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…"

took a step forward, his monstrous voice

so weak… his

Sunny laughed again.

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

sword, then at

cruel they were… did hit a nerve, overall… I am surprised to admit that... they really weren't that

concerned expression, then scratch

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

away from him, her face painted with fear. The Awakened killer tilted his head a little, then asked with

"What?"

Sunny shrugged.

As it turns out. At least not to the point where I'll be unable to think. And notice things.

his sword and pointed it at the

life. So, that demands a question… if the heartache is the

a confused expression on

of feelings, ideas, and judgments that I have to cause to possess will just

and assumed a defensive position, waiting for the

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 from the nightmares into reality, making

ready to meet

see… in my nightmares, I met all kinds of creatures. Awakened warriors, Corrupted monsters… even Transcendent immortals. Some of them had one soul core, some

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

why does this

flashed, abandoning the young girl he

to his feet, putting all of his weight into

was not directed at the menacing killer…