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.

essence rushing through his body, flooding it with as much strength as he could

through the asphalt, Sunny strained every

the 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

Sunny, and with no time to waste, he threw just one look at them, searching for the description of his new Memory. He

Memory Type: Weapon.

'Good enough…'

with reading the rest, Sunny summoned the weapon and used Shadow Step to

were already either attacking the

anything about it

could

ancient spear with a head crafted out of a long and sharp piece of black obsidian materialized in his hands, he thrust it into the throat

on the head of a

and continued to fight, more Nightmare Creatures got past him… and more still

die, die… die, you

***

breached the

training hall of the school didn't panic, either. Nevertheless, they could feel that the

children were frightened,

to do, in theory… only none of those things could be done. There was just

in the most protected place in the school — the gymnasium — and huddled together. The younger children were

were armed with actual Memory weapons, which looked menacing and beautiful… at least

because of those

realizing for the first time how flimsy and pathetic it was. Before, the sword had always seemed to weigh

she wished that it was a real weapon, and not

is going to

she happened to be standing near the headmaster, she saw her combat instructor glance at him and say something in a low voice. Rain wasn't supposed to hear it, most likely, but

He said:

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

if seven Awakened were supposed to die in less than a minute, then what about

This school was so prestigious and expensive, and so many important people sent

of firing penetrated the walls and sent shivers running through everyone's bodies. The automatic turrets had gone online, which meant that there were Nightmare Creatures

more about these matters than most kids of her age. Because of that, she understood how ineffective mundane