Shadow Slave: Shadow of Blood

LostinTwilight: Have you seen those moves?! He made those Masters seem like amateurs!

TheChosenOne: He didn't even use his Aspect, only if his is a strengthening one.

Theman152: No way, he didn't fight like he had that, he merely outskilled every single Master! It was like he was a Saint or something!

WhisperingBladefan: Don't even think to compare, if that really was the case, he wouldn't need to even move.

RealistDeserter: I don't know man, the Dreamscape did glitch…

TheAnalist794: Who do you guys think he is? No way he's just some guy that just decided to participate in the tournament or something.

Gambler: LET'S DO A POLL! WHO DO YOU THINK LORD MONGRAL IS?:

Kai, the Nightingale. 23%

Morgan of Valor. 2%

Sinclair of Valor. 10%

Kira, the Faceless Knight of Song. 45%

Sunless of Song. 20%

TheAnalist794: Why is Lady Morgan even there? She was hosting the tournament. Plus, Mongrel is a guy, his voice is way too deep.

Gambler: I DON'T KNOW, MEMORIES CAN DO A LOT! AND HE IS WAY TOO SKILLED!

WhisperingBladefan: Lady Morgan is not a brute, she would never fight like this nobody.

EdgelordsaretheBest!: And they can't be Lord Sunless either, he uses an odachi, not a longsword. The way Mongrel was moving, he had to train with that blade his whole life.

DarkOne: I don't think it is Lord Kira, he seems way too loyal to Song, in fact, the only one that marginally makes some sense is Nightingale. Remember: Lord Mongrel said he serves no one.

RealistDeserter: And even he is a stretch, rumors say he has joined Song and is dating Lady Seishan…

FlameReaver: Mongrel could just be lying, he was wearing a concealment Memory to hide his gear.

Mongrel'sSon: HOW DARE YOU! LORD MONGREL WOULD NEVER LIE!

DarkOne: It didn't look like he was lying…

TheAnalist794: Yeah, my sister has a knack to see through lies, Mongrel wasn't lying.

LostinTwilight: I think it is too easy to say he is just a Great Clan scion, let's join our brains together and figure it out!

Truth993: Alright, they can be of any gender, are not from any Clan or serve any Clan, are really skilled, and were able to become a Master seemingly without any support… This is tough!

FlameReaver: If you guys spend months trying to figure this out and it turns out he's just some random guy or a Great Clan scion with way too much free time, I'm going to laugh at every single one of you.

TheAnalist794: Like that will happen.

'Whoever this 'FlameReaver' guy is, you can laugh at them…'

Sunny looked at the communicator in front of him in pure confusion and bewilderment, social media was flooding with tags about the mysterious Mongrel… Him.

He had returned from the Dreamscape some hours ago, and was now at the Shadow Watcher's 'base', deciding to see how they were. And as soon as he entered the building, Merlin, who was watching the streams, showed the scale of what he had done.

"Hey! Hey! Boss! Look! Look! Did you hear about this?!"

"About wha–"

Sunny widened his eyes. Seeing the clips of himself as the Mongrel persona humiliating Masters.

After having an understanding of the limits of the simulation, he felt he did enough, although he was able to defeat the Masters in quick succession, he was able to do this because he was able to read every single one of them!

As a practitioner of Shadow Dance, he could read their fighting styles and adapt to them. Since half of the Masters there were of Song, he knew their battle styles enough to completely dominate them and predict their movements. While the ones from Valor had a more streamlined style thanks to their training, one that shared some universal techniques and that he was trained in by Undying Blade, so Sunny could explore that if he was quick enough.

While the independent Masters weren't skilled enough to stop him. But he wasn't disappointed after defeating them! He was just analyzing in his mind how the battle went, just like Frostblade taught him! Like that super old movie about an American learning to be a samurai!

He fought against all the Masters he saw because he wanted to keep his anonymous persona, so he confronted both Masters from Song, Valor, the House of Night, independent ones. Any one he saw until he was used to the Dreamscape.

Sunny never predicted he would become a celebrity!... Again.

'Even the name is stupid! It was by lack of choice, not some philosophical phenomenon!'

He looked at Merlin, who was smiling like a child who just found a new toy.

"Can you believe it?! Mongrel is the talk even though it has been only a couple of hours since his debut!"

Sunny shook his head, incredulous.

"No, I don't…"

Merlin laughed.

"I know! Even Kira is intrigued!"

Sunny blinked a couple of times.

"Excuse me? Kira? Wait, weren't you all supposed to be preparing for the mission in Antarctica next week?!"

"C'mon boss, we are only taking a break! And the Chain of Nightmares is still two months away! Learn to rest!"

"Say that to Lauma!"

"Whatever! Come!"

Merlin grabbed his hand and pulled him to the living room, accepting his fate, Sunny just gave up.

Almost all of his subordinates were there, staring at the projector displaying the duels of Mongrel with eerily focused expressions.

Even Mei was leaning towards the damn screen, still sitting on the same armchair she always sat on.

"He is… Certainly impressive."

Lan could just laugh, baffled on the couch next to Kin.

"The guy is not even flinching! I would have at least hesitated."

His brother Kin raised an eyebrow.

"Like you'd be able to defeat all of them in the first place."

"I actually would!"

"Right, keep telling yourself that."

Nix, who was grabbing some cookies, seemed like the only one indifferent to the whole thing, simply looking through her communicator, sitting on one of the chairs of the dining table. But Sunless knew better, she was only feigning interest, she was doomscrolling on social media, looking at Mongrel related things!

To make things worse, Motza was also interested, looking like he was studying the movements on screen, as if trying to find a weakness.

And even Kira was looking at it, his damn helmet covering any emotion, but his static head that pointed to the screen told you everything.

He was focused, analyzing every movement like he was going to fight Mongrel to the death!

Sunless felt all his energy drain… The idea his own subordinates were admiring this stupid 'Mongrel' person who just showed up out of nowhere, the fact HE was the stupid Mongrel, and that Mei and Kira were entertained by it?!

He went on to sit on the couch next to Kin, holding his head like it had the weight of the world.

Thankfully, Lauma wasn't here, the only one who knows about the mask is too focused being a workaholic to–

"Hey guys! I'm done with work, what did I miss?"

Sunny snapped his head to the door connecting the hallway and the living room, where a woman wearing a social outfit that was loose and unkempt, like she just passed through overtime of work.

'The ONE TIME she decides to TAKE A BREAK!'

In actuality, she wasn't taking a break. Her eyes still showed the image of a compass working, shifting, with its internal gears moving, the evidence she was still working, or doing something with her Aspect… Probably working.

But that didn't matter to Sunny's current predicament.

Merlin smiled widely and grabbed Lauma's shoulder, pointing to the screen with her other hand.

"Look Lauma! Remember the tournament of Masters in the Dreamscape Dark Lady told us not to tell the Boss? So, this Mongrel guy just humiliated half of the contestants!"

Lauma twitched her head, confused, then gazed at the projector's screen, focusing her eyes at the action.

While that was happening, the others in the room snapped their eyes towards Merlin, who had just exposed Lightslayer's request to hide the existence of the tournament from Sunless…

Who was in the room, in fact, Merlin was the one who brought him there. Sunless meanwhile, was glaring at Lauma, ignoring whatever stupid thing Revel did.

He was pleading with his life internally.

The navy haired girl squinted her eyes, the screen was showing Mongrel slaying another Master, then turning to the direction of the camera. As soon as that happened, her expression dropped.

The mask of a devil snarling, two eyes showing nothing but endless darkness, three horns pointing upward…

Lauma, the Shadowkeeper, slowly turned to Sunless, the one who gave her a purpose, the one who said she was an invaluable member to the Watchers, the Heir of Peace…

The shadows got darker, deeper, sharper.

He was glaring at her, hollow eyes deep and empty as the abyss, it was like the Grimm Reaper had come to judge her for sins she didn't even commit yet.

If she didn't choose her next words carefully… She would not live to see the next day.

The ever oblivious Merlin didn't notice, so she continued talking!

"Now that you are here, we just need…"

Merlin's smile faltered for a moment, before she shook her head and corrected herself.

"Now that we are all here, we can start! Who do you all think he or she is?!"

Nix rolled her eyes.

"Please Merlin, this is childish, why would–"

Kira got the attention of everyone after sighing, his next words shutting Nix up.

"He is skilled, definitely received training, and knows how to adapt to enemy battle arts enough to predict them in battle…"

He put his hand on his chin in a thinking position while everyone, including Sunny, stared at him in confusion.

"This is a tough one."

For some seconds, silence settled as everyone stared at him.

"What?"

Sunny said what everyone was thinking.

"Why… Why are you taking it so seriously? Like, it's just some guy in the Dreamscape…"

"That would be true if he was an Awakened, I wouldn't care much. But he is an Ascended, a Master, and way too skilled to be just another person, if he is affiliated with an enemy of ours, we need to be ready. And if he is unaffiliated… We can invite him."

Sunny blinked multiple times.

He saw the atmosphere get darker as the Shadow Watchers suddenly got serious. The members are now putting an effort to figure out who Mongrel was.

All except Lauma of course.

Motza immediately raised his hand, sharing his thoughts.

"They know Valor's standard style enough to predict the variations, that is why the Knights were so easily defeated and why they were so quick in their movements. The fastest way to overcome the knights is by overwhelming them in speed."

Nix joined in.

"At the same time, he was able to get through Song's retainers quickly as well, and we don't have the same universal style."

Mei shook her head, grabbing her Katana and sitting up.

"If we go by this logic, we'll end up nowhere, the independent Masters and the one from the House of Night were also easily defeated, it may just be that they are simply overwhelmingly stronger and more skilled."

Lan sighed and leaned on the couch.

"What if they are a Saint? The Dreamscape did glitch…"

Kin glared at his brother.

"Don't be stupid, they wouldn't be able to enter the arena if they were."

As they discussed, Sunny was feeling like a fool, he just mistankingly made his team waste time trying to figure out who Mongrel was…

It just so happens he was Mongrel.

He didn't say anything, praying that Lauma was too flabbergasted to speak and that he was forgotten.

Unfortunately for Sunny, he was their leader. And Nix noticed how silent he was.

"What do you think, dear Leader?"

Unfortunately for him again, his damn flaw forced him to put an answer out.

"I think he is just stupid. A fool not thinking of the consequences of his actions."

Kira was taken aback by the answer.

"And why do you come to that conclusion?"

Sunny stared at the blank helmet humorlessly.

"Because he is making you guys waste time wondering who he is."

The Watchers found the answer… Strange, but Sunny didn't really care, as long as they didn't ask who Mongrel is specifically or they didn't pressure Lauma…

"So my dear workaholic friend… Who do you think he is?"

Sunless gripped his clothes tightly.

'Damnation! Merlin!'

Lauma suddenly got nervous as everyone looked at her.

"I-I-I ahh… I m-mean-!"

She stuttered severely, insecurity creeping onto her. Sunless' eyes were once again upon her, threatening death.

"W-Well, I-I t-hink…"

Merlin was oblivious, again.

"Well? What is it?"

Sunless gaze was piercing Lauma…

For various seconds, she kept sweating, not being able to answer…

Then something clicked inside Motza's brain. Widening his eye, he looked at Sunless, then at Mongrel on the screen, his fighting style and the way he seemed to read every single move of their opponents, then looked at Lauma, who was looking at Sunless with pure fear.

Then he looked at Mei, who was also looking at him with the same incredulous face.

They both felt that someone else figured it out, snapping their heads at Kin, who looked at them both while blinking.

They all looked at Kira, who noticed the weird interaction between the three, he did not seem to understand…

So the three genius pointed at the screen with their heads, then at their leader, who was conveniently very annoyed with something, strangely so… Kira inevitably found it weird, to Sunless to be this bothered, along with Lauma suddenly becoming nervous after talking about–

Kira froze, turning to the screen where the clips of Mongrel were playing in a loop, the way he moved, how strong he was, how he seemed to be way stronger than a Master but not powerful enough to be a Saint, almost like he had a higher Class…

Kira's gazed slowly turned to Sunless…

"That… Makes more sense than I care to admit."

The attention was taken away from Lauma, something that made the girl let out a sigh of extreme relief.

Sunny looked at Kira with a frown.

"What?"

"You would consider yourself a fool for letting this happen."

Kira pointed at the screen, at Mongrel.

"You really should have gone easy on them. If you did, we wouldn't have figured it out. And the occurrence wouldn't have become so big."

Nix, Merlin and Lan got extremely confused, before widening their eyes in understanding.

Sunless opened his mouth to deny, but sighed, knowing it was useless now.

"You only figured it out because Lauma has a terrible poker face…"

He chuckled, before shrugging.

"Plus, I did want to go easy on them, they were just so easy to read, it would be insulting if I didn't explore their weaknesses."

Silence settled into the room.

Before Merlin decided to break it like it was made of glass.

"YOU ARE MONGREL?! SINCE WHEN?"

Sunny covered his right ear.

"Since five hours ago, the Dreamscape already had 'Nobody' and the other fifty names I came with, so it went with the first insult I threw at it."

Mei laughed lightly, leaning her head to the side.

"Somehow I can picture it…"

Lauma found the strength to ask something.

"S-So… I won't die, right?"

"No Lauma, you won't, you did hide the best you could, just make sure to train more to not crack under pressure next time, alright?

"Y-Yes! Of course."

Nix raised her communicator.

"So… Do I tell Sha–"

"NO! I will not give more teasing ammunition for them!"

"Alright! Alright! Gods, don't be a drama queen. But just so you know, Lady Hel is drolling over you."

Everyone froze and turned slowly towards Nix.

Sunless did a double-take.

"I beg your pardon?"

Nix turned to him like she said the most normal thing in the entire world.

"Shan send me the update, Lady Hel saw your performance as Mongrel, and found it extremely attractive."

An awkward silence overtook the room once again, all absorbing the disturbing information.

Sunny blinked repeatedly before reaching his finguers to the bridge of his nose, pinching them tightly, sighing.

"What's next? Mom marries Undying Blade? Silent falls in love with Summer Knight? Bin get's a normal boyfriend??"

A sudden, uncomfortable cough resounded around the room.

Sunny slowly raised his eyes to see Kira looking up at the ceiling, as if he was hiding something.

"Kira."

The man continued to look at the ceiling.

"Kira, what did you do?"

The man took one step back. The shadows got deeper all of a sudden…

"Kira, I know you can hear me."

The man sighed, trailing his gaze down to look at Sunless.

"My Lord, for the record, she was the one who asked me out."

— —

"Hel, I'm trying to work, let this matter rest."

"But Shan! Don't you want a beautiful, powerful, grand knight to be with me?"

"I want you to be with someone who can deal with Silent's overprotective nature."

"Excellent then! Help me figure out who he is!"

"You are a seer, you should already know."

The Death Singer groaned.

"You guys don't even know how my Aspect works! If he's my knight in shining armor, how can he be in a tragedy?"

"In his case, he would be your knight in dark armor, now go, I had enough of this 'Mongrel', he beats a few second rate Masters and all of a sudden he gets attention, how ridiculous."

Hel slammed her hands on Seishan's table and angrily stormed out, pouting as she stomped her feet on the floor.

Seishan sighed, glancing at her computer again.

'With that attitude, you'd think she was the youngest. What's with this 'Mongrel' anyway? A couple of hours and girls are already getting on their knees for him, or her. It's like they are a celebrity or something…'

She smiled, remembering a certain fond memory.

'To be fair I was like that once too, wanting to be with a pretty boy, dreaming about dating the most handsome singer…'

She chuckled.

"It's just that now, I am actually dating one, and he is the hottest one… And his blood is so sweet…"

Seishan breathed in and shook her head, she had work to do, with the new Mongrel humiliating ten Masters on open channel, the possibility of the Tournament of Masters happening is pretty much zero, it will at least be postponed until Morgan convinces enough people to join so she can have a free for all bracket were a bunch of people can jump this Mongrel, if they even join that is.

This took something off from Seishan's back, and Sunny wouldn't need to infiltrate the tournament to make sure Valor doesn't get a bunch of popularity points.

Now, she just needs to work on the preparations for the Chain of Nightmares that was merely two months away.

But more importantly, mentally prepare for the ball tomorrow, where Sunny would face Nephis…

'I wonder what will happen… Oh well, if all ends well, they'll end up making out in the bathroom.'

Seishan chuckled, the idea of Sunny…

She froze, her eyes static in a widened eyes, a certain feeling of overprotectiveness growing.

She was being a hypocrite, but she was beginning to understand Caera, why she was uncomfortable every time she saw Moon kissing Shin. Even more so after she became intimate with Kai.

Because her siblings were exposing themselves, becoming vulnerable with another person…

And she knew that they could easily be disappointed, how easily they could have their hearts broken by their partners… The last thing Seishan wanted was for Sunless or Moon or even Revel to be heartbroken.

And tomorrow, Sunny could have his heart broken by Changing Star.

Seishan's eyes grew cold, and her scarlet lips curved into a mysterious smile…

Before it crumbled.

Seishan let out a sigh and leaned on the chair.

"So being irrationally overprotective runs in the family. Moon must have some strong tolerance… After everything that happened, I doubt she would betray Sunny at this point."

She rolled her eyes and smiled, chuckling as she returned to work.

'I wonder what she's doing…"

— —

In the Immortal Flame mansion, inside the room of the last daughter of the once Great Clan, Nephis stared at her bed with an empty expression.

There was a beautiful dress laid there, white, long, detailed with alabaster jewels and pearls…

A dress given by Valor.

She was disgusted, even more so after knowing she would have to join them, right after she decided to go with Sunless…

Right after she…

Nephis sighed, tired of thinking about this, she sat up, rising to take a walk.

She walked through the endless halls of her home, looking out the windows and… Thinking.

In the end, was it even worth it to enter Valor to begin with? Would she gain anything? Could she understand Anvil? Or did he simply do what he wanted for no reason other than consolidate his power as humanity's Sovereign? Was that why he killed the foster parents of Sunny's little sister?

Why did he betray her father?

That was a question that resounded in her mind. For Ki Song's reasons, she would know soon, she merely needed to ask Sunny.

But even that was difficult.

She was still having nightmares, the torture on the Second Nightmare still haunted her. And inevitably, questions that she had buried came over the surface.

'What would father say…?'

Nephis stopped and looked at a portrait placed on the wall. Her father's portrait.

'What would you say…?'

She sighed, hugging herself.

"I wished you were here, then, I would have answers… But right now, all that I can do is move forward."

Nephis breathed in, and turned to walk back to her room.

Tomorrow, she would confront the one who made her ask all these questions.

And whether things change or not, depends on them, if he is willing to trust her, and if she's willing to trust him.