Shadow Slave

Some time later, Sunny left the house and sat on the porch by himself.

His thoughts were in disarray.

So much had changed, so much had happened. So much was going to happen in the next few days, as well. His life was inevitably going to transform… hopefully, for the best.

However, there were many obstacles he was going to have to overcome and many decisions he was going to have to make in order to avoid being destroyed by the changes instead. Although Sunny had grown considerably stronger, and obliterating him was not as easy anymore, there were still threats out there that he did not dare to face.

He sighed, and looked down.

'I am a Master.'

The knowledge rested in his mind, but he was yet to truly comprehend it. Ascended had seemed so distant and glorious to him, once. Not quite demigods, but also not mere mortals anymore. But now, he was one of these venerated beings himself. He could feel inhuman power coursing through his veins.

That was something he couldn't process that fast.

And yet, time waited for no one. Sunny knew that there would be no opportunity to properly get used to his swiftly shifting circumstances. He had a lot to do, and he had to do it now.

'Just take it one step at a time.'

What did he have to do immediately?

Call Aiko, for one. He had to let his business partner know that he was back and get an update on how Rain was doing.

and find out about the fallout of the

point of contact with the government. If things turned from bad to

Sunny grimaced.

yet… I need to collect my thoughts

studied the familiar, peaceful landscape of

members of the cohort anymore. All four of them were Masters now, and exceptional ones at that… not only had they conquered the Second Nightmare, but they had also done it at an abnormally young age and after entering

survivors of the Forgotten Shore were already famous, and this latest accomplishment was bound to stir up a real storm, both in the

that each of them

but instead, her new power appeared to bolster her allies as long as they could see her. It

activated her new Ability, and had to admit that

even more amazing, it could be effortlessly shared with any number of people as long as they maintained the line of sight with the huntress, without an additional cost in essence. That basically meant

that one could not build supporting teams of Awakened

very, very popular among the

was in a similar

Ability was… strange, and a little bit frightening. None of them, not even Kai himself, had the chance to

a supernatural quality that compelled people who heard it to follow his commands. The result and the consequence depended on how much essence he poured into the compulsion and the target's resistance, as well as some other factors that no one

strong willpower or high resistance to mind attacks. For example, if Kai commanded another Ascended

weaker, and their attacks might grow

could call upon his allies to fight with more fervor or to hold their ground no matter what. He

held power, as well. The government propaganda machine especially was going to lose its collective

had faced and slain the Ivory Dragon. Instances like that were known to happen, but were also incredibly rare. His

explore these changes yet, so his friends had no idea what the evolution entailed.

then there was