Shadow Slave

Sunny looked at the terrified young girl, and then… laughed.

...His laughter sounded more than a little bit unhinged.

His lady shuddered:

"Sir, you… you…"

Sunny waved a hand in the air.

"No, no. No need… I understand. I sound crazy."

The night sky above them was covered in an impregnable veil of clouds, and the one below them was empty and dark. The ancient stones they stood upon were slick with rainwater, and it was too dim to see anything except for vague silhouettes.

The silhouette of the Awakened hunter was towering, menacing, and embodied the very concept of terror.

But Sunny didn't care that much.

Massaging his chest, he smiled crookedly and said, his voice hoarse and raspy:

"...But then again, this whole world is insane. Someone told me once… ah, I don't quite remember who… that we can only reflect what is in front of us. Is it my fault that there is nothing in front of me except for madness?"

He looked down, his smile turning into a wicked grin.

"And someone else once told me that they wanted to destroy the world. Back then, I thought them insane… I think… but now, I wonder…"

Awakened hunter took a step forward, his monstrous

so weak… his mind is

Sunny laughed again.

I am very, very weak. But I am not weak enough, I guess? Somehow, I have a feeling that I wasn't supposed to be able to last that long. Who would be able to endure that much pain, that much horror, and that much suffering without losing their mind

his sword, then at

of those nightmares… gods, how cruel they were… did hit

at the Awakened hunter with a concerned

is almost as if after you have already been gutted once, nothing else can impress you that much. Or if you have already watched your mother die once, the second time won't be as… well… maybe it would? I don't know… I am a bit confused about what is real, and what is not.

with fear. The Awakened killer

"What?"

Sunny shrugged.

out. At least not to the point where I'll be unable to think. And notice things. Oh, and I did notice

and pointed it at

whether it's in a nightmare or in the real life. So, that demands a question… if the heartache

a step forward, a confused expression on

I have to

assumed a defensive position, waiting for the

a few nightmares to realize that

ready to meet

monsters… even Transcendent immortals. Some of them had one soul core, some

his enemy, at the mighty black steed standing motionless behind him, barely

is… why does this damned horse

in the opposite direction from where the hunter's sword flashed, abandoning the young girl he

and jumped to his feet, putting all of his weight into an attack of

was not directed at the menacing killer… instead, it