NOVEL WEB Chapter 2: Tribute
At morning's light, on the slope of a snowy peak, one could see a figure climbing—moving slowly but steadily, its body seeming far too small for the load it carried.
The ascent up the mountain was, honestly, as grueling as Sunny remembered; every fiber of his body burned and screamed in pain—though this time, thanks to his years of experience, he moved a little faster and was more efficient in his motions. Partly because he no longer bore a damned whip wound across his back.
But, to be honest, he was even enjoying it; he had endured far worse tortures than mere physical agony, and over time he had learned to partition his thoughts. So he merely tucked the pain into a corner of his mind and continued climbing.
By the evening of the second day of climbing, Sunny had reached the trail: rudimentary and long abandoned. He turned his head toward the steep incline and saw how the tyrant was gradually following his tracks—obviously by Sunny's design.
He moved to a corner, set down his pack, drew a dagger and an object wrapped in hide, and unwrapped the bundle. Inside lay a chunk of ox meat and several red berries.
All along the path he had been poisoning the tyrant—no special reason, just a precaution.
He sliced the meat in half, carving a pocket into which he tucked the berries, then took up the dagger and pierced the palm of his hand, already scored by cuts. He let a few drops of blood fall onto the meat.
'That's the last of it.'
He stowed the dagger in his backpack and wrapped his hand in a strip of cloth.
He pressed on through the night. Once he was halfway there, he left his pack behind and pressed on toward the Forgotten Temple—time was short.
Fatigue and exhaustion were taking their toll, and the blood loss made it worse.
At best, his breathing was ragged; his steps slow and measured; his vision had long since blurred, and he felt overwhelming drowsiness.
The cold was brutal, heightening his desire to sleep; by now the snow looked like a welcome mattress.
Moonlight faintly illuminated his path, and up ahead stood the empty, ancient, forgotten, and nameless temple.
Black marble reflected the moon, and nearby stood its guardian, waiting for anyone bold enough to cross its threshold.
Sunny couldn't see him—yet the guardian saw Sunny. He hurried forward to finish the job, but then caught a faint scent, a sensation that halted him completely: the divine presence of the boy. He withdrew to a corner and watched the guardian enter the temple he protected.
This time Sunny sensed it—difficult, but he managed.
He spotted the altar and was about to spring forward when he paused; the tyrant hadn't arrived yet, and one task remained—he didn't know if it would work, but he would try.
He stood amid the ruined temple and began: his body moved with fluid beauty; his gestures erratic yet simple and perfect—no missteps. It didn't look like a dance any human could perform, but he did it—because he had once been a shadow.
This, of course, was the Shadow Dance. He performed it for two reasons: to gain any possible boon, and to unlock his Aspect Legacy.
After several minutes he halted—the dance was complete. Maybe it was all in his head, but the shadows seemed stirred, and the guardian watched him strangely—almost in admiration.
Outside the temple he heard snow crunch, claws scraping stone, and moonlight revealed the pelt of a horrific creature.
'Just in time…'
He strode calmly toward the altar. By the time he reached it, the tyrant had entered. Sunny offered a malicious smile and pressed his wounded hand to the marble.
"Die, fool."
The Spell's voice echoed in his mind, excited.
[You have offered yourself as a sacrifice to the gods.]
[The gods are dead and cannot hear you.]
[Your soul bears the Mark of Divinity.]
[You are a slave of the temple.]
[The God of Shadows stirs in His eternal slumber.]
[He grants you His blessing from beyond.]
[Child of Shadows, receive your blessing!]
The shadows rose, obeying the will of their dead god and former master. They became dark tendrils—dark tendrils—and lunged at the corrupted abomination.
They seized its limbs and tore it apart. Impossible shrieks erupted from the tyrant's gaping maw as shadows ripped its body to pieces.
[You have slain an Awakened Tyrant, King of the Mountain.]
[You have gained a memory: Puppeteer's Shroud.]
Blood spattered across his face as he cast one last glance at the shattered temple; the space began to crumble and vanish.
[Awaken, Sunless! Your nightmare has ended.]
[Prepare for your evaluation…]
Once more Sunny found himself in darkness. Above him blazed a constellation of stars joined by silver threads; slightly below, woven into the same design but with dark strands, lay another, smaller constellation whose stars glowed faintly.
'So it did work.'
He spent what felt like both moments and eternities watching his creation and Weaver's. Slowly, his spell wove into the Nightmare Spell—interlacing with silver and shadowy threads. The final enchantment had succeeded.
Then the Spell's voice spoke again, but this time it resonated as if from the universe itself rather than his mind—astonished.
"Aspirant! Your trial is complete."
"An unnamed slave faced catastrophe, struck down foes and allies alike, ascended the Black Mountain unbroken, entered a forgotten temple, and dedicated a dance to the God of Shadows, spilling his blood on the altar. Though the gods were dead, they listened."
[You have slain six Latent Beasts, Mountain King's Larvae.]
[You have slain three Inactive Humans, names unknown.]
[You have slain one Awakened Human, Auro of the Nine.]
[You have slain one Awakened Tyrant, King of the Mountain.]
[You have received the Blessing of the God of Shadows.]
"You have achieved the impossible!"
[Final Appraisal: Glorious. Your will is unbreakable.]
'Huh, that sounds so flattering.'
He pondered for several minutes and reached a conclusion: it must be because his spell was integrating with Weaver's.
And they no longer called him Traitor—perhaps the most impressive change of all.
[Dreamer Sunless, receive your blessing!]
'To be a dreamer again… it feels strange.'
[You have been granted a True Name: Lost of the Light.]
He smiled bitterly: what seemed a blessing had in fact caused him more trouble than anything else in his life—after all, if he had never received his True Name, so much would have been different…
He shook his head, scattering such thoughts; there would be time for past—or future—later.
Now it was time to enjoy his rewards.
"Your Aspect is ready to evolve. Evolve Aspect?"
He swallowed dryly—his future hinged on what happened next.
'Please…'
"Yes."
[Dormant Aspect Liberator of the Temple is evolving…]
[New Aspect obtained.]
[Aspect Rank: Divine.]
[Aspect Name: Divine Shadow.]
'It changed… its name changed…'
Of course, none of that yet meant anything—if his innate skill remained unchanged, the Aspect's name was irrelevant.
It wasn't long before he summoned his runes again.
Aspect: [Divine Shadow]
Aspect Rank: Divine
Aspect Description: [You are a miraculous shadow left by a dead god. As a Divine Shadow you possess strange and mysterious powers. Unlike other shadows, you need not be projected—you are free to take any form you wish and to follow whomever you choose.]
Innate Skill: [Death]
Skill Description: [As Divine Shadow you embody death itself; you grow stronger when your fight is to kill or to survive. When surrounded by your source element you become empowered and your will sharpens.]
"Huff… Huff."
His chest rose and fell in deep, steady breaths, each exhalation trembling through him—after all, he had just shed the cursed power that plagued him for so long.
The corners of his mouth curled into a small smile.
'I am free.'
Unlike that time in Antarctica, these words tasted sweet, very sweet, and pure joy filled him. Nothing could hold him now; he no longer needed to shatter his Destiny, no longer to hide like a rat—at least, not entirely—and, most importantly, nothing stood between him and Nephis.
After several minutes he calmed down, and a grin—from ear to ear—lit his face.
The greatest hurdle—personally—of his future plan had been overcome; with this, many things would be easier.
He looked again at his runes, and his smile widened even more. His innate skill was nothing less than incredible: not only did he gain a boost in combat, but also when cloaked in shadows. It would serve him well in countless ways.
He was just about to ponder its uses further when the Spell spoke again.
[The first seal is broken.]
[Awakening dormant powers…]
He felt his soul heat up as strength coursed through him: bones hardened, muscles coalesced, imperfections in his skin vanished, leaving it with a healthier hue.
Though somewhat accustomed to rank ascensions, this was still a deeply satisfying experience—besides, he was more excited than ever. The future looked bright; he knew precisely what lay ahead, and his abilities now surpassed those of his former life.
Gradually the warmth ebbed, settling into his soul. He felt sharper and stronger; aches and malaise dissipated, and his vision doubled in clarity.
He perceived something all too familiar: a dark, tranquil sea, faintly lit by a black sun in the sky.
This was his Soul Sea—no changes from before, and Sunny felt at home. One could say it belonged to him.
Beyond his sight, he sensed the gaze of the shadows dwelling in his soul—hidden for now, but one day he would see them clearly.
He returned his focus to the sun. Three stars orbited it: his three memories—Silver Bell, Puppeteer's Shroud, and Rebellion.
As he surveyed his Soul Sea, the Spell called him once more.
[Aspect Skill of Awakening…]
[Aspect Skill acquired.]
[Aspect Skill Name: Shadow Control.]
Though he already suspected what it would be, he summoned his runes.
Name: Sunless
True Name: Lost of the Light
Rank: Dreamer
Shadow Core: Inactive
Shadow Fragments: [21/1000]
Memories: [Silver Bell], [Rebellion], [Puppeteer's Shroud]
Echoes: –
Attributes: [Predestined], [Mark of Divinity], [Child of Shadows]
Aspect: [Divine Shadow]
Aspect Rank: Divine
Aspect Skills: [Death], [Shadow Control]
Dormant Skill Description: [Your shadow is more independent than most. An invaluable ally.]
He nodded in satisfaction—though uncertain, a change in his innate power might have altered his dormant skill. Fortunately, it remained the same. With his shadow and innate skill, he could easily become the strongest Dreamer in history in terms of raw might…
'Well, except for Effie—surpassing her will require becoming a monster.'
He chuckled at the memory of his old friend; in this life he might see her again.
The Spell sounded once more—not announcing a flaw this time.
[You have received an Aspect Legacy: Shadow Dance.]
He held his breath. He had performed the Shadow Dance in the temple hoping for an extra blessing or to unlock his legacy—but since the Spell had not mentioned it until now, he had thought he'd failed. This was splendid news.
As he reveled in joy, he summoned his runes.
Aspect Legacy: [Shadow Dance]
Legacy Description: [This mysterious and deadly style was created by the formidable Lost of the Light in the space between dreams, born of his own knowledge and imagination. Only a great master could accomplish the like.]
'The Spell's flattery grows on me; perhaps I can learn to forgive it…'
Mastery Level of the Shadow Dance: [1/7]
First Relic: [Claimed]
Second Relic: Not yet earned
Third Relic: Not yet earned
Fourth Relic: Not yet earned
…
He wondered why he had not yet obtained the other relics. Ideas came to mind—chiefly, that he first had to practice them. Though he possessed the underlying knowledge, the Spell would not acknowledge them until he truly proved himself.
This posed a problem: to claim his second relic, he needed to wield Essence. If he couldn't complete the second step during the Forgotten Coast, he'd have to revise his plans.
He shook his head—he'd find a solution later. Just then, the Spell spoke again.
[All power comes at a price.]
[You have received your Flaw.]
[Your Flaw is: Clear Conscience.]
He exhaled; honestly, he'd hoped for the same Flaw—learning to live with a different one would be terrible, almost like learning to inhabit another body… well, Sunny had done that, and was adaptable enough that he'd likely master any new Flaw.
He shook his head again—this was for the best; he was used to telling the truth.
He eyed the Spell—now almost fully integrated. Once complete, he could accomplish truly remarkable feats.
The Spell spoke one final time—announcing the end.
[Awaken, Lost of the Light!]
Sunny slowly opened his eyes; the first thing he saw was a concrete ceiling. He turned his head around the room—reinforced concrete walls—and in one corner a woman stared at them intently, her blue eyes and raven-black hair striking.
She looked distracted and tired; her chest…
"Good morning, Sunny."
He exhaled, uncertain what he felt.
'She remembers.'
Though Sunny had returned with memories intact, that didn't guarantee the others had—the fates of Nephis, Seishan, Morgan, and Jet remained unknown.
"What are you staring at?"
"At you—but I'm sorry to say there's already someone in my heart…"
Jet raised an eyebrow, a mocking smile on her lips. She stood and gave him a gentle slap.
"Hey—what's that about…"
A pair of cold arms wrapped him tightly.
Silence stretched for several minutes.
"I'm glad to see you too… Master Jet."
"It's strange."
Sunny arched an eyebrow.
"What is?"
Jet looked at him with that same teasing grin.
"That you're weaker than me again."
She stepped back and began unbuckling his restraints.
Sunny was momentarily speechless; he quickly gathered himself and spoke.
"By the way—have you spoken to the others?"
She finished freeing him and started toward the exit.
"Yes—Morgan remembers too, but the princess is still in her first nightmare…"
His heart sank; with Nephis's knowledge, surviving that trial shouldn't be a problem.
Though he wasn't overly worried—she could handle it. They had both faced horrors far greater than their first nightmares.
"By the way, Sunny—have you activated that enchantment in your Spell?"
They walked down the corridor.
"Yes—that was the plan."
He paused at the bathroom door.
"I'll see you later."
- - -
Hot water felt heavenly after days on a frozen mountain, on the brink of hypothermia.
He finished bathing and sat quietly for a moment, needing to check a few things.
First, he tested his skills—he looked down and commanded his shadow to detach from his feet. It obeyed, though it cocked its head sideways as if to say, 'Do you really need this?'
'Ah, Glomy—you and I alone again. But don't worry, the others will return soon.'
Now he ordered the shadow to envelop him. It climbed his body, turning him darker.
He felt himself grow twice as strong… no, slightly stronger—it wasn't an exaggeration. His innate skill, when wrapped in a single shadow, granted only a third of what summoning multiple shadows would, and even more so in darkness.
He wanted to test the other facet of his innate skill but would have to wait.
He called up his Aspect Legacy runes.
Aspect Legacy: [Shadow Dance]
Mastery Level: [1/7]
First Relic: [Claim]
Second Relic: Not yet earned
Third Relic: Not yet earned
…
This was his key to interact with the Spell—he had devised something quite ingenious.
'Claim.'
[You have received an Aspect Legacy Relic.]
[You have gained a Shadow: Soul Serpent.]
Instantly he summoned his new—and ancient—shadow.
A tattoo of a black serpent wrapped around his body, coiling around his arms, its head resting on his shoulder.
'Perfect.'
He ordered the Serpent to descend. The tattoo slithered down his skin to his feet, and upon touching the ground it became a small black snake.
It gazed at Sunny with reverence and wound itself around his foot.
"Good morning, Serpent."
Now he would activate the enchantment that would bring a profound change to humanity—an inflection point that would drastically increase his odds of survival.
He entered his Soul Sea and summoned his runes—now there were new ones.
Name: Sunless
True Name: Lost of the Light
Rank: Dreamer
Shadow Core: Inactive
Shadow Fragments: [21/1000]
Memories: [Silver Bell], [Rebellion], [Puppeteer's Shroud]
Echoes: –
Shadows: [Soul Serpent]
He focused on his new acquisition.
Shadow: [Soul Serpent]
Shadow Rank: Dormant
Shadow Class: Beast
Attributes: [Shadow Guide], [Soul Weapon]
Shadow Description: [When the end came, Shadow was the last of the gods to be destroyed. Many resented him for creating death, but in the end death embraced him all the same.]
For now the Serpent was weak—of little use until he unlocked the second step of the Shadow Dance—but on the Forgotten Coast it would be the cornerstone for incredible feats.
He then turned his gaze to the end of his runes—something new appeared: unclassified runes.
Admin Functions: [Spell's Shining Emporium], [Requests], [Spell]
A grin crept over his lips. The enchantments of his Spell had integrated well—true to their name, there was now a memory-and-echo marketplace built into the Spell, along with other extra functions he had added.
But they weren't yet available to all humans. The admin—Sunny himself—had to grant permission, and the key to admin status was possessing a Soul Serpent; those marked by it would obtain VIP membership. All of this had been invented by Aiko, of course.
Though they obviously couldn't acquire them for free, he'd implemented an economy based on shards and nightmare materials.
Unable to contain his excitement, he focused on the market—when something froze him in his tracks.
Below, only a few runes appeared:
[Not available at this time.]
'What?'
He stood in stunned silence for seconds, then exploded in fury— the damned Nightmare Spell was altering his own Spell.
'How dare you!?'
After several minutes of rage he calmed himself—at least he still held admin rank… for now.
'Well, I guess I'll have to wait a while before kicking things off. For now—let's go talk to Jet.'
He pulled on his police tracksuit and headed for the cafeteria.