Shadow Slave: Gleaming Stars

[Audun's POV]

'Oh my goodness'

'What a day to be alive'

'Lady Luck has finally decided to bless this filthy unbeliever with good loot!'

With a grin, I summoned my runes.

*****

Name: Audun (Alfmalfa Olsen).

True Name: Star of Solitude 

Rank: Dreamer

Star count: 1

Memories: [Skeletal Chain], [Bones of the Forest], [Arachnid's Kiss], [Arachne's Band], [Midnight Shard], [Reavers Bane], [Stalkers Might], [Night's Embrace], [Marble Encasing], ... (A/N: I suck at coming up with names)

Echoes: [Ebon Chobotnice]

Attributes: [Blessed by the Sword], [One who Stood at the peak], [Mark of the Stars], [Perfect Harmony]

Aspect: [Constellation]

Aspect Rank: Divine

Innate Ability: [Sword Expert]

Aspect Ability: [Star Formation]

Aspect Legacy: [Olsen]

Flaw: [The Weight of their Stares]

*****

A mix of satisfaction and righteous indignation flashed across my face as I stared at the new addition to my usually empty echo slot. 

Honestly, I wasn't sure if I should be pissed that it took more than a year to get an echo, or happy that I got one at all.

'Well, whatever.'

Shrugging mentally, I turned my attention elsewhere. 

I could vaguely make out the white light of dawn cutting through the abyss, so hopefully, if everything had gone well, the gang should've made it to the other side of the crater while I was running the fade with the octopus. 

There was still a bit of time before the Dark Sea fully receded, but I was sure that spending any longer down here was probably a bad idea. 

The light show I put on earlier probably attracted the attention of some passing nightmare creatures, and if I were unlucky, it wouldn't be long before I got jumped by a gang of titanic monsters. 

Swimming over to the corpse of the Ebon Chobotnice, I rumaged through its carcass, pulling out the awakened soul shards embedded in its core. 

Clasping them tightly in my hand, I aimlessly scanned my surroundings before preparing to make a hasty retreat to the surface. 

Luckily for me, a brilliant idea struck me like a bolt of lightning. 

A steady grin spread across my face as a single phrase shone with a heavenly radiance in my mind. 

'Tentacle Catapult.'

Patting myself on the back for such an ingenious idea, I felt around my soul, searching for the new companion I had just earned. 

I quickly located the abyssal Cephalopod, promptly pulling out the hulking creature from the depths of my being.

The familiar profane form of the Ebon Chobotnice materialized before me, its tetrad of intelligent bioluminescent eyes practically glowing with loyalty.

Fully healed, I was able to appreciate the titan's plethora of tendrils with a calculating gaze.

With a grin, I tried communicating with it, opening my mouth to speak before realizing that we were underwater.

Failing in that endeavor, I switched strategies, trying to convey my intentions via body language.

The creature stared curiously as I pointed at its tentacles deliberately before making a gesture towards myself.

Nodding along in mock understanding, the Ebon Chobotnice looked at me as if waiting for me to continue. 

Taking up a flawless pitching stance, I did a slow mock throw, desperately praying that the Octopus caught my drift. 

With a rather odd yet endearing tilt of its head, the echo's eyes lit up with eager recognition, completely understanding my demands. 

'Nice!'

Tentacles wrapped around my body with a gentle grasp, the abyssal tendrils cradling my form as they tensed, primed for action. 

My eyes lit up with the same giddy anticipation that would normally color a child's face as they got onto a rollercoaster, excitedly awaiting a thrilling experience. 

The glowing blue eyes locked onto mine as my faithful echo waited for my confirmation.

I formed a shell out of starlight, its shape reminiscent of a bullet.

With my preparations complete, I silently praised my genius, flashing the octopus a childish smile as I raised my hand and gave it a thumbs up.

Upon receiving my permission, the Ebon Chobotnice launched me forward with unbelievable force, the Dark Sea practically parting as I shot upward towards the morning light. 

I broke the surface of the water in record time, flying through the air like a missile.

Unfortunately for me, it was at this time that I realized I had overlooked something rather important.

At that size, my echo had a rather monstrous amount of strength, and because my dumbass forgot to tell it how much force to use, I was currently gaining speed and altitude at an alarming rate.

Simply put, the asshole threw me way too god damn hard.

Traveling at approximately Mach fuck, it didn't take a rocket scientist to know that I was in for a rather painful landing.

Spotting the giant stone statue that I was on a direct collision course with, a curse flew out of my mouth unconsciously:

"Ah, shit."

---------------------------------------------------

[Sunny's POV]

We made it.

We made it to the other side. 

A dark expanse of land rose above the colossal crater, a towering wall of solid grey stone overlooking the giant chasm of the abyss.

The ancient city that Cassie had dreamed of stood before us in all of its impenetrable glory. 

Months of grueling travel had led up to this moment.

Weeks of fighting and enduring harrowing challenges had brought us before our destination.

And yet, we were not happy.

Nephis' eyes were not on the glorious city before us, but on the vast crater we had just crossed.

Changing Star's eyes burned with blistering emotions, biting her lip so hard that she pierced her skin, a trail of blood flowing down her chin.

And in all honesty, I wasn't faring much better.

My hands were clenched into fists, knuckles white as my fingers dug through my palm.

Dropplets of blood stained the giant stone hand we were resting on, but I couldn't care less.

The three (Technically two) of us watched as the tides of the Dark Sea began to recede.

Light shone through the gray sky, the morning sun casting its hopeful glow upon the three of us.

Cassie's face was contorted with confusion, stammering out a question that neither of us wanted to answer.

"Guys? What happened? I heard a... a sound... and then Audun whispered in my ear... Sunny? Neph? Hello?"

I winced, Nephis shutting her eyes tightly.

"Guys... Where's Audun?"

My eyes were cold and empty, my mind filling with the reality that I was desperately trying to avoid.

I didn't want to answer her.

How was I supposed to explain that he had jumped into the Dark Sea? That he had dived into the depths to hold back a beast that none of us had any chance of stopping?

I remembered the small smile he flashed us before going under, the reassuring nod and casual wave that seemed to defy the terrifying stakes at hand. 

And suddenly, a puzzle piece clicked into place.

I recalled the contents of Cassie's vision, remembering the slight discrepancy I had ignored at the time. 

"-in my vision, I saw Sunny and Neph leading me through the gates of the castle!"

'Ah.'

'So that's what it meant.'

The unfortunate confirmation made the truth apparent, yet all the more crushing. 

Stubbornly, I didn't want to admit that Audun was gone, that the first person to show me warmth in this merciless realm had perished saving us.

Armed with my conclusion, I refused to answer Cassie's question, clinging to the vain hope that he had survived.

A familiar pressure weighed down on my mind, my brain aching under the strain of my flaw, but I resisted, wishing to deny the truth that stared me in the face. 

But

Just as my resolve began to crack

Nephis spoke up in alarm, pointing up at the sky.

"Sunny! Look!"

"Huh?"

Following her gaze, I locked onto a shining platinum light streaking across the sky like a comet.

It got closer, the morning light encasing the already bright platinum light in an extra layer of blinding brilliance.

My eyes widened in shock, the unexpected projectile rocketing towards us at a concerning speed. 

"SCATTER!"

Grabbing Cassie, I dove to the side, using my body to shield her from the looming threat. 

To my utter dismay, Nephis stood completely still, a blank stare plastered over her features as she regarded the incoming artillery.

"Take cover!" I hissed at her.

A concerningly relieved look crossed her features, Changing Star completely rooted in place.

My heart genuinely sank, her expression making my mind spiral with absurd possibilities. 

'Is she suicidal? Did Audun's death really hit her that hard???'

I could only watch in horror as the platinum meteor approached our position, but contrary to my expectations, it missed us entirely.

Instead, accompanied by the sound of shattering glass, the celestial projectile slammed brutally into the stone chest of the colossal statue we stood on, kicking up a cloud of dust. 

The platform we stood on trembled.

"Sunny?? What's going on??" Cassie asked.

In the dusty smoke screen, a vaguely familiar voice echoed out with a groan.

"Fuuuuuuuuuuuuhhhhhhhh."

My jaw nearly dropped as two gleaming purple eyes shone through the veil.

______________________________________________________________________

(A/N: Sorry for the late upload, my cousins ended up coming over and I had to clean up the house this morning, so I had no time to write. 

They left late at night, and I could only start on this chapter after they left T-T, and I only just finished now...

In regard to the chapter, I hope you guys enjoyed it, and I'd like to thank you guys for the support!

This fic hit a record high in terms of daily views recently, and I have you guys to thank for it!

Ok, moving onto business...

We're gonna be moving onto the Dark City pretty soon, and I'm a little torn between two options.

Would you guys like me to start it off similarly to the random time skip at the start of volume two, or something a bit different? 

Either work for me, but I just wanted to ask yk?

Anyway, I'll see you guys in the next chapter!

Leave a comment or a review too :D)