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:

I am right, then this will be dangerous. This guy is not someone who has spent his whole life behind a Citadel wall. He is… was the real deal.

five

specialist… what a

Jet had meant. Most of the Awakened were thrust 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

one of these

is such a specialist, then how

Jet shook her

time as possible in the

a bit, then said

fighter, so what? You are an Ascended. Surely,

Jet shook her

killed. No matter how 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

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

for a few moments, and

to your shadow.

frowned, and then gave him a

then found another heavy metal door. Behind it, a narrow staircase led further down, to

larger than Sunny 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

with deep shadows nesting between the areas of light.

Jet studied the interior of the arena, then said

"There's no one here."

lingered for a moment, then walked over to a control panel hidden

with a bright radiance. The wave of light chased away the shadows, and suddenly, a figure of a man could be seen in the very center of the stage, sitting on the floor with his face buried in his hands. Previously, that

then raised his head to stare at the lights with a dark expression. A hoarse voice resounded in the silence of the

they just

face and bloodshot eyes. There were several used stimulant packs lying on the floor around him, as well as shards

were covered with blood,

his gaze and slowly focused it on

appeared in his eyes, which

Reaper? Hell… they sent the

Sunny sighed inwardly.

people and calling others dogs? He really didn't get it. Dogs were marvelous creatures, from what he knew. Of course, only the rich

piercing the man with a cold, cold gaze. The murderer

there, Kurt. Long time no

the

you, Jet? Funny that a government lapdog like you finds it beneath herself to associate with upstanding people like me. Back

his insult, she smiled,