Shadow Slave: Back in time

After supervising the dwellers of the slums while they were given some food by Cassie to make sure there weren't any problems, Sunny told Nephis that he was going back to the Dark City. She hadn't been surprised in the slightest, as she knew that he disliked what was happening.

So, as the darkness drowned the world again, obtaining a temporary victory against the sun, Sunny entered the cursed city.

He traversed the streets moving through the shadows, paying attention not to make any noise. Occasionally, the silence of the night was broken by the wailing nightmare creatures.

Finally, Sunny arrived at his destination. He had managed to avoid everything, and had slain a single abomination for the shards.

The temple stood strong, as pristine as Sunny remembered it. Compared to the rest of the ruined buildings, at least. Strangely, there wasn't any monster dwelling there. It seemed as if the creatures were staying away from some kind of unseen danger. However, Sunny couldn't see anything from where he was standing, atop the wall surrounding the cathedral. But it was what he could not perceive that was the most dangerous.

He looked at darkness nestling behind the columns, his killing intent suddenly sharp.

'I know you are there, you bastard.'

He stared at the unassuming darkness nestled there, where the Knight of the Cathedral dwelled. Sunny wasn't ready to take it on just yet, but he would eventually take it on. He would exact his revenge.

'Ah, well, he hasn't gutted me in this timeline. Well, no matter. My hatred is strong enough to transcend death and time themselves.'

After gazing upon the eerie landscape of the city, he moved across the roof and entered the priestess' quarters. The dust covered most of the furniture, and it did need a little bit of renovation, but it still filled him with a deep sense of nostalgia. It was the first place he had ever considered a home to return to after his parents' deaths.

Just as he was siting on the bed, his footsteps leaving light traces in their wakes, a terrible headache assaulted him. He started seeing memories that weren't his, or maybe he had just forgotten.

Spoilers up to ch. 2255. Yeah, I'm changing how things work because it is so difficult to write a time-travel fanfict where you want to include everything and the story isn't finished yet.

He clutched at his head, in a desperate attempt to reduce the pain. It seemed as his brain was being split and burnt at the same time.

He saw the chaotic final battle of the domain war, and himself and Nephis becoming Supremes. However, that was where his memories ended.

He took deep breaths to calm himself, sweat forming on his forehead. He massaged his eyes and temples as the pain faded.

Sunny, did you see it too?

Yeah. What the hell was that?

It seems that we are regaining some memories from the future. They only went as far as obtaining Sovereignty for me.

Yeah, me too.

How did you become a Sovereign, Sunny? I saw you kneeling before Anvil, and then I was occupied… in the sky. I… I had my body, mind and soul itself reforged by the annihilating rays of light of the Sun God.

Oh, well, I just killed myself, If you wish to know.

Oh.

I've always noticed so many parallels between us… I don't reckon if I ever told you about my First Nightmare… but well, in our trials, you had to die, while I had to survive. Meanwhile, to obtain Supremacy, I had to die, and you had to live. I just can't help but notice how ironic it is.

The silence stretched out for a bit.

Now, at least, you can tell Kai you killed yourself, too.

An heartfelt laugh escaped his lips.

Who are you and what happened to my Neph?

What?

Sunny chuckled. 'I love it when she's so dense.'

Nothing, it's just that hearing you make a joke is a rare experience, to say the least.See you tomorrow. Love you, Neph.

Love you, too.

Sunny stared at nothing for a few seconds before pulling out a shard. Taking a sharp breath, he began to channel essence to his fingertips. Slowly and arduously, a black string appeared. It was as sharp as the Blessing, and thinner than a hair. However, although sharpened by his years of weaving, the ethereal string was as fragile as a petal, due to the quality of his essence. Despite being able to use essence, he was still a mere Sleeper… it was a miracle it could even hold itself together.

Sunny prepared to replicate the three patterns that formed a Memory: the weaves that allowed it to be dismissed and summoned, connected to the owner's soul and the ability to repair itself in his Soul Sea.

It took Sunny hours of tedious weaving, taxing on both his body and mind to finally manage. Careful not to break the weave, he connected it to the Awakened Shard, its source of sustainment, and to the bed, then let go.

He waited in anticipation, anxious to know if it had worked or not. After a few moments of suspense, the shard and the bed disappeared in an explosion of sparks of light before appearing again.

[You have received a Memory…]

Sunny barely had the energy to exult as he collapsed on the bed. The bed! He would be able to bring the bed with him anywhere! A tired smile appeared on his face. Why hadn't he had that idea before? Shadow Bed and Shadow Chair… What a lethal combo it could have been…

He steeled his resolve: he would unify the two majestic entities together with his Extraordinary Rock. His invincible, invaluable Extraordinary Rock, who had been a fateful companion along his dreadful journey, never letting him down once. What a fearsome trio it would become… strong enough to topple invincible warriors…

Those were his fundamental, indispensable thoughts as his eyelids closed, and the fatigue of the hunt and weaving finally caught up to him.