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

out of simple vanity or empty pride. Someone else might have been

the crowd. She was not shy about using her prodigious strength, so people did not really have any choice

no wonder that he dropped everything

finally reached them and froze for a

it true? Princess is

looked at her for a bit, then simply

her to the healers with

wide grin split her face. It looked as if she was on the

No Nightmare Creature exists that can keep

help but smile a little, infected by her

would have caused a stir, but right now, no one paid the former

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

"Gods… thank the gods…"

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 Shore because of someone else's sacrifice must have pressed down upon

of them huddled together and waited. Sunny silently observed the faces of his friends, seeing sincere happiness and

to feel a strange ambivalence about

to ignore the darker part of his mind for

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

just share this rare moment of joy with

their cohort was back, after

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

breaths. Even Morgan of Valor looked up from her communicator,

government agents couldn't contain herself

Lady