Shadow Slave

Sunny had never expected to become a leader of anyone, let alone of a hundred desperate people. But now, that was exactly the situation he found himself in.

To add insult to injury, he was really the best person for the job.

Not because of any kind of leadership qualities, but simply for the fact that he could see in the dark. Now that the rays of soul-destroying light were led away by Nephis, he could also let his shadow free and send it forward to explore and search for the Gateway.

So if anyone could guide the remains of the Dreamer Army to it, it was him.

'How the hell…'

Hiding his unease deep inside, Sunny projected nothing but absolute confidence and shouted for everyone to follow him. Surprisingly, the Sleepers did just that without voicing any objections.

'Confidence is easily confused for competence, I guess.'

Of course, the fact that he was affiliated with Changing Star in some capacity helped a lot, even if most people were not completely sure how and to what extent.

Taking Cassie's hand, Sunny dove out of his cover and dashed toward a wide, spiraling coral root that reached high into the darkness above. He could hear the sound of footsteps following him from behind.

The Dreamer Army was on the move once again.

Jumping on the root, Sunny send the shadow forward and glanced at the approaching sea of coral golems. There was still time.

He ran forward, using the coral growth as stairs. A second later, he yelled:

at the back! Ready

of Sleepers followed Sunny up. Almost everyone had time to climb onto the root by the time the first of the golems showed

coral figure stumbled from the darkness, only to be met by a flash of a sword. It crumbled instantly,

later, several more appeared, and then more,

to buy themselves a few moments and then jumped onto the root, then dashed away, soon catching up with the rest

moment. Thanks to the shadow, he knew that the wide coral growth they were ascending was soon going to twist upward at an almost vertical angle and

one crossing it just a few meters ahead,

and jumped, landing on the other root, then turned around and moved in the opposite

And down below, the wave of golems was already climbing

I guess they

incline, then suddenly froze and looked up. There, a few dozen meters away, a wide gallery circled

another mass of golems was surging in the direction of the Dreamer Army. Countless twisted figures were appearing from the chaotic mess of crimson coral and rushing forward, searching for a path to

right on the root

and noticed a familiar tall figure close

"What is it now?"

ground and gently pushed her toward

care of her for

waved a hand, letting him

of them for a moment, then turned around

first golem and slashed it with his sword. The golem's body offered some resistance, but no more than a mundane creature would. It

'Not too bad…'

him on the kill. Just as Sunny had suspected,

to make