Shadow Slave

As it turned out, Nephis had not found a Gateway to escape the Dream Realm and Awaken.

Instead, after two long years of solitude and relentless battles for survival, she had found a Seed of Nightmare and conquered the Second Trial of the Spell as a Sleeper.

She had done it alone.

At least that was the only way Sunny could explain the runes he was staring at.

Ascended.

'That is impossible.'

Surviving the Second Nightmare was already not easy for a cohort of prepared Awakened. More people perished while trying than returned victorious. How could a lone Sleeper accomplish the same?

No one had done it before.

However… no Sleeper had been a Tyrant before.

No Sleeper had escaped alive from a battle with a Corrupted horror of the depths before.

No Sleeper had slain a Fallen Terror before.

Nephis had long established her penchant for accomplishing the impossible. Why was Sunny so surprised that she had done it again?

No, he wasn't surprised. He was… dismayed.

A deep, unsettling emotion nestled in his chest, making his face grow dark and his eyes grow dim. The shadows around him seemed to become deeper.

is that

empty pride. Someone else might

through the crowd. She was not shy about using her prodigious strength, so people did not really have any choice except to let her pass. Even Instructor Rock,

person to send Nephis into the Dream Realm. It was no wonder that he dropped everything to come and wait with the rest of

huntress finally reached them and froze for a moment, then

Is it true? Princess

looked at her for a bit,

passed her to the healers with my

did not move for several seconds. Then, a wide grin split her face. It looked as if she was on the

yes! I never had a doubt! No Nightmare Creature exists

help but smile a

arrived, as well. Usually, his appearance would have caused a stir, but right

he received the confirmation, an expression of profound relief appeared on the young man's beautiful face. Kai swayed a little, and then

"Gods… thank the gods…"

had not realized it, but his friend must have been blaming himself for leaving Nephis behind all that time. He was truly too decent of a person for this vile world, and infected by a misguided sense of nobility to boot. Knowing that he had escaped the hell of the

the faces of his friends, seeing sincere happiness and relief written all over them. Some… Kai

to feel a strange ambivalence about

the darker part of his

it then. If he had to die to avoid becoming a slave, he

share this rare

of their cohort was back,

the armored doors finally opened, and one of the Awakened

their breaths. Even Morgan of Valor looked up from her communicator, strange sparks igniting in her

government agents couldn't

how is she? Lady Changing