Chapter 1264 Gaping Wound
Guided by the faintly glowing Nimble Catch, Sunny swims through the tumultuous, crimson-tinged waters beside Nephis. The sheer scale of the dead Black Turtle becomes apparent when he passes its hollow, giant eye, and the thought of the ancient behemoth staring back sends a shiver down his spine. They reach the turtle’s neck, encased in tarnished silver armor, and follow it to a point of savage destruction.
Nephis, with her innate sense of direction, guides him towards their goal: a gaping wound torn into the Black Turtle by the Azure Serpent. Sunny freezes, awestruck and horrified. “That…” he utters, taking in the dark tunnel burrowed into the monster’s flesh. He is reminded of guiding refugees through cramped tunnels of the Antarctica Center, though that was of a dramatically smaller scale. A pang of doubt hits him as he recalls his earlier bravado, “I actually said that I can kill that damned snake, didn’t I?”.
Unlock Global Stories with Noyaku!
Tired of waiting? Instantly translate web novels, manhwa, and manhua from their original sources! Noyaku provides Smart AI and Basic translation engines, plus a custom Glossary for consistent terms.
Nephis tugs on the rope, urging him forward. Overcoming his trepidation, Sunny enters the wound just as a tremor causes the Black Turtle’s corpse to tilt. The wound shifts, half rising above the water while a torrent of blood flows outward. Battling the current, they manage to enter the dark tunnel only for the flow to reverse, dragging them deeper into the monster’s lifeless body.
Chapter 1265 Dirty Job
Inside the tunnel carved by the Azure Serpent, Sunny is relieved to find it partially dry, allowing him to summon the Covetous Coffer. He smiles at Nephis, “Let’s be quick!” as light coalesces into Memories, giving Nephis a luminous lantern and manifesting the alloy chest. But instead of weapons, the Sin of Solace materializes, chiding Sunny with a small smile: “This is a peculiar location for a date. Harvesting monster meat from inside the monster… I hope you won’t force the poor girl to cook the meal herself, at least?” Irritated, Sunny ignores the Sin of Solace and opens the Coffer, steeling himself before attempting to carve the Black Turtle’s flesh.
He finds cutting the monster’s flesh surprisingly difficult, like trying to cut stone with a rusty blade, despite the enhanced sharpness of the Sin of Solace. Sunny wonders, ‘If that’s hard, then how am I going to fight one of these things in the future?’ Nephis, her face pale, struggles with a glowing dagger but finds the going equally slow. Together, they strain to carve chunks of meat, the tunnel around them shifting with the Black Turtle’s tremors.
The pair support each other through the shaking as the water filling the morbid tunnel rolls and sloshes. Disappointed with their progress, Sunny realizes that filling the Coffer is unrealistic. At this rate, it would be good if they managed to harvest enough to feed them for a few days. He thinks, ‘This is taking too long…’ They persevere, knowing their time is limited by the ongoing battle above.
Chapter 1266 Unexpected Complication
Sunny attempts to use Shadow Step to escape, but it inexplicably fails, throwing him into a panic. The Sin of Solace mocks him relentlessly, but Sunny ignores it and apologizes to Nephis, explaining, “I don’t seem to be able to bring us away, at the moment. S-sorry…” Nephis, surprisingly insightful, deduces that the Black Turtle’s residual defenses are blocking his ability to teleport within its body, reasoning, “It is a Great Monster, after all, and we are inside its body…”.
Nephis shares her flames with Sunny, hoping to empower his ability, but even with her aid, Shadow Step remains unresponsive. He clutches her hand, finding solace in the contact. He realizes returning to the entrance is now suicidal. The ongoing battle has brought the Azure Serpent and the monstrous Turtle too close. Sunny’s face hardens as he considers their desperate situation, “The entrance is blocked, but there’s still the exit. The old snake burrowed right through, didn’t it?”.
A grim determination settles over Sunny as he proposes a perilous alternative: navigating through the tunnel’s depths to the exit wound under the Black Turtle’s flipper. He grabs Nephis’ hand again, not letting go, and leads her onward, deeper into the monster’s corpse. He thinks, ‘We’ll escape through there and climb back onto the island.’ The tunnel before them is dark, claustrophobic and smells of decaying flesh, but hope flickers in Sunny’s eyes.
Chapter 1267 Candlelight
Sunny and Nephis initially scramble for cover, fearing the dreadful butterfly’s victory over the Azure Serpent, but a deafening roar throws them to the ground. Rising, they witness the Serpent emerging from the Great River, bearing countless wounds, its eyes burning with murderous malice now focused solely on the battered butterfly. They notice the Great Monster in a sorry state as well, retreating with a missing leg and cracked wings. Sunny freezes, stunned that the Serpent defeated a much stronger Nightmare Creature, thinking, ‘Old snake… just what damned kind of abomination are you?’
The Azure Serpent, sensing Sunny’s gaze, glares back, crimson water flowing from its maw, making him shiver. Realizing the Serpent is no mere beast, Sunny suspects it’s a monarch, a unique existence. His attention is drawn to the butterfly. Instead of fleeing, the butterfly circles above, biding its time, unwilling to abandon the Black Turtle’s carcass. The Azure Serpent, in response, throws a hateful glance and dives back into the water, shaking the island as it seemingly devours the turtle’s flesh.
With the tumultuous water calming, Sunny and Nephis stare at the Great River in exhausted silence. Sunny breaks the silence, “I guess… it seems we survived.” Nephis expresses a desire to find a deep pond to wash away the blood, prompting a sly smile from Sunny and a mischievous, “Can I join?” To which she replies, already turning away, “No. Go find your own pond… if you want.”
Chapter 1268 Azure Serpent
Sunny, keenly aware of ominous prophecies, avoids wishing for anything, instead relishing the delicious roasted meat Nephis prepared. The taste is so incredible, erasing even the memory of the grotesque tunnels. They both sprawl on the ground, satiated, as Sunny notes it’s his birthday, a celebration of survival. He muses over Nephis’s unexpected culinary talent, recalling how she’s always been the cohort’s cook, creating dishes that are “just right.”
Wondering aloud, Sunny asks, “Why are you so good at cooking? Doesn’t seem like something you would be passionate about…” Nephis explains that she learned these skills as part of Wilderness Survival training at the Legacy Clan Academy. “Did you think that children from the Legacy Clans are only taught how to swing swords?” she retorts, emphasizing the importance of survival skills, including nutrition, in the Dream Realm.
Sunny, surprised by this explanation, jokingly suggests she’s been taking cooking classes since childhood. Nephis frowns, correcting him that it was a series of “very thorough and elevated courses” focusing on proper nutrition. He nods ponderously, contemplating the strange and wonderful facets of the formidable woman beside him.
Chapter 1269 Third Contender
Nephis, resting against Sunny after a spar, abruptly tenses, her attention drawn to a disturbance on the Great River. Sunny follows her gaze, spotting a distant, rough patch of water moving purposefully toward them. “What is it?” he asks, concern evident. Nephis, confirming his fears, replies, “I think so too,” solidifying the implication of another approaching Nightmare Creature.
They both realize the allure of the Black Turtle’s blood attracts abominations. The arrival of this fourth threat dashes Sunny’s hopes of using the carcass as a safe passage to civilization. The Azure Serpent and the dark butterfly already made the prospect questionable, but this new arrival seals their fate. “It has to be another abomination,” Sunny mutters, the weight of their situation heavy on his shoulders.
The Black Turtle, once a potential sanctuary, now seems more like a death trap, but escape feels impossible. The water teems with horrors, and the air offers no safer alternative. Sunny is left to contemplate their grim reality, questioning their options as their apparent sanctuary becomes a focal point for danger.
Chapter 1270 Pinnacle Of Strength
The sheer number of approaching Corrupted Beasts, tens of thousands of translucent crustaceans, visibly shakes even Nephis. “It’s… it’s alright,” she says, her voice lacking conviction, as they observe the approaching swarm. Sunny, ever the pragmatist, questions how such a situation can be considered ‘alright’. Nephis clings to the hope that the creatures cannot leave the water, but Sunny sees the bigger picture. With the Azure Serpent occupied, nothing will stop the dark butterfly from landing.
Adding to Sunny’s torment, the Sin of Solace appears, taunting him with the prospect of Nephis’s demise. Sunny tries to ignore the vile apparition and watches the Azure Serpent lower its head and charge towards the krill swarm with reckless abandon. He recognizes the creature’s insatiable bloodlust, surpassing even its own self-preservation. Sunny acknowledges how this perverse virtue made the Azure Serpent a fearsome existence.
Despite the seemingly impossible odds, Sunny finds himself rooting for the great beast. Just before impact, the Azure Serpent dives deep, unleashing a deafening roar, creating a powerful shockwave felt even by Sunny and Nephis. The krill, however… The fate of the swarm, and the Azure Serpent, hangs precariously in the balance, leaving Sunny to hope for a miracle against overwhelming odds.
Chapter 1271 The Krill
The battle between the Azure Serpent and the krill swarm quickly escalates into a terrifying spectacle. The Great Beast, driven mad by the sheer number of vile creatures, churns the water into a maelstrom, creating colossal waves that rock the Black Turtle. Sunny and Nephis are forced to cover their ears as the roars and sonic booms become deafening, but even as the Azure Serpent decimates thousands of krill, their numbers seem endless.
The leviathan’s initial water armor eventually fails, and the krill begin to swarm. They find the Great Beast’s numerous scars from battles with the Dark Butterfly and begin to draw blood. This only fuels the Azure Serpent’s rage, pushing the battle to an almost unimaginable intensity. “Don’t overdo it” Sunny says to himself, trying to control his emotions. Amidst the chaos, Sunny and Nephis find themselves holding hands, a simple touch that grounds them in the face of such madness. They watch, pale-faced, as the battle shifts.
Though neither side achieves a decisive victory, the swarm succeeds in bypassing the Azure Serpent, their translucent bodies turning crimson as they surge towards the Black Turtle’s carcass. The Azure Serpent roars in frustration, trapped by the sheer mass of krill. Suddenly, Sunny feels a purifying warmth and notices a soft glow emanating from his skin. Nephis, her lips dry, simply tells him, “Bow… I think you should summon your bow.” Immediately, Sunny forms Morgan’s Warbow and lets loose the Strike of Thunder, sending arcs of electricity across the surface of the river.
Chapter 1272 Paradise Lost
The island trembles relentlessly as Sunny and Nephis remain hidden in their fissure, unnerved by the thousands of Corrupted Beasts consuming the Black Turtle. The Azure Serpent hunts them, and the island’s violent tremors confirm its presence. Sunny meditates, attempting to understand the Azure Serpent’s rage, imagining himself as the Great Beast, tearing through flesh and bone, driven by an insatiable hunger for retribution, wondering, “Is this the feeling? Am I on the right path?”
Later, Sunny expresses his dwindling hope of escaping the island alive. Nephis, however, counters his pessimism, reminding him that they have never had an easy path. She says “So what if they are? Has it been any different before?”. This leads to a conversation about Sunny’s past nightmares. He says “Still, I hope that this Nightmare will be better than my Second one. Oh, it’s not much of a competition. I must have died a thousand times there.”
Nephis offers a reassuring smile, and says, “Of course. In the worst case, we’ll just die once. That’s nothing, right?”. Reassured by her perspective, Sunny laughs. “Dying once? Child’s play! Gods, anyone can do it. You’re right, I was worried about nothing.” As the island continues to shake, they share a moment of laughter, the Sin of Solace mirroring their smiles as well.
Chapter 1273 Collapse
Sunny is jolted awake by Nephis’ urgent warning of a strange sound, a “dull, echoing crackle” emanating from within the Black Turtle’s carapace. He focuses, senses no immediate danger, but the tension in Nephis’ voice is unmistakable. She whispers, “There was a sound.” Placing a lantern on the Covetous Coffer, Nephis presses her ear to the ground, and Sunny notices a thin crack appear on the fissure floor, a detail previously out of place. The crack rapidly expands, and Nephis cries out, “I think it’s going to break…”
Before she can finish, a deafening crack echoes and the island violently shakes, the fissure collapsing into a cavernous abyss of crimson flesh. “It’s breaking!” Sunny leaps into action, dodging falling debris and using shadows for purchase, but their camp disappears as if swallowed by the darkness. He barely manages to propel himself and Nephis out of the collapsing fissure, narrowly escaping as the entire edge crumbles.
The horrible stench of blood fills the air, and the realization dawns upon them: the island itself is tearing apart. Now that they are out of the fissure, what will happen to Sunny and Neph? Will the Azure Serpent find them now that they have no safe place to hide?
Chapter 1274 Time of Truth
Sunny sits despondently by the water’s edge, his eyes reflecting a deep-seated weariness. Their temporary camp is gone, and a fatal problem looms: neither he nor Nephis can find a solution to their predicament. They have scoured through all their Memories, seeking a way out, but even the most they can hope for is a short delay of the inevitable. Escape attempts would be suicide, guarded as they are by Great Nightmare Creatures.
Saint, once Sunny’s best hope against the Azure Serpent, can no longer receive the full augmentation of the shadow flame. “She was now a Devil whose body and soul were infused with elemental darkness,” making her unable to accept Nephis’ light. Imp, their other Transcendent Devil, lies in a mystical metal-induced coma. Nightmare, ever loyal, remains too weak to confront a Great Beast. Thus, they are trapped.
As Sunny stares into the pinkish waters, the blood of the Black Turtle diluted, the surface froths. The Azure Serpent rises, its hateful gaze fixed on him. But the Great Beast, like the Turtle’s crumbling carapace, is in a dire state. Can they use the Serpents weakness to their advantage, and will this provide the opening needed for escape, or will their fight for survival become more difficult?
Chapter 1275 Last Resort
As Sunny, Nephis, and Saint approach the shore, the darkest hour nears, marking the time when the suns have plunged into the river but the water hasn’t yet begun to glow. Sunny reflects on his time on the island, a “harrowing paradise” where he surprisingly found contentment, training with Nephis and sharing meals amidst the darkness, realizing it is all coming to an end. He remembers a “journey of unholy blood on the corpse of a dreadful monster” and admits that he “had been happy on that journey, and happier still to share it with someone he… was fond of. Was fond of so much.” He acknowledges that he would need madness to survive the day.
Sunny takes a deep breath, reminding himself that he has been preparing for this moment, studying the Azure Serpent in detail. He has learned its fighting style, thought processes, and the emotions that fuel its corrupted soul. Sunny also understands how the creature commands water as a weapon, drawing on his experiences fighting alongside the scions of the House of Night. He knows that he cannot defeat the Azure Serpent if it were healthy and whole.
The Great Beast, however, is far from its peak condition. Ravaged by battles and driven mad, its flesh is torn and its strength depleted. Sunny believes that this weakness might be their only chance. He stands on the shore, contemplating his plan, realizing that “maybe… just maybe… Sunny stood a chance of emerging victorious from the fight”.
Chapter 1276 Dance of Monsters
Sunny transcends his limitations, becoming a monstrous serpent, clad in onyx scales and fueled by incinerating fury, diving into the depths he now claims as his own. He enhances his Shadow Dance, mirroring the Nightmare Creature, solidifying his form with the dead shadow of the Black Turtle, which he lured into the Lantern, as a monstrous river serpent shell. He knows this is not the real thing but infused with shadows and soul flame, protected by the Mantle, granting it power beyond his Ascended limitations. He roars “OLD SNAKE!” challenging the Azure Serpent’s reign.
Wrath consumes him as he shoots through the water, sensing the scent of the Great Beast’s blood. He believes its age and strength mean nothing; it will fall to his fangs. A vast shadow rises to meet him, brimming with power and madness, but Sunny knows no fear. He is a black spear, a shadow made flesh, not an unthinking beast.
A colossal azure serpent and a smaller obsidian serpent, wreathed in shadows and light, collide, causing monstrous waves. Sunny narrowly avoids the Azure Serpent’s maw, diving under its belly, reminding himself that he is Lost from Light, not a beast. He is cunning, resourceful, skilled, with the honed battle sense of a warrior and the powerful soul of a Tyrant.
Chapter 1277 Fourth Step
Wrath continues to fuel Sunny as he recalls his purpose: Saint and Nephis. He had lured the Azure Serpent to the surface for them, an opportunity to contribute to the battle. As pain wracks his serpentine form, two arrows find their mark. Saint’s black arrow, empowered by darkness and the Stifled Scream, pierces the Azure Serpent’s last eye, inflicting significant damage with the [Death Dealer] enchantment, yet fails to destroy it. Disappointed, Sunny realizes the serpent’s senses remain precise, even blind. A white arrow follows, carrying venom from the Bitter Cusp, courtesy of Nephis, whose skill with a bow is evident, if unexpected. Though the wound is small, the toxin is the true weapon, a weakening agent for future attacks. “One dose of the black venom was not going to affect the Azure Serpent much, but ten, twenty, or thirty could weaken it… perhaps.”
The arrows achieve their primary goal: distraction. Sunny seizes the opening to mend his damaged shell, hissing with fury before lunging to bite into the leviathan’s side. Despite the Shadow Shell’s lack of taste buds, he swears he tastes blood, a primal sensation that intensifies his frenzy.
Chapter 1278 Mutual Destruction
Despite Nephis and Saint’s efforts, Sunny is locked in a grueling battle with the Azure Serpent, a dance of destruction amidst a foamy, turbulent Great River. Driven mad by pain and bloodlust, Sunny loses count of the blows exchanged, his Shadow Shell shredded, his Mantle in shambles. The [Living Stone] struggles to keep up with the leviathan’s devastating attacks, leaving his glossy black scales exposed.
Yet, Sunny derives dark glee from the serpent’s mirroring condition. The Azure Serpent’s already mangled body suffers further damage, reopened wounds gushing crimson into the radiant water, dozens of arrows piercing its flesh. Despite the venom circulating through its bloodstream, “the Azure Serpent’s eyes still burned with the same madness.” Sunny momentarily snaps out of his frenzy, reminding himself to kill the beast quickly, yet admits, “There were no chances.”
The Azure Serpent maintains control, manipulating the water to its advantage. Sunny, feeling his mind muddled and reason wavering, faces the chilling realization that defeat is possible. “Oh… I can’t go on much longer…” he thinks. Rejecting the thought, he clings to his fury, vowing that defeat is not an option, an unusual thought echoing within his mind. With a mixture of rage and cold calculation, Sunny prepares to ram the leviathan, knowing he must find a way to turn the tide.
