Chapter 2521: Broken Mirror

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  1. Offline
    + 60 -
    l1ghtnovelworld is back at l1ghtnovelworld.org (but i instead of 1)
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    2523 Art Immitates Life

    Sunny took the soju bottle and poured Mordret a glass. Of course, he made sure to hold it with one hand while doing so, since holding it with both would have been too polite.

    Pushing the glass toward the Prince of Nothing, he leaned back and pursed his lips.

    "There was no Nihilist originally. It was just Mirage City hunting down the reflections of your vessels to erase an anomaly. Things have changed after the rest of us arrived, and now, these murders have an actual explanation. Funnily enough... there is still no Nihilist anywhere out there. The terrifying serial killer terrorizing the entire city does not exist."

    Sunny shook his head with a resentful expression.

    "He is just a cover story Madoc has concocted to direct everyone's attention away from the truth. And the truth is that these people were killed by professionals he had hired to silence them — to tie up loose ends. Just like he hired enforcers to kill his nephew and us. The missing eyes are just a red herring... whatever the hell a herring is... meant to distract the public."

    He sighed.

    "If you study the backgrounds of the victims, all of them have a connection to the Valor Group. The owner of a building company handling several contracts with Valor Construction, an archivist from an enterprise that provided outsourcing services to the Valor Group, a security guard who was recently reassigned from the renovation site... and so on. Each of them can be traced to Valor Construction and the Northem Dam contract it received from the city."

    Sunny smiled faintly.
    "So is Mordret. So are two detectives who were sniffing around both him and the supposed serial killer victims. So is Morgan, who must have known something about her uncle's shady dealings... and her psychiatrist. After all, who knows what Morgan let slip in her lengthy therapy sessions with Saint, confined in a mental asylum and pumped full of drugs?"

    Mordret looked at him with interest.

    "That Saint... what an interesting person. I did not know that there was another human with the affinity to Nothing somewhere out there. Ah, I would not mind getting to know her better, if fortune allows."

    Sunny stared at his smile for a few moments, then reached forward and pushed his glass over without changing expression.

    Not paying the spilled soju any attention, he said in an even tone:

    "Anyway, all of the people Madoc killed or tried to kill can be traced to the Northem Dam renovation project. Of course, that alone does not mean anything — all of them can be traced to a great number of things. Chocolate milk, for example. Or the Police Department... or Mordret himself. Human. lives are like that. All of us share numerous connections, and anyone can be tied to anything in this gargantuan web."

    Unless some misguided fool went and met a nasty bird that severed all these connections. Then, a person would become untraceable... and easily lost. Sunny smiled.

    "Pinpointing a particular connection between all these threads as the reason for what is happening is nearly impossible in a short amount of time — let alone proving it. But I have the advantage of foreknowledge."

    He moved his chair a little back to prevent the spilled soju from dripping on him.
    "Mirage City is not exactly Bastion, but it is clearly inspired by it. There is the Mirror Lake and the Castle... there is also Rivergate, even if it is situated a bit closer to the city. The northem dam does not exist in Bastion, though — in the false Bastion, at least. It does exist in True Bastion, turned to ruin. There is another difference between the two, as well: the drowned city at the bottom of the lake."

    He let out a wistful sigh.

    "The northem dam was destroyed in True Bastion, and the resulting flood destroyed the city. Art imitates life... the story the Castellan seems to be telling draws inspiration from the ancient past, as well. After all, the Castellan is a reflection that has dwelled in the Great Mirror from before the moon above True Bastion was shattered. It witnessed the destruction of the dam and the fall of the city below personally."

    Sunny shrugged.

    "So, that was how I was able to piece together the clues and realize what was going on. Madoc has embezzled the funds from the renovation project for whatever reason... maybe he needed to create a slush fund, bribe his way into a political career, or buy himself a new yacht. In any case, the work Valor Construction performed on the dam was shoddy at best, maybe even harmful. Now, the entire city is in jeopardy, and he is silencing everyone who can expose his guilt." (updates on li‌ght‌no‌vel‌world‌.‌or‌g)

    Mordret chuckled.

    "Excellent detective work, Sunless... no, truly, I am impressed. You did not exactly have a lot of time to investigate the case, and half of it has been spent fighting hired killers and surviving lethal car crashes. How exciting! It is almost like the old detective stories I used to read as a kid."

    Sunny was a little disturbed by that statement, reminded that Mordret too had been a human once.

    He grimaced.
    "Thank you. Being a detective is quite a new experience for me, but I knowa thing or two about crime. I have not always been a law-abiding citizen, after all... so, I know how criminals think."

    He took a deep breath, then looked at Mordret.

    "So, now we simply have to take Madoc off the board. Once he is gone, the Castellan will have to reveal itself — to make one last attempt to prevent its illusion from crumbling."

    Mordret smiled amicably.

    "That won't be easy. Uncle Madoc must have hidden himself in some impregnable fortress by now, surrounded by an army of hired thugs. Getting to him will be difficult, let alone arresting him... so, what is your plan?" Sunny smiled, too.

    "Why, it's very simple."

    He pointed to Mordret.

    "I am planning to use you as bait."


    2524 The Wise and Benevolent Prince Mordret Mordret laughed.

    "Me? Goodness gracious... I don't even officially exist in this reality. How are you going to make me into bait?"

    Sunny grinned.

    "How else? By dressing you in a fancy suit and giving you some hair gel, of course. You will take the place of your nicer self and draw Madoc out. Naturally, your life will be in grave danger when you do... but that is a risk I am quite willing to take."

    He let out a dreamy sigh.

    "Actually, I am looking forward to it."

    Mordret picked up his overturned glass and emptied the rest of the bottle into it. Taking a sip, he gave Sunny an amused look.

    "But what's in it for me?"

    Sunny shrugged.

    "That is negotiable, but... look at yourself. You can put on a brave face, but it is obvious that your time here in the Palace of Imaginations has not been pleasant. I don't think I ever saw you in such a sorry state. Staying alive while the entire Mirage City is hunting you has not been easy, has it? So are you really in a position to make demands?"

    Mordret laughed.

    He savored his drink, then gave Sunny a curious glance.

    "Have you really not entered the Great Mirror to kill me?"

    Sunny grimaced, uncomfortable with having to answer that question. It threatened to reveal too much of his secrets to Mordret, which was never a good thing.

    "I did not even know that you could be killed outside a soul duel before meeting your better half. So, no."

    Mordret considered something for a few moments.

    "But now that you know, you probably would not mind killing me. Isn't that the case?"

    ‘Damnation.'

    Sunny let out a frustrated sigh.

    "Sure. There are too many reasons to kill you, and too few to keep you alive. Please don't take offense... actually, please do. I meant it as an insult." Mordret chuckled and finished his drink in one gulp.

    "Well, you are wrong. The reasons to keep me alive might be few, but they outweigh the numerous reasons to be rid of me that you and Changing Star seem to have. In fact... forget about why you came here. Why do you think I came here, Sunless?"

    Sunny frowned.

    "Wasn't it to stop Morgan from carving your other self's heart out?" Mordret slowly shook his head.

    "That was a reason, but not the reason... in truth, I would have come here even if Morgan had not learned about his existence."

    He looked Sunny right in the eye and smiled.

    "Gods... you really have no idea, do you? How troubling."

    Sunny's frown deepened.

    "I do have an idea. In fact, I have several ideas — and the more you keep talking in circles, the more ideas I get."

    Mordret sighed and looked away.
    In a rare moment of sincerity, his mask of decorum slipped, revealing a hint of some grim emotion, as well as unease.

    Then, he put his polite smile back on.

    "Allow me to enlighten you, then. I've been quite heartbroken to learn that you managed to kill my father before I could, Sunless. So heartbroken, in fact, that I was considering doing something unwise to get back at you. Something childish and vindictive... like destructive the entire Sword Domain or turning NQSC into a graveyard before slowly pulling you limb from limb."

    While Sunny's expression turned dark, his smile widened a little.

    "Ah, but I quickly regained my senses. Sure, it pained me a great deal to have my vengeance stolen from me... but I am nothing if not a pragmatist. The goal I chose to make the purpose of my existence was gone. So, like the wise and benevolent man that I am, I decided to look to the future instead of dwelling on the past."

    Sunny smiled darkly.

    "Oh? You sure it wasn't because pulling a Sovereign limb from limb posed a bit of a problem to your benevolent self?"

    Mordret laughed.

    "Ah, indeed. Despite my anger, the prospect of making two new Supremes my swom enemies did not seem too enticing."

    Sunny studied him for a while.

    "So, what was the future you envisioned for yourself? Did you find a new goal?"

    Mordret shrugged.

    "It is too soon to speak about new goals. I have to ensure my safety first. My actions, you see, are a matter of necessity at the second — not of choice." Sunny scowled.
    "What the hell do you mean? What necessity?"

    Mordret chuckled...

    His laughter did not sound very joyous, though.

    "Think about it. I hid my Flaw — my one weakness — in this secretive place. Not even my father knew about his existence or about the Palace of Imagination. You learned about my Flaw from Morgan, while Morgan learned it from the legacy left behind by Ki Song. But how did Ki Song know about it, not to mention where to find it?" (updates on lig‌ht‌nov‌elwo‌rld.‌o‌rg)

    Sunny looked at him somberly.

    "I don't know. I assumed it was through some form of divination... perhaps Death Singer had lent a hand."

    Mordret shook his head.

    "No, it wasn't divination. Someone simply told her about it. Someone who knows more about me than anyone else, and with whom she could bargain to keep my father in check."

    Sunny tensed.

    The person Mordret was hinting at could be only one man.

    "You mean... the third Sovereign."

    Mordret smiled sharply.

    "Indeed. The Dreamspawn knows my weakness very well. He knows a great deal of things... in fact, I am not sure if there is anything he does not know." His voice sounded a bit strange. If Sunny did not know Mordret better, he would have believed that the bastard was... afraid.

    But, of course, that was impossible.

    "'So what does it have to do with you coming to the Palace of Imagination?" Mordret shrugged.
    "It's simple. My Flaw has been safe here until now, but not anymore."

    He lingered for a few moments, and then added with a chilling smile: "Because the Dreamspawn is coming. And when he does, no one in the world — any world — will be safe anymore."
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    1. Offline
      + 20 -
      Теперь мы видим, что астерион стал большей угрозой, нежели два верховных. Т.е. он прошел в одиночку пятый кошмар? Иначе он вообще ничто в сравнении с Санни
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    2. Offline
      + 20 -
      All this Asterion hype, he better lives up to it ohno
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  3. Offline
    + 30 -
    I think, there is only one way for Mordret to become a complete person, that is for Other Modret to absorb Modret.
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  4. Offline
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    Sunny really takes after daddy Aster for their love of archeology and ancient ruins. Takes after reclusiveness and likes scheming, manipulating events behind the scenes too. Going against fate and protecting humanity and family with out expecting any recognition. This doesn't sound familiar? Not just hobbies, methodology and interests they even resemble each other in looks as per jester and song. Are you guys sure they are not really related? An uncle maybe? I don't know, it really seems G3 is cooking something between Aster and the shadow siblings from the very beginning if you ask me. 7
    I know how everyone here hates it when I point out the undeniable proof no one else though about until I say it out. So here it is.
    Let's talk about lineage and legacy abilities.

    Valor - forging, building of armaments weapons, forts armies and war.

    Song - buff and debuff. Body modification over allies and enemies

    Nightwalker - naval abilities for support or warfare

    Asterion - Summoner can create echos with Sorcery (not much info revealed till now)
    Sunny - shadow Summoner shadow Sorcery
    Rain - rune, word and name summoner and Sorcery

    Tell me now if you still don't think G3 is cooking something here. 7
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    1. Offline
      + 60 -
      I'm pretty sure G3 explicitly stated that Sunny's parents were normal in his discord Q&A.

      In fact I did some searching and here is the question and answer.

      Question:
      where either of Sunny’s parents secretly awakened or above? If so what rank and class?
      Answer:
      No
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        + 05 -
        Hmmm...Very sus answer from G3...Luke Skywalker's parents were normal too. Clark Kent superman also had normal parents. Harry Potter too. Of course an author wouldn't reveal a plot twist out of the oven before it's fully baked7
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          + 20 -
          You are coping so hard. He also states there's nothing special about them. If G3 doesn't want to answer a question or it will spoil something he just says "Who knows".
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          1. Offline
            + 01 -
            Im fine now, I've dropped this subject. Was prob just projecting personal daddy issues
            7
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            1. Offline
              + 10 -
              It happens, also your like to dislike ratio is incredible given your number of comments. At this point maintaining near +0 would be impressive
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              1. Offline
                + 01 -
                I don't care about likes and dislikes. Why do i have to worry about what other people judge me for? The mere fact that they dislike and judge others shows how insecure they are about themselves.

                I only click like if i like what someone says. Remember the only flaws that i can see in others are a reflection of my own flaws. So i wont be judging others too quickly.
                7
                Anyone can dislike me as much as they want, not realizing they're actually judging themselves.
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    2. Offline
      + 20 -
      I know it is a common sense that Aster is collecting all god bloodlines and hence he took care of mordret and also sunny, nephis, rain all have the good lineage and hence he is protecting him. Infact in the latest ch, mordret told us that he was protected by aster till he collected his bloodline, and then thrown away.

      So sorry bro, but all daddy logic is just a fake fantacy that some people who cannot tolarate the slum rat are making for him to become a legacy.
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        + 03 -
        Yeah I think you make a lot of sense and have very good, valid points; but what about the familial resemblances and aspect abilities similarities. Are there any other clans with the same summoner + Sorcery combination we've encountered so far? How is that also a coincidence? Even their laid back crazy subtle unrelenting stubborn attitude and moods are just too similar. I find it hard to believe the 3 are not related somehow 7
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  5. Offline
    + 02 -
    Dreamspawn masih menggerakkan pion/bidak2 nya
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    Chapter 2522 An Old Story

    "Here you are."

    Sitting on a plastic chair in a cheap tent bar, Sunny smiled.

    There were no other customers under the flimsy canopy — and no wonder. With how violent the rain had become and how cold the winds were, most people of Mirage City were huddling at home. Others were in the process of abandoning the flooded areas, so they had more important things to do than stop at a cheap eatery in the middle of a stormy night. This chapter was taken from l‌i‌ght‌no‌velw‌o‌r‌ld.‌o‌rg

    Even the usual drunks were nowhere to be seen... nevertheless, Sunny was not at all surprised to see the clasp being pulled open as someone came in from the rain.

    The man looked around the empty tent, then gave him a pleasant smile. "Ah... were you waiting? It breaks my heart a little to see how predictable I have become."

    Pulling up a plastic chair, Mordret sat opposite Sunny and took off his cap. Drops of water fell from his hair, and he brushed it back, shivering from the cold in his threadbare coat.

    Sunny pointed to an unopened bottle of soju standing on the table between them.

    "Here. Warm yourself up."

    Mordret obliged, then gave him a curious look.

    "You're not drinking?"

    Sunny gave him a friendly smile.



    "The last time I got drunk, I killed someone. So...""

    His smile widened a little. "I thought that if I were to kill you, I'd rather do it sober. You know, to fully enjoy the process."

    Mordret chuckled and poured himself a glass, then emptied it in a single gulp.

    "So how did you know that I'll come find you again, Sunless?"

    Sunny lingered for a few moments, then shrugged.

    "It's obvious. We have your other self, after all. You'd want to get him back at all costs, lest Morgan actually finishes him off."

    He leaned back and sighed.

    "Of course, I did not really know who you would choose to follow — me or Effie. But I had an inkling that it would be me."

    Mordret studied him for a while, then shrugged.

    "Quite astute. Oh, I saw you visiting the other's assistant earlier... I hope you got what you wanted from him?"

    Sunny nodded.

    "I did, I did. I know who is trying to kill us now."

    Mordret raised an eyebrow.

    "Really? That was fast."

    Sunny chuckled.

    "Well, I have an advantage or two when it comes to solving this case."

    He looked away with a wistful expression. "Actually, pinpointing the assistant as the traitor who kept supplying the mastermind with sensitive information was not that hard. On the day of the first assassination attempt, Mordret changed his plans randomly, but his schedule and route were still leaked. The same happened yesterday. Who had immediate access to that information in both cases, though? Two people, really: the driver and the assistant. Coincidentally, the assistant was the one who drove Mordret yesterday, so he was the only suspect left."

    Mordret winced.

    “You know, it is quite unpleasant to hear you refer to that man as Mordret. Insulting, even. I disapprove."

    Sunny stared at him for a few moments.

    "Well, tough."

    He leaned back.

    "In any case, the assistant had some information, but not all of the information. Getting it out of him was not too hard, and piecing it all together wasn't too difficult either... not because I am a genius detective, but because I know more than people in this city know."

    He sighed.

    "In this story that the Castellan created... what is the connection between the victims of the Nihilist? How do we, the uninvited guests, fit into it? Who wants to kill Mordret? And most importantly — why now? It is all a proper mess, and finding what ties it all together is not simple at first glance. Oh, but it is all tied together. Just in an unexpected way."

    Mordret smiled.

    "It seems you really do have a suspect in mind."

    Sunny nodded. "Yes, but... sorry to disappoint, it is not someone exciting. It is, in fact, the most boring contended — the most obvious one, too, whom everyone would suspect from the very start. It's the Chairman of the Board... the reflection of your dead uncle, Madoc."

    Mordret seemed a little surprised. It was impossible to tell if his surprise was genuine or if he had known the answer already, though.

    "Uncle dearest? How nefarious! To think that he would conspire against his own nephew... ah, but it is a story as old as the world itself. A scorned uncle conspiring to oust a noble prince. A simple power grab... quite trite."

    Sunny shook his head.

    "It is Madoc, yes. But a power grab? No. The power will simply return to his brother's hands if Mordret dies, after all. So, he had a different motive. He is desperately trying to bury his own sins."

    He watched as Mordret poured himself more soju with a look of envy, then looked away.

    "The thread I needed to pull to realize the truth was not whom Madoc tried to silence, but the timing of it all. And for that, I simply needed to get the details of what Mordret has been doing for the last few days out of his assistant. So, do you want to know what provoked all this? Was it his policies? The clash of interests over the Valor Group's future? A political agenda, perhaps?"

    Sunny shook his head with a smile of dark amusement.

    "No... it was all because Mordret unexpectedly decided to implement flood prevention measures in the city."

    Mordret raised an eyebrow.

    "Does Madoc want the city to suffer more water damage to inflate the numbers in the repair contracts Valor Construction will receive after the floods are over?"

    Sunny shook his head again. "Not quite. But it does have to do with Valor Construction... that is where the skeletons are buried. Are being buried, actually, and would have been flawlessly hidden if not for the fact that Mordret suddenly threw a wrench into these plans. By requesting Valor Construction to mobilize its forces before the floods, he inadvertently gave himself a reason to look at it closely."

    He sighed.

    "The reason Madoc is trying to kill Mordret is because Mordret inevitably noticed a slight discrepancy in the numbers presented by the Valor Construction in their report about the flood prevention efforts... and ordered a full audit to be conducted."

    Sunny smiled wistfully.

    "It is as they say, I guess. No good deed goes unpunished."

    Mordret chuckled.

    "Oh, I wouldn't know. I am not known for doing good deeds, personally." He paused for a second and then asked:

    "So what is it that the Chairman of the Board is so desperate to cover?" Sunny shrugged.

    "What else? Embezzlement."

    He remained silent for a while, and then looked north.

    "It's not the fact of the embezzlement that is important, though, it's what he embezzled the funds from. The last major project of Valor Construction... the restoration of the northern dam."

    Sunny sighed.

    “Which would not have been a problem, if not for these abnormally heavy rains. Because of them, the northern dam is not going to hold." (l‌igh‌tno‌vel‌wo‌rl‌d.‌or‌g for updates)

    He looked at Mordret with a neutral expression. "Mirage City is going to drown."
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    1. Offline
      + 20 -
      Noice
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    2. Offline
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      Sir
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    3. Online Offline
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      Помните рядом с бастионом был затопленный город? Похоже его судьба быть потопленным и здесь.
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        Yeah it could be
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  7. Offline
    JDS
    + 60 -
    Quote: Frank Stien
    This reminds me of sunnnys shadow cores , he is still absorbing shards isn't he and with a limit as well what do you think will happen when he hits the limit.

    In Ariel's game he said he already saturated his 7th core
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  8. Offline
    + 90 -
    The solution is quiet simple actually, the other one can't kill him since he has their death, but he can kill and assimilate the other to be whole. They just need to help him capture it
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      + 30 -
      yeah but he is a slippery one isn't he?
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  9. Offline
    + 60 -
    There are two hypotheses now.
    Mordorite defies his flaw and unites all seven of his parts into one entity and achieves dominion (Whatever the name of this rank is in English) .
    Mordorite returns to being one person but splits again into seven.
    If the madman finds a way to kill the kind one, he will regain his "conscience" and "remorse", but if the kind one kills the madman, that's perfectly normal, whatever the outcome, this is the moment when Modorit joins Sunny's party.
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      + 80 -
      I personally love this outcome of his character. I know some people make disagree and want him to stay a monster but I think this is a great character arc.
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        + 30 -
        We call this "character growth," but I hope he retains some of his charisma, the kind one is to soft.
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      + 10 -
      Why risk it? Just kill both
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      1. Offline
        + 00 -
        Because we need divine aspect bearers, there are supposed to be seven while there are only three.
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          He's no longer divine. Aster took his blood and war god lineage. 7
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            i dont think that's how it works
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            + 10 -
            His lineage has nothing to do with him being Divine, nor did he lose his lineage, he probably drew blood from but the lineage is still infused into to him
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      Modret purposely doesnt want to re unite why would he and no one can overcome their flaw why do u guys alwsys say this or should i day phrase it like this .if he kills the last one he dies but remember the modret that killed the other 5 and adsorbed them was the strongest and most like ly the craziest so whille he got the others characters his main character is dominant and if the last one kills him theyre stuck with the weakest version being in charge its bad for buisness a regretful modret im almot puking now splitting back int o 7 i dont know how thta works but it sounds fun i guess and id like to see it but itd have its own problems they wouldnt be like Sunny and his shadows whom 1 mind can control others theyre all different personalities and characters that can possible betray the others and refuse to work with each other and argue i guess thts why crazy modret killed the others in the first place...So theoretically theyd have much higher and have much stronger power together but practically theyd be much weaker kind of like if Sunny battling a Cursed terror and creepy decieded he'd like to see gloomy insides and Haughty says this is beneath him call him when its Unholy
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      + 20 -
      I don't think simply becoming one will remove his flaw, his flaw is being shattered, even if you patch pieces of broken glass, it still shattered and full of cracks. Even when 1 Mordret is left, he will still be not whole, idk what's gonna be missing from him, but he still won't be perfect and still have a flaw
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    + 00 -
    This reminds me of sunnnys shadow cores , he is still absorbing shards isn't he and with a limit as well what do you think will happen when he hits the limit.
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    1. Offline
      + 20 -
      Sunny has stopped absorbing shards since he filled his core.
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