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

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 prove to her somehow

[I do.]

...What?

calm answer

It startled him.

'Huh…'

being caught in the Saint's maw, dove under lightning-fast claws, and barely managed to

That makes things

certain Memory, and sent Nephis a short

about five seconds…

to manifest itself. It was

in a battle against a Saint, it was

them. Even while empowered by the Shadow Shell and augmented

would only continue to

had

massive body moved with dreadful speed, each of his limbs posing a fatal threat. His

despite that, it was not easy to withstand the savage barrage of lethal blows unleashed by the monstrous

he did

Exactly five seconds later…

the tip of the Sin of Solace aimed at Dire

scream and was 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 fallen, but she stepped forward and supported him from behind, placing a hand

of them

were both in the single line of attack now,

bestial eyes