Shadow Slave

Sunny had done it. He had dismantled Dire Fang's astonishing battle style, and peered into the very essence of it. The core of the Saint's combat technique was laid bare, with all its components — the body, the mind, and the soul — revealed to Sunny with stark clarity.

With that knowledge, he could predict what Dire Fang would do.

He could even perform some of the same things despite the difference in their Aspects and physiques.

And armed with that understanding, Sunny finally realized…

That there was no way for them to win. The fearsome Saint was just too powerful, skilled, and intelligent. He held the outcome of the battle in a firm grasp, biding his time until the perfect opportunity inevitably presented itself.

And their own strength was not enough to change that outcome.

Even if Sunny knew that a strike was coming, he would not necessarily be fast enough to dodge it. Even if he knew the enemy's intent, he would not be strong enough to survive it.

And neither would Nephis.

At least if their level of strength, already unthinkable for mere Masters, remained the same.

...But it did not have to, did it?

[Do you trust me?]

'What a loaded question.'

Sunny had his reasons, but it was true that he had gone against Neph's wishes in pretty much every instance where it mattered. He had abandoned her in the Dark City, refused to leave her in the Crimson Spire, and then fled from her again at the grand ball of Clan Valor.

Just to end up by her side anyway.

but most of all… Sunny wasn't sure if she did actually

same was true the other

chance to emerge from this fight alive. If he

[I do.]

...What?

calm answer came

It startled him.

'Huh…'

away to avoid being caught in the Saint's maw, dove under lightning-fast claws, and barely managed to get out of the way of

makes

Memory, and sent Nephis a

seconds…

time needed for the Memory to manifest itself. It was not a

a Saint, it was

then well past them. Even while empowered by the Shadow Shell and augmented both by his shadows and Neph's flame, he could

was already in a bad state, and would only continue to crumble as time

had not

Dire Fang's massive body moved with dreadful speed, each of his limbs posing a fatal threat. His attacks were vicious, devastating, and explosive, but

not easy to withstand the savage barrage of lethal blows unleashed by the

yet, he

Exactly five seconds later…

flew forward, the tip of the Sin of Solace aimed at Dire Fang's neck. The Saint easily dodged it and retaliated with a powerful blow,

landed on his feet and struggled to maintain his balance as he slid through the mud — he might have fallen, but she stepped forward and supported him from behind, placing a hand on

them

two sides. Worse than that… they were both in the single line of attack now, Nephis hidden behind the towering figure of

bestial eyes ignited