Shadow Slave

Instantly, all three of them - Sunny, Jet, and Seishan - were on guard. Jet readied her glaive, while Sunny gripped the hilt of the Sin of Solace tighter. Seishan, meanwhile, lowered her hands slightly, as if preparing to defend herself with bare fists.

The cursed sword whispered into Sunny's ear: "Use them as a shield... take a step back, and let whatever comes feast on their flesh first..."

Sunny struggled to ignore it. Before, he had not dared to send his shadows outside to keep an eye on the desert - with how dreadful the creatures populating it at night were, many of them were bound to possess means of destroying intangible things. Sunny did not want to risk one of his shadows being obliterated.

But now, he regretted that decision. As his expression hardened, streams of sand fell from above, and then, someone jumped softly on the stone plates of the chamber's floor.

Sunny felt immense relief. It was a human... Jet remained on guard, but Seishan seemed to relax. She straightened slightly and let out a soft sight, her exquisitely beautiful face illuminated by a pale smile.

"Ascended Xu... you have survived, as well."

They were safe. The newcomer was not a terrifying Nightmare Creature - it was a survivor like the three of them. One of the Masters of Clan Song.

The man groaned slightly, then shielded his eyes from the bright light of the luminous Memory. His hand trembled slightly.

"Lady... Lady Song?"

Looking at him, Sunny suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.

A sense of fear like he had never experienced before wrapped its fingers around his heart.

He almost staggered back but forced himself to remain in place, wearing the same expression as before.

'W-what... the hell...'

Sunny stared at the newcomer. The man was tall and muscular. His black hair was cut short, revealing a strong, handsome face. His eyes were like two pools of darkness, and there was a strained smile on his cracked lips.

Ascended Xu wielded no weapons and wore no armor. He was dressed in a dark-red bodysuit, which was torn, revealing ugly lacerations and bruises covering his body.

...It was, without a doubt, the dead man whose eyes Sunny had closed just a few hours ago.

Sunny shivered, and even the blurry figure of the Sin of Solace who stood beside him suddenly seemed wary.

took a

Xu! Thank the gods... have you seen any of my

looked around, then

my lady. I... have not seen anyone. Only

it some kind of regenerative Aspect? No, wait... is

every move. Then, he shifted his perception and looked within the

blade of the Sin of Solace

was nothing but vile, impenetrable darkness. A darkness so vast and deep

lower her glaive. Looking at the...

did you survive being

creature wearing the corpse of Ascended

my lady.

Then, the creature smiled.

more

question was directed at Jet, so Sunny could

even knew Seishan's name. It can even perfectly imitate human behavior. If not for Weaver's lineage, I would not have known at all.

creature was strong enough to walk the Nightmare Desert at

a small underground chamber with

Sunny felt terror.

activated the Blessing of Dusk and sent

thing is not

sighed, then shook her

but we haven't met anyone else. The four of us

time, she answered

know. Its soul... is much more vast than a Master's soul should be. Or a Saint's soul, even.

a

is not Ascended Xu. Think of an answer, and I

show any sign of surprise as

about? I know this man. He and I grew up together... wait.

something like that...