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.

***

front of them. The members of the cohort stopped some distance away, looking at the ancient temple with dark expressions. The journey through the Dark City had turned out

hid at the end of the path, and now,

Devil fought, what his habits were, and how they had to approach the upcoming battle. They were as ready as

he lingered for a few moments, and

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

a

Won't it be better to

Sunny smiled.

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

The charming archer shivered.

"Uh… no. Were you?"

smile disappeared from

I was. That bastard over there cut me open with his big sharp sword and left me bleeding to death in a ditch. So… it's only fair that I do something similar to him, is it not? I don't know how it works with you citizen folks, but out in the outskirts,

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

in the outskirts were

not really a person. But the same principle

a complicated expression, then asked in a strange

Then… how did you

turned away and moved

powerful Memories. That's how I survived. Well… most of me

shook his head and gritted his teeth

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

reach the pinnacle

going to hunt

***

tenebrous 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 of their lantern

moment, there was utter silence. And then, a sudden yell broke