Once again, before I start. There are 3 so called "unknown"s
1. 'Unknown' - Forgotten God
2. '—unknown—' - Creatures of the void (voidborne creatures sounds cooler)
3. '—unknown— the first ####' - A new entity I added, will probably break canon lore but I'll try implementing it in a way that does so *softly*
***
[Aspect Legacy Acquired!]
[Wake Up Lightless Heir!]
Sunny opened his eyes.
The ever-so-familiar armored ceiling of the police station's vault hung above him—the same ceiling he had once called majestic.
'Did not! My taste could never be that bad.'
With an internal scoff, he looked down to face Master Jet. She was wearing the same dark blue uniform with a silver adornment on her shoulder. Her jacket was casually unbuttoned, revealing a black tank top underneath.
Currently, she was…
'WAIT— Pure thoughts, Sunny. Pure thoughts.'
Noticing his gaze, she asked, "What are you looking at?" Not a gram of humor in her voice.
A gentle smile found its way onto Sunny's face as he responded, "Your insignia. Didn't know Masters went around watching over sleepers."
"You have sharp senses, that's good…" Master Jet nodded in approval. "They don't. A lot of gates have been opening up in this sector since the winter solstice is close. Plus, there's not a lot of government Awakened, since most of them tend to flock over to the big clans."
---
After their short conversation, Sunny had been directed to, and was now enjoying, a hot shower. He had summoned his runes to inspect the changes and was doing just that.
Name: Sunless
True Name: Lightless Heir
Rank: Supreme
Shadow Core: Titan
Shadow Fragments: 0
'Supreme Titan…' The thought left him like a dying whisper, a wide grin on his face. 'I will make it all right. I won't lose you—not this time.'
The current issue—at least one of them—to be dealt with, was that of his Shadow Fragments. There was no counter, so to speak of.
'This will take some experimenting.'
Sunny looked down; Gloomy, Happy, Creepy, Haughty, Naughty, Crazy, and Lazy were all there. Manifesting them in such a tight area while taking a shower would be… weird, so he sent them out to scout certain areas before continuing to read his runes.
Aspect: Prince of Death
Aspect Rank: Unknown
Aspect Description: *[You are the only heir of a dead god. As a divine heir, you possess plenty of strange and wondrous powers. Your existence—although lonely—is complete. You are a shadow that need not be cast.]*
(I totally did not forget to add his aspect abilities in the first chapter)
Aspect Abilities: [Shadow Control], [Shadow Step], [Shadow Manifestation], [Shadow Incarnation], [Shadow Legion]
The most glaring change was that of his Aspect Rank: *Unknown*.
This had happened quite a few times by now, almost always to prevent corruption. 'The only other reason I can think of is that… it's beyond what the spell knows.' Although egregious, it was the most obvious explanation.
Another question was what had caused his Aspect to change. Was it his regression? 'The —unknown— the first ####' creature? Or maybe it was just a byproduct. What he did know, however, was that he was no longer suffering from [Shadow Bond]—which, for some reason, Shadow seemed to think highly of. Moving on—
Innate Ability: [Death]
Ability Description: [The only finality is Death. The only inevitable truth is Death. You embody the absolute law of Death. As the embodiment of Death, your will is stronger, sharper, and more pervasive than others.]
Steam rolled in the air like lazy ghosts, clinging to the porcelain walls. His reflection in the glass….
Where previously there was [Shadow Bond], now there was this new Attribute. 'It seems simple enough—empowering my will. However, whenever it comes to Death, things are never simple.' Sunny sighed. 'Guess I'll need to experiment this too before I can fully understand it.'
'Now, time for the Attributes…'
Attributes: [Fate's Favored], [Divine Right], [Scion of Shadows], [Chain Breaker], [Gift of —unknown—], [Pureborn]
[Fate's Favored]: "You are a treacherous being that piqued the interest of —unknown—. With its favor came another."
'So you weren't just content with screwing me over, huh?'
[Divine Right]: "You were born to rule, not to kneel. No will but your own may touch the throne of your existence."
[Scion of Shadows]: "All shadows revere you and seek your finality."
'That's… not ominous at all.'
[Chain Breaker]: "You intrinsically defy any form of chains placed upon you."
[Gift of —unknown—]: "—unknown—, the first #### of the universe, existed not because it must, but because it could. Amused by your treachery and defiance of fate, —unknown— parted onto you a gift, and called upon—for you—a favor."
'Well, I guess I do have quite a few treacherous *cough* great achievements.'
[Pureborn]: "You are free from the affliction of all kinds of corruption."
He shut the runes with a flick of thought.
"… I really have no idea what's going on" he whispered, stepping out of the water.
Then, with a crooked grin tugging at the corner of his mouth, he added, "But damn if I'm not curious."
The latter of it was all things he already knew, so he simply glanced over them and skipped to the end.
Aspect Legacy: Shadow Dance
Description: [Once an elegant dance, now a deadly battle art. This mysterious style was created by the treacherous Lost From Light—now Lightless Heir—after witnessing a graceful slave dancing with her shadows. Who else could have taken something so beautiful and turned it into something so vile?]
Shadow Dance Mastery Level: [4/7].
First Relic: [Claim].
Second Relic: [Claim].
Third Relic: [Claim].
Fourth Relic: [Claim].
Fifth Relic: Unearned.
Sixth Relic: Unearned.
Seventh Relic: Unearned.
His lips curled upwards, reveling in the sight of the runes. Sure, he had expected it, but seeing it for himself was different.
He claimed the first relic.
[You have received an Aspect Legacy Relic.]
[You have received a Shadow: Soul Serpent.]
Then the second.
[You have claimed an Aspect Legacy Relic.]
[You have received a Memory.]
Then came the third.
[You have claimed an Aspect Legacy Relic.]
[You have received a Memory.]
And finally—for now, the fourth one.
[You have claimed an Aspect Legacy Relic.]
[You have received a fragment of Shadow's Domain.]
Sunny slumped back, leaning against the misty wall.
The feeling of receiving all these boons at once, from the snake coiling around his torso and arms, to the new memories that rested in his soul sea—albeit for the second time—was exultant.
Quickly, he summoned his runes. First was Serpent.
Shadow: [Soul Serpent].
Shadow Rank: Transcendent.
Shadow Class: Titan.
Shadow Description: [When the end came, Shadow was the last of the gods to be destroyed. Many have resented him for creating death, but in the end, death embraced all.]
Shadow Attributes: [Shadow Guide], [Soul Weapon], [Soul Beast]
[Shadow Guide] Attribute Description: "Soul Serpent guides shadow essence as it flows through your body."
[Soul Weapon] Attribute Description: "Soul Serpent can assume the form of a weapon."
[Soul Beast] Attribute Description: "Soul Serpent can assume the form of a beast."
Shadow Abilities: [Serpentine Steel], [Soul Reaver], [Grace of Shadows], [Death Incarnate]
[Serpentine Steel] Ability Description: "Shadow Serpent's Soul Weapon form can assume the shape of any weapon."
[Soul Reaver] Ability Description: "A portion of the soul essence of those slain by the Shadow Serpent in its Soul Weapon or Soul Beast form is absorbed and transferred to its master."
[Grace of Shadows] Ability Description: "The master of the Soul Serpent can grace another with the trust and companionship of their Shadow Guide. One should be careful whom they bestow with their grace; entrusting others with the loyalty of Shadows is the same as sharing one's soul, and thus should not be offered lightly."
[Death Incarnate] Ability Description: "When wielded as a Soul Weapon, it heeds no will, knows no mercy, and carves through the soul itself. Its strike is final—not against flesh, but the truth beneath."
Sunny gulped, that last ability was something he had not seen before. Was this also one of the gifts of his evolved Blessing? If so, he wasn't going to complain. It seemed like strikes with his soul serpent would target the soul of the victim—ignoring their will completely.
Next, he summoned one of the new memories, the reward of the second level of his Aspect Legacy's mastery;
[Drop of Ichor]
Slowly, golden sparks of light appeared in the air in front of him and then shot toward a single point in space, coalescing into a small radiant dot. However, the Memory did not appear yet. Instead, more and more sparks flew into it, thousands upon thousands of them, until, at last, it seemed as though wide streams of brilliant golden light were constantly flowing into the slowly growing sphere of radiance.
Where previously it had lasted for about a minute before the memory fully manifested, it now took at least ten times as long.
Memory: [Drop of Ichor].
Memory Rank: unknown
Memory Tier: unknown
Memory Type: unknown
Memory Description: [Before, there was only boundless, eternal void. From that dark abyss, the -unknown- were born—shapeless, endless, ever-changing, like the chaos that bore them. But then came desire, and with it came direction. From it, the gods were born.
When gods appeared, the void was not eternal anymore.
When gods appeared, the darkness was not endless anymore.
When gods appeared, the chaos was not orderless anymore.
The gods appeared, and brought with them war. This drop of divine blood was spilled by Shadow on one of the battlefields of that war, before the void was bound, on a battlefield even '—unknown— the first ####' witnessed. This blood was later made to a relic, rewritten by '—unknown— the first ####' for the one it favors.]
Sunny stared at the runes, making sure he was not misreading things. This… was different. Shadow's blood had been spilled, that much was evident, but what remained hidden was the involvement of this new unknown variable.
[You have acquired a drop of ichor. Do you wish to consume it?]
Sunny sighed, remembering the agony of the last two divine mouthfuls. Then he gritted his teeth.
"Yes."
[… So be it.]
'Always so damn cryptic—'
The golden drop split into 7, like a blade of light shattering.
Three shards pierced him.
Straight into his Shadow Cores.
And then came the pain.
Not burning. Not tearing.
Worse.
Unmaking.
As if the ichor sought to rewrite him, but found no words that fit.
He screamed.
Or maybe the scream never left his mouth—maybe it lived in his bones instead.
The darkness twisted.
The shadows stirred in reverence and terror.
Their Sovereign. Their God was falling.
Sunny's knees buckled and struck tile.
He collapsed, breathless. Broken.
The shadows recoiled—then surged.
They would not—could not—let their god fall.
What were they, if not the hands that held him?
But shadows have no hands. No shape.
And still they formed.
For him.
They disobeyed their nature.
And were shattered by it.
One by one, they were erased, unmade by their very own act of defiance.
Darkness swallowed the chamber.
Sunny lay there, kneeling, bearing the pain, it was brutal.
After a short moment of respite, he got back to his senses.
'Still not as bad as peering into the tapestry of fate.'
Definitely up there in the top three though.
The shadows—or at least those that survived—retreated, the shattered ones eventually faded into oblivion.
A feeling lingered, leaving a bad taste in his mouth… 'Why? Is it because I am closer to the shadows now?'
Shaking it off, Sunny summoned his runes to check the fruition of his suffering.
Attributes: [Fate's Favored], [Divine Right], [Scion of Shadows], [Chain Breaker], [Gift of —unknown—], [Pureborn], [Shadowborne]
There it was, another Attribute. Sunny quickly summoned the description of the runes…
[Shadowborne] Attribute Description: "Imbued with the last divine ichor, you walk as living armor—every cell and shadow within you hardened against ruin."
'D-Damnation!' Just when he thought things couldn't get… better? Was it better? Or was it all just a prelude to some sort of chaos he would have to endure.
A deep sigh escaped him. 'Once again, more questions and no answers…'
Where once was a feeling of euphoria, there was now anxiety.
The other two relics he received were the same memories as from his last life.
His third relic gave him the Divine Memory: [Shadow Lantern]
The fourth and last relic—for now—imparted a fragment of Shadow's domain
'All this… would take a moment to digest.'
***
A few minutes later, Sunny was wearing a clean police-issued tracksuit and heading for the cafeteria, where Master Jet was waiting for him at one of the tables.
"Help yourself."
Sunny glanced at the cheap gruel and sighed. He had gotten used to his supreme pancakes and waffles, and these just didn't fit his palate.
"No thanks, I don't have much of an appetite right now."
Sunny's gaze fell to the table. He wasn't hungry, not really. Not for food. Just rest. Peace. Maybe redemption, in some form—though that was asking for too much.
She stared at him for a few moments, not a hint of emotion in her eyes.
"Alright. Then as per protocol, I'm obliged to inform you of a few things. First, concerning your nightmare."
She glanced at him, then sighed.
"You are entitled to receive free psychological counseling. No matter what traumatic experience you've encountered, there is no shame in asking for help. Your mind is as important as your body—it's only right to keep it healthy. Are you interested?"
Sunny shook his head.
Jet shrugged and continued:
"As you wish. You can also talk to me. Was it very hard?"
"It wasn't that bad. Probably worse than others, but nothing I couldn't handle."
He spoke with an obscure smirk on his face.
She nodded, satisfied with that explanation.
"That's a good attitude. I won't pry any further. Us outskirt rats are way more resilient than people think."
Sunny looked at her with feigned intrigue.
"Master Jet… you grew up in the outskirts?"
She grinned.
"What? You can't tell because of my exquisite manners and polished exterior?"
He blinked a couple of times, doctored surprise showing in his eyes.
"I couldn't tell at all."
After pretending to think for a while, he added:
"Are there a lot of people like us among the Awakened?"
"No. There's not. In fact, they can be counted on one hand."
Sunny sighed.
'What should I do now? I can't really join the Academy because everything will be recorded. Then I'll have to come up with an excuse to leave before the solstice.'
Jet leaned back and continued:
"That's basically it. There are some additional hoops to jump through, mostly having to do with your family, but… well. I've read your file, so I know it doesn't apply. The only thing left is to decide how you will be preparing for your first journey into the Dream Realm."
She looked at her communicator and grimaced.
"I must say, your luck is terrible. There's not a lot of time at all. Firstly: you are free to do what you want. No one is forcing you to make a certain decision. That is to say, you can choose to prepare on your own—or not prepare at all. Party until the lights go out…"
Their conversation continued. Eventually, Sunny had decided against entering the Academy. Jet wasn't exactly pleased by his decision, but then again, he also hadn't outright rejected it, saying:
"I'll think about it…"
***
Surprisingly, the world wasn't rejecting him as badly as it used to. Sure, there was still the lingering feeling, but nothing that would greatly hinder him. Sunny had an inkling as to why that was.
'Probably has something to do with one of my new Attributes, maybe [Divine Right].'
There were too many questions and little to no answers. All of which he will have to gather himself, and he was going to do just that.
Sunny had sent his incarnations out far. Crazy was headed toward a specific mountain in the Sword domain to conquer the Nameless Temple, Naughty toward Bastion, Creepy to the Ravenheart, Haughty was making its way toward Rain's school, Gloomy was heading across the Hollow Mountains, towards the Forgotten Shore, while Lazy stayed attached to his feet… typical.
He himself made his way toward the Awakened Academy, hidden among the shadows—his presence further concealed.
There it stood, the Awakened Academy in all its grandeur. It was indeed a city within a city, made to churn out survivors… but only a few did survive.
The snow was falling. It was cold and silent in front of the Academy gates, except for one other person—the person he cherished most in two worlds. Looking at her now, torrents of feelings and emotions resurfaced.
Her silhouette hadn't changed. But everything else had. Time had bent him into something sharp, bitter, and hollow—and she stood untouched, like a memory carved in marble.
She had enslaved him… but he didn't care. She had her reasons, and he loved her. He loved her more than anything else. The sorrow, the grief, the regret of losing her was still clawing at him, but now, a gentle radiance filled him—so much so that he didn't realize he had exited the shadows and was staring at her.
'Why do I get the feeling someone is staring at me?' Nephis thought, as she turned to look behind—to her surprise, however, there was no one.
A scowl formed on her face.
'Am I lacking training? My senses aren't usually wrong.'
Somewhere in the shadows, a single bead of sweat would have formed—if it could.
Sunny had almost gotten caught. Not that it mattered, really. He could have introduced himself. However, he didn't know if he was ready for that just yet. After all, although this was the Nephis he loved dearly, he was not someone she loved. There was also the matter of their age.
Sunny was thousands of years old—mentally speaking—at the very least. But Nephis? She was only sixteen. As a result, his feelings were a mess, and so he decided to maintain distance for now.
Still a shadow, he made his way inside the Academy. At the edge of a hallway, there was an unassuming classroom, inside which stood an aloof man. He had messy gray hair, absentminded eyes, and a pair of bushy eyebrows that seemed to jump around on their own.
Noticing him, a humble smile found its place on Sunny's face—the kind that appears when you meet someone whom you sincerely care for.
Taking his physical form, Sunny opened the door to the classroom.
***
Somewhere in Sword Domain, one of Sunny's incarnations reached the Nameless Temple. He had made a straight break for it and thus had not yet had the chance of battling a Nightmare Creature. However, that would soon change.
Right before the Nameless Temple was a slumbering monster. A Great Monster.
'Guess I really am Fate's Favored. Otherwise, there would have been a Cursed T—'
Sunny's palm instantly shot up to his mouth, not wanting to challenge fate.
Slowly shaking his head in dejection at his own carelessness, Sunny willed the shadows that surrounded him to take the form of an odachi. In the next moment, the shadows obeyed, and shifted into a tenebrific sword, giving off an eerie glow of malevolence.
The onyx mantle took its shape around Sunny as he silently approached his prey…
The creature lay there, peacefully, not knowing what fate awaited it. One moment it was resting—and the next, it was no more.
His fingers twitched. Not from fear, but from muscle memory—remembering every mistake, every time he struck too slow. There would be no second chance.
He paused. One breath. The blade was raised.
Then, with the casual cruelty of inevitability, he struck.
In one swift arc, Sunny brought down his odachi on the gorilla-like monster.
[You have slain a Great Monster: Gralk]
'Gorilla? What the spell is that?'
The spell continued announcing information about his kill.
[Gralk was born deep in the broken valleys beyond the Sleeping Peaks, where old magic still clung to the earth like mold. It was one of a pack, but the only one to survive past its first winter. The others were eaten—by the cold, by their mother, or by Gralk himself. It didn't know the difference. It doesn't remember where it came from. It doesn't care.]
'Oh how I have missed thee, Voice Spell,' Sunny thought, embraced by glee.
[Death recognizes its own.]
Suddenly, the dead creature's shadow quivered. Then, it moved—