Shadow Slave

They crossed most of the remaining distance to the edge of the breastbone plain that day. Night never graced Godgrave with its presence, but anywhere else, the sun would have already been rolling toward the horizon.

It was never dark in this strange and terrible place. The grey sky shone with diffused light, and white bone was colored here and there by fields of vibrant vermilion grass…

Or rather, it was never supposed to be dark.

Nephis slowed her steed as she peered into the distance, a complicated expression appearing on her face.

«What is that?»

Out there, far away, it was as though someone had dropped a can of black paint on the world.

The darkness, which was not supposed to exist in Godgrave, swallowed the plain, and the scattered light of the stormy sky was powerless against it. The deep shadows persisted, unperturbed by the bright daylight around them.

«How is this possible?»

Soon, they drew closer to the wall of darkness. Strangely enough, there were much fewer abominations in this area of the titanic skeleton, and even the scarlet flora seemed scarcer…

It was as though even the Nightmare Creatures were wary of the land of shadows. Nephis frowned slightly, not showing her hesitation to the Fire Keepers.

«Advance slowly.»

As they proceeded further, the light slowly dimmed, and the growths of red grass became smaller and smaller, until they disappeared entirely. Soon, they were surrounded by nothing but impenetrable darkness, with only Neph's eyes shining in it like small stars.

«Stop.»

for a moment, listening to the silence,

«Dismount.»

jumped down from their Echoes, dismissing them into a rain of sparks. Their surroundings were illuminated for a few moments, and by the time the sparks dissipated into nothingness, they had already

stark white light flooded the dark land. However, it seemed weak and faltering, barely able to force the deep,

that the

bones towering above the plain. The creature must have been enormous once, but now

What killed it?

walked over to the carcass and studied it for a few moments, spending a bit more time looking at the clean cut where the monster's head

Nephis… what

a while, then shook

teeth marks everywhere, and by the look of it, the creature's flesh

expression grew a little

we are, this carcass must belong to a Great

Lord of Shadows? If so, the rumors of his power might not be exaggerated. Many Saints

at that moment, a terrifying roar tore apart the silence. Something was rushing toward them from

Shakti and Erlas hid behind the melee fighters while summoning their arrows. Lastly, Kaor moved to

where she stood, calmly looking into the darkness. Her lance had changed form once again,

«Be ready.»

as the Nightmare Creature approached at high

to reach the Fire

the familiar, gruesome sound of flesh being severed by sharp steel. Something crashed heavily onto the ground,

«One strike.»

abomination's severed head for a

two crimson flames ignited, staring down