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…"

monstrous voice permeating

so weak… his mind is

Sunny laughed again.

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

sword, then

were… did hit a nerve, overall… I am surprised to admit

hunter with a concerned

your mother die once, the second time won't be

painted with fear. The Awakened killer tilted his head a little,

"What?"

Sunny shrugged.

hard to break. As it turns out. At least not to the point where

sword and pointed

or in the real life. So, that demands a question… if the heartache

a step forward, a confused

of my thoughts, actions, and reactions don't really make sense. Sometimes my hands will try to do something on their own, and sometimes fragments of feelings, ideas, and judgments that I have to cause to possess will just appear on

laughed again and assumed a defensive position, waiting for the terrifying Awakened hunter to

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

to meet his death… once

creatures. Awakened warriors, Corrupted monsters… even Transcendent immortals. Some of them had one soul

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

why does this damned horse

the opposite direction from where the hunter's sword flashed, abandoning the young girl he was sworn to protect

blade and jumped to his feet, putting

his strike was not directed at the menacing killer…