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.

Tide had withstood the rain of arrows and slaughtered the swarm of winged thralls, but then, a wall of invisible

to sustain her Transformation anymore, and knelt while grabbing her head. Her beautiful face was pale, and there was a dazed look in her eyes. She

hand and summoned her sword. As she slowly rose to her feet, swaying, a rush of

were entangled in a strange fight with the 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 one attack after another against an invisible opponent. There was a fourth mirror creature, as well, but it was as unseen as

pushing back the Reflections of Sky Tide, Dire Fang, Beastmaster, and himself. It was impossible to say which side was winning, since the mirror creatures did not express any

She had sent Nightmare away and stood alone against the radiant warrior made of sunlight, her black sword clashing against his shining blade with murderous intent. Two knights - one ominous and wreathed in darkness, the other resplendent and suffused with

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 sinking his irresistible teeth into the beast's hide. The three of them turned into a

with the Awakened of Song. Despite their unnatural unity, it was impossible to maintain the phalanx after

Masters fought against Masters. Here and there, some managed to stay close to their cohort, while others were completely

of Valor wielded swords forged by Anvil, which made them far more dangerous than they would have ordinarily been, they were still severely outnumbered. There

was holding well, for now... But

strained equilibrium on the battlefield was Sky Tide. There was no effective counter against her powers among

be free to wreak havoc among the rest of Clan Valor's forces soon. Once that happened, the situation would very likely cascade

was immune to mental attacks and mind manipulation, every other combatant on the battlefield would be at risk. Perhaps even

moment of distraction would be enough to give the enemy