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 voice permeating the darkness

weak… his

Sunny laughed again.

guess? Somehow, I have a feeling that I wasn't supposed to be able to

sword,

while some of those nightmares… gods, how cruel they were… did hit a nerve, overall… I am

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

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

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

"What?"

Sunny shrugged.

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 notice things.

and pointed it

is that my heart always seems ache, doesn't matter whether it's in a nightmare or in the real life. So, that demands a question… if the heartache is the

a confused expression

judgments that I have to cause to possess

position, waiting for the terrifying

me a few nightmares to realize that those were soul cores. Strangely, once again, this ability pursued me from the nightmares into reality, making the two seem so much

ready to meet his death…

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

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

is… why does this damned horse

hunter's sword flashed,

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

the menacing killer…