Now it was starting.
The day of the Winter Solstice.
Sunny stood before his sleeping pod, deep underground in the Sleeper Academy. He was ready. He knew what to do — or at least, most of it.
Everything except how to handle Nephis. That part still eluded him.
He had mastered the first step of Shadow Dance and claimed the Soul Serpent, though his stamina wore thin after just ten minutes of practice. Because of that, he now had a weapon — something vital. Without it, facing the shark in the Dark Sea would be a deadly problem.
The only other memories he had were the Puppeteer's Shroud and the Silver Bell — both returned to him from his first nightmare.
Cassie stood before her own pod. She wasn't ready. She wasn't calm. She trembled, frightened, tears silently falling.
Once Sunny was gone, the hope he had given her faded like smoke.
She thought he was strange — unlike anyone she had ever met. In fact, through a vision, she even knew his birthday and wished him a happy one on this very Winter Solstice.
He was genuinely happy in return — not just because she remembered, but because there was something deeper.
He didn't fake calmness like the others, didn't pretend to be steady. Some tried to look brave, like Caster from the Han Lee clan, but they were all just normal humans.
Sunny was different.
Too calm. Too steady. Not trying to seem brave — but full of anticipation.
That scared her more than a little.
Yet still, she was grateful to him. Even if it was only for a few fleeting minutes, he had given her hope.
Nephis stood before her pod as well.
Her pod was far more luxurious — better guarded than the others.
Because she was from the Immortal Flame clan — or at least she had been, before it was destroyed. Now, she was the last of her line.
But that no longer mattered to her.
She had a goal.
Revenge against those who betrayed her father and tried to kill her since childhood. Those who crushed her clan and plunged her into despair.
But that was only the beginning.
Her true goal was to destroy the Nightmare Spell — the very thing that had taken her mother from her.
That was why she was here.
Nothing more. Nothing less.
⸻⸻⸻⸻
Sunny once again fell into the water.
But this time, he wasn't afraid. There was no panic, no confusion. He had been prepared. He knew what was coming.
He was looking for the shark.
And then, he saw it—only this time, the monstrous predator was fleeing. It was being hunted. A massive shadow loomed behind it, something with long, writhing limbs.
Sunny's eyes widened as he realized what it was. A tentacled creature. A giant… octopus? Whatever an octopus was, Sunny had no idea.
Both he and the shark were swimming toward the ancient stone statue at the bottom of the sea. Sunny was closer, but slower. The shark was gaining—until one of the creature's limbs lashed out and slammed it into the base of the statue with brutal force.
A mortal wound.
But Sunny had no time to think. The beast turned its attention to him. He barely managed to scramble onto the statue before it could drag him into the depths. If he had been even a moment slower, he would be dead.
He wasn't ready to fight it.
Not yet.
Instead, he focused on the shark, now bleeding and struggling on top of the statue. He summoned the Soul Serpent, willed it into the shape of an odachi, and struck. The blade didn't deal much damage—but that was fine. He didn't need to kill it with one blow.
He just needed to keep it bleeding.
He kept the blade touching the shark, slicing again and again, careful not to lose contact.
After several tense minutes, just as Sunny sensed the octopus circling back—
[You have slain a Corrupted Devil: Abyssfin.]
[Your shadow grows stronger.]
[You have received a Memory.]
He immediately summoned his runes with part of his mind, while the rest stayed locked on the creature lurking in the dark.
A trick he'd learned. Dividing his awareness. Diving into the Soul Sea with only part of his consciousness. It was difficult, but useful.
The runes formed:
Memory: [Abyssfang]
Memory Rank: Transcendent
Memory Tier: Four
Memory Type: Weapon
A seemingly ordinary blade that undergoes a dramatic transformation when submerged in water. It grants the wielder the ability to breathe underwater and move with incredible speed. The weapon possesses a life-stealing enchantment, healing its user with every wound it inflicts. Crafted from an unknown material, Abyssfang is sharper, faster, and stronger in its true aquatic form—surpassing even most Transcendent weapons. Its fluid, almost living appearance reflects the primal fury of the deep.
Sunny grinned.
This Memory… it was a gift. A treasure. With this, he could now hunt in the dark sea.
He wouldn't be reckless, but he also hadn't planned on being too cautious tonight.
When the water stirred again and he saw the movement of tentacles in the dark, he summoned Abyssfang, took a deep breath, and dove.
The change was instant. The blade responded to the sea as if it were alive. It transformed in his grip—sleek, fluid, terrifying. The enchantments activated.
He could breathe. He could move. Fast.
He darted toward the giant octopus.
But not fast enough.
A tentacle struck him mid-charge, slamming into his ribs. Bones cracked. Pain exploded.
Still, it was fine. He could breathe. He had time. He could fight.
The octopus coiled around him, pulling him closer to its monstrous maw. He slashed, severing the limb gripping him, and twisted free.
Now he was close enough to strike.
So close that his blade could carve and tear faster than the tentacles could reach him.
The creature had mistaken him for easy prey. It had no idea.
Sunny tore into it.
He stabbed and slashed, holding on with one hand and carving deep wounds with the other. He drove the blade in again and again. He refused to be thrown off. He clung to its body and cut until—
[You have slain a Corrupted Devil: Abyssal Grasp.]
[Your shadow grows stronger.]
He drifted in the water, broken and bleeding—but still alive. Most of his wounds were already healing, drawn together by the sword's life-stealing enchantment.
[SHADOW FRAGMENTS: 65/1000]
And he wasn't finished.
For the rest of the night, he hunted.
Carefully this time.
He remained near the statue, using it as a refuge. He didn't chase prey. He waited for it to come to him. Nothing Corrupted, nothing too powerful.
Just enough.
He had only hunted six more creatures… and yet, he had earned more shadow fragments than days of fighting Carapace Demons would have brought him. It was dangerous — far more dangerous — but also infinitely more efficient.
Still, as long as he avoided the truly monstrous ones—Tyrants or greater Corrupted threats—he would survive. Thanks to Abyssfang.
When morning came and the dark sea retreated, most of his wounds had already healed. Sunny climbed back to the top of the stone statue, casting one last glance at the runes dancing in his vision:
[SHADOW FRAGMENTS: 145/1000]
Then, without a word, he lay down and let exhaustion claim him.