Shadow Slave

It seemed as if the world was ending. Even more than during the battle against the titanic horde or in Falcon Scott, it seemed like the world was breaking apart.

There had been clashes of similar scale in Antarctica, but at least there was some logic and structure to them. The thunderous roars of the railguns, the orderly formations of mundane soldiers, the power of the Awakened, the demented fury of the Nightmare Creatures - no matter how frenzied a battle was, there was a distinction between the clashing sides, at least.

Today, it was just chaos.

Thousands of Aspects tearing the ground and the sky apart. Awakened, Masters, Echoes, and enthralled Nightmare Creatures intertwined in murderous violence. Even the Saints were fighting each other, making the world shake with each strike.

Somewhere not too far away, Silent Stalker was entangled with Sir Gilead. The monstrous black panther had long ago ripped Summer Knight's mount apart with her claws and was now trying to extinguish the valiant Saint himself. It was not that easy to do because he had transformed as well.

Where a handsome knight in resplendent armor had been, there was now an ethereal figure that seemed to be made of pure sunlight. The figure was human-like and of the same height as Sir Gilead, but every time Silent Stalker struck at it, her claws simply passed through the light, not leaving any wounds on Summer Knight's shining body.

When he lashed out with his sword, however, deep wounds were left on the panther's sable hide. Silent Stalker did not seem to pay them any attention.

As they continued to fight, the radiance of the luminous figure was slowly growing bleaker.

the battlefield, the ground trembled as a giant thunderbird fell from the skies. Sky Tide had withstood the rain

was a dazed look in her eyes. She glanced at the distant formation of Clan Song, where Beastmaster was hidden, concentrating her incredible power to deliver a terrible mental

kneeling, Sky Tide outstretched her hand and summoned her sword. As she slowly rose to her feet, swaying, a rush of Nightmare Creatures and enemy Ascended was

wind. The lightning-wreathed thunderbird, a creature that looked like a towering hybrid between a wolf and a human, and a devilishly beautiful woman were launching

of Sky Tide, Dire Fang, Beastmaster, and himself. It was impossible to say which side was winning, since

with murderous intent. Two knights - one ominous and wreathed in darkness, the other resplendent and suffused with warm radiance - were like night and day, and their furious clash instilled fear

attacked the Awakened warriors of Song, but was thwarted by the Reflection of Silent Stalker. The black steed was almost caught in the maw of the giant panther, but then, a scrawny figure of dark metal suddenly leaped on the mirror creature's back, grabbing onto it with sharp claws and

of thralls and collided with the Awakened of Song. Despite their unnatural unity, it was impossible to maintain the phalanx after that - soon, the

some managed to stay close to their cohort, while others were completely isolated and faced

dangerous than they would have ordinarily been, they were still severely outnumbered.

well, for now... But Sunny couldn't see

effective counter against her powers among the high-ranking warriors of Clan Song,

would be free to wreak havoc among the rest of Clan Valor's

from Saint, who was immune to mental attacks and mind manipulation, every other combatant on the battlefield would be at risk. Perhaps even Beastmaster was not powerful enough to break the will

were already, a moment of distraction would be enough to