Shadow Slave

Mocking Kai was entertaining. It felt cozy and nostalgic, so much so that Sunny even managed to disregard that he was forgotten, for a spell. He sensed like he had recovered his companion once more...

But simultaneously, it was also slightly painful. Just as painful as being near Effie and Jet felt... and Cassie, as well, to a smaller degree.

And even though the pleasure masked the pain most times, so did spending time with Nephis.

Concealed in Kai’s shadow, Sunny pondered his strange reality.

Did it even count if the individuals he treasured recalled him?

He remained with them. He continued to be present to assist and shield those he wished to shield. Several of the fresh bonds he had constructed with them were just as significant as what they had been previously... almost.

But everything seemed unfinished.

Even though Sunny wished to reject it, he couldn’t shut his mind to the reality.

A wiser individual might have been content with merely staying at their side, but Sunny was selfish. His hunger had no limits. He craved to be recognized, recalled... and cherished.

Yet, the harsh brutal fact was carved into his soul, regardless of how much he wanted to fool himself.

It matched exactly what he had understood back there, on the broken battlefield in Godgrave, after discovering that being adored and cherished by humanity would become its downfall.

Nobody could genuinely cherish him... because nobody could genuinely understand him.

’Ah. Why am I suddenly in such a dark mindset?’

Actually, Sunny didn’t experience the pain most times. He didn’t feel like a stranger when hanging out with Rain or crafting complex plots with Cassie. He didn’t believe the fondness Nephis held for him was fake... even if it wasn’t quite as intense as the fondness he held for her. He remained the initial, sole, and exclusive man in her soul.

His destinyless existence was not at all miserable.

So it was strange to discover himself sinking into the vortex of pessimistic thoughts all at once.

But truly, Sunny realized why.

It was due to what Eurys had informed him about the Apotheosis. Because for the first occasion in a lengthy period, he had been compelled to admit the certainty of the decision he would have to make.

Recover his destiny or deny it.

Connect himself to someone, or stay detached from everyone.

’Freedom... is a solitary space, I guess.’

”Sunless?”

Sunny belatedly noticed that Kai had already attained the rim of the great volcano. Emerging from the shadows, he sensed a burning warmth stroke his flesh and motioned a hand, attempting to scatter the stifling smoke that encircled them. 𝙍Ά𝐍ΟВËS̈

He could detect ash on his tongue.

Scowling, Sunny materialized the Jade Mantle and covered his face behind a helmet.

”So, there were seismic irregularities coming from underneath?”

Kai had summoned his ivory armor.

”Yes. I’ve been informed that you can detect what is occurring deep within the volcano. Oh... I’ve been informed that I’ll need to join you on a secret mission, as well. I’d feel more secure if we guaranteed the protection of the city first.”

Sunny nodded.

”I can indeed sense things from vast distances. Let’s move nearer to the main shaft first.”

As they attempted to move deeper into the crater, he asked:

”Can’t you look through objects, though? Why didn’t you just gaze into the depths of the volcano yourself?”

Kai paused for several moments.

”I did. But then I halted... worried that whatever lives there will sense me watching.”

Most of his face was hidden by a helmet now, but Sunny could still see that Kai smiled.

”Please don’t misinterpret... I am prepared to confront and eliminate that beast. But eliminating it without triggering an eruption or an earthquake that would harm the city might prove challenging. Having a Supreme nearby seemed like a smart precaution.”

Kai stopped, then inquired carefully:

”As for that task we are supposed to complete... might I ask about its character? As well as why you would need my help with it.”

Sunny smiled faintly.

”We’ll be hunting for something in the Jade Palace. I am not completely certain what that item is, but retrieving it will likely involve some level of risk.”

He stayed quiet for a moment, then added calmly:

”As for why you need to support me personally — well, first of all, I am not all-powerful. I may need assistance. More importantly, though, it is an opportunity for the two of us to interact.”

Kai blinked a couple of times.

”And do the two of us... need to interact?”

Sunny chuckled.

”That relies on you, really. Consider it as an apprenticeship.”

Before Kai could inquire, he clarified the matter in more detail:

”You should realize by now that a few Supremes will not be able to defend humanity once the genuine crisis arrives. Nephis and I will have to try Apotheosis sooner rather than later... meaning that we will have to face the Fifth Nightmare, most probably. However, there is no assurance that we will endure. Even if we do, defeating it is certain to require substantial time.”

His demeanor darkened.

”But situations are already this terrible, and they’ll only deteriorate in the future. As the only Supremes guarding humanity at present, we can’t abandon our duties and vanish. So... new Supremes will have to emerge before we attempt to become Sacred.”

Kai reflected on his words in silence, then asked gravely:

”...I guess you are telling me this because I am a possibility.”

Sunny nodded.

”Who else? You, Jet, Effie, Cassie... perhaps some of the Song sisters or Morgan, if we can discover where she is. But the four of you first and foremost. If you are ready, of course.”

Kai laughed softly.

”I don’t think we have an option. Or rather, we selected that option a long time ago. So, yes... I can’t talk for others, but I am ready. Even if it destroys me.”

Sunny gave him a prolonged look.

”That’s excellent. However, the aim is to ensure that it doesn’t destroy you. So, that’s why you receive an exclusive adventure with the world’s most attractive Supreme.”

Kai smiled.

”None of us have viewed the one on the moon yet, so technically, we don’t know who the most attractive Supreme is.”

Sunny looked at him with an outraged expression.

”Listen. I know that we are closest friends... but that was a deep betrayal...”

Kai seemed to wince, then muttered in a muffled tone:

”He does know it... he thinks that he knows it? Is he resistant to my Flaw?!”

Sunny laughed.

Soon, they reached the edge of a deep, smoke-filled passage. Somewhere far below, an angry glow was painting the world red. Sunny closed his eyes for a moment and stretched his shadow sense down... down and down, into the core of the earth.

Soon enough, his expression shifted subtly.

”There’s a creature down there, alright. Nothing too awful, though... seems like a Corrupted Tyrant. Slaying it silently should not be a challenge.”

He wavered for a few moments, then sighed.

”Seems like a step down, really. The last time I went for a dip in a volcano, I was embracing a Corrupted Titan.”

Kai just gave him a wordless gaze.

Eventually, he simply pushed out:

”Oh. I... hope you finished that beast, Sunless.”

Sunny shook his head.

”Finished it? No, not that one...”

He flexed, as if readying to plunge down.

”That one, I bit to death with my teeth.”

Leaving astonished Kai behind, he leaped into the dark abyss.