Shadow Slave

Life, indeed, was good. In fact, Sunny would even go so far as to say that, currently, it was wonderful.

One would expect that being stuck in a cursed city located in the middle of an actual hell, surrounded by nothing but ruins and horrifying monsters, was not really the best way to live your life. But to him, this was somewhat of a paradise.

To his surprise, Sunny had found out that this type of existence suited him pretty well. He had no obligations, no need to worry about the future and, most importantly, was not required to interact with other humans.

Humans always made things hard and complicated. He was sick of them.

Being on your own was much better. He didn't have to pretend to be someone else, force himself to behave differently from how he wanted to, and strain his mind trying to understand people's convoluted feelings.

For the first time in his life, Sunny could simply be himself.

Turns out, his true self was very easy to please. He had no shortage of interesting things to do, explore, and kill. His life was very entertaining and comfortable, all things considered.

It was at least way better than his pathetic existence in the outskirts, back in the real world.

The key to this harmonious feeling was very simple. It was to have no hope.

Sunny discovered that hope was the true enemy of peace. It was the most vile and poisonous thing in the universe. If there was even a glimmer of hope to return home, he would have been desperate, full of anxiety, and probably in the middle of some insane disaster right now.

Like he had always been before.

But without hope, things were simple and pleasant. He really couldn't wish for more.

"Keep telling yourself this crap. You might really believe it."

Sunny grinned.

"What is there to believe? It's the truth!"

The shadow silently shook its head, long accustomed to his crazy tirades. Lately, Sunny had been talking with himself a lot, having long arguments that sometimes descended into screaming matches. It was a good way to pass the time.

ruined cathedral, the entrance hidden behind a tall statue of some unknown goddess. There was a small balcony that allowed him to observe the grand hall of the temple over the goddess's shoulder, concealed from sight

impossible for any creature to climb on it by accident. Falling down would certainly

had discovered the hidden room while spying on the bastard that had gutted him. He had entered the cathedral through the hole in its roof and landed on one of the wide support

in fact, the guardian of this place. He patrolled the grand hall, killing anyone who dared

the bastard was a Nightmare Creature of considerable power

was pretty sure that he was

that no monster would be able to reach the inner

to exact his revenge. Sunny was

had to become stronger. Much,

the beams of the cathedral, he approached the hole in the roof and climbed

night was already

was time to

***

narrow street of the cursed city. The creature had long arms that ended with vicious claws and a deformed head with a

back bent, the monster was at least two meters tall. It was dressed in a torn shroud that was once white, but had long ago turned brown from

This was Sunny's prey.

weakest dwellers of the cursed city. It was merely an awakened monster, barely intelligent and comparatively easy to

all, each and every human on the Forgotten

they shared the same rank and class, Blood Fiends were less formidable than Carapace Centurions in terms of strength and speed. However, that was only until they smelled blood, which sent them into a murderous frenzy. In that state,

thought, stalking the Nightmare Creature

time each time… well, except for this one encounter where he had accidentally scratched himself on a sharp stone. That was not fun at

to die, you

unnatural speed, the monster turned around and fell on all fours, his sensitive ears picking up the slightest rustle. Then, he took a few careful steps forward

an ordinary-looking rock was lying

the

it

moment, then turned around with

separated from the lower. Still refusing to die, the monster reached out with