Shadow Slave

The Seven Saints were battling the Titans. The echoes of their dreadful clash spread like shockwaves through the horde of Nightmare Creatures. Somewhere far away, a vestige of the horde suddenly surged and swirled, lunging at something unseen. A moment later, a bloody haze veiled that entire section of the battlefield from view, and the wind carried over howls of agony... which all fell silent soon.

Silent Stalker was prowling there, slaughtering the abominations and never failing to send her arrows to support Dire Fang and Summer Knight. The latter had yet to assume his Transcendent form, as well. Beastmaster and Whispering Blade were each holding back a titan of their own, and Sky Tide had just succeeded in delivering a debilitating wound to the great scaled beast, dispersing the cloud of deathly miasma created by the flying horror at the same time.

All in all, things weren't looking bad.

...Which was not to say that the battle was going smoothly. Far from it - the titanic horde did not just consist of the four titans, and it was the task of Awakened and Ascended to face the vast legion of abominations. While not as spectacular, that task was just as important.

Sunny watched the battle grow more and more fierce. All the while, Cassie continued to keep them informed of the more important changes happening on the battlefield.

Her voice was calm and composed:

"...The Fallen Tyrant, designation Worm, has been slain."

"...Third Company of the Lyra Brigade is advancing to support the Fifth."

"...The Corrupted Demon, designation Frost Furnace, has been slain."

"...Ascended Yujin of the First Company of the Cassiopeia Brigade has fallen."

"...The Corrupted Devil, designation Hexblade, has been slain by Ascended Nightingale. It would be prudent to temporarily withdraw the Nightsingers from the flashpoint Delta."

At first, the good news was mixed with the bad news in equal measure. Morgan continued to react to the changes on the battlefield, moving her many pieces around to present an almost flawless defense against the onslaught of Nightmare Creatures. The battle formation created by her was fluid and flexible, bending when needed and lashing out with tremendous force at other times.

In fact, it seemed that Cassie and her were not just reacting, but actually anticipating many of the changes on the chaotic battlefield. It was a lot like personal combat - being able to anticipate what move the enemy would make was half the victory. The other half was using that knowledge to deliver a fatal strike.

...Sadly, there was a limit to what Morgan could do. No matter how good she was, the enemy facing them was just too dreadful. The Princess of War remained calm, but her face was slowly growing grim.

As time went on, Cassie's reports began to sound more and more dire.

the Ursus Brigade

Company of the Cassiopeia Brigade is suffering heavy

Ripple of the Seven

of the Cassiopeia

line is breached. Wolves and Nightsingers are advancing to seal the breach. I... I don't think they'll be

remained silent for a

"Yes. That is... troublesome."

at her silently. To use the word "troublesome" was the understatement of the century. With both layers of the defensive line breached, the Nightmare Creatures would be free to pour through and attack the formation from the rear. Once they did, one company after another would collapse,

on the battlefield to plug the breach, but they

about it, dear sister? Are you ready to solve that problem

looked at the battlefield, then turned

you have held me in

Morgan laughed.

go, then... show these abominations what a daughter of Valor is capable

Star simply turned away, ready to jump down from the stone fort onto the carapace of the giant tortoise. However, at that moment,

"Can I go, too?"

surprised glances. After a short moment, the Princes

messenger between us and your Army Command. In fact, it would be very embarrassing for me if the envoy entrusted to Clan

Sunny frowned.

me, too, so

that there was some approval in her smile. She

means. You were designated as a Special Strategic Asset,

that, she gave Seishan a short glance, as if mocking the heiress of

arms, looking down with a hungry

too. Watching all this slaughter

as a psychotic killer. Neither

then slid off its side and landed on the ground near where the Fire Keepers were