Shadow Slave

The embrace of impenetrable darkness was broken by the furious white light of Changing Star's incandescent sword. Illuminated by it, six people were standing on the shore of a raging river. Their faces were pale and grim.

The canyon had disappeared, consumed by the rising surge of the black water. Now, the cursed sea was flowing over its edges, ready to swell and flood the narrow passages of the great Labyrinth in an unstoppable wave.

Sunny felt cold water wash over his feet and shivered. The rest of the cohort reacted exactly the same — even Kai, who could escape into the lightless skies at any moment, seemed to be deeply unnerved by the closeness of the encroaching sea.

Among the six of them, only three had truly experienced the perils of this dark abyss. They knew that the real dread came not from the sea itself, but from the terrors that hid in its cursed depths.

Like the host of the of whispering voices that they had heard beneath the branches of the Soul Tree.

Or the gargantuan creature that had almost cost Nephis her life.

However, Sunny was not going to make a remark to educate the rest of the cohort. After all, what they were trying to do right now was to summon one of these terrors from below.

One that was different from all the others.

"Sunny?"

Peering into the darkness, he lingered.

"I don't see anything… yet."

The water was already to his shins and rising swiftly. Sunny grimaced and struggled with the desire to turn around and run away without looking back.

If he was fast enough… if he was lucky enough… he could still make it to the giant statue before the torrent of darkness drowned him under its crushing weight.

glanced at Nephis

had glimpsed this secret of the Forgotten Shore in her visions and shared it with Changing Star. Changing Star had devised a plan to make

that they were going to succeed. So, he was going to

either of his former companions, not anymore. But he

the edges of his vision. Turning

"...It's here."

the waves, attracted by the light of Changing Star's incandescent blade. The sea seethed and swirled around it, the black mass of water easily

gritted her teeth and somehow made her flames burn even brighter, forcing the

"Get ready!"

ears. The creature was a true giant, easily towering

…Well, no surprise.

Sunny watched as the thing they were waiting for came closer.

its shoulders. And right between

was nothing but

seven headless statues on the Forgotten Shore, but only six marks on the map created by

because the seventh statue never stayed in one place for

scraping against one of its walls. The wide chest of the headless giant pushed the water

remnants of the ancient bridge that got in its way. The debris rained

— method of

insane,' Sunny thought, stunned by the sheer

to think of it, it was really ironic. The next day after he had decided to return

though the whole world was

head, Sunny turned to

"He's coming!"

to their knees. The members of the cohort tensed and prepared themselves for what was