Shadow Slave

Bravig the silent darkness, they retraced their steps and arrived back to the collapsed entrance ot the" tunnel after a long and tense hour. Nothing dangerous happened on their way back, and the convoy seemed to have fared well in their absence, too.

The uneventfulness of it all was deeply disturbing.

Hiding his concern, Sunny glanced at the dark walls surrounding them. The battered vehicles stood motionlessly, their wheels resting on the cold asphalt floor. Here and there, people could be seen resting or hurrying to complete various tasks.

'...I don't like this.'

Frowning, he headed toward the hatch of the Rhino. The people he needed to hear from were already gathered there, ready to report the state of things.

As Sunny passed the sentries, one of them suddenly called out to him.

"Captain Sunless, sir..."

He slowed down and gave the soldier a dark look.

"Yes?"

The man hesitated for a few moments. His face was still, but his tired eyes were full of some unknown, intense emotion.

"Outside, l was part of the rear vehicle's crew. What you did for us back then, near the end... you really saved us. Thank you, sir."

Sunny stared at him blankly for a bit, then turned away with a scoff.

"I am in charge of this convoy. These are my vehicles, and you are my people. No one takes what's mine... especially without paying a price. Do you even know how much a vehicle like that costs?"

With that, he shook his head and walked away.

'What a weird guy...''

The Irregulars, as well as Sergeant Gere, Professor Obel, and Beth were waiting in the command suite of the Rhino. Sunny received several reports, which slightly improved his tnood.

The convoy had lost one civilian transport and one military vehicle as the result of encountering the Devouring Cloud. Luckily, it did not affect their logistics too adversely. After sacrificing the mobile infirmary to accommodate the displaced refugees, all they had really lost was a bit of firepower.

all been patched up

Sergeant Gere sighed.

of it to lighten the load on the transports before the swarm arrived. It should

waved a hand

about water. I have a

through the tunnel, or remain where they were

options were

long I want to

second option would force them to

'Curses...'

staying in the eerie tunnel even a minute longer

He sighed.

the engines. We're

on its roof cut through the

it seem as though the

roof of the Rhino and stayed there with Saint, staring into the darkness with a grim expression on his face. He was still blind to everything that was happening outside the small

of all this darkness?

just like during

wheels of the Rhino, and the stone walls seemed to move past them, vanishing into

side passages opened up to either left or right of the convoy, making Sunny especially nervous. All these paths sloped down,

in those passages. We

continued to stretch forward, seemingly endless.

of the Rhino anti dove

to Luster, be ground

Stop the

him

followed suit, and soon, the whole convoy

of other vehicles, while Luster, Professor Obel, and Beth exited the Rhino through the hatch. Saint walked over to the

the gathered people had grave

grim mood, Luster blinked a couple of

why did we stop?

at