When Sunny summoned [Heart of the Challenger], a bow of light and sparks materialized in his hands. It was made of deep red wood, with a taut black string that matched the material perfectly. When he drew the bow, it responded with surprising flexibility—although the tension was significant, enough to make him strain slightly. Still, that was exactly where his innate ability shone.
According to its description, Sunny's innate ability allowed all of his stats to be multiplied when he was near or within the shadows. Meaning, that if he fought with his shadow wrapped around him… he would gain four times his strength while enveloped in darkness.
That realization left Sunny speechless.
He sat for a while, letting the weight of his Aspect truly settle in. But deep down, he wasn't all that surprised. What else could he expect from the blessing of the Shadow God himself?
"Well… looks like the Shadow God was feeling generous this time. At least he didn't turn me into a shadow slave again. Not that he could, anyway"
Next, Sunny summoned [mantel of the sages]. A mantle settled over his shoulders, and at once, his mind felt sharper. His thoughts moved cleaner, quicker. The improvement was subtle… but in life-or-death moments, even a second of clarity could be the difference between victory and annihilation.
Then came [Pendant of the Warden].
Sunny stared at the Ascended Memory with an unreadable expression. Ascended Memories were incredibly rare for Sleepers—unless inherited, they were almost impossible to find. His first Ascended Memory hadn't come to him until right before they raided the Forgotten Shore. To have one now… it would be invaluable.
He wore the pendant, a six-faceted gem that shimmered with hues of pale gold and white, creating an ethereal glow. Curiously, it didn't hang around the neck—instead, it latched onto his skin, adhering to any part of the body it was placed on.
After some testing and a few subtle questions to the instructors, Sunny confirmed its enchantment. It granted him a simple, yet powerful boon:
Invisibility.
Not the true, magical vanishing kind—but the kind where no one noticed your footsteps, no one sensed a shift in the air. The kind that opened a perfect window to strike.
As for the [Heavy Club]… well, that was just a big chunk of wood. Good for smashing skulls. Nothing subtle about it.
"Alright, time for some real work. The Shadow Dance requires a full stomach. Let's go, you miserable bastard."
Sunny glanced at Gloomy by his feet, which responded by raising its middle finger at him.
"You better get used to me, idiot. We're stuck together until I Ascend again."
He made his way to the cafeteria. Unsurprisingly, there were no other Sleepers around—because sunny entered his first Nightmare after winter solace end . That suited Sunny just fine. He preferred solitude.
"This… this is the calm before the storm."
He stared hungrily at the tray of meat, vegetables, bread, and a massive coffee mug that could probably hold a liter. If Effie had seen it, she might've wept tears of pride.
Once he finished eating, Sunny headed to the dojo where the weapons were kept. He entered, picked up an odachi, and began the Dance—not for pleasure, but for precision. Every movement in the Shadow Dance was crafted to take a life, be it a man or a monster.
This was no meaningless repetition. His frail body had fallen behind the mastery of the Dance, and now it needed to catch up.
He began with the saint style. Then the Broken Sword style. Then the fusion of both.
Hours passed, unmeasured. Lost in thought, Sunny moved like a ghost.
"I must grow stronger. To protect humanity. No one understands the true threat of the Fallen Gods but me. I will kill Anvil. I will break Ki Song. I won't let them drain our world with their idiotic war… I won't let them waste humanity future ."
Suddenly, a familiar sound pulled him from his thoughts.
[You have received a Legacy of your Aspect: Shadow Dance]
[Your mastery of Your Aspect legacy Has Improved ]
[You may now claim the Legacy's Relic]
Legacy: Shadow Dance
Mastery Level: [1/7]
First Relic: [Claim]
Second Relic: [Unattained]
Third Relic: [Unattained]
"Claim!"
[First Relic: Acquired]
The runes shimmered briefly, then dimmed again.
Then a voice came
[You have received a Legacy Relic]
[You have received a Shadow: Soul Serpent]