Shadow Slave

Just a few minutes later, a majestic dragon with scales that resembled the midnight sky was flying over the endless sea of dunes, devouring distance with stunning speed.

Effie and Jet were on his back, looking south with somber expressions.

After a while, Effie sighed.

«The situation has already changed?»

Jet nodded.

«Yes. The city wall is breached. Western Quadrant defense forces are on approach, but the Call is wreaking havoc with their tech. The Awakened vanguard was attacked by one of the lesser Gate Guardians and managed to put it down, but their advance was stalled. So, we will arrive first.»

Soul Reaper maintained a neutral tone, but Effie could see that she was in a grim mood.

«It's not your fault. Don't beat yourself up too much.»

Jet glanced at her and smiled.

«My fault? Of course, it's not my fault. I am not someone who feels bothered by such things, anyway.»

But despite her tough-girl routine and carefully constructed facade of a cynical salary woman, she was bothered.

Effie had gotten to know Soul Reaper Jet a bit during the Southern Campaign, but they became really close during the Third Nightmare. And in the four years since, their friendship and comradeship had continued to blossom.

Jet… was a professional, first and foremost. She wasn't really someone with a bleeding heart — the opposite, actually — but she took her responsibilities very seriously. As such, her cynical loyalty to the mission of preserving humanity was quite ironically much greater than the noble intent of most ardent idealists.

She had already been doing her very best as a Master. But now that Jet was a Saint- one of the five Saints serving the government — the scale and scope of her responsibilities were much greater.

While Effie and Kai mostly dealt with military and diplomatic issues, simply executing the orders, Jet was much more knowledgeable and experienced. As such, she was involved in the administration and decision-making process of the government, influencing what orders all of them received.

The government was in turmoil, too. It was in flux, drifting on the currents of history. Four years ago, the higher echelons of the government had made a decision to throw vast resources into rapidly developing its presence in the Dream Realm… where the future was.

That was why Effie was almost permanently stationed in Bastion, while Kal spent most of his time in Ravenheart.

Jet, however, had been against that strategy. She had insisted on keeping the government Saints in the waking world, spread across the three remaining Quadrants, to lessen the inevitable losses as much as possible… even at the cost of the future inferiority of the government's position in the brave new world of Domains and Sovereigns.

It was not that she disagreed with the notion that the future of humanity lay in the Dream Realm… it was just that she advocated for a different allocation of resources.

Sadly, she had failed to turn her opinion into policy.

If she had, the current disaster could have been avoided, or at least lessened.

Effie sighed.

that you're angry. Well, guess what? There's nothing better for treating anger than a good slaughter. And we'll be drowning in abominations in

Jet chuckled.

right. Sure. But also… let's not use the word 'slaughter, okay? Makes me

Kai's pleasant voice resounded in their

be sick, please wait until I land, at least, Really, don't go

Effie grinned.

Who are you trying to Impress, Queen

to her provocation. Instead,

[How is Aiko doing?]

Effie sighed.

to be angry. Oh… but she's doing fine, by the way! Her new boss

Kai answered nonchalantly:

long as she's

he asked in

curiosity, how handsome are we talking? What

chose

scar. Far away, on the opposite side

Their banter abruptly stopped.

of black smoke rising into the piercing blue sky. Even from that distance, Effie could see the signs of cataclysmic devastation. The toll of human lives must have

didn't say

teeth and looked

Kai? Was

dragon folded his wings and rushed toward

His voice was even.

The Gate Guardian of the latter seems to be

a moment, then

city is overwhelmed, a horde of abominations is rampaging on the streets. The local garrison

eyes for a

«It's good, then.»

quietly, the emotions in his

[Good?]

She nodded.

it means that

dragon landed on the ground, raising a cloud of dust. Jet and Effie jumped off his back and approached the edge of

fallen city. In front of the mundane soldiers, the

had noticed the flamboyant landing of the great dragon, and were now looking back,

Kai's fame preceded him.

and

Great Devil… can we even

and the Nightmare Creatures they had killed were beyond measure… and yet, they had never faced a horror like that

Only the Sovereigns had.