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.

change anything. The important part is that she is back.

than Nephis was not born out of simple vanity or empty pride. Someone else might have been tempted to chase power just for

She was not shy about using her prodigious strength, so people did not

Dream Realm. It was no wonder

and froze for a moment,

it true? Princess is

at her for a bit, then

I… I passed her to the healers with my own two

move for several seconds. Then, a wide grin split her face. It looked as if she was on the verge of

No Nightmare

couldn't help but smile a little, infected by

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

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

"Gods… thank the gods…"

this vile world, and infected

together and waited. Sunny silently observed the faces of his friends, seeing sincere happiness and relief written all over them. Some… Kai especially… looked

him, they had no reason to feel a strange

at them, Sunny decided to ignore the darker part of his mind for a

to deal with it then. If he had to die to avoid becoming a slave, he would. If he had to kill in order to remain free…

to just share

their cohort was back, after

doors finally opened, and one of the Awakened healers in

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

the government agents

she? Lady Changing Star