Shadow Slave

Two days later, they entered the Dark City once again.

Nephis was right — no one from the Castle was there to ambush them. Gunlaug seemed to be content letting them come to him instead, so his Hunters and the dreadful hunchback were nowhere to be seen.

Just as well.

The cohort scaled the impregnable grey wall late in the evening and spent the night in one of its towers — almost like how Sunny, Neph, and Cassie had done all that time ago.

When the morning came, they headed toward the ruined cathedral.

The ruined streets of the cursed city surrounded them once more. After months spent in the Labyrinth, their monotone colors seemed strange and bizarre. There was nothing but dark stone and dust around, with rare islands of crimson leaves and moss growing through the rubble.

And swarms of terrifying Fallen Creatures, of course.

…It was nice to be home.

Sunny caught himself thinking that and blinked. He had never thought that one day he would feel sentimental about returning to this cursed, ancient prison. And yet, there was a strange feeling of comfort deep in his heart now. It had been there ever since they had crested the city wall.

'What weird creatures we humans are. Truly, there is nothing we can't get used to.'

Glancing at his companions, he noticed that they were feeling the same way — especially Effie, who had spent years surviving, hunting, and even thriving on the streets of the Dark City.

She even called it a paradise once.

…The only kind that humans deserved.

Sunny sighed. Regardless of the strange ideas the huntress had, he believed that humans weren't meant to live in a paradise.

If they were to ever find one, they would quickly turn it into hell.

…Just like what the humans trapped on the Forgotten Shore were doing right now.

***

distance away, looking at the ancient temple with dark expressions. The journey through the Dark City had turned out to be uneventful thanks to Effie's masterful guidance and the shadow scouting ahead to

danger hid at the end of

of the group everything that he knew about how the Black Devil fought, what his habits were, and how they had to approach the upcoming battle. They were as ready as they

them, he lingered for a few moments,

must be the one to deal the final blow. It is very

with a

devil, Sunny? Won't it be better to leave that creature be? I just

Sunny smiled.

ever been gutted, Kai? And I don't mean emotionally. I mean literally, with a

The charming archer shivered.

"Uh… no. Were you?"

disappeared from

it's only fair that I do something similar to him, is it not? I don't know

person who hurt you walk free was the day you announced to the world that anyone could stomp on you with impunity. After that, it was

outskirts were

not really a person. But the same

him with a complicated expression, then asked in a

Then… how

away and moved his

That's how

shook his head and gritted

talk. You all know the plan… so let's get it over

reach the pinnacle of his hunter

to

***

grand hall of the majestic cathedral, darkness reigned unopposed. It drowned the vast hall, clinging to its walls and tall columns. The rare beams of light falling through the narrow windows

the light of their lantern Memories failing to pierce the veil of darkness even

And then,