Shadow Slave

Sunny used everything he had, moving with unimaginable speed, agility, and precision. Both shadow essence and the tenacious blood of Weaver flowed through his body, supplying his muscles with the strength and endurance necessary to perform with such an inhuman level of effort.

His mind was aflame, devouring information about his surroundings and the enemy's movements, making lightning-fast decisions, trying to predict countless probable eventualities, and simultaneously studying the sophisticated battle style of the battle-hardened Master.

…And despite all that, he was barely surviving Pierce's unrelenting assault. Every moment, he was just a split second away from death.

The knight of Valor was just too powerful, skilled, and overbearing. His cold eyes were full of calculating ruthlessness and dark, iron killing intent. They were calm and focused, like that of an experienced predator stalking helpless prey.

That prey, unfortunately, was Sunny.

'Damnation!'

Nothing he had experienced could have prepared him for this. Sunny had fought many opponents that were stronger and faster than him, but he had never been this outmatched in terms of sheer power, at least not in a fight against a human… who, unlike most Nightmare Creatures, also possessed a keen mind, devious cunning, and martial skill that were the greatest weapons of his kind.

Maybe only Morgan of Valor… but she had held back, and theirs had not really been a battle to the death.

Sunny and Pierce clashed on the bloodied stones, their weapons flashing through the air fast enough to leave afterimages behind. The clangor of metal filled the somber hall, mixing with the furious sounds of battle coming from their left.

There, two different storms of metal raged violently, one centered around Mordret and Welthe, the other from where his Shadows fought the Echoes of the fearsome Master.

Sunny had no time to look that way, but he could hear the constant ringing of blades landing on Saint's shield. There were so many blows that their sounds almost merged into one dreadful, uninterrupted litany of steel. He had not heard the Spell yet, so he knew that none of the Echoes had been destroyed.

The Shadows were in one piece, as well…even if he didn't know whether or not they were whole, damaged, or dying.

He deflected another strike of Pierce's swift longsword, then whipped the butt of the Cruel Sight forward, hoping to catch the enemy in the face. Helmet or not, such a strike was bound to deliver some damage…

didn't even flinch. Instead, he lunged forward and rammed into Sunny

Is he made of stone

and landed on his feet, tasting blood in his mouth. That

tempered bones had not shattered,

teeth, he immediately shifted, dodging a powerful thrust, and brought his spear down on the

I understand his style… the better I understand his

of them fought ferociously, neither showing any sign of doubt, hesitation, or weakness. Yes, Sunny was younger and less powerful… but he was skilled and experienced, too.

was a killer

entire body. The Undying

through the knight's defense and deliver a few strikes of his own. The results were less than ideal, though. Even when he succeeded in thrusting the tip of the Cruel Sight through a crack in the enemy's armor, it was like trying to cut through a monster's hide.

was divine flame not as destructive as it should have been?

briefly glanced at the shallow wound, and grinned darkly, not showing any indication of being bothered

do? Not enough… not

Sunny growled.

suddenly have time to

that, he attacked again, this time switching the enchantment of the mirror blade from incandescent flame to invisible, insidious

and deflected the blow without

almost time,

the opponent, Sunny had a split second to steal a glance at how his

destroying one of the Echoes, and had already

launch a successful attack. Some of the Echoes surrounding her were severely wounded, but none seemed to be close to

was not

eliminate any of the Echoes. He wanted them all in one piece, constantly attacking the

more and more blows on

The Patient Avenger…