Shadow Slave: Chain Breaker

Somewhere in the Forgotten shore. A vast, ruined city built of weathered stone, surrounded by tall, impregnable walls. With various monsters wandering in its narrow streets. In the center of the city, there was a hill, on that hill stood the bright castle.

Inside the bright castle. In a room that had no windows and had a large round table with a large map that resembled the forgotten shore. The room was lightened by a large lantern hanging above the table, radiating a bright and stable glow.

The room was filled with weird tension as 11 figures filled the room. Sunny and Effie were both leaning back on their chairs in a relaxed gesture. Nephis, Cassie, and Seishan. All had a calm expressions on their faces. Gunlaug, wearing a leather armor, also had a calm, indifferent expression.

Caster, Tessai, Gemma, and Artisan. All looked at each other with tensed looks. And lastly, Kai was sitting uncomfortably after being dragged unwillingly by his friend Sunny. He looked at his relaxed friend with eyes that spoke: 'Why did you bring me here?' Kai screamed to inwardly.

Nephis also looked at Sunny. Who until now was shrouded in mystery. Although Sunny had told her about his aspect and flaw, too. She still felt like she didn't know anything about him.

For example, his swordsmanship. He was way better than her, the daughter of the broken sword! To have such swordsmanship. He must be a legacy, maybe from a hidden clan that stayed secret until now.

'Actually, the more I think about it, the more I think this is true.' Nephis thought to herself.

Until now, there was no appearance of the shadow lineage or its clan. If it even exists. But the amount of skill Sunny showed clearly indicates that he has been trained since birth. So there is a huge possibility that Sunny came from the shadow clan that stayed hidden until now.

'Why are they still hiding? Do they have a sovereign?' A lot of questions were running in Nephis's mind. Although she could just ask Sunny and make him answer her truthfully due to his flaw. But, using his flaw to make him answer her was not only just pathetic to her. It was also betraying Sunny's trust and invading his privacy.

Nephis sighed and gave Sunny a side look. 'Just who are you really, Sunny. What is your goal?'

Nephis remembered the first time she saw him at the gates of the Awakened Academy. At that time, she was suspicious of him, and after they took the combat classes. She was sure that Sunny was a swordsmanship master. Although she was amazed by his skills considering he's still young, she also became too anxious of him.

Because if he happened to be the one sent after her, she wasn't sure if she's able to stop him. That's why she chose to spar with him. So that she can study his fighting style and defend herself against him if she met him.

But to her shock, he was so skilled. So skilled in fact. To the point that she was sure that he could kill her. That's why she felt frightened when she met him in the forgotten shore. For her, he's considered the biggest threat she has ever stumbled on.

But when he talked with her. She was stunned to know that he also had hatred towards the sovereigns. And for the first time in her life. She was so grateful that Sunny turned out to be a trustworthy ally. And not just any ally, but his clan probably shares the same hatred. Which made Nephis feel like she wasn't alone in all this. That there is someone she could rely on; someone who watches her back; And perhaps....someone she could love.

Of course, Nephis was oblivious about love and romance. She wasn't sure about how she felt towards Sunny. Like, after traveling the labyrinth together for weeks. Sunny was always solving any problem that comes on their way. And now, right when he got back from his journey in the labyrinth. He not only helped her by giving her a huge amount of soul shards and making her a devil. But he was able to gather all the sleepers on one side and stop Gunlaug rulling.

So, Nephis couldn't really tell if her heart was warmed by love for Sunny or merely illuminated by the gratitude for his presence.

But one thing is certain. And that is that she felt warmth whenever Sunny was by her side. And that she felt so jealous of Cassie for casually kissing Sunny.....she hoped that she could also do the same.

"So, how exactly are you gonna get us back to waking world, Lost From Light?" Nephis train of thoughts was cut off by Gunlaug's calm voice

Sunny stared at Gunluag for a bit and just pointed his finger towards Nephis

"Ask her. She's the leader here. I'm just.....her right arm, you could say." Sunny couldn't stop his lips from curling up in a small grin after he said that.

Nephis felt warmth in her heart when she heard what Sunny said.

Gunlaug just gave Sunny a confused look while raising his eyebrow. 'You call yourself just her right arm after what you did?' But he didn't really care about how Sunny considered himself. He then turned his head and looked at Nephis.

"So, how are you going to get us all out, Changing Star?"

Nephis pondered for a moment, thinking of what information she should share, and then she said in a calm voice

"Well, to leave this place. There are some things we first need to get. Therefore, I'll be going on an expedition after 6 days to retrieve those things."

"And who are you going to take with you? Surely you're not planning on going alone like our crazy friend here." Gunlaug chuckled as he gave Sunny a side eye.

Sunny didn't care about how Gunlaug addressed and kept relaxed. Nephis kept quiet for a moment and then spoke, "I'll be taking Sunny, Cassie, and Effie." Nephis stopped for a moment and looked at Gunlaug,"and you'll be coming with us too."

Gunlaug chuckled with a grin. "Only the five of us? Sure, no problem. But there is a small problem. when I agreed to Lost from Light condition. He said that I must become his lieutenant, not your lieutenant. You can't command me."

Nephis frowned a bit, and turned a bit to look at Sunny. He kept relaxed and spoke in a casual tone. "Alright then, Gunlaug. You'll be coming with me on the expedition. Also, i think the five of us are more than enough."

Caster, who Nephis didn't mention in the expedition party, frowned his eyes a bit, but didn't say anything.

The room was silent for a moment until Gunlaug spoke again with a smirk, "but Changing Star. Aren't you being reckless by taking all the powerhouses with you? What if a fallen beast or monster suddenly came and attacked the people here?"

Nephis kept silent for a moment, right when she was about to talk, Sunny started talking

"Don't worry about this problem. I'll take care of it" Sunny said while still leaning on the chair, as if he was in his own world. Gunlaug didn't say anything after that. Nephis was relieved when she heard Sunny. Knowing that she could rely on him to take care of many things.

Nephis then started contributing tasks to the leaders who were going to stay. Caster was tasked to take care of people of the outer settlement since they'll probably won't trust the bright Castle lieutenants.

Of course, now that the two sides will be together. There still will be some tension between them, that's why Caster was tasked to take care of the outer settlement people.

After finishing, Nephis dismissed the leaders, Everyone one from the expedition party stayed. Kai, still feeling like he's in the wrong place. Was asked by Sunny, who was sitting beside him.

"So, Kai. Do you wanna join us?" Sunny looked at his friend with curiosity.

Kai hesitated for a moment and then said, "I don't know, Sunny. I need more time to think about it."

"Sure, you don't have to give an answer now. But don't take your time cause we might leave before you could decide" Sunny chuckled as he joked with Kai.

Nephis and Gunlaug looked at Sunny with a raised brow, confused about why he asked Kai specifically. Effie and Cassie, on the other hand, didn't give a thought on why Kai was invited.

"Anyway, we have 6 days to prepare then, right? I'll be going then, I have somethings to do" Sunny said while getting up and leaving the room. After him, they all got up to do their own preparations.

....

Sunny was walking in the bright castle, looking for someone. After a couple of minutes of searching, he finally found who he was looking for.

"Hey there, Stev" Sunny yelled.

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Hey there, everyone. Author here, Sorry for taking so long to upload. It's just that I got hit by a truck when I was driving😞 I'm not joking.

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But that thing happened like 3 months ago and was slight hit so don't worry about it. I was just being dramatic.

Anyway I have an announcement to make. From now on, the chapters will be around 1.5k words.

Why? Cause it's easier to be consistent with this amount....and it will give me more views lmao.

But anyway I know the I promise to upload much more🙏🏻

Funny story, there was a YouTuber I used to watch and he announced that he'll upload a video on 6 pm in the next day. And he was never heard off again after that video.

So.....a new chapter will release 6pm tomorrow🥳