Shadow Slave

Sunny staggered back, stunned by the sudden appearance of Saint Tyris. A tense, dangerous silence settled over the island after she spoke, with only the wailing of the wind breaking it.

Snow danced in the air, slowly settling onto the cold ground.

His heart was beating like a caged animal.

'Where did she come from… what is going on, damn it?'

Cormac scowled and looked at the slender woman with a dark expression on his stern, weathered face. The Saint did not seem amused by the sudden appearance of the leader of the White Feather clan.

"Sky Tide… stay out of this."

Saint Tyris didn't move, still shielding Sunny and Cassie with her slender body. The wind picked up, and the clouds seemed to become heavier, as if expressing her suppressed emotions.

…Only, as Sunny realized, they weren't suppressed at all. Sky Tide just didn't show them on her face. Instead, the world itself did it for her.

"I think not."

Cormac winced, resentful sparks appearing in his eyes.

"You don't know what you are interfering with, Tyris. Get out of my way. This is not your business."

She shifted slightly, the howling of wind growing louder. The violet flowers bent, pressed down to the ground.

"...This is my land. These Awakened are of my Citadel. Anything that happens here, and to them, is my business."

The other Saint sighed, then took a step forward.

"The entire garrison of the Night Temple was wiped out. These two are the only witnesses. Are sure that you want to make their fate your burden?"

Sky Tide frowned, then spoke, her voice even:

"If that is true, we can question them together, back in the Sanctuary."

Cormac smiled darkly, then shook his head.

"I'm afraid that won't be convenient. You might not know my task here, Tyris, but you know who gave it to me. Obstructing me in this matter is the same as obstructing the will of Valor… you wouldn't want to do that, would you?"

A corner of Sky Tide's mouth suddenly twisted upward. She stared at the fearsome Saint, and said, a hint of mocking in her voice:

"What is he going to do? How is he going to punish me? Exile my clan to a remote frontier region, maybe? Oh… wait…"

She took a step forward, as well, her tone changing, becoming darker and heavier. The clouds swallowed the sun, submerging the world into shadows.

a vassal of the King… not his servant. Six years ago, I looked the other way and allowed your odious scheme to happen. I have regretted it ever since. This is my land, my isles. You are

a deafening thunderclap resounded, rolling across the Chained Isles like a herald of

An expression of contempt appeared in the depths of his cold,

forgotten, but it is you

stepped forward, his killing intent growing thicker

idea that this is a negotiation? You will stand down, or I will put you down. Either

her shoulder at Sunny and Cassie. Her

for the two

mouth suddenly dry. He opened it, trying to force

"But… but what about…"

already looking at Cormac, who was approaching with steady steps. Her hair danced in the wind like a stream

survive the fury of this

from the two Saints, heading for the distant edge of the island. He didn't know what a fight between Transcendents would look like, but had

the world has gone completely

was thrown into the air. A violent shockwave passed through his body, causing a short scream to escape from

the ground and felt it shifting, as if a powerful earthquake was happening mere meters away. Sunny struggled to rise back to his feet, then helped Cassie

them, two vast shadows rose into the

devastating talons forged out of lustrous, polished steel. Her enormous wings were wreathed in thunderclouds, and bolts of lightning danced around her body like a radiant

muscles rolling under them like iron chains. The head of the creature was crowned with twisting horns, and in his maw, countless sharp fangs glowed darkly, illuminated by immolating red

A terrifying roar rolled across the island,

blood suddenly streamed from above, falling on

'Gods… oh, gods…'

to the ground. The hurricane wind threw snow and sharp bits of ice into their faces, and their ears were ringing from the

onto the chain, when

shadows fell down from the skies, so

was so fierce that it instantly obliterated the field of flowers, blew away the top layers of the soil, and made the stronghold

wide crack spreading to

of stone breaking off and flying into the darkness as more and more cracks appeared,

scope of the disaster. All he could sense was that they were sent rolling down once again, this time even more violently than before. Only this time, instead of soil or stone, what they

ground disappeared, and Sunny found himself falling down, down, down. Down into the endless darkness of

was grab Cassie and hold her

mangled, and weak, they plummeted into the abyss

black stones. The seven

the anchors of the Chained Isles shot toward the Hollow Mountains, colliding with their slopes with enough force to make the ancient slope shatter and create

Sunny, his eyes were still closed, so he didn't see what hid

chaos, the

be getting further

sounds of

signs of destruction disappeared, too, as well as the last remnants

they were falling through absolute darkness in complete silence and solitude, with nothing threatening their