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.

strength as he could muster, he then growled and

the asphalt, Sunny strained every muscle in his body to

and the rushing tide of Nightmare Creatures and crashed into it from the side like a bizarre cannonball, turning several dormant

to waste, he threw just one look at them, searching for the description of his new Memory. He was only interested in one

Memory Type: Weapon.

'Good enough…'

Sunny summoned the weapon and used Shadow Step to

avoided his improvised ram and were already either attacking the six Awakened or escaping into the

do anything about it

he could do,

long 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

Sunny spun the spear and brought it down on the head of a lunging hound, shattering its skull with one terrifying

fight, more Nightmare Creatures got past him… and more still were already emerging

die… die, you damn

***

the

voice of the headmaster seemed calm, considering the situation, so the children gathered in the combat training hall of the school didn't panic, either. Nevertheless, they could feel that the adults were frightened, and that fear

children were

the younger kids, this was the first time they experienced being near an opening Gate. Those who were older knew what to do, in theory… only none of those things could be done. There was just not enough time to evacuate or reach the nearest shelter, and so,

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

at least

of bodyguards who happened to be inside the school because of those children whose parents were really important, there

albeit with mundane weapons. Rain herself was holding her training sword, 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 just a

going to

be standing near the headmaster, she saw her combat instructor glance at him and

He said:

miracle that they held that long, really. Only seven of them… I don't know who these people are, but they should have been

seven Awakened were supposed to die in less

happen? This school was so prestigious and expensive, and so many important people sent their children here. Surely, the

through

talk about work, she knew more about these matters than most kids