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.

part is

it 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

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

into the Dream Realm. It was no wonder that he

and froze

Is it true?

for a

passed her to the healers

for several seconds. Then, a wide grin split her face.

I never had a doubt! No Nightmare Creature

a little, infected by her

Kai arrived, as well. Usually, his appearance would have caused a stir, but right now, no

of profound relief appeared on the young man's beautiful

"Gods… thank the gods…"

too decent of a person for this vile world, and infected by

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

feel a strange ambivalence about

decided to ignore the darker part of his mind for a

becoming a slave, he would. If he

just share this rare moment of joy with

cohort was

Awakened healers in the employ of

Morgan of Valor looked up from her communicator, strange sparks igniting

government agents couldn't contain

how is she? Lady