But it was too late.
There stood an enormous creature. It was a scaled beast with three long necks and three terrifying maws, its enormous body framed by vast skeletal wings. A black miasma flowed from the numerous torn holes on its body, spreading slowly over the restless surface of dark water.
Its size dwarfed both Sunny and the Slayer, making them seem like toys.
Before the murderous Shadow could react, the beast's claws closed around her, crushing her in an iron grip.
Sunny let out a relieved sigh.
"...Thanks, Serpent."
Indeed, the ghastly beasts was none other than Serpent, having assumed the form of one of the silent shadows.
That of the Defiled Seeker of Truth, a Titan that Sunny had once slain in Antarctica.
Sunny was a Titan himself now, which meant that Serpent had become a Titan, as well.
And as such, it had the ability to turn into the form of the Titans Sunny had killed, as long as they were not of a higher Rank than Serpent itself.
Defiled Seeker of Truth, Goliath…
Winter Beast.
That was one of the main reasons why Sunny had wanted to venture into the Shadow Realm and earn his Titan Core.
Inhaling deeply, Sunny glanced at the Slayer, who was struggling to free herself from the Titan's inescapable grip, and headed for the Nameless Temple.
"Follow me."
…Soon enough, Sunny was standing outside the stone chamber that served as a treasury in the real world.
In the replica of the Nameless Temple, however, it had become a cell.
The Slayer was locked inside behind an iron door. She had already landed a few crushing strikes, both at the door and at the walls of her cell, but even her strength was not sufficient to damage them.
Sunny let out a dejected sigh.
'This is my Soul Sea, damn it…'
Apparently, now, there was a jail in his Soul Sea.
Shaking his head, he turned around and said tiredly:
"Stay put for now, Slayer. I'll deal with you later…"
Somehow…
He felt that rehabilitating his misguided sixth Shadow would take a bit of time... and a lot of effort.