Chapter 1069: Secrets of the Island
Sunny shivers as Effie leads him into the Ivory Tower’s great hall. A circle of chains marks the Gateway, but she pulls him toward a newly discovered staircase descending into the island’s depths, its walls carved with tapestries depicting the Kingdom of Hope’s golden age. At the stairwell’s end, a vast, illuminated chamber awaits, strikingly different from the dark, mannequin-filled chamber in the Ebony Tower.
Within the runic circle carved into the floor, a radiant crystal floats, emanating unimaginable power – a Divine soul shard. Cassie, surrounded by research materials, confirms its nature, greeting him with a soft smile, “I am glad that you are back too, Sunny.” Before Sunny can fully grasp the situation, Kai descends from the ceiling, engulfing him in another enthusiastic hug, exclaiming “Gods, Sunny! You had us all worried!”
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Freeing himself, Sunny, overwhelmed by the revelations, finally asks the burning question, “Anyone wants to explain to me what is going on?” Cassie gestures towards the complex runic circle beneath their feet. Sunny frowns, the patterns feeling disturbingly familiar.
Chapter 1070: Disfunctional Citadel
Sunny’s mind races with questions as he ascends the stairs, replaying the image of the Divine soul shard and its intricate runic circle. He is certain that it is the core of the Ivory Tower, but its purpose eludes him. The enchantments, carved by the Demon of Desire, predate the flying islands, raising more questions about the Kingdom of Hope’s transformation into the Chained Isles. Was it Hope, or the Sun God, who defied the devouring flames?
The connection between the soul shard and the Gateway also perplexes him, leaving him wondering if the Spell created entirely new enchantments or built upon Hope’s existing work. Sensing his unease, Cassie, tracing the stone wall, offers, “I actually learned a bit about Hope’s runic sorcery back in the Nightmare. If you want, we can compare notes later.” Sunny sighs, knowing they can only hope to decipher existing enchantments, not master the original, more powerful sorcery.
He reflects on the ingenuity of Hope’s runic sorcery – the ability to transcribe true names, granting invocations permanence. Runic sorcery is different from weaving, but perhaps just as ingenious. Both of them might be able to use it without fully understanding its essence, like swinging a sword without knowing how to forge it.
Chapter 1071: Familiar Role
Nephis, stirring rice, welcomes Sunny back, inquiring about his Antarctic experience. Sunny, seated with Cassie, Effie, and Kai, admits his escape from the Antarctic Center wasn’t “alright,” but confirms he’s in a siege capital. Effie, having arrived with the Second Army, describes Antarctica’s overwhelming Nightmare Creature presence, far surpassing even the Dream Realm. Kai confirms this, relaying the battle the Second Army had to face even to reach their destination. He says, “Even though there are secure evacuation corridors between the inland siege capitals and the harbor strongholds, we had to fight a couple battles just to reach our designated sector. Luckily, there were no casualties.”
Effie then asks Sunny about his own ordeal, noting he looks different. Sunny recounts his assignment to the First Irregular Company and the field army splitting into seven divisions. He details the disastrous mission to retrieve a VIP from a remote research station, describing the Chain of Nightmares going into overdrive, culminating in three titans spawning, including a Corrupted one. He speaks of being stranded for a month after the battleship never arrived, and the settlement being destroyed.
Sunny reveals the grim truth: the nearest siege capital was already destroyed, forcing a perilous journey to another, gathering refugees along the way, and his subsequent entrapment in a strange tunnel. He then thanks Cassie and Nephis for finding him. Cassie responds, “Of course. We were quite surprised! The way you delivered the message was very original, to say the least. And, tit… very you! Hopefully, the little kernel of insight I gleaned was of some help.”
Chapter 1072: Brief Levity
Sunny revels in the welcome respite, feeling the immense pressure of recent months melt away. The dinner conversation proves invaluable as Sunny shares his hard-won knowledge of Antarctic warfare, a blend of mundane and Awakened forces far removed from the Dream Realm’s trials. He imparts practical tips, like enhancing flamethrowers with fire resistance enchantments, crucial for Kai and Effie, who command large detachments. Realizing the time constraint, Sunny uses the [Blessing of Dusk] enchantment of the Graceless Dusk to establish a mental connection, shocking his friends with telepathic communication.
“Aaah! What the hell, Sunny?! You’re in my head!” Effie exclaims, startled. Sunny explains the tunic’s enchantment, reassuring her he can’t read her thoughts, “Don’t worry, though, I can’t read your thoughts – and in your case, Effie, I wouldn’t even want to! Gods, I shudder just imagining what is going on in that depraved head of yours.” Effie then playfully sends a mental image that makes Sunny spit out his drink. Despite the initial shock, the mental link significantly accelerates the exchange of information.
Kai and Effie eventually depart to fulfill their duties, recognizing the rarity of such gatherings amidst the Antarctic operation. Cassie, too, excuses herself to resume her research on the runic circle in the tower. The sunlit hall now only houses Sunny and Nephis, leaving lingering questions. Will the knowledge he passed on through the [Blessing of Dusk] be enough to help his friends survive what’s to come, and what other secrets does Sunny’s new tunic hold?
Chapter 1073: The Fourth Step
Sunny, studying Nephis’ somber expression, finally prompts her to speak. “Pray tell,” he urges. Nephis, instead of launching into a world-altering explanation, calmly asks for help with the dishes. Amused, Sunny joins her in the mundane task. As they wash, Nephis reveals the undercurrents of animosity between Clan Song and Clan Valor, a conflict she suspects runs deeper than a simple power struggle. She believes a full-blown war between them is ill-timed and destructive, opening them up to threats from the House of Night or even Asterion.
“So, I suspected there had to be something else at play,” Nephis explains, hinting at a secret she and Cassie have uncovered. Sunny, sensing a major revelation, listens intently, recognizing that very few could have pieced together this puzzle. He waits, consumed by anticipation. Nephis finishes the dishes and turns to him, white sparks igniting in her eyes. “It has to do with the Sovereigns… and their Domains,” she reveals, dropping a cryptic hint that leaves Sunny puzzled.
Confused, Sunny admits, “Domains? I’ve heard a few people use that word. However, I still don’t know what it means.” Nephis nods, then begins ascending the stairs to the highest level of the Ivory Tower. “Come… uh, if you want,” she offers, the invitation laced with understated significance. Sunny, giving her a dark look, follows, eager to learn the secret behind the Domains and the escalating conflict that threatens to engulf the world.
Chapter 1074: Authority
Sunny, pondering Nephis’ revelation about Domains, considers what is common knowledge about Ranks. He observes that just as Ascended rise above humanity and Transcendent break past it, Supremes take a further step toward godhood tied to authority. Sunny hones in on Nephis’ choice of words, asking if she said Domains “start” to coalesce. This suggests Domains aren’t simply gained but are subject to a process, having both beginning and end.
Nephis confirms Sunny’s intuition, stating, “Indeed, you caught on to the very heart of the issue. The Domains are not set in stone…as all other forms of power, they can change and be changed. Simply put, a Domain can grow… and, therefore, a Domain can also be diminished.” Sunny, his eyes gleaming, wonders how Domains grow. Nephis explains that each Domain is unique, like Aspects, but shares commonalities. She outlines two potential paths: the natural way employed by ancient Awakened, and a path influenced by the Spell.
Nephis points out that the Spell provides “training wheels” for lower ranks, creating a streamlined path to power. She suggests it does the same for Sovereigns, offering a straightforward method to expand their Domains. Stepping back to touch the Ivory Tower, she asks Sunny, “Do you get it yet?” A moment of silence hangs in the air, heavy with implication, before Sunny responds, his voice low and thoughtful, “The… Citadels?” Nephis simply smiles, leaving the connection between Citadels and Domain expansion tantalizingly unsaid.
Chapter 1075: Know The Enemy
Sunny, finally understanding the implications of Nephis’ words, realizes Supremes hold sway through authority, manifested as Domains. These Domains, physical embodiments of a Sovereign’s Aspect, need external influence to flourish, conveniently intertwined with the Spell-created Citadels. Gazing intensely at the Ivory Tower, Sunny ponders the obvious intentions of the Sovereigns: establishing Domains in former daemon Citadels, uplifting loyal Ascended to Sainthood, and eliminating resistant Transcendents. Exceptions remain, like the House of Night, whose powerful position in the Stormsea renders conquest difficult, and the government which fulfills a necessary role.
However, Professor Obel’s theory lingers, creating doubts within Sunny’s mind. If Anvil of Valor and Ki Song desire perfected Domains, why suppress the emergence of Saints, who bring more Citadels and territory? And if war is inevitable, why the twenty-year delay and the sudden timing with the Chain of Nightmares’ descent? A frown darkens his features as he shares his suspicions with Nephis: “I feel like we are still missing a key piece of information. This timing… it’s just too strange.”
Nephis leans against the parapet and sighs, admitting the Sovereigns hold secrets, yet questioning their importance. “But… does it really matter what they are hiding? The truth remains the same.” Sunny scoffs, unconvinced that their ignorance poses no threat to the coming battle.
Chapter 1076: Know Yourself
Nephis explains Song and Valor’s plan: a race to conquer the black pyramid in the Dream Realm, starting with Nightmare Gates in East Antarctica as beachheads. They’ll use the Call to transport Saints, Masters, and Awakened to temporary outposts, launching expeditions toward the pyramid, building a fortress, and ultimately conquering the Tomb. “It might be easier to think of it in terms of the Forgotten Shore,” she suggests, likening Gates to Seeds of Nightmare and the goal to conquering the Crimson Spire. Sunny, with a dark smile, muses, “They might find out that this task is much harder than they imagine it to be.”
The clans aim to transport forces into the Dream Realm, navigating a lethal desert filled with Nightmare Creatures while simultaneously fighting each other. While Citadels would be helpful, Saints may need to ferry forces and supplies themselves if none are found. Nephis acknowledges the hellish task, but emphasizes that “Both Valor and Song represent the absolute pinnacle of human achievement in warfare. If they can’t do it, no one can.” Sunny realizes that the true goal is to destroy each other, and conquering the Tomb a secondary, albeit interconnected, objective.
Sunny anticipates bloody clandestine operations in the siege capitals as the Saints of the warring factions seize opportunities to eliminate each other, civilian safety be damned. The clans will feverishly seek suitable Gates, ambushing each other and potentially drawing abominations back to the cities. ‘Bastards…’ he thinks. Despite the grim outlook, Sunny feels he now possesses enough information to begin planning his next move.
Chapter 1077: Midnight Sun
Summer in Antarctica brings a deceptive warmth, thawing the ruins of a once-thriving city abandoned as a siege capital. Now, a patrol finds itself desperately battling a swarm of Nightmare Creatures. The soldiers nearly prevail until a terrifying Fallen Demon awakens, decimating the remaining abominations and turning its attention to the humans. Lieutenant Catphine, piloting a severely damaged MWP, struggles against the creature. “‘Curse it!'” she thinks, knowing she is outmatched.
Despite the MWP’s near-total destruction, Catphine stubbornly fires the only functioning weapon, a kinetic machine gun, but the barrage of tungsten rounds proves useless. The Demon effortlessly rips through the war machine, breaching the cockpit. Facing imminent death, Catphine thinks, “‘At least there’s some cool air now…'”
Just as she expects her demise, darkness surges, obscuring the sun and engulfing the battlefield. Two gigantic, inky-black hands erupt from the ground, seizing the Fallen Demon. The hands, with slender wrists and razor-sharp claws, tear the abomination apart, leaving a gruesome spectacle. A mysterious force has intervened, saving Catphine from certain death.
Chapter 1078: Army Scout
Sunny helps the ravaged MWP pilot, Lieutenant Catphine, emerge from the destroyed war machine. He surveys the scene, the ruined city a testament to the brutal battle, lamenting his late arrival. He offers her water from the Endless Spring, used to the strange looks he receives. In a neutral tone, he asks, “‘I am sorry about your comrades… but how did you guys end up in this sector? Did you not receive the message that it was designated as a black zone by Army Command?'” Catphine grimaces, explaining their patrol along the Seventeenth Evacuation Corridor led to an ambush. A Gate opened, trapping them in a desperate fight for survival.
Sunny awkwardly comforts her, assuring, “‘You did your best.'” Inwardly, he recognizes Corridor Seventeen’s reputation for attracting trouble. He is currently on a reconnaissance mission, scouting potential threats to that very corridor. After arriving in Antarctica, Sunny chose this assignment with the Special Reconnaissance Unit, tasked with hunting powerful Nightmare Creatures like Tyrants, Terrors, and Titans. The SRU is composed of Masters with unique Aspects or elite skills.
This role suits Sunny due to the freedom it grants and his reluctance to command soldiers again. Leading others has never been his forte, with previous experiences leaving a lasting impact. He glances at Catphine, his gaze lingering on the pilot, and sighs.
Chapter 1079: Imp
Catphine’s confused expression draws Sunny’s attention, “‘Uh… where did my MWP go?'” The wrecked war platform has vanished, replaced by an ugly little creature hidden behind a pile of dirt, feverishly devouring a piece of bent alloy. Sunny explains, “‘That little bastard right there ate it. Don’t mind him…'” It’s hard to believe the scrawny imp could consume the massive machine, but Sunny knows its insatiable appetite firsthand. He shudders, remembering turning the tiny wretch into a Shadow not long after arriving in East Antarctica.
Initially intending to become a Tyrant, Sunny prioritized converting the Echo of the Ravenous Fiend given the slightly calmer circumstances. The process mirrors his first conversion with Saint. Two beams of dark light descend from a Shadow Core, one envelops the Echo, the other a waiting shadow. The Echo dissolves into the darkness, its spellweave replaced by darkness and a living shadow. Four transparent, empty embers now burn within the imp. While not as awe-inspiring as Saint’s transformation, Sunny now possesses his fourth Shadow.
However, what follows the transformation is what troubles Sunny the most. The imp is a blank slate with potential, but its gluttonous nature requires careful management. Some readily available food sources offer mediocre results, and he fears that certain advancements might hinder the development of more beneficial powers in the future.
Chapter 1080: Marvelous Devil
As Sunny and Catphine follow a river towards the army outpost, Sunny uses the time to examine the status of his shadows. He summons the runes and concentrates on the Ravenous Fiend, now a Transcendent Devil, and reviews the creature’s details. The Shadow Description mocks him: “The ravenous devil met a much more Terrible fiend, and turned into his shadow.” Sunny is annoyed, thinking, “‘How come I’m the fiend? The bastard literally has the word “fiend” in his name!'”
He then examines the Ravenous Fiend’s attributes. The [Lucky] attribute infuriates him as it represents pure good fortune, while his own [Fated] attribute brings both good and bad. He then reads the description of [Marvel]: “This Shadow is a marvelous learner. It is stunningly keen and supremely adaptable, absorbing new knowledge with astonishing speed.”
Despite the Ravenous Fiend’s apparent good fortune, Sunny isn’t impressed. “‘Lucky and smart… well, who cares? At the end of the day, it still didn’t help him survive meeting me for the third time. If the wretch was so smart, he should have avoided me like a plague…'” However, he remains intrigued by the [Ravenous] attribute and its promise of growth. Despite the imp’s lack of physical growth after consuming tons of armored alloy, Sunny believes the result will eventually be worth it.
Chapter 1081: Lake Ruin
Following his assessment of the Ravenous Fiend, Sunny and Catphine reach the army outpost after dispatching Nightmare Creatures along the way, Sunny preferring to use Shadow Manifestation to hone his mastery and avoid unnecessary close-quarters combat. He believes it’s better to only engage if he is certain of killing his opponent in a single strike. The outpost, similar to the one he visited in Antarctica, is staffed by sleep-deprived Awakened who nonetheless salute him with reverence, recognizing his status as a veteran of the terrifying Antarctic Center.
Sunny hands over the MWP pilot, who looks close to collapsing, and addresses the welcoming party with a nod. He instructs them to take care of the lieutenant and informs them that he cleared a path through the hills, dealing with a Corrupted Monster that had been blocking their supply lines. The soldiers exchange appreciative glances, understanding the boon this will be for their logistics. “Thank you, sir!” they exclaim, their eyes shining with relief.
Without further ado, Sunny announces, “Well then, I’ll be off.” He lingers for a moment, glancing at the MWP pilot, and then awkwardly says, “Stay alive, soldier.” With that, he steps through the shadows, disappearing from view, eager to rendezvous with Soul Reaper, feeling he is already running late.
Chapter 1082: Ancient Chimneys
Reaching the colossal chimney with ease, Sunny dodges vicious fish-like creatures with Dark Wing. He plunges through a hole in the alloy smokestack, finding himself in a vast, dark well with a chilling pool of water far below. The air inside is acrid, a stark reminder of the blighted outskirts. He muses on the scale of the industrial behemoth that demanded such a chimney, pondering the poison that once poured out.
He finds Saint waiting silently on a piece of scaffolding, Nightmare lurking in the shadows nearby. “Good work, guys,” Sunny acknowledges, his words echoing in the vast space. His comm hisses, and Jet’s impatient voice rings out: “Get up here, I’m bored out of my mind.” Shifting into shadow, Sunny ascends the structure, a dark spiral against the ancient walls. He briefly wonders how long it would take Imp to consume all the alloy, then scoffs at his own thought.
At the top, strange machines are bolted to the chimney’s mouth, the air thick with the scent of fire and soot. Jet sits perched on the machinery, feet dangling over the edge. “Here you are,” she greets as Sunny emerges from the shadows, closing her thermos. “Sorry for making you wait,” he replies, but Jet waves it off, explaining, “Honestly, having a chance to just sit and relax for a few hours was exactly what I needed.” She stands and studies the machinery. “Hey, do you know what these things were for?” she asks, her gaze sweeping over the forgotten technology.
Chapter 1083: Reconnaissance
Sunny and Jet cautiously peer over the chimney’s edge, spotting a horrifying centipede-like creature, hundreds of meters long, lurking amidst the ruined city. The monster’s body is encased not in chitin, but in thousands of human skulls melded together into a grotesque carapace. Two dead trees grow from the skull carapace, like skeletal horns on its head. Disgusted and cautious, Sunny uses the [Blessing of Dusk] to communicate telepathically, “That thing’s going to be a nightmare.” Jet responds in kind, agreeing, “Examine its mouth.”
Following her silent command, Sunny watches in revulsion as the centipede regurgitates a mass of bones. The bones writhe and coalesce, forming another twisted abomination that stumbles into the water. Recognizing the centipede as a Corrupted Tyrant, Sunny states grimly, “It’s one of those Corrupted Tyrants.” Jet frowns, conceding, “It does seem that way, doesn’t it?” They attempt to gather data using sophisticated sensor arrays, but nearby Gate interference renders the spelltech useless.
Frustrated, Jet sighs and, moving to a safer location, activates her military communicator. Through the static, she relays, “HQ, this is Recon Four and Recon Nine. Target sighted, threat level core-five. Requesting analyst backup.” The fate of the city, perhaps even the world, hangs in the balance as they await reinforcements.
