Shadow Slave

The world seemed trapped in a violent seizure. The darkness of the endless night was savaged, tom apart by the spreading wildfire and the disorienting flashes of numerous firing armaments. The cacophony of thunderous salvos and inhuman shrieks fused into an almost palpable force, pressing down on Sunny from all sides.

Some distance away, above the burning nightmare of the killing field, the Devouring Cloud had reshaped itself to create a breach in the wall of flames. A dark mass of brood beasts poured forward, rushing to reach the defensive barrier of the last human city. The incoming segment of the swarm swirled, forming into a long and vast protuberance.

It looked like a giant tentacle that grew and twisted, aiming for a single spot on the city wall... the dome of shimmering energy where Dale and Winter were making their stand.

'Something is indeed very wrong...'

Since when was the Devouring Cloud so purposeful? How could the swarm of mindless brood beasts not only identify the deadliest threat, but also show enough coordinated intent to try taking it out first?

Feeling a chill run down his spine, Sunny activated the [Dying Wish] and watched as the tip of the dark protuberance pivoted, changing its direction to attack him instead.

'Wonderful.'

He glanced at Jet, lingered for a moment, and then asked in a hoarse voice: "Are we sure that we want to do this?"

Soul Reaper lowered her graceful glaive, a thin layer of ice slowly thickening on its silver blade. Brushing her raven black hair back, she smiled from the corner of her mouth.

"What do our wishes have to do with anything?"

Sunny looked back at the approaching swarm and sighed. "...Fair enough."

At that point, most of the weapons on the southern section of the wall had concentrated their fire on the advancing protuberance. It was being tom by the heavy tungsten rounds of the rail guns, the storm of bullets unleashed by countless turrets, the sporadic rifle fire of mundane infantrymen, the Memories and Abilities of Enlightened soldiers.

shoulders of the towering MWPs, streaking

ones to close the gaps... it was not showing any signs

he was not

"Sure you are."

winced and glanced at the Sin of Solace with displeasure. His mental defenses were supposed

shell... as good a reason to feel confident as any, 1 guess. And if that

to hear the

Where would she escape? Are you ready to watch her die?

Master Jet, who was observing the swarm by his side. Her

He sighed.

very proud of yourself, aren't you? Toying with me, playing on my deepest fears and insecurities... but aren't you

Sin of Solace did

by surprise a couple of times. However, now that 1 know what to expect, why would such childish jabs have any effect on me? I don't know whether you really are the voice of the cursed sword, or simply a part of my own subconscious twisted by it... although the latter seems more probable. However, one thing I do know is that you

the

You are not the voice of Ariel, the Demon of Dread. You are merely a memory... of an echo... of a whisper.

were a few moments of silence, and then, the

talking to an imaginary voice

Sunny smiled.

talking to myself is somewhat of

Been there, done that.

pushed the annoying whispers to the back of his mind and concentrated on

sky. Sunny almost moved to attack it, but then held himself back. In the next moment, a familiar crow landed on Jet's shoulder, glanced at him arrogantly, and turned to

"Swam! Swam!"