The dark sea was calm; It's waters stagnant flowing in a slow but steady manner. Within the dark waters a human shaped figure sat on the head of a titanic serpent moving through the dark waters like a fish through water
Both his legs at one side of her head as it dangled in the depths. While the serpent moved through the waters like an arrow her senses extended making sure no ambushes occurred
Throughout the journey many nightmare creatures attacked, mostly those of the fallen and awakened rank, quite a few corrupted as well - though they were of a weaker class. Naturally they were disposed of and harvested for all that they were worth while their corpses were left to rot in the sea or probably devoured by some other horror.
Sunny and serpent were not the only ones actively hunting in the depths. Holding on with the use of a tentacle the [Shocking Screech] made its worth as well. Often killing enemies and making shard retrieval much easier, its jellylike body easily storing the harvested shards.
Shelly moved in the back on the ground killing anything that attacked him. the scythe like arms slashing all enemies while his hulking body tanked all attacks
Saint and Knighty were both resting in his soul sea for now. Water based battles would be difficult for them both. More so for saint who was made mainly of stone , while Knighty's armour would slow him down in the water. Knighty could definitely work well in the sea especially if he discarded his armour for some lighter memory sunny had or if he were given the [devourer of the depths] but sunny kept that particular armor on.
Even if he was more powerful and had many powerful helpers around. He was not a fool to become complacent and lower his guard especially while roaming within a great titan.
Birdy too either rested in Sunny's soul or if a dreadful horror appeared, Serpent and he would work in tandem, serpent guiding the battle to the surface where Birdy's claws would tear them apart either by talon or beak. The great echo could definitely use its wings to propel itself in the water but he was built mainly for aerial combat so Sunny would use him with this method or allow him to rest in his soul sea
Their journey was one carved in blood and shards, Sunny's fragment count steadily rising. Fragment by fragment as his strength increased at an unparalleled speed.
Both awakened and fallen creatures, no doubt beings that existed in these waters for a long time were killed. Killed and stripped of their soul shards and any valuable body parts then either eaten by Shelly walking in the back or left to float aimlessly.
Most of the awakened creatures were dealt with by sunny, and his echo while the rest were disposed of by serpent and Shelly.
Many unique and powerful horrors came in their way. Beasts, monsters, demons, devils, even a hand full of awakened tyrants. Though terrors and titans were scarce.
That is not to say there were non.
Sunny came across 3 terrors in the waters. All resembling twisted and grotesque seals. Their eyes an inky soulless black.
There had also been the first awakened titan that sunny had ever seen. It was an odd being.
Not in the sense that it was incredibly strong, or freakish. Though to tell the truth. It was.
Rather it was because the awakened titan, dubbed as the earth eater by the spell was incredibly large. About the size of Shelly. It bobbed in the water.
It was round in shape respebling a ball sunny had seen kids play with. Though this ball was surrounded by stony spikes that seemed unnaturallu sharp.
It was powerful indeed. Definitely a titan.. But quite useless when paced against the other titans sunny had seen in his lifetime. Lifetimes.
Serpent detected the threat and was about to move in for the kill. But sunny halted her.
It was not that serpent would loose to the Titan. It was an ascended against a awakened after all. Rather it was because sunny knew that things dwfence must be off the charts. How could it survive in this dark sea for so long if not?
Aside from that serpent could definitely attempt to take a chunk out of the titan but those spikes would definitely pierce her mouth.
So sunny did the most logical thing.
He pitted his defensive tank against the enemies.
Shelly moved through the water making use of his strength and size to move despite the resistance and made his way to the Titan.
Responding to the danger the urchin like nightmare creature cracked open down the middle revealing a disgusting maw. Teeth and tentacles mixing
It shot several spikes at Shelly who put up his bulky arms causing the spikes to bounce of harmlessly.
Shelly moved in swinging his scythe like arms. One caught the inside of the creatures mouth as it shot spikes in all directions. Them helplessly bouncing of shellys carrapace.
Brining the collosas closer Shelly raised hisnpincer and jammed it between the slit aka the titans mouth that was attempting to bite of his scythe.
Opeing the pincer sunny watched as the spike ball screeched Shockwavea moving in the water before it was broken from the mouth. Stone pieces falling in the surroundings.
Sunny heard the spell and the announcement of the kill. And a memory to not so much of his surprise.
He had acquired many memories to the point where he did not bother to check it just leaving it to rest in his soul sea.
What he did enjoy however was the sight of Shelly tearing into the corpse of the earth eater and crunching on the stone like bones. The debree existing and floating in the water.
His thoughts flowed slightly as his mind wondered on this most recent kill.
This was the first awakened titan sunny had seen
It was an oddity. Most of the creatures would rise to the rank of a fallen before thet become a Titan. The nourishment from the soul essence would grow their corrupted cores instead of forming new ones.
But this one in particular didn't seem to be a Hunter. Rather it survived by preserving itself. The spikes serving as a defense.
Moving away quickly from this are sunny eventually came across a hoard of fallen abominations. This had become routine in fact. Many of the weaker creatures would naturally coalesce together to avoid annihilation.
The first hoard was of some odd dolphin like creatures awakened and fallen mixing in the group being herded by 2 especially large tyrants.
Their main attacking method was the use of sonic attacks. Useless against sunnys shadows and echos. Especially when they were killed before they got the chance.
The next hoard sunny came across was of a large group of jellyfish like creatures. Their tentacles mixing with blade like appendages.
It became almost too easy. A routine of sorts.
Killing, harvesting, moving on, repeating.
All of his echos and shadows became like a well oiled machine. The shocking screech harvesting the shards whilst the rest slaughtered the enemies.
Knighty was also currently assisting Shelly in the back. Since they were to heavy to swim to duo took care of any monsters preparing for an ambush or the ones that also couldn't swim. Like the hoard of crabs that attacked.
Saint on the other hand rode on serpent and despite her stone composition many enemies fell to her blade. Cutting arcs through the waters neatly
The cohort moved slowly and steadily through the water. All. Members contributing to their masters and their owns growing power. Even sunny himself killed many.
Sunny couldn't help but notice the looks of familiarity that serpent and Knighty had displayed from time to time.
He quickly realised that it was most likely when he sent than on their hunting journey to grow him.
The hunt continued for a while until sunny felt that roughly 2 or 3 hours remained before the sun rose and the sea retreated.
Swimming for a while more and disposing of some unwanted interruptions.
Sunny eventually reached a particular place. In his eyes a cold aura built as a eerie smile spread on his face.
Those 2 deep endless black eyes reflected a large figure standing amongsts the cold waters.
It's trunk was a deep brown with branches reaching up to the heavens. It's leaves swaying gently in the breeze the crimson color visible with that gentle glow.
In this cold helpless region absent from land it almost seemed welcoming.
To those who didn't know about it.
"how wonderful it is to see you once more...you vile wretch"
Sunny had already dismissed all of his companions aside from serpent whom he sat on as she slithered onto the cold wet bark of the soul Devouring tree.
Once sunny got comfortable enough and spread his shadow sense making sure that the tree had yet to employ a new gaurdian. He relaxed
His companions had all gained numerous injuries. Though they were all minor the sheer quantity of them would definitely pose an issue in the future. So sunny sent them to rest and nourish themselves in the cold embrace of his soul.
Though the echo would take longer to heal without the blessings his shadows shared.
Sunny sat, his head leaning against the great trunk as he looked up counting. It was a peaceful scene.
'though I wish this tree could shut up'
Not everything was perfect.
The soul Devouring tree constantly whispered in his ear. All of it flowing into a river of thoughts that offered sweet salvation.
"give it up stupid tree. I managed to survive the living embodiment of doubt. Something who's whispers could make you give up instantly. Do you really think you can tame me?"
Sunny could feel the trees animosity towards him now. But he didn't care. Even if it realised he won't be affected it couldn't chance the fact that it was merely a immobile tree who's main attack was on the mind.
Sitting on the branch he enjoyed some of the meat that was scorched to perfection using the shocking screeches electricity.
Looking to his left where the mass of the trees trunk was sunny watched as a fury of light sparks came and dissapated. All that remained was a crab of red and brown color.
It was shaped like a regular crab just that it was about 4 meters tall. And instead of 2 it had 4 extermly large pincers. Paired with the exoskeleton of thick stone it was very tough. Very very tough.
The echo was a fallen terror . It was a tough opponent for Shelly on the seabed but sunny however possessed a much more deep intelligence than the devil. Willing him to, Shelly grabbed the pincers that was launching at his leg and tossed the crab into the air out of the water.
There a Devilish squak could be hear followed by horrible crushing sounds. Naturally birdy had been summoned and waited in the air to gnash as the flying crab.
Sunny sighed in the water. That terror had damaged Shelly quite a bit as well as completely destroyed Knightys sword. Thankfully it was just a random memory that sunny got who's main ability was to be tough.
"you better make up for that."
Looking toward the waters sunny saw the 2 other echos he summoned. One was quite large it was the dolphin like creature that was far to large with far to sharp teeth and the jellyfish.
Both the echos in the sea were fallen tyrants which sunny got during his killings.
"so then about every 20 or so Enemies I killed I get a memory and about every 100 I get an echo. How amazing is that"
He smiled
"that means I can be expecting another any moment"
Those were just rough estimates but they sure as hell were close.
Sunny was tempted to turn the dolphin into a shadow. Especially since he didn't have any shadows based purely in the water. But he decided against it.
"Ill make more shadows when my cores are formed for now it's best I save all my fragments?... Souls?... Whatever"
Dismissing all his aids sunny stood from his spot.
"you may be one annoying tree but you're not useless"
It seemed all the lingering essence the tree had went into the production of the Soul fruits. And looking around subby counted aboit 70. At least.
"I just ate but there's always room fore more"
By the time sunny had finished his buffet the sun had risen and the waters retreated. And then. He smiled
Sunny smiled at the tree his eyes full of malice.
Jumping of and landing on the ground sunny summoned his Knights to guard him before he began his move once more.
Shifting his sight to a piece of brown root protruding from the ground.
Possibly sensing his gaze the great tree seemed to quiver it's voice once welcoming turning to panicked screeches and calls to leave.
But sunny didn't. Rather he walked to the root.
"you know. In the last life you had captured me and my friends for a long time."
He paused at the root and summoned the blade of blood.
"it was horrible. Quite an experience though having your thoughts mangled. So let me do you a favor."
He paused his voice shaking.
"you poisoned my mind. Made me want to protect you. So now I will poison you and watch as no one comes to help"
Striking the bark a chip came of and exposed the pulsating layer within.
As if it sensed a futile effort the tree seemed to sneer. But sunnys next actions sealed it's fate regardless of its thoughts.
Taking out the crude dagger of the priest of weaver. Now a memory. Sunny made a clean slit on his palm.
Naturally no blood flowed until he willed.
A singular drop escaped his palm directly onto the wet brown root of the Soul Devouring tree.
The tree instantly sensed something wrong as it began to tremble. Leaves falling as the branched swayed and creaked. Sunny watched as it screamed and failed about uselessly.
He smiled.
"you see I share the blood of a daemon. Not just any daemon. But weaver the daemon of fate. And now its spread through your body and you're set to die. Unless I will it to return. Of which I will not"
Sunny looked at it a few seconds. It's last attempts at survival.
[you have slain an Awakened terror: Corrupted Sapling of the heart tree]
[you have gained an echo]