Shadow Slave

The moment Winter's arrow reached the Devouring Cloud, a brilliant flash of light blinded everyone for a moment. A vast sphere of flame bloomed in the middle of the swarm, spreading far and wide like a rolling wave of destruction.

Then, it collapsed on itself and exploded once more.

Tongues of flame spread through the mass of abominations, swallowing countless brood beasts. Some were turned to ash, some fell down to the ground like burning stars. Others continued to burn as they streaked chaotically through the sky, their flesh boiling and dissipating.

But they did not die before colliding with some of their vile brethren.

The fire spread.

As if possessing a mind of its own, it continued to spread from one abomination to another, until it seemed as though the sky itself was aflame. The darkness was chased out by the furious orange-white glow, and Sunny felt something that he had never expected to feel in the middle of winter in Antarctica.

Scorching heat caressing his skin.

He sucked in a shaky breath.

'...Damn.'

It seemed that all their preparations were not in vain. Winter's opening was nothing short of breathtaking. It was outright frightening, if he was honest.

But it was just an opening, nevertheless- although the Devouring Cloud had sustained considerable losses and had to slow down, it was in no way stopped. Already, some brood beasts were charging through the wall of fire, lunging toward the city.

Grinning at the sight of the fiery slaughter, Sunny shook off his momentary shock and drew Morgan's Warbow again.

I need to kill

into the swarm, reaping a multitude of lives. An arrow of pale gold pierced a brood beast clean through, then continued to fly

the Awakened defenders, poured all their strength into destroying the descending tide of winged horrors.

one's life, but with two hundred million people depending on their protection, the soldiers of the First Army stubbornly clung to their positions despite the terror of the

throwing stars appearing between her fingers and shooting forward with terrible speed, shredding a whole swathe of the swarm like a

away, Samara was methodically discharging her rifle, explosions of essence blossoming in the mass of Nightmare Creatures. Pieces of

the Devils were doing their

was not at all done with her part of

using their Aspects to augment hers and a number of powerful Memories feeding her their power, the Ascended archer became a source

Winter was sometimes called a walking artillery unit. There were a lot of arrows in her arsenal capable of widespread destruction, and augmented as she

with Luster continuously feeding her soul essence, she had no reason to

Devouring Cloud was melting in

'Morel'

muscles to draw the string, the process of dismissing and summoning the Strike of Thunder

slain...][You have slain...][You

upon the brood swarm, it was still advancing on the city. Half of the vast killing field had already disappeared in its shadow, and the first of the winged horrors were already reaching the

the circular, fleshy maw. The creature crawled into the pilot's

a silent

of transparent energy enveloped the two of them, as well as all the Awakened standing nearby. Their arrows and bullets easily passed through the dome to hit the enemies, but when a lone brood beast lunged at Winter from above, it collided against the wall of

guess it's time

"Sunny! Now!"

each other, then dashed away from the Irregulars. Sunny dismissed his bow, took a deep

voice - his own voice - spoke into his