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Chapter 2319: Learning Journey
Shadow Slave

Observing Kai, Sunny experienced a deep feeling of humor. However, that humor came and disappeared quickly.

Releasing a breath, he glanced upward. The sky of the tiny realm was hidden by the clouds of ash, but it appeared clear above the snowy mountains. It looked like the moon was sinking... the night would end soon, giving way to the light of day.

Somehow, Sunny sensed that this brief period of calm wasn't going to continue much longer than the night.

'What will the Snow Tyrant attempt?'

And what could the Snow Tyrant attempt?

Actually, Sunny noticed the faint oddness of his situation. He had taken the role of the Ash Tyrant... who was a character of crucial importance, certainly, but merely a character nonetheless.

Sunny wasn't the player.

His belief that there existed a difference between the two rested on several facts. Primarily, if the players of Ariel's Game were meant to serve as Tyrants of their respective Domains... then there would be no Snow Tyrant anywhere in this manufactured world — after all, the original players of the game had vanished long ago.

Additionally, his position as the Ash Tyrant hadn't given Sunny any fresh abilities — including the ability to direct lesser Ash figures. Kai and Slayer weren't forced to follow him because of the rules of the game, they simply heard him out because he was Sunny.

Likewise...

If there existed a Snow Tyrant on the opposite side of the board, would they have any influence over the Snow Abominations?

He couldn't be certain.

Based on the answer, though, Sunny confronted two entirely separate dangers.

If the Snow Tyrant could manage the figures freely, then he would face an organized and deadly force. This game would become a contest of two minds. If not... the Beasts would wander freely, and the main challenge blocking his path would be this manufactured realm itself.

"We'll know soon."

Kai lifted an eyebrow.

"What?"

Sunny released another breath.

"We'll know what type of battle this is once the Snow Abominations begin to move."

He examined the three snowy mountains.

"If they're simple Beasts, they'll hurry to consume us immediately. If they're servants of a Tyrant, though... they'll seize the other two volcanoes first, to strengthen the Snow Domain and weaken the Ash Domain as much as possible before the final attack. Our reaction will vary greatly depending on what they choose to do."

He formed a needle from shadows and started completing a quiver for Kai. Less than a minute later, it was finished.

Sunny placed the arrows he had built into the quiver and handed it to the appealing archer with a grin.

"Here... this should work for now."

Getting up, Sunny wiped the ash from his clothes and motioned to the column of smoke climbing into the sky behind them.

"We should likely investigate the castle while we can."

As they moved down into the crater, Sunny looked at Kai, and then asked quietly:

"You have some practice battling Great Nightmare Creatures, correct?"

Kai nodded.

"Yes. As a government Saint, during the conflict in Bastion, and afterward as the guardian of Ravenheart... I've encountered a few."

Sunny grinned darkly.

"How did it go?"

Kai's face turned serious.

"...Like challenging gods."

He stayed quiet for several moments, then added with a sigh:

"The Great Ones... are tougher and more terrifying than monsters of lower Ranks, true. But I've long grown used to fighting against enemies who outmatch me in all aspects. The issue is that confronting them feels unlike a standard fight. It's as if reality itself supports their side."

Sunny nodded.

"Reality does indeed support their side — because they compel reality to support their side. What divides those Great and Supreme from those of lower Ranks is the strength of our determination. Our determination is dominating enough to control reality... to some extent, at least. Well, you must understand all that already — after all, both Nephis and I spent considerable time sharing our knowledge with Cassie, who then produced a document for those who need to be informed."

Kai watched Sunny with a remote expression.

"Yes, I understand. However... I regret saying this, Sunny, but I don't believe that anyone else will manage to duplicate what you two have achieved — reaching Supremacy naturally, I mean. That... that isn't my lack of confidence talking. It's just that you and Nephis often fail to recognize how remarkable you are. Failing to recognize it severely."

Sunny pressed his lips together.

Kai, meanwhile, released a sigh.

"...Which means that the rest of us will need to do it the conventional way. We will need to face the Fourth Nightmare."

Sunny watched him for a while, then looked elsewhere.

"Only four individuals have ever lived through the Fourth Nightmare. You will meet Great Nightmare Creatures there, too... so, consider this small trip of ours as training. I'll deal with the Cursed Ones, if we must confront any, but the Great nightmare creatures will be your task. I'm confident you'll succeed — after all, I..."

Sunny wanted to mention how he had slain a Great Devil as a Sleeper, but stopped himself for once. Now wasn't the moment for jokes.

"I'll support you. You have two ideal instructors with you, anyway. I am a Supreme myself, while she..."

He pointed toward Slayer.

"She is probably the most successful killer I have ever known. Not only that, but her main killing instrument is a bow, as well. So observe her closely, and learn from her."

There was truly no better example for Kai than Slayer. So, Sunny had great expectations for him.

Having two skilled archers helping him against the Snow Abomination sounded wonderful, too — he was seldom blessed with such assistance.

Kai smiled.

"I will."

Sunny paused for a few moments, considering what else to mention.

It wasn't about encouraging Kai to try his hardest — he had never lacked encouragement. It was more about showing him a viewpoint that would make him want to do beyond his hardest. To have the desire to triumph no matter what.

This was the sole way to endure in the harsh world of the Nightmare Spell.

Finally, Sunny asked:

"Your Nightmares. How did you endure them?"

Kai thought about his question for a while, then replied with a slight smile:

"I endured because of the people who stood beside me."

Sunny nodded.

"Indeed. Because nobody survives in the Dream Realm alone."

He gazed at Kai and added flatly:

"But to those people, you were and will be the person standing beside them. Their survival will rely on you, just like your survival will rely on theirs."

Kai's look shifted subtly, and his smile faded.

Seeing that shift, Sunny glanced away.

"So, how many more people will endure the Fourth Nightmare in the future depends on you. Accept responsibility."

Kai stayed quiet for a long time, then nodded silently.

By then, they had arrived at the crumbling castle.

Shadow Slave
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  1. Offline
    SHIV
    SHIV
    + 26 ⋅ 2 -
    Chapter 2320: Ash Castle


    The Ash Castle was a strange and looming structure. It was constructed above the primary vent of the volcano, apparently floating in the air. At first view, it seemed as if its massive weight was held by nothing except the rising currents of smoke... but upon closer inspection, Sunny noticed huge chains digging into the black rock of the crater, coated in thick layers of soot.

    The castle was suspended above the void, the smoke-filled emptiness functioning as its barrier.
    The protective value of such a design was doubtful, to say the least. Sure, any attacker would drop into the burning depths of the volcano unless they discovered a way to cross the wide gap, but simultaneously, the defenders would find it hard to stop the enemy from breaking the attachments of the chains that secured the castle in the air.

    Sending his shadow sense into the deep vent, Sunny detected more chains fixing the castle to its walls further below. There appeared to be some kind of system built into the obsidian platform that formed the base for the burnt fortress, now damaged and in a state of decay.

    '...Was this castle able to sink into the core of the volcano once?'

    Even if it had been, it was trapped in position now, hardly able to bear its own weight.

    Sunny pictured the entire building falling into the smoke beneath their feet. That would be problematic... but not too problematic. After all, he could fly away at any time.

    The drawbridge of the castle was lifted, so Sunny created two raven-black wings and extended Slayer a hand. She viewed it coldly, while Kai smiled.

    "I see you are a gentleman..."

    As Slayer grabbed his hand, Sunny flexed his muscles and threw her into the air. The agile Shadow flew over the gap like a bullet, vanishing into the smoke — a few moments later, she touched down on one of the crumbling towers of the castle, spun to maintain her balance, and formed her bow in one fluid motion.

    Her skirt billowed, and by the time its edge settled on her smooth ebony thigh again, an arrow was already placed on the string of the black bow.

    Kai watched all of that unfold in silence. Sunny was blocked by the smoke, but could feel the shadows — the attractive archer, however, could view everything happen just fine.

    He sighed.

    "Never mind."

    Sunny smiled.

    "What, did you expect me to give her a ride? Thanks, but no thanks. The last time she rode me... was too memorable."

    He stopped for a moment, and then added in a gloomy voice:

    "I mean, she sliced off my wings, choked me, and nearly pushed a knife into my skull."

    Kai blinked a couple of times.

    "She did?"

    When Sunny nodded, he gave him a disapproving look.

    "You know... something like that would have been useful to know before I carried her across the sea of clouds on my back."

    Sunny grinned.

    "I did think about giving you a warning. But I was convinced that she would not attempt to kill you... well, mostly convinced. Reasonably convinced? I was somewhat convinced that she would not attempt to kill you."

    With that, he leaped into the gap, opened his wings, and let the streams of heated air lift him across the deep moat of the Ash Castle. Kai followed a few moments later with a soft sigh.

    If there had been something dangerous waiting for them inside, Slayer would have already transformed it into a pincushion with her arrows. So, the two of them landed calmly on the fractured floor of the castle's broad courtyard, then headed toward the crumbling keep.

    Slayer permitted her bow to change into a slender chain vambrace, then descended the tower with lethal elegance. She seemed to drop from one support to another, jamming her short swords between the eroded stones when there was none to find grip on — in just a few brief seconds, she reached the ground and joined them.

    When they entered the keep, Sunny glanced around with a surprised expression.

    "Huh."

    What appeared as a castle from outside... was actually merely a rough copy of one. There was nothing inside, really — no floors, no rooms, no intricate maze of hallways and staircases. Instead, there was simply a vast empty area, the floor covered in ash that gathered like mountains in the corners.

    It seemed that even Ariel's focus on detail had a boundary.

    'Well, it makes sense.'

    After all, the Ash Tyrants that had inhabited this castle once would not have been humans. Their size would have varied greatly, too — the towering gate of the keep hinted that some of them were truly massive.

    "Do you see anything under the ash?"

    Sunny didn't know what he wanted to find, exactly, but he had hoped to discover some hints about Ariel, his game, and the Jade Queen.

    Kai shook his head slowly.

    "It's all in ruins. But there is some kind of stand in the center."

    They looked at each other, then proceeded to the heart of the empty keep.

    There, the floor of the castle opened into a large circular hole. Smoke rose through the opening like a rough column, escaping through a similar one in the roof of the Ash Castle.

    And just in front of the hole, there was a burnt stone stand that resembled an altar, its surface covered in ash.

    Moving closer, Sunny paused for a few moments, then swept the ash away. His hand felt two small objects hidden beneath it — clearing more of the ash, Sunny picked one of them up and examined it calmly.

    There, in his palm, sat a bestial figurine carved from perfect white jade.

    It was the figure of a Snow Beast.

    'Two of them...'

    Twelve of the fourteen Snow figures remained on the board, which meant that the player of the Ash Domain had managed to defeat two — two Beasts.

    And here, two Snow Beast figurines were sitting on an altar.

    That... could not have been a coincidence.

    "Why do you think these figures are here?"

    Kai's question made Sunny frown.

    He stayed quiet for a few moments, then shrugged.

    "I'm not entirely certain."

    Then, he suddenly recalled something... the ancient bones resting in the depths of the Ravenheart volcano.

    Following an impulse, Sunny shifted his stance a little and threw the figure of the Snow Beast into the hole.

    It vanished into the smoke without a trace.

    A dozen seconds passed in silence, and then...

    Sunny was suddenly somewhere else.
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    1. Offline
      Kiber
      Kiber
      + 0 ⋅ 0 -
      Черт возьми, кто вообще дизлайкает вас? Бесплатная глава раньше срока а они хейтят.
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  2. Offline
    Pefayl
    Pefayl
    + 7 ⋅ 0 -
    [Sunny wanted to mention how he had slain a Great Devil as a Sleeper, but stopped himself for once.] Who is this “Sunny” and where is my goat
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  3. Offline
    ZEXOS
    ZEXOS
    + 9 ⋅ 0 -
    Important message: ITS HOOD VERSION. READ IT FOR YOUR OWN SAFETY!!!



    2320. Ash Crib

    The Ash Crib was a wild-ass structure, straight up defying the laws of physics. This joint was built right over the main vent of a volcano, lookin’ like it was floating on pure smoke and arrogance. At first glance, you’d think it was held up by nothing but hot air—but peep closer, and you’d see massive chains digging into the crater’s rock, crusted over with years of soot and struggle.

    The crib was dangling over hell itself, with a moat made of smoke and death.

    Defense-wise? Questionable. Sure, any dumbass trying to invade would take a one-way trip to lava town if they missed the jump, but all an enemy had to do was wreck the chains, and the whole operation came crashing down.

    Sunny stretched his shadow sense deeper into the vent, feeling more chains locked into the walls below. There was some kinda broken-ass mechanism in the obsidian foundation, lookin’ like it used to move the whole fortress up and down.

    ‘…This place could’ve dipped into the volcano back in the day?’

    Now? It was barely holding on, creaking under its own weight like a trap house after a raid.

    Sunny pictured the whole thing collapsing into the abyss. Annoying? Yeah. Deadly? Nah. Dude could fly whenever he felt like it.

    The drawbridge was up, so Sunny flexed his raven-black wings and held a hand out to Slayer. She gave him that icy death stare, while Kai just smirked.

    "Aww, you a gentleman now?"

    Sunny didn’t answer—just yeeted her across the gap like a human bullet. Slayer shot through the smoke, landed on a crumbling tower with assassin grace, spun to steady herself, and had her bow drawn before her skirt even settled.

    Kai watched, shook his head. "Never mind."

    Sunny grinned. "What, you thought I was giving her a piggyback ride? Nah, last time she rode me, she clipped my wings, choked me out, and nearly put a knife in my skull."

    Kai blinked. "She did what?"

    "Yeah." Sunny shrugged. "Thought about warning you before you carried her over the sea of clouds, but… eh. I was pretty sure she wouldn’t kill you."

    With that, he leapt into the abyss, wings spread, letting the heat currents carry him over the smoke moat. Kai followed, sighing like a man who’d just realized he’d been rolling with maniacs.

    If there was danger inside, Slayer would’ve already turned it into a porcupine. So they strolled into the courtyard, stepping over cracked stone, heading toward the crumbling keep.

    Slayer let her bow melt into a sleek chain vambrace, then free-fell down the tower like it was nothing—catching herself on ledges, stabbing her swords into gaps, touching down like a shadow.

    When they stepped inside the keep, Sunny frowned.

    "Ayo… this a scam."

    What looked like a castle from the outside? Was hollow as a broke nigga’s pockets. No floors, no rooms, just empty space and ash piles stacked in the corners like dirty laundry.

    Guess even Ariel got lazy with the details.

    ‘Makes sense.’

    The Ash Tyrants who lived here weren’t human—some were big as buildings, judging by the gate.

    "You see anything under all this ash?"

    Sunny wasn’t sure what he was looking for—clues about Ariel, his twisted game, the Jade Queen—but he hoped for something.

    Kai shook his head.

    "Just ruins. But there’s a pedestal in the middle."

    They moved toward the center, where the floor opened up into a giant pit, smoke rising like a ghost. In front of it? A charred altar, covered in ash.

    Sunny brushed the soot away, fingers closing around two small figures. He held one up, studying it.

    A Snow Beast, carved from flawless white jade.

    ‘Two of them…’

    Twelve of the original fourteen were still on the board, meaning the Ash player had taken out two Beasts. And here? Two Beast figurines on the altar.

    No way that’s a coincidence.

    "Why these here?" Kai asked.

    Sunny stayed quiet, then—remembered the ancient bones deep in Ravenheart.

    On impulse, he tossed the jade Beast into the pit.

    It vanished into the smoke.

    Silence.

    Then—

    Sunny wasn’t in the crib anymore.

    ***
    Your hood YN - ZEXOS!
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    1. Offline
      Bryan Templa
      Bryan Templa
      + 1 ⋅ 1 -
      HAHAHHHAA
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    2. Offline
      PhantomGira
      PhantomGira
      + 2 ⋅ 0 -
      Best thing I've ever read
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    3. Offline
      Jah
      Jah
      + 2 ⋅ 0 -
      This MIGHT be Shakespeare
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  4. Offline
    MrMysterious33
    MrMysterious33
    + 1 ⋅ 0 -
    🚨Yo! We got a 2319!!!🚨 (Reference from Monsters Inc.)
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  5. Offline
    Pinch
    Pinch
    + 1 ⋅ 2 -
    AI nonsense again peepo002
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    1. Offline
      Thatguy1034
      Thatguy1034
      + 6 ⋅ 1 -
      If you dont like ai then go read it on webnovel. No one is stopping you
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  6. Offline
    samy dakiche
    samy dakiche
    + 6 ⋅ 1 -
    Kai will achieve dominance when he fully embraces the personality of a powerful leader, the charisma, and the dominance of the dragon.
    Also, since Sunny lost his [Fated], couldn't he just use the goblin as a lucky charm thanks to his [Lucky]?
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  7. Offline
    MrMysterious33
    MrMysterious33
    + 4 ⋅ 0 -
    I wish we got more chapters about the situation of earth and the things happening there. We know Night Garden entered earth, but why was it needed? What's happening? The situation on Skinwalker?
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      mariokaa
      mariokaa
      + 2 ⋅ 0 -
      Secret 😜
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    2. Offline
      Adi2271
      Adi2271
      + 2 ⋅ 0 -
      The war against the Skinwalker was not proceeding smoothly, and the evacuation of the Eastern Quadrant was not happening as fast as it had to happen. After all, there was only one Dream Gate—the refugees had to be brought to a single gathering point from all across the continent first, then screened thoroughly to not let any vessels of the vile abomination pass through.

      The Western Quadrant was drowning in the flood of Nightmare Gates, as well.

      So, Changing Star and her Steward had come up with an emergency measure. Something to tip the scales in favor of humanity, at least for a while.


      It's not described in detail, but this what they said in the chapter when Night Garden descended on Earth.
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  8. Offline
    Guppy
    Guppy
    + 8 ⋅ 0 -
    Determination cry
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    1. Offline
      Kizoku
      Kizoku
      + 2 ⋅ 0 -
      instead of will :(

      damnation!
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  9. Offline
    ZzZ
    ZzZ
    + 9 ⋅ 0 -
    On one hand I can't wait for the lore about the fourth nightmare, but on the other, I'm more curious about the path to becoming Sacred, since we know at best the fourth nightmare will produce a few more Supremes... I'm really torn, but I'd like to see Kai, Effie, Cassie, Jet, and others battling through the nightmare while Sunny and Nephis rush for true divinity.
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    1. Offline
      ArMiks
      ArMiks
      + 4 ⋅ 0 -
      I think eurys mentioned that sanctity needs an accumulation of experiences. My understanding of that is maybe similar to eastern lore of eating a bodhi and experiencing a hundred reincarnations to transcend or be enlightened. Now the problem with this is that accumulation normally takes place over a long period of time, time which they don't have. But i also have an idea or theory in which they can somewhat speed up their accumulation. Sunny can maybe use his shadow embrace to essentially become the being he assimilated. I think he got some of saint's memories thay time they were fighting revel, and he can perhaps accumulate this way. Similarly, nephis could use the longing of her followers, but i think that would take a far longer time than sunny's. Another method i can think of to speed it up would maybe be cassie's memory reading and sharing, allowing the duo to experience the life of the multitudes.


      Edit: wait they don't have much time unless they do into a time dilation chamber ie ariel's tomb. Maybe aside from retrieving sunny's fate from the vtb, they are going there to gain more time to accumulate. Tho the downside to it that i can think of is, they brops would have a lot of experience for combat and survival, but not any civilized stuff, aside from each other, so their accumulation might be skewed
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        MindustryNoob
        MindustryNoob
        + 4 ⋅ 0 -
        Becoming Sacred is about becoming less "humane" so I don't see a problem with them slowly losing what makes them human.

        Besides turning into a soulless and detached deity, but meh, you give some you take some.
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      2. Offline
        Alfametadol
        Alfametadol
        + 0 ⋅ 3 -
        In my opinion, by receiving the fate, Sunny and Nephys will be able to take a crash course in the Nightmare Spell to become Sacred. Plus, by obtaining a true name and shadow-bonding himself to Nephys, Sunny will become full-fledged in terms of aspect, which will spare him from soul destruction in the realm of Death, allowing him (and possibly both of them) to go in search of the bearer of the last fragment of the bloodline - Nephys' father.

        Although my theory is somewhat spoiled by the answer from the future Sunny from the Tomb of Ariel, when to the question (I don't remember the exact words of the dialogue, those who have a good memory, or are not too lazy to look for the right moment for this - you can correct): "This power, are you really the Supreme!?", the answer was: "No. In general, I am not sure that I am a human." Based on this (if this answer was not a lie) Sunny from the future came to the tomb already Sacred, or became one inside.
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          Lost from sight
          Lost from sight
          + 2 ⋅ 1 -
          We can't trust what future Sunny said since he has the mask. And Sunny current state is not really human, even without the mask he can give this answer.
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        Lost from sight
        Lost from sight
        + 1 ⋅ 1 -
        Nephis can challenge the next nightmare, at least the result is guaranted, waiting thousands years in a time dilated space is a desperate choice.
        Similarly, nephis could use the longing of her followers, but i think that would take a far longer time than sunny's.
        It would be faster for Nephis, the burden of her domain is much heavier than Sunny's.
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      forfungaming
      forfungaming
      + 0 ⋅ 0 -
      I won’t be surprised if the rest’s 4th nightmare just gets skipped over and gets summarised like Nephis’ 2nd nightmare
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        Lost from sight
        Lost from sight
        + 0 ⋅ 1 -
        Sunny is the mc after all, apart to show quickly how Neph met Eurys and find a seed we rarely had a chapter where Sunny was not there, let alone an entire arc. Also author want end the story around chapter 3500, that doesn't let much time to develop others' stories.
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