Shadow Slave

There could not have been a tunnel that stretched under the Antarctic Center for hundreds of kilometers. Not only would a structure like that be a miraculous feat of engineering, but far too many people - especially the army strategist and someone as knowledgeable as Professor Obel - would be aware of its existence.

However, no one had been.

Sunny remained silent for a while, then looked at the old man. Professor Obel simply shook his head.

"I am afraid I can't explain. Which... is not too surprising. After the Nightmare Spell descended, there are many things in the world that science - or rather, our limited scientific understanding - fails to explain."

Sunny sighed.

'Great.'

What was he supposed to do now?

It was clear that the laws of nature were either broken or worked differently inside the tunnel. Space was not behaving as it was supposed to behave... or maybe they had simply traveled to some. strange pocket dimension that was filled with nothing but true darkness.

Maybe they were all under the influence of another mind hex. Maybe they had all been devoured by the swarm of Brood beasts, and were now condemned to an eternal purgatory.

Who could tell?

Sunny cursed silently, then wrapped all four shadows around the Undying Chain to ramp up its mental protection. Nothing changed. The oppressive darkness did not disappear... if anything, it seemed even more foreboding now.

He closed his eyes for a moment.

"Alright. Let's not panic yet."

struck it with his fist. A startling bang rolled through the tunnel, echoing in the darkness. In the place where his steel gauntlet had landed, a small impression

back into your

forward. However, this time,

darkness. Moving much faster than

vehicles in reverse - the tunnel was not

gave the

'...This is bad.'

course, had not been without a

back to a previously visited spot inside the tunnel - Belle, Dorn, and himself had walked for around six kilometers during the

ordered was to make sure that the same principle still applied. Indeed, he had been able to return to

something would change

have long seen the imprint of his fist and the net of cracks around it, but there was none. At some point in time. somewhere between five and ten kilometers of separation, the mark had

for Sunny. It meant that they could not return to the collapsed exit from the tunnel. The way back, and the second option he had

into the darkness, Sunny felt a cold

scouting party a few kilometers further... would they have been separated from the convoy forever? Would they be doomed to wander the

come close to

'I was lucky.'

capable of fighting against enemies that he could strike down, even if their strength seemed overwhelming. However, he was as powerless as the rest against circumstances

Simply by existing.

far away, probably preparing for the

'...Damnation!'

hundred people in them that he had promised to rescue... was he going to become

always been a liar! There's nothing for

a