Shadow Slave

Sunny was walking at the back of the cohort, but his shadow was scouting ahead. Without it by his side, he was rather uncomfortable.

'I wonder if I can summon the Stone Saint while it is away. How have I never thought to check it?'

Without both his shadow and his Shadow, Sunny felt almost nacked. At least he had other people with him, including three powerhouses — Nephis, Caster, and Effie.

Come to think of it, he had never seen Kai in action. The beautiful archer didn't look like someone extremely dangerous, but Sunny wasn't deceived. Weak people did not survive on the Forgotten Shore for years, especially not if their Aspect Ability made them the perfect person to venture outside the Dark City.

With his unique Aspect Ability, Kai had to fight against the type of terrifying creatures that Sunny knew very little about, too — the flying abominations that lived in the clouds. Like the Spire Messengers.

'Scary.'

Speaking of Kai…

Sunny hastened his steps and caught up to the charming young man. Glancing at Cassie, who did not seem like she wanted to say anything to him, he frowned for a moment, and then turned to Nightingale:

"Hey there, Night. How's life?"

The archer looked at him with a friendly smile.

"Oh, hey. Good, I guess? I mean… the weather is nice."

Sunny blinked a couple of times. The weather was never nice on the Forgotten Shore. It was either too cold, too damp, or too hot. Honestly, he even missed the Black Mountain sometimes. At least it was consistent.

Not one to make polite talk, Sunny went straight to the question he really wanted to ask:

"So, really… what are you doing here?"

Kai glanced at him with a bit of confusion.

"What do you mean?"

Sunny sighed.

stay there for a long time, everyone likes you,

beautiful archer lingered for a

in a bit of trouble. I think. The deaths of those Guards who locked me in the well are being used to frame Effie, are they

thought about it for a bit, then

in this expedition

Kai smiled.

there is something

Sunny frowned.

Please… please don't tell me that you

charming young man

No, I don't think so. At least

silent for a long

things clearly. But really, it's not that hard to

with a somber expression on his usually carefree

months ago. Do you know how many of us reached the

Sunny shook his head.

The archer grimaced.

do you know how many are still alive? Less

was silent for

in just two years, more than half of us perished. People die all the time in the Dark City, you see. The castle may seem safe, but actually, the Host is constantly bleeding people. Every week, a few hunters don't return from

Kai sighed.

and simply drags away people. That's not even mentioning those who die of hunger, desperation, or by another human's

scowled, a new understanding dawning on him. Seeing

hundreds of people die in the Dark City. And every year, hundreds more come to

about

Meanwhile, Kai continued:

that Spell Cycle theory that people have is true and five months from

shook his head, a dark expression

Dark City. And two years from now… there will be only a dozen or two. It takes a lot of people to maintain the semblance of civilization we have going on here, Sunny.

at him and added

is not powerful enough will die. Eventually, only a few strongest ones will be left. Am I strong enough to be among those few? I'm not sure. And even if I am, who would want to live in