Chapter 15: Chapter 15 : The Ending of An Epoch
Author's note]
[Okay guys before I began with the chapter I'd like to show some details I edited. Like the aspect, which I confused with attributes. Thinking they're the same but they're not. Mostly because I wasn't taking the fanfic seriously when I started writing it, unlike now. So, here's an updated version of Sunny's runes. His powers are the same it's just difference in the names!]
***
Name: Sunless
True Name: Lost from Light.
Rank: Dreamer
Class: Tyrant
Shadow Cores: [5/7]
Attributes: [Chain Breaker], [Ember of Divinity],[Prince of Shadows], [Death], [Blood weave], [Shadow devour].
Aspect: [Shadow].
Aspect Rank: Divine.
Innate Ability: [Nihil Shield]
Aspect Ability: [Shadow Control].
Flaw: [Clear Conscience]
***
[Prince of Shadows] Description: [Shadows recognize you as their Prince. The heir of the Shadow God]
[Death] Description: [You have inherited the lineage of the shadow god]
Aspect [Shadow] Description: [You are a miraculous shadow left behind by a dead god. You have broken free from the chains of fate and time and escaped certain death. You possess plenty of strange and wondrous powers]
[Nihil Shield] Description: [As a unique shadow and the closest being to Death. You're immune to any kind of corruption]
***
[Prince of Shadows] is an upgraded version of [Child of Shadows] that Sunny got after inheriting the lineage of the shadow god.
[Death] is like Nephis's attribute [the fire], which she got from the sun god lineage.
And [Shadow] is an upgraded version of [Shadow slave]. This time, Sunny's aspect doesn't say that he longs for a master. Obviously, since it's an upgraded version, there will be some enhancements in Sunny's original aspect abilities.
Lastly, [Nihil Shield], which is self explanatory tbh. I know it's kinda cracked, but we know that there are two ways to purify corruption. Have [longing] Ability like Nephis or die. And considering that Sunny is the closest thing to the shadow god and later on got his lineage, I think it's reasonable enough to be immune to corruption.
Anyway, this is all I was gonna say. Hope you guys enjoy the chapter ;)
***********
Previous Chapter:
"Ah, what a sight. All my precious wards gathered here, united in the desire to see justice prevail. This dedication, this fervor for the rule of law... oh, it just makes my blood boil with appreciation. Don't you think it's wonderful? Not only that, but the mighty defender of justice, Lost From Light. Is pleasing us with his presence here."
Sunny watched Gunlaug, and smirked as he bowed while placing his hand on his chest. Looking like noble, and said in a charming voice:
"The pleasure is all mine, Lord of the bright castle. I was lucky enough to be back after my expedition in the labyrinth and be able to help serve justice again."
Sunny smirked
'Let the show begin!'
***********
Gunlaug shifted his gaze towards Nephis. And said with his serpentine voice:
"Ohh, my. Changing Star of the immortal flame. I had high hopes for you, seeing you taking care of the outer settlement. But it seems to me that you couldn't control your dogs."
Gunlaug then turned to Effie
"What a pity, Effie. Killing innocent humans. How low have you fallen. It's truly a pity. If only you had listened to me and joined the host, only then you wouldn't have fallen this low"
Sunny felt the intense gazes from the guards falling on Effie for killing people of their own. And felt the anger coming from people of the slums for the lies his telling.
Sunny raised his hand in front of Effie, who was almost about to curse Gunlaug and said in a friendly, steady voice:
"Pardon the interruption, but don't you think that it's outrageous to accuse someone of murder without providing any evidence or witnesses."
"Witnesses? Evidence? Of course, we wouldn't accuse someone unless we are certain of that. Tessai, bring out the witnesses." Gunlaug ordered with a demanding voice.
Tessai simply nodded and then brought six sleepers after a while. Sunny guessed that they were also guards like the ones he killed in the ruins. They all looked so scared and terrified with a pained expression filled their faces. Probably part of their act.
Then, one of the six sleepers stepped up while looking at Effie with hatred and screamed:
"She's....she's the one who killed them, me and the members of my patrol were patrolling near the ruins when we heard loud screams. When we checked, we saw this filthy monster torturing our friends to get their memories. But when they refused, she shredded them into pieces."
After he said that, the residents of the bright castle looked at Effie with disbelief. Of course, not all of them did, like Kai, for example, who knew the truth and could know it with his flaw too. The slum dwellers started screaming:
"Liar!"
"Effie won't do such a thing!"
"Effie wasn't even in the ruins that day!"
Sunny just raised his hand to the crowd behind him to silence them. Which worked effectively. He stared at the sleeper with his friendly smile, which still made the sleeper flinch.
"What's your name?" Sunny asked casually.
The sleeper was startled and said in a suppressed voice
"Locus"
"Locus, it must have been hard for you and your members to witness that, right?" Sunny kept his friendly tone.
"Ye...yeah"
"But, are you really sure about what you saw? Maybe it was a nightmare creature. Who deceived your friends by taking a human shape, which happened to be Effie's. Because you see, I know Effie well enough to know that she won't ever do something like that." After Sunny's statement. The crowd started thinking about what he had just said, which is very reasonable.
Locus trembled. He didn't really know how to turn the table back to his side again. But before he could say anything, Sunny continued talking.
"But even then, I know you were lying. You know why?" Lucos flinched as he stared at Sunny. Of course, he was certain that almost no one really believed what he said. But he was forced to say it by his leader.
"Why?" Locus answered nervously
Sunny didn't answer as he slid his hand inside a small brown bag. Then, everyone felt scared and disgusted when they saw Sunny pulling out six heads from this small bag. He threw the heads on the floor. Before anyone could say anything, he also pulled out six headless corpses. Then Sunny pointed at himself and said with a cold smile that made everyone chill.
"Cause I'm the one who killed them."
The great hall grew silent as everyone stared with terrified expressions at the unpleasant and terrifying scene. Both Nephis and Effie were surprised by what Sunny just did.
"So, Gunlaug. Not only did you accuse an innocent person of murder, but you also rigged witnesses and the evidence that I don't need to see to know that it's fake. So, what do you have to say for yourself?" With an evil wide smirk on his face. Sunny stared at Gunluag with cold eyes.
But Gunlaug just said with emotionless, "Are you avoiding the fact that you still killed six innocent people?"
"Innocent?" Sunny raised an eyebrow and then Chuckled loudly
"Who said they were innocent? In fact, I only killed them because they were the ones who tried killing me first. You see, when I got back from the labyrinth. I saw them walking suspiciously in the ruins. When I followed them, guess what i found? They were imprisoning my friend Night alone in the ruins for weeks! Just so they can take his memories! You call these filthy people innocent?!"
The crowd gasped as they looked at Kai. Who then stepped out and said with his charming voice:
"That's right, everyone. If it wasn't for my friend Lost From Light. I could've been trapped there till now."
To say that Sunny wasn't surprised would be a lie. Well, technically, he wouldn't be able to say that out loud. But the point is, Kai's interference wasn't planned. But it's a good thing he did, cause now more people are gonna believe him.
"So Gunlaug, it seems that you are the one who can't control his dogs. Normally, I would have brought them here for punishment, but I had already killed them. And unlike the false testimony that Locus said about how Effie shredding them into peices. I was merciful enough to give them painless deaths."
Sunny said in a natural tone. But then his tone turned cold and sharp as he said.
"Nonetheless, you're still going to be punished for accusing an innocent person of murder and rigging the testimonies. So tell me, Gunlaug. what kind of punishment should you get?" Sunny smirked while saying the last part.
Gunlaug pondered for a while and then said in a deep cold tone. "You know, you're becoming so annoying, Lost From Light. With all your talk about justice and acting as if you're a guardian of it. You have the audacity to accuse me here? In my castle?" His tone turned harsh. Then he rose from his throne.
Or at least, that's what he tried to do. Because in that moment, a loud cracking voice was heard. Gunlaug froze.
Just now, when he was going to stand. A dagger was flying towards him at a terrifying speed. Before he could even react, it penetrated his golden mask and made a deep cut in his cheek.
He turned his face in fear as he saw a triangular leaf shaped kunai stuck inside a crack it made in his marble throne.
Without anyone noticing, Sunny secretly summoned [Prowling Thorn] and made all of his shadows envelope him. Giving him immense power. Right now, Sunny's raw strength could even pass awakened tyrants. The two lineages flowing inside his veins made him much, much stronger. And just when Gunlaug tried rising from his throne, he threw the [Prowling Thorn] so fast that its speed alone would make it more destructive.
Using its enchantment. Sunny pulled the Kunai back to him. Gunlaug watched with fear as he saw where this thing came from. He shivered when he finally realized that Sunny was the one who threw it. And missed it on purpose.
Everyone was stunned from what had just happened. Even Gunlaug lieutenants paled and shivered from the show of the raw strength.
'How strong is he?! Could a sleeper even be this strong??' A question everyone asked themselves.
Sunny stared at Gunluag with motionless.
"I think you realized that I cou-" before Sunny could finish his sentence, his vision went dark. And it seemed like the same thing happened to Nephis and Effie, who suddenly flinched.
"What the hell just happened?! Why am I blind?" Effie said while turning her face around.
Sunny ignored her statement as he sensed a shadow moving towards him. It was, of course, Harus's. And although Sunny could've simply used the shadows around him to look through them. He didn't need to. He was so experienced with his shadow sense to the point where it became something he felt unconsciously. Like it's a part of his body.
"You've gone too ahead of yourself. Worm" Harus said coldly. The crowd was scarred to see that Harus himself took action.
"Sunny, watch out!" Kai screamed, full in despair as he saw Gunlaug hunchback dashing toward his friend. To Kai, Harus moved at a terrifying speed. But to Sunny, he was slow. Very slow, in fact.
Just when Harus reached in attack zone. He delivered a punch to Sunny's face while chains covered his hands.
But to his shock, Sunny casually bent his torso, avoiding the punch easily by an inche.
Sunny, who wasn't surprise by Harus wild action. Dodged the attack. Still being wrapped with his five shadows. He grabbed Harus face in his hand. And then said with a fearsome smile:
"Gotcha."
and then, with a terrifying force. He crushed the back of Harus's head into the ground. The forceful impact caused the castle to shake and the floor down him to shatter.
[You have slain a Sleeper: Harus]
[Your shadow grows stronger]
After the spell finished, Sunny got his vision back. He looked at the crushed skull under his hand.
Just now, the fearsome and terrifying Harus was killed. Just like that.
Sunny then muttered to himself in contemptuous:
"Know your place. Lowly slave"
Then, in the corner of his eyes, he saw Nephis and Effie blinking a few times. To them, they suddenly went blind for a couple of seconds for some reason. Then, they turned to look at Sunny, and saw a body under him. Its head was crushed. Only after a couple of seconds did they slowly realized the identity of the corpse.
Effie slowly pointed at the corpse while her face was twitching with a weird expression on her face.
"Hey, doofus, does it happen to be that this corpse belongs to Harus?" Her tone was full with utter disbelief.
Even the crowd themselves couldn't comprehend what just happened. Even Gunlaug himself and his lieutenants were no exception.
"Harus has fallen" Sunny stated loudly
After moments, the silence broke.
"He's dead!"
"He killed him!"
"We're finally free from him!"
"My dead friends got their vengeance!"
Most people were screaming with joy on Harus's fall. Only Gunlaug's men looked pale and scared.
Harus, Gunlaug's trump card. Was easily killed. With one move!
"Forgive me for causing a bloody scene in your castle, Gunlaug. But your slave was the one who attacked me. So I'm innocent, right? If only you controlled your slave better, he could've survived. " A crazy smile appeared on Sunny's face.
'Mad....he's full of madness!' For the first time in a long while. Gunlaug felt true horror, like he was a mere ant in the presence of a lion. All his glory and strength amount to nothing against him.
"Anyway, as I was going to say before, Harus interrupted me. I was able to kill you with that throw. But I was generous enough to give you a chance. Listen here, Gunlaug. I'll spare your life under one condition. Become my lieutenant, only then I'll spare your life." A wide evil smirk appeared on Sunny's face
Everyone suddenly froze.
'What kind of condition is this?! Making him leave his throne to live!?' Even Nephis was shocked from Sunny's boldness
But then, Sunny spread his arms in a gesture as if he was teaching a bunch of believers.
"Of course, this offer applies to everyone from the castle. I, Lost From Light! Promise you safety, food, strength, and most of all. I promise you hope! Hope of leaving this cursed place! And return to the waking world!"
After he said that. Sunny took the small brown bag and turned it upside down. Then, a couple of Ascended sould shards started falling. After some time. A pile of 43 ascended shards was formed.
Everyone in the throne room looked at the shards with hunger and greed, but what stood out was that they looked at Sunny with awe. As if he was some savior.
"As you may know. In the last months. I was traveling the labyrinth alone, and all these shards are the shards of all the fallen creatures I killed. Alone!"
"So what do you choose? Do you choose to follow me? and have the hope of leaving this land? Or do you wish to say stay here. Waiting for your death and slowly rot in this place?"
After he said that, something in the air changed. The hopeless air that was filled with despair, that swore to swallow them all. To destroy them. Has disappeared. Instead, a light of hope sparkled in their eyes as they stared at Sunny.
Then, Kai confidently started walking towards Sunny's side. Then, a couple of residents of the bright castle followed his steps hesitantly. Aiko, Stev, and almost all the residents started moving to Sunny's side.
Gunlaug watched in disbelief, and then everyone was shocked to see Seishan, one of Gunlaug's lieutenants, also started moving to Sunny's side. A moment later, Artisan also followed hesitantly, then Gemma, and lastly, Tessai. Of course, all of their subordinates followed their leaders. And after some time. Gunlaug was left alone, seeing his kingdom fall hopelessly. His tyrant show was now over.
"So, what's your answer, Gunlaug? Make sure to choose wisely." Sunny grinned from ear to ear.
Gunlaug scoffed and said in utter defeat, "You bastard. As if there was an option." Gunlaug let out a long sigh as he stared down in defeat.
"I accept your conditions." With that, Gunlaug presence disappeared, and his armor disappeared as it showed the lord of the bright castle. With his blonde hair and short beard. He was surprisingly handsome and young....too.
"All hail Lost From Light!"
"All hail Lost From Light!"
The crowd suddenly started screaming his name. Which made Sunny feel a bit uncomfortable. But hearing them made something inside him stirre.
The epoch of Gunlaug role is now over. Ending his iron fist roling. And a new era has begun. With the rolling of the treacherous, Lost From Light!
*********
Hope you guys enjoyed the chapter ;)
Good news! I finally finished my exams🥳 which means I'll be able to upload more frequently. But not on a daily basis. At least a chapter every two days. If I nothing happened of course.