Shadow Slave: Purgatory

As a mocking cackle echoed through the dunes, Sunny's eyes widened in recognition.

The sound was very similar to the thing that had almost attacked them after their fight with the lesser Shadow wraiths.

"Has it been stalking us? For how long?"

Sunny shivered as he realized the answer to that question. From the very start it had been following them, waiting outside the cave calmly and patiently for them to once again put themselves in danger. But something didn't make sense.

Why didn't the creature attack them earlier, why did it wait until now? As if answering his question, his gaze landed on Nephis's unconscious body.

'Nephis... That bastard was waiting for Nephis to collapse from the poisonous air.'

A feat like that, achieved by a mere nightmare creature, was by no means small. The creature managed to manipulate both Sunny and Nephis, it gave them a false sense of comfort by making them believe that no other being could sense them without the ripples in the sands.

It had recognized the effect the air was having on these puny humans, particularly Nephis a detail Sunny had failed to notice himself. But that wasn't all—it had observed their battle with the other wraiths, noting their abilities and Nephis's stupidly unfair healing flames. It concluded that it couldn't damage or kill Nephis in a straight fight, so it waited for the air to damage her enough to knock her unconscious. And just when the air finished the job, it attacked Sunny. It was a perfectly orchestrated trap—a treacherous checkmate.

Sunny shivered in fear; that thing seemed almost human.

'Is it a Fallen Devil?'

Sunny raised the Midnight Shard defensively as he stood over Nephis, bracing to deflect any incoming arrows.

His shadow essence reserves were severely depleted from continuously enhancing his body, meaning he stood no chance in a direct confrontation. Not that he had any desire to get close to the abomination in the first place.

His pool of memories was also limited in this situation, further hindered by the already low shadow essence he had left. Prowling Thorn might catch the creature off guard, but it would hardly be enough to cause any real damage. It was unlikely to pierce its hide, leaving only Blood Blossom. However, the damage it could inflict on fallen creatures was probably minimal.

Could he even beat something like this in his current state with his current abilities? And while protecting Nephis and being dragged down by the inevitable and destined death that was waiting for him at the end of this fight?

At this point, there was only one thing Sunny could reasonably do. He glanced back at Nephis and grit his teeth as he growled in frustration.

It was almost poetic—after killing so many enemies treacherously, he was about to meet his end to an even more treacherous shadow.

Saint picked up Nephis's unconscious body, hearing his mental command.

A black arrow shot for Nephis once again, but Sunny, unable to swat it away in time, took it to his chest once again, shielding Nephis with his body.

He grit his teeth in pain as he yanked out the arrow, then turned back to look Saint in the eye.

"Get her out of here. What are you waiting for?"

Saint seemed almost hesitant, reluctant to follow his command, but his orders were absolute. She turned and ran with Nephis. He looked back at Nephis's unconscious form in Saint's arms with a wistful expression.

Nephis could probably heal the damage the air had caused with her abilities, but she was unconscious now—he didn't know if she'd ever wake up. Even if he couldn't make it, he selfishly wanted Nephis to stay alive for a bit longer. 

To obscure their escape, Sunny tossed the ordinary rock into the black sands, infusing it with gloomy as massive ripples spread through the terrain. It was a challenge—daring every single shadow creature in the area to attack him.

That's right in this state with his current abilities this is all he could manage. 

A simple glorious last stand. 

This was it—despite his spite and every damn thing he did, the world had finally decided to kill this little cockroach.

'Ah, there are so many things I want to do.'

Sunny swayed, struggling to think clearly as his mind was clouded by the mind hex and pain. His legs trembled slightly as he fought to stay upright.

Another arrow shot from the shadows of the eclipse, striking his shoulder, but this time Sunny made no effort to resist. Two more lodged into his chest, turning him into a bloody mess as an expression of acceptance washed over his face.

The sudden pain from his wounds, combined with the accumulated damage from the relentless, harsh climate, was becoming too much for his body to endure. And yet, he had no choice but to inflict even more harm on himself to fight off the invasive suggestions of whatever had taken hold of him.

Movement caught his attention. Narrowing his dry eyes, he focused on a distant patch of inky sand that had begun to swirl, forming a growing whirlpool.

Shadows twisted and turned as they materialized into something. A few meters away stood a wraith with oily, greenish black skin. It seemed almost human, but with empty sockets for eyes, no nose or mouth, and disgustingly shriveled flesh that looked like it was rotting. It was wrapped in a black cloak. A bow hung on its back, along with a quiver full of black arrows that felt repulsive just by looking at them, and a dagger gleamed in its hands, coated in an oily sheen. The only thought he had when looking at the abomination was:

"Disgusting."

But despite the horror, the death this beautiful creature offered seemed so alluring. Wouldn't it be nice to just die? To stop caring anymore? He didn't have to worry about survival, or shadow bond, or keeping his friends alive. He didn't have to care about Nephis or her insane goal.

Ah, death seemed so peaceful. He wished he could just die right there, right now.

It approached slowly—each step feeling like hours—while he writhed in pain fantasizing about death. Its footfalls sent ripples through the black sand, masked by the massive waves from the ordinary rock.

Sunny groaned in agony, not from the pain itself, but from the suffocating anticipation. He just wanted death. This bastard was being so damn dramatic with each step—it was infuriating!

His train of thought shattered as a shadow passed over him. He tilted his head just enough to see. The creature had finally stopped, looming over Sunny, raising the dagger to slit his throat.

This was it.

Sunny's face twisted into an ugly, crooked grin.

"Like hell I'm going to die."

In a blur of motion, he had already shadow stepped behind it, moonlight shard gleaming in his hand as he drove it deep into the creature's back. Though the beast sensed his attack and leaped away, Sunny's blade had already carved a devastating wound.

The creature whirled around with a piercing screech, its eyes burning with murderous intent—but Sunny didn't flinch. If anything, the killing intent radiating from him was even more terrifying. After all, nothing was more dangerous than a cornered cockroach.

"You think a couple of your arrows could make me accept death, you vile beast? You think destined death could hold me?"

Sunny took a shuddering breath, blood trickling from his wounds as he laughed with dark mirth.

"Who do you think you are?"

The vile beast answered only with another bone-chilling screech as both of them melted into the shadows of the eclipse. They circled each other in a chaotic dance—predator and prey, though it wasn't clear which was which.

Yes, these wraiths could move through shadows invisibly.

Yes, they could travel through the eclipse's shadow with immense speed—but it was merely a lesser version of Shadow Step.

The beast was a mere ancient shadow, but Sunny? Sunny was a divine one.

Even if Sunny was destined to die here and now, he wouldn't go quietly into that dark night. He wanted to make the bastard bleed and suffer, even if it meant following it to death—and he'd survive death too.

*** 

Do i have the G3 aura or should i try more?