Chapter 946 Scenic Route
The group debates the perilous coastal highway as an alternative to their current, impassable mountain route. Sergeant Gere vehemently opposes it, recalling a harrowing past experience where the highway proved a “death trap,” costing them nearly everyone. Luster, however, suggests their presence, with Sunny at the helm, changes the equation, earning a surprisingly embarrassed acknowledgment from Gere. Sunny, despite the confidence boost, remains wary, acutely aware of the highway’s dangers—the sheer exposure to hordes of Nightmare Creatures, the potential for encountering terrifying abominations like the Devoured Cloud, or even unknown horrors and Titans like Goliath.
The grim reality of their predicament is laid bare as Kim points out the sheer distance to Erebus Field and the dwindling chances of survival if they persist through the treacherous mountains. She argues that the highway, despite its immense risks, offers a swift passage of just hours, whereas the mountains could mean days or weeks of constant attrition against creatures and the crumbling terrain. Sunny, recognizing the validity of her point, understands the critical importance of time, a factor largely overlooked by the others.
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Sunny’s own strategy, the arduous mountain path, has paradoxically led them into the very dangers they sought to avoid. With civilian transports failing and the mountains offering no respite, the exposed highway begins to seem like the only viable, albeit terrifying, option. The ticking clock, unappreciated by most, weighs heavily on Sunny as he confronts the escalating threat to the First Army and the broader implications of any further delay.
Chapter 947 Highway To Hell
The small convoy, led by the Rhino and followed by four civilian transports and three military vehicles, descends from the mountains towards the notorious coastal highway. This precarious six-hour journey hinges on the remaining ammunition of Sergeant Gere’s vehicles and the unconventional defenses of the transports, now bristling with Irregulars. Samara, positioned as a sharpshooter, is protected by Quentin, while Kim readies her carbine, accompanied by a Sleeper armed with poisoned arrows. Belle and Dorn guard the rear transports, their role focused on direct protection against abominations rather than long-range engagements. Sunny, clad in the Undying Chain and armed with Morgan’s Warbow, takes his place atop the heavy APC, the grim strategy to traverse the highway swiftly and eliminate any approaching threats.
Blackie and Abomination scout ahead as the convoy reaches the flat, smooth road leading to the highway, illuminated by the Rhino’s beams. The vast, empty highway, separated by a barrier from an old railway line, stretches towards the ocean under the eerie glow of a full moon and aurora, its appearance foreboding. Sunny anticipates that “everything will go according to it,” a sentiment laced with his certainty of impending danger. He remains on high alert, the calm before the storm palpable.
Despite the reinforced civilian transports, the inherent vulnerability of their charge is evident, with their “flimsy” nature contrasted by the lethal presence of the Irregulars. The success of their desperate gambit relies on speed and overwhelming force against the anticipated onslaught of Nightmare Creatures and potential abominations, transforming the open highway into a deadly gauntlet.
Chapter 948 Dire Marathon
The coastal highway becomes a gauntlet as Nightmare Creatures, a grotesque menagerie of fanged maws and razor-sharp appendages, surge towards the convoy. Sunny, perched atop the Rhino and armed with Morgan’s Warbow, unleashes a relentless barrage of arrows, his augmented physique allowing him to maintain an unyielding rate of fire. He recognizes these initial attackers as the lesser threats, the stragglers of larger hordes, but anticipates a more coordinated assault from all sides. As the monsters close in, Samara, positioned with her rifle, opens fire from a distance, taking down creatures descending from the mountainous slopes. “I am not fast enough to kill all of them,” Sunny muses, choosing to conserve his essence, focusing on high-priority targets rather than unleashing devastating but costly attacks.
Abomination fearlessly charges into the fray, tearing through the lesser abominations with brutal efficiency, while Blackie maneuvers to intercept outliers. Despite Sunny’s focused eliminations of the most dangerous threats to the Rhino, the APC is soon meters away from the swiftest attackers. The sheer mass of the Rhino proves its own defense, smashing through a lunging abomination, while another falls to an arrow through its eye. The convoy plunges into the heart of the disorganized, monstrous horde, the highway transforming into a chaotic battlefield.
Sunny continues to thin the herd, his efforts focused on preserving the Rhino and its occupants, acknowledging that “So far so good…” even as the battle intensifies. The initial wave, while fearsome, is a prelude to what’s to come, and the true test of their speed and firepower is yet to unfold on this desolate stretch of road.
Chapter 949 Moving Slaughterhouse
Sunny directs the convoy to adopt a wedge formation after a powerful electrical discharge, “Strike of Thunder,” momentarily disrupts the horde. This strategic maneuver allows the flanking military vehicles and Awakened on civilian transports, like Samara and Kim, to unleash a concentrated barrage, clearing a path through the surrounding Nightmare Creatures. Even as Sunny continues his precise archery, targeting the most dangerous threats, the convoy hurtles towards the main mass of the swarm. The Rhino’s powerful ram breaches the blockade, carving a bloody trail, enabling the rest of the convoy to follow through the chaos.
Despite successfully penetrating the initial blockade, the convoy faces renewed attacks as abominations latch onto the lead vehicles. Sunny swiftly eliminates those clinging to the Rhino, while Belle uses his hatchet to dismember a creature attempting to breach a civilian transport. Dorn’s javelin intercepts another monstrous threat, and he utilizes his Aspect Ability to pull a leaping abomination from the side of his transport, leaving it vulnerable to be crushed by the succeeding vehicles.
The sheer ferocity of the attacks leaves the Rhino with “ugly scars,” but its armored bulk holds. The swift succession of civilian transports crushing the injured abomination highlights their desperate struggle for survival against the relentless onslaught. As the convoy presses onward, the immediate danger of the blockade is overcome, but the close calls and the ongoing presence of creatures clinging to their vehicles prove that the battle for passage is far from over.
Chapter 950 Derailed
The convoy faces a new obstacle: a massive train carriage overturned on the highway, its mangled alloy blocking their path. Sunny, realizing the danger of halting, commands Sam and Quentin to pull back the Echoes to the Rhino. He then calls upon his Shadow Manifestation, a newly discovered power, to manipulate the shadows on the mountain slope. These shadows coalesce into long tentacles that grip the wreckage, tearing and pulling the colossal carriage aside, creating just enough of an opening for the Rhino to smash through. Luster skillfully navigates the APC past the debris, with the rest of the convoy following suit, dispatching abominations that emerge from the wreckage.
Emerging from the train’s wreckage, the convoy is immediately confronted by an even larger, more perilous swarm of Nightmare Creatures, previously hidden by the obstruction. Sunny recognizes the direness of the situation, knowing his current archery prowess alone won’t suffice. “Goddammit!” he curses, his gaze falling on his bow, understanding that a greater power must be unleashed to overcome this immediate and overwhelming threat.
The destruction of the armored train hints at an unknown, potent force, raising questions about the true nature of the dangers they face. As the convoy presses on, the scale of the encroaching swarm suggests that this is far from the end of their struggle, hinting at a desperate fight for survival against escalating horrors.
Chapter 951 Outrider
Faced with an overwhelming horde of Nightmare Creatures, Sunny mounts his dark steed, Nightmare, and charges into the fray. A vicious grin splits his face as the cursed jade sword, the Sin of Solace, whispers dark temptations, fueling his frustration and anger from recent setbacks. He declares, “Die!” as Nightmare’s powerful jaws tear into the first beast, hurling it back into the mass. Sunny, enveloped in shadows and wielding the Sin of Solace with stunning precision, carves a bloody path through the abominations. Nightmare is equally lethal, using fangs, horns, and hooves to shatter and tear through the creatures. The black stallion’s prowess is amplified by the polar night, his fear-inducing abilities and subjugated nightmares making the highway a perfect battlefield.
Despite their devastating charge, Sunny recognizes the sheer number of abominations means they cannot be all slain before the convoy is overwhelmed. He remembers his true purpose: clearing a path for the vulnerable convoy, not engaging in a senseless slaughter. Even as he cleaves through revolting bodies, the relentless tide threatens to bog them down, and he knows more creatures will inevitably join the mayhem.
The sheer scale of the challenge weighs on Sunny, even as the combined might of his shadow abilities and Nightmare’s enhanced powers, fueled by fear and conquered dreams, allows them to press onward. The swift, brutal efficiency of their assault, however, is a temporary reprieve, and the lingering question remains: can they truly break through this suffocating wave before it consumes them all, or will this desperate push prove to be their undoing?
Chapter 952 Hidden Giant
Sunny, astride his powerful steed Nightmare, races ahead of the battered convoy, assessing their progress and the performance of his soldiers. He contacts Sergeant Gere, who reports dwindling ammunition, hinting at the convoy’s approach to a powerful Gate. As the Call grows louder, Sunny senses the imminent danger and gallops to the convoy’s vanguard. Ahead, a rift in reality, a Nightmare Gate, blocks the highway, its size and the duration of its manifestation unknown. Sunny scans the surroundings, feeling a growing unease on the mountain slopes.
His unease proves warranted as the mountainside itself begins to move. A colossal, ten-meter-tall creature, resembling a monstrous spider with a beehive-like carapace and hundreds of crimson eyes, unfurls from the rock. Sunny recognizes it with a stifled curse: a Tyrant, a terrifying testament to the Gate’s influence. The presence of this gargantuan abomination signals a far greater threat than mere scattered abominations, forcing Sunny to prepare for a confrontation of immense scale.
“How much ammo do you have left, Sergeant?” Sunny communicates, the crackling response of “sufficient… or two… nearly spent…” confirming his fears. He grips the Sin of Solace tighter as he faces the looming Tyrant. The proximity of the Gate and the awakening of such a creature suggests the abominations it has spawned might still be nearby, or worse, are actively waiting for them. The desolate highway has become a deathtrap, and Sunny must confront this new, terrifying foe to ensure the convoy’s survival.
Chapter 953 Titan
The highway is no longer a path of escape but a deathtrap. As Sunny grapples with the monstrous Tyrant, his fears are confirmed by Sergeant Gere’s dwindling ammunition report. The immediate threat of the Tyrant, a colossal spider-like abomination, is amplified by the presence of a Nightmare Gate, hinting at further horrors. Sunny knows that the abominations spawned by the Gate may still be lurking, or worse, actively waiting, making the desolate road a perilous gauntlet. He readies the Sin of Solace, bracing for a confrontation that will test the limits of his resolve.
Suddenly, the terrain shifts dramatically. From the ocean depths, a colossal stone limb rises, identifying the threat as Goliath, one of the legendary Fallen Titans. Sunny recognizes the immense danger this ancient, stone giant poses to the convoy, even if he considers it a “runt” compared to other titans. The titan’s sheer scale means even a casual gesture could obliterate them. Driven by desperation, Sunny shouts to Luster, “Go, go, go! Speed up!” urging the convoy to accelerate and attempt to outrun the titan’s slow but devastating descent.
Despite their efforts, Goliath’s massive hand crashes down, pulverizing the highway and sending tremors through the ground. The convoy narrowly escapes being crushed, with the rearmost military vehicle momentarily airborne before regaining control. Sunny lets out a groan of despair, realizing that their narrow escape is fleeting. Outrunning a titan is impossible, and with Goliath now actively pursuing them, salvation seems out of reach unless a miracle intervenes. “Not fair, not fair… this is not fair!” he cries, the futility of their situation weighing heavily upon him.
Chapter 954 Only Darkness
Internal communications falter near the Nightmare Gate, prompting Sunny to relay a crucial message to Luster: “No matter what happens, continue forward and don’t slow down. I’ll catch up with the convoy later.” Ignoring the shocked stares of the Irregulars, Sunny veers his steed towards the approaching Goliath, a colossal stone titan that threatens to crush the fleeing convoy. He questions his ability to face such an ancient behemoth, admitting he’s no hero and has no intention of dying, his sole objective to buy the convoy precious time.
Stopping before the titan, Sunny, though trembling, faces the monstrous Goliath with defiance. He taunts the titan, “You really shouldn’t have done this during the night, blockhead…” before unleashing the full might of his manifested shadows. Dozens, then hundreds, of thick black chains erupt from the ground, mountains, and shoreline, ensnaring Goliath’s limbs. Sunny pushes his abilities to their limit, his essence surging to maintain control over the intangible yet tangible darkness, a desperate gambit to impede the titan’s inexorable advance.
Chapter 955 The End
Despite his valiant effort, Sunny is utterly broken by the Goliath, his body shattered and senses extinguished. Yet, even in the throes of death, his own contemptuous inner voice mocks him, “You really are a useless piece of outskirt trash.” Washed ashore by icy waves, unable to see or hear, he feels a profound cold as the titan walks away. Though his body miraculously avoided being crushed, the imminent death is a stark reality.
Sunny’s survival hinges on his own resilience and the arcane power of the Undying Chain, which prevents him from truly dying as long as he has essence. However, without Elyas’s aid, he must now rely solely on himself. Desperate, he accesses his memories, discovering the “Death Wish” charm, a potent artifact capable of healing his grievous wounds by consuming its charges, which he has painstakingly accumulated through countless battles.
With his essence rapidly depleting and a numbing fog creeping into his mind, Sunny activates the “Death Wish.” The charm’s power surges, promising a painful but necessary resurrection. This hidden ace, earned through the slaughter of countless Nightmare Creatures, is now his only hope of overcoming the seemingly insurmountable odds and continuing his fight.
Chapter 956 Follower
The harsh Antarctic winds whip around Sunny as he stands on the unforgiving shore, the aftereffects of his desperate “Death Wish” leaving him utterly spent. With his essence depleted, summoning even a single Memory is impossible, leaving him vulnerable in threadbare rags. His primary concern shifts from his own precarious state to the whereabouts of Nightmare, his loyal steed. A quick mental check reveals the black steed is nearby and engaged in a minor skirmish with stray creatures, a testament to Nightmare’s resilience. Sunny, despite his dire condition, finds a flicker of hope in his shadows’ uncharacteristic positivity, a silent reassurance that his fight is far from over.
Gathering himself, Sunny retrieves the Sin of Solace, the cursed sword feeling ominously eager in his grasp. As he turns towards the direction of the convoy, a chilling whisper warns him, “Behind you.” Dismissing it as a trick, Sunny is violently blindsided by a swift, unseen attacker. The brutal collision sends him sprawling into the frigid water, a searing pain ripping through his side.
Scrambling to his feet, Sunny finds his wound crudely stitched by Blood Weave but still a gory mess. His assailant, a creature with inhuman eyes, stands where he was moments before, its predatory focus locked onto him. This unexpected ambush, mere moments after surviving a titan, plunges Sunny back into the grim reality of his perilous journey.
Chapter 957 Tooth And Nail
The brutal Antarctic waters offer no respite as Sunny, still reeling from his encounter with a titan, finds himself ensnared by a Scavenger. The creature, surprisingly tenacious for its size, strangles and drowns him, its teeth tearing at Sunny’s already wounded side, making the seawater a fiery torment. Exhausted and poisoned, Sunny struggles against the overwhelming odds, the Scavenger’s taunts about his impending slavery fueling his desperate fight for survival. “Just give up. Your life is meaningless, anyway,” it sneers.
This ignites a furious rage within Sunny, a culmination of setbacks and the strain of leadership. He channels his fury into action, his mangled finger, miraculously intact thanks to Bone Weave, finds its mark. “Get here, you wretched waif…” he growls, plunging his thumb into the Scavenger’s eye. The creature recoils, loosening its grip just enough for Sunny to break free and hurl it back onto the shore.
Rising from the icy waves, Sunny, fueled by pure, unadulterated anger, stares down the “damned pest” with murderous intent. The Sin of Solace, previously silent, now observes the grim spectacle. The Scavenger, though momentarily stunned, remains a threat, and Sunny, despite his debilitating state, is far from finished with the creature. “Come here…” he challenges, the chilling promise of retribution hanging heavy in the air.
Chapter 958 A Series Of Unfortunate Events
The Scavenger launches another swift attack, its stolen Sin of Solace a deadly blur aimed at Sunny’s torso. “What… the hell…” Sunny mutters, a sense of disbelief washing over him as the jade blade, long enough to cleave him in two, closes in. In a moment of sheer instinct and perhaps a touch of divine intervention, Sunny dismisses the weapon, the killing blow replaced by a shower of white sparks. Seizing the opportunity, he retaliates with a powerful kick, shattering the creature’s bone armor and sending it recoiling, momentarily stunned by its loss and the phantom whispers that had plagued its mind. “Best of all, the damned sword finally stopped talking,” Sunny notes with a grim satisfaction.
With the Scavenger momentarily disoriented by its own mental unraveling, Sunny prepares to deliver the final blow, contemplating the most agonizing end for his tormentor. However, the thunderous arrival of adamantine hooves signals a new arrival, a grim promise of reinforcement. “Oh, you are so done now, bastard…” Sunny sneers, recognizing the unmistakable approach of Nightmare. The Scavenger, too, senses the impending doom, its earlier defiance morphing into abject terror as it stares at something unseen behind Sunny, a primal fear eclipsing its hatred.
Suddenly, a chilling dread grips Sunny as he senses something amiss, despite his shadows obscuring his vision. A quick glance at the water reveals nothing, but the Scavenger is gone, vanishing without a trace. The creature’s inexplicable disappearance leaves Sunny stunned, the unsettling void where his enemy stood a stark reminder that even in his rage, complacency can lead to dire consequences, hinting at a cunning more profound than simple brute force.
Chapter 959 Lonesome Rider
Riding north through the frigid Antarctic night, Sunny endures the biting cold in his tattered gear. The deserted coastal highway offers only the grim remnants of a passing convoy: the bleeding carcasses of slain Nightmare Creatures, their glassy eyes reflecting the oppressive darkness. These remains are the sole testament to the pursuit of a smaller column, granting Sunny a reprieve, though his battered body aches from lingering wounds and a potent toxin. His Blood Weave, however, slowly combats the venom, offering a fragile hope against the encroaching death.
His own essence depleted from the recent battle, Sunny faces a difficult choice: summon armor against the elements, a weapon to combat the unseen threats, or tend to his festering wounds. “Nightmare can be my weapon, for now,” he decides, opting to prioritize his immediate survival. He summons the Covetous Coffer, meticulously applying a medkit to his injuries and sealing the wounds before retrieving a military coat, a welcome barrier against the chilling wind.
With his most pressing needs addressed, Sunny kneels, the slow return of essence to his cores a gradual balm. The chilling weakness recedes, replaced by a growing resilience. As a trickle of essence finally flows, he contemplates his next move, the silence of the polar landscape a stark contrast to the recent chaos, hinting at the dangers that still lurk in the darkness.
Chapter 960 Erebus Field
Sunny continues his pursuit north, the desolate Antarctic highway a stark reminder of the recent battle. His Blood Weave diligently works to counteract the lingering toxin, and he uses his Covetous Coffer to tend to his wounds and procure a much-needed military coat. As his essence slowly replenishes, he prepares to rejoin the scattered convoy, hoping to cover the final stretch to Erebus Field together, especially as the surrounding area is likely teeming with active battle engagements.
The path inland takes an ominous turn as the snowfall intensifies, revealing a disturbing truth: the “snow” is actually falling ash, blanketing the world in a dense, suffocating fog. Despite the unsettling omen and the difficult visibility, Sunny’s condition improves; his Blood Weave has largely neutralized the toxin, and his wounds are healing. He pushes forward, desperate to locate his missing convoy, his anxiety mounting as the landscape grows increasingly treacherous.
Finally, scouting shadows report a cluster of vehicles ahead, battered but intact, with soldiers keeping watch and Belle perched atop a transport. A wave of relief washes over Sunny as he approaches the weary group. The soldiers, initially startled by his infernal appearance, quickly recognize him, their apprehension turning to jubilation as they hail his return. “It’s the Captain! He’s back!” Belle is among the first to greet him, signifying the reunion of Sunny and his people.
