Hi guys, it's been a while, sorry I haven't posted anything, but I'd lost my motivation to write. I'm back! I don't remember what I've exactly written, so If I make any mistake point it out! Also, sorry if I haven't answered some questions in the comments, it's because I don't receive the notifications, so write them again under this ch and I'll answer.
The outskirts hadn't changed that much since the last time Sunny had seen them. However, they couldn't be compared since his, Cassie's and Nephis' arrival.
Sunny had retrieved Weaver's Mask in the secret chamber of the temple, and left there the [Unassuming Bug.]. Strangely, he had been able to read everything written there. He wasn't sure if it was because he already knew, or due to Weaver's Eye. Perhaps it was a combination of both.
When Sunny had caught up to the cohort, he had had to survive a harrowing situation: Effie.
"I see that you really poured everything into princess… Ops, I meant into your chemistry…in battle."
"I recommend you do everything safely. The Forgotten Shore is a dangerous place!"
"The restoration of the Immortal Flame is imminent! You've gone far in life, Doofus!"
At least, she hadn't asked any question. That… Sunny shuddered.
He watched enthralled as Nephis reignited the hope in her tired followers, and gifted them the Claws of the Spire Messenger, as well as the bones of the Lord of The Dead-carved by Sunny into weapons.
To his stupor, he too was welcomed back with as much joy as Athena or even Cassie were.
They listened to the reports of the lieutenants, and let them absorb the shard they had accumulated.
They let Tessai 'bring Effie to justice.'
Now Sunny stood in the vast hall of the Bright Castle, next to Nephis, surrounded by the castle's inhabitants, followed by the dwellers of the outskirts.
Every human soul of the Forgotten Shore was there. Whether they were frightened, lusting for a bloodbath or hopeful, everyone was watching enthralled.
At the far end of the hall, illuminated by the false stars carved into the wall, the tyrant's four lieutenants stood. There were a heavy silence, breaths being held and eyes blinking rapidly, trying to capture everything of an event they already felt within themselves would change their lives forever.
Tessai threw Effie down, forcing her to kneel on the floor. The grips on the once talons of the Spire Messenger and of the bones of the Lord of the Dead tightened, knuckles turning white.
The two hundred and half slums dwellers weren't wearing rugs. No, they donned at least some kind of makeshift armour and weapon. They weren't that inferior to the members of the host anymore.
A golden demon walked into the hall, and the heavy silence became an oppressive pressure that made people tremble and sweat and avert their eyes.
Sunny stared right at where the golden metal-like fluid covered his eyes, and did not tremble.
The Bright Lord leisurely strolled to his throne, then looked directly at Nephis. She was unfazed.
Sunny didn't listen to the grand speech of the Tyrant of the Bright Castle, nor to Changing Star's dignified replies. His mind had gone to Gunlaug's words in his final moments, whispered at death's door.
"I… tried. In the beginning… I really did…"
However, rising from his throne, The Lord of the Bright Castle announced: "I accept your challenge."
Sunny snapped back to reality. Everything and everyone was still. But not calm. it was the stillness of predator, the silence of the world after an explosion, before the sound could catch up to the light, the pressure of the water of a long-contained lake on an ancient, crumbling dam, finally able to destroy everything in its path. And the inhabitants of the Bright Castle and of the slums, too, longed for destruction and bloodshed.
The two fighters faced each other in silence. Changing Star held her longsword, the First Lord's Crown resting on her head. The Bright Lord's face was inscrutable, hidden by the golden metal, but Sunny had a feeling he was smiling while an axe emerged from his armour. Of course he was, donning a Transcendent Armour. Sunny had long since learnt that
A blink, and the two flying towards each other. Gunlaug swung downwards, the shape of the axe morphing to catch her if she tried to evade. The blow caught only air and her after-image. Effused with radiance, Nephis moved faster than any Sleeper, or even Awakened had the right to be. Flowing around his axe, she swung towards his neck. And the unscratchable armour would fail to block her Will. A black flash.
Clang!
Sunny watched as Nephis sidestepped, and knew that Gunlaug fate would be the one his pathfinder had avoided.
And he made a decision.
Clang!
Her sword, redirected, hit Gunlaug's sword and ricocheted, nearly escaping her hands. Something had blocked her, and it certainly hadn't been Gunlaug. What was happening? She jumped back.
Wrapped in the Puppeteer's Shroud, Sunny was standing between them, his black odachi pointed towards the ground.
Trust me.
And Nephis did.
A moment of terse silence, then the Bright Lord bellowed.
"What is the meaning of this, Changing Star?"
It was not her who answered.
"I am giving you one last chance to live, Gunlaug."
A chilling laughter resounded through the hall. Harus stepped in the open space, chains wrapped around his arms and scraping against the floor.
"You have no right to interrupt this duel, dog. You have committed the sin of rebelling against the Bright Lord. Thus, I will punish you. I will tear your arms off, and then your legs." With each sentence, he moved a step closer. "I will make you watch while that bitch gets what she deserves, and then I will blind you and leave you to rot." He smiled, his white teeth, too white, making the audience shiver.
Sunless, too, mocked him. "You can try, you spineless-" He groaned, and staggered, bringing his hands to his face.
Harus grinned madly, swinging his chain to fully crush him. Too confident, too arrogant, the butcher of the Bright Lord met his end.
It must've been a blur for most of the audience, but Nephis saw it clearly. So did Gunlaug.
Sunny hadn't staggered only to trick Harus, but also lower his centre of balance and bend his legs. As soon as Harus swung his chain, the muscles in his legs exploded, sending him flying towards his target.
Sunny stood behind Harus to his left, his right arm and the odachi it was wielding parallel to the ground. Then Harus' head fell, detached from his body, and his corpse crumbled.