The mood in the room was incredibly tense and serious. Every faction kept the thought of betrayal in the back of their mind. Each person here was exceedingly formidable, and if any one side was wiped out, it would change the balance of the war itself.
At the same time, the atmosphere was also a bit absurd. They are the peak of humanity meeting in secret. One might expect an extravagant bunker, or perhaps a more eerie clandestine location.
The fact that it was a simple abandoned warehouse did much to keep the meeting as secret as possible.
Sunny studied all the players here, weighing his chances of success if a fight broke out. Naturally, with Shadow Step he was never in any real danger. Even if all of them did jump him for whatever reason and managed to slay him, this was only one of his avatars.
He was split into five pieces now.
His real body was in the camp of Valor, acting as one of their generals. At the moment, he wasn't doing much of anything as both forces were hunkering down across from each other for the first real combat of the Domain War. Both Song and Anvil did not seem keen to fight just yet, both willing to let their armies go at it and hopefully weaken the others Domain.
Two shadows were at Bastion, and had managed to intercept Mordret before he burned the entire place to the ground. That had been a few months ago, right after he had talked with Gehrman in his Citadel.
Things were hectic then, Mordret had moved quickly, and rashly. This spooked Sunny quite a bit, since he never knew the guy to ever act with such irrationality.
Only one person died in Mordret's invasion, and that was Madoc, who had still retained control of Bastion. Anvil had left his big brother a number of defenses that were quite formidable, including armies of Echoes and the most powerful of weapons. Still, against Mordret as he was now, Whispering Blade fell effortlessly.
Sunny wasn't sure how to feel about that. On one hand, he had actually saved the guy's life once. Back in the Battle of Black Skull, he had used the absorbed kinetic energy that [Remembrance] had stored in his fight against Dire Fang to launch a blistering missile of raw energy.
That attack had managed to leave the smallest of scratches on the Great Gate Guardian who would have slaughtered Madoc in a second without his interference.
He had done this partly because he was fighting on the side of Valor at the time, but mostly because he thought Madoc was simply too valuable to lose.
As one of the most experienced Awakened in history and one of the very, very few Divine Lineage holders, Sunny didn't want to kill him.
However, at that time each Saint was invaluable. There were no more than 40, and even a single one's presence could change the tide of an area in the Chain of Nightmares.
However, there were over double that number of Saints now, and if Caster's plan worked even a little bit…
The value Madoc provided was not as dramatic as it once was.
So, it was that two avatars of his that were now in True Bastion. At least, they had been. He, Saint, and Mordret had entered the Great Mirror that lies at the heart of the Great Citadel. This was the true power of Bastion, as only the one who wielded the Citadels component could decide what came and went from the True and Fake Bastion.
This was the secret that the Valor family knew well. However, it was not the only secret.
Only Mordret and the Dreamspawn knew about the true power of The Great Mirror. It acted as a home for countless "Others", creatures that seemed to be mutations or cousins of "Nothing" creatures. They resided in mirrors and perception, and Mordret explained they kept up a strange game within the secret realm of the Great Mirror.
That was where he had stashed away his "Flaw".
Though Mordret had not told him what it was when they had entered.
Unfortunately, whatever this secret realm was, it cut the two avatars of Sunny off from the rest of "him".
Instead of offering parallel processing, the avatar's thoughts simply vanished, and Sunny had no means to communicate with them. Still, they were not dead. He would feel his Soul Cores shatter if they were.
Plus, he had Saint with him. Though without her in Godgrave, he had a premonition that this may be a place where he could empower his Shadow further. She had been stuck as a Transcendent Devil since Antarctica, and further evolution eluded her.
However, she did share an affinity with True Darkness and Nothing, both things that existed in surplus within the Hollow Mountains, where the original version of her was once constructed.
Since the Others, the Great Mirror, and Nothing, shared some strange esoteric bond, he figured that her help would be pivotal in this strange new realm.
If she could evolve, that would be an even greater boon.
If this meeting of Transcendent Champions was any indication, he would be fighting Sovereigns fairly soon. So making Saint stronger would be massively helpful in that conflict, especially against the Dreamspawn.
Still, Sunny needed a boost in his personal power as well. That was the real reason he went with Mordret into the Great Mirror.
Within that place, was undoubtedly the 4th piece of Weaver's Divine Lineage.
That damnable thing broke the law set by the gods that Daemon's could not reproduce, and so their Lineage was something that was forbidden.
Sunny, however, was Fated. Perhaps it was because of Weaver's Domain being Fate, or maybe it was just sheer luck, but over the past few years he had been gaining more and more fragments of Weaver's Lineage.
Blood Weave, which enhanced his blood, his passive regeneration, resistance to poison, and acted as a self defense mechanism against anything that got unlucky enough to find its way into his bloodstream. It also allowed him to see into the Souls of others and see the Weaves within Memories.
Bone Weave was much simpler, enhancing his physique even further with a broad increase in durability.
Soul Weave was the last gift of the Tomb of Ariel, hidden within the very depths of that place was inexplicably the piece that offered enhancements to a Souls potency, protections, and regeneration of Soul Essence (or in his case, Shadow Essence).
Before crossing the Hollow Mountains, Sunny had decided to take a trip back to some of his old haunts. Now that his brain had taken in the knowledge of the Forgotten God, he could make out some of the ancient writings that he had stumbled across over the years. One of those places was the Ebony Tower, which Nether, Demon of Choice used as a study. Passively, the youngest Daemon had traced a rough approximation of his eldest siblings Lineage. Since the Forgotten Shore, the Tomb of Ariel, and the Ebony Tower itself were marked, it seemed Nether's guesses were fairly accurate.
One of his guesses also placed the location of another Weave in True Bastion. Given that each Lineage seemed connected to a Daemon, this Great Mirror – which Mordret claimed was created by the Daemon of Imagination – was definitely housing the lineage fragment.
While he was doing that ambitious gamble, he was also making sure things remained stable.
One of his avatars was in Song's camp. Not because of any strategic reason, he just wasn't willing to let his sister (who had somehow got wrapped up with a young Awakened Vassal of Song) go unprotected.
Rain was strong, especially since she was now an Awakened. A natural Awakened. One who grew in Rank without the aid of the Spell. This was the result of Sunny's own interference, methods, and experimenting. It was ground breaking news that could set humanity on a new path.
However, it was also not at all relevant at the moment.
The process was slow and tedious. Though Caster's psychotic plan was the most absurd thing he had ever heard, it was also much faster and would undoubtedly result in better numbers.
In any case, that "him" wasn't doing anything too important either.
The fourth part of Sunny was right here in this building, ready to relay information that the fifth had gathered.
"Gehrman has gained the upper hand in his fight against the Dreamspawn. He has pushed the guy out of Godgrave, and is trying to get the battle to the Hollow Mountains."
The old man, Saint Typhaon, bristled.
"You're joking, he's actually managing to push that abomination back? If that creature is actually being pushed back, it is only because he is allowing it."
"Not in this case. He is using a certain Sword, one that is probably the strongest in either two Realms. Not only that, it is capable of dealing mental damage. So far, a cut from that sword seems to actually be able to make the Dreamspawn bleed."
Of course, Sunny had to be relayed this information from Fiend. He wasn't willing to go out and watch that battle, especially since if he got close enough to the [Sin of Solace], he would be turned into a Corrupted in an instant.
That was why he sent out his most durable Shadow, who was now a Supreme Devil. The big guy was not able to string together sentences, but he could mime out what was happening while also offering single words here and there to paint the picture.
The absurdity of this feat was tempered by the fact that it was Gehrman who was doing it. At this point, he had done so much insane shit that it was hard to be surprised anymore.
"Why the Hollow Mountains?" Seishan asked.
Sunny turned to face her. A quick glance revealed she seemed entirely neutral and in control, but Sunny was not fooled. They had not ever been anything more than acquaintances, but they had at seen each other in passing frequently in Antarctica (though she could not remember it).
"I'm not entirely sure. I think it's partly for himself, there may be something there that can enhance him…it is also a worthy experiment. Besides that sword, we don't really have anything that can actually harm the guy. Nothing Creatures exist outside normal rules and laws though, it's possible they may be able to damage him."
"At the very least, it makes it easier to stall him," Caster grumbled. "Still, that is all we are going to manage. Now that they are out of Godgrave, there are no 'time outs' with the cloud cover breaking. Gehrman will have to manage his Essence Supply perfectly until he can get to the mists. Even then, it's unclear if he'll be able to take any breaks by hiding in the Nothing."
"It seems Gehrman is taking a gamble as well," Nephis said.
This was the first time she had spoken, and the entire room felt the change in atmosphere. This was not the Changing Star of the Immortal Flame who was seen as the light of humanity. This was the warrior and heir of Sun God who sought to kill three Sovereigns.
This was the Nephis that had led the Fire Keepers in the Forgotten Shore, the real one that "The Lord of Shadows" had yet to meet. As far as Neph knew, he was seeing this side of her for the first time.
That hurt more than it probably should have.
"The rest of us should follow his example," Changing Star crossed her arms and faced the others with unyielding confidence. "We have a few days before they reach the Hollow Mountains. Around the same time, the armies of Song and Valor will enter direct combat. After that, it will be more clear how much time we have left. Whatever it is though, it won't be enough."
She paused, looking at the other Saints in turn.
"While Gehrman stalls the Dreamspawn, we will have to take care of Anvil and Song. If one wins, he can take humanity in one fell swoop with ease, since he already seems to have wormed his way into both of their minds."
The Vassals of Song shifted a bit their discomfort evident. Ki Song's daughters both gave each other glances, communicating silently.
"Though we understand your desire, Changing Star, our mother is just as much of a victim in this than–"
"She is not innocent," Nephis interrupted. Her voice was stern and neutral, but the unbridled passion behind it could be felt as the pressure in the air changed.
Oskar gave Changing Star a sidelong glance. Caster let his arms rest at his side. The three Saints of Night lowered themselves a bit.
Only Sunny remained totally stoic. He had expected this, of course. It was inevitable the moment they had walked in the room. What he didn't expect was what happened next.
Then, everything eased as Nephis let out a sigh.
"She is not innocent…but that doesn't mean I will force everyone involved to agree to kill her…For now at least, we will go with a different option."
Nephis turned slightly to Cassie, who gave her a reassuring nod.
"My Transcendent Ability allows me to delve into a person's memories. It is tricker to alter those of people at higher Ranks, but if I have enough time, I should be able to remove the Dreamspawn from Ki Song's head, freeing her of his control."
Saint Typhaon grunted.
"I would have assumed that you would want to offer the same courtesy to that Warden's boy. However, now that I've actually met you, I wonder if there is anyone here who wouldn't agree with just killing him to save us the trouble."
Sunny felt the need to interject here, as he didn't want anyone getting the wrong idea.
"He will be killed. That is Mordret's only requirement for joining. However, we can't just let Ki Song become ruler of humanity. If all goes according to plan and Song of The Fallen erases the Dreamspawn from everyone's minds and Gehrman kills him, then she would be the only Sovereign. With the eternity of humanity as her Domain, even all of us together wouldn't be able to stop her."
"Stop her?" one of the Vassals scoffed. "From doing what? She's not some genocidal maniac."
"Holy shit guy," Oskar laughed. "She literally just ordered you to wipe out a Citadel filled with innocent people."
The Saint bristled.
"She was under the control of that monster! She would never actually–"
"The issue is," Caster interrupted. "That you couldn't make that distinction. When you got that order you followed through without hesitation. We get nowhere arguing about the morality of Ki Song. The fact of the matter remains, putting all that power in one Sovereign without any counterbalances is too risky. Whose to say that gaining so much power, getting that close to godhood, would let her rule fairly and wisely. Even as she was when Gehrman first met her, she is still not fit to be the ruler of all humanity. Her ability to empathize and understand is all but gone."
There was a beat of silence, and then, Sunny was unable to suppress the small chuckle that escaped from him.
After all eyes turned to him, he simply offered a shrug.
"Sorry, I just found it funny that Caster of all people would say that."
The man scowled, but before they could get into a back and forth, a new voice joined.
"I'll have to side with my fellow Government coworkers here," Soul Reaper Jet said. "There is a reason why the Government remains run by departments and not sole individuals. While an individual ruler might work for a Clan, hell even a Great Clan, the scale of humanity is too much for any one person."
"That's great and all," Saint Aether said, tentatively interjecting. "But what is the alternative? If Anvil and the Dreamspawn are dead, then Ki Song will be the only Supreme. Even if Valor, the Government, and the House of Night remained distinct and didn't swear allegiance to her…well, there's a reason why our influence has fallen so much. Having a Supreme as a ruler is simply too great an advantage."
Saint Typhaon was the first to catch on to their meaning.
"You want a new cohort to take on the 4th Nightmare, is that what this is? Forming a party to march into hell while the others try to keep the world from ending in the meantime?" He paused. "Not that I don't agree with your logic, but I'm a bit concerned by the fact that we don't even know who's supposed to be in charge here. Miss Seishan called the meeting, but the plans seemed to have been made by you."
Both princesses looked at each other. Neither had open hostility in their eyes, but there was contention. Seishan was pragmatic, she knew that in terms of influence and power she stood no chance against Changing Star.
Sunny thought about the situation for a moment, and then came to an understanding. While Neph's current Cohort: Cassie, Kai, Jet, and Effie were all some of the strongest Saints ever, perhaps even stronger than Broken Sword's Cohort had been, there was no way for them to actually all go together. First of all, Kai and Effie didn't yet appear to have ambition or drive to become Supreme, while Jet seemed just generally ambivalent about it.
Those three were powerful, but power wasn't the only thing required to survive the 4th Nightmare.
Perhaps if they were led by Nephis and advised by Cassie they could make it, but neither could enter the Nightmare with them.
If they were to go and challenge the Nightmare. They would be seen as traitors, and the Fire Keepers and anyone who supported them would be butchered.
Plus, it would be an irreversible drop in Valor's power, leading to an imbalance that would surely lead to a swift and total victory for Song.
Now however, there were options. Of course, none of the Vassals of Song could be of any real help, as they were newly Transcended.
They were just here because they happened to be in the right place and the right time (or the wrong place at the wrong time, depending on how one looked at it).
However, Seishan and Silent Stalker both inherited Beast Gods Lineage. While Stalker may not meet the more brutal qualifications of a Sovereign, instead being more of a killer, she would likely be only a little less suited than Jet for the role.
Seishan was actually a prime candidate. In terms of leadership experience, she actually surpassed Nephis due to being the leader of the Handmaidens for several years.
Caster was also a candidate, though Sunny didn't think he was quite as fitting for it, he had to admit the guy had come a long way, and could probably handle himself in the 4th Nightmare. Still, it was unlikely that he would join. The New Workshop would be undergoing mass Nightmares, and he had to be around to take care and lead those who managed to make it through while Oskar challenged his 3rd Nightmare.
Then, there were the Saints of the House of Night. Sunny knew from personal experience that Naeve was a good guy and a capable leader of men. He was unsure if the kind man had it in his heart to truly become a Sovereign, as that required a tyrannical Will. However, Sunny believed that if it was for his Clan, he could manage.
Saint Typhaon was also extraordinarily capable. Though Sunny didn't know a bunch about him or his ability, he had heard tale of the Elder's terrifying Transformation ability. The details were purposefully kept vague, but if they were at least even a little true, then the goliath with squid tendrils, impenetrable scales, and a size that was larger than even Effie's form would easily make him a Saint worthy of ridiculous strength.
As someone who had partly taken on the role of leader of the House of Night after their founder, Nightwalker, had disappeared, he was actually the most qualified of them all to take on the role of a Sovereign.
Naeve and Aether were in similar positions to Kai and Effie, both were younger, and though they had exceptional talent, they may not quite be up to the task of Supremacy. Still, they were the future of the House of Night, and it was clear by the looks in their eyes that both would be willing to take on the 4th Nightmare.
That being said, there was a major problem. Even if they had the strength for it, it would be exceedingly difficult for the party of Typhaon, Naeve, Aether, Seishan, Silent Stalker, Jet, Effie, and Kai to work together seamlessly. The Saints of Night and Song were not outright enemies, but there was no way for them to trust each other, let alone work as a coherent unit.
All things considered, the outcome of that Nightmare was looking rather grim.
Eventually, the silence was broken once again, this time, by the pop of a back cracking.
Oskar was leaning to the side, stretching and looking generally bored.
"No one's in charge. We're all just flying by the seat of our pants here." He scratched the back of his neck, oddly casual. "I say, we treat this the same way we did in the founding days of the New Workshop. No one trusts the others because they would be suicidal if they did. Still, we have something to gain here. So, now that we have a baseline – that being not killing Ki Song outright, and needing to challenge the 4th Nightmare – we just have to trust each other to follow that."
Saint Aether frowned.
"There's no order in that. How are we supposed to put together an effective fight without a proper chain of command?"
"Easy," Oskar smiled. "You just fight for yourself. Use everyone around you, and know that they'll be doing the same. It's nice actually, in a shitty situation like this, we're all so desperate that it puts us on roughly the same level."
Some of the Saints seemed displeased with this answer, but the heavy hitters didn't seem to mind this way of thinking about their alliance.
"I'm under no illusions that after the Dreamspawn is dead, we will go back to being enemies," Nephis said. "However, that won't matter if we all end up dead before that. So, for now, we are allies. Hence why I am willing to share what I know."
Seishan kept her gaze tempered.
"And what is that?"
"It is an incomplete picture, but there is something we need to figure out if we want to make it out of this alive. In all likelihood, whoever we send to the 4th Nightmare won't make it back in time for the actual conflict with Anvil and Song. The best we can hope for is some support during a joint attack on the Dreamspawn. So for now, we need to ensure that at least one of us can become Supreme before that."
Seishan remained neutral, but her hand tightened a bit.
"Natural Supremacy. Evolving Rank without the Spell, is that what you mean?"
Changing Star nodded.
Glances were exchanged.
"That would be ideal, definitely, but at this point is it even possible?"
Nephis nodded, and she launched into an explanation that Sunny found quite intriguing. After all, he had been theorizing and searching for such answers himself.
"The most important aspect of a Supreme is their Domain. It stands to reason that before even evolving, a nascent Domain must be founded, and a clear purpose and element must be established. Fortunately, I have already accomplished this."
There was a good amount of stir at that proclamation, but Sunny wasn't surprised one bit. Even without the Firekeepers, the loyalty she had from the general public was astounding. Though Nephis was not the most emotionally intelligent, over the years she had gained a deep understanding of leadership and inspiring others. Sunny himself had helped her along that path, inadvertently teaching her the limits of her tactics.
He had abandoned her in the Dark City, and then again when she swore herself to Valor. Though she no longer remembered that, the lessons on compromise and not forcing her Will too much on others seemed to be retained.
It left Sunny with a hollowness that caused no small amount of pain.
"I can feel the Longing in the people of Bastion, and those of the Waking World as well," she looked upward, her gaze suddenly very distant. "The flames of ambition, fear, and desire in each of their hearts…Though I don't have a Supreme ability, I can feel the seed there." She returned her gaze back to the others.
"This is the first step, a nascent Domain. However, there is evidently more to it than that." She turned to Saint Typhaon. "As the most experienced of us, I wonder if you could offer any insight?"
The gruff older man grunted.
"If I did, don't you think that I would have used that insight for my own Clan?"
Nephis frowned, but before she could get disheartened, Sunny spoke up.
"The other three requirements are a nascent understanding of Will, a strong connection to one's source element, and what is called an act of defiance."