Shadow Slave

Outside, the blizzard was still rampaging across the world, drowning reality in a murky white haze. It was hard for a Master like Sunny to get cold, but even still, he shivered and hurried to get back inside. Entering the building that housed the sleeping pods of the cohort members, he nodded at Verne, who was already waiting there with a somber face.

By now, around eight hours had passed since their arrival. The people Sunny had sent into the Dream Realm would be returning any minute now.

The steady Master looked at him and asked:

"How did your meeting with the Professor go?"

Sunny shrugged.

"We had an... interesting talk. He is an outstanding person."

It was strange, really. Professor Obel was a mundane human, but he had probably saved more lives than any Awakened Sunny knew of. Without the predictive system the old man had developed, countless people would have been swallowed by the emerging Gates over the decades. Sunny knew how dangerous a sudden manifestation of a Gate in a populous area could be. He had faced one himself, after all.

Verne silently nodded.

"That he is. I hope you understand now why it is so important to deliver him and his scientist to safety, Master Sunless. Their work must continue."

Sunny wanted to answer, but at that moment, the sleeping pods came to life, announcing that the people occupying them were waking up.

Samara, Kim, and Luster returned almost at the same time. They climbed out of the pods and put on their clothes with dark expressions on their faces.

'I guess the news is not too good..."

that moment,

sir! Bad... it's

looked at

gathered as much.

at each other. Eventually, it was Kim

is still unclear, but there was some sort of earthquake, followed by the manifestation of multiple Category Three Gates. There were also several titans that emerged. The three Saints fought one of them above the strait between West Antarctica and the Center... and

face darkened. All of that sounded very troublesome. It seemed that the Chain of Nightmares had reached

about our orders? Have

in

did pass on instructions,

at least something

his subordinates, however, he would not like what they were

frowned as he looked at

What does Army Command want

Samara sighed.

siege capital is judged to be too dangerous to traverse. All the Antarctic Center is affected, but its southern

jaw muscles tightened. It looked as if he was on the verge of uttering a curse, which said a lot about how

had observed, Verne was a very uptight

from feeling elated, as well. Being stuck in a remote facility with no route of

for the both of

to just stay here

Samara shook her head.

seems to be impossible at the moment, the naval convoy that delivered us to Antarctica is already on the way back to pick up the second batch of refugees. One of the vessels, battleship Ariadne, is going to be rerouted to the southern edge of the Antarctic Center. If all goes well, it will reach us in two to three weeks. We are