Shadow Slave

Sunny did not recall falling asleep, but he was woken up by someone banging on the hatch of the Rhino. Sitting up, he looked around and realized that he must have passed out while studying the weave of the Midnight Shard. The austere tachi was still laying on the holographic table, glinting as if to mock him.

He had almost solved the problem. That elusive element of the weave was almost isolated, but to...

As someone banged on the hatch once again, making the massive APC shake a little, Sunny flinched, rubbed his face, and went to the hatch.

"Coming! Who the hell…"

He opened the hatch and froze, swallowing the rest of his irritated shout.

"Oh, ah… Master Jet. Good… morning?"

She glanced at him with amusement.

"Technically, it's evening. Go wipe the drool off your face and come out, Sunny. We've been summoned to attend a meeting."

He frowned, then threw an angry look at the gloomy shadow, which was hiding in the darkness not too far away. The bastard was supposed to warn him if anything approached, protecting Sunny from a sudden attack… or from embarrassing himself, in theory.

The shadow shrugged innocently and looked away.

Shaking his head, Sunny returned inside and quickly washed his face. A couple of minutes later, he left the APC and closed the hatch behind him. Since Soul Reaper mentioned that he had to come out, they were most likely heading for the complex that the local branch of the First Army Command used as headquarters. It was only a short distance from the barracks.

Indeed, Jet walked in that direction, with Sunny following as he looked around with sleepy eyes. A few moments later, he asked:

"...What is the meeting about?"

She shrugged.

"We'll find out. All I know is that White Feather wants to see us."

'White Feather, huh…'

The two of them made their way to the army headquarters, but then walked past it, approaching a heavily fortified compound instead. Winter and Dale were already waiting for them near the gates, looking as ragged and fatigued as Sunny.

He greeted them.

"I heard you retook Breach C yesterday? Must have been a tough fight."

Dale simply shrugged.

"Not really. We still hold both sections of the wall above the breach, so all I had to do was persuade the abominations to stay put until the garrison forces shredded them with ranged weapons."

He remained silent for moment, and then added:

much worse if they were better climbers,

Sunny nodded somberly.

they entered the compound and were led to a spacious room on one of the underground

His face was painted ghostly green by the ethereal tapestry of the swirling aurora. Saint Tyris was motionless, sitting in an imposing chair

in a while — at least in her human form. She

armor was bent and broken, white steel marred by dried blood. Her hair, which had once fallen down like a cascade of pale gold, now looked lifeless

the Winter Beast back was taking a toll on the Transcendent

her amber

at the

Winter, Ascended Dale, Sunless…

Roan was acting uncharacteristically subdued, his usual

waved

one. What did you want to

Roan smiled slightly.

is for the

at the holographic projection in front of them. On it, the map of the surrounding area disappeared, replaced by

body with six segmented legs, a tail that ended with a long, jagged stinger… and three long necks, each ending in a harrowing circular maw. The abominations looked like a mix between a wyvern, a worm, and a scorpion. It was large, formidable, and utterly

one, but still a

Winter cursed.

We figured as much, after the

Master Roan slowly nodded.

Devouring Cloud will descend on Falcon

at each other.

know that the swarm

but before he could answer, Saint Tyris

clan will lure

at her incredulously. Sky Tide met their gazes with a calm expression, her face as motionless as ever. Somewhat

hell would you do

inhaled deeply, then

grows narrower with each day, so we can't passively wait for the Devouring Cloud to return

them for

will bring the Tyrant down. The three of you

Sunny smiled darkly.

to isolate the Tyrant? What if the three of us fail to kill it in

amber eyes both beautiful and cold. Then, she

"Don't fail."

head, she patted Sunny on the shoulder and walked toward the projection

that plan. Let's

***