Shadow Slave

Sunny looked grimly at the corpse of the Blood Fiend, then in the direction of the approaching footsteps.

Who was crazy enough to remain in this cursed city during the night? Only a complete lunatic would do something that stupid. All the sane people were long gone from the streets, not to mention that very few were willing to enter the ruins to begin with.

A dark shadow flowed from the tip of the Midnight Shard's blade. Coalescing on the ground, it stared at him with sarcasm.

Sunny stared back.

"What?"

The shadow shook its head and didn't answer, forcing him to turn away with a confused shrug.

"Whatever. Ah, it seems we have guests. What to do, what to do? The place is a mess!"

Looking around, Sunny sighed, glanced at the corpse of the monster once again, and summoned the kunai. The smart thing to do was to run away. Who knew what exactly was producing those footsteps? Maybe it was a group of people, maybe it was a Nightmare Creature with a lot of feet. It was better not to find out.

Be he wasn't done with the hunt yet. He still had to get his trophies…

"Go take a look."

Sending the shadow away, Sunny kneeled and began to cut the tough flesh of the dead creature. Without the enhancing effect of the shadow, slicing the Blood Fiend apart was not as easy. However, he still managed to find the first soul shard rather quickly. One more to go…

Meanwhile, the shadow had discovered the uninvited visitors. Six humans were cautiously walking along the narrow path in the stone ruins, lighting their way with a ghostly blue lantern.

They were all rugged men, wearing mismatched suits of armor and armed to the teeth. Their eyes were cold and hard.

Sunny raised his eyebrows.

"My, oh my. They really are people. What is a bunch of Gunlaug's thugs doing outside the castle walls in the middle of the night?"

Gunlaug was the owner of the castle and the self-proclaimed king of this odious place. Every Sleeper on the Forgotten Shore was forced to either serve him or pay him tribute. Even still, the latter usually didn't live long.

Dismissing the Midnight Shard and the Parrot Rock, Sunny concentrated on searching for the second soul shard. He wanted to be gone from the street before these gentlemen arrived.

But the circle of blue light was approaching too fast…

Finally catching a glimpse of the glowing crystal, Sunny grabbed it and hurriedly hid it in his armor. Then he dropped the kunai on the ground and took several steps back.

But it was too late. They had already seen him.

"Be careful! There's a monster!"

things were about to get out of control, he cleared his throat

hurt me! I'm

this, he mentally looked himself

of dried and fresh blood, Sunny was indeed easy to mistake for a Nightmare

in a human language would prove his identity. Raising his hands to show that he wasn't armed, Sunny took another

another human this far away from the walls

"Don't move!"

castle inhabitants hissed a threatening command. Sunny obediently froze, careful

Fiend as they walked past it. One of them was taller

a mean look in his watery blue eyes. From his demeanor and Memories,

the

really sharp. It would take him only a second to bring that

you?! What the hell are you

couple of times, then gulped

Sunless. I

leader of the hunting party — if that what it

a fool, boy?! No one

were of the same opinion — except for one, who looked at Sunny

be telling truth. I heard that there's

The taller man scowled.

"How is that possible?"

at Sunny and

allows the boy to hide in the shadows really well. I guess he crawls around like a rat and picks up the leftovers after the monsters are done eating. I

frowned. Crazy, boy, rat… why did everyone feel compelled to

thought

came into town with that bitch, Changing

frown turned into a scowl. Looking down,

very

by everyone around. The Sleepers stared at

his head a little and opened his eyes wide, as if shocked by

think I should kill them all? I mean… isn't it a little bit over the top? I should give them a chance to

hunting party took a step forward and said in a low,

you

him

was talking to my buddy. Can

wide, dangerous smile appeared on the tall man's face. With a sigh, Sunny turned

dearest friend, Nephis of the Immortal Flame clan. She and I are very, very close. So I'll give you one chance to apologize for calling her

several seconds, then suddenly raised his head

good one! Have you heard, guys? This tiny weasel will give us a chance. How generous! Should we be generous too, huh? What do you