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 is back. Who

was of paramount importance. His obsession with becoming more powerful than Nephis 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

the sound 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, who had appeared ten minutes earlier, had to

Dream Realm. It was no wonder that

finally reached them and froze

Cassie! Is it true? Princess is

looked at her for a bit, then

to the

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

I never had a doubt! No Nightmare Creature exists that can keep

couldn't help but smile a little, infected by her

well. Usually, his appearance would have caused a stir, but right now, no one paid the former idol any

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

"Gods… thank the gods…"

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 Forgotten

observed the faces of his friends, seeing sincere happiness and relief written all over

no reason to feel a strange ambivalence about Changing Star's

ignore the darker part of

a slave, he would. If he had to kill in order to remain free…

just share

founder of their cohort was

the Awakened healers in the employ of the Academy appeared

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

the government agents couldn't

how is she? Lady