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!"

were aimed in his direction. Feeling that things were about

hurt me!

mentally looked himself

dirty hair, his ragged armor covered in layers of dried and fresh blood, Sunny was indeed easy to mistake for a Nightmare Creature. He wasn't really paying much attention

language would prove his identity. Raising his hands to

see another human this far away from the walls of the castle, especially at

"Don't move!"

castle inhabitants hissed a threatening command. Sunny obediently froze,

walked past it. One of them was taller and better equipped than the rest. Piercing

Sunny by a few years. He was tall and muscular, with a patchy beard covering the lower part of his face and a mean look in his watery blue eyes. From his demeanor and Memories, it was easy to tell that the leader of the group had spent no less than three years on the Forgotten Shore. He had

up in the ranks of Gunlaug's army. Otherwise, his

was resting on the man's shoulder looked really sharp. It would

are you?! What the

times, then gulped

Sunless. I live

leader of the hunting party — if that what it

a fool, boy?! No one can

other Sleepers were of the same opinion — except for one, who looked at Sunny with doubt. Frowning, he took a step forward

truth. I heard that there's a crazy kid who lives in

The taller man scowled.

"How is that possible?"

subordinate glanced at

boy to hide in the shadows really well. I guess he crawls around like a rat and picks up the leftovers

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

the helpful Sleeper thought for a bit

came into town with that

a scowl. Looking down, he whispered

very rude,

everyone

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

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

leader of the hunting party took a step forward and said in a low,

you mumbling about,

looked at him

I was talking to my buddy. Can you please not

appeared on the tall man's face. With a sigh, Sunny turned to

guys have offended my dearest friend, Nephis of the Immortal Flame clan. She and I are very, very close. So I'll

for several seconds, then suddenly raised

weasel will give us a chance. How generous! Should we be generous too, huh? What do you say? The boy is