Shadow Slave

Pretty soon, the distant horizon turned hazy with a myriad of flying horrors. The scene was eerily familiar — the only difference from their last attempt to destroy the Devouring Cloud was that, today, the landscape was illuminated by pale moonlight.

And that there were a few less Irregulars standing watch on the wall.

Sunny silently observed Winter, who was preparing to unleash hell. Once again, she was surrounded by several mysterious Memories, and once again, a cohort of Awakened used their Aspects to augment her powers.

He stood several distance away in the company of Master Jet and Dale. None of the three were going to participate in the ranged barrage, conserving their potency for the sortie to hunt down and kill the Tyrant. The atmosphere was tense, but not as oppressive as the first battle against the harrowing swarm.

On the alloy battlement in front of them, a man in leather armor was sitting with his eyes closed, meditating. The falling snowflakes swirled in strange ways around him, as if following invisible paths.

He was one of Dale's Awakened, and someone of whom Sunny knew — the man possessed the Ability to open stable spatial rifts, and had been one of the candidates he had considered when assembling the cohort. Since no one knew where the Tyrant was going to fall after having its wings cut by Roan, the strike team would need to get around the perimeter of the wall fast.

…If Roan succeeded.

"Gods…"

Hearing Dale's quiet whisper, Sunny observed south and saw arcs of thunderbolt dancing deep within the distant swarm. His face paled a little.

"They're... inside it?"

It seemed that Roan and the Awakened of the White Feather clan were leading the Devouring Cloud to the city with the smell of their own blood.

Suddenly, the task of slaying the Tyrant of the swarm seemed even heavier than before.

'So what? Nothing changed…'

wall. Should the three Masters prove inadequate, his Shadows would help them reach and kill the broodmother of the swarm… or was

'Who cares?'

as the horde of flying horrors swiftly drew closer to Falcon Scott. Soon, the city defense systems opened

of brood beasts obscured the sky, drowning out the light of the moon. In front of the swarm, a horde of Nightmare Creatures moved, seemingly as desperate to escape from it as humans would be. Caught between the Devouring Cloud and the wall of Falcon Scott, they launched themselves at the alloy barrier, dying in scores under the barrage

abominations fused with human shouts, all disappearing into the rustle of countless leathery

expression appeared on Soul Reaper's face. Gripping

Wait for

that the three elite Ascended of the

minutes, but the promised indication was not

fell from the sky. It was not a brood beast, however — instead, it was a young Awakened woman wearing the white colors of her clan, her armor decorated with beautiful etchings

times in the Sanctuary, back when Sky Tide had still ruled over

woman landed gracelessly on the battlement and staggered, barely keeping her balance. Then, she observed around, took a step toward

Soul Reaper frowned.

to sending us a signal? Where's the

woman gritted her teeth, and then said hoarsely,

There's two of

her words to register. Sunny cursed and observed at the dark mass of the swarm

How does it make

at the young woman for a

"So where are they?"

leaned on Dale and turned slightly to face

"The… signal…"

swarm, across the killing field. The other, unexpectedly, was even further away, but in a different direction — to the

losing consciousness. Dale barked something, and