible because he was already infected… or worse—that he would be cast out of the Dream Realm entirely. After all, he was no longer a Sleeper. And if the Forgotten Shore was still part of the harrowing trial of the Winter Solstice, that might mean he no longer belonged here.

Harrowing… at least for the other Sleepers still trapped in its depths.

He was glad that everything went well.

Now, with essence finally in hand, he could try to master the third step of Shadow Dance. But he wouldn't rush it. He had made up his mind about Nephis. He would leave her be, stop approaching her—for now. At least until he could share his memories with her directly. Just telling her wasn't enough for something like this. He had spied on her sometimes and seen her growing close to Caster. Sunny knew that Caster was an assassin. But last time, he hadn't made a move until the very last moment—just before leaving the Forgotten Shore. So, Sunny didn't worry too much. Not yet..

He wasn't even sure what he expected from Nephis. Maybe to be loved again? Or what else? Did he even love this version of Nephis—or only the one he knew? The one who endured all the pain and hardship, who enslaved him? What kind of irony would that be? The one he had held dear in his arms, sharing the best nights of his life? But also the one who had forgotten him. He was conflicted, lost in uncertainty.

Still, he knew his next steps. First, save Kai and befriend the beautiful archer once more. Then, send him with around two thousand awakened soul shards to Stev. Have him retrieve two hundred of the most useless memories for Saint and, of course, the Onyx Armor. He wasn't sure if he wanted to send Kai directly to Nephis yet—first, because Kai could reveal too much about him, and second, because he didn't know how far Nephis had progressed. That decision would wait.

His second goal was to make Seishan an ally—not just here on the Forgotten Shore, but in the long run. This time, he wouldn't fight on the Valor side. But first, he needed to journey to the Chained Isles, to challenge his second nightmare and obtain the Bone Weave.

He almost forgot he had the drop of ichor from the Shadow God's lineage. Focused on the excitement of his natural awakening, he hadn't used it—until now. He wanted to consume it before meeting Seishan because he knew her, and he knew he would have to force her to work with him. This time, he would go to Ravenheart because he knew he couldn't easily claim the Weaver lineage in Bastion. Making her betray her mother wouldn't be easy, but he was sure that he would find the right words. Cassie had done it last time, too. After what he would tell her, she would have no choice but to join the Shadow Clan, which he would found here, on the Forgotten Shore.

He would have liked to save Jubei, but he was too late. So, he'd have to search for other possible members. Maybe even invite Kai. But Sunny wasn't sure if it was wise to shake things up too much. Still, he could make Kai a member of the Shadow Clan and send him to Nephis as part of her cohort.

Yes, that was a plan.

Soon after, his shadow whispered a warning—the men who captured Sunny were heading toward Kai again. Summoning the drop of ichor, he heard the spell ask if he wished to consume it. He said yes.

The golden drop split into three equal parts, shooting straight to his chest, abdomen, and head. The radiant droplets vanished into his three Shadow Cores, dissolving into the darkness of his soul.

Sunny flinched. Already? The shadows around him erupted in motion as the darkness within seethed. A cold, unfamiliar energy surged through his bloodstream—pain and euphoria intertwined.

This… this is it. It's starting.

He sank to the floor, bracing for the torturous transformation. The cold energy spread, reaching every corner of his body. It surged, nearly assimilating into the core of his being.

Then something strange happened.

Sunny's eyes snapped open, shock and horror flooding him.

As the lineage of the Shadow God flowed through his veins, Blood Weave surged in response—not under his control. It moved on its own, filled with dark, ominous intent… and hunger.

At first, the two lineages fought, clashing within him. But under his will, they ceased and began to coexist.

His bones trembled as if some nameless predator had bitten deep into his very essence. His Shadow Cores howled, overflowing with searing darkness. Something inside was unraveling, reshaping—as if his soul had never truly belonged to him, now reforged in the image of its rightful owner, its origin.

The Spell whispered:

[Blood Weave has evolved.]

[Spark of Divinity has evolved.]

[You have obtained a new Attribute: Heir of Shadow God.]

Attribute Description:

You are now the sole heir of the Shadow God. You can command all shadows as your own—if you are strong enough for them to obey. You carry a natural fragment of the Shadow God's domain equal to your own.

It didn't sound crazy, but what it meant was clear: he could see, hear, and sense through all shadows within a 2-kilometer radius. Without overwhelming his mind. He could command shadows to only transmit what was important or dangerous. Now, he could reach the great castle through two Shadow Steps—which was invaluable.

And the second boon was even greater: the power of his Will was effectively doubled. If he would become divine one day, he would usurp the entire shadow realm, making it his own domain.

That was a great future.

But there was no time to linger in sweet thoughts. He had to meet his best friend.