Shadow Clan

Their purpose is to perform delicate tasks that the Fire Keepers cannot undertake themselves.^[1]

• Gathering information^[1]
• Eliminating threats^[1]
• Dealing with special kinds of Nightmare Creatures^[1]
• Responsible for establishing a secure base in a remote region of the Dream Realm^[1]

In Chapter 1844, Sunny invited Aiko and Rain to join his Shadow Clan; that was how they ended up with an intricate snake tattoo coiling around their arm.

There are around two hundred members of the clan. Half of them are operatives, the other half is involved in information gathering, logistics, and construction.^[1] It is a secret group selected personally by Sunny, consisting of extraordinary elites—mostly Awakened, with a few Masters leading them. Their strength lies not in numbers or rank but in stealth and precision: meant to "strike from the shadows, destroy the target in a single hit, and vanish without a trace". They are deployed across the three remaining Quadrants, completing missions and gathering intelligence. Beyond combat, they are being trained for future roles as Masters and potentially Saints.^[3]

Unlike the Fire Keepers, which are a large and prestigious military force, the Shadow Clan is small and secretive, consisting of only about 200 members, with half of them being elite combatants personally chosen by Sunny.^[2]

These combatants are not just skilled fighters—they are experts in stealth and are marked by Sunny, giving them certain advantages when operating in the shadows. Their tasks are often delicate and critical, dealing with threats like terrorist cells formed by loyalists, doomsday cults, and Nightmare Creatures that require a more surgical approach. Because the Shadow Clan operates in the shadows, its existence is not officially recognized, and only rumors circulate about them. Despite this secrecy, their effectiveness in handling sensitive problems is well-known among those who are aware.^[2]

In essence, the Shadow Clan is a vital and secretive force, operating in the shadows to handle delicate missions that the more visible forces like the Fire Keepers cannot.^[2]

To be recruited, one needs to defeat all other contenders from a vicious and more than a little shady trial.^[4]

The clan did not include Saints, as Sunny had never attempted to initiate one; he did not control enough Citadels to require vassal Saints, and he deliberately avoided becoming the master of too many powerful living humans, since having many highly ascended followers would bring the Forgotten God closer to awakening.^[5]

In Chapter 2890, Sunny had looked into his Runes being back to the Nightmare Spell, under Shadow Domain Subjects, the Shadow Clan members are listed and that focusing on a name allows Sunny to view their runes directly, similar to his own. This provides more detailed information than what he can obtain through visiting the Soul Sea of his agents or sharing perception.^[7]

The clan's base of operations is located on the Forgotten Shore^[10], a place of strategic importance to Sunny. This location holds personal significance as it was once where Sunny was imprisoned, but now he rules over it. The Forgotten Shore is a vital stronghold for several reasons:^[2]

• It provides a strong presence north of the Hollow Mountains, a potential launch point for military operations into the Nightmare Desert, and a place to access the Underworld.^[2]
• It offers a strategic location to hide and avoid unnecessary exposure. The Burned Forest nearby is also crucial for Sunny's plans to strengthen his Domain.^[2]

Saint Square is the place where Sunny first met Saint for the first time. Standing in the middle of a spacious square rested under the black branches of a colossal tree.^[10]

A sinister castle built of black stone. It was grand and magnificent, with dozens of towers rising into the air, each supported by a number of elaborate arches and columns. Grotesque gargoyles were staring down on the ruins from under the eaves. A grandiose staircase led to the castle gates.^[10]

Sunny crafts Memories for the Shadow Clan. The task is massive due to the number of individuals involved.^[14]

• Standard: Given to all members (e.g., Black Canteen — a version of Green Canteen).^[14]
• Custom-Tailored: Specifically designed to complement each clan member's Aspect, often with built-in essence reservoirs he personally filled with shadow essence. These allow even Awakened members to use powerful enchantments in emergencies. For example, a full set of Memories has already been created for Corsair, a recruit Sunny had studied with Cassie's help.^[14]
• Communication mirror is a Memory that allowed members of Shadow Clan to talk to each other remotely or listen in on conversations when the mirror is hidden some place dark in advanced.^[15]

• It is formally formed by Sunny with Aiko and Rain as initial members.^[16]
• The Shadow Clan was first speculated by Nephis due to her misconceptions about the Lord of Shadows being too well informed for a reclused Saint.^[17]
• It was rumored to be an untraceable elite force that operated in the shadows—more elite and deadly than even the exalted Fire Keepers. This force was known only to a select few.^[4]
• They all wear a bespoke suit of black transcendent armor with the crest of the clan.^[1][10]
• Despite appearing lazy as the Dark Lord, Sunny is mentally active—his mind stretched across shades, incarnations, and the Shadow Clan, constantly absorbing knowledge and scanning for danger.^[3]
• The shadow of Anvil crafts Memories for the Shadow Clan. The task is massive due to the number of individuals involved.
• Shadow Saint is training the members of Shadow Clan in preparation for the dangers of Second Nightmare.^[18]
• Some agents of the Shadow Clan were already preparing to challenge the Second Nightmare, including Tamar of Sorrow, who intended to take Ray, Fleur, Corsair, and Telle of White Feather into a Seed.^[5]
• In Chapter 2740, Sunny sought out Revel because he required the assistance of a Saint at that point in time. He specifically needed a Saint who was competent, could fit into the Shadow Legion, and whose absence would not significantly weaken the Longing Domain, which ruled out candidates such as Effie, Kai, Jet, and Nightwalker. Revel, a reclusive Saint dwelling beneath the Jade Palace in the Ice Halls, matched these requirements, leading Sunny to seek her out and ask for help with abducting and isolating a large number of people.
• In Chapter 2741, Sunny offered Revel several explicit benefits to persuade her to join the Shadow Clan.

  • He first proposed granting her "the title and position of an elder in the Shadow Clan", emphasizing that she would effectively be the elder, since there are no other people of her caliber in his Domain, and noting that the power and authority that come with that title are no joke. Along with the position, he promised a lot of important work to do, adding that she would probably never be bored again.^[19]
  • As further incentives, Sunny listed various benefits to becoming his subject, including "money, luxurious accommodations… a cool tattoo", specifically explaining that she would gain the Mark of Shadows, and all the powers that come with it, even if those powers might be less impactful given her existing strength and Aspect.^[19]
  • Lastly, he offered her access to his Domain, stating that he ruled an entire region of the Dream Realm where there is no sun, where her Flaw would not be able to catch up to her, allowing her to roam the Forgotten Shore freely instead of staying in a cold basement. When she expressed attachment to her current living space, he further added that a better basement can be arranged, citing a lot of prime real estate in his city, such as a stunning historic cathedral, a demonic castle, countless unoccupied mansions and an entire system of catacombs.^[19]
• The Shadow Clan was susceptible to the plague, although their resistance to it was quite high compared to others in the Human Domain.^[20]

  • This increased resistance was attributed to the fact that each member knew their Sovereign personally, unlike most subjects of the Longing Domain, for whom Lady Nephis was merely an abstract symbol. Despite this resistance, they had still lost a few agents to the Hunger Domain, though identifying infected members was far easier because the Mark of Shadows rejected them, which could be visibly detected through their serpent tattoo.^[20]
• The Shadow Clan is better off than any other faction in dealing with the increasing unreliability of technology caused by the growing number of Nightmare Gates, relying on sorcery and Awakened to compensate for failures in technological communication. They communicate through a Memory used by members of the Shadow Clan.^[21]