Shadow Slave

"Argh! Damn it!"

Effie stumbled back and swiped the Zenith Shard in a wide arc, cutting through the bodies of several Nightmare Creatures. With her other hand, she took hold of the oversized translucent tick that bit deep into her thigh and tore it away, losing a chunk of flesh in the process. Before the repulsive creature had time to sever her fingers with its sharp mandibles, she crushed it in her fist.

Feeling hot blood streaming down her leg, she grimaced and unceremoniously wiped the pulverized remains of the tick on the fabric of the Sunlight Shard, then spun to follow the trajectory of her spear.

Effie was tired. So, so tired. She was utterly exhausted.

…But there was no end to the nightmarish horde.

'Can't you all just die, bastards…'

Catching the shaft of the Zenith Shard with both hands once again, she thrust it back and skewered another abomination with its sauroter, then tore the sharp spike away and dashed to the side. A moment later, a terrifying scythe of a carapace centurion sunk into the spot where she had just been. Effie spun the spear and lashed out with it, piercing the chest of the massive creature and killing it on the spot.

As the heavy body fell to the ground and sent tremors through it, she had a second to draw in a pained, raspy breath. Her wounded leg almost buckled.

'Why is no one covering my back…'

Effie looked around to check on the fellow Sleepers who had been fighting by her side, but failed to see anyone.

All around her, there was nothing but the endless mass of Nightmare Creatures.

Everyone was already dead.

…Except for her.

"Ha. Ha-ha. Ha!"

She only knew that someone was still alive and fighting back there because of the radiant white light that continued to illuminate the vast expanse of the

the light could reach where she stood. Here,

have much hope of reaching it,

the ground and smiled

and stared at the approaching tide of monsters, her eyes

what

***

barely avoided the blade of the coral sword and deflected it to the side with the Midnight Shard. Then, he tried to counterattack, but was forced to jump back with a muffled curse.

'Damned abominations!'

time. The Knight, The Slayer, and the Priestess were trying to surround him. They moved with

him faster and stronger. With its help, he was barely able to hold on

…For now.

was facing off against the Stranger, the Builder, and the Hunter. Those three seemed to be even more

make

demon, and one of the most dangerous Nightmare Creatures of her Rank he had ever seen, no less. And yet, she was barely able to remain in

the Lord had yet to join the fight. The seventh

tachi in one hand and the stiletto in the other. This wasn't what he was used to and

was one of the reasons why

making him stagger and blinding him for a few short moments. In the next second, the Priestess lunged at him. She wielded no weapons, but her coral hands

moved, blocking a strike of the Slayer. Just as before, the impact almost shattered the bones

and bought himself enough time to regain his vision, only to be faced with

beak of the Builder's war hammer and pulled down, which gave the Hunter an opportunity to thrust his spear into the breach in

on