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:

is not someone who has spent his whole life behind a Citadel

at the five Hollows, then frowned

specialist… what a peculiar

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 adapted to it… even

of these specialists himself,

a specialist,

shook

time as possible in the Dream Realm and then return to their

on it for a bit,

a seasoned fighter, so

Jet shook

Raw power doesn't always decide the outcome of the fight. You should know this already… every Aspect has a Flaw, and

by his

a

to your shadow. Don't let him get anywhere

and then

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

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

with deep shadows nesting between the areas of light.

Jet studied the interior of the

"There's no one here."

over to a control panel hidden in one of the boxes

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

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

can't they

with a gaunt unshaven face and bloodshot eyes. There were several used stimulant packs lying on the floor around him, as

and face were covered with

the light with one hand, he lowered his gaze

slowly appeared in his eyes, which was

that you, Soul Reaper? Hell… they sent the attack dog herself after me? Ha! What an

Sunny sighed inwardly.

and calling others dogs? He really didn't get it. Dogs were marvelous creatures, from what

a step forward, piercing the man with

Long time no

voice, the man called

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

insult,