Shadow Slave

The vehicle stable of the battleship was quiet and tense. Hundreds of people were moving with somber haste as they secured various tools and pieces of machinery. Thankfully, most of the vehicles were safely fastened in their cradles. As Sunny stepped out of the shadows, he had to make way for a lumbering loader that thundered past, carrying a half-disassembled bulk of a massive engine.

All around them, the colossal vessel was trembling as its cannons continued to fire without stop. Muffled sounds of heavy ordnance sliding into the feeding mechanisms spread through the deck. From time to time, an especially loud noise announced that a powerful torpedo or a salvo of ballistic missiles were launched from their nests.

Sunny was not the only person who felt a grim sense of powerlessness as the titanic battle continued to unfold in this nameless patch of the deep, dark ocean. While the crews of the battleships and the Awakened serving the House of Night were locked in a furious fight with whatever ancient horror it was that had attacked the convoy, the hundred thousand soldiers of the First Army had nothing to do but wait and beg the dead gods for salvation.

He was better off than most, at least. Sunny had left one of his shadows on the upper deck to observe the battle. Even though it could only see the turbulent surface of the seething water and not the true confrontation that was taking place deep beneath, there was some relief in knowing what was going on.

The rest did not enjoy such a privilege. They could only infer what was happening beyond the metal confines of the vehicle stable by paying attention to the sounds and vibrations spreading through the ship.

Occasionally, a loud and startling bang would roll through the massive compartment, indicating that something had collided against the hull of the vessel from the outside.

Full of dark thoughts, Sunny walked toward the cradle holding the Rhino. Many people threw furtive glances at the passing Master, hoping to find comfort and reassurance in his authority. Noticing that, he made an effort to hide his unease and project an image of absolute confidence.

It seemed to have worked, calming the people down a little.

'Poor fools. What can I do that they can't?'

Reaching the Rhino, Sunny saw four Awakened standing near it with reserved expressions on their faces. Dorn, Quentin, Kim, Luster…

He frowned.

are Belle

straightened a little when he saw his

have already secured their bodies in the

Sunny sighed.

it was not outside the expectations. In fact, Sunny had lucked out, considering that only two of his subordinates had happened

everyone

find Luster missing. The dolt was exactly the kind of guy to be lured to his death by a vision

the young man, who shifted uncomfortably under his gaze, and then

case the battleship

fact, Sunny doubted that it was possible

alloy bulkheads. Would he be able to tear

the heavy armor of the colossal vessel, provided that he used his most powerful Memories and had enough time. However, there was a big

if Nephis was here… with her flames and the shadows resonating with each other and augmenting Sunny, he could have ripped through the thick armor plates with ease. Better yet, Changing Star could have simply melted a giant hole through the

also the mass of black water outside.

and shook

This will

crates or leaning against the side of the Rhino. However,

and

Captain… sorry, but what exactly is

Sunny shrugged.

convoy, what else? Don't worry too much…