At a glance · Fifth Nightmare Preparations
- Novel
- Chapter 3149-3158 (10 Chapters)
- Antecedent
- The Gathering of Demigods
- Subsequent
- Fifth Nightmare (Event)
Article contents
Before entering the Fifth Nightmare, Sunny prepared to reduce his reliance on his powers and leave some, if not all, of his Shadows behind. According to the Dreamspawn, Sunny's Domain, powers, and tools would be turned against him during the Fifth Nightmare and could become obstacles instead of helping him pass the trial. Sunny therefore sought to unburden himself from as much power as possible and face the trial as close to his pure self as possible.[1]
Preparation
- Sunny informed Revel that he would be leaving for a few years and placed her in charge of the Shadow Clan during his absence.[2]
- He also intended to leave Soul Serpent in Revel's care while he was gone.[2]
- Sunny intended to strip away superfluous advantages before entering the Fifth Nightmare.[1]
- He determined that he had to leave some, if not all, of his Shadows behind and, if possible, reduce the number of shades populating his soul.[1]
- Leaving his Shadows behind would allow them to guard the strongholds of humanity while he was absent.[1]
- Sunny was uncertain whether his Shadows could remain in the real world when his body, spirit, and soul entered the Seed of Nightmare. He suspected that they could, as others were able to leave their Memories behind.[1]
- His Shadows, however, could not exist without him. They drew their power from him, returned to the nurturing embrace of his soul to recover and heal from wounds, and some relied on him for sustenance.[1]
- As a result, their usefulness while separated from Sunny would be limited, and there was a possibility that they would be destroyed.[1]
Shadow Weave
Sunny had previously been unaware of how to make his Shadows complete. As Eurys had stated, they were not yet complete.[1]
After venturing into the Underworld and recovering Shadow Weave, Sunny developed a theory for making his Shadows complete. The theory was developed further and tested in the month following the expedition.[1]
By the eve of his departure for the Fifth Nightmare, Sunny was ready to put the theory into practice and was preparing to grant his Shadows freedom.[1]
Shadow Liberation
Process
Sunny gathered his Shadows in the Dark City of the Forgotten Shore to begin the process of granting them freedom. He intended for his Shadows to graduate from serving as his followers, though the process would initially apply to most of them. He began with Saint, his first Shadow, whose Shadow Core had served as her cradle for almost fifteen years. Using the same motion he used when weaving a soul shard into a Memory, Sunny reached into his own soul and removed the Shadow Core.[3]
The process caused considerable pain, but did not destroy the Core or severely damage his soul. Sunny had previously seen Mordret perform a similar process when creating Reflections or purging cores tainted by Corruption, but had been unable to perform it himself until obtaining Shadow Weave. He had spent months of torturous experimentation determining how to remove a Shadow Core from his soul without destroying it, while his soul was not damaged terribly due to being enhanced by Soul Weave.[3]
Removing the Shadow Core was only the first part of the process. Sunny then had to embed it into Saint's soul, or rather, into the shadow that served her as one. Drawing upon his experience as a sorcerer, he carefully embedded the Shadow Core into Saint's chest. Once the Core entered the dark depths of her being, something within Saint responded to its presence, resulting in a wondrous transformation. The process ultimately caused the Spell to announce: [You have lost a Shadow.][3]
Status of the Shadows
Sunny granted independence to his Shadows by removing their Shadow Cores from his soul and embedding them into their own souls, allowing their existing cores to become complete.[4] After completing the process, he consumed a great number of his shades to restore the Shadow Cores he had lost. A great number of shades vanished in the process, diminishing the power of his Domain, although innumerable shades remained.[5]
Show/Hide Shadows
| Name | Details |
|---|---|
| Shadow Saint | Sunny granted independence to Saint first. After her Shadow Core was embedded into her shadowy soul, the five incomplete dark embers within her were nourished and reforged by a conflagration of black flame, becoming five perfect Shadow Cores. Saint subsequently became a complete, self-sufficient individual and a Shadow Creature with agency and free will.[4] Although Saint was no longer Sunny's Shadow, the bond of trust and camaraderie between them remained. Sunny therefore requested that she remain on the Forgotten Shore and help Revel defend it as the field commander of the human forces. Saint also commanded the legion of her fallen kin and had previously trained members of the Shadow Clan.[5] Other Details Saint was Sunny's companion and ally. She would stay behind on the Forgotten Shore to support Revel after Sunnys departure. Saint would serve as Revels strength and command the legion of shades, including both those hidden in Revels shadow and those taken by Vile. She was also entrusted with keeping an eye on Vile and making sure that the mischievous and more than a little sinister teenage Devil did not do anything too dreadful.[6]
It was mentioned in Chapter 3155 that Saint and her legion had settled in the area of the Dark City where the solemn square and the Dark Cathedral were located. |
| Nightmare | Sunny was planning to grant independence to Nightmare. He was needed in Bastion to guard the Dreamscape, so Sunny intended to entrust him to Morgan.[4] It was mentioned in Chapter 3155 that Nightmare had gone to Bastion to haunt its dreams. |
| Fiend | Sunny was planning to grant independence to Fiend. He was considered uniquely suited to defend Ravenheart and its surrounding territories from the snow wraiths of the western wastelands, so Sunny intended to make him Seishan's responsibility.[4] It was mentioned in Chapter 3155 that Fiend was sent to Ravenheart, where he had built a lair in the furnace-like depths of the great volcano. |
| Marvelous Mimic | Sunny was planning to leave Mimic at the headquarters of the Shadow Clan, entrusting it to Revel.[4] Other Details Marvelous Mimic existed in a state of symbiosis with the Shadow Clan. It sheltered humans and produced soul coins for them, while the humans made sure that it never went hungry by feeding it a steady stream of delicious abominations. Because of this relationship, it was in Mimic's own interest to keep the relationship going. Being domesticated offered it a far more stable and leisurely existence than living out in the wild, where it would have to risk its safety and work laboriously to deceive and hunt powerful prey.[6] Sunny had a feeling that the Marvelous Mimic had gotten used to being a home. It almost felt as if it liked being a shelter for countless people and was quite fond of its current form — that of a living, magnificent, carnivorous castle. Sunny had also significantly enhanced the Dark Castle. Although Mimic was a living being, Sunny could enchant it in the same way he and Cassie had enchanted the key Citadels of humanity. As a result, Mimic's Rank and Class had not increased, but it had become far more deadly and impregnable. Even if Sunny was absent, it would serve the Shadow Clan well.[6] It was mentioned in Chapter 3155 that the Bright Castle had long since disappeared. The hill where it once stood was left empty, with the Marvelous Mimic instead towering over the Dark City. |
| Soul Serpent |
Sunny was not planning to grant Serpent independence. Due to its [Grace of Shadows] Ability, it did not have to become independent, and independence was not in Serpent's nature. Sunny intended to lend it to Revel, rather than part with it permanently.[4]
It was mentioned in Chapter 3155 that Serpent coiled around the hill where the Bright Castle had once stood, its scales like a wall of black onyx. |
| Slayer | Sunny was not going to grant Slayer independence. Although they had eventually formed a working relationship, she was considered too dangerous to be unleashed upon the world, at least for the time being.[4] |
| Vile Spawn | Vile had completed its transformation into a fully fledged Shadow Creature, becoming a mischievous and more than a little sinister teenage Devil. Sunny left it behind as his replacement on the Forgotten Shore, entrusting it to Saint and Revel. He convinced Vile to take Sunny's own form, allowing it to become independent, and transferred half of his remaining shades to it. Saint would stay behind to keep an eye on Vile, while Vile would spend almost all of its time on the Forgotten Shore.[6] Vile's presence helped Sunny ensure the safety of the Forgotten Shore while further weakening his Domain. The shades transferred to Vile became part of the legion that Saint would command, alongside the shades hidden in Revel's shadow.[6] It was mentioned in Chapter 3155 that Vile made a nest in the hidden chamber of the cathedral in Dark City where Sunny had once lived for a few months. |
Shadow Clan
Before leaving the Forgotten Shore, Sunny prepared several powerful tools and allies to ensure that the Shadow Clan and the Forgotten Shore could withstand the dreadful peril of the apocalypse. Revel would become Serpent's host, gain Saint's support, and control the fearsome moving stronghold that was the Marvellous Mimic. Sunny also left Vile behind as his replacement, entrusting the devilish creature to Saint and Revel.[6]
Sunny had significantly enhanced the Dark Castle, enchanting the living Marvellous Mimic in the same way that he and Cassie had enchanted the key Citadels of humanity. Although Mimic's Rank and Class had not increased, the enhancement made it far more deadly and impregnable. Even in Sunny's absence, it would serve the Shadow Clan well.[6]
Sunny also prepared Vile to act as his replacement. Before entrusting it to Saint and Revel, he convinced Vile to take Sunny's own form. Vile could copy the powers of most beings whose essence it had stolen, and Sunny had been one of its victims. It had already demonstrated the ability to contain and command shades in the Tomb of Ariel and could create Dream Gates if it wanted to, especially after one of Sunny's shadows had become its own. Sunny had also transferred half of his remaining shades to Vile, giving it control of those shades.[6]
To ensure that Vile would not cause too many problems, Sunny had Saint stay behind to keep an eye on it. Vile had lost much of its savage wildness during the few years it had spent in the embrace of human civilization, learning to be more cautious. Although it largely ignored Sunny's warnings to behave, it became demure and obedient when Saint looked at it with her cold, indifferent ruby eyes.[6]
Following the bestowal, Saint would serve as Revel's strength and command the legion of shades, including those hidden in Revel's shadow and those taken by Vile. Aiko would handle the administrative side of running the Shadow Clan. Through these preparations, Sunny managed to ensure the safety of the Forgotten Shore while also further weakening his Domain with Vile's help.[6]
Sunny believed that these preparations would allow the Forgotten Shore to endure the tides of apocalypse. He even felt that, even if the rest of humanity were to fall, this dark land would remain standing. He was ultimately content with his decisions and considered leaving the lands in Revel's care to be for the best.[6]
Changes
Note: In Chapter 3148, they had to draft the speech announcing the tectonic changes awaiting humanity
Humanity experienced a major political and military upheaval with the simultaneous rise of six new Sovereigns: Raised by Wolves, Nightingale, Soul Reaper Jet, Nightwalker, Morgan of Valor, and Song Seishan. Their ascension was met with widespread relief and optimism, as the new Sovereigns were generally viewed as protectors of humanity, while Morgan and Seishan also represented the surviving legacies of the former Valor and Song Domains. With the number of Sovereigns more than doubling, humanity's confidence in its ability to resist the Nightmare Creatures greatly increased.[7]
Lady Nephis, the ruler of the Human Domain and commander of its armies, subsequently announced that she would step down from her positions and withdraw from public to challenge the Fifth Nightmare alongside Song of the Fallen. Her departure deeply affected humanity, as her leadership had ended the threat of civil war, expanded human territory in the Dream Realm, strengthened the ranks of Awakened warriors, advanced technology and sorcery, and helped humanity survive the early stages of the apocalypse.[7]
The return of the previous leaders also resulted in a restructuring of humanity's leadership. Raised by Wolves, Nightingale, and Soul Reaper Jet chose to remain on Earth to protect humanity, while Song Seishan, Morgan of Valor, Ananke of Weave, and Nightwalker assumed leadership of Ravenheart, Bastion, and the Stormsea in the Dream Realm. The newly established Sovereigns then began establishing their Domains in the Great Citadels, marking a rapid transformation of humanity's political and military order.[7]
Trivia
- Sunny's preparation involved reducing his reliance on his powers and addressing the incompleteness of his Shadows.[1]
- The information that Sunny's powers could become obstacles in the Fifth Nightmare came from the Dreamspawn.[1]
- Before saying goodbye to Rain, Sunny prepared her favorite pancakes and shared a final breakfast with her at the Nameless Temple, knowing that he would soon leave again.[8] Sunny's farewell to Rain marked his departure for the Fifth Nightmare, during which he entrusted her with the Nameless Temple, its courtyard and tree as her legacy, with Revel tasked with maintaining the estate until Rain became a Transcendent, and gave her the Extraordinary Rock containing recordings of his voice as a parting gift.[9]
- In Chapters 3157-3158, before departing for the Fifth Nightmare, Sunny shared a final drink with Effie, Kai, and Jet, expressing his gratitude for having met them and crediting them as his greatest blessing, before entrusting humanity's future to them and departing with the promise that they would meet again.
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 Chapter 3150 Final Preparations
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Chapter 3149 Loose Ends
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Chapter 3151 Graduation
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 Chapter 3152 First of Her Kind
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 Chapter 3153 An Army, a Fortress, and a General
- ↑ 6.00 6.01 6.02 6.03 6.04 6.05 6.06 6.07 6.08 6.09 6.10 Chapter 3154 New Boss in Town
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Chapter 3157 Shock and Awe
- ↑ Chapter 3155 Time to Say Goodbye
- ↑ Chapter 3156 Strong Roots
Sources & history
Fifth Nightmare Preparations · Shadow Slave Wiki
Source revision 43723
Adapted from Fandom. CC-BY-SA
Retrieved 2026-11-04 · Article version 1