Shadow Slave

Knight Amiran was forceful and oppressive, his every move bringing with it a promise of death. And yet, neither his sword nor his hammer could reach her. Not even his insidious Aspect was enough to bring Morrow down.

She had slain Nightmare Creatures more dangerous than this Ascended warrior.

She had slain more dangerous humans, too.

Amiran's warriors were valiant and skilled, each at the very pinnacle of what an Awakened could achieve. Numbers were on their side - and yet, for each messenger of Song that fell, two of Valor's dogs died.

Their trap had turned out to be strangely clumsy and inefficient. By now, Morrow knew that there was a possibility of victory - unless the enemy received reinforcements soon, they would be able to escape.

And carry out the plan.

However...

She was missing something.

Which was why Morrow allowed her attention to wander. Being distracted in a fight against someone like Amiran was tantamount to suicide... but she did so nevertheless.

Her blade failed to reach the Knight's armor again.

Her body received several ghastly wounds because of her inattention.

More and more Awakened died around them.

But Morrow coldly continued to observe.

And then, she saw it - a warrior of Valor, falling down with a pained scream, blood streaming from his torn neck.

Only there had been no one near to tear it.

It was subtle and almost unnoticeable in the havoc of the battle, but she saw it clearly. The nearest of her soldiers was too busy defending against two powerful Awakened. It could not have been a ranged attack, either - the angle was all wrong.

It was as if darkness itself reached forth and sliced the man's throat open with sharp claws.

Morrow's eyes darted to the opposite side of the formation, just in time to see one of Song's Awakened die. His hand suddenly bloomed with blood, and so, the attacking soldier of Valor received a chance to plunge her weapon into the slit of his visor.

The hand of her subordinate had been severed completely - a clean, fierce cut that sliced through armor, flesh, and bone as if not meeting any resistance.

Only... the weapon that had killed her man was a spear. There was no way it could deliver a cut like that.

Morrow suddenly felt cold.

'There is... there is another here.'

There was someone - something - insidious and sinister moving unseen through the darkness, slaughtering the men of both Valor and Song indiscriminately. Silently. Inescapably...

a severed head rolling from the dark entrance of the tunnel

turned

it?

what had they unleashed from

these infantile thoughts, she

'Does it matter?'

it, just like she was going to destroy these

was continuing to rain devastating blows on her, blind to what was

'Fool.'

cost... the plan had to be carried out. She had to

pretended to be pushed back by one of his strikes

His hammer fell down and landed on her shoulder... in a flash of pain, Morrow heard her

it did not matter, because in that instant, she was practically face-to-face with

Morrow opened her mouth...

And shrieked.

a deafening wail

***

steel of his helmet - Amiran fell to the ground and wreathed in pain.

felt blood streaming

'What... is that woman...'

chance to finish him

second later, the tip of a narrow blade was almost at his throat.

"...Too slow, witch."

even hear his own voice through

still promised nothing good. He was kneeling and dazed, while the enemy was free to attack however

strangely... Morrow did not

her blade and dashed back, toward the formation of her Awakened. There

in that

What little remained of old machinery had been turned

screams, their faces turned into gruesome paintings of blood by the power of the wicked attack. Even those who wielded Memories meant to protect against just this kind of threat did not escape

is

but he knew that he had to stop the ruthless witch from accomplishing whatever it was

much distance between them, and the Ascended of Song was severely wounded. That last blow he had delivered

that Amiran saw it. In the direction where Morrow was running,

massive alloy container that held an enthralled Nightmare

His pupils narrowed.

'I see...'

She must have abandoned all hope of delivering the abomination to the inner city and wanted to unleash it right here and now. Sadly for her...

of force at the back of the escaping woman. But then, a vague silhouette suddenly lunged at him

instinct, Amiran lashed out with his hammer. The attacker dove beneath it and delivered a strike with a sharp,

'Pathetic.'

organs. All the attacker could do was drive his stiletto between the rerebrace and the couter,