Shadow Slave

1519 Reverse Scale

The floor of the floating fortress was tilted, and Sunny could hear the sound of water rushing into the breaches. His sight was obstructed by the cloud of dust, so he closed his eyes and sensed a massive figure stirring in the darkness.

He grinned, forgetting about how torn and battered his body was.

Looking up, Sunny saw two cold silver stars burning in the darkness high above him — the eyes of the murderous dragon, gazing down upon him.

The dragon moved, and at the same time, the shadows moved, as well.

The drowning fortress shuddered.

***

Slumped near a puddle of water, Kai gasped for air. He was suffering from terrible pain and struggling to breathe… that blow Sunny had delivered him before was not a light one. He suspected that several of his ribs had been cracked or broken. His muscles were torn, as well, so drawing the bow was a torment.

'This… really is a Nightmare.'

More than anything, Kai felt lost and confused.

The battle the government forces were supposed to observe had already been a disaster. The terrible journey through the merciless white desert was like a feverish dream. Before he knew it, they were standing in front of a towering block of black stone, preparing to enter a Seed of Nightmare.

Kai had thought that he had prepared himself mentally for the dreadful trial of the Spell, but he had been wrong. Coming to his senses in the dim throne room of a mysterious palace was unlike anything he had ever expected... and much more terrible.

Sunny was there, pulling him away from the falling debris. He heard some outlandish things about an evil dragon, who was also his twin,and an army of alien warriors that were supposed to help the cohort. A few moments later, the dark dragon was in front of them, commanding them to kneel.

Kai knew that Sunny never lied, of course. But hearing that voice and feeling the irresistible authority contained within it, he fully realized that it was all true…

The abominable dragon was, indeed, a copy of him. A much more powerful, vile, and Corrupted version of Kai, who had betrayed his friends and was now trying to kill them.

How could he turn on Sunny, Effie, Cassie, Nephis, and Colonel Jet?

Kai did not know, but the truth was undeniable.

Learning that truth hurt much more than having his ribs broken.

process the bitter revelations and make sense

a Saint, already? Kai

did he have to stay away?

there was no real need to. At the core of it, the situation was clear — the cohort was up against a dreadful foe, and the lives of

was why Kai tried to help Sunny fight the dragon, as best he

saw a strange city built on a vast island, illuminated by the light of seven rising suns. The streets of the city were flooded with people. Those people were fighting against a legion

engrossed by the battle against the vile dragon… against

creatures. Consumed by fury, he wasn't able to differentiate between friend and

left Sunny to fight against the abominable

across the vast expanse of water littered with dreadful corpses, in the ruins of a fallen fortress. There was a

was licking his

'Ah…'

through the billowing dust,

dragon with sharp claws. At the same time, Sunny was trying to

that lay on the cold stones, partially buried in rubble, and so destroyed the giant ruthlessly, each time, before it could

became tattered and broken. Even though he did not bleed, Kai could see that his condition was deteriorating

not seem to care, consumed by the strange

to

not as powerful as his friends, he was not at all weak. He was an Ascended, too… he had led

dragon's flame, and lived to

Kai could not really

forcing him to do things he never wanted to do. Simply resisting that

were

you into an

head, but

— the other he — had indeed been betrayed, corrupted, used, and abandoned. By none

punish him… take his hope away…

his teeth, refusing to

knew himself very well.

That wasn't them.

no time to turn its gaze at Kai. And so, the insurmountable authority of its command was slowly

puddle of water and looked at the one who was hiding