Shadow Slave

Sunny left the office of the government agents in a strange mood.

The conversation went exactly as he had planned. Even after a higher-ranking specialist had been called in, he managed to steer the interview in the right direction, manipulating both answers and questions to achieve the desired result. In the end, he wanted everyone to know that he was someone exceptional… but not so exceptional as to overshadow the best of the best.

Someone who was in the very highest tier of young Awakened, but also at the very bottom of that tier.

Even though he had kept his most outrageous accomplishments to himself, it felt weird to give away so many secrets about his skill, power level, and achievements. Sunny had grown so used to pretending to be a pathetic clown that removing that mask to reveal another, less outlandish mask was not easy for him.

And yet, it was something he had to do.

After he had Awakened, there was not a single moment for him to properly think things through. He had to go through a series of medical and psychological tests, followed by a lengthy debriefing. However, he had been able to realize one thing very clearly.

His situation had fundamentally changed.

Now that his most important secret was revealed and Nephis had become his master, it was as though a crushing burden had been removed from his chest.

...Replaced by another, even more terrible weight.

In any case, he could finally allow himself to relax a little… for a while, at least. Not because he trusted her that much, but because she was currently imprisoned in the Dream Realm, unable to enforce her control over him even if she wished to.

In a sense, as far as his worst nightmare becoming reality went, this was the absolute best version of how things could happen.

He had a lot of time time to think about countermeasures and prepare for whatever the future held, after all.

Walking through the corridors of the hospital complex, Sunny was engrossed in thought.

One thing he was sure about was that a divine shadow like him could only have one master. So, he didn't have to worry about someone else finding out his True Name and enslaving him, not anymore. The guillotine blade that had hung above his neck all that time was now gone.

However, he still kept the existence of his True Name a secret, for one simple reason — he didn't know what was going to happen if Nephis died.

Would he be free forever? Or die with her?

He felt that neither of these theories was correct. Firstly because the description of the Aspect described him as a divine shadow that had lost its master… which probably meant that he could lose another one and remain alive. Secondly, because the runes of the Shadow Bond had become grey and lifeless, but did not disappear.

that they might shine with ethereal

long as Nephis remained alive, and

appeared on his

Creatures were dead, but the strongest ones survived. It seemed that Changing Star had escaped the collapsing Crimson Spire, at least. What was

to cross the Hollow Mountains to reach the human Citadels, or try her luck in the unexplored regions to the north,

the probability was zero. But it was Nephis, after all. For some reason, he

remained unclear, his situation had fundamentally

him. To get access to the best opportunities and the most advantageous treatment, he

only be a hindrance. Sunny wanted to reap as many rewards as he could without putting himself at risk. That's why he shifted his usual pattern of behavior and gave the government agents enough information to paint himself as an exceptionally talented

Sooner or later, people were going to learn at least some things about his time on the Forgotten Shore and see that a weakling simply would not have survived

individuals who had Awakened today. On any other day, Sunny's description of his prowess would have made a huge splash. But currently, he was just

Speaking of that hundred…

small

small screen displaying a

the survivors of the

Some spent many years on the Forgotten Shore and had been transferred to other facilities by the government

…Or Cassie.

His face darkened.

the first two made sense. Kai was probably being cared for in an expensive VIP care facility, while Seishan had to be

moment, then looked at the list of

could read anything, however, someone quickly approached… and hugged him

'What the…'

embrace. A moment later, the young man let go of him and

are

on the young man's face. In a voice that

you and your shadow, we would have never made it to the

sound of these words, the others turned around. As soon as they saw Sunny, bright smiles ignited on their

"Guys! It's Sunny!"

"Thank you, man!"

never forget what you did for

stared at

this is