Sunny knew that he didn't really need to tell the girls anything. He was sure they would respect his decision. But he was going to do so anyway. Not out of necessity but because he knows he can trust them. Even if it wasn't possible more trustworthy than his last run.
Naturally sunny was still to keep his secrets that he knew could be shared. one was that he had returned to the past. And other little things. For now one such thing was that he had a great tyrant residing in his soul sea
Sunny looked at his blond and white haired companions. After he took out some of the cold jerky from his bag they had a little feast as they spoke.
Sunny spoke of many things that had left both Cassie and Nephis baffled. He spoke about the 6 gods and their realms and that technically that they are the gods' bodies. He next of the daemons and how they came into being.
Sunny then spoke about the nightmare spell looking specifically at Nephis this time.
"The nightmare spell is a cruel helper of sorts. It's a construct made by weaver himself. It's meant to force people to get stronger to tackle the 7th nightmare where that being known as the - unknown- is currently trapped"
Sunny looked intently at Nephis. She had noticed his look, but I like the few minutes ago that he had seen her sunny saw her serious face as she spoke
"so the spells purpose is to force us to become stronger to survive"
He sighed. Her tone clearly said that she didn't change her views and still wanted to destroy the spell. He had hoped that her views would change since now they were both much closer to humans than gods when they had previously had this conversation.
Sunny had felt that he was unable to convince her. To at least change her mind and he was honestly ready to accept that.
But then she spoke soon after - "So, it's safe to assume that when we conquer the 7th nightmare the spell will cease to exist"
Sunny's face paused. He smiled. A genuine happy warm smile. A smile of relief. Nephis noticed his reaction, but she had also seen how it changed quickly but maintained his happy tone
"Yeah, that's what I believe anyway"
Her eyes were cold and calculating. Naturally she was skeptic. Her goal had been to destroy the nightmare spell yet now she finds out it is a tool meant to save humanity in what ever harsh way possible
Cassie had been the next to speak
"so about those divine lineages you were a talking about? You have one? That honestly explains why you're so powerful but... "
"Ah yes. As you would have guessed I have Shadow Gods lost lineage. Anvil of valor his War gods. Ki song has Beast God. And the third sovereign has Heart God - Or at least that's the most likely occurrence. And the immortal flame clan has sun god's lineage which now lies with Nephis "
Sunny paused and continued in a slightly hushed tone
"None of Daemons were allowed to have a lineage or pass on their bloodline. They were too close to the dream god and would contribute to his awakening and
He smirked
"and yet I have the lineage of a daemon. And I'm blessed by some of them"
Both the girls looked at him. Cassie had spoken whilst Nephis seemed deep in thought
"Whose lineage do you have? Is it that nether guy since your powers have darkness involved or is it hope since well you have a way of giving us hope your attributes hint at those 2 as well..."
Before sunny could speak and tell that he was only blessed by those 2 and held a specific daemons lineage, Nephis spoke
"Weaver the daemon"
He looked at her his eyes full of pride - "You know of the Daemons?"
"I know as much as others who know of them do - that they were powerful and almost unknown to all"
"Not bad actually it's just that they were much more than powerful - especially Weaver, he may very well have been the most dreadful of them all"
Cassie interrupted - "I feel there's so much I don't know - Supremes, Daemons, next you will tell me the river of time is real"
Sunny spat out the sip he took from the endless spring - and looked at Cassie
Cassie looked in his direction and spoke and so did Nephis - "You know what let's just go back to your ability - I take it your connection to this Weaver is how you know of the future"
"Yeah... let's do that and... Yes, now you know why I know so much of what's going to happen. There's no being in this world. 2 worlds even, that are, was or will be as deeply connected to fate as I am" - Sunny said wiping his face
After that bomb shell the girls seemed to look at sunny in a new light. He in turn shrugged it of and made a little announcement
"I'm sick of scavenger meat. So I'm going to go hunting. Nephis if you would be so kind as to tidy up and Cassie can help with the dust with her staff"
Nephis looked like she wanted to retort. Perhaps because she wanted to go hunting with him. Maybe bond a bit over some bloodshed. But his eyes seemed to tell her that he needed a bit of space. Sharing what he told her well. They couldn't have been an Easy task so she let him leave
As sunny walked he analyzed his Runes roughly. He had a large sum of memories. At least 200 awakened memories most tier 1 some tier 2. Courtesy of his efforts and his shadows out there in the deep expanse who have killed 1019 awakened creatures.
Sunny was exasperated he didn't get any echoes from their kills, but he couldn't help but feel that the reason was because it was saving his [Divine Collector] attribute for echoes that would be his greatest helpers
After all. The shocking screech down in the depths was a massive help. And naturally The vile thieving birds spawn was obviously a great boon. The bird in question who was waddling behind sunny as he walked like an adorable little penguin. Whatever a penguin was that is.
Unlike the day before sunny didn't bother with moving stealthily or with secrecy. He simply walked through the streets of the dark city. Any beast that got in his way was killed by his personal great tyrant
On his morning walk many beasts attacked him. And even without his order the vile spawn killed them seemingly pissed off with the disgusting abominations daring to attack his master.
For the ones with a thin frame, it waved its wings and slashed through. For those with a thick body or Armor it's talons ripped into it. And those that was to larger than sunny himself the bird ascended into the air and crashed into their body. Crushing it like some fruit
During Sunnys walk 7 awakened beasts, 3 awakened monsters, and 13 foolish fallen beasts along with 8 fallen monsters. All fell their bodies disgruntled in some vile way
Sunny in turn was very glad. He harvested a decent amount of meat from them as well as the shards
Sunny knew that he would have to kill many fallen nightmare creatures now if he wanted to make Shelly ever reach titan hood. Becoming ascended meant that his shadow could only get 1 fragment per ascended memory while awakened ones no longer did anything. But he wasn't complaining another ascended shadow was always welcome.
Walking to the great wall where the dark sea was not so long ago attempting to break through and flood the dark city sunny looked into the distance hoping to see serpent and knight coming back to him early
There was no such luck
"did I really have to say 2 months?"
After taking the shards from the corpses of the fallen monsters that his new shadow brought him. The bird laid down and sunny patted him.
Sunny summoned his Runes while under its protection
Dark souls: 1434
Shadow soul: 1542/2000
Sunny also calculated his total amount of shards including what his shadows out in the distance had with them. As well as what he had on him
5 supreme soul shards
1212 awakened soul shards
29 ascended shards
Looking down the bird smiled with its head on his lap or that's what sunny thought it did, sunny dismissed it into his soul sea
Walking through the streets this time whilst being stealthy sunny moved as a shadow along the floor. He calculated in his mind silently
Shards were a valuable resource to those chosen by the spell. But right now it was even more so for sunny.
First there were purchases that he would need to make. The main priority being the [mantle of the underworld] which was currently sitting on Stev's shop. That however was the cheapest
Sunny needed the shards of fallen creatures to grow Shelly now
Soon when he gets saint he would need to make memories to grow her as fast as possible. This was not only time consuming but would need materials that he had covered after harvesting literally anything sharp from the corpses of those slain.
But above all. He needed shards to grow himself. He didn't need it, no. But it would make forming all his cores much faster rather than actively hunting to get more than 25000 fragments to reach titan hood
Reaching the cathedral sunny as a shadow entered the room which admittedly was a part of bad judgment and his kind already working with the complex calculations
His ears had picked up Cassie voice
"Did he seriously hold you like that. He definitely likes you! and on top of that maybe that's why he is so awkward around you because he knows you will be together" - followed by girly giggles from her.
Sunny decided to be smart and go back down and climbed up. As one normally does. Hearing the noise Nephis shot up and summoned the dream blade. On guard only to see Sunny's face appear moments later
" Hey Neph"
Seeing sunny Nephis calmed down and then a blush graced her face
Sunny sensing the upcoming question quickly said on order to avoid answering
"I got some fallen monster meat"
Nephis sighing in relief That he seemed to not hear their conversation. Smiled and walked back to Cassie
"so you went hunting and just killed a fallen... Just for food"
"yeah I hope that fallen tastes better than awakened"
sunny laughed lightly causing Nephis to pause for a second
Cassie voice echoed in the room
"You should be used to sunny by now Neph. Anyway, finally you're back I'm starving"
Sunny had quickly cooked the meat with the help of Nephi's flames. He had initially asked her not to deal with the pain of her flames for something as simple as food. Bit Nephis didn't hear it finding an excuse she spoke
"We can't exactly make an actual fire here. The smoke will attract nightmare creatures"
He saw the look in her eyes and decided not to remind her that they literally had a fallen devil guarding the place a few meters away.
The trio made small talk enjoying the tasty meat that was significantly better than scavenger meat.
Cassie enjoying the conversations that they were having.
...
The days of the angel, devil and prophet continued like that for the next 14 days.
Every day sunny and Nephis would leave Cassie at the cathedral. She was obviously happy though sensing feelings growing between her friends. She usually went to bed at that time
Sunny and Nephis together was a force to be reckoned with even in the dark city.
A day ago, sunny had to stand and protect Nephis himself whilst being surrounded by a few awakened beasts. She had joined him in attaining monster hood.
After they were done and sunny had killed all of the beasts with the help of Shelly at their side. He looked at Nephis who seemed exhausted. Sunnys body as a shadow was much more resilient than hers. So sunny could clearly see her exhausted figure
Sunny looked at Nephis and signaled her to stand there and not move. His tone carried no chance for objection, so she did so.
After harvesting the shards from 13 awakened beasts sunny walked back at Nephis and knelt down.
"come I'll give you a ride back home"
Nephis face blushed a deep crimson. Not unlike the blood spilled on the ground. Nephis saw no option of escape
If she declined he would see her face. If she did she would be right up close to him. Their bodies pressed together
So she took the option that would result in him not seeing her face
Sunny walked through the streets avoiding all creatures around with shadow sense.
He reached the cathedral and ascended it reaching the top
Somewhere along the line Nephis had fallen asleep against him
After telling Cassie this the devious smile she had did not go unnoticed
He spoke to Cassie and asked her to wait here. Saying that he was feeling for more fallen meat sunny left
Cassie sat there with Nephis close by - "does he really just go hunting fallen for food..."
She shook her head and laughed lightly - "I suppose that's just the type of brother I chose huh"
The type of brother in question was currently walking through the streets alongside the shadow of the vile thieving bird now named Birdy by sunny
Going to the same spot and sitting atop the wall. Sunny looked into the distance whilst birdy feasted on a fallen monster it got from God's know where
Sunny thought that it was so difficult avoiding all the inhabitants of the bright castle.
'it's fine. In the original Timeline we arrived here 2 days from now. Meaning Effie should be here tomorrow. But today....'
Sunny saw 2 figures approaching in the distance.
In the darkness was 2 flaming blue eyes and besides it slithered 2 bright purple ones
After 2 months and numerous struggles
Serpent and knighty had returned