Chapter 1144 Theater Of Shadows
Deep within the decommissioned factory, the ghostly fire is gone, replaced by the dancing lights of summoned Memories as Ascended Morrow prepares to depart. She nods at one of her subordinates, “This is the spot. Isolate it.” An Awakened then utilizes an ability to create a pocket of silence, masking their activities from the city’s ever-vigilant seismic sensors. With a violent sonic boom, Morrow breaches a wall, revealing a dark tunnel. A cold wind sweeps through the hall, unsettling even Morrow, prompting her to order, “Clear the debris… Second Cohort, scout out the tunnel and make sure that there are no blockages there.”
The Evacuation Army contact, his usefulness expired, anxiously asks, “Well, I… I will be going, then. My job here… is done?” Morrow dismisses him with a cold “Go.” He is of no use anymore. Morrow understands what is at stake. However, their exodus is delayed; the creature cage is late. Irritated, she retrieves a special Memory, the [Reaching Hand], a scattering of finger bones enabling shielded communication.
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.
Grasping the bone, Morrow contacts the cohort guarding the creature cage, demanding, “Mont. Where are you?” Awakened Mont responds, confusion thick in her voice: “Sister Morrow? We are guarding the creature. Has something happened?” Morrow feels a bad premonition and angrily asks “What do you mean? Have you not received my order?”. Mont hesitates before replying “…I am sorry, Sister. What order?”.
Chapter 1145 Slither Of Fear
Morrow stares in horrified disbelief at the severed head. The methodical slaughter of an entire cohort of Song Clan warriors, elites even, chills her to the bone. Whispering Blade’s brutal efficiency is the only comparison, but the monster wouldn’t deign to “play with his prey”. Her mind races to comprehend how such a being could exist unchecked. She instantly orders, “Activate the mental resistance enchantments!” realizing the creature’s insidious nature.
A devastating sonic shockwave blasts into the tunnel as she hopes to stun the hidden enemy. The Awakened pour essence into their protective charms, desperately clinging to sanity as the lingering terror assaults their willpower. Twenty remain, forming a fortified circle around the cage. As the echoes fade, Morrow, suspicious of the unsettling silence, dismisses the luminous memories, switching to essence-fueled darkvision. The hall appears empty, a chilling deception. In defiance, she commands, “Show yourself, creature!”
The severed head beside her replies in her own voice, “Creature… creature… creature…” unsettling the group. “Don’t pay any attention to it! It’s a distraction!” she warns, her focus unbroken, as she scans the dark hall. Yet, one Awakened falters, drawn in by the macabre display. His head cleanly detaches, the body collapsing as the creature strikes again, proving its horrifying speed and deadly cunning.
Chapter 1146 Blood Rain
Amiran plummets through the tunnel breach, a “meteor of steel”, deploying force fields to slow his descent. Expecting to surprise the enemy, he lands ready to carve a path for his men. Instead, a devastating sonic boom obliterates the Awakened behind him, a grim welcome orchestrated by the Song. Amiran, enraged, charges towards a circle of Awakened guarding a large crate, convinced it contains a monstrous Nightmare Creature Beastmaster has smuggled into the city.
His eyes lock onto Morrow, the scarred woman leading the Song infiltrators. Recognizing her as a powerful, though inferior, opponent, Amiran attacks. “How dare you!” He unleashes dual waves of force, one cutting, the other crushing, but they collide with another sonic shockwave, causing an explosion. As dust fills the hall, incongruities catch his attention: the exposed tunnel entrance, the hall’s ravaged state, the unnervingly small number of enemy Awakened, and a beheaded Song warrior.
Something is wrong. Where is the rest of the infiltration team? A fleeting glimpse of a shadowy figure atop the crate, an archer perhaps, fades into the darkness. Shielding his eyes, Amiran bursts through the dust cloud, sword raised, stepping into a battlefield far more complex and deadly than he initially anticipated.
Chapter 1147 Song Of Slaughter
Amiran retaliates against the Song infiltrators with overwhelming force, unleashing devastating waves of power that Morrow deflects with a sonic boom. She attacks with a seemingly fragile blade, but upon contact with Amiran’s sword, it emits a ringing that throws him back with concussive force. Observing his advancing warriors, Amiran realizes two of his cohorts are missing. “Treacherous worms…” he thinks, deducing Morrow sacrificed her own to ambush his men on the upper levels.
Amiran anticipates Morrow’s next attack, creating a force shield above his head to counter her sonic-enhanced blade. He wraps his weapons with force, learning from their earlier exchange to dampen the sonic amplification. As he clashes with Morrow, their soldiers engage. The Awakened of Valor surge forward, threatening to overwhelm the smaller formation of Song infiltrators, however, the elite warriors hold their ground with surprising ferocity.
Morrow witnesses a Song warrior fall, quickly followed by one of Amiran’s men. She feels joy at the exchange, but realizes she cannot see which of her people killed him. It must have been a ranged attack. At the edge of the formation, there is only emptiness and darkness, hinting at hidden dangers and unseen participants in this deadly game of shadows.
Chapter 1148 Unsealed
Amiran, despite his oppressive power and deadly intent, finds himself unable to land a decisive blow on Morrow. Despite the Valor warriors’ advantage in numbers and skill, the Song infiltrators exact a heavy toll, killing two for every one of their own. Morrow realizes their trap is inefficient but a possible victory is on the horizon, until she realizes something else is happening. She witnesses a warrior of Valor collapsing with a torn neck, yet no one is close enough to inflict the wound. Moments later, one of Song’s own Awakened falls, their hand severed by an unseen force – a spear could not have caused such damage. Morrow feels a chill run down her spine, *”There is… there is another here.”*
A sinister presence is moving unseen through the darkness, slaughtering soldiers of both sides. A horrifying image flashes through her mind of a severed head rolling out of the tunnel from which they came. *”Who was it? What was it? What… what had they unleashed from that darkness?”* Ignoring the terror that bubbles within her, she steels herself to destroy whatever lurks in the shadows. Seeing Amiran’s blindness to the true danger, she thinks, *”Fool.”* Morrow allows Amiran to strike her, shattering the bones in her shoulder.
Using the pretense of being off balance, she closes the distance and opens her mouth. Morrow unleashes a deafening shriek, the raw power of her essence burning through the underground factory. Clutching his ears, Amiran falls, overwhelmed by searing pain. He knows Morrow will seize this opportunity. As Morrow’s blade hurtles towards his throat, Amiran seizes the weapon. “Too slow, witch,” he grits out, though he can barely hear his own voice amidst the ringing.
Chapter 1149 Uncaged
The Corrupted Tyrant, a revolting mass of grey flesh and frantic eyes, explodes from its cage. Morrow, weakened and unprepared, disappears in a tide of its slithering limbs, becoming the abomination’s first victim, much to Amiran’s incredulous shock. *”Such irony…”* he thinks, a grim dread washing over him as he recognizes the creature’s true nature. This Tyrant, a being far worse than a Devil, was smuggled into the city, now free to wreak havoc.
Uncaring of allegiance, the Tyrant lashes out, its grey limbs seizing nearby Awakened from both Valor and Song. Blood splatters as it grabs its victims. Amiran, rallying the remaining warriors, shouts, *”Regroup! Concentrate your attacks on the monster!”* Despite feeling the debilitating effects of a treacherous poison, he hurls his hammer with all his might toward the Tyrant. As if a path had been opened, a torrent of invisible force follows his attack.
The combined assault throws the Tyrant back, freeing its initial victims. However, they rise, their eyes now harboring a wicked, alien coldness. Ghostly black strings connect their backs to the Tyrant, revealing the horrifying truth. They are no longer human, but something far more sinister, and under the complete control of the Tyrant, as the true terror begins to unfold.
Chapter 1150 Unseen
Having slain an Ascended human, Amiran, Sunny feels his shadow grow stronger. He meticulously mutilates Amiran’s corpse to mask the true killing blow, ensuring his involvement remains hidden. His task complete, he reflects, *”That went more smoothly than I had expected.”* He recalls how the gloomy shadow led him to the Song assassins who had infiltrated Valor’s territory, his goal to make the two forces annihilate each other completely without collateral damage.
To ensure the two groups destroy each other, Sunny orchestrated a series of calculated maneuvers. He silently eliminates messengers and scouts to manipulate their movements, using Shadow Manifestation to strike multiple targets simultaneously. He employed theatrics, like throwing a severed head, to create distractions and exploit the confusion, knowing *”A shaken enemy was easier to deal with.”* He even deliberately agitated the Corrupted Tyrant within its cage using the Sin of Solace, a terrifying experience he hopes to never repeat.
Positioned strategically, Sunny attacked the Valor soldiers that remained in the corridor, dispatching them swiftly. As the battle between Valor and Song intensifies, he becomes an incorporeal shadow, using Shadow Manifestation to pick off Awakened from both sides, further blurring the lines of engagement. Sunny kills the Awakened of Song with blades, and the Awakened of Valor with claws, obscuring his role in the unfolding carnage.
Chapter 1151: See no Evil
Morgan and Saint Gilead survey the ravaged underground hall, now a charnel house littered with the bodies of Valor and Song Awakened, along with the corpse of a Nightmare Creature. Gilead mourns Amiran, a former comrade, prompting Morgan to offer a less-than-sincere condolence. Gilead retorts, *”Sometimes, I forget… How much I loathe you and your family.”* Morgan, unfazed, admits, *”Well. What can I say? We are a loathsome bunch.”*
Examining the bodies, they attempt to piece together the battle. Gilead believes Amiran heroically slew the Corrupted Tyrant and turned the tide, while Morgan remains unconvinced. She focuses on a fatal sword wound, musing, *”What a beautiful cut.”* She challenges the initial reports, questioning how Valor’s forces, equipped with forged Memories, lost to the Song infiltrators, and demands answers from her specialists.
Finally, Morgan turns to Cassia, a blind woman, and asks if she sees anything. Cassia responds, “…I see nothing,” leading Morgan to probe, “Are you telling me that you don’t see anything, or that you see *nothing*?” Cassia’s vague answer intrigues Morgan, hinting at a hidden truth behind the carnage and deception at play.
Chapter 1152: Field Trip
Sunny, Nephis, and Cassie arrive on the idyllic Ivory Island, a rare haven of tranquility in the Dream Realm. Sunny wears his best armor Memory, the Shroud of Dusk, while Nephis and Cassie opt for lighter garments, resembling vacationers. Sunny marvels at Nephis’s Second Tier Awakened Memory, a black underlayer of the Starlight Legion Armor, surviving years in the Dream Realm.
He spots Effie and Kai near the Tower’s entrance. Effie relaxes on the ground, surrounded by snacks, her Transcendent armor absent. Kai stands beside her, observing the dragon bones around the Ivory Tower. Effie enthusiastically waves, *”Hey! We’re here!”* Sunny, both pleased and confused, asks why they are there. Kai explains they are on leave from their duties on the city walls, and Effie adds, *”Yeah. So when Cassie offered to go on a field trip, we had nothing better to do. Plus, we’re curious to revisit a few places, too.”*
Sunny gives Cassie a suspicious look, wondering when she managed to invite Effie and Kai. Cassie simply shrugs, and Sunny, despite his confusion, is happy to see them. Dismissing the notion of a relaxing trip, he warns, *”I expect to fight at least one creepy abomination this week, so don’t get too relaxed.”* The group prepares to explore the island, its peace likely to be shattered by the horrors of the Dream Realm.
Chapter 1153: Memory Lane
The group stands before the ruined Red Colosseum, a stark contrast to the idyllic Ivory Island. Sunny, in a bleak mood, surveys the overgrown walls, barely recognizable from the arena he recalls. Cassie traces the buried runes, while Sunny remembers his bloody battles against stone gargoyles and emerald skeletons, and his near-fatal encounter with a red zealot. The arena he knows was a mirage of the Spell, and yet, the ruin retains its vile nature.
Nephis notices his somber mood. *”Is this the arena where you were imprisoned?”* she asks. Sunny nods, recalling his initial helplessness and the shock of inhabiting a body granted by the Spell. He wonders what form Neph had been given, reflecting on the lack of guidance for Divine Aspect users. She remains silent, keeping the details of her Nightmare private. Sunny recounts battling his way to the center of the arena, facing the zealots of the Red Sect, while crowds cheered for their entertainment.
Kai, having fought the zealots himself, agrees, noting their perverted faith. He reflects that perhaps the Warmongers’ wickedness stemmed from the nature of War God, also the deity of humanity. Sunny chuckles, stating, *”I got better as time went on, enough to survive until the moment I could escape. And I did.”* Nephis comments on the difficulty of surviving alone, but Sunny corrects her, revealing that a local Awakened healer aided him, without whom, he would not have survived.
Chapter 1154: Former Glory
Sunny wanders the ruined Colosseum, lost in thought, as Cassie explores the runes. Effie, bored and disheartened by the dismal atmosphere, voices her complaint. *”This sucks. What kind of vacation is that? The mood is so dismal.”* Sunny retorts, reminding her of the horrific experiences he endured in this place. Effie challenges him to find something to celebrate – he survived, while the Warmongers’ twisted quest for glory resulted in nothing but ruin.
Her perspective shifts Sunny’s outlook. He realizes he’s not only survived, but thrived, earning accolades in a war far more meaningful than the Warmongers’ senseless conflicts. The idea of spiting Solvane and her zealots with his current success brings him a measure of satisfaction. *”Huh. Damn. It almost feels better than killing her twice?”* A crooked smile spreads across his face. He admits Effie’s right, and even mentions the movie being made about him in the NQSC, technically about Mongrel.
Effie expresses her dismay at the prospect of another movie, but relaxes once he says it’s about Mongrel. Nephis casually drops, *”Oh, yes. I’ve seen the trailer.”* Kai and Sunny are surprised by her interest, while Effie, looking ill, wanders off. Sunny laughs, teasing her, *”Hey, where are you going? The mood isn’t so dismal anymore, is it?!”*
Chapter 1155: What the Future Holds
The cohort continues their journey southeast aboard the flying vessel, seeking refuge within the Crushing. Effie’s uncharacteristic lack of appetite becomes a point of concern for Sunny, but a contemplative mood settles over him. He reflects on how difficult it’s become to maintain conversations with his friends, lamenting that their lives now revolve solely around battling Nightmare Creatures. *”These days, it seems that there’s nothing to talk about except for what we killed, how we killed it, and how to kill it better.”* Kai sympathizes, agreeing that adulthood feels like endless work.
Cassie offers a contrasting perspective, suggesting that focusing on duty can be rewarding. Sunny counters, expressing his dissatisfaction with being an “abomination exterminator”, a path he didn’t consciously choose. Nephis reminds him that they all became Awakened unwillingly, but exterminating abominations is now their shared responsibility, compensated with privileges. *”But we are Awakened now, so… exterminating abominations comes with the territory.”*
Sunny casts her a bleak stare. He acknowledges that their current situation, despite its drawbacks, is far superior to the bleak future he would have faced had he remained a mundane human. He could expect only a bitter life and an early grave. Kai lingers, then speaks quietly to Sunny before leaving.
Chapter 1156: Returning to the Shipwreck Island
Sunny’s visit to the Southern Island proves less fruitful than anticipated, the once familiar castle now swallowed by ruins. However, a detail sparks his curiosity – the absence of unique white flowers he remembers blooming there. Recognizing them from another perilous island covered in slumber-inducing blossoms, Sunny suspects a connection. *”There were too many connections for it to be a pure coincidence.”* He resolves to investigate the island of white flowers, a venture postponed as they chart a course north towards Shipwreck Island, skirting the Tear.
A two-day journey ensues, punctuated by Cassie’s need to replenish soul essence. During their respite, the vessel transforms into a temporary sanctuary. Nephis assumes culinary duties, while the others indulge in lighthearted moments. Games are attempted, yet rendered comical by their enhanced abilities; even cheating evolves into a contest. Nephis’s veiled frustration adds to the amusement, *”Ah, I have forgotten how awkward she really is. She’s hiding it well these days… it’s cute. Huh? Crude, I meant it’s crude!”* Effie’s motion sickness is somewhat mitigated by fresh Nightmare Creature meat, and Kai begins teaching Sunny the flute.
The Shipwreck Island emerges, recognizable despite the vanished shipwreck. The Sun Prince’s corpse remains, the steel colossus suspended forlornly beneath the island. Sunny recalls their previous encounter, marveling at Cassie and Effie’s role in defeating the Chain Lord in the Nightmare. Nephis gazes at the fallen giant, processing what is before her.
Chapter 1157: Blood-Nourished Root
Shipwreck Island looms above, and the underside reveals a network of deep caves hiding a Corrupted creature. While battling a monster suspended over the abyss would normally prove impossible, Kai’s flight and Sunny’s Shadow Fiend form offer advantages. However, Cassie steps forward, her blindness granting insight beyond sight. She identifies the creature as a “Corrupted Monster. An old and powerful one… a plant abomination. Blood-Nourished Root.”
Cassie then unravels the island’s grim history. The sacred tree powering their vessel’s enchantments didn’t die instantly in the shipwreck. She deduces the tree rooted itself, only to be strangled by the unleashed Wormvine, turning it into a corpse. Solvane’s blood, seeping into the soil, corrupted the roots over centuries, birthing the monster. Despite its vastness and age, Cassie declares the Blood-Nourished Root vulnerable to fire, recommending burning it to ash. Involuntarily, all eyes turn to Nephis, but Sunny interjects, recognizing the danger of activating her Aspect and triggering her Flaw.
Chapter 1158: Dinner is Served
The stench of burnt wood permeates Shipwreck Island after Effie, much to her own disgust, incinerates the Blood-Nourished Root. Sunny playfully chides her smoke-induced nausea, focusing on the prize—a crimson-tipped spear of grey wood, seemingly an inheritance from Solvane himself. “What, am I supposed to gnaw on burned wood?” she complains, highlighting her earlier desire for an edible monster. Sunny assures her they will find something to satisfy her appetite, but she demurs, her stomach turned by the lingering smoke.
The group prepares to descend to the remains of the Sun Prince, utilizing a golden rope anchored to the island, while Kai connects the other end to the heavenly chain, ensuring a safe passage. Landing on the gargantuan foot of the fallen giant, Sunny recalls a nightmare of being crushed beneath it. “Life is weird like that, sometimes,” he muses.
Curiosity mounting, Kai asks Sunny the purpose of this expedition. Sunny summons his Shadow Fiend, whose wide eyes and sharp teeth lock onto Nephis, Effie, Cassie, and Kai, recognizing the captivating sight of his companions. Sunny, in this moment, is also aware of his own distinct form and place within this group.
