The hunting party stood outside their lodge, with the large chunk of meat placed on the white stones in front. Nephis had given Cassie a small chunk of the meat to sustain them and left the rest out in the open.
"What are you going to do with the rest?" Someone from the crowd shouted.
Nephis looked over the gathered crowd, glancing at everyone before speaking:
"The rest is for you to take, for free."
Hearing this, the crowd seemed rattled. They were skeptical about the free meat placed on the white stone for them. There was no such thing as "Free Lunch", after all.
"What trick are you playing at, Changing Star? People out here are hungry. Do you mock us? Shame!"
Nephis shook her head.
"There is no trick. Everyone is free to take your share. I won't force you to swear allegiance to me or fight for me."
"Is that it then? Won't you force us? But you are planning to overthrow the golden tyrant, right? How can we believe that you will never throw us into your conflicts?"
Nephis sighed and raised her head high, speaking with a tone full of conviction:
"Do not be mistaken. I plan to raid the spire and kill the fallen terror. But I do not need you for that. My party and I are more than enough. If I can gain your allegiance in the future, I will be grateful. However, I will never force anyone to follow me. Take your share if you want; leave if you don't."
Hearing this, Sunny was relieved. He thought that Nephis was willing to manipulate the outer settlement into blindly following her to their deaths. Putting the image of kind and saintly Changing Star in their minds. But she didn't do that. She had promised him he wouldn't, and she hadn't lied.
But something was wrong…
The slum dwellers were not convinced, though. They eyed the meat with strange reluctance. But soon enough the first of them came forward and took their share. When they saw nothing happen to him, more brave ones approached. Eventually, a line formed, and the large chunk of meat disappeared quickly.
Inside the lodge, Sunny pulled Nephis away into a quiet corner.
"What was that all about?" he asked.
Nephis looked at him, confused.
"What do you mean?"
"That thing about raiding the spire alone. Are you crazy?"
Nephis nodded.
"I am crazy. I am also right. We don't need an army."
"What do you mean we don't need an army? Do you actually plan on doing everything with only the six of us?" Sunny asked.
"No. I don't plan on that. I know these people will follow me. I am their best shot at escaping this place, after all. When the time comes, they will choose me. But if we had to do it by ourselves, I know we can."
Sunny sighed, a nasty scowl appearing on his face.
"Whatever…"
***
Sunny got up from his bed with a yawn and stretched his back. Ever since the outer settlement had gotten more popular because of Nephis, the general situation in the slums had improved. And for someone like him, who was part of the main cohort personally led by Changing Star herself, he got all the best benefits. That included a bed with an actual mattress.
He looked at the stone floor, his gaze landing on his two shadows.
"What a great day, don't you think?" he asked, not expecting a response.
The first shadow looked at him angrily and shook its head. However, the second shadow was much more cheerful, nodding and raising two thumbs. Sunny looked at the gloomy shadow and sneered.
"Can't you see how well-behaved your brother is? Why can't you be more like him?"
The gloomy shadow looked away from him, almost as if the word "whatever" came out of its mouth, but it didn't have vocal cords, so Sunny couldn't hear whatever it wanted to say. He could feel it, though.
That guy was always negative.
He sighed and pulled out his runes.
Name: Sunless.
True Name: Lost From Light.
Rank: Dreamer.
Class: Monster.
Shadow Cores: [2/7].
Shadow Fragments: [104/2000].
He smiled, looking at his core count and his class. Truly, a lot has changed since he first came to this hellhole, and even after he first arrived on this island. He was a monster now, with two shadows following him everywhere.
He mostly kept the gloomy guy wrapped around him, though, since he didn't want people asking questions.
That was not all; his trusted shadow, the one that helped him not fall behind, Nephis, had evolved alongside him.
Shadow: [Soul Serpent].
Shadow Rank: Dormant.
Shadow Class: Monster.
Shadow Abilities: [Shadow Guide], [Soul Weapon].
After becoming a monster, the serpent's previous [Shadow Guide] ability grew stronger, and a new [Soul Weapon] was added to its arsenal.
[Soul Weapon] Attribute Description: "Soul Serpent can assume the form of a weapon."
Sunny frowned a little. Just as he theorized, Serpent evolved with him, becoming the same class he was. He didn't know if the same applied to its rank, but he had expected something more than [Soul Weapon] from an evolved serpent.
He already had an awakened weapon of the third tier, and serpent was just a dormant weapon of the second tier. The gap between them was substantial, and the serpent, in its weapon form, had no enchantments and couldn't be used to circulate essence.
But he couldn't complain too much. After all, the stronger [Soul Guide] was, the more it was appreciated. Sunny was looking forward to the second relic of Shadow Dance. If Serpent was so strong, every reward had to be amazing.
After cleaning up his room and making his bed, Sunny got dressed and headed downstairs, following an appetizing aroma.
Nephis was waiting for him in their shared living room, cooking something that made his mouth water. She wore a light tunic, having dismissed her starlight legion armor to heal in the soul sea. It had gotten damaged yesterday, after all. Her messy, silver hair was tied up into a simple bun, shining in stark contrast to its usual perfect presentation.
Sunny couldn't tear his eyes off of her. It had been a long time since he had seen Nephis in casual clothes, with her hair not perfectly kept and combed like it usually was. Nevertheless, he liked it. It reminded him of the times when they were still together as children. It had become a common occurrence lately, with Nephis seemingly more comfortable dropping her persona as the stoic, flawless legacy and showing more of her genuine self.
To him, at least.
He smiled.
No one else got to see this.