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.»

silent for a moment, listening to the silence, then said

«Dismount.»

were illuminated for

it seemed weak and faltering, barely able to

something now that the luminous

carcass was laying on the ground, its grotesque bones towering above the plain.

What killed it?

carcass and studied it for a few moments, spending a bit more time looking

Nephis… what do

for a while, then shook

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

grew a little

where we are, this carcass must belong to a Great Nightmare

might not be exaggerated. Many Saints were capable of slaying Great Beasts, but very few

terrifying roar tore apart the silence. Something was rushing toward

a battle formation. Shim and Sid moved forward, raising their shields, Gantry and Gorn took positions a step behind and to the side of them, while Shakti and Erlas hid behind the melee

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

«Be ready.»

as the Nightmare Creature approached

to reach the Fire Keepers in a

gruesome sound of flesh being severed by sharp steel. Something crashed heavily onto the ground, and a moment later, a monstrous head rolled into

«One strike.»

abomination's severed head for a split second,

ignited,