Shadow Slave

'How… how the hell is this thing even moving?'

Defying all logic, the skeleton lunged at Effie with a speed that even Sunny himself wasn't capable of. With no muscle tissue connecting the bones together, the strange creature was still able to stand upright, run… and attack with vicious strength.

A moment before the undead monster closed the distance between them, Effie screamed:

"Stay together!"

Then, she turned her torso and slammed her shield against the lunging monstrosity. With a thunderous crack, the skeleton was thrown back. Its skull and ribcage shattered, showering the tunnel with sharp bone splinters. Like a broken marionette, it fell to the ground in a shapeless pile.

Sunny stared at the mess of broken bones with in confusion.

'Wait… that's it?'

The huntress yelled, tearing him away from these thoughts:

"Don't stop, move!"

The cohort rushed forward, following Effie into the depths of the catacombs. When Sunny was approaching the remains of the reanimated skeleton, he noticed something that made a cold chill run down his spine.

The bones were still moving, slowly assembling themselves back into the shape that resembled a human. Just as he stepped past the creature, one skeletal hand suddenly thrust in his direction, trying to claw at his leg. If not for Sunny's quick reaction, it might have succeeded in injuring him.

a few meters back, the hand remained

too damaged to be of use were simply replaced by one of

disturbing thought

finally realized why Effie had told them to keep moving instead of trying to kill the Nightmare Creatures populating the

it because these creatures were…

...Or rather, undying.

felt a sickening premonition that he was right. If so, things were going to turn from bad

them. For a moment, he felt fear grip his heart, thinking that the dark sea had somehow

this wasn't the cursed sea. Instead, it was dozens… no, hundreds of skeletal feet scraping against the cold

thousands

monsters populating the catacombs were

gripped the Midnight Shard tighter and hurried after the other members

and

***

the undead creatures were upon them. First in ones and pairs, then in small groups, the bloodthirsty skeletons assaulted them in a constant stream. Appearing from the

huntress exerted her inhuman strength, bulldozing through the skeletons like an incarnation of ancient fury. Her round shield acted as a wrecking

holding the longsword by the blade, using its crossguard and pommel

got past them, Caster was there to deliver the finishing blow. His sword shone with a ghostly green light, slicing through bones as if without meeting any resistance. The proud Legacy fought with graceful

skeleton was stronger and faster than a human could ever be. It took incredible skill, resolve, and coordination to cut through their ranks without

true menace of these undead abominations for