Awakening

In the black void illuminated by countless stars, Sunny gazed at the intricate tapestry in pain, then turned his eyes away and directed them to his runes.

Name: Sunless

True Name: Herald Of Death

Rank: Dreamer

Shadow Core: Dormant

Class: Terror

Shadow Cores: [6/7]

Shadow Fragments: [1316/6000]

Memories: [Mantel of the Underworld] [Puppeteer Shroud] [Quiver of Leaves] [Coral Ring] [Spark of Fire] [Sheralth Armour] [Drinking Horn] [Veil of Thorns] [Clean Handkerchief] [Ordinary Rock] [Miniature Furnace] [Shadow Lantern] [Weaver's Mask] [Nameless Sun] [Many other memories used for various purposes or unnamed]

Echoes: ><

Shadows: [Soul Serpent] [Shell Demon] [Marble Saint]

Attributes: [Fated] [ Flame Of Divinity] [Shadows Master] [Blessed by the Shadow God] [Bloodweave] [Death]

Aspect: [Divine Shadow]

Aspect Rank: Divine

Innate Ability: [Embrace of Shadows]

Aspect Ability: [Shadow Control]

Ability Description: [Your shadows are more independent than most. They are invaluable assistants. All shadows respect your authority.]

"When will we be done with this, spell? I've finished what I was doing."

The spell spoke at the same time Sunny did, as if it had been waiting for him to declare he was done.

[Second Seal Broken]

[Dormant Power Awakening]

Just like what had happened during his first Nightmare, Sunny felt something awaken within him. But this time, it came from the Shadow Cores. A semi-material energy moved through his body, enhancing him, making him stronger, faster, and more refined.

The mysterious energy filled Sunny's body completely. It was much more powerful and flooded him with a sense of joy. He focused on the transformation by closing his eyes and adjusting his posture.

The surging waves of heat quickly receded, replaced by a faint coldness that erased the mild pain. Sunny felt His soul Essence from his Soul Cores into his body—there was simply too much of it, and he wasn't expending any essence. It was a natural circulation through his flesh.

Then came the main event of the awakening. The spell spoke again.

[Awakening Aspect Ability]

[Aspect Ability Acquired]

[Aspect Ability Name: Shadow Step]

Ability Description: [You can move freely between and through shadows, traveling from one to another in the blink of an eye.]

"Oh, there's a slight change in the description."

Shadow Step was an incredibly useful ability for Sunny, especially now that he had become an Awakened Terror. Its range was vast.

"Aaah! It hurts, what is this?!"

Sunny grabbed his head and started writhing from the visions flashing through his mind and the knowledge being forced into him. But it wasn't data—it was scenes and memories of himself.

He was weak and pitiful in those memories. Yet Sunny didn't care about how he looked, only the information they carried.

When the pain ended, he tried to absorb the knowledge. But the spell didn't give him time to gather his thoughts and spoke in a joyful voice.

[Wake up, Sunless!]

Immediately, the black void full of shining stars vanished and was replaced by the ceiling of a hospital, with nurses rushing toward him with towels. They were talking to him so fast that Sunny couldn't follow what they were saying. He asked:

"Did the others wake up?"

"Sir Awakened Sunless, if you mean those who were with you—yes, they've awakened… they were worried about you and praised your bravery in the final battle. You should Really hear them."

This nurse seemed a little too excited. Sunny didn't know why. He wasn't exactly handsome enough to make her act like that.

All over the hospital, a large number of Sleepers awakened—some who had entered the Dream Realm months ago, others even years prior.

But everywhere, they spoke of Herald of Death and Changing Star… praising them.

In another room, a young man with chestnut hair and strikingly handsome features awoke after three years of sleep.

In one of the hospital corridors, a girl wearing a blue blindfold and pale blond hair, with an ethereal beauty, smiled faintly as she walked toward one of the rooms.

""

In another hospital room, a young man with brown hair and dark skin pounded the wall in regret and fear, uttering words of forewarning in a trembling voice.

In a secure basement room, a girl with long silver hair and ivory skin was getting dressed as the nurses helped her.

Far away, in the heart of the city, inside an abandoned apartment, stood an old capsule in the center of the room. Inside it was a woman with pale, sickly skin. She raised her fist and struck the capsule's glass, spreading cracks across it.

—

Sunny donned the robe the nurses had given him, then ordered five of his shadows to surround him to fend off unwanted questions. Afterward, he moved toward the hall where most of the Sleepers—or freshly awakened—had gathered.

In the hallway ahead, Cassie appeared. A smile touched her lips as she asked:

"Was it hard?"

"Of course it was! It was a Fallen Terror, Cassie. It burned me, shattered me, wounded my soul… but I gave it back to him. Hah, that bastard is sitting on my soul now… by the way, have you seen Nephis?"

"No, I came to check on you first. On the way, I was going to ask you to accompany me to Nephis. But you took too long to wake up. It's strange… why were you all delayed?"

"Of course we were fighting. I mean… have you ever seen lovers who don't fight in the crucial moments?"

"You and Neph?!"

"Yes… even if she doesn't know it. Or maybe she does but just refuses to admit it."

"Do you love her?"

"Absolutely."

Cassie looked stunned. But Sunny took her arm and began leading her toward the hall where the other Awakened were.

People passed by in a rush to their posts, and the place was in total chaos. That was because over a thousand Sleepers had returned from the Dream Realm in less than an hour.

As soon as Sunny entered the hall, all eyes turned to him—then came the cheers. The Sleepers were overjoyed at the survival of the one who had risked his life to fight the Fallen Terror for their sake.

Sunny smiled at them, then a practically giant man and a tall one approached him—it was Gemma and Tesai.

"Sunless, Tesai, and I wanted to thank you for what you've done for us. Even though I followed you, I doubted you… But now, you've given us a chance to live and a chance to improve without despair. We truly owe you."

Tesai nodded silently beside him.

"Oh? Well, if you owe me, then organize the Sleepers who returned from the Forgotten Shore into one large cohort—or at least those who want to come with me and Nephis."

Gemma and Tesai frowned, but didn't object and walked away.

Many other Sleepers approached Sunny to thank him, and after what felt like an eternity of handshakes and words, he finally saw Nephis enter the hall.

She wore a light white robe that covered her entire figure—she looked like a priestess or a descending angel. When she saw Sunny and Cassie, she smiled and tried to approach them. But people surged toward her, repeating the same admiration they had shown Sunny.

A hand grabbed Sunny's shoulder and pulled him into an embrace. When he pulled back, he saw Kai smiling at him.

"Oh—hey! Kai! I'm not used to being pulled into hugs without warning."

"Why? You're not in the Dream Realm anymore. You don't need to be so wary."

"You're wrong, Kai. Humans are more dangerous than Nightmare Creatures when they want to be. And as someone who grew up on the outskirts, caution and suspicion are just part of who I am."

"You have enemies here?"

"Not yet. Maybe in time… By the way, have you seen Effie anywhere?"

"No, I haven't. Isn't she here?"

"I don't think so. If she were, we'd be hearing her from hundreds of meters away."

Nephis approached Sunny and Kai as they stood in the hall, waiting to be summoned to complete the standard procedures that follow an Awakened returning from the Dream realm.

When her eyes met Sunny's, she was overwhelmed by the darkness and the dancing shadows in his cold yet captivating gaze.

Nephis stumbled slightly, but Sunny caught her before she could fall.

"Are you alright?"

"Yes… I am."

"Then do you have a plan, or do I need to come up with one for you?"

Nephis replied with a sly smile.

"Oh, I have a plan. I think you'll like it."

"And what is it?"

"Nothing much. I'm just going to live with you until I finish my second Nightmare."

Kai looked at Sunny with a mix of fear and respect.

Cassie's lips trembled slightly. Sunny spoke, keeping the joy out of his voice.

"Sounds like a good plan… except for one small issue. I don't actually have a house."

Nephis' smile faded slightly, while Sunny's grew even wider.