After Sunny sprawled on the floor of the room, his head facing the ceiling, there was a contemplative expression on his face as he reviewed his runes:
Name: Sunless
True Name: Herald of death
Rank: Dreamer
Soul Core: Dormant
Shadow Fragments: [45/1000
]
Memories: [Silver Bell], [Puppeteer's Shroud], [Heavy Mace], [ mantle of the sages ], [Challenger's Heart], [Warden's Pendant]
Echoes: <>
Shadows: [Soul Serpent]
Traits: [Fated], [Ember of Divinity], [Shadow Sovereign], [Blessed by Shadow God], [Death]
[Bleesed by shadow god]
Trait Description:[you have received a shadow god bless shadows are respecting you more and they treat you as one of his kins]
[Shadow Master]
Trait Description: [The shadows recognize you as one of their champions.]
[Death]
Aspect Description: [Your will embodies the will of death. All you strike have their desire to live weakened and long for the end, allowing you to ignore their will.]
"What?! I've become the Shadow master … is this the influence of my Lineage on his shadow god authorities? If I ascend… does that mean I'll become the Lord of Shadows?"
"The Death Trait… it feels familiar. It's like a serpent's ability to ignore wills, but weaker since it has a condition. It requires a strike to take effect."
"And… my spark of Divinity has evolved into an Embers of Divinity…"
"Oh, right. I haven't checked on the serpent yet."
Sunny summoned his loyal shadow, and above it, the serpent materialized. It was four meters long and as thick as a man's arm. Sunny was surprised at its size—he hadn't known how big it would be as an awakened beat. A fully awakened monster version of this serpent would have reached six meters at least, with the girth of a grown man's leg.
"Hey there, buddy. You and I are going to massacre Nightmare creatures ." Sunny patted the serpent's head as if it were a pup, which made the serpent tilt its head in confusion. It seemed its master wasn't impressed by its size at all—he regarded it as nothing more than a tiny snake.
Sunny wrapped gloomy around the serpent. Its already dark scales became even darker, and the pressure it emitted grew more intense.
"Good, good. You're a fine snake. Come on here. I didn't even bother requesting a sword Memory because I've got you with me."
After dismissing the serpent, Sunny trained a little, then allowed himself to rest. He still had weeks to go before the Winter Solstice.
In the dining hall, Sunny was carrying a mountain of food toward his usual table with Cassie. What caught him off guard, though, was that a group of students was fawning over her.
"Oh, so they're trying to get to me by buttering up Cassie…"
As Sunny approached their table, many heads turned to glance at him—even Nephis was watching him with a curious gaze.
"Well, well, comrades… do you mind if I sit alone?"
"Not at all!"
"Go ahead, sorry to bother you!"
Sunny set down his mountain of food, his eyes glinting with predatory amusement. Then he dove into the meal with no regard for the capacity of his stomach. The only witness to the crime was Cassie, who understood the horror from the sounds alone.
Sunny headed to the combat class, where he found several Sleepers already present, including Caster, Nephis, and some of the scions. The Sleepers were taking turns striking a testing slab. Their scores ranged from eleven to fourteen, while the stronger ones hit around eighteen or nineteen.
The entire time, Sunny was doing something else—circulating a tiny stream of essence through his body, using the serpent to assist.
"Sunless, your turn," Awakened Rock called.
Sunny stepped up to the slab, feeling the power flow through his body—his innate ability enhancing him. He pulled his arm back and struck. Right before his hand made contact with the slab, he let essence surge into his body, amplifying his strength.
Fifty-four.
That was the number that appeared on the slab.
"Ugh… why am I so weak?" Sunny muttered as he stepped back, leaving the stunned Sleepers behind.
Then Nephis took her turn. Her number was seventeen. Sunny knew that if she enhanced herself with her Aspect, she could easily reach thirty.
Next came Caster. His number was twenty-one—impressive, honestly. If it weren't for Sunny, that is.
After his classes were done, Sunny was on his way back to the boys' dorm when something stopped him—Nephis.
He looked at her, restraining the flood of emotions rising in his chest. He didn't want to get too close… not when she might think he was an assassin sent to kill her.
"Hello, sunless…"
"Hey, Nephis."
She seemed awkward as she spoke, her voice hesitant.
"…Can we spar?"
She was nervous. On the surface, nothing showed—but Sunny knew her well. After all, he had lived with her for decades.
"Sure. We can spar now if you want. And you can call me Sunny." honestly inside Sunny Got shocked by Nephis behavior.
They headed to an empty dojo and faced each other. Sunny summoned the serpent, and a long sword formed in his hand, he noticed the troubled look in Nephis's eyes.
"It's the same weapon I used against you before. I know it looks sharper and sturdier now—it's something like an Echo. Its strength depends on my mastery of fighting styles."
"It's an Echo?!" Nephis asked, clearly surprised.
"You could say that. But hey, no time to talk. Let's begin. Honestly, I'm itching for a fight."
And so, Sunny and Nephis sparred.
Sunny cycled through various styles and weapons—long swords, spears, even axes and daggers. Nephis was stunned. The boy seemed to know how to fight with anything… and not just the basics. He had mastered every weapon he touched to a degree that turned his combat into an art form.
What unsettled her most was that he even used her fighting style against her—only better.
After forty minutes, both of them collapsed onto the floor, exhausted. Sunny leaned against his knee, while Nephis lay with her hands behind her back, panting.
"W-Where did you learn my clan's technique?"
"…You… taught me. I watched you fight. And I learned."
It was only half a lie. Sunny had trained with her and fought against her countless times.
"And how did you learn it?" she asked, still bewildered.
"It's my Aspect Inheritance. It lets me absorb the essence of a combat style quickly. I just had to watch you to grasp its core."
This time, Nephis couldn't maintain her cold facade.
"An Aspect… Inheritance?! But you're still a Sleeper!"
Who had ever heard of a Sleeper unlocking their Aspect Inheritance? Nephis even raised her voice in disbelief, forgetting her usual restraint.
"Calm down, calm down! Someone might hear you."
Nephis lowered her voice and stared at the floor. Truthfully, she felt… lacking. This boy from the outskirts had surpassed her in skill, wielded a bizarre Echo, and even unlocked his Aspect Inheritance.
"I've been a Sleeper for a year now. I'm not lazy. I wasn't going to waste a whole year after surviving my first Nightmare."
"You've been here for a year?"
"Yeah. I got infected by the Spell a week after the last Winter Solstice. Lucky, right? I had a whole year to prepare for the Dream Realm—and I made it count. When I enter the Dream… I will come back."
Sunny and Nephis talked for a while, with Sunny subtly steering the conversation toward their goals and bits of personal life. Nephis, however, didn't share much—her social skills were still as rough as ever.
At the cafeteria, Sunny sat as usual with Cassie.
"Did I ever tell you how I made a dead god come back to life just to bless me?"
"I sliced Awakened wrist on a stone and the god returned from his grave to grant me a blessing"
"Hahaha, such a liar you are sunless !"
"Believe me, I'm the most honest person in the world No actually in the two worlds"
That was their conversation—until a silver-haired girl approached with a tray and quietly sat beside Cassie.
It was Nephis.
"Hello, Sunny."
"Hi, Cassie."
"Hi, Nephis."
"Hi, Nephis."
Just yesterday, Nephis had gathered enough courage to join them at their table. Sunny took that as a good sign—at least now he could see her up close. Even Cassie welcomed her. But the air between them was still a little stiff, the awkwardness lingering.
"Let me finish the story—did I mention how that god killed an Awakened tyrant and an Ascended Demon just for me? Even gods owe me favors!"
Cassie burst into laughter, and even Nephis allowed herself a faint smile.
The four weeks passed swiftly.
And then… the Winter Solstice came.