Shadow Slave

Master Jet remained silent for a second, then asked calmly:

"Are you sure? This place has been swept multiple times before we arrived."

Sunny nodded.

"He is here. Underground."

She looked down, her face slowly turning somber.

"...Well, I guess we should go and say hi."

Sunny nodded and made a step toward the door of the small office. However, she suddenly stopped him.

"Wait."

He looked at her with a bit of confusion.

"Yes?"

Master Jet hesitated for a few moments. There was a complicated expression on her face. Finally, she said:

"There are very few people with a shadow affinity Aspect in the world, and even fewer who frequent places such as this."

Sunny frowned.

"What are you trying to say?"

She looked at him darkly.

"I'm saying that I might know this guy. In fact, when I heard that there was an incident in the Slaughterhouse, I already had a suspicion of who was responsible."

He blinked a couple of times.

"You know the murderer?"

Master Jet shrugged.

"There are hundreds of thousands of Awakened in the world. That seems like a big number, but in fact, it is not. If you live long enough, sooner or later, you will know of everyone who is worth knowing… more or less. It's a small world."

She paused for a moment, and then added:

dangerous. This guy is not someone who has spent his whole life behind a Citadel wall. He is… was the

at the five

what

into the Spell and tried desperately to survive, striving to return to a semblance of a normal life. A much smaller amount, for whatever reason, embraced their new nightmarish reality and adapted to it… even thrived in it. They shaped their lives to suit the deadly challenge of the Nightmare Spell,

of these specialists himself, after

he is such a specialist, then how

Jet shook her

do you think are the most compromised Awakened? Folks who spent as little time as possible in the Dream Realm and then return to their actual

thought on it for a bit, then said with

seasoned fighter, so what? You are an Ascended. Surely, dealing with

Jet shook

powerful you are, one mistake is all it takes. Raw power doesn't always decide the outcome of the fight. You should know this already… every Aspect has a Flaw, and every power has a

served as the perfect proof. Harus had died by his hand because Sunny's Aspect was a perfect counter to his formidable Ability, and Caster had been

for a few moments,

to your shadow. Don't let him get anywhere

then gave him a simple

metal

had imagined, and looked more like a luxurious theater than a fighting pit. The rows of seats were furnished with red velvet, and there were private boxes for the most affluent of the visitors. The arena itself resembled a stage and was surrounded by a protective barrier fashioned out of

the areas of light.

the interior of the arena, then said

"There's no one here."

over to a control panel hidden in one of the boxes and

figure of a man could be seen in the very center of the stage,

stare at the lights with a dark expression. A hoarse voice resounded

they just live me

were several used stimulant packs lying on the floor around him, as well as

hands, and face were covered with blood, but the man didn't seem

his gaze and slowly focused it on Master

hint of recognition slowly appeared in his eyes, which was then replaced

sent the attack dog herself after me? Ha!

Sunny sighed inwardly.

didn't get it. Dogs were marvelous creatures, from what he knew. Of course, only the rich could afford to have one. Dogs

the man with a cold, cold

there, Kurt. Long time no

voice, the man

long time indeed. You got really full of yourself lately, haven't you, Jet? Funny that a government lapdog like you finds it beneath herself to associate with upstanding people like me. Back in the day, you at least knew how to show respect,

his insult,