Shadow Slave

Just like that - and, perhaps, just as expected - the last opportunity to avoid disaster slipped away from their grasp. Saint Cor desperately tried to salvage the situation, but it was hopeless.

The armies of both clans were fully prepared to annihilate the enemy, and perhaps be annihilated themselves, on that cold November day. Their bloodlust could not be quenched with words. The fates of countless civilians were about to be decided on a battlefield where humans would be killing other humans, not the Nightmare Creatures.

No... there would be Nightmare Creatures, too. A sea of abominations would be killing humans on the orders of a Saint. Somehow, that fact made the whole situation even sadder.

'The gods and the daemons had fought side by side against the Unknown, too... but, in the end, they slaughtered each other.'

The battle did not start immediately. Sunny half-expected the emissaries to lunge forward without wasting even a single second, but after exchanging murderous gazes, they simply turned around to return to their soldiers. The cold sky was full of heavy clouds, plunging the world into grey twilight.

The leaders of the two armies were leaving to prepare for battle. Mordret stared at the backs of Morgan and Madoc for a few moments, then threw a quick glance at Sunny and smiled. With that, he left with Seishan, and his Reflections followed.

Wake of Ruin was motionless, looking at the ground. Somehow, he looked older than usual. A heavy sigh escaped from the Saint's lips.

"Ah... the world is changing too quickly. Or is it me who can't keep up anymore?"

He lingered for a few moments, then looked at the Ascended of the Evacuation Army with a heavy gaze. Wake of Ruin hesitated, as if wanting to say something, but then simply shook his head.

"Withdraw."

The Ascended shifted, preparing to follow his command. ...But Sunny didn't. Instead, he grimaced and took a step away, in the direction where the emissaries of Valor were walking. Noticing his movement, Saint Cor frowned.

"What do you think you're doing, young man?"

Sunny stopped and looked at him calmly.

"What am I doing? I'm doing my best to make sure that as many people as possible are evacuated safely. That's the mission I signed up for when I joined the First Evacuation Army. What are you doing?"

stared at him incredulously. Then, sparks of dark anger ignited in his eyes. Standing under the wrathful gaze of a Saint was

only way to sustain this world. That is

Wake of Ruin. No matter how unpleasant the government Transcendent was, he had nothing but admiration for the old man. However, he

Cor without looking away, Sunny gritted his

Go tell the people who are going to die because we did nothing today that their lives were sacrificed for the sake of your damned neutrality. Better yet, go to the outskirts and explain to the people there how the government is sustaining

Wake of Ruin grimaced.

involved today, but what will happen tomorrow? What will happen a year from today,

moment, Sunny even felt as

from the government Ascended

Saint Cor scowled.

what the hell are

Jet shook her head.

time anymore. You said it yourself - the world is changing. Old

could answer, she looked

old man is right, too. If the government decides to start openly choosing sides, there

Saint Cor pierced her with a

standing by his side. Am I missing

Jet shrugged and grinned.

bat an eye. The government must stay neutral, but that doesn't mean that I have to. I am my own person,

sounded cold. It was as if the temperature of the air around

Cor shook his

anything

at him silently for a few moments, unmoved. Eventually, Wake of Ruin grimaced and turned away. He didn't say anything more, either. But somehow, it

the old Saint walked away, Kai and Effie looked at Sunny with tense expressions. He could understand a lot from their eyes, as well. It was as though the three

in the end, Sunny just shook his