Chapter 91 Escape
Sunny confronts Nephis, revealing the Soul Tree’s deception and their peril. He desperately tries to remind her of their shared plan, but Nephis, her memory fragmented, dismisses his claims. “Leave… the great tree? You have really lost your mind,” she retorts. Sunny, forced to release Cassie, attempts to explain further, but Nephis attacks with lightning speed, leaving him disarmed and vulnerable. The sheer efficiency of her assault, despite his recent power gains, leaves Sunny stunned by his defeat.
With Nephis’s sword at his throat, Sunny gambles everything on a desperate plea, uttering the names “Aster, Song, Vale!” The words shatter Nephis’s composure, her eyes widening with shock and a dark fury. Trembling, she presses the blade, demanding, “How… how do you know these names? Who are you?” Sunny, surprised by his gambit’s success, admits he was merely relaying instructions she herself gave him, intended as a trigger for her forgotten purpose.
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Nephis’s confusion gives way to a chilling determination as she demands to know his “Domain.” Sunny, completely ignorant of the term, admits his lack of knowledge, prompting a disturbing, uncharacteristic grin from Nephis. Her altered demeanor suggests a deeper, more dangerous persona surfacing, leaving Sunny bewildered by the true nature of her lost memories and the escalating danger they now face.
Chapter 92 Journey Into The Night
The fragile vessel, its mast a demon’s spine, slices through an ink-black sea, guided west by a mark etched in Sunny’s mind from the Crimson Spire. Beneath the oppressive darkness, gargantuan shadows stir, drawn by the faint sounds of their passage, forcing Sunny to steer with silent dread, a thin metal hull their only shield against the hungry abyss. He steers, aware that “luck was on their side” thus far.
A sudden shattering in his mind signals liberation; the Soul Devourer’s enthrallment breaks, restoring Sunny’s sharp clarity. While relief washes over him, the return of his faculties sharpens his perception of their desperate situation. The journey into the cursed sea, a suicidal endeavor by any sane measure, is the only path left in this desolate hell.
Cassie, no longer bound by the hex, moves to Sunny, embracing him tightly, hot tears falling as she whispers, “Thank you… thank you…” He awkwardly pats her back, attempting to deflect her gratitude. “Uh… no need to thank me. If it wasn’t for your warning, we would still be stuck on that island. So, we’re even,” he replies, the vast, dark sea stretching out before them, promising unknown dangers.
Chapter 93 Black Water
Sunny grapples with the astonishing revelation of Nephis’s prowess, her ability to both heal and destroy suggesting a Divine Rank Aspect, mirroring his own Shadow Control. He ponders the near-zero probability of two such individuals crossing paths in the Dream Realm, suspecting the [Fated] Attribute’s manipulation. This connection, however, breeds a chilling unease, as Nephis’s true name, “Star of Ruin,” whispers of potential calamity. Her casual knowledge of the [Drop of Ichor] as a “Lineage Memory” and her cryptic questions about “domains” further deepen the mystery surrounding her and the hidden secrets of the Awakened elite.
As dawn approaches, casting a hopeful light on their perilous westward journey, their fortune abruptly turns. The serene black waters erupt in a violent frenzy, grotesque tentacles emerging from the depths to ensnare their vessel. Before Sunny can react, the boat is violently ripped apart. He witnesses Nephis, a beacon of silver in the encroaching darkness, battling a tentacle, only to be swiftly consumed by another, her sword left as a solitary testament to her fate.
The carapace boat, reduced to splinters, casts Sunny into the frigid, black water, leaving him reeling from the sudden and devastating loss. The crushing of their fragile vessel and the disappearance of Nephis plunge him into a desperate struggle for survival, the terrifying implications of her fate and the nature of the abyssal threat now a chilling reality.
Chapter 94 Battle In The Depths
Fueled by a newfound defiance against a life of constant fear and mere survival, Sunny plunges into the abyssal depths after their vessel’s destruction. His goal shifts from mere existence to imposing his will upon the world, no longer content to live like an animal. Relying on his shadow sense in the crushing blackness, he navigates the treacherous waters, the burning of his wounds a secondary concern to the urgent search for Cassie. He senses the colossal presence of the creature that attacked them, the immense tentacles a terrifying indicator of its scale, as he fights against the increasing pressure and the desperate need for air.
His search yields a glimmer of hope as he spots a faint shadow struggling against a larger one: Cassie, caught by a smaller tentacle and suffocating. With adrenaline surging through him, Sunny intercepts the grasping limb, the slimy flesh a repulsive sensation. Knowing the water’s resistance will hinder a swift victory, he uses his Midnight Shard, drawing upon his enhanced strength to slash at the tentacle beneath Cassie. While unable to fully sever it with a single blow, the blade bites deep, drawing a torrent of dark blood and forcing the tentacle to recoil.
Sunny presses his attack, the sharpened steel slicing through the spongy flesh. He maneuvers the tachi with precision, cutting deep into the limb and leveraging the sword’s sharpness to sever the tentacle completely. The immediate threat to Cassie is removed, and Sunny can now fully assess her condition and the true nature of the horrors lurking in the abyss, the battle for survival far from over.
Chapter 95 Starlight
Physically and mentally ravaged by the preceding horrors, Sunny fights against the surging waves and crushing exhaustion to drag both himself and Cassie towards a colossal stone hand emerging from the dark sea. He recalls the recent trauma: the agonizing Blood Weave transformation, resisting enthrallment, and the brutal battle that destroyed their boat. Reaching the stony appendage, they find a precarious refuge, but Sunny, driven by a primal instinct for safety, urges a still-shocked Cassie to move higher, away from the churning waters.
“Cassie. Stand up. We have to move higher,” Sunny’s voice is hollow as he gently pulls her to her feet. Cassie, disoriented and pale, asks, “Sunny. Where is Neph?” Sunny’s silence confirms her fears, and he struggles against the mental torment of her question, enduring unimaginable pain rather than utter the devastating truth. He remains stoic, determined to shield her from the full horror of their situation, even as the dark sea continues its menacing dance around their fragile sanctuary.
As Sunny grapples with the unbearable weight of their losses and the lingering threat of the abyss, a subtle sound from below draws his attention. His heart lurches, a premonition of renewed danger or perhaps a flicker of unexpected hope in the overwhelming darkness. The chapter ends on this note of suspense, leaving the reader to wonder what lurks beneath the waves and whether their desperate escape has truly ended.
Chapter 96 Exile
Sunny awakens from a nightmare, finding himself in a stark, windowless room within a ruined city. The familiar weight of a throwing dagger in his hand is a comfort as he scars the stone wall, marking another day in this “loathsome, godforsaken city” – four months have passed since their harrowing escape from the sea. The darkness of his sanctuary is a welcome respite, a stark contrast to the encroaching night outside where waves crash against unseen walls. He prepares for the day, retrieving his weapon with a practiced pull, a testament to his mastery of the flying blade.
Cassie’s premonition of a ruined city to the west proved accurate, leading them to a walled metropolis teeming with monsters. At its heart, a hill crowned with a magnificent castle offered a glimmer of hope. Miraculously, the castle was inhabited, but their relief was short-lived. Instead of fellow Awakened, they found only Sleepers, a disheartening reality after their arduous journey.
Despite the bleakness, Sunny remains a stoic protector, the unspoken grief for Neph a silent weight he carries. The stark beauty of his hidden chamber, a place of salvaged wood and cunningly hidden light wells, underscores his solitary existence. The chapter ends hinting at the slow passage of time and the stark reality of their new existence, away from the familiar dangers of the sea and into the unknown perils of the city’s dark heart.
Chapter 97 Hunter’s Dream
Sunny finds a strange contentment in his solitary existence within the ruined city, a stark contrast to his previous life. He revels in the absence of human interaction, viewing it as a liberation that allows him to finally be his true self. He engages in self-deluding arguments with his shadow, convincing himself that his current “wonderful” life, devoid of hope, is superior to any potential future, even a return home. This mindset, he believes, shields him from the desperation that previously led him into danger.
Emerging from his hidden sanctuary within a desecrated cathedral, Sunny surveys the encroaching night. His secret lair, a precarious balcony concealed behind a statue, offers a vantage point over the grand hall. This space was discovered during a brutal encounter with the cathedral’s guardian, a powerful Nightmare Creature, likely a Devil, whom Sunny considers his ultimate quarry. For now, he tolerates sharing the space, using the guardian’s presence as a deterrent against lesser monsters.
The chapter then shifts to the nocturnal hunt. Sunny, with his “flying blade,” ventures into the darkened streets. The narrative introduces a terrifying skeletal creature, a hunched predator adorned in tattered rags, its long, clawed arms and fanged maw a testament to the city’s inherent danger. This marks the beginning of Sunny’s hunt, a dangerous dance in the shadows of this cursed metropolis, driven by a desire for strength and eventual revenge.
Chapter 98 Uninvited Guests
A grim Sunny surveys the corpse of a Blood Fiend, alerted to approaching footsteps by an uninvited presence. He questions the sanity of anyone venturing into the cursed city at night, a sentiment his sardonic shadow echoes. Sunny, prioritizing his hunt for soul shards, dispatches his shadow to investigate while he diligently works to extract the trophies from the slain creature. The shadow soon discovers the source of the noise: six rugged men, armed and clad in mismatched armor, illuminated by a spectral blue lantern. Sunny recognizes them as thugs belonging to Gunlaug, the tyrannical ruler of the region, and he races to finish his harvest before they arrive.
Despite Sunny’s haste, the group’s rapid approach forces him to conceal his prize just as they spot him. Mistaken for a monster due to his disheveled appearance, Sunny quickly tries to prove his humanity, his voice trembling as he claims, “Oh, oh! Please don’t hurt me! I’m a human!” The Sleepers, surprised to find another person so far into the ruins, especially at night, cautiously approach. Their leader, a seasoned but not high-ranking man with a mean gaze and a sharp battle-axe, confronts Sunny directly, demanding, “Who are you?! What the hell are you doing here?!”
Sunny, identifying himself as “Sunless” and claiming to “live here,” is met with disbelief from the leader and skepticism from his men. However, one of the Sleepers expresses doubt, recalling rumors of a “crazy kid who lives in the ruins alone,” hinting at the possibility that Sunny’s claims might hold a sliver of truth. The encounter leaves Sunny in a precarious position, his survival hinging on convincing these unwelcome guests of his identity amidst the dangerous ruins.
Chapter 99 Pursuit
The Sleepers, recovering from the initial shock of Sunny’s swift, brutal attack, are enraged and determined to pursue their assailant who “killed the chief!”. Sunny, having anticipated this, uses a thrown kunai as a lure, drawing their attention while his shadow, now stronger, grants him enhanced speed. He efficiently dispatches the leader, severing an arm from another Sleeper with his Midnight Shard, recognizing their inferior skill honed from Changing Star’s tutelage, not his own perilous three months in the cursed city. Yet, with his element of surprise gone and facing unpredictable human abilities, Sunny strategically retreats into the labyrinthine streets he knows intimately, using the clinking kunai to keep his pursuers on his heels.
Despite the relentless pursuit, Sunny questions the Sleepers’ unusual presence and recklessness in venturing so deep into the dangerous city at night, noting that Gunlaug’s men are typically more cautious hunters. He marvels at their persistence, even the dismembered Sleeper clinging to the chase, and wonders about their true motives for this atypical behavior. Sunny, however, remains focused on escape rather than engaging further or interrogating his pursuers, his interest in human affairs long faded.
Sunny’s knowledge of the city’s every detail provides him a significant advantage, allowing him to evade capture and even manipulate the environment to impede his pursuers. Their continued, seemingly desperate pursuit leaves him pondering what truly drives them, as they ignore the inherent dangers he expertly navigates. This pursuit, born from an unexpected confrontation, sets the stage for a dangerous chase through the ruins, with Sunny’s survival hinging on his intimate understanding of this deadly domain.
Chapter 100 Clear Conscience
The relentless pursuit by the Sleepers forces Sunny deeper into the city’s labyrinth, where the true nature of his pursuers remains an enigma. Their uncharacteristic recklessness, a stark contrast to Gunlaug’s usual cautious hunters, fuels Sunny’s suspicion. He marvels at their tenacity, even the dismembered Sleeper’s unwavering pursuit, and ponders their hidden agenda. Sunny, detached from human empathy, prioritizes escape, his intimate knowledge of the ruined streets his greatest asset in this deadly game of cat and mouse.
Emerging from the chase, Sunny finds temporary respite in a ruined cathedral, a place patrolled by the enigmatic Black Knight. He observes the creature’s silent, impassive vigil over its fallen victims, noting its unsettling sentience. Sunny reflects on the peculiar nature of the city’s inhabitants, dividing them into two distinct groups: those from outside the wall who adhere to predictable unnatural laws, and the “wraiths” – creatures like the Black Knight, possibly ancient residents, whose powers and behavior defy logic.
As the Black Knight resumes its ceaseless patrol, Sunny, momentarily safe, contemplates his recent actions. His inner voice probes his conscience, asking, “Don’t you feel guilty?” Sunny admits to a lack of remorse for killing the six Sleepers, acknowledging this as his third, and perhaps cleanest, human kill. He recalls the first two instances, one within a Nightmare and another in the castle, the memory of which he actively suppresses. The latest encounter, he reasons, was a clear case of self-defense against those who intended him harm.
Chapter 101 Turf War
Sunny, momentarily seeking refuge in a ruined cathedral, finds his respite shattered by the arrival of monsters drawn to the scent of blood. The Black Knight, however, proves a formidable guardian, engaging a grotesque mantis-like creature in a brutal display of power. Sunny, recognizing the futility of scavenging the bloody aftermath, retreats, his thoughts returning to Caster, whose early arrival and subsequent rise within Gunlaug’s ranks indirectly led to Sunny’s current predicament. He laments the lack of lucrative gains from his latest kill, noting, “Just one fragment away from four hundred,” a meager reward for the risks taken.
His inner voice, usually a persistent interrogator, is eerily silent when Sunny muses on the potential consequences of humans being “very lucrative” to kill. This quietude unnerves him, prompting a search of the fallen Sleeper leader. Instead of the expected hoard of soul shards, Sunny discovers a peculiar piece of fabric secreted within the man’s clothing, a small mystery amidst the larger conflict.
The chapter highlights the precarious nature of Sunny’s survival, where even moments of solitude are fraught with danger and the consequences of past decisions ripple into the present. The subtle introduction of Caster as a catalyst for Sunny’s troubles sets a new stage for potential future confrontations, while the discovery of the hidden fabric hints at a deeper layer to the ongoing “turf war” within the city’s ruins.
Chapter 102 Stone Saint
Sunny witnesses the grim aftermath of a battle on a darkened square, stunned to see the normally formidable stone warriors, the “living statues,” decisively defeated. Their shattered remains litter the cobblestones, their stone weapons and armor petrified. The victors are a new breed of Nightmare Creature: immense, iron-plated spiders, terrifying in their speed and destructive force. Only one stone warrior, a smaller female resembling a knight, remains, facing off against two of these spider monstrosities. Sunny, ever the opportunist, observes from the shadows, recognizing the futility of the stone woman’s stand. The spiders, in their cruel dominance, “just toy[ing] with her, savoring the helplessness,” leave no doubt about the inevitable outcome, a spectacle Sunny finds morbidly entertaining.
He recognizes the spiders as potential “fallen beasts,” implying their corrupted nature and increased threat. The lone stone warrior, armed with a sword and shield, her ruby eyes burning with defiance, is a stark contrast to the brutal efficiency of her attackers. Sunny, always calculating the risk and reward, waits for the inevitable conclusion, a silent spectator to the savage exchange. He muses, “Come on, get her!” reflecting his detachment from the fate of the stone woman, his focus remaining on the potential spoils of such a gruesome encounter and the ever-present struggle for survival.
The chapter introduces a new, powerful faction of Nightmare Creatures that have overcome previously insurmountable guardians, signaling a shift in the power dynamics within the cursed city. This violent territorial dispute further complicates Sunny’s already precarious existence, hinting at a broader conflict where even the most resilient defenses can fall. The presence of these iron-clad spiders raises the stakes, posing a direct threat that Sunny cannot afford to ignore, even as he seeks to profit from the chaos.
Chapter 103 Coup De Grace
Emerging from his vantage point, Sunny descends into the carnage, drawn to the fallen “stone saint.” He observes her battered form, the strange creature’s armor now petrifying, and ruby dust, like blood, flowing from grievous wounds. The saint’s gem-like eyes, once fiery, dim as they fix upon Sunny with weary stillness. He offers a pragmatic, “Life is not fair, huh?” before delivering a merciful blow with his Midnight Shard. The act, despite its grim necessity, earns him the satisfaction of slaying an awakened monster and a boost to his Shadow.
The Spell’s pronouncements continue, however, revealing a far greater reward: an Echo, the “Stone Saint.” Sunny’s disbelief is palpable as he confirms this rare acquisition with his own Shadow, a development that immediately dwarfs his previous thoughts of accumulating shadow fragments. The implication of possessing such a significant Echo promises to drastically alter his capabilities and his understanding of the world.
This chapter signifies a pivotal moment for Sunny. The acquisition of the Stone Saint’s Echo hints at a new path to power and knowledge, potentially equipping him to confront the escalating threats posed by these fallen beasts. The encounter, though brutal, offers a glimmer of hope and a substantial advantage in his ongoing struggle for survival within the cursed city.
Chapter 104 Soul Arsenal
Sunny retreats into his Soul Sea, a tranquil inner world where his collection of slain foes stands as silent sentinels. His internal landscape now includes a more diverse array of defeated monsters, a testament to his growing strength, but one particularly gaunt shadow catches his eye. This figure, a young man Sunny murdered in cold blood, triggers a moment of grim reflection and guilt, contributing to his decision to leave the castle. Overcoming this unsettling encounter, Sunny’s focus shifts to a more immediate and potent prospect: the Stone Saint’s Echo. As a mere Dreamer, even with a Divine Aspect, he recognizes the significant power jump that mastering an Echo of the Saint’s caliber represents, far surpassing the utility of his previous scavenger companion.
He stands beneath his Shadow Core, a dark star in his inner void, surrounded by spheres of light representing his acquired Memories. Nine such spheres now exist, with five actively utilized: the Puppeteer’s Shroud, Midnight Shard, Prowling Thorn, Ordinary Rock, and Endless Spring. He examines the Prowling Thorn, a weapon gained after a brutal fight against a porcupine-like creature, noting its Awakened rank and Tier II status. The memory boasts the “Rose of Betrayal” enchantment, an ability described as a mercurial, invisible tether connecting the weapon to its wielder, likened to a treacherous sentimental bond.
Sunny’s anticipation builds as he prepares to integrate the Stone Saint’s Echo, a power source that promises to elevate his capabilities exponentially. This acquisition, a monster’s might now potentially under his command, offers a tangible path to confronting the escalating dangers of his cursed reality. The memory of the Stone Saint, a formidable living statue, fuels his ambition, suggesting that with her Echo, seemingly impossible feats might become achievable, and his mastery of the supernatural world will deepen.
Chapter 105 Living Stone
Sunny’s gaze falls upon the Stone Saint’s Echo, its form now subtly animated. He once believed living statues were mere revenants, like the Black Knight, but witnessing the Stone Saint’s demise challenges this notion. Ruby dust, not blood, spills from her wounds, hinting at a unique, artificial life. He delves into the Echo’s inscribed runes, discovering its rank is Awakened, its class Monster, and its attributes include “Battle Master,” “Stalwart,” and, most surprisingly, “Mark of Divinity”—a trait mirroring Sunny’s own. The descriptions reveal the Saint’s creation as a “killing machine” designed for combat, leaving Sunny to ponder her origins and the enigmatic “Unknown” mentioned in her history.
He reads the Echo’s description: “Deep in the cavernous halls of his dark domain, the last child of the -unknown- had created them from stone to quell the fire burning in his resentful heart.” This confirms his theory of the statues being artificial or descended from them, corrupted by whatever plagues the cursed city. The presence of divinity in the Stone Saint, linked to her creator, reinforces his belief that the Unknown are intrinsically connected to gods and divine power, much like the Weaver.
Turning his attention back to the Echo, Sunny observes its awakened state with a dark smile. The “Mark of Divinity” ignites a potent curiosity, hinting at a deeper connection and potential for growth than he had initially anticipated. The Stone Saint’s Echo, a being crafted for an endless war, now lies dormant, waiting to be wielded, promising to unlock new avenues of power and understanding in his perilous journey.
