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.

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

glanced at his sword, then at the approaching

cruel they were… did hit

stared at the Awakened hunter with a concerned expression, then scratch the back of his

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. Maybe I am myself not real. There's one thing I'm

backed away from him, her face painted with fear. The Awakened killer tilted

"What?"

Sunny shrugged.

that, real or not, I am really... really, really hard to break. As it turns out. At least not to the point where I'll be unable to think. And

sword and pointed

So, that demands a question…

a confused expression on

own, and sometimes fragments of feelings, ideas, and judgments that I have to cause to possess will just appear on their own. Easy to explain in a dream… not so much in

again and assumed a defensive position, waiting

the souls of living beings… or vile orbs of darkness in those of the Corrupted. It took me a few nightmares to realize that those were soul cores. Strangely, once again, this ability pursued me

smiled, ready to meet his death…

all kinds of creatures. Awakened warriors, Corrupted monsters… even Transcendent immortals. Some of them had

for a moment, and then looked past his enemy, at the mighty black steed standing motionless behind him,

is… why does

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

flying blade and jumped to his feet, putting all of his weight

was not directed at the menacing killer… instead, it was