Shadow Slave: Eternal Life

Looking at the big red spire, where the sun cast its light on, Faraam walked away.

'Like hell I'll go near it!'

Just looking at it from afar, he instantly knew it was a death zone!

It might even be worse than the hell he was in!

Well... there is good news. Far away he could see some kind of a castle...? He wasn't sure, as his sight didn't reach the level where he could see tens of kilometers away.

He only saw it when light suddenly emerged from that direction in the middle of the night.

It only lasted for a few seconds, but it was clearly a signal... a signal for someone like him who was lost in this hellhole.

Which meant one thing... civilization. A human civilization!

Never in his life, Faraam thought he would miss humans.

But here? Right now? He was about to cry from happiness... well, not really, but still. He might finally escape this godforsaken place.

The only problem is that he needed to go east, and the crimson spire, which totally looked like a final boss arena, was blocking his way.

So he needed to circle around it, which made the journey longer by around three days.

On the way there, he met new nightmare creatures he didn't see before, but most of them were Awakened, and with simple planning he killed them all.

For him, Awakened nightmare creatures became nothing but food; with enough preparation, he could kill ten of them at once.

Faraam was sure that in terms of fighting powerss, he was one of the strongest sleepers! His experience from the last two months made him a top-tier hunter, and the combat arts and experience he gained from Caelia's memories made him a human's worst enemy.

But that didn't mean he would always win against other sleepers, be it one of the strongest or weakest. In the end sleepers aren't known for their combat arts or their battle experience, no. They're known for their aspects. 

And aspects are unpredictable. Fighting against an Awakened without knowing what their aspect is will only lead to death.

Looking at the wall that stretched sixty meters high, Faraam sighed and began climbing.

It wasn't easy, but it wasn't hard either. By sticking his sword in the joints between slabs and with the claws of his armor, he destroyed part of the slabs, creating handholds.

Reaching the top, Faraam looked at what the wall was hiding.

Beneath him, an expansive city lay in ruins. The beautiful stone buildings were broken and shattered, many of them turned into mere piles of rubble. There were no people walking along the wide streets, no clamor of voices to drive away the silence. Under the cold grey sky, the ruined city looked dead and mournful.

Even though there were no people walking it's streets, it didn't mean there was no life. 

The ruined city was teeming with Nightmare Creatures.

The tall city wall he was standing on was as wide as a road. It stretched endlessly in both directions, enclosing the vast ruins into a strangely perfect circle. Every so often, there were towers built into its impenetrable granite body, serving as bastions against potential enemies.

In the middle of the ruined city, a magnificent castle was standing on a hill. Its walls are built from radiant white stone, with tall towers and majestic spires piercing the sky. 

Unlike the ruined city, there were no nightmare creatures around it.

Suddenly from his right, Faraam heard the sound of a door opening.

He instinctively summoned his sword and pointed at where the sound came from.

From the watchtower, a man with dark hair and a black beard walked toward him. His eyes were blue like the sky of the wakening world, and there was a scar on his right cheek. With lean muscles hidden behind his light armor.

"Hmm... a survivor? The signal we sent yesterday wasn't for nothing, it seems."

"Who are you?" Faraam spoke, his voice muffled by his helmet.

"Relax well, yeah? I'm not here to kill you or something. Actually, I've been waiting for someone like you who was still alive out there."

Faraam glanced at him for a second and returned his sword to his soul sea.

"Are you one of the humans who live in the city?"

"The castle specifically, but yes, I'm one of them." The man responded.

"Why were you waiting for someone like me?"

The man frowned and spoke, "To guide them to the castle, of course. Isn't that obvious?"

Faraam glanced down at the city and sighed, "This place must be a haven for humans... and also for nightmare creatures."

The man laughed and spoke, "You're smart, aren't you? Indeed, since the dark sea doesn't reach the city, it makes it a sanctuary for all creatures."

Faraam stayed silent for a few seconds, then spoke, "Faraam."

The man smiled and replied, "Marcus, nice to see you alive, Sleeper Faraam."

Faraam looked up at the grey sky and asked, "Are you a Sleeper, Marcus?"

Marcus stayed silent for a second, then spoke, "...Yes."

Faraam sighed and sat down, looking at the city.

"There is no Gateway in the castle, is there, Marcus?"

Marcus nodded his head in silence.

He knew... Faraam knew that there was a possibility there wouldn't be a Gateway, yet he still hoped.

He looked back at the Crimson Spire and asked, "The Gateway... it's there, isn't it?"

"That's what we believe." Marcus answered.

Faraam smiled and stood up.

So what? What if the Gateway wasn't in the castle? Would he start cursing the world and throw a tantrum like a child? 

Even if the Gateway wasn't in the city, he now knew where it was.

He could see it with his eyes... it was so close yet so far.

But it wouldn't be, no matter how much time it took; he will escape this hell.

He looked at Marcus and spoke, "Let's go."

Marcus nodded his head and asked Faraam to follow him.

***