Shadow Slave

'Crap, crap, crap...'

Sunny did not know what the creature pursuing them was, exactly. He had hoped that the possessed corpses were not the vessels of a single being, but instead separate abominations, akin to minions of a tyrant... but even if they were, there was obviously a way for them to share information.

He knew it because his hopes were being crushed right in front of his eyes.

If there was no way for the puppets of the Gate Guardian to share knowledge, then he could have pretended to be oblivious to their presence and bought some time. But the seven taken Masters were all seemingly aware that Sunny could tell what they were.

They slowly started to move. At first, their movements seemed inconspicuous, but it quickly became apparent that they were encircling those Ascended who remained human.

There were eerily human smiles brightening their faces.

On one side, there were seven possessed corpses with the power of a Great abomination.

On the other side, there were Sunny, Nephis, Kai, Effie, Jet, Seishan, Morgan, and eleven more unaffected Masters.

Morgan had three Transcendent Echoes left. Seishan had one.

Sunny had Saint and Nightmare.

...And Imp.

In fact, the scrawny goblin was the linchpin of their survival.

[Get everyone to come closer.]

Sunny had already explained the situation to Morgan and coordinated with the rest of his allies. Their only chance to survive was to run... but escaping from the ring of possessed corpses seemed impossible.

Nevertheless, they had to try.

Knowing what to do, Morgan calmly looked at the eleven Ascended who had not been taken by the Gate Guardian yet and called:

"You there! Come here. I have questions about our rations and water reserve... you, too. How many tents can we make from that hide?"

The Masters left what they had been doing and walked over. By that time, even they started to notice that something strange was going on.

One group of people was standing in the center of the hollow tower. The other group had spread out, surrounding them.

The ancient steel was groaning as it was assaulted by the wind.

'That is all. There are also three Ascended outside... but only two of them are human.'

"Lady Morgan? What, uh... what is going on?"

Masters

were slowly shifting, assembling into a loose

was the only one who remained

was the point of trying to

almost time... I just need a

her

"Come closer."

glanced at each other, then hesitantly took a few

At the same time...

corpses took a step forward,

"Kai, now!"

out by the groan of

that groan was drowned out by

one word, but it enveloped the

"Stop."

'Argh... hell...'

or rather, he had never been the subject of its negative influence. His friend usually used the power of his voice to

was not the only

living things and bend them

it was as though the world itself

high mental defense, but it was as though a mountain had fallen on him... it was not physical weight, though. Rather, it was incredibly hard to remember why he

some effort, he

the command with

shook off the effects of the command almost instantly... still, it

the whole tower

And collapsed.

shrill screeching noise, and then wind and light flooded the

through the outer layers of

her of danger, and observing the seven vessels of

finally couldn't support its weight

cool shade filling its interior was instantly torn apart by

plenty of

wrapped themselves around the bodies of

was just a

unceremoniously tossed them out of

Transcendent Echoes, who threw themselves at the abominations. Everyone used their own means to slow the

There was an explosion of white flame, and the sharp sound of the air being cut

the white sand, Sunny

"Run!"

it out of the tower, but five out of the eleven Ascended that Morgan had called