Shadow Slave: Purgatory

Author's Note: There seem to be some misconceptions regarding the nightmare creature. The humongous eagle/bird is not confirmed to be corrupted - this was merely speculation from Sunny. As for how Sunny was able to pierce the creature's skin with Prowling Thorn or Moonlight Shard, this relates to the beast's physiology (I cannot explain this in the actual chapter without breaking up the flow).

A simple fictional biology lesson: every nightmare creature, in both canon and here, has its own unique physiology. This means NCs can have tough-to-break skin even at just the dormant rank, while some NCs can have really tender skin at the corrupted rank. This principle applies here - physiologically, this race of humongous birds evolved to have relatively tender skin, as they didn't require the toughness usually needed by high-ranking creatures. However, their skin is still relatively tougher when compared to the average low-ranked NC.

As for why they're tender? You'll see.

*** 

With an exasperated grumble of "Nothing ever goes my way," Sunny crawled toward the black arrow. Once he reached it, he wrapped his fingers around the shaft and craned his neck to look down.

Just as he expected, he found the ancient wraith's shriveled face mere meters away, dangling from the black rope.

Sensing his gaze, the wraith slowly tilted its head up. A vile, nauseating stench assaulted his senses, and he could sense its familiarly horrifying murderous intent.

He gave the vile wraith a faint smile.

"Yeah, good to see you too, buddy."

Before it could respond with a grunt, Sunny tugged the arrow, his face contorted with effort. After a few more minutes of intense struggle, he pulled it free.

Right before the wraith's weight could drag him down with it, Sunny let go and took several steps back, making sure to maintain a clear view.

He watched in glee as the wraith plummeted, but to Sunny's dissatisfaction it neither screeched nor struggled desperately. Instead, it cackled mockingly, seemingly amused, as if Sunny's little gesture was nothing more than an inconsequential hitch.

The wind whistled past as the wraith's long cloak flapped loudly. It grabbed an arrow from its quiver—a larger one, a great arrow with a rope tied to the quiver. With unnerving calm, the wraith nocked the arrow to its bow during free fall.

A few more seconds and the wraith would splatter in the sands, yet it remained terrifyingly composed.

"You're kidding."

Sunny watched in disbelief as the wraith drew the bowstring in free fall and loosed the arrow with complete confidence—even arrogance—as if to say, "Can you do this, puny human?"

The arrow flew with unwavering confidence, just like its master, gliding unaffected by the air currents. Right before the wraith slammed into a dune, the arrow impaled itself in the eagle's side with a loud thunk. The sudden arrest in momentum caused the rope to stretch like rubber, and at the very last moment, just before it seemed like it would snap, it propelled the wraith upward like a rocket.

After a short pause, Sunny whispered in utter shock, "What the hell are you?"

He violently shook his head, forcing himself out of his horrified daze. Tilting his head reluctantly, he looked down at the arrow lodged below him—it was too far.

This arrow wasn't so simple to disengage. Sunny would have to climb down the eagle's side to gain access, and just getting there without falling off was a herculean task. He'd also have to remove the great arrow, which required immense strength and effort.

Sunny shook his head in exasperation with a soft sigh.

He had no choice.

Sunny resummoned the prowling thorn, and with a sharp breath, he flipped the blade in his hand and held it in reverse grip.

He forced in multiple sharp breaths to dampen the fear, but his actions did little to alleviate his worry. In this predicament, only he could save himself.

With impulse, he stabbed the prowling thorn near his feet. And with desperation, Sunny jumped.

The wind whooshed past his ears as his hair whipped wildly. He slid past the eagle's body, clawing at its obsidian blade-like feathers. Eventually, the prowling thorn's invisible string tightened painfully around his palm and stopped his fall. He hung like a string puppet with no control over his position or circumstances.

He tilted his head up to see the black arrow slightly out of reach and willed the invisible string. Slowly, he felt the surface of the puppeteer's shroud drag across the eagle's feathers as he was pulled upward, finally reaching the black arrow.

Sunny grabbed the arrow, feeling the cold black wood. His fingers tightened around it, hoping to pull it free, but before he could, his instincts screamed to dodge—though in this position, he couldn't.

A sharp pain radiated from Sunny's chest as he felt his mobility being restricted. He realized what had happened. Looking down at his chest, he found a black arrow impaled through it, forcefully pinning him to the eagle.

Sunny was no idiot. He had considered the possibility of the wraith raining him with arrows but had silently wished the wraith wouldn't realize it. But this was reality, and Sunny felt the [Destined Death] enchantment's strength growing. He sighed softly as he tilted his head down to look at the wraith holding its bow over its head as it continued climbing. It was two or three steps away from Sunny, but he wasn't shaken. In fact, this had gone exactly as he envisioned. This wound was bait.

The beast was probably incapable of comprehending human language, but Sunny couldn't help himself.

In pain and annoyance he opened his mouth and said in a raspy voice, "Your arrows are annoying. Did you really think I would not expect this?"

The wraith continued climbing.

Sunny chuckled as his eyes shone with madness as he continued, "After so long, you should know by now, but unfortunately, you're a bit slow on the uptake. No matter... No matter. I'll teach you to fear my stiletto."

Before the wraith could respond with its signature cackle or screech, Sunny's hand whipped forward with great speed as a ghostly stiletto materialized in his grip. With complete indifference, he slashed at the black rope.

He silently watched as his loyal blade cleanly sliced through the black rope in slow motion. The Wraith gained momentum and plummeted toward the dunes, yet remained indifferent, its movements showing no signs of panic or struggle.

He grit his teeth in frustration.

'Tenacious bastard'

His stomach dropped at the Wraith's relentless pursuit, but despite its tenacity, Sunny had undeniably won a second time. He had survived!

The beast was certainly intelligent, but it simply couldn't compare to Sunny's schemes or the ruthlessness he treated himself with to survive. All beautiful diamonds experienced great pressure, struggle, and polish before their ascendance. Yet even diamonds differed in quality, and those differences could be attributed to the struggles they faced.

The dangers in the outskirts weren't as physically threatening as the shadow realm, but in many ways, they were more harrowing. For someone as weak as Sunny, he had been forced to evolve considerably more. When compared to the wraith, which dealt with its problems through sheer strength, its deviousness simply couldn't compare to Sunny's, who had no access to such power.

But despite Sunny's resourcefulness, he had one enemy he couldn't defeat. This enemy's schemes far surpassed his, and even though it could have killed him many times, it didn't. It never killed him—instead, it toyed with him and tortured him with ruthless schemes. This enemy was Sunny's greatest nemesis and maybe one he could never beat.

This enemy was called Fate, and once again it had bared its teeth.

Sunny felt a calm and comfortable sensation wash through him. It was a familiar sensation everyone felt, a feeling of being at home, but faced with such a feeling, Sunny's expression twisted to one of slight fear. He knew what this meant.

The eclipse was returning. The shadows were returning.

***

really tried to add my own flair there.

also happy new year! sorry for the delay in chaps im on vacation so i dont got the same time to work on things i should be back to normal by jan 10