Shadow Slave: Arcadius of the Forgotten

Sometime after leaving the cafeteria, Cade stood alone in the dojo, his eyes fixed on the dueling ring. It was close to the afternoon and the dimly lit expanse of the dojo was shrouded in silence.

He hadn't seen Sunny yet, but he guessed that after an entire month of trying to get close to the distrustful Sleeper, it wasn't entirely impossible that he would show up.

I just hope he didn't shrug it off as a joke, he thought, his gaze lingering on the ring. However, his worries were quickly abated as the sound of footsteps approached.

Turning around, he saw Sunny step into the dojo, his face already contorted with irritation. The seemingly annoyed Sleeper walked up to Cade, looking at him with a sharp gaze.

"So?" he asked, his voice thick with impatience. "What's this about?"

Cade met his gaze for a moment and then looked away, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Well, you see, Sunny... you're the first person I've ever taught anything. My first student."

Sunny blinked, clearly waiting for him to elaborate. When Cade didn't, his impatience only grew. "…And?" he asked with a tinge of annoyance.

"And I thought it'd be a waste to stop your lessons like this," Cade replied, his voice steady but with an edge of something deeper. "Abruptly."

Sunny shrugged, the hint of a scowl still apparent on his face. "It's not like we have a choice. Come night, we're all going to be thrust into the Dream Realm. And there's nothing we can do about it."

"I am well aware of that," Cade replied, his tone hardening as he moved to create some distance between them. "That's exactly why I've decided to make this final lesson special. Something to make our training more memorable... something that sticks."

Sunny's eyes narrowed, suspicion creeping into his expression. "Oh, yeah? And what's that?"

Cade smirked and dropped into a stance, his fists hovering in front of his face. "I've decided to hold a graduation test for you." His eyes gleamed with quiet challenge. "Impress me, and you shall pass."

Sunny's eyes flickered with surprise, his posture stiffening for a moment as he processed Cade's words. An imperceptible frown creased his features, and he exhaled sharply, clearly not expecting this sudden turn.

"And how exactly am I supposed to impress you?" Sunny asked.

"You're going to fight me. In earnest. And at full strength," Cade said, his voice carrying the weight of the challenge. "Based on your performance, I'll decide if you've managed to impress me or not."

Sunny didn't respond immediately. Instead, he stood still, his eyes distant, as though considering something. For a moment, the air between them was thick with uncertainty.

Then, with a resigned shrug, he spoke. "Doesn't matter, I guess. It's not like I'm going to the Dream Realm physically. So, even if I get hurt or bruised, it won't really matter."

With that, he shifted into the stance that Cade had taught him, though there was a lack of urgency in his movements.

Cade's eyes sharpened as he observed him. "I said at full strength, Sunny."

Sunny paused, raising an eyebrow. "What do you—"

Cade cut him off, his tone biting. "Use your shadow, dumbass."

There was a flash of surprise in Sunny's eyes, but it was gone in an instant. He stood there for a moment, eyeing Cade carefully, before narrowing his eyes and asking with a subtle warning in his words, "You sure? It almost doubles my strength, you know..."

Cade let out a sharp scoff, irritation lining his voice. "Just who do you think you're talking to, asshole? Do it!"

Sunny hesitated for a brief moment, but then, with a deep breath, he wrapped his shadow around his body. His skin darkened, as if the very essence of the shadow was merging with him, and his posture shifted— becoming more grounded, more confident.

"Don't hold back too much either," he said, his voice steadier now. "I wanna see where I actually stand."

Cade's gaze never wavered, his expression unreadable. He gave an affirming tilt with his head. "Sure," he said, his voice calm yet firm.

For a beat, they locked eyes— an unspoken understanding passing between them. The world seemed to hold its breath.

Then, with a sudden fluidity, Sunny moved.

Sunny exploded forward, the floorboards groaning beneath him. His augmented strength propelled him like a cannonball, his fist rocketing towards Cade's chest.

Cade, however, swayed just out of reach at the last possible moment, his movement smooth and seemingly guided by experience. That was obviously not the case, though. Cade had no experience to speak of. However, his Attribute turned him into a proficient combatant.

Sunny's punch whistled past, so close that it stirred the air in front of Cade like a gust of wind.

"Good speed," Cade remarked, his tone light but sharp at the same time, "but the move itself is too predictable."

Without skipping a beat, Sunny spun on his heel, using the momentum from his missed strike to launch a sweeping kick aimed at Cade's head. The blow cut through the air with terrifying speed, but Cade ducked under it, his body bending backward with an almost liquid grace.

Sunny gritted his teeth, launching himself in the opposite direction to create distance before charging once again. This time, he feinted a high punch, only to shift low at the last moment, aiming a brutal uppercut at Cade's ribs.

Cade lowered his forearm to intercept the blow, and the impact reverberated through his body. He'd managed to block the blow but the power behind it was nothing to scoff at. He let out a sharp grunt.

"Better," he acknowledged, though his voice betrayed the strain of blocking such a powerful strike.

Sunny didn't pause. He pressed forward, his enhanced strength transforming every punch and kick into a battering ram. A relentless barrage followed— jabs, hooks, elbows— each one quick, brutal, and unforgiving.

Cade moved with grace, his defense a fluid dance. His feet glided across the floor, always a step ahead of Sunny's strikes. His hands moved with a calculated precision, redirecting the furious assault with relative ease. Sunny's raw strength was a little bit of a problem, but thanks to his Attribute, he adapted to it quickly enough.

Sunny's frustration bubbled over as he growled under his breath, "Stop running, you bastard!"

Cade's smile, which he had been wearing throughout the assault, only deepened; a hint of amusement flickering in his eyes. "You asked for it."

Without warning, Cade closed the gap between them in an instant, slipping past Sunny's guard. His fist shot forward, striking Sunny's shoulder with a sharp, reverberating impact that sent him staggering back.

The punch would've caused any normal Sleeper to go sprawling to the floor. But Sunny's augmented strength kept him grounded.

Sunny's boots skidded against the floor as he regained his balance, his eyes narrowing as his right hand clutched the shoulder where Cade had hit him. He planted his feet firmly, a low exhale slipping through his gritted teeth. His muscles rippled beneath his darkened skin, veins pulsing as raw power surged through him.

"Come on..." he muttered to himself; the words seemingly igniting something deeper within him. With a snarl, he adjusted his shoulder and surged forward again— faster than before, his movements blurring into a streak of shadow and fury.

Cade's gaze flicked to Sunny's feet, trying to calculate his next move. When Sunny's punch came, it was a lightning strike— fast, brutal, and precise. But Cade moved like a wraith, twisting his body just enough to let the strike graze his side.

In one fluid motion, he countered, his elbow shooting upward with blinding speed, aimed straight for Sunny's lower jaw.

Sunny barely managed to get out of the way, his teeth gritted and his body flowing with the instinct to pivot. He launched a spinning kick toward Cade's ribs, but Cade caught it mid-air with both hands, the force of the blow dragging him backward.

With a firm grip, Cade seized Sunny's ankle, his hands locking around it like an iron vice. In one sharp motion, he pulled, throwing Sunny off-balance and sending him sprawling to the ground.

Sunny rolled with the momentum, springing back to his feet as if the fall had never happened. He wiped the sweat from his brow, his lip curling into a grin. "This is fun as hell."

Cade's smile turned wicked. "You're goddamn right it is."

Sunny rushed in again. The air was thick with tension as the fight exploded into a blur of motion. The dojo rang with the sound of strikes landing and missing, boots crashing into the wooden floor, and the rhythmic sharpness of their breaths.

Sunny feinted a punch to Cade's stomach, his movements quick and sharp. But at the last second, he dropped low to sweep at Cade's legs. Cade was momentarily caught off-guard by the sudden shift in strategy, but his Attribute guided him as his instincts kicked in.

He leapt over the sweep, his body twisting mid-air, and brought his arm down in a sharp strike— just narrowly missing Sunny, who managed to dodge by inches.

As Cade was regaining his posture, Sunny thought he saw it— an opening. His heart surged with adrenaline. Without hesitation, he lunged, his fist aimed directly for Cade's mid-section. Cade smirked.

Got him! he thought.

He had already predicted this cheap maneuver. He had deliberately created this opening because this was exactly the kind of opportunity that someone like Sunny would jump at.

Cade shifted his weight at the last possible second. With inhuman precision, he pivoted around Sunny, moving like water. Before he could even react, Cade hooked his leg behind Sunny's knee, pulling him off-balance and slamming him to the ground in a ruthless, powerful move.

Sunny gasped sharply as his back hit the wood, and before he could react, Cade was on him. The teacher pinned Sunny's arm behind his back, pressing a knee firmly into his chest. 

Sunny struggled for a moment, but then let out a frustrated sigh. "Alright, you got me... now get off me, you inhuman bastard!" 

Cade released him and stood, offering a hand to help him up. Sunny hesitated, but then took it, rising to his feet with a scowl. 

"That Attribute of yours is cheating!!" Sunny muttered, brushing dust off his clothes. 

"Can't argue with that," Cade said, smile widening. 

Sunny shook his head, still grumbling, but a small, reluctant grin tugged at the corners of his lips. "Seriously, though... it's like you're a damn ghost. Why couldn't I catch you? I was even using my shadow."

Cade laughed lightly, planting a mock punch on Sunny's side. "If you wanna get good, you'll need to think on your feet. Adapt, or get left behind."

Sunny rolled his eyes but said nothing more, looking around the dojo as he caught his breath. He'd given it his all, and though he had lost, the challenge seemed to have left him with a strange satisfaction.

The spark in Sunny's eyes betrayed his growing respect for Cade's skills. "Next time, bastard. Next time, I might just surprise you."

Cade smirked, clapping Sunny on the shoulder. "I look forward to it." 

"So?" Sunny asked. "Did I manage to impress you?" 

Cade thought for a bit, considering the duel. "You know what, you actually did," he replied honestly. "I was planning on saying you did, no matter how the fight went. But right now, I can say with absolute certainty that you managed to impress me."

He paused before continuing, "In fact, you're almost too good. I don't think anyone would believe you if you told them you only started training, like, a month ago. Your growth is nothing short of impressive. Scary even." 

Sunny seemed to be happy to hear his teacher's approval. He even let his satisfaction show on his face. 

Cade moved forward and tapped both of Sunny's shoulders, one at a time, as if knighting him. "Sleeper Sunless. Congratulations! You've officially graduated from Arcadius's school of grappling and throwing hands. Rejoice!!" 

Sunny scoffed, his usual annoyance slipping away. Then he held his hand out. "Thanks, I guess," he said, looking away and scratching the back of his neck awkwardly. "You know... for teaching me how to fight and all..." 

Cade's eyes widened slightly. He was surprised by this oddly genuine show of respect from the hateful Sunny. However, reading the room, he only smiled and took his hand. "The pleasure was all mine." 

After the handshake, they didn't say much. There wasn't much to be said. Both of them knew that this brief 'friendship' of theirs was not meant to last. So, without getting too emotional, they moved on to leave the dojo. 

However, at the entrance to the dojo, they suddenly froze.