Shadow Slave

Chapter 900

A somber silence settled in the conference room of the security center. Eventually, Verne was the first to break it. Straightening, he looked at sunny and said in a heavy tone:

"The... the best I can do is ask for volunteers among my Awakened. To risk falling asleep. Some of them might die, but a few should return with the news from the Dream Realm. Then, we can discuss evacuation by land."

Sunny stared at him without saying anything. His anger was suddenly gone, and instead, all that was left was fatigue, regret, and a vague feeling of dark resentment.

'Damn it all...'

If Verne indeed sent volunteers into the Dream Realm, even knowing that it would be a one-way trip for some of them... they would return in about eight hours. Finding out what was happening up north would help Sunny tremendously.

But eight hours was too long.

His growing panic was already almost suffocating. He did not know if they had eight minutes left, let alone eight hours.

"There's no time. You can't."

Verne leaned on the table and closed his eyes for a moment. It was hard to know what was going through his mind, but Sunny somehow knew that he would not be able to convince the stern officer.

His heart felt cold.

'Ah, that feeling... this bitter feeling. I have not tasted it in a while, I think.'

At that moment, Verne suddenly said:

"...A large convoy won't make it. But a single, robust vehicle probably can."

Sunny frowned, struggling to follow the line of thought, perhaps due to his exhaustion.

"What exactly do you mean?"

The older Master looked at him and shrugged with strange calmness.

"I mean that we don't have to put all our eggs in one basket. Your mission is not to protect every person in this facility, Sunless. Unlike mine. Your mission is to rescue one specific, high-value target. Both of us have to carry out our duty to the best of our ability, though. So... take Professor Obel, load up your APC, and leave immediately. This way, even if your theory is right, it won't be... a total loss for humanity."

There was a lot that had been said, and a lot that had remained unsaid. But there was no need to speak some words aloud. The two Masters looked at each other for a few moments, a silent understanding between them. In the end, the corner of Sunny's mouth twitched.

"I still think that you are wrong. People don't know what is possible and what is impossible until they try it. Well... that was often the case, at least, in my life."

Verne simply nodded.

"Then prove me wrong, Sunless. I wish you luck."

Sunny grimaced, lingered for a second or two, and then turned around. A moment later, he was gone from the room.

He had nothing more to say, and no time to waste.

There was no time at all.

Feeling a frightening sense of urgency, Sunny used Shadow Step to appear directly inside the research center. This time, Beth was even more surprised to see him.

"Are you... wait, no way... Master Sunless, do you perchance keep frightening me just for fun?"

He shook his head, looked around, and then beckoned for the young woman to come closer. What he had to say needed to be kept from other ears.

side and walked over to where he was standing. Grabbing her by the shoulder, Sunny

the hell

turned around, his sunken, manic eyes making

quiet and listen. There has been a change of

necessary parts - that the Professor was in danger, and that he had to be evacuated immediately. That sudden revelation was hard to digest, and there would be a potentially fatal delay if Beth refused to listen immediately, so Sunny constructed his words in a way that played on her deeply ingrained values - loyalty to the old man

Beth's eyes widened.

me? Why didn't

be reluctant to leave his people to save himself... so, I need you to persuade him. Fast. You know him best,

still did not

can't we just

Her voice was small.

looked at her somberly, knowing that was

only carry so many people. Now, go and do what I said. Every minute we waste can

in a daze, then slowly turned around, rearranged her lab coat, and left

the professor, and then turned around in shame. However, this self-indulgence

had no time for regret,

Sunny traveled through the shadows and soon appeared near the Rhino. He could feel three shadows inside, while Luster, Kim, and Quentin were standing in front of the

they

sir! Uh... I did as you

at

the startup sequence. I want the Rhino to be ready to depart at any

swiftly dove into the hatch without asking

heart beating wildly, Sunny looked up at the

covered by white

is

that moment, Quentin

sorry, but what

gallant healer a

"We're leaving."

subordinates

Right now?

lingered with

to keep

make

middle of a battle. Time crawled at a snail's pace, and for some reason, Sunny felt as though he was locked inside a pillory, waiting for the guillotine's blade

'Walk faster, damn it!"

were screaming that they had to leave LO49,

stiffly, with a troubled

near Sunny and looked at him with a solemn expression. He hesitated

I hear that you will be taking us

Sunny nodded.

please. Hurry. I'll

entered the Rhino and closed the hatch. While Beth was looking around with subdued curiosity, Luster sent

so they opened the gate

that something would go horribly wrong. But, somehow, it

the fortress, passed by the fleet of transports parked outside, and disappeared into the white wall of the

no, almost crashed... on the bulkhead behind him and let out a trembling

We made it

between the Rhino and the Lunar Observatory Forty-Nine grew larger and larger. A kilometer, then another...

were leaving it

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