Shadow Slave: Eternal Madness

Raphael now stood in front of a house.

After his conversation with Saint Cor, the receptionist had helped him set up an ID and a bank account. He then bought a phone, a SIM card, and the other supplies he needed.

He rang the doorbell and waited. A second passed, then he rang it again... and again.

"Damnation! I heard you the first time, can you stop?"

Raphael heard Sunny's voice from behind the door.

The door opened, revealing Sunny, who looked up at Raphael—a man towering a full foot taller than him.

Raphael looked down and asked, "Can I come in?"

"No," Sunny replied flatly.

But Raphael didn't care. He walked in anyway, heading straight to the living room. There, he saw four people sitting on the couch: Nephis, Cassie, Kai, and Effie.

All four turned their attention to him.

"Who are you?" Effie asked, her tone sharp.

Raphael didn't even glance at her. Instead, his eyes focused on Nephis.

"It's good to see you again, Neph," he said.

"Who are you?" Nephis asked, her expression unreadable.

For a brief second, Raphael's confident demeanor cracked.

"Even though we slept together, you didn't recognize me?!" he asked, sadness evident in his voice.

"What?!" Effie screamed, her eyes wide.

Nephis studied him more closely. "Ah… Raphael? You've… changed."

Raphael simply smiled.

"Everyone, this is Raphael, the one I traveled with in the Dream Realm. Raphael, these are Cassie, Effie, Kai, and lastly, Sunny."

"So, this is your cohort," Raphael said, chuckling. "Let's see… we've got a whore, a singer, a schemer, and a femboy."

"What did you just say?!" Effie growled, standing up.

But before she could continue, Raphael locked eyes with her and said coldly, "A whore."

"How dare you—"

"Effie, sit down," Nephis interrupted, her tone commanding. "And you, Raph, stop stirring trouble."

Sunny, who had been watching from behind, was stunned into silence.

'Titan... he's a Titan,' Sunny thought.

His mind raced. 'Does that mean he has a Divine Aspect?!'

Raphael, now ignoring the tension, smiled. "Anyway, I brought a gift."

He pulled out a projector.

"You know, since I wasn't with you all on the Forgotten Shore, I really wanted to know what happened there. So, I brought a little movie for us to watch together. Hahaha!"

Nephis immediately stood up, alarmed. "I don't think that's a good idea, Raph."

"Nephis, everyone here will watch it," Raphael replied, still smiling.

He didn't waste time setting up the projector.

"By the way, Neph and Sunny, if either of you tries to destroy the projector, I'll destroy the entire house. Do you understand?"

"Yes," they both muttered reluctantly.

The movie began, and everyone sat on the couch. Raphael took a seat next to Kai.

The film played until it reached a scene where Nephis's actress asked Kai's actor to search for the new Sleepers.

Raphael paused the movie and asked, "By the way, Master Kai, when you went to search for the new Sleepers, did you find anything?"

Caught off guard, Kai answered quickly, "Ah, yes. I found what seemed to be the exoskeleton of a human, which I buried."

Raphael suddenly burst into laughter.

Everyone looked at him, confused. Only Nephis seemed to understand.

"Why are you laughing?" Sunny asked.

"Nothing, nothing. By the way, you've been staring at me the whole time, Sunny. It seems you don't like me."

"I don't," Sunny replied bluntly.

Raphael's smile widened. Without warning, his body began to change—his height shrank, his hair grew longer and turned silver, and his chest expanded.

Using his ability [Self-Sovereignty], Raphael transformed into Nephis's exact likeness.

Raphael, now looking like Nephis, walked over to Sunny, whose eyes were wide with shock.

"Do you like me now?" Raphael asked.

Thanks to his Flaw, Sunny was forced to answer truthfully.

"Y-Yes," he stammered.

"Raphael, stop teasing him," Nephis said firmly.

Raphael glanced back at her, smirking. "Are you jealous, Neph?"

"No," she replied flatly.

Raphael walked back to his spot, returning to his original form.

"Now that we've had our fun, let's talk seriously," he said, his tone shifting.

Without warning, Raphael launched himself at Nephis, grabbing her by the neck.

The others were stunned, but they quickly moved to intervene—only to be stopped by four Saints who appeared around Raphael.

"What are you doing, Raphael?!" Nephis choked out, struggling.

"Nephis… tell me, what did you do in the Second Nightmare?"

She remained silent, her eyes filled with fear.

"Nephis, for three months, I was tortured by a Sacred."

Raphael's voice cracked with anger and pain.

"He destroyed my body, mind, and soul thousands of times! In the end, I conquered the Second Nightmare. And you… you did nothing!"

His grip on her throat tightened. Nephis tried to ignite her flames, but they were devoured by Raphael's darkness.

Sunny and the others desperately tried to help, but the Saints blocked their path.

"Look at me, Nephis! Look at what I've become!" Raphael screamed, his voice echoing with anguish.

"Raph… you're killing me… please, stop," Nephis gasped, her voice weak.

But he didn't listen, blinded by rage.

Then, he felt something wet on his hand.

He looked up and saw tears streaming down Nephis's face.

"I'm sorry, Raphael," she whispered. "I'm so sorry."

Raphael froze. 'What have I done?'

He released her throat, stepping back as Nephis collapsed to the floor, coughing.

Taking shaky breaths, Raphael knelt beside her.

"I… I didn't mean to do that," he stammered.

Nephis, still gasping for air, looked up at him, her eyes full of pain and sorrow.

"Raphael… get out. Please."

He glanced at the others, their faces brimming with fury and killing intent.

Raphael knew he had ruined everything. Consumed by anger, he had lost control.

The Saints returned to his side, and with their power, Raphael teleported away.

And just like that, Raphael was gone.

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Why did Nephis cryed even though it looked out of her character?

1-The one who lived with her for two years was literally broken in front of her.

2- He also tried to kill her.

3-She is already broken because of the Second Nightmare.

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Another one.

At first I planned to put them in the same chapter but I changed my mind.