Shadow Slave

There were a few moments of silence. In these moments, Sunny managed to dodge a spiked tentacle, slice through it with his sword, grab the bleeding stump, and toss the slithering creature over his head, impaling it on the horns of a different abomination. Then, he sidestepped the charging beast and cut through its legs, causing it to topple to the ground.

A third strike of the Sin of Solace finished both creatures off.

That was when Neph's response finally arrived:

[...It's a bit distracting, you know, to have someone speak in your head all of a sudden.]

Sunny grinned.

The connection the Blessing of Dusk established was a mental one, so it was not exactly like hearing her voice. Nevertheless, Changing Star's... thoughts... sounded a bit strained.

[You didn't answer my question.]

Now that Sunny lost the protection of the shadow fiend shell and retracted the Mantle back into his skin, he had to be more careful. Receiving direct blows was not out of the question, but it could throw him off balance. He had to use the [Feather of Truth] judiciously to account for the difference in mass between him and the opponents. ...And, of course, being struck by anything Corrupted could end in disaster.

Something flashed from the direction where Nephis was fighting, and a moment later, her voice resounded in his head:

[As expected, I guess. But, Sunny... what has gotten into you? You don't... don't seem like yourself today.]

'Ah, so she noticed...'

His grin widened.

A dozen or so meters to his left, the air rippled slightly. A chameleon-like creature was moving there, unseen... if not for the subtle fluctuation of the shadows, he would have never noticed it. The abomination had already moved past Sunny, swiftly approaching the Awakened soldiers behind him.

to ignore the pull of the Dying Wish, the chameleon had to be at least a Demon, and a

torso and tossed the Sin of

the flood of Nightmare Creatures, but they could not help but take glances at the spectacularly brutal slaughter that was taking place in front of them. Those who knew Sunny were all surprised and a little startled. Those who did not were

the jade sword seemingly slipping out of his

of thin air, and then, a revolting reptilian creature was suddenly there, its chest pierced by the white sword. The creature swayed

was mere steps away

or crawl forward,

already busy fighting another abomination. Sin of Solace dissipated, so

like myself? Well... I did have many new and exciting experiences in the Antarctic Center, so I was bound to change a little. Don't

jian returned, dodging a flurry

to be seen. If this continues, we will have to retreat... or die. Wait, it's not some sort of stupid test, is

for a

what she is doing. There must be a reason, but it is hard to say. Perhaps it has to do with putting pressure

Sunny grimaced.

awfully calm, considering

between the rushing Nightmare Creatures. Neph had summoned her helmet, brilliant white radiance shining through the slit of its visor and the seams of the graceful armor. It was as though there

could not see her face, but he knew how much pain fighting

was most likely approaching her

[Do I... seem calm?]

in his hand. Shifting his stance, Sunny immediately

know? You always seem

trying to crush him with a stone hammer by severing both of its arms and

we go all

back. They could reveal their

it would only