Shadow Slave

As Nightmare Creatures rushed forward, the six Awakened began to act.

The two with elemental Aspects attacked first. Something flashed in the air, and then one of them was suddenly surrounded by a swiftly spinning ring of fire. The fire disc then flew forward and collided against the mass of abominations, immolating one of the hounds and burning several more.

The other raised her hand, and a thin blade made of nothing but air whistled as it bit into the flesh of one of the hunters, severing one of his arms at the shoulder.

Sunny blinked.

[You have slain a Fallen Monster…]

The fastest of the Nightmare Creatures were already lunging at the defenders. The girl he had spoken to before took a step forward and attacked with a slender saber, striking at the neck of a spiked hound and opening its artery with a precise cut. Two more Awakened were covering her from the sides, both wielding a shield and a Memory weapon of their own — one a short sword, the other a steel pike.

The last one did something to repel the arrows that were already flying toward their bodies, but Sunny had no idea what.

[Your shadow grows stronger.]

The Awakened were performing well… they acted with sufficient coordination and foresight, doing everything in their power to slow down the tide of approaching monsters. Although not elites, each of them was a capable combatant. They were brave and determined.

…And yet, it was not going to be enough. Not nearly enough to survive, let alone prevent the invaders from escaping into the city.

[You have received a Memory.]

'What to do, what to do…'

Not fully realizing what he was doing, Sunny commanded the shadow to wrap itself around his body, and for the Soul Serpent to slither back onto his skin.

Immediately, he felt much more powerful, his head more clear. His muscles brimmed with raw strength, double what he had just a second ago. His breathing became deeper.

Sunny knew that he had to slow the abominations down, and then get back into the fight.

That was the only way...

Making a step forward, he swayed a little, and then grabbed the roof of an abandoned PTV to help himself keep balance.

…Bending down, he then grabbed the bottom of the heavy alloy vehicle with his other hand.

much strength as he could muster, he then growled and dug into the alloy

strained every muscle in his body to perform

air. It breached the distance between him and the rushing tide of Nightmare Creatures and crashed into it from the side like a bizarre cannonball, turning several dormant beasts into bloody pulp, breaking numerous bones, and sending most of the front row of

no time to waste, he threw just one look at them, searching for

Memory Type: Weapon.

'Good enough…'

weapon and used Shadow Step to appear

either attacking

couldn't do anything about it

he could

and sharp piece of black obsidian materialized in his hands, he thrust it into the throat of one of the wraiths, then used its back end to

down on the head of a lunging hound,

tried to overcome the ringing in his ears and continued to fight, more Nightmare Creatures got past him… and more still were already

die… die, you damn

***

the line

headmaster seemed calm, considering the situation, so the children gathered in the combat training hall of the school didn't

were

older knew what to do, in theory… only none of those things could be done. There was just not enough time to evacuate

— and huddled together. The younger children were placed in the middle, the older ones near the edge, with the teachers standing the

menacing and beautiful… at least to Rain, who

him, the other instructors, and a couple of bodyguards who happened to be inside the school because of those children whose parents were really important, there

mundane weapons. Rain herself was holding her training sword, realizing for the first time how

it was a real weapon, and

going

headmaster, she saw her combat instructor glance at him and say something in a low voice. Rain wasn't supposed to hear it, most

He said:

miracle that they held that long, really. Only seven of them… I don't know

supposed to die in less than a minute, then

The whole thing didn't seem real… how can something like this happen? This school was so prestigious and expensive,

sounds of firing penetrated the walls and sent shivers running through everyone's bodies. The automatic turrets had gone online, which

matters having to do with the logistical support of the Awakened, and although he didn't like to talk about work, she knew more about these matters than most kids of her age. Because of that, she understood how ineffective