Shadow Slave

Out there in the darkness, a vast balcony was built into the wall of the tower, reaching almost to the center of the gargantuan structure. On its surface, broken pillars of marble were overgrown by the everpresent streaks of crimson coral. They led to a circular dais, with a wide iron ring submerged into its stone surface.

Around the ring, a beautiful pattern of runes was shimmering with familiar light. They were just like those runes that every Awakened had seen countless times when communicating with the Spell.

But that wasn't the first reason why Sunny had noticed it. The most unusual thing about the dais was that unlike everything else inside of the Spire, it was utterly devoid of growths of crimson coral. The stone surface surrounding the ring was strangely clean and untouched by it.

Looking at the shimmering runes and the iron rings through his shadow, Sunny felt something move in his heart.

He was sure that this was the Gateway.

They were so close…

As he watched it, the whole Spire suddenly shuddered. Massive pieces of coral broke off and fell down, crashing into other branches down below. Suddenly, the darkness that surrounded the Dreamer Army became less impenetrable.

High above them, the radiant halo of light became several times more bright.

…Nephis had reached the Crimson Terror.

With a somber grimace, Sunny escaped from his reverie and dashed forward, slicing several golems as he went. The frightened Sleepers followed, entrusting their fates into his hands.

As more and more tremors ran through the ancient tower and several enormous pillars of coral completely collapsed, they ascended even higher and approached the vast balcony.

And then, finally, Sunny jumped down and landed on solid stone.

watched several more people reach the balcony. One after another, the Sleepers jumped off the treacherous coral and joined him. Those who were the first to catch up repelled the attacking golems

them were on the balcony — and just in time. A few seconds later, a tremendous piece

moments, watching as crimson pieces rained down, and then turned away with a determined

on! We're

escaped it. Running with all the speed they could manage, the crowd of young men and women approached the Gateway and froze, stunned

Hypnotized by it.

them... was the hope that they

promise of freedom that had taunted them every day, hidden away in the terrifying, looming silhouette of the Crimson

Their way home.

Salvation.

ever being able to escape it became nothing more than a distant dream. Even when they had followed Changing Star and chose to believe her promises, salvation was

it as a real

there to make

the rear! Wounded and non-combatants go first, everyone else holds off the damn golems and then follows!

who could still fight faced away from the Gateway and formed a defensive line, protecting the wounded with their bodies. Those who couldn't helped the people in

the Sleeper suddenly shone, too. The ghostly

then, the light dissipated, much like a Memory or

years, all that suffering, all that loss, the first

the emptiness left by the disappearance, Sunny realized that he had forgotten to

voices… no words existed to describe the complicated, overwhelming conflagration of feelings burning in the chests of the survivors of the Dreamer Army at that

least Sunny

the pursuing wave of golems crashed into the defensive