Dark City

Three months later, a group of seven battered humans appeared from the sea of crimson coral and approached a magnificent white arch. Moving with the precision of experienced predators, they swiftly slaughtered a few transient creatures that hid in the deep shadow cast by the ancient structure, stripped them down for meat, and swiftly climbed up.

Against all odds, the cohort had survived the journey back to the Dark City.

…If only barely.

Looking north from the top of the marble arch, Sunny saw the distant grey wall. His gaze lingered on it, full of exhaustion, triumph, and dark apprehension.

Finally, they had returned.

The past three months had been an endless bloody nightmare, with countless horrors and battles leaving their marks on him. And yet, they had also been an anvil against which he was tested, tempered, and made stronger as the result.

Sunny didn't have a mirror, but was sure that his appearance changed a lot. He could tell just by looking at other members of the cohort.

Changing Star's white armor was now covered by numerous scratches and tears that even the restorative effect of the Soul Sea couldn't heal. Her silver hair was longer, reaching to the middle of her back. The ivory face of their leader had grown thin, with dark circles visible under her striking, burning grey eyes.

Caster changed even more. The neat and dignified young scion was nowhere to be seen: instead, a man with disheveled hair and a short scruffy beard stood in his place, his face dark and grim. Sometimes, Sunny thought that he could even see a grey hair or two in his luscious mane.

Kai was still beautiful and elegant, but most of his charm was hidden under layers and layers of dirt, dust, and dried blood. The stylish armor he had worn was now long gone, destroyed in one of the vicious battles they had fought, and replaced by a rather unflattering garment that seemed to be woven out of bluish seaweed.

The archer also wielded a new bow, this one long a powerful, fashioned out of two curved horns that had belonged to a creature that Sunny would rather not think about. Suffice it to say, this Memory was of the fifth tier and truly deadly.

Effie was much the same, except for the fact that she had become even leaner, her robust musculature not covered even by a gram of fat. The huntress wielded two Shard Memories, both responsible for sending dozens upon dozens of Nightmare Creature to their deaths. Her archaic bronze armor was dented all over, but somehow still held together.

Cassie was the youngest of them, so the changes that had happened to her were perhaps the most pronounced. By now, she had lost most of her childish softness and had turned into a beautiful young woman that looked to be on the cusp of adulthood.

She had three Echoes tied to her core now, one given to her by Nephis, the other one by Kai.

With the help of her Echoes and the Dark Wing, Cassie was now able to move and participate in battles almost as if she was not blind.

…Almost.

There was also the newest member of their cohort, Fang Yuan, his in name friend. He was cold, calculation, cautious. In combat he was ruthless, brutal, lethal and frightening. His killing intent is monstrous and strongest among them. He was also the best killer among them ashe killed hundreds of nightmare creatures. Sometimes he feels like an unfathomable ancient monolith, sometime he feels like a clear pound, hiding a depthless abyss.

Sunny feels like even if he can survive against Nephis, if they become determine to kill each other. He will absolutely die if Fang Yuan makes goal to kill him which frightens him. He can understand Changing Star. She is from the Immortal Flame clan. She has great determination and drive, unbreakable will and monstrous talent. Then, what kind of demon is his friend?

Fang Yuan maintained a good relationship with everyone, shared about his power which is an unreasonable six sense. Although, everyone wiry of him. There has a certain level of trust between them. Overall he is mysterious, great combatant, good teamplayer and a frightening individual.

He killed many nightmare creatures. He has a terror for an echo which saved them a lot. He is in best shape among them.

And then there was Sunny himself. He was perhaps even more beaten and battered than the rest of them, the Puppeteer's Shroud almost coming apart at the seams. His hair was long, messy, and in desperate need of a good wash.

Sadly, his skin was still as pale as that of a corpse. He was also unable to grow even a bit of scruff, let alone a real beard.

But, oh well… why care about the little things?

Summoning the runes, Sunny found a particular cluster and glanced at it.

A dark smile appeared on his lips.

'Almost.'

Fang Yuan also looked at his runes.

Soul Fragment: [48/2000].

He has formed his second core already.

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