The Darkness of Profanity

Sneaking through the shadows, Sunny looked around before quickly climbing onto the railing of a terrace. Focusing on the cathedral a few yards away, he took a deep breath.

'Everything should be ready. Now I just have to wait for its patrol to come to an end.'

During his time at the cathedral, Sunny had learned the basics of how often it went on patrol around the city and exactly when it would return.

In the small courtyard connected to the cathedral was Krabs, who stood just next to a wall, ready to strike on command. Opposite him, Saint hid behind a broken shack made of weathered marble.

In her grasp was a massive greatsword—a whole head taller than her—crafted from jet-black metal.

It was the warblade that Pleiades had summoned for her, and somewhere within the cathedral itself lay the one thing that would begin the battle.

(I'm a little nervous) Sunny sent over, and Pleiades responded.

[Don't be worried at all. You have the strongest sleeper watching over you, after all. Plus, this plan you came up with is quite brilliant.]

Surprised at the positivity, Sunny smiled as he looked at the streets. (I am feeling a weird sort of confidence with all these measures we put up.)

>>Well, I sure as hell would be. You're not even gonna give the poor guy a fair fight.<<

[It's called a jumping. And the "poor guy" is a fallen devil—nothing poor about it.]

>>Mhm, sure, but with you setting your sights on him, it was only a matter of time till he got killed, I guess.<<

Then, the streets grew a shade darker, and the clanking of metal followed. Sunny turned his head and saw the Forsaken Knight making his way toward the cathedral, his sword slung over his shoulder with fresh crimson blood dripping onto the pavement.

Taking a deep breath, Sunny commanded his shadows to augment Saint. As the Forsaken Knight neared the cathedral entrance, he paused, his eyes flaring with murderous intent.

Preparing for an attack, the knight entered the cathedral and disappeared inside. Sunny jumped from the railing, landing on the ground, and immediately sprinted toward the wall that protected the courtyard.

(Pleiades, do it.) he said, and pleiades responded.

[Roger, roger.]

Hopping onto the wall, Sunny looked just in time to see the Forsaken Knight blasted through the wall and into the courtyard. Disoriented, the knight crashed into the courtyard wall, looking around with a dazed expression.

Sunny looked to where the Forsaken Knight had come from and saw a massive tentacle made of multiple smaller ones moving around sinisterly.

Turning his attention back to the knight, Sunny saw it rushing toward the tentacle, his eyes igniting with fury. The knight's sword flew through the air, and just as it was about to strike the tentacle, Krabs emerged from his hiding spot.

The knight noticed just in time and barely positioned his sword to block the pincer coming toward him.

With a clank, the knight was pushed backward, his feet stomping into the ground as he locked eyes with Krabs.

Sunny commanded Krabs, and Krabs followed, raising his pincers and clicking them provocatively.

The darkness within the knight's armor grew more intense, and a faint mist began to emerge from it.

Before anything else could happen, Saint emerged from her hiding place. Her eyes shone with a strange, almost alien animosity as she swung the greatsword at him.

Since she was behind him, the knight couldn't react in time to dodge or defend.

Sent reeling to the right, he crashed into the wall, causing a web of cracks to appear before the wall gave way.

With everything going according to plan, Sunny ran along the edge of the wall, commanding his two shadows to return to him and merge into the one foreign shadow connected to him.

The shadow grew darker, and a low growl emanated from it. Grinning like a fool, Sunny felt a surge of anxiety but took a gulp and positioned himself just above the knight.

(Summon the Kord!)

[Gimme a second.]

Sunny demanded, and soon a beautiful Kord, made of lustrous steel and gleaming maroon wood, appeared. As the handle nestled into his hand, Sunny jumped down, using the knight's confusion to his advantage.

Landing next to him, the knight had no time to react as Sunny brought his sword up and slashed at the knight's shoulder.

The blade dug in effortlessly, severing the left arm. Enraged, the knight swung the sword in his right hand towards him.

Backstepping, Sunny barely dodged. With a huff, he reached into the shroud and pulled out a small wooden arrow that Pleiades had infused with potent explosive power.

He threw it at the knight, lodging it in the breastplate. The arrow glowed a reddish hue before a booming explosion sent the knight flying upward.

Shielding his face, Sunny looked up at the airborne knight. Then, the shadow at his feet quivered and rose into the air.

Its form shifted, and amethyst flames flickered across the back, as Regis formed he crashed into the flying knight and clawed at his face with sleek claws.

Crashing to the ground, the knight acted as a cushion for Regis. Sunny summoned the Underworld Mantle that Pleiades had gifted him, and soon the powerful black armor adorned him.

Regis leapt back, baring his teeth, and from the smokescreen emerged the hulking figure of the knight. His armor was battered, his blade nicked, but the darkness within his armor pulsed erratically.

Feeling safer with the mantle around him, Sunny looked toward Regis and nodded.

Understanding, Regis darted to the knight's right, amethyst flames surging and spreading throughout his shadowy form.

Sunny moved to the left, the Kord in his hands raised and aimed at the breastplate.

From behind, Krabs and Saint ran in from their respective sides. From a bird's-eye view, the knight was completely surrounded.

Dragging his gaze around the courtyard, the knight fumed with fury, and the darkness within him surged and then exploded outward like a tidal wave.

Stopping in his tracks, Sunny cursed as he saw the wave of darkness coming at him. (Damnation! Why didn't you mention this.)

[I… I didn't even know this was possible. Tch, damn it—Sunny, run for it!]

Doing just that sunny went and jumped onto the edge of the wall, looking back just in time to see the figures of Krabs and Saint getting pushed into the cathedral by the wave of darkness.

Regis barred his teeth nad his flames Danced around him, taking the shape of a protective barrier, he was then swallowed into the darkness.

The waves crashed into the wall and caused it to quake, Cursing inwardly sunny looked on as the tidal wave continued to flow.

[Shit, Watch out!]

Confusion on his face, Sunny looked up to see a second wave of darkness, larger and more fierce, barreling towards him and high enough to clear the wall.

From the cathedral entrance, Saint and Krabs came hurtling forward, driven by a small stream of darkness.

Sighing in relief, Sunny jumped down and commanded Krabs. Using his pincers, Krabs grabbed onto Saint and leapt into the air, crashing down with a thud and looking back.

Sunny ran towards him, and Krabs extended a pincer, grabbing onto Sunny's armor and pulling him under just as the tidal wave of darkness came crashing into the lustrous steel of the Shadow.

Sunny gritted his teeth and watched as the wave of darkness parted against the massive carapace of the Shadow.

The wave continued, with pieces of rubble crashing into the Shadow's carapace, each impact thundering with a resounding thud.

For a few moments, the wave pressed on until it finally came to a halt. Frowning, Sunny peeked out from behind the Shadow's protection and looked at the courtyard.

The courtyard was now reduced to rubble, with walls completely collapsed, their broken pieces scattered throughout the city.

In the center of the courtyard, the clamor of steel echoed, and amethyst flames rose into the air. Without warning, the shape of a shadowy wolf leapt into the air and fell back down, teeth bared.

Then, Sunny saw the looming figure of the knight. His black armor was battered and dented, his sword broken in half, and his missing arm now replaced by a shadowy, illusory limb.

The knight turned his gaze toward Sunny, sending a shiver up his spine. Clenching the hilt of the Kord, Sunny smiled and looked up at the imposing figure.

"Alright. Let's see what measly amount of power is left in that lump of iron you wear bastard."

Next Chapter: Duty of a Knight