Article contents
- Volume 2: Demon of Change
- Stone Saint
- Volume 3: Prince of Nothing
- Mantle of the Underworld
- Ebony Tower
- Map
- Volume 4: Chain Breaker
- Heresy
- Volume 5: Dread Night
- Marble Shell
- Volume 7: The Tomb of Ariel
- Hollow Mountains
- Hidden Truth
- Volume 8: Lord of Shadows
- Realm Map
- Nether's Research
- Volume 12: Prelude to Apocalypse
- Conversation between Demon of Destiny and Death
- References
Volume 2: Demon of Change
Stone Saint
“ [Deep in the cavernous halls of his dark domain, the last child of the -unknown- had created them from stone to quell the fire burning in his resentful heart. However, that fire only grew hotter. Designed to bring peace, they were instead born into an endless war.] ” ― Rune description of Stone Saint,
Chapter 105 Living Stone
Sunny once again received an echo when he slew a living stone nightmare creature. Just like seeing the inner weave of memories, he can do the same to echoes. However, what interested him more was the fact there are traces of divinity that the stone warrior bore. It had to have come from their original creator, who was at least partially one of the Unknown. This meant that the Unknown, indeed, were closely related to the gods and to divinity itself. Just like mysterious Weaver. The Memories and the Echoes were created by the Spell. They were artificial. The Stone Saint, too, was artificial. She was made by a child of the Unknown, just like her Echo was made by the Spell. The technique that had been used to create the Stone Saint was eerily similar to the technique that the Spell used but look extremely primitive in comparison. He then come up with a theory that the Spell itself had come from the Unknown. But there was too little information to actually consider it substantiated or even remotely believable. He needed to find out more, learn more, and uncover more before even beginning to understand the true story that connected the Spell, the gods, the Unknown, and his own life into one nightmarish tapestry.[1]
See also: Shadow Saint
Volume 3: Prince of Nothing
Mantle of the Underworld
Sunny was able to fix the damaged onyx armor after being an Awakened. Both Marble Saint and her armaments had a common origin with the onyx armor, they were both made out of strange living stone. When imbued with soul energy, the taciturn demon's body turned from stone to bizarre stone-like flesh, while her weapons turned to stone-like steel. The Memory was called "Mantle of the Underworld", and the word "Underworld" was also present in one of Saint's Abilities called [Underworld Armament]. Her own runes also described the creator of the living statues as residing in the cavernous halls of a dark domain, as well as being the last child of the "unknown". This led Sunny to have a notion that Saint was made by the Ruler of the Underworld, one of the seven daemons and a sibling to Weaver, the Demon of Fate.[2]
“ [Vowing to never look upon the Goddess of the Black Skies again, the prideful demon retreated into the darkness beneath an unassailable mountain chain. He wasn't the first to lead his army against the gods. However, he was the first to shed their blood, as well as learn the secrets of his own.] ” ― Rune description for Mantle of the Underworld,
Chapter 377 Mantle of the Underworld
Ebony Tower
Out in the empty darkness of the void, there was a small dark island where an Obsidian tower stood, hidden from the radiant light of the ocean of flames above. It was the perfect replica of the Ivory Tower but also its opposite.[3] Beneath the obsidian surface of the tower's gate was the weave, which was a much cruder and more primitive version of the weave of ethereal threads he was used to seeing. Sunny had only seen this type of weave inside Saint.[4]
Back when she was just an Echo, he had noticed it hidden behind the radiant pattern of the spell weave. He had thought that it was what made the stone warriors alive, created by the last child of the Unknown in the cavernous halls of his dark domain. It might have been the precursor of the Spell itself or an imitation of it.[4] The last child of the Unknown had clearly spent some time in the Obsidian Tower. He was the one who had created the black pagoda for some mysterious purpose.[5]
According to Mordret, a powerful being came to the Sky below to harvest some of the divine fire.[6] He was the creator of Ebony Tower, a builder of things and a genius artifex, but a practical sort. He most probably used whatever was at hand and went for the simplest solution.[7]
Map
The fifth level of Ebony Tower was completely empty. However, there were countless runes carved into the walls. The same mysterious runes that the Spell used to describe the Unknown and was seen written on the floor by the prisoner of the small cell that was hidden under the ruined cathedral in the Dark City. But there were much more of the terrible runes and most of them seemed far more intense, more powerful. Sunny didn't know their language and the Spell either refused or failed to translate them. While slowly moving around the dark hall, he discovered a strange resemblance of a map cut into the indestructible stone that even divine fire couldn't destroy. It somewhat fit with the geography of the Dream Realm from what he knew. There are seven images on the map that might be the representation of the domains of seven daemons. Further north of the map, a fearsome mask crowned with three horns was depicted. Based on the inscription that said "Fate?", even the Prince of the Underworld had no idea where his eldest sibling lived.[8]
See also: Map from Ebony TowerVolume 4: Chain Breaker
Heresy
Volume 5: Dread Night
Marble Shell
“ [In the deep darkness of the underworld, a prideful demon forged seven suits of splendid armor for his favorite creations. The intricate shells were both a boon and a test, since only those worthy of his regard could unlock the mantle's true potential and bear its weight.] ” ― Rune description of Marble Shell,
Chapter 975 Marble Shell
Nether actually forged seven splendid suits of armor (Mantle of the Underworld) for his favored creations. Although Saint's armor bore a strong resemblance to the Mantle of the Underworld, it was not quite as impressive as the seven Mantles gifted to high-ranking officers of the stone legion by the Prince of the Underworld.[10]
Volume 7: The Tomb of Ariel
Hollow Mountains
He then secluded himself in the Underworld, becoming its ruler and focusing on creating the Stone Saints. Nether must have been lonely and heartbroken to create a whole race of living beings to keep him company, or his defiant prideful way of challenging the gods because, only gods could create living beings. But despite his many failures he succeeded.[11]
Hidden Truth
[...He wasn't the first to lead his army against the gods. However, he was the first to shed their blood, as well as learn the secrets of his own.]
— Rune description for Mantle of the Underworld, Chapter 377 Mantle of the Underworld |
Nether was the first to reveal the lie of the gods and learn the truth of his origin.[12]
Volume 8: Lord of Shadows
Realm Map
The runes and the strange map carved into the obsidian wall on the fifth level of the Ebony Tower shows six landmarks: the Ivory Tower, the Tomb of Ariel, Ravenheart, Bastion, the great vessel for the House of Night, the Underworld, and Weaver's Mask. The other six strongholds are marked by a single rune each. The map could be a realm map, as the daemons built their citadels in different realms. The carving of Weaver's Mask signifies that Nether did not know where his eldest siblings lived or if there was such a place.[13]
Sunny who had grown vastly more powerful from when he was Awakened, received revelations of madness from the Sin of Solace, had glimpsed the secrets left behind by Ariel and was inoculated against the power of the forbidden runes by the knowledge of the Forgotten God. Now, he did not feel repelled by the runes carved into the walls of the Ebony Tower but only caused him a slight discomfort. He also had to be careful as the knowledge of the Void could potentially plant Corruption into his Transcendent Soul.[13]
Nether had not used the runic alphabet Sunny was familiar with, and since the Spell never translated the forbidden runes, he could not do it himself from memory. After years of wandering and exploring ancient ruins, he could decipher the meaning, but a proper translation would take time.[13]
Nether's Research
On the fifth level of the Ebony Tower are carved runes written by Nether for himself:[13][14]
Nether's writing, written for himself, was not very detailed and contained passages that hint at obsolescence. His goal was to create a living being, with research focusing on creating a body and a soul. The former was purely time-consuming, but the latter seemed to vex the daemon to no end.[14]
The Demon of Fate had created weaving while the Demon of Desire had created runic sorcery. The Demon of Destiny had not authored an original school of sorcery, but he had manipulated souls and soul essence to a frightening degree. Despite his deep understanding of soul power, he couldn't create a living being out of nothing, despite his ingenious methods and determination. Sunny knew that the daemon had succeeded later in creating Saint and her people, but Nether must have been daring to the point of insanity to pursue something that had never been done before and was not supposed to be possible.[14]
Sunny's understanding of forbidden runes led him to estimate that the Demon of Destiny's residence in the Ebony Tower was during Hope's imprisonment in the latter half of the Golden Age. Nether, who had fallen out with Storm God, had turned his back on the world and focused on creating living beings, an authority exclusive to the gods.[14]
[Why does the flame wane?
I asked the black skies, "What is life?" — Chapter 1751 Why Did the Flame Wane? |
Explanation
The story seemed to have multiple layers, with the Goddess of Black Skies describing three situations: hunger, desire to survive, and lust. Sunny believed that the true meaning of the story was the choice faced by each character, as Nether was the Demon of Choice.[14]
The first and last lines of the story were the waning flame, possibly indicating the primordial desire that had been born in the Void and gave birth to the gods. The divine flames that created the Sky Below waned slowly over thousands of years, eventually being extinguished. Sunny wondered if the primordial desire waned after giving birth to the gods and if it had something to do with the secret of life.[14]
Nether had built the Ebony Tower to use the divine flame to create living beings, but he eventually abandoned that path and returned to the Underworld. All of this seemed interconnected and encapsulated in the strange story, making it seem like a mere coincidence.[14]
[Gods created all living creatures, but not all creatures they created carry a divine lineage. Only those born of the gods do, and those born of their descendants. Why have the gods forbidden us seven to sire offspring? Why are we destined for loneliness?
Is it because we are of the Forgotten One, who slumbers in the Void? — Chapter 1752 Reading About Nothing |
Explanation
Sunny discovered the remaining parts of the Weave, including Blood Weave, Bone Weave, Soul Weave, Flesh, Mind, Spirit, and Shadow Weaves. The Weave had been shattered into fragments because Weaver had hidden its existence from the gods by scattering it across the tapestry of fate. The fragments were always fated to be lost, and it was as if Weaver had never possessed them. Soul Weave, found near Oblivion's grave, was destined to be lost to sorrow. Bone Weave, found in the Ebony Tower, was destined to be lost to rot. Blood Weave, granted by the Nightmare Spell for slaying the Spawn of the Vile Thieving Bird, was destined to be stolen by a thief. The remaining four fragments of the Weave ended up, considering their significance in fantasy, fear, respite, and darkness were probably located in Bastion, Ravenheart, Stormsea, and the Underworld.[15]
[What can contain the Void?
Nothing can. — Chapter 1752 Reading About Nothing |
Explanation
Volume 12: Prelude to Apocalypse
Conversation between Demon of Destiny and Death
The inscription on the black obelisk is a record of a conversation between the Demon of Destiny and Death—between the Prince of the Underworld and Shadow God.[16]
[While following the paths that shadows tread, I came upon a dismal, empty land. It was a realm devoid of life, forlorn and lightless.
There, darkness reigned. I asked the darkness, "What is death?" The darkness answered, "Peace." "Death swallows all, embraces all. Brings peace to all. Death is bliss." I laughed then, looking at its onyx throne, and told the darkness, "Lies!" For that was not the case. "Death swallows all? Brings peace to all? But I'm refused its grace." The darkness sighed. Its voice was hollow like regret. It told me, "Even gods know sin." "All things have flaws, and so does death. Forgive me, child..." The darkness pitied me, it seemed. I looked at Death then, in its dismal land. I pitied it as well. Death swallowed all, brought peace to all. But who could swallow Death? "Are we the same then, God of Peace?" The darkness did not speak. And so, I raised my voice. "If no one pities death, I will. If death refuses me, I won't. I shall grow strong and vast, far greater than your lightless realm. And then, one day, I'll come to swallow you, oh Death." "That is my choice."] — Chapter 3073 I Asked the Darkness |
The ancient runes carved into the black obelisk were left behind by Nether, as indicated by the Stone Saints building their settlement around the obelisk and continuing to guard it even after being consumed by Corruption. The inscription is a poem in which Nether asks "What is death?", contrasting with the writings in the Ebony Tower, where he had asked "What is life?"[17]
The poem is addressed to Shadow God, the god of peace and solace. Although the opening initially suggests that Nether is speaking to darkness, the references to death and peace identify the darkness as Shadow God.[17]
The opening line, "While following the paths that shadows tread...", describes Nether following the shadows of the dead through the Underworld to Shadow God's throne. The poem confirms that, in ancient times, the shadows of the dead physically traveled through the Underworld, descended into the Abyss, and reached the Shadow Realm. This journey no longer occurs because the Shadow Realm has become part of the Dream Realm, allowing the shadows of the dead to reach it almost instantaneously.[17]
The poem also reveals that Nether accused Shadow God of telling lies, leading to the revelation that the daemons had been denied not only the right to sire offspring but also the right to die. Instead of dying, daemons could only be destroyed, returning the essence of their individuality to the Forgotten God. Since death is portrayed as peace and final solace, the poem implies that the daemons were also denied peace.[17]
The runes depict a conversation that took place before Nether's rebellion against the gods. During this exchange, Nether promised to destroy Shadow God, not out of malice but as an act of mercy. Because Shadow God, as the embodiment of death and the Shadow Realm, could not die by his own nature, Nether vowed that he would one day devour the God of Death himself. The poem also reflects Nether's complex relationship with the gods long before his rebellion and suggests that his later conquest of the Underworld and subjugation of true darkness were connected to this promise. However, neither true darkness nor nothingness destroyed the gods; they were ultimately consumed by the Nightmare Spell, with Weaver bringing about their end instead.[17]
References
- ↑ Chapter 105 Living Stone
- ↑ Chapter 377 Mantle of the Underworld
- ↑ Chapter 443 Secrets of the Void
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Chapter 444 Obsidian Tower
- ↑ Chapter 446 Relentless Destroyer
- ↑ Chapter 452 Above and Beyond
- ↑ Chapter 453 Shrine of Stars
- ↑ Chapter 454 Hope
- ↑ Chapter 691 Heresy
- ↑ Chapter 975 Marble Shell
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Chapter 1257 In the Darkness
- ↑ Chapter 1572 Testament of Dread
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 Chapter 1750 Nothing But Time
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 14.5 14.6 Chapter 1751 Why Did the Flame Wane?
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 Chapter 1752 Reading About Nothing
- ↑ Chapter 3073 I Asked the Darkness
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 17.4 Chapter 3074 Prince of the Underworld
Sources & history
Nether/History · Shadow Slave Wiki
Source revision 43760
Adapted from Fandom. CC-BY-SA
Retrieved 2026-11-04 · Article version 1