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.

matter. That doesn't change anything. The important part is that she

was not born out of simple vanity or empty pride. Someone else might have been tempted to chase power just for the sweetness of it, but to Sunny, being anything else

of hurried footsteps resounded near him. Looking up, Sunny saw Effie pushing her way 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,

into the Dream Realm. It was no wonder that he

reached them and froze

it true? Princess is

at her for a bit, then simply

her to the healers

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

No Nightmare Creature exists that

help but smile a little,

have caused

man's beautiful face. Kai swayed a little, and then leaned on

"Gods… thank the gods…"

decent of a person for this vile world, and infected by a misguided sense of nobility to boot. Knowing that he

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

feel a strange

Sunny decided to ignore the darker part of his mind

he had to die to avoid becoming a slave, he would. If he had to kill in order to

now, he chose to just share this rare moment

founder of their cohort was

the armored doors finally opened, and one of the Awakened healers in the employ of the Academy appeared

area held their breaths. Even Morgan of Valor looked

the government agents couldn't contain

how is she? Lady