Chapter 1: The Ivory temple
In a distant realm of a dead deity, an enormous battle of titanic proportions was taking place.
The grounds were rumbling, and distant screeches and other horrific battle cries could be heard.
The lands were dotted with dark pillars of mind-numbing heights. But at a closer inspection, one could make them out to once have been the trunks of titanic sized trees that were many kilometers tall.
These charred remains of tree trunks had been burned down and ruined in a distant cataclysmic conflict of the past. But now, the once-holy trees were condemned to hopelessly reach out towards the heavens in futility.
But the Gods were dead. Well... all but one.
*
Standing on a large rock formation, a man clad in fearsome onyx plate armor and, a visible aura of death hanging around him, suddenly snorted in mild amusement at his thought process.
"How poetic..."
The Demigod was keenly observing the latest battle between the ever-growing shadow-legion and the dwindling army of the Millipede tribe.
These dammed insects had been a major bother to him for seemingly ages now. But it finally seemed that their numbers were starting to dwindle, and their queen – The Great Tyrant - that's controlling these corrupted abominations that is – couldn't keep up with the looses anymore.
"Well, of course it can't... the shadow legion has been growing stronger with every battle. Additionally, my shades can't even die, so death was always inevitable."
The heir of Death said to himself (literally).
Aura farming aside, Sunny was honestly feeling a bit excited. He – Or rather this incarnation of his – had been steadily grinding down these millipedes for a considerable amount of time now, and today would be the day the tribe and their queen would find its final demise.
The Queen would be a welcome addition to his Shadow legion because she would be able to take command of his countless shades, easing his already strained mental burden of controlling them.
This incarnation had been observing the Millipede tribe for a while now and made an interesting discovery.
They claimed this part of the Burned Forrest for themselves and made their nest in an underground lair near an ancient Temple.
Sunny had been trying to figure out what kind of a temple it was, aswell as who and what was being worshiped there... but a certain infestation had to be cleared out with pesticides first. So his inner Explorer and Archeologist had to patiently wait, much to his disliking.
But Sunny was nothing if not a patient man. He had mastered the skill of patience in his years of being forgotten and painfully watching his closest friends and loved ones zone out as they hopelessly tried to put together the pieces of just who the man named Sunless was.
"As they say... 'Ask the Gods for patience, and they will not hand you the peace you seek — They will hand you a trial to forge it yourself.'"
The shadow looked down and sighed, suddenly in a somber mood.
**
Hours passed, and the destructive battle of the southern reaches of the Burned Forrest was over. The Millipede tribe was finally crushed and integrated into the Shadow legion.
After paying the stubborn shadow named slayer, her blood payments, sunny took a well-deserved break, all while his shades cleared the battlefield and harvested all the soul shards and resources/materials of interest.
Sitting in his Shadow-chair, he observed the remnants of the battlefield with a somber frown. He had been thinking back to the previous battles and hardships of his tumultuous life. But one memory always sticks out the most. It was the frozen remains of Falcon Scott... his biggest shame. His biggest regret. Nobody even remembered, but that didn't give him any solace.
'Too weak... I was too weak to save anyone.'
In this world – two worlds even – Weakness was the biggest sin, afterall.
**
Time passed and the battlefield was cleared of abominations. Sunny had finally cleared his head again and thought about laying down for some more rest...
"...no way. I don't even need a break, I have 7 dammed bodies!
I've been waiting so long, I surely earned this. No, definitely!"
Sunny said with a hint of pride and barely hidden excitement.
Indeed, it was finally time to explore the intriguing Temple of the Burned Forrest...
––
The Temple of the Burned Forrest stood at a humble height... well compared to these abnormally huge trees that is.
It had pristine ivory walls and foundations that seemed almost immune to the corrosions of time and it's look reminded him of a classicism type of architecture he had seen once in his studies of the world before the dark-ages.
Sunny had studied the outside of the Ivory temple with visible enthusiasm from its unique style.
The only problem was...
"That dammed thing practically screams of danger! Damnation!"
The Shadow cursed as he stood near the temple but still far enough to avoid the supposed danger it radiated.
In hindsight, it had always been clear that it wasn't all that safe and friendly to begin with. The Millipedes – while building their underground lair near it and claiming it as theirs – never actually went anywhere too close to it. And one thing was clear to the treacherous shadow.
"When creatures avoid a certain place, that doesn't mean that it's a safe haven, but instead that there's an even worse danger's nest."
Sunny mumbled to Noone in particular.
Then, a soft and melodious voice rang out in his mind
"Wise words."
Right. Cassie's probably just as curious about his little findings aswell... well, he couldn't blame her. It's been a bit monotone lately.
She continued:
"I know this is really interesting, and you're dying to know what secrets you could uncover.
But Sunny, as strong as you may be, be safe, alright?"
Sunny smiled faintly at her reminder. He knew of course, just how deadly learning a 'little secret' could be. He stood up and made his way towards the temple's entrance.
"Yeah, Cassie, I might be."
Of course, sunny'd be lying if he said that he'd be safe. And that he is unable to!
'Well what's the worst that could happen? I just loose an incarnation...
Wait... NO, NO! I TAKE IT BACK!!'
As he mentally panicked from potentially invoking a curse once more, the blind seer just sighed and said nothing more.
By the time he calmed down, he reached the entrance of the Ivory temple. The sense of danger was screaming at his mind, but nothing was happening, except a faint feeling of suction on his soul.
And it wasn't that kind of suction – Neph was busy butchering another Cursed one in southern Godgrave currently.
Instead, it felt like the temple's defenses, where trying to steal his... essence? But it seemed the action was to no avail.
'Why do I feel a sense of deja vu...? Wait!'
Indeed... hadn't a certain thieving's spawn tried that move once at the ashen barrow?
'Huh. I guess the Ivory temple can't make use of the special Shadow essence I've got either. What luck!'
It was such a nice coincidence... that it didn't feel coincidental at all. Suddenly Sunny felt a bad feeling in his stomach but pushed it down again. There is no point worrying now. He was a Supreme Titan, and a Divine shadow at that. The strings of fate didn't bind him anymore. Although... Weaver seemed to have predicted this development aswell...
'Better not dwell on it. I've got a Temple to explore.'
Sunny carefully made his way up the stairs and observed his surroundings with a watchful eye. Strangely, his Shadow sense seemed... distorted and suppressed by the Ivory temple's interference. Space-Time bend weirdly, and the particles in the air stuttered unnaturally, adding to his weariness.
'This better be worth it.'
Sunless put his hands on the doors and released his Shadow essence into it's magical mechanism. It seemed that it accepted his Shadow essence.
"I wonder... does it only accept Shadow essence? But why would there be a Shadow related Temple in Heart gods realm?"
Walking through the entrance, he was met by a spacious main hall. Ivory Pillars held the roof securely, while special torches offered a blueish illuminations that offered no warmth.
He walked further into the hall, his Shadow-made boots not leaving an echo. Sunny's gaze lowered as he observed the marble floor... his eyes narrowing as he notices a sort of... insects leg?
His eyes widened as he followed the leg back to its origins. He finally made out the symbol. It was a big spider symbol that stretched across the marble floor in all directions.
"Spiders...? But that's-" Sunny realized the connection.
"That's Weaver's symbol... so that bastard was here aswell."
Sunny didn't know how to feel about this revelation. Why did weaver claim this temple? What did he do here? Why was it suspiciously accomiding for Sunny? Why... was blood-weave tugging at his mind, trying to take him deeper into the hall...
"Damm you, you elusive bastard, if this is a trap, i'm gonna flatten this whole thing."
Following his intuition –guided by blood-weave – Sunny walked deeper into the heart of the hall with caution. It didn't take long for him to notice the lonesome pedestal that held an Onyx crown.
The Onyx Crown was shrouded in a dark mist that reached out to him, slowly engulfing him in it's influence.
"What is this...?"
He glanced deeper – just for a heartbeat – and instantly regretted it. Beneath its dark surface lay an impossibly intricate weave, threads of essence looping back on themselves in maddening patterns. Pain lanced behind his eyes. He hissed, staggering back, vision swimming.
'Ugh... a memory?' The truth rang cold. 'It's of the divine rank aswell...'
He knew he shouldn't take the hook... power never came for free, especially so if it came from the Deamon of Fate. But Sunny's greed had other ideas.
'It... it'll be fine. So what if I lose this incarnation? It's a Divine memory Dammit!'
Steeling himself, Sunny took a look at the Onyx Crown again, this time closer.
It was a beautiful dark design with intricate spiderweb engravings, giving it a Gothic style touch. It presented 3 Gems of darkness that consumed all the light around it and emitted an ominous, dark nebula, which radiated the immense power that was well deserved for a Divine Memory of the 7th tier.
"Su...ny? I don't th–..." A faint feminine voice tried to reach out to him, but strained to get through.
"Alright..." He carefully reached his hand out. Blood-weave was going nuts and the Nebula of the Crown deepened around him.
"Don't mind if-"
The crown's mist lunged. The world convulsed. Something tore at his very existence.
Then everything went black.