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.

sure if she did actually trust him. He wasn't even

same was true the other way

as he could see, that was their only chance to emerge from this fight alive. If he could only

[I do.]

...What?

calm answer came almost

It startled him.

'Huh…'

dove under lightning-fast claws, and barely managed to get

That makes things

upon a certain Memory, and sent Nephis a short

five seconds… give it all

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

battle against a Saint, it was like an

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

in a bad state, and would only continue to crumble

had

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

blows unleashed by the monstrous beast. The ground split and trembled around them, and the clouds

he did withstand

Exactly five seconds later…

hands and flew forward, the tip of the Sin of Solace aimed at Dire

thrown backward, in the direction where Nephis was rising from her knees. Sunny landed on his feet and struggled to maintain his balance as he slid through the mud — he might have

them were

the advantage of surrounding the enemy from two sides. Worse than that… they were both in the single line of attack now, Nephis hidden behind the

Fang's bestial eyes ignited with satisfied