Chapter 1053 The Fall of Falcon Scott (71)
As Sunny’s group nears the port with Luster and Kimmy, the sheer number of people and vehicles transforms the road into an impassable jam. Sunny orders them out, and they are immediately engulfed by the cacophony of a city losing control: roaring engines, blaring horns, and the frantic shouts of the masses. He observes a vast crowd flowing towards the port, swept up in panic. Sunny, however, finds his uniform still commands respect, creating a bubble of space around them. He reflects on his experience, understanding the situation is a chaotic mess as he had never experienced anything on this scale, even the destruction of the Ivory City did not come close.
Reaching the northern gate, Sunny finds another sea of people, desperate to reach the elevators leading to the coast. The transfer station personnel have lost control. People are trying to climb the barriers, seemingly crazed. The scene leaves Sunny shaken, a chill running down his spine as he observes the human mob, the madness unfolding so rapidly.
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He pushes forward with his cohort, using his authority and strength to clear a path to the elevator entrance. Beth and Professor Obel look deeply rattled, but remain in tow. The refugees recognize Sunny and make room, voices rising: “Look! A Master!” and “You there, officer! What the hell is happening?!” Sunny grits his teeth, wondering what he hopes to accomplish in this descent into madness.
Chapter 1054 The Fall of Falcon Scott (72)
Sunny discovers that Master Naeve of the House of Night is in charge of boarding, struggling to contain the frantic crowd near the elevator entrance. He greets Sunny with a somber look, “That ship over there is where I’m assigned to. We are going to leave once we’re at capacity… actually, we are already over capacity. But a few more people can still be squeezed in, so…” Naeve reveals that Bloodwave has already left with Saint Tyris, and the remaining troops will continue evacuating people to the Northern Quadrant.
Sunny initially seeks only to place a tether for a safe retreat into the Dream Realm, but feels oddly ashamed for not revealing he wants to stay. Naeve generously offers three reserved spots as a crew member. However, securing passage for the rest of Sunny’s cohort would mean displacing civilians with tickets. “Sorry, but you have to make it quick. This is going to be the last batch we let in tonight,” Naeve apologizes as the barrier opens.
Sunny is faced with a difficult decision: three guaranteed spots or potentially displacing civilians for his whole crew. His soldiers anxiously await his choice, a silent plea etched on their faces. As Sunny looks at Kim, Luster, Dorn, Samara, Belle… Beth, Professor Obel…, his heart grows heavy, realizing the gravity of the situation, and what sacrifices must be made.
Chapter 1055 The Fall of Falcon Scott (73)
Left alone after arranging for Professor Obel’s care, Sunny slips aboard Naeve’s departing ship using Shadow Step and plants a tether. Returning to Falcon Scott, now night, Sunny observes the city bathed in eerie light, snowflakes dancing against the backdrop of the aurora. The sight stirs an unexpected sense of beauty within him. He makes his way to the battlements along the city wall and sees the port, filled with desperate citizens and the battleship finally pulling away from the docks.
The soldiers on the wall are strangely calm despite the chaos below. “Look! It’s moving” one of them mentions as the ship departs. A woman responds, “Poor guys… ah, I feel bad for them. It’s too damn cold.” Sunny frowns, recognizes familiar voices, and finds Sergeant Gere and Lieutenant Carin casually passing a flask and watching the evacuation.
Surprised, Sunny approaches the pair. “Hey, you,” he calls out. Carin reacts in fright, clutching the wall, “Gere… Gere, I think I drank too much! I just heard the Devil calling out to me.” Gere scoffs at her, adding that he thought he heard it too. Sunny sighs, revealing his presence: “That’s because I’m standing right behind you.”
Chapter 1056: The Fall of Falcon Scott (74)
Morning arrives in Falcon Scott, bringing an even more oppressive cold. The city, once a frenzied beast consumed by panic after the Winter Beast announcement, is now eerily calm. Millions have evacuated, while those remaining either surrender to fate or seek futile shelter underground. Sunny, however, refuses to give up hope. He desperately tries to devise a plan to stall the titan, remembering his astonishing feat of killing Goliath, which already seemed impossible.
His thoughts are interrupted, wondering about those he brought to Falcon Scott: the nameless Sleeper, the child who called him “Uncle,” the soldier with one arm – had they been evacuated? Approaching the dormitory, Sunny thinks of the man who offered him a sandwich, wondering if he and his wife were safe. Entering the tower, Sunny finds Professor Obel alone in his apartment.
Obel greets him calmly: “Master Sunless. Come in, come in…” He thanks Sunny, referencing a past request. “I am glad that you changed your mind.” Sunny remembers foolishly proclaiming that he wouldn’t have to choose between saving lives. He thought he could simply save everyone. Now, facing the inevitable, the weight of his failed promise hangs heavy in the air.
Chapter 1057: The Fall of Falcon Scott (75)
Sunny finds his cohort preparing for what is likely their final battle with an unsettling calm. Samara, armed with Kim’s carbine, charges essence bullets. Belle sharpens Memories, a nervous habit masking his inner turmoil. Dorn, recovering from a wound inflicted by the Scavenger, stretches, his sledgehammer ready. They salute Sunny, unflinching. “What’s the news, sir?” they ask, their trust a heavy burden. He prepares them to use the Ascended charms to protect from the inevitable blizzard and the Winter Beast.
Despite his reluctance to see them die, the soldiers chose to stay. “Sure, sir. That’s our job,” Belle grins, while Samara simply nods, and Dorn reminds him, “But aren’t you here too, Major?” A heavy atmosphere descends, broken only when Belle asks an uncharacteristically serious question: rumors are swirling that Sunny is dating Mongrel. Sunny vehemently denies the ridiculous claim. “What the hell are you on about, Belle?! I’m not dating anyone!” he exclaims, to which Belle replies with laughter, and Dorn sighs at his antics. Shaking his head, Sunny pulls them back on track, beginning a strategy discussion.
Later, needing air, Sunny exits to face the biting Antarctic wind. As he stares at the sky, a black bird watches him from a nearby rooftop. The sound of footsteps approaches.
Chapter 1059 The Fall of Falcon Scott (77)
Sunny leads his First Army soldiers into the heart of the blizzard, a desperate gamble against the Winter Beast. Each soldier, clad in advanced gear or empowered by their Memories, shivers against the insidious cold. The flames of their MWPs offer less and less respite as the unnatural cold intensifies. “That cold… there’s something wrong about it. It doesn’t feel like a… a natural… natural force…” Sunny thinks, his mind growing sluggish as the storm worsens.
As the column trudges onward, soldiers begin to fall, succumbing to the cold’s relentless advance. The shadows he sends out for scouting also prove susceptible to the unnatural cold, further diminishing his chance of success. A growing number of people perish on the march, and Sunny is unable to feel his Dream Realm anchor. He watches helplessly as his soldiers are one by one overcome. Eventually, only Belle, Dorn, and Samara remain with him at the front.
Realizing the full futility of their struggle, Sunny relents and turns to his most trusted soldiers, offering a broken, “…I’m sorry.” In response, Belle smiles, and Samara reaches out to support him, gripping her shoulder tightly. Dorn gives them a warm nod, then as one by one, the life drains from them. Grief-stricken, Sunny retreats into the shadows, the cold still a potent threat. He attempts to reach the Winter Beast, but it is too far, and the cold’s grip too strong. He is forced to flee, surviving alone while his comrades fall.
Chapter 1060 The Fall of Falcon Scott (78)
The Winter Beast departs, leaving Falcon Scott a frozen tomb, another human settlement crushed beneath the Chain of Nightmares. Millions are dead, including Professor Obel and Sunny’s loyal soldiers. Only Sunny survives, untouched by the cold, now driven by grief and fury. He digs a grave in the frozen earth with the Sin of Solace, angry tears turning to ice as they fall.
A manifestation of his own tormented soul appears, observing him with grim amusement. It questions whether he has found the conviction he sought, to which Sunny replies, “No… no, I didn’t find crap.” He rails against lofty ideals like faith and conviction, decrying them as meaningless in the face of such devastating loss. He scorns the “great people” who pursue their convictions while little people suffer. “All I ever wanted was to live a good life, and keep people I care about safe. What’s wrong about that?”
Ultimately, Sunny understands that he needs no grand calling to fuel his actions. He recalls Nephis’s simple, powerful reason for wanting to destroy the Spell: “Because I hate it.” He acknowledges his values and desires are sufficient. As he finishes burying Belle, Dorn, Samara, and Master Jet, he rejects the need for greater purpose, realizing that being himself is enough. The graves stand as stark reminders of his failure, but also as a testament to his defiant, unwavering will.
Chapter 1061: Dire Strait
Marooned on a small alloy raft drifting across a frigid strait, Sunny struggles to evade the shambling corpse of Master Jet. “Get the hell away from me, you demented zombie!” he exclaims, forced into a tiresome game of keep-away as Jet, in her weakened state, crawls after him. Despite her slow pace, there’s nowhere to truly escape.
Jet, ravaged by the Winter Beast’s influence, can barely sustain her form. Her soul core is shattered, constantly leaking essence, the lifeblood of Awakened beings. Without essence, she will perish completely, however, she is unable to access the Dream Realm. The only way for her to survive is to absorb the essence of living beings, a consequence of her Sleeper Ability. She curses and rolls onto her back, resigned.
Sunny observes Jet, aware that her Supreme Aspect, meant to grant her incredible power, is now useless. After the destruction of Falcon Scott, they were trapped, unable to access their Dream Realm anchors, and their only option was to brave the treacherous strait. He sits down at the other end of the raft, the short distance a vast expanse for the dying Soul Reaper.
Chapter 1062: Gone Fishing
Sunny assesses their predicament, concerned about Jet’s rapidly declining condition. She struggles to even summon a Memory, and Sunny knows she doesn’t have long. Despite her state, she’s still compelled to feed on essence, a grim necessity to delay the inevitable. Jet begins crawling toward Sunny again, her hollow eyes burning with a demented light. “Come here… come here…” she rasps.
Growing tired of this deadly game, Sunny dives off the raft into the icy water, the Graceless Dusk vanishing into the frigid depths. Jet is startled, clawing at the empty space where he stood, then sighs, “He’s gone.” Exhaustion overwhelms her; even breathing becomes a laborious task.
After a long pause, a black crow lands on the raft, drawn to the motionless corpse. When it tries to peck at Jet’s eye, she startles it by croaking, “You stop that, Crow Crow, or I’m going to make you into a soup.” The crow, indignant, squawks, “Soup! Soup!” Jet asks, “Did you find land?” The crow confirms the presence of land, though it is “Far! Far!” offering a glimmer of hope amidst their desperate situation.
Chapter 1063: Lively Corpse
Sunny stares at the dark expanse of the Antarctic Ocean, contemplating the upcoming twilight and its effect on his ability to fight in the diminished shadows. He reflects on the current state of the human evacuation effort in East Antarctica, a more organized operation than in the Antarctic Center, with three field armies and two Saints bolstering their defenses. The arrival of the Second Army promises further reinforcement, raising the number of Awakened to sixty thousand by the end of August, a stark contrast to the five thousand lost earlier. Sunny knows that if they can withstand the Chain of Nightmares for five more months, the majority of the population might be evacuated, and humanity’s forces would grow significantly after the winter solstice.
However, Sunny worries about the unpredictable element: the great clans. Nephis’s warning that the Southern Campaign is a perfect battleground for their war rings in his mind. The possibility of a Song and Valor clash in East Antarctica looms over the already desperate situation. As Sunny clenches his fists, consumed by wrathful thoughts about the clans’ senseless feud, Jet interrupts him, having recovered enough to sit up. “Penny for your thoughts,” she asks, noticing his intense expression.
Sunny replies evenly, “Just thinking about the future.” Jet eyes him suspiciously, suggesting he looks more inclined to slaughter abominations. She then laments the loss of soul shards from the creature he threw overboard. Sunny retorts that they are useless to them, as he needs shadow fragments and she can only strengthen her core by killing living things. All he wanted was to get rid of the creature’s rotten blood that was flooding the raft.
Chapter 1064: East Antarctica
East Antarctica’s vast plains sprawl before Sunny and Jet, a desolate landscape punctuated by ancient boulders and deep canyons, where hordes of abominations roam freely. Sunny feels exposed in this expansive terrain, a stark contrast to the mountainous Antarctic Center. Although scarred by remnants of ancient wars, the air here is breathable, a welcome change from the poisoned lands of other continents. Jet, still appearing deathly pale, observes that the Call is still too strong, preventing them from escaping into the Dream Realm.
Discovering neither possesses a working communicator due to damaged equipment, Sunny proposes moving deeper inland to find a safe spot to anchor. Jet grimaces, wary of the Nightmare Creatures that dominate the wilderness. Sunny, however, remains optimistic: “Luckily, we don’t need to travel for three thousand kilometers. And there are no civilians slowing us down. Hell, there’s not even a murderous sea to flood the entire world every night. Come on… it’s going to be like a picnic.” He summons Nightmare, his stygian steed, preparing to journey onward.
Jet, after a moment of observation, finally questions Sunny’s past: “By the way. I never asked… but how the hell did you end up being Mongrel? That doesn’t make any sense!” Sunny explains his initial desire for anonymity while training, but admits he “might have gotten a little greedy,” after challenging Morgan of Valor. Jet laughs, and is astonished at Sunny’s ability to craft memories. They prepare to begin their trek into the interior of East Antarctica.
Chapter 1065: Reaper
Nightmare races across the twilight plain, carrying Sunny and Jet. Sunny holds Jet close, yet feels nothing, his heart as cold as her lifeless form. He acknowledges their dire situation, knowing he cannot defeat entire hordes of Nightmare Creatures. Relying on caution and speed, his shadows scout ahead, avoiding some abominations and outrunning others, always seeking a safe haven to anchor in the Dream Realm.
The journey proves arduous. Sunny admits solving their problem will not be quick. He alters their strategy, deciding they must hunt, since he has not eaten in a long time and Jet is losing essence. He locates a small, isolated swarm of creatures. Sunny commands Saint to weaken the beasts with arrows enchanted with the [Burden of Peace], declaring, “Jet was still weak and low on essence… [but] Sunny was confident that his dead companion would be able to handle the swarm.”
Jet, conserving essence, attacks unarmed, and Sunny watches from the shadows as she slaughters the beasts. He quickly realizes “Soul Reaper was a terror to behold even while weakened and unarmed,” and allows her to continue her deadly work.
Chapter 1066: Faithful Imitation
Safe in a small, hidden cave at the bottom of a deep canyon, Sunny and Jet sit before a crackling fire where monster meat roasts. Sunny’s sullenness stems from the difficulty of finding fuel in the Antarctic wastes. He whiles away the time attempting to play a simple melody on his emerald bone flute, a tune that would likely sicken Kai, but Jet seems indifferent.
She stares at the fire, flames reflecting in her icy blue eyes, before declaring, “…I can smell things too, you know. When I am sufficiently full of essence. My Aspect might only give me a semblance of life, but it’s a faithful imitation.” Sunny immediately suspects her interest is driven by hunger, and she confirms his suspicions with a grin. He hangs more meat to roast, lamenting his constant association with “gluttonous women.” He then wonders how she acquired such a “wicked Flaw”.
Jet reveals that she did not survive the First Nightmare. “I was young, and weak, and frightened. And so… I died.” But she somehow crawled out of her grave and finished the trial, earning a Supreme Aspect. Her story reminds Sunny of his own near-impossible survival, prompting him to consider what might happen if he offered Jet the Weaver’s Mask. He intuitively understands that while she might briefly live again, her shattered soul would cause her to instantly and permanently perish. Her cruel Flaw, ironically, is the only thing keeping her in existence. Sunny then contemplates his own Flaw, and wonders whether his life would have been easier or harder if he didn’t have his Inability to Lie.
Chapter 1067: With Your Shield
Sunny and Jet resume their journey through the desolate East Antarctic landscape, engaging in skirmishes with Nightmare Creatures as Jet steadily recovers her powers. With each abomination slain, Jet becomes less corpse-like, eventually summoning a suit of black, lusterless leather armor and wielding a deadly weapon, her lethality soaring. Sunny watches with fascination as the Soul Reaper returns to her former fearsome self, her icy blue eyes regaining their familiar intensity, and even her lifeless shadow regaining its vitality.
Two weeks have passed since the destruction of Falcon Scott when Sunny and Jet discover an increasing number of abominations all moving in the same direction. Sunny, growing bored, wonders aloud, “Hey… do you think the government considers us dead?” Jet chuckles, but Sunny, ever pragmatic, worries about the revocation of his merchant license. A distant thunder interrupts their conversation, a sound Sunny recognizes as railguns. Sharing a knowing glance, Jet smiles, confirming his suspicion.
They urge Nightmare forward, cresting a hill to reveal a vast lake strewn with gargantuan carcasses. On the opposite shore, tall alloy walls stand firm, unleashing a devastating barrage of tungsten rounds against the encroaching abominations. Sunny spots soldiers and Awakened battling on the battlements. With a sigh, he recognizes it as “A siege capital.” Summoning the Sin of Solace, Sunny spurs Nightmare towards the lake, a tide of shadows accompanying their charge.
Chapter 1068: Changed Man
Having rediscovered her power, Jet and Sunny approach a besieged city under siege. Suddenly, Sunny finds himself teleported to the Ivory Island, but immediately sees that it has changed, now resembling a peaceful village. More surprising, the Ivory Island is moving, no longer floating above the abyssal darkness of the Sky Below, but instead drifting through the clouds toward the southern border of the Chained Isles. Sunny wonders when this became possible.
He finds Effie relaxing by the lake, fishing rod in hand. She explains she’s hoping to catch some fish, having developed a taste for them after being stuck on a ship. Upon noticing him, Effie’s hazel eyes light up with glee. “Sunny?! It’s you?!” she exclaims, instantly sweeping him into a crushing hug.
Caught off guard, Sunny protests, feet dangling in the air, “I said… gods, don’t you have any modesty?! Let go of me!” Effie, erupting with laughter, releases him. Sunny, nearly using the [Feather of Truth] to weigh himself down, glad she did, narrowly avoids crushing her with his own increased mass. He seems to be in for a very long stay.
