Shadow Slave novel Chapter 2940

Chapter 2940: Final Trial

Ananke was able to remember what Sunny had told them. However, Nephis forgot most of what he described soon after he did — after all, she had known that he abandoned her and the cohort to search for the Estuary.

Eventually, the two of them found themselves alone. Ananke had left to prepare the Time Slayer for the journey to the Estuary while leaving them to rest — and yet, neither Sunny nor Nephis was in the mood for sleep.

They walked around the small, empty port built inside the skull of the Serpent King, studying the things that the River People had left behind.

Eventually, Sunny asked:

“So, what do you think?"

Nephis glanced at him and frowned, strangely hesitant.

"I... am not sure. Having Ananke aid us in the fight against the Thieving Bird — and its vile spawn — will undoubtedly be a tremendous boon. She is a Supreme of considerable prowess, after all, and we are facing a Cursed Terror. However..."

She fell silent, as if failing to find the right words to express her feelings.

Sunny smiled faintly and looked away.

“I know. It's strange, isn't it? Both you and I accept the possibility of our deaths as if it were a given. However, the thought of watching her die in front of us for the second time feels... unacceptable."

Nephis seemed to have gotten distracted, forgetting what he said a few moments later.

Sunny sighed.

“You don't want her to get hurt, do you? You don't even want to allow the possibility of her getting hurt."

Nephis nodded slowly.

“She has suffered enough."

It was truly something, coming from Nephis —a woman who had to burn alive every time she used her powers.

Sunny shook his head bitterly.

"Nothing is enough in this world."

He remained silent for a while, then added in an even tone:

"But I agree. Ananke must survive — more than anyone, she has to escape this hell in one piece. And she has to bring the Ark Amulets out with her. These people she has protected with her life, to the point of defying the laws of existence and becoming Supreme in order not to fail her duty, must be saved. Their lives mean far more than I can properly describe."

He paused for a moment.

“They are a symbol. Their existence means that salvation is possible. So, I'd love nothing more than to keep Ananke away from the fight against the Vile Thieving Bird. But..."

His expression darkened.

“Regardless of how we feel about her, she is not a decrepit old woman. She is not a child, either. She is the greatest warrior of the River People civilization and a Supreme, which means that nothing we say will change her mind. We can't force her to stay behind while we risk our lives — we have no right to ask her to do so, either."

Before Ananke left, Sunny had asked her if she had ever tried to leave the Tomb of Ariel on her own. She had, as it turned out — but escaping the great pyramid was impossible due to the millions of Nightmare Butterflies resting on its inner walls. One would have to face them all at once instead of only those who had escaped through the breach, which was no different from suicide.

In fact, Daeron had not been able to leave, either. The Twilight Sea had already been absorbed by the Dream Realm by then, so he couldn't even cross the realm boundary by pulling on his tether.

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