Chapter 8 : Shadow Devour

[A quick note: hello everyone, I just realized that in chapter 5 I did a miscalculation and calculated the shadow fragments Sunny got from the corrupted devil 64 instead of 32. I figured I'd let you know. I already fixed it so.... yeah. Anyway, I hope you guys enjoy the chapter ;) ]

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'Soul devouring tree!'

When this thought rang in Sunny's head, a wave of memories flooded his head.

The soul devouring tree was a terrifying being that lived in Sunny's head. It was from that day that Sunny was traumatized from mind attacks.

Unlike the LO49 terror, which he already killed. Sunny felt hopeless in front of this damned tree. And the only time he met it another again is when he is still hopeless against it.

"Sunny!"

His thoughts were cut off by Neph's voice. When he turned to look at her, he saw a worried look on her face.

"What's wrong, Sunny? Why are you shivering?" Neph asked him with a concerned look

When Sunny turned his face to look at himself, he saw that his whole body was shivering uncontrollably. And he was sweating a lot. Sunny was surprised by the fact that he didn't notice this.

'What happened to me? C'mon Lost from Light. Get a hold of yourself. You survived worst nightmares than the soul devouring tree' Sunny took a deep breath and finally calmed himself down.

He looked at Neph and said

"Don't worry about it, Neph. the tree just reminded me of bad memories" an awkward smile appeared on his face while scratching his head.

"What do you mean 'don't worry about it'?! Sunny, you were trembling like as if you saw your own death. And what kind of memories will make someone act like this. Especially you!" Neph protested with a little angry expression.

Sunny was surprised by how worried Neph looked. He sighed, and a smile formed on his face

"Neph, don't worry about it. As I said, it's just bad memories. And please stop asking me about it. " A hurtful look appeared on Neph's face from the fact that Sunny asked her to stop asking.

She knew that if she really wanna know, she could just ask him. But telling her to stop asking about it meant that it's something he doesn't wanna talk about.

"Anyway, we eventually need to pass that tree to get to our destination. I'll go explore the area. You stay here with Cassie." Sunny said as he looked at the sea of ash

"What do you mean stay here, Sunny? We're a team. We need to stay toge-"

"Neph!" Sunny cuts her off. And then sighed as he said, "Look at the area. Do you see any monsters? There is something suspicious about it. And I have a bad feeling about that tree. So, Since I can explore the area better than you. I'll just go alone for a little while and come back."

Neph wanted to protest. But what Sunny just said was true. That area seems suspicious, and Sunny was the best explorer between them and the strongest, too. And he could run away if there was some danger.

"So, when will you go then?" Neph said as she looked at him.

Sunny stayed silent for a moment.

"I'll go now, I won't take so much time."

After he said that, he started walking towards the sea of ash.

"Sunny!"

Sunny looked back at Neph.

"Make sure to avoid any dangers, and be safe."

Sunny smiled and just waved his hand. He then submerged into the shadows and started moving towards the sea of ash. Considering that Sunny's body became a shadow itself, he could do anything his shadow can.

Sunny stayed in shadow but didn't enter the sea of ash yet. He was waiting for something. And after half an hour a carapace centurion appeared. And it was heading towards the sea of ash while holding a transcendent core.

Sunny quickly moved to its shadow and hid in it. Although Sunny knew everything, it would've been weird if he knew about it without even going there. So he was just going to hide in the shadow and later say what he saw.

As the carapace centurion was getting closer to the ashen hill. A thought crossed Sunny's mind when he was looking at the tree.

'Should I climb it now and kill the spawn of the vile thieving bird?'

Although Sunny wasn't thinking about it when he hid in the carapace centurion's shadow. But after looking at the tree, he realized that he could climb it up and down in less than an hour and get back to Neph and Cassie.

The more he thought about it, the more tempting the idea seemed. He could get stronger and strengthen his shadow lineage. And he could also save time by helping Neph in creating the boat after killing the awakened Demon.

'Alright then, it's settled, I'll climb the tree now.'

Right then, the carapace centurion placed the transcendent soul shard. And got back, Sunny moved to the shadow of the soul shard.

When the carapace demon got closer and started picking it up. Sunny instantly moved to the tree.

Since he's in his shadow form, his speed was so fast. He reached the tree in just moments, and the awakened demon didn't even notice him.

Sunny started climbing the tree so fast. And in just half an hour, he reached the nest.

Sunny looked at the vile thieving bird spawn with anger and hatred in his eyes. He remembered the moment the vile thieving bird snatched out his fate. The moment that changed his life. It was because of him that he went to the hollow mountains, in hopelessness.

Sunny summoned the Azure blade and stabbed it into the egg.

[You have slain a Great Devil, Vile Thieving Bird's Spawn.]

[Your shadow grows stronger.]

[You have received a Memory: drop of ichor]

After hearing the spell voice, Sunny summoned his runes and looked at his shadow fragments

Shadow fragments [376/1000]

Sunny smirked when he looked at the number. Although being trapped in this land as a Sleeper could be a curse. But it also helped in getting stronger faster.

In the last two weeks, Sunny and Neph were attacking many carapace scavengers hordes. They were even attacking hordes of six scavengers. Sunny always took out the one in front, and Neph took out the one in the back of the horde, serpent and echo always dealt with the middle part. Distracting them as Sunny Neph attacked from both sides. Following this strategy, they were able to take down over 100 scavenger in the two weeks.

'If I continued this pace, I would become a monster in just one more month.'

Sunny then summoned the drop of ichor and focused on its description

Memory: [Drop of Ichor]

Memory Rank: unknown

Memory Type: unknown

Memory Description: [The loathsome Thieving Bird was hated both by the gods and -unknown-. However, it only cared about shiny things. Enamored by Weaver's beautiful eyes, it stole one of them on a dark, starless night. Impatient, the vile creature looked at its bounty while still in flight. However, when it saw the reflection of -unknown- forever frozen in the depths of Weaver's pupil, it went mad and screamed, dropping the eye on the mortal realm below. All that was left in its greedy beak was one drop of pure, golden ichor.]

[Do you wish to consume it?]

Sunny thought for a while while looking at the golden drop of ichor. Although it might be risky consuming it. Like if the shadow god lineage lost to Weaver's lineage, Sunny would be trapped in the tree, and it wouldn't be able to escape from the awakened demon since he wouldn't be able to turn into a shadow.

But Sunny thought about this multiple times in his journey. Sunny was confused from the fact that the shadow god lineage lost to Weaver's lineage. But he came to a conclusion after thinking about it.

The only reason Weaver's lineage was able to consume shadow god lineage is because it settled in his body for a long time. And he already had bone weave with it.

But now, shadow god lineage settled in his body for a while. And he was also going to consume only blood weave. So it would be a full god lineage against one lineage of Weaver. And it's easy guessing who would consume the other one.

"Yes, I wish to consume it."

[As you wish.]

The golden sphere separated into two streams of beautiful, radiant liquid. The streams flowed through the air, approaching Sunny's face. He felt a gentle touch caress his cheeks. Then, the golden liquid reached his eyes and flowed through them, entering his soul through the pupils

Soon, it was gone.

Sunny felt an indescribable pain. He let out a terrible wailing shriek. Sunny was thinking that it the two lineages would fight each other like what happened from his past life.

But weirdly, it looked like his blood was changing and mimicking Weaver's blood. And it seemed like weaver's lineage was tricked by that and thought of it like it's the same. Blood weave entered his blood stream like it got back to its place.

But Sunny saw that the lineage was slowly being consumed by Shadow's lineage. And after some time. Blood weave was fully consumed without even realizing it was consumed.

[You have acquired a new attribute]

[You have acquired a new attribute]

[Spark of divinity has evolved]

[Shadow has evolved]

Sunny was surprised by the amount of changes that happened. He then summoned his runes and looked at his attributes.

Attributes: [Chain Breaker], [Ember of Divinity], [Shadow Mongrel], [Blood weave], [Shadow devour]

Sunny's mouth opened wide from shock. He focused first on this new unknown aspect to him

[Shadow devour]

Attribute Description: [Your shadow lineage has the ability to consume and copy other lineages abilities]

'Wha....what!!!' He quickly moved his gaze to [Blood weave]

Attribute Description: [Your body has consumed a part of Weaver's forbidden lineage. Your formless blood has mimicked the odd tenacity of Weaver's blood]

Sunny was dumbfounded by the shocks that happened to him. Sunny raised his hand and made a cut in his skin. Indeed, it was like his blood has taken the form of Weaver's blood. He ordered his blood to go out from the wound.

Sunny looked at the blood that looked exactly like Weaver's but with shadow characteristics

Sunny felt happy. He was worried that he'll lose the ability to weave memories. Or even lose Weaver's eyes. But what happened now meant that Sunny could consume the other parts of Weaver's lineage and get their abilities.

'No, actually, that means I could practically consume and copy the other gods or deamons lineages if I got them.'

A weird smile appeared in Sunny's face while he was giggling like some kind of pervert. He then switched back and continued to see the last changes that happened

[Shadow mongrel]

Aspect Description: [You're a miraculous shadow left behind by a dead god. You inherented the whole lineage of the dead god and consumed the lineage of other divine beings and became the true heir of him. You have broken free from the chains of fate and time and escaped certain deaths. The shadows recognize you as the real heir of the shadow god. You possess plenty of strange and wondrous powers]

After checking the difference in the description Sunny tried to see was has changed in his body.

He felt much stronger from before. Everything about his body got stronger, not just his blood. And that is understandable considering that his lineage has strengthened by consuming other ones and just mimicking the form of it. And he felt his shadow abilities getting stronger and his shadow control range had increased by double.

After finishing everything, Sunny started going down the tree and getting back to the camp. The awakened demon saw the shadow that was going away and tried chasing it. Although Sunny was much faster in his shadow form but he wasn't as fast as an Awakened demon.

When the awakened demon attacked the shadow his attack didn't do anything since Sunny was just a shadow now. After a while, the awakened demon gave up and went back to the tree.

After finally reaching the camp, he met up with Neph and Cassie. He them told them about the awakened demon that was there and that they have to kill it to continue their journey.

"Are you crazy!" Cassie said. But Neph didn't say anything and just thought for a while.

"No, Cassie, I do agree with Sunny. We have to kill it to continue." Neph said, she then turned to face Sunny. "Do you have any plans?" She asked Sunny

"I'm still thinking. We'll need to stay here another day."

"Also, that tree. It uses mind attacks."

Neph and Cassie winded their eyes. "How did you know that, Sunny?" Neph asked

"Well, I was close to the tree for a while. And when I got back here. I realized that some weird thoughts were implanted in my head. Like the tree is beautiful and generous and so on. So, after killing the awakened Demon, we must instantly make a boat out of its courpse. Who knows what would happen if we stay near that tree for some time"

Neph's and Cassie's faces paled a little. They nodded with Sunny's idea.

And just like that, a day has passed. Cassie woke up Sunny and Neph and told them about the vision she saw about the awakened demon.

This time, Sunny went with the same plan from his past life. They killed a carapace centurion that was alone and took his corpse. Before the Sun descended. A creature was going towards the ashen hill.  Holding two awakened soul shards.

Sunny knew that he can't use his shadow to trick the awakened demon since he saw it yesterday. And he knew that last time it attacked Echo instantly. So he used the awakened soul shards to buy them a little more time. Even if it was seconds, it was enough.

Surprisingly, that seems to do the trick. They were able to climb the tree before awakened demon detected them. This time, Sunny was able to save Echo.

When the night came and the dark sea rose. They started continuing with their plan. And threw the jars on the creature down below. Then, throwing the torch to set it on fire.

In the next second, the giant creature was engulfed in flames. And then moments later. A grey thick fog appeared above the dark sea and approached the island.

Cassie covered Neph's and Sunny's eyes, as she whispered with trembling voice

"Don't look, no matter what happens. Don't open your eyes."

Sunny obediently closed his eyes. He later heard her voice echoing around him while screaming

"DON'T LOOK! DON'T LOOK! DON'T! DON'T! DON'T! DON'T!"

after a while, he heard Cassie's voice again. But he knew it wasn't her. The voice kept screaming to open his eyes. But he didn't. Sunny face was paled. This reminded him of the beast that attacked the ship when he was going to Antarctica.

The awakened demon started fighting the unknown guest. After what seemed like eternity. It sounded like they finished their fight. He then heard Neph's voice

"We can open our eyes now."

Sunny started slowly opening his eyes and blinking a few times. He looked down and saw that the creature was severely injured. He looked at neph and said:

"I'll go make an opening while you finish him off." Neph nodded

Sunny jumped down and summoned Echo and serpent. Their main goal was distracting the beast for now and let neph do the final blow.

With Serpent and echo by his side. Sunny was able to fight back and make an opening fast. Them instantly used that opening and did the final blow.

After killing the awakened Demon, they instantly started making the boat. It didn't take them much time. Considering that Sunny was also experienced, they finished it quickly. Neph consumed the soul shards and sat Cassie on the boat. Sunny started pushing the boat until it reached the dark sea.

Sunny guided Cassie's staff and told her to use the wind. Instantly, the boat started moving fast. Cassie kept using the wind magic as much as she could. Sunny kept praying to the dead gods that nothing attacks them. And thankfully, nothing did. They reached the statue near the dark city and camped there.

As the sun started appearing bringing light to this land.

Neph saw the dark city and started telling Cassie about it. Cassie's eyes teared with joy.

But they didn't know that their journey was far from its end. Except Sunny, who was smiling at the two girls while there was a pained expression hidden behind it.

[Hey guys. I know the last part seems rushed. But I honestly was lazy to write it because I read the original chapters before I write my chapters to make sure I don't miss any thing. But I probably won't rush anything in the future. Unless I feel lazy to write it🙄. But hope guys enjoyed the chapter ;) ]