Chapter 766 Making History
Sunny grapples with the astonishing truth of Nephis’s return: she didn’t find a Gateway, but instead conquered the Second Trial of the Spell as a Sleeper, mastering a Seed of Nightmare entirely alone. This feat, previously thought impossible for a Sleeper, challenges Sunny’s understanding of power and his own drive to surpass her, stirring a profound, unsettling dismay within him. He questions the ‘how’ of her return, but ultimately accepts its reality, the sheer force of her reemergence overshadowing the specifics, leaving him to ponder the implications of her impossible accomplishment.
Effie, bursting with relieved joy, pushes through the throng, her boisterous exclamation, “Hell yes! I never had a doubt! No Nightmare Creature exists that can keep that pampered psycho down!” echoing the sentiment of her unwavering faith in Nephis. Instructor Rock, the one responsible for sending Nephis into the Dream Realm, also arrives, his presence a quiet testament to the gravity of her reappearance. Even Kai, the former idol, appears, his beautiful face alight with profound relief, murmuring, “Gods… thank the gods…” as he receives confirmation of her safe return.
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The news of Nephis’s solitary triumph sends ripples of awe and relief through their small circle. Her survival and conquest of the Second Trial, a feat accomplished through sheer will and unprecedented power as a Sleeper, solidifies her reputation for achieving the impossible. Sunny, while outwardly accepting her return, is inwardly wrestling with the implications of her unmatched strength and the existential threat it poses to his own ambitions, hinting at the complex emotional landscape and future challenges ahead.
Chapter 767 Measure Of Strength
The news of Nephis’s impossible feat, her solitary conquest of the Second Trial as a Sleeper, electrifies the world. Her return isn’t just a personal triumph; it’s a beacon of hope in humanity’s grim existence, a narrative the government readily amplifies, cementing her status as a legendary figure. Sunny, observing the adulation, muses on the irony of Nephis, the “Light Bringer,” embodying this desperate hope, and how this public perception starkly contrasts with her true, world-shattering ambitions to conquer all Nightmares and shatter the Spell itself.
As the dust settles, and most of the excited crowds disperse, Sunny seeks solace and sustenance in the hospital cafeteria. He contemplates the implications of the failed negotiations with Morgan of Valor, his thoughts a stark counterpoint to the global euphoria surrounding Nephis. The taste of even the finest food is lost on him, a testament to his internal turmoil and the gnawing existential dread that supersedes immediate comforts.
Effie joins him, her tray piled high with food, a stark contrast to Sunny’s muted appetite. She shares the healers’ request for their presence when Nephis awakens, anticipating potential agitation. Effie expresses awe at Nephis’s ascension, calling her story “more unbelievable than our own.” Yet, she immediately notices Sunny’s subdued demeanor, questioning his lack of happiness at reuniting with his “first and best friend.”
Chapter 768 Dark Shore
The four members of Changing Star’s cohort are finally invited into Nephis’s room, a stark contrast to the sterile confines of a sleeping pod. Academy administrators, hoping familiar faces will calm her upon waking, have gathered Cassie, Effie, Kai, and Sunny. While Cassie sits by Nephis’s bedside and Effie and Kai rest on a sofa, Sunny remains in a corner, his somber expression fixed on Nephis’s pale, silver-haired form. He reflects on her newfound tangibility, a stark departure from the ethereal figure he’d observed through the pod’s lid for two years. The waiting gnaws at Sunny, filling him with a growing tension and the mental preparation for potential complications, a testament to his complex, master-slave dynamic with Nephis. “This anticipation is killing me. It’s pure torture,” he mutters inwardly, his mind already strategizing ways to counter her authority.
Unable to bear the prolonged anxiety, Sunny melts into the shadows, summoning Nightmare in its true, shapeless form. He merges with the vast darkness, embarking on a journey into Nephis’s dreams, a peculiar experience akin to traversing the Dream Realm. Arriving on a dark shore, he observes a towering lighthouse piercing the absolute darkness, its radiant flame a solitary beacon. He nudges Nightmare forward, riding along the cliff’s edge, his gaze drawn to the distant light, a silent quest to ascertain Nephis’s sanity and her enduring self.
As Sunny navigates this surreal dreamscape, he seeks to understand if the trials and her ascension have irrevocably altered Nephis. The looming uncertainty of her awakening and the profound implications of her returned strength hang heavy in the air, a quiet prelude to the true nature of her post-trial existence.
Chapter 769 Maybe
Sunny finds himself in Nephis’s dream, an uncanny space where the serene beauty of a younger Nephis emerges. She confides in him, revealing she’s “hiding” from “bad people,” a memory tied to her childhood. Despite Nephis appearing as her adult self, she recognizes Sunny, a contradiction that underscores the fluid nature of dreams. Sunny reassures her, promising to protect her, only for Nephis to deduce, with unnerving clarity, that she is indeed dreaming.
The dreamscape then abruptly shifts. The oppressive darkness gives way to a blinding, scorching desert, replaced by the stark imagery of a white-barked tree adorned with tens of thousands of skulls and two figures cruelly nailed to its branches. One is a man in dark clothing, the other a woman with silver hair – a chilling echo of their own reality, leaving Sunny overwhelmed by the unspoken weight of their shared past and uncertain future.
Chapter 770 Aimless Blade
The dreamscape shatters, abruptly pulling Sunny from the chilling vision. He finds himself back in the shadowy corner of the waking world, the lingering unease of Nephis’s dream still clinging to him. Their conversation was cut short by the sudden appearance of a grotesque, six-armed demon. Sunny fought to contain the creature while Nightmare struck from behind, the battle proving unexpectedly difficult despite their eventual victory. Shaken and unable to process the recent events, Sunny retreats to the solitude of his own thoughts.
Nephis’s enigmatic nature continues to confound Sunny, leaving him infuriated by her seemingly irrational motivations. He grapples with the concept of “conviction,” questioning if his own fierce determination, honed by years of survival, is enough. He ponders if true conviction requires a purpose larger than oneself, a guiding principle that shapes raw will into a potent force, a stark contrast to his own desire for simple freedom.
Despite his internal turmoil, Sunny achieved his immediate goal: confirming Nephis, the Changing Star, had not succumbed to madness during her arduous journey through the Dream Realm. Yet, his brief foray into her dreams left him with more questions than answers, especially concerning the nature of conviction and the daunting realization that achieving his own freedom might necessitate surpassing those with grander, more selfless ambitions.
Chapter 771 Honor Guard
The immediate aftermath of Nephis’s return is a whirlwind of official procedures as government agents whisk her away for necessary evaluations and interviews. Cassie, Effie, and Kai offer hurried words of support, but Sunny remains lost in his own contemplation, the brief reunion muddled by Nephis’s disorientation. This extensive bureaucratic process, which Sunny knows all too well, is unprecedented for Nephis, who ascended without the usual Gateway anchor in the Dream Realm. While the process aims to integrate her into humanity’s framework and mitigate the psychological impact of her ordeal, its complexity suggests her unique situation creates significant complications for the authorities.
Sunny observes the scene, his thoughts drifting to the implications of Nephis’s journey. As he watches Cassie return from informing the Fire Keepers, a wave of them arrives, their transformation from their time in the Dream Realm starkly evident. Clad in civilian clothes but exuding a feral intensity, these fifty Awakened, led by Shim, form a silent, menacing guard around Nephis’s location. Their palpable threat causes unease among the academy security, who appear outmatched. Sunny can only ponder the profound changes Nephis must have undergone, comparing the Fire Keepers’ current state to his own two years in the direst regions of the Dream Realm.
He quietly approaches Cassie, asking, “How is it going?” She turns, a slight frown creasing her brow, her response implied by the tense atmosphere and the formidable presence of the Fire Keepers. The chapter leaves Sunny, and the reader, to wonder not only about Nephis’s true state but also about the future implications of her powerful, potentially altered, return and the unwavering loyalty of her guardians.
Chapter 772 Journey To The East
The cohort finally finds a moment of privacy in a spacious hospital room, the presence of the formidable Fire Keepers outside a silent testament to their leader’s return. Nephis, outwardly calm yet displaying a familiar emotional reticence, faces her companions. A palpable relief washes over Sunny, Effie, Kai, and Cassie, though Sunny’s joy is tempered by an underlying unease. Nephis expresses her surprise at their ascension to Masterhood, admitting her ignorance of their fates, stating, “I did not even know if all of you managed to survive.”
The relieved reunion is tinged with the stark reality of Nephis’s solitary ordeal. Kai gently questions her survival, “But you… you were completely alone, all that time.” Nephis, however, reveals a more complex truth, cryptically stating, “…I wasn’t really completely alone, too.” She then recounts her victory over the Crimson Terror at the Spire’s apex, aided by the Dawn Shard, a feat she downplays.
Her narrative continues with the aftermath of the Terror’s demise: the Spire’s collapse, the Gateway’s destruction, and the Forgotten Shore’s descent into absolute darkness. The labyrinth perishes, its vibrant coral turning to dust, leaving a desolate, lightless realm. Nephis’s simple, yet profound, account leaves the cohort grappling with the magnitude of her journey and the unsettling implications of the world she left behind, hinting at further mysteries yet to unfold.
Chapter 773 Catching Up
The cohort struggles to process Nephis’s terse account of her solitary ordeal, the sheer enormity of her two-year struggle impossible to fully convey. Sunny suspects Nephis has withheld even more, but understands the need for caution; the private room, while seemingly safe, may still be monitored. Effie and Kai remain largely silent, their limited understanding of Nephis’s evolving power leaving them with unspoken questions. Cassie eventually breaks the quiet, offering reassurance that Nephis’s return signifies a turning point, yet somberly acknowledges their precarious present.
Nephis’s concern shifts to potential repercussions, asking if complications arose after her return from the Forgotten Shore. Sunny reveals that their reunion was marred by trouble, a planned negotiation with the great clan Valor having fallen through. He begins to update Nephis on their current standing: his renown as an academic and instructor, Cassie’s leadership of the Fire Keepers, their possession of a flying ship and a Dream Realm Citadel, and Effie’s relocation.
Nephis’s world tilts further when Sunny casually mentions their group, Night&Gale, has disbanded. Kai, mortified, confirms this, explaining his Master status and evolving Aspect after killing a dragon necessitated a parting of ways with Gale. Nephis, stunned by the revelation of Kai’s dragon kill and Sunny’s own survival of beheading and Saint slayings, requests a fresh start, overwhelmed by the sheer volume of life-altering events that transpired in her absence.
Chapter 774 Fundamental Changes
The cohort disperses, leaving Sunny to grapple with the implications of Nephis’s ascension to Ascended Tyrant. He recognizes that her newfound power renders her untouchable by any force short of a Saint, a significant shift that fundamentally alters their standing. The political landscape has dramatically changed, bolstering their negotiation power with Valor, assuming Nephis’s ingrained hatred for the Sovereigns doesn’t lead her to extreme actions. Sunny voices this concern to Cassie, who, after a moment of contemplation, believes Nephis will choose to negotiate, albeit pragmatically.
Sunny questions Cassie’s assessment, remembering Nephis’s unwavering resolve and ambitious nature, doubting her willingness to compromise after two years of hardship. Cassie, however, counters that Nephis, like Sunny himself, can be whatever she needs to be to achieve her goals, reminding him of their shared capacity for calculated flexibility. This statement leaves Sunny with a grim introspection as he considers Nephis’s potential actions.
The conversation underscores Nephis’s formidable transformation and the difficult choices they face. With Nephis’s power secured and her ambitions undimmed, the cohort’s path forward remains fraught with peril and strategic maneuvering. The specter of Nephis’s past hatred and future plans hangs heavy, promising further upheaval and forcing Sunny to confront the unsettling implications of their alliance.
Chapter 775 Cafe Sunless
Nephis, her stoic facade hinting at an underlying curiosity, surveys Sunny’s modest abode, a stark contrast to her own upbringing. She questions the damaged walls, a consequence of Effie’s ascension, prompting Sunny to offer a simple meal amidst the awkwardness of their return. As Sunny busies himself in the kitchen, a strange impulse to cook something truly special for Nephis overtakes him.
Meanwhile, Cassie updates the newly Ascended Tyrant on their precarious situation with Clan Valor. The fallout from Mordret’s escape and Saint Cormac’s death has led to the capture of Forgotten Shore survivors and a tense, six-month negotiation for peace. Valor’s ultimate goal is to recruit at least one of them, recognizing the cohort’s immense value, particularly now with Nephis’s ascension.
Nephis absorbs Cassie’s grim report with quiet contemplation, offering a simple “No. You were right to inform me. Thank you.” Sunny, overhearing these discussions of “loyalists” and “allegiance,” finds himself reflecting on the increasingly complex and perilous reality their powers have thrust them into, adding another layer of uncertainty to their already strained alliance.
Chapter 776 The Enemy Of My Enemy
Sunny’s culinary success with the omurice brings a brief moment of pride before the stark reality of their predicament resurfaces. Nephis’s immediate concern is Mordret’s power, asking if his Aspect Rank matches theirs. Sunny confirms Mordret is older, more powerful, and possesses unsettling knowledge, a man “dead set on destroying Clan Valor.” Nephis, her gaze reflecting a familiar grimness, asserts Mordret will seek allies, recognizing the overwhelming strength of their shared enemy. Sunny ponders if Mordret might target them as an “enemy of my enemy,” a prospect he dreads. Nephis, however, doubts Mordret will approach them directly, a sentiment Sunny hopes is true.
Cassie then informs them that the Fire Keepers are creating a diversion at the Immortal Flame manor, a ruse designed to buy them a week of anonymity. She explains that she, Kai, and Effie will soon join the Fire Keepers at the manor to maintain appearances, leaving Sunny and Nephis to their own devices. This strategic maneuver, while offering temporary respite, subtly emphasizes the isolation of Sunny and Nephis as their allies depart.
The chapter ends with the implied separation of the group, leaving Sunny to grapple with his mixed feelings about being left alone with Nephis. The fragile peace afforded by the Fire Keepers’ diversion is temporary, and the weight of their precarious situation, particularly concerning Mordret and the formidable enemy Nephis alluded to, hangs heavy over Sunny’s solitary contemplation.
Chapter 777 Blind Date
Mordret, adhering to Nephis’s likely suspicions, orchestrates a clandestine meeting at an opulent, yet subtly modern, restaurant. This establishment caters to the city’s elite, its ambiance a stark contrast to the harsh realities Sunny and Nephis face. Mordret arrives late, admitting, “Sorry for being late. I hope you did not have to wait too long.” His companion, a strikingly beautiful young woman adorned in a red dress and leather jacket, notes his altered appearance, remarking, “I hate to say it, but you don’t look like the images I was shown at all.” Mordret deflects, explaining his need for inconspicuous attire, while his inexperience with the restaurant’s advanced technology is revealed when he confesses, “To tell you the truth, this is my first time visiting a restaurant. I was raised in the Dream Realm, after all.”
The woman, possessing a maturity beyond her years, patiently guides Mordret through ordering, her polite demeanor masking her curiosity about his unusual upbringing. Mordret’s admission of his life in the Dream Realm offers a glimpse into a past starkly different from the waking world, hinting at a complex origin. He fumbles with his communicator, reliant on its biometric lock, and ultimately seeks her recommendation from the projected menu. This interaction, set against a backdrop of socialites and arranged dates, underscores Mordret’s detachment from this world, even as he navigates its customs for his own purposes.
The chapter subtly builds anticipation for Mordret’s true agenda, his apparent naivete serving as a potential mask for his true power and intentions. The carefully chosen setting highlights the gulf between the privileged elite and those like Sunny and Nephis, who are forced into hiding. As Mordret grapples with the basics of this society, the reader is left to wonder about the nature of his allies and the depth of his plans against Clan Valor, a threat Nephis has deemed paramount.
Chapter 778 In The Shadows
Sunny and Nephis retreat to his underground dojo, a stark contrast to the opulent restaurant where Mordret is orchestrating his own dealings. Changing Star surveys the space, her gaze resting on the weapon racks, prompting Sunny to explain his current training regimen. While he maintains proficiency with swords and spears, he admits to practicing with something “better,” a veiled reference to his true power. This leads to a crucial exchange where Nephis directly asks, “Do you use the… Soul Serpent?” Sunny confirms, acknowledging the Shadow Bond that allows them to glimpse each other’s secrets, a connection he suspected but is now solidified.
The revelation of Sunny’s Divine Aspect, the Soul Serpent, elicits a surprised, “I was. Very… very much,” from Nephis. This prompts a deeper discussion about their origins as Sleepers, with Sunny disclosing that Mordret is older and obtained his Aspect first. He reveals Mordret likely became a Sleeper around the time Sunny’s mother died, a poignant detail that brings a flicker of emotion to Nephis. She then inquires about Sunny’s “Divine Memory, the… Weaver’s Mask.” Sunny confirms he found it below the cathedral in the Dark City, on an ancient corpse, and explains its ability to “reverse one’s Flaw,” a statement that hangs heavy in the silence between them.
A loaded tension fills the dojo as Sunny, with a somber grin, challenges Nephis, “Do you want to take it from me? All you have to do is say the word.” Nephis, however, remains silent, her eyes reflecting a complex mix of longing and pain before she turns away. This unspoken exchange leaves the reader pondering the true nature of their bond and the implications of the Weaver’s Mask, hinting at future conflict and difficult choices.
Chapter 779 Unmoored
Nephis then sheds light on the fundamental differences between Awakened, Ascended, and Transcendent, revealing how their connection to the Dream Realm dictates their abilities. She explains that Ascended can travel between worlds at will, while Transcendent exist in perfect balance, even able to bring others along. This revelation deeply impacts Sunny, as it validates his suspicions about the limitations of higher-tier powers and the reasons behind the ruling governments’ influence.
The conversation shifts to the mysteries of the Sacred and the Sovereigns. Sunny probes what happens upon reaching the Sacred tier, but Nephis admits ignorance, as no one has ever conquered the Fifth Nightmare. The discussion then turns to “Domains,” which Nephis defines as an expression of a Sovereign’s Aspect, granting them near-invincibility within their territories and control over their subjects.
This new knowledge casts a shadow over Sunny, contemplating his own potential path and the immense power of the Sovereigns. The chapter ends with Sunny’s stunned reaction to the concept of Domains, leaving him to grapple with the vast, unexplored territories of power and the true nature of the world’s hierarchy.
Chapter 780 Friendly Spar
The profound implications of the Dream Realm’s hierarchy weigh heavily on Sunny, leaving him to ponder the true scope of power. This internal turmoil is momentarily interrupted by a training spar with Nephis, a stark reminder of their past confrontations. Despite the shift to a friendly bout, Sunny finds himself inexplicably driven to prove something, their training swords clashing with a jarring intensity. The spar quickly devolves as their Master-level powers prove too destructive for even the reinforced dojo, shattering Sunny’s weapon and damaging the arena.
“Stop! Stop! Stop!” Sunny exclaims, recognizing the futility of their current approach. Nephis, having recently returned to the waking world as a Master, struggles to control her soul essence without prior Awakened experience, her movements chaotic compared to Sunny’s honed abilities. He observes the unrestrained flow of her mystical energy, a stark contrast to the natural progression most Ascended experience.
“Damnation…” Sunny mutters, realizing the inherent disadvantage in their current dynamic. He proposes a new approach: a pure test of skill, eschewing the use of essence to level the playing field. This shift to a focus on raw technique, he reasons, might allow Nephis to bridge the gap in combat proficiency, despite her lack of foundational experience.
