Chapter 841 Prudent Decision
Sunny attempts to reason with Effie and Kai, acknowledging the grim reality of the approaching cataclysm in Antarctica, a truth far darker than the government’s propaganda suggests. He urges them to make their own choices, cautioning against joining the campaign for his sake alone, as their paths might diverge. “Chances are that we won’t meet even if you ship to Antarctica,” he warns, but his friends reveal they have already enlisted, their motivations rooted in principle and duty.
Effie, with a warrior’s conviction, states, “When an enemy invades your home, you don’t hide. You go to war and kick the enemy’s butt.” Kai adds a more pragmatic concern, questioning the feasibility of prolonged defense and evacuation timelines. Sunny, acknowledging their strong convictions, welcomes them aboard, realizing their formidable abilities likely place them on a fast track to higher ranks than his own.
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As they approach the Ivory Tower, Sunny shares details of the operation, including his command of the First Irregular Company. Effie and Kai express their doubts about the government’s ability to sustain the fight, hinting at the immense challenge of holding back the Nightmare Creatures for an extended period. The trio’s shared commitment, despite the grim outlook, underscores the desperate alliances forming in the face of an existential threat.
Chapter 842 Lessons Of The Past
Leaving the monument to Sevirax, Sunny approaches the serene lake, a stark contrast to the recent naval battle that still unnerves him. He finds Nephis by the shore, her quiet contemplation broken by his arrival. Their conversation touches upon her new life within a great clan, a situation she finds unsettling, particularly with Morgan of Valor. Sunny inwardly muses on the shared misfortune of having powerful, complex siblings like Mordret and Nephis.
Nephis then confronts Sunny, questioning his silence about Antarctica and Nephis’s own perceived change. Sunny deflects, hinting at Cassie’s secrets and Nephis’s underestimated agency. He then turns the question of safety back to Nephis, who reveals the grim history of past expeditions against the Spell, recalling the deaths of her grandfather and mother, both exceptional individuals.
Nephis’s words cast a pall over their discussion, highlighting the immense danger of the upcoming mission and questioning Sunny’s confidence. She stresses that humanity has failed in similar attempts before, and powerful figures have perished. This exchange underscores the escalating stakes and the heavy burden of past failures as they face an ancient, relentless threat.
Chapter 843 Falcon Scott
Sunny, atop the Rhino armored vehicle, observes a reconnaissance drone’s feed as Samara identifies hundreds of Nightmare Creatures flooding a valley. The report details a swarm of mostly Awakened abominations, with several Fallen, and confirms the presence of a Fallen Devil as the Gate Guardian. Sunny’s innate connection to the surrounding Gates intensifies, the “Call” growing stronger and more intrusive since their arrival in Antarctica, a stark contrast to the calmer days prior to the First Evacuation Army’s landing.
Their mission in the Antarctic Center, a vital administrative and industrial hub, immediately plunges them into chaos. The city of Falcon Scott is a scene of utter pandemonium as millions face evacuation amid the constant emergence of Gates. Sunny reflects on the escalating frequency of these portals, noting how previously infrequent events now occur daily, overwhelming the continent’s defenses and sanity.
The cohort’s objective is to clear a mountain road blocked by a Gate, allowing their division to flank attacking Nightmare Creatures. The terrain is too treacherous for regular soldiers, necessitating the Irregulars’ intervention. Sunny, recalling the desperate efforts to establish evacuation corridors and convert cities into siege capitals, acknowledges that this mission marks his cohort’s first engagement in this brutal, new reality.
Chapter 844 Opening Act
Sunny directs his cohort to engage a substantial swarm of Nightmare Creatures, primarily eyeless abominations with disturbing physical attributes, led by a distinctively humanoid Fallen Devil. The creatures, despite their missing eyes, move with unnerving precision. Sunny recognizes the sheer number, over two hundred, as a significant threat that would deter most units. He carefully orchestrates the engagement: Samara takes a high firing position, the Vanguard moves to secure the crest of the road, and Kimmy prepares to exploit the Devil’s vulnerabilities. Communication relies on a magically amplified rock, a necessary precaution given the instability of technology near Gates, while Sunny’s shadows provide him with tactical awareness.
The Vanguard, with Quentin at its center, Belle and Dorn flanking him, and Luster providing rear support, advances. Luster wields a halberd, ready to engage any threats. Sunny reflects on his efforts to enhance his soldiers, bolstering their weapons and armor with enchantments like [Tenacious] and granting Quentin the Patient Avenger and Belle the Blood Blossom, albeit reluctantly. Each cohort member is also equipped with a cold-resistance charm, allowing them to push through the biting Antarctic elements.
Kimmy, armed with a buckler, rapier, and carbine, activates her Dormant Ability, borrowing Sunny’s multifaceted sight, including his shadows’, to analyze the Fallen Devil. She concentrates her efforts on finding its weaknesses, relaying this information back to Sunny. His perception shifts, revealing the Devil’s body in shades of grey, with a particularly dark, vulnerable spot on its forehead. “Kimmy… work your magic,” Sunny commands, initiating their coordinated assault.
Chapter 845 Ranged Specialists
Sunny’s calculated assault begins, met with the chilling roars of the Nightmare Creatures. His initial commands to Samara, focusing on the formidable Fallen Devils with her coilgun, prove devastatingly effective. “Keep aiming for their foreheads, Samara,” Sunny urges, his own black arrow striking true. Samara replies, “Understood,” as her precision shot echoes the success of Sunny’s initial salvo, each fallen foe a testament to their coordinated strategy. The Vanguard, positioned at the crest, braces for the onslaught, their earlier apprehension giving way to a grim resolve. Belle’s excited pronouncement, “This… is going to be fun,” underscores their desperate bravery.
The Fallen Devil, identified as the Defiled Witness, is swiftly dispatched, its head exploding from Sunny’s well-aimed shot, immediately bolstering his shadow. The sheer ferocity of the swarm, however, is overwhelming, driving them relentlessly up the slope. Sunny adjusts tactics, instructing Samara to switch to explosive ammunition as the creatures breach the two-hundred-meter mark, prioritizing breaking their charge. The icy Antarctic air does little to dampen the escalating conflict, the raw power of the Awakened warriors pitted against the relentless tide of monstrosities.
As the battle rages, the effectiveness of Sunny’s enchantments and carefully selected gear becomes evident. The Vanguard’s resilience, bolstered by cold-resistance charms and specialized abilities like Belle’s Blood Blossom, allows them to hold their ground against the swarming abominations. Each warrior fights with a desperate intensity, their survival intrinsically linked to Sunny’s evolving strategies and the unwavering execution of his commands. The battlefield is a chaotic symphony of roars, the whine of enchanted weaponry, and the sickening thud of fallen creatures.
Chapter 846 Melee Vanguard
The dim twilight of Antarctica, with its unnaturally long dusk, hinders visibility, but Kim channels his vision to the melee vanguard, allowing Quentin, Dorn, and Belle to fight with day-like clarity. Quentin, a bulwark of defense, meets a charging abomination head-on, his blade leaving a deep, festering wound. Dorn’s sledgehammer pulverizes an enemy’s head, while Belle’s sword deftly decapitates another. The narrow terrain funnels the Nightmare Creatures into a killing field, preventing flanking maneuvers and forcing them into a direct assault on the vanguard. Quentin absorbs the brunt of the attacks, enabling Belle and Dorn to deliver swift, brutal executions, turning the mountainside into a river of blood.
Luster supports the core trio, his halberd finishing off weakened foes and reinforcing their defensive line. Despite their formidable skills and the terrain’s advantage, the sheer numbers of the Nightmare Creatures begin to wear down the vanguard. Quentin’s armor cracks under heavy blows, and while Belle and Dorn fare better through agility and strength, the relentless pressure is unsustainable. The situation intensifies with the arrival of a Fallen abomination, a lumbering monstrosity that clears a path by ruthlessly shoving lesser creatures into the canyon before lunging towards the crest.
Chapter 847 Slaughter
The Nightmare Creatures, though reeling from the vanguard’s initial onslaught, still pose a dire threat, their numbers overwhelming even the seasoned fighters. Sunny, embracing the fury, unleashes his newly acquired Memory, the “Dying Wish,” a stark iron chain bearing a miniature statue of a woman with a spear and a heart. This “Death Wish” enchantment compels onlookers, invigorating allies and enraging foes, drawing the Nightmare Creatures’ ferocity to himself. He becomes a beacon of deadly precision, guiding the vanguard forward. “Kim, move forward to the crest of the hill. Samara, get closer and keep pressuring the Fallen!” he commands, expertly dispatching a lunging beast.
Sunny, now at the forefront, embodies a whirlwind of steel and light, his movements impossibly swift. The “Transcendent” charm amplifies the “Death Wish,” turning the tide of the melee, though the sheer pressure on Sunny is immense. He acknowledges his slight regret, “This was the first time Sunny used this particular Memory, and he was already starting to regret it a little.” Still, he presses on, slicing through abominations as the vanguard, bolstered by his presence, cautiously advances.
The Nightmare Creatures, fueled by a blind, maddened hatred directed at Sunny, become a tempest of claws and fangs. Quentin, Dorn, Belle, and Luster, given a crucial respite, find their movements sharpened and their focus renewed. Sunny, however, endures a relentless assault, narrowly evading being swarmed and overwhelmed by sheer numbers, his agility the only thing keeping him alive against the onslaught.
Chapter 848 Persistent Threat
The cohort, battered but victorious, surveys the grim aftermath of the battle. The road is secured, littered with the mangled remains of Nightmare Creatures and their Fallen overlords, a testament to the fierce struggle that pushed them all to the brink of death. Sunny, ever the pragmatist, tasks Luster with reporting their success and securing a Rhino transport while the others finally allow themselves a moment of rest. The silence that follows the chaos is not entirely comforting, however, for the ominous rift in reality remains open, a constant promise of more horrors to come.
The victory, while hard-won, is tempered by the knowledge that the immediate threat is only a temporary lull. The Gate, the source of the Nightmare Creatures, still pulses with dark energy, an open invitation for more abominations to pour into their world. Sunny understands that the first wave is rarely the last, and as long as the Gate remains unsealed, a persistent threat lingers. He reflects on his meager gains in shadow fragments from the recent engagement, realizing the steep climb ahead on his path to becoming a Tyrant.
Despite the grim outlook and the lingering danger, Sunny pushes forward, his focus now on understanding the runes he’s collected. The fatigue of battle is evident on the faces of his weary companions, yet a shared sense of accomplishment flickers amongst them. As the Rhino’s headlights illuminate the blood-soaked landscape, the survivors regroup, their strength slowly returning. The peace is fragile, a mere breath held before the next inevitable confrontation with the darkness that seeps from the ever-present Gate.
Chapter 849 Pincer Maneuver
The cohort, victorious but depleted, surveys the lingering chaos. Sunny, ever the strategist, acknowledges the crucial role each member played in their hard-won victory against the eyeless beasts. Belle, Dorn, and Quentin proved their worth as elite combatants, Samara exceeded expectations, Kim provided essential support, and Luster, though seemingly less spectacular, made a vital difference. Yet, a subtle frown mars Sunny’s brow as he analyzes the factors contributing to their success: favorable terrain, the swift elimination of the Fallen commander, and the cohort’s willingness to expend their essence. He recognizes this tactical superiority might not be repeatable, especially with his own reserves now halved and his soldiers requiring time to recover.
The precarious nature of their victory weighs heavily on Sunny. He understands that future engagements may not afford them the luxury of full engagement and subsequent recovery, making essence conservation a critical priority. This realization casts a shadow over their respite, hinting at greater constraints and increased risks ahead. As he ponders this, Sunny turns his calculating gaze towards Luster, who nervously inquires, “Captain? Why are you staring at me?” Sunny offers a reassuring smile, which, to his observation, only seems to make Luster more apprehensive.
“Oh, just thinking about the future,” Sunny replies, before issuing a directive: “But since we are talking… take Kim and go collect us some soul shards. Don’t bother with the Fallen abominations, though. Their hides are too tough, so it would be a waste of time to dress them.” This task is given with the knowledge that Dorn and Samara are already at full saturation, and Belle and Quentin are close, leaving only Luster and Kim with a need for more shards, a subtle reminder of their youth and the ongoing journey of growth.
Chapter 850 Surrounded
Samara’s urgent call interrupts Sunny’s contemplation as she announces a comms hail. Reluctantly, Sunny answers, the brief spectral disappearance he enacts before engaging the terminal causing a soldier to flinch. Master Jet, or Soul Reaper, appears on screen, her sinister smile framed by flames and mangled corpses, congratulating Sunny on his cohort’s victory. Sunny inquires about other divisions, learning the field army has fractured into six moving divisions, each sizable and supported by Awakened. Master Jet confirms the Irregulars are functioning and the plan proceeds, before hinting at the escalating conflict and advising Sunny to conserve essence. The communication is abruptly cut by interference, leaving Sunny with a stern directive: follow the flanking battalion and assist with a horde blocking their advance south, all while continuing his emphasis on essence conservation.
Sunny exits the APC, observing the continued efforts to secure the area. Engineers are emplacing observation posts and explosive charges around an active Gate, a testament to humanity’s evolving methods of mitigating the threat of Nightmare Creatures. Support personnel are diligently cleaning the road and harvesting soul shards. Sunny, recognizing the futility of disputing spoils and knowing Luster and Kim have already returned with their findings, steps out to address his cohort.
The brief exchange with Master Jet reinforces Sunny’s anxieties about future engagements, highlighting the critical need for essence conservation in increasingly intense conflicts. His tactical prowess, while effective thus far, carries a significant resource cost, a vulnerability that Master Jet subtly acknowledges. The chapter ends with Sunny turning his attention back to his soldiers, the lingering shadow of resource depletion and the impending escalation of war a palpable undercurrent.
Chapter 851 No Holds Barred
The fragile respite is shattered as seven new Gates spew forth a fresh wave of Nightmare Creatures, catching the exhausted human forces off guard. While the division is capable of handling the new threat, the prior engagement has left them critically depleted, demanding precious time for resupply and repairs. This logistical bottleneck allows the enemy to seize a crucial terrain advantage, leaving the Awakened detachment to absorb the initial shock. Sunny recognizes the grim reality: victory is assured, but at a devastating cost in lives, forcing him to confront whether revealing his trump cards is a necessity or a foolish risk, especially amidst the larger army where his unique abilities might draw unwanted attention.
The sudden appearance of the new Gates plunges Sunny into a state of intense calculation. “This is just day one, for heaven’s sake!” he exclaims internally, grappling with the moral imperative to save lives versus the strategic risk of expending his most potent abilities. He acknowledges his ambition to grow stronger in Antarctica, but the prospect of proactively protecting soldiers who will inevitably suffer casualties, even if not facing total defeat, leaves him deeply conflicted. The thought of his cohort acting independently versus being a small part of a larger, struggling whole weighs heavily on his mind.
A chilling realization dawns on Sunny as he contemplates the cumulative impact of sustained, albeit smaller, losses. He understands that if his division, and by extension, his cohort, continues to bleed soldiers day after day, the consequences for his own future and the effectiveness of his unit will be catastrophic. This grim foresight forces a pivotal decision, hinting that the true battle for survival might not be against the creatures, but against the slow attrition of his own strength and the loyalty of those fighting alongside him.
Chapter 852 The Return Of The Lord
The desperate defense falters further as a new Gate materializes perilously close to the division’s supply train. Ash, a soldier whose powered exoskeleton suffered a critical knee joint failure, is forced to retreat from the front lines, only to find his vulnerability exploited by this new onslaught. His attempts to defend the retreating techs and non-combatants are valiant but futile. “Attach bayonets!” echoes through his comms, a grim order signaling the final stand against a tide of Nightmare Creatures, including a terrifying Devil or Tyrant resembling a monstrous deer carcass.
Despite emptying his shoulder-mounted rockets and unleashing a torrent of gunfire, Ash’s mundane weaponry proves ineffective against the Awakened abominations. His enhanced armor, already compromised, finally gives out as a powerful beast rips into his shoulder. Even as he fights, a desperate hope for reinforcements flickers, though the overwhelming odds and the monstrous scale of the new threats cast a dark shadow.
Ash’s final moments are a testament to human defiance in the face of insurmountable horror. His powered suit’s mini-busters push him forward in a last-ditch effort, but the damaged joint incapacitates him. The Nightmare Creature’s fangs crush his armor, delivering a fatal blow. “D—die… I am going to die!” he gasps, his gaze fixed on his impending doom, a stark reminder of the grim reality faced by even the most equipped soldiers against the relentless tide of the Southern Quadrant.
Chapter 853 Bone Singer
Facing a relentless horde, Sunny abandons ranged combat, plunging into the fray to contain the lesser Nightmare Creatures. He recognizes the immense value of his Dying Wish enchantment, now amplified by leading a hundred Awakened, but also the increased danger it presents. Despite a self-perceived lack of powerful tools, his existing arsenal — the Undying Chain, Cruel Sight, and shadow augmentations — are insufficient against the escalating threats. Even Saint, his formidable companion, is hampered by her broken stone sword, a weapon whose power rivals Sunny’s own Cruel Sight but lacks any means of self-repair.
Just moments before impact, Kim’s keen observation reveals a crucial vulnerability: the creatures are susceptible to sonic attacks. This confirmation spurs Sunny to action, retrieving the Bone Singer, an Ascended Memory flute previously acquired in the Red Colosseum. Though unaware of its full capabilities, particularly the necromantic “Sepulcher Song” enchantment, Sunny focuses on its [Sonorous] ability. He commands the flute to unleash its loudest blast, infusing it with his essence before tossing it to Luster, urging him to play.
Luster, caught off guard, expresses his inability, “But, Captain… I have no idea how to!” As Sunny turns back to face the oncoming tide of abominations, the fate of his desperate gambit hangs precariously in the balance. The chapter leaves the effectiveness of this newfound sonic weapon and Luster’s unexpected role in its deployment hanging in the air, promising further intense action.
Chapter 854 Perfect Alibi
Sunny, battered but victorious, surveys the grim aftermath of a brutal engagement. His hundred soldiers emerge largely unscathed, a testament to his leadership and the tactical brilliance he displayed. The battlefield, however, is a testament to the war’s brutal reality, littered with the grotesque remains of Nightmare Creatures. While the immediate area is cleared, the presence of fifteen newly opened Gates, a terrifying escalation, casts a long shadow over their hard-won victory. Sunny, having personally felled three Gate Guardians, feels a fleeting sense of accomplishment, but his attention is quickly diverted by the pervasive whispers among the surviving soldiers.
The surviving fighters of the First Army are abuzz with talk, their initial exhaustion giving way to awe and speculation. They recount tales of their captain’s ferocious prowess, describing him as a “demon” who tore a Fallen Devil’s head off with his bare hands. However, the most prevalent topic isn’t Sunny, but a mysterious figure named “Mongrel.” Soldiers excitedly discuss Mongrel’s appearance in Antarctica and credit him with clearing a Gate, a feat of immense renown. This widespread admiration and the misidentification of Saint, his formidable companion, as this “Lord Mongrel” leaves Sunny bewildered and disturbed.
Sunny struggles to comprehend the soldiers’ fervent belief. He points out the obvious discrepancies: Saint is clearly a woman, while Mongrel is male. Furthermore, he notes that Saint’s closed helmet, not the distinctive Weaver’s Mask, adorns her Shadow. Despite these clear differences, Sunny realizes that the ignorance surrounding Weaver’s Mask’s true nature allows for such a misinterpretation, leaving him to grapple with the unsettling emergence of this new, unearned reputation.
Chapter 855 Snow And Ash
The First Army mobilizes, undertaking the grim task of clearing the battlefield. Resources are scarce; instead of meticulous harvesting, Nightmare Creature carcasses are doused in incendiary liquid and burned. Vehicles are repaired, ammunition replenished, and the wounded tended to as the division prepares to resume its march. Sunny, observing the hurried preparations and the efficient, yet somber, cremation of their fallen comrades—about a hundred souls consumed by flames, their bodies covered only by white flags—is plunged into a contemplative mood. He recalls a more dignified send-off, contrasting it with the brutal practicality of their current situation.
As the division moves out, leaving behind a landscape of snow and ash, Sunny receives a comm from Master Jet. “Sunny. I have a new mission for you…” This cryptic message hints at the next stage of their operation, a strategic shift focusing on establishing fortified cities to safeguard the remaining human population of Antarctica, pending the arrival of crucial reinforcements. The overarching goal remains evacuation, but the immediate objective is to transform select cities into impregnable strongholds against the encroaching horde.
Despite the recent victory, the pervasive whispers about “Mongrel” continue to plague Sunny, a stark contrast to the efficient, albeit stark, procedures following the battle. The soldiers’ mistaken admiration for Saint, whom they believe to be the formidable “Mongrel,” underscores a growing disconnect between reality and perception. The logistical challenges of the Antarctic campaign, from disposing of fallen creatures to the final rites for their own dead, highlight the brutal efficiency required to survive, a stark reality Sunny navigates while an unearned reputation begins to precede him.
