Shadow Slave

Fifteen Transcendent Echoes, most of them Devils...

Sunny simply stared, mentally recalculating the threat level of the Valor force... and of the great clans in general.

'I knew, of course, that the hidden power of the Sovereigns is vast. But it seems that I've been concentrating on their personal might too much... mostly because it is both mysterious and phenomenal. However, there is the mundane power of accumulation as well. I've been a fool to neglect it.'

To everyone else, a Corrupted abomination was a dreadful nightmare... even to Saints. Transcendents fought against the Corrupted and were more than capable of slaying them, but every such fight was a risk, especially against the creatures of higher Classes.

The Supremes, however, were equal to the Great Nightmare Creatures. Sunny had been under the impression that the Sovereigns mostly stayed within the confines of their Domains, but maybe he was not entirely right. Someone like Anvil or Ki Song could slaughter Corrupted abominations with the same ease he could butcher Awakened creatures.

It only made sense that they had accumulated a legion of powerful Echoes over the decades, including scores of Transcendent ones.

Sunny suddenly broke out in a cold sweat.

'...Hell. Who says that Transcendent Echoes are the limit?'

Since the Sovereigns could fight on equal footing with Great Nightmare Creatures... then didn't it mean that they could possess Supreme Echoes, as well?

To this day, Sunny had only seen two Great abominations. One was the unborn spawn of the Vile Thieving Bird, and the other - most likely - was the dark sea of the Forgotten Shore. What would it look like if a creature like that was turned into an Echo?

Was Morgan in possession of a Supreme Echo?

Did she have an Echo of a Titan slumbering in her Soul Sea?

He lingered for a moment, then glanced at Nephis, who stood in front of the army of monsters with an impassive expression on her calm, beautiful face.

'You want to destroy... this?'

his eyes for a

that lunatic. She must have infected me with her madness! Because... I really want to make these

to say whose madness was more

at Wake of Ruin, who was staring at Morgan with an unreadable expression. Eventually, the old man

things away. They'll ruin

'What...'

little and silently dismissed

see that your... clan... is as shrewd as ever. These Echoes will be of great help. If used correctly, of

Sunny was thinking feverishly.

all direct members of the clan. Madoc, Morgan... Nephis... and one more Saint, who is escorting the main force across the ocean. With these fifteen Transcendent abominations, they alone could be considered on par with the entire Evacuation Army, if not more powerful than us. And the forces of Song will be

Saint of the Song clan in East Antarctica - a vassal, just like Sky Tide. Two more were coming, both direct members of the clan, as well as several hundred Awakened and several powerful Masters. Who would these people be?

'Is that guy coming?'

Song to avenge himself on Valor, in the first place. He wouldn't miss a chance to make his

Prince of Nothing alone was more frightening than fifteen

Sunny almost groaned.

to

though Antarctica was meant to be merely a prologue to the war of the Great Clans, that prologue was

somber, but calm, too jaded to be shaken by the promise of

for Nephis, she appeared the calmest of them all. She might have fooled everyone else, but he knew what kind of hatred dwelled in

thought about the grim prospects of

had a hint of anticipation in

the

Wake of Ruin nodded.

on the continent and

his head

could just imagine that war meeting. Three sides discussing important matters of strategy, with everyone present perfectly aware of the fact that most of the gathered powerhouses were actually planning to kill each other,