Shadow Slave

Laying on a makeshift raft that was being pulled through boundless mist by a powerful current, Sunny suddenly burst out in laughter.

"Ah. Ah, I see now..."

Sin of Solace glanced at him with curiosity.

"What is it that you see, if you don't mind me asking?"

Sunny remained silent for a while.

"No, it's just that... I suddenly remembered an old conversation."

Years ago, in the ruined cathedral of the Dark City, Effie - who was mostly a stranger back then - had told Sunny a strange thing.

She had told him that the Dream Realm was not hell, like everyone believed, but instead a paradise... a dark and cruel one, but a paradise nevertheless. The kind of paradise they all deserved.

He knew now that Effie felt that way because she had been trapped in a broken body and constrained to a wheelchair in the waking world, but received a chance to be healthy and vibrant in the Dream Realm... however, that was not the only reason.

Effie also believed that the waking world was dying - not because of the Spell, but because of what humans themselves had done to the ecosystem they needed to exist. It might have even died already if it wasn't for the Awakened and the gifts they had received from the Spell.

The last thing she had said to him back then... was that one day, in the future, more people would consider the Dream Realm a paradise, just like she did.

'This is what it comes down to, isn't it?'

If Sunny tried to think realistically about the future, then the destruction of the waking world did not necessarily have to mean the destruction of humanity. Humanity was going to persevere... the small part of humanity that had access to the Dream Realm, to be more precise.

There were hundreds of thousands of Awakened in the world, a few hundred Masters, and a few dozen Saints. But these numbers were going to swell soon... if the Chain of Nightmares was any indication, the Nightmare Spell was starting to run rampant once again. There was going to be an incredible amount of infected in the coming years... numerous new Sleepers, numerous new Awakened.

There would be much more Masters, too, and even much more Saints.

the waking world was consumed, these people would be able to live on in the small part of the Dream Realm that had already been conquered by humanity. Many things would be lost, but the Citadels were not that far from being self-sufficient.

is it? This is

of three billions, just a few

staring into the

of Solace

future the Sovereigns believe in, at

once that the Sovereigns had long given up on the waking world. Now, he understood better why, and what for. The great clans had been concentrating on creating a landing zone for humanity

was grim and cruel,

Sunny stirred.

not

the future Nephis believed

who saw the Sovereigns as traitors and sinners - not because they had destroyed her

Sacred... or even Divine, maybe... then who was to say how the future would turn

was born from humanity,

it a sweet

that happening was zero. It was not

allow himself to bask

lone rune that was carved into the ancient wood of

Wish.

knew that a miracle would

But then...

Sunny's own

to be free. Despite everything, he still wanted to be free. He wanted to have a choice, to be the master of his own fate, not

Strong enough to break his

live a good

to stop thinking about the big picture and concentrate on what exactly I have to do right

this Nightmare. There were a few

his goal was