Shadow Slave

Dismissing the Sin of Solace, Sunny called upon the Cruel Sight and looked at Nephis. There was no time to explain everything, but he still had to warn them in advance. What to say? How would he even explain a situation like that? Not finding any good words, Sunny just said what came to mind:

"I... found Jet. She is being attacked by a powerful enemy - a wraith-like creature capable of dealing damage directly to our souls. I'll try to get Jet and retreat... prepare for battle!"

Before she had time to respond, Sunny already dove into the shadows.

'The reason I died was because I lost the initiative by not knowing the nature of the enemy and not having the correct weapon to deal with a wraith immediately at hand. Most importantly, I failed to realize that my shadows would be vulnerable to Undying Slaughter's attacks, as well.'

He had dodged the first attack of the Defiled without too much trouble. It was unknown which one of them would have lost in the end after the Cruel Sight had manifested itself... in a normal fight. However, Undying Slaughter had moved to destroy his shadows first.

It was no surprise that she had known just how to kill him in one fell swoop... after all, the mist wraith was most likely a Defiled version of Soul Reaper Jet using her future Transformation Ability. Jet knew a lot about his Aspect, and the future Jet would have known even more.

That had been Sunny's undoing.

After a vast part of his soul had been destroyed, he was in no condition to put up any further resistance. So, he died miserably on his knees.

This time was going to be different.

First, he had already summoned the Cruel Sight.

Second, he would protect his shadows.

And lastly, he knew a lot about Jet's Aspect, as well.

shadow, he wrapped it around his body and

of physical defense. The Ascended Ability allows her to increase the size and capacity of her shattered soul core, as well as removing the limit on

Slaughter really was... how distant was the future she had come from. However, her Frankenstein's monster of a soul

Slaughter had attacked

be able to get through this, as

...Or not.

with divine flames and dashed

she opened

"Don't speak. I know."

'Now.'

did not have to kneel and show his back to the enemy. However... if he had the opportunity to fool Undying Slaughter into thinking that she

the mist, he shot to his feet and lashed out with the radiant blade of the Cruel Sight. There was

...And yet, it did.

'Fast...'

and froze, tensely observing the mist. Despite the fact that their roles had reversed, and he was the one to deliver an unexpected attack, the end result was the same. Undying Slaughter had dissipated into the fog, and

if not for the fact that he knew

'Wrong.'

happen. Him changing the opening exchange of the battle could have changed what Undying Slaughter would do, as well. He still had to be

next few seconds went just as

did not attack him again, hiding and waiting... until the happy shadow flew from behind the trees and

harrowing agony of having his soul torn apart and felt his hair stand on end. The mist swirled, and the wraith hiding within

'D-damn it...'

about to come, he