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.

anything. The important part is that she

did matter. To him, 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 of it, but to Sunny, being anything

the crowd. She was not shy about using

person to send Nephis into the Dream Realm. It was no wonder

reached them and froze for a moment,

Cassie! Is it true? Princess

her for a bit, then

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

her face. It looked as if she was on the verge of starting to

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

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

Usually, his appearance would have caused a stir,

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

"Gods… thank the gods…"

He was truly too decent of a person for this vile world, and

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

no reason to feel a strange

to ignore the darker part of his mind

avoid becoming a slave, he would. If

he chose to just share this rare moment of joy

of their cohort

Awakened healers in the employ of the

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

of the government agents couldn't contain herself

she? Lady Changing Star is