Chapter 1189 Battle Of The Black Skull (3)
Chaos reigns as the battle descends into utter mayhem, more intense than anything Sunny has witnessed. Thousands of Aspects collide, tearing apart ground and sky alike. Even Saints fight amongst themselves, shaking the world with each strike. “It seemed as if the world was ending” Sunny thinks.
Silent Stalker, having ripped apart Sir Gilead’s mount, battles the transformed Summer Knight, an ethereal figure of sunlight. His radiant form leaves Silent Stalker unscathed, while his sword leaves deep wounds on the panther’s sable hide. The Knight’s radiance dims as they fight on. Elsewhere, Sky Tide falls after enduring a mental attack from Beastmaster, and then the thunderbird falls. Kneeling and swaying, she grasps at her sword as Nightmare Creatures close in. Four Reflections wage a strange, invisible war against Whispering Blade, their clash reaching no conclusion. Saint faces the Reflection of Summer Knight, a dark knight clashing against his radiant counterpart. Nightmare, in turn, is attacked by the Reflection of Silent Stalker, only to be saved by a scrawny figure of dark metal, diving into the fray.
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The battle formation of Clan Valor collides with the Awakened of Song, dissolving into utter chaos. Awakened fight Awakened, Masters fight Masters, and the dreadful violence consumes all. The clash turns into “a disorderly mess of dreadful violence and chilling cruelty.”
Chapter 1190 Battle of the Black Skull (4)
The battle rages on, and Sunny fears mutual destruction between Clan Valor and the Awakened of Song, jeopardizing the defense of Antarctica. He realizes that a swift, decisive victory is now impossible. “Damn it, damn it…” he curses internally, knowing the most likely result of the battle is mutual destruction. Sunny believes the only way to break the stalemate is to eliminate Beastmaster, but the Saint remains hidden from view. He settles on a secondary goal driven by personal desire: to keep Saint Tyris alive. He hopes that by intervening on her behalf, Beastmaster will focus on Sky Tide.
Sunny finds himself in the thick of the chaotic melee, surrounded by flashing swords and spilled blood. Before him, an Ascended of Clan Song effortlessly cuts down a valiant Awakened of Clan Valor, a stream of blood spiraling around her “like a scarlet ribbon.” Their eyes meet, and the Ascended lunges forward to attack.
But Sunny moves faster, easily dodging the scarlet ribbon, deflecting her sword. He curses as he is bound by the battlefield’s chaos, and sends essence into his legs to explosively break free. Then, bending backwards he dodges a javelin.
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Sunny, evading the Ascended’s attack, suddenly feels an overwhelming, animalistic fear as a grey worm crawls across his palm. He knows the Nightmare Gate to the Black Skull Citadel lies within the hunting grounds of a Corrupted Titan, a creature so dangerous that even the Special Reconnaissance Unit avoids it. This Titan’s power involves reanimating the dead, and the warring clans are about to pay the price for invading its territory.
Discarding the worm, Sunny watches in horror as countless others emerge from the ground, burrowing into the corpses of the fallen Awakened and Nightmare Creatures. The dead convulse, rising as grotesque marionettes, and Sunny wonders, “What.. what is this?”. The battlefield is changing, becoming a macabre puppet show. Sunny briefly considers Ki Song’s involvement before dismissing it, concluding this must be the Titan’s doing. He recalls Sky Tide battling the Winter Beast, clinging to the belief that the seven Saints present, along with himself and his allies, should be enough to handle this Corrupted Terror.
The ground trembles, and a gargantuan worm head erupts from the earth, its body a grotesque amalgamation of countless smaller worms. The sight is so repulsive that Sunny nearly vomits. But he notices something even more significant: soul cores. He sees three radiant embers within the Titan, with four more undoubtedly to follow. A feeling stirs within Sunny’s chest, a paralyzing shock as he realizes, “Embers… embers… seven embers…”.
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The emergence of the worm titan throws the battlefield into further chaos, not guaranteeing Valor’s defeat, but driving it to inconceivable levels. The dead rise to bolster Valor’s dwindling forces, yet the Echo itself remains a formidable threat. Suddenly, Sunny senses an overwhelming presence – Beastmaster has arrived. An invisible hammer slams down, and Sunny grits his teeth, barely resisting her mental assault. The Awakened stagger, their strength diminished. “Aargh…” Beastmaster’s beauty shifts from mesmerizing to ruinous, a sight so breathtaking it wounds the soul.
The four Reflections break away from Whispering Blade to confront the titanic worm as Beastmaster engages Madoc in a bizarre clash Sunny struggles to comprehend. Invisible swords and ethereal mental attacks collide, and Sunny questions his ability to even intrude upon such a battle. He decides, “Later”. Saint Tyris remains in peril.
Using the Sin of Solace, Sunny eliminates the Master wielding compressed air javelins, his focus narrowing once more. The risen dead and the clash of titans have restored a lethal equilibrium, but Saint Tyris is still in danger, and Sunny dashes forward determined to change it.
Chapter 1193 Battle Of The Black Skull (7)
Sunny barely avoids Dire Fang’s claws, feeling the wind as they tear past. A monstrous roar rips through the air, a sonic attack that plunges Sunny’s head into searing pain. He uses Sin of Solace to partially block the following strike, but the impact throws him back, bones screaming. “What… what the hell is that, a sonic attack?” he wonders. He dives into shadow, rescuing Saint Tyris just as Dire Fang’s claws rip through her armor.
They pause, catching their breath, before the towering Dire Fang, now fully unleashed, turns his bestial gaze upon them. Sunny’s intuition screams of death. He realizes Saints are unlike any corrupted creature he’s faced, beings who have conquered five hells to transcend, possessing an unparalleled combination of strength, bravery, intelligence, and luck. Facing Dire Fang is like facing a “fiend among fiends.”
Surrounded by Ascended of Clan Song and powerful thralls, Sunny knows running is futile. Desperation claws at him as he considers his options, glancing at Sky Tide. Even using Shadow Shell and every trick he has may not be enough. His last gamble is the Mirror of Truth, but he’s unsure if it will help before they’re both torn apart. He trembles on the precipice of certain death.
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Sunny, though seemingly fine thanks to Death Wish, draws Nephis’ attention. Seeing Sky Tide’s fragile state, Nephis orders Sky Tide to retreat with Song of the Fallen, declaring, “Lady Sky Tide, please fall back with Song of the Fallen. Master Sunless and I will remain to cover your retreat.” Cassie, engaged with two Masters of Clan Song, dances through their attacks, her movements lethally precise. When one Master tries to immobilize her with mud, Cassie gracefully leaps over the trap, while simultaneously pierces the neck of her aggressor with her rapier. The Quiet Dancer assists her, swiftly eliminating the remaining Master, and she pulls Sky Tide away from danger, escorting her to safety.
Dire Fang, surprisingly, remains motionless, watching the retreat with indifference. He stares down at Nephis, the white flames on his fur dying down. He looms over the pair as they stand side-by-side, reminding Sunny of their fight against the Carapace Demon. Suddenly, Dire Fang speaks in a booming voice that shakes Sunny’s bones, recognizing Nephis: “You are… Broken Sword’s daughter…” She calmly acknowledges, “I am,” as red sparks form a helmet around her head.
The monstrous beast grins, muttering, “Shame…” before roaring and lunging towards them. Elsewhere, corpses reanimate on the battlefield, while shockwaves from Echo’s clash with the Reflections continue to decimate the area. The clash between Awakened, Echoes, and thralls creates a scene of carnage, the ground soaked with blood as more bodies fall.
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Under tumultuous skies and torrential rain, Sunny and Nephis narrowly evade Dire Fang’s crushing claws. Sunny realizes that despite recent distance, their core remains unchanged: battle partners first. From their time on the Forgotten Shore, their coordination surpasses even the unity granted by forged swords. As Dire Fang lunges, Sunny veers right, Nephis left, shadows and radiance intermingling, amplifying their strength. Sunny transforms into a silhouette shrouded in darkness while Nephis’s light takes on a darker hue. Sunny’s essence feels vibrant, warmed by her flames.
Nephis, augmented fully and aided by Sunny’s shadows, dodges Dire Fang’s attack. However, Sunny feels a pang of dissatisfaction at being the “blade” while Nephis is the “bait.” Dire Fang made a serious mistake by underestimating Sunny. Empowered by Nephis’s flames, Sunny’s abilities surge. Nephis slashes at the beast with her incandescent sword as Sunny submerges into shadow.
From the darkness emerges a four-armed fiend in onyx armor, eyes burning with furious white radiance. Dire Fang, too late to react to Sunny’s attack, faces the unexpected assailant. The ground explodes as Sunny propels himself forward, breaking through the resistance of the air. He doesn’t cry out, instead, *the Sin of Solace fell silently*.
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As Sunny battles Dire Fang, the narrative shifts to another conflict entirely. On a rain-swept battlefield, Mordret, faces his sister, Morgan of Clan Valor. Mordret acknowledges Morgan’s superiority in speed, resilience, and skill. He knows his powers are useless against her, thanks to the King of Swords. Mordret recognizes that he lacks the authority and favor Morgan possesses. Yet, he vows to win, fueled by years of loss and betrayal.
The rain intensifies Mordret’s sensory overload, bombarding him with reflections of every death, every act of courage, and every moment of despair. He hates the rain for this very reason. Morgan, a woman in black armor bearing an uncanny resemblance to him, closes in. She represents everything Mordret despises: Clan Valor. “Die, you wretched thing!” Morgan’s sword slices through the raindrops, striking Mordret across the face.
“Pathetic,” she says, her voice seemingly laced with disappointment. Mordret smiles, raising his sword, determined to defeat her with brute force. He spurns his usual cunning schemes; destroying the symbol of Valor with a trick would bring no satisfaction. He believes that, even after being discarded, he remains stronger than them all. “Come, sister. Give it your all!” Mordret’s laughter echoes in the storm as Morgan answers with a determined attack.
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A deafening, bestial roar rips through the battlefield, sapping the strength of all nearby. Sunny curses, dodging Dire Fang’s monstrous claws. Nephis joins the fray, her incandescent sword turning rain to boiling vapor. The two fight as hunters against a powerful beast, bridging the power gap with their cooperation. Nephis fights with incredible speed and destructive power, while Sunny, shrouded in shadows, attacks with inhuman ferocity. They move and act as one, making them a deadly combination.
However, Dire Fang is no mere beast, but a hybrid of wolf and man due to his Transformation Ability. Despite his animalistic traits, he retains the cold, calculating mind of a human, fighting with both monstrous power and sublime skill, utilizing a combination of martial arts and knife fighting with his claws. “He’s… a monster…” Sunny thinks, realizing the Saint’s level of mastery is stunning.
Despite their combined efforts, Sunny and Nephis struggle to wound Dire Fang seriously. They are barely managing to stay alive, their armor battered, and Sunny tastes blood. A hint of despair creeps into his heart as he capitalizes on a small opening created by Nephis, only to miss his attack. The reality of their opponent’s monstrous strength weighs heavily on him.
Chapter 1198 Battle Of The Black Skull (12)
The battle between Dire Fang, Sunny, and Nephis continues with obliterating fury, their clash a vortex of destruction that keeps others away. Only Kai, with his Awakened Aspect Ability, might be able to fully discern the brutal dance within the steam and rain. Sunny struggles to unravel Dire Fang’s fighting style, realizing their endurance is finite against a Saint whose essence reserves seem nearly inexhaustible. “Not good…” Sunny thinks as Dire Fang nearly rips his Shadow Shell apart with a powerful kick.
Sunny’s cursed blade, *Sin of Solace*, barely grazes Dire Fang, failing to trigger its maddening effect. Breaking the mind of a Transcendent is proving impossible, but Sunny refuses to give in. He realizes he needs more, drawing upon his own powerful mind and the blessing of the Shroud of Dusk. However, he realizes it’s not enough.
A simple thought strikes Sunny, why is he fighting alone? He sends Nephis a crude mental message via the Blessing of Dusk: a torrent of images, thoughts, and emotions that only she can decipher. He trusts her to understand, knowing their connection is strong enough to transcend mere words. His thought, I think you should take a look at…
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Sunny analyzes Dire Fang’s fighting style, dissecting the Saint’s essence into its component parts: body, mind, and soul. This knowledge grants him predictive abilities, but also a stark realization: they cannot win. The Saint is too powerful, too skilled, and too intelligent. Even with foreknowledge, Sunny and Nephis lack the strength to overcome him at their current level. Sunny proposes a risky solution, mentally asking Nephis “Do you trust me?”.
He reflects on their tumultuous past, his choices often conflicting with her wishes, and questions if she truly trusts him. However, he believes this is their only chance. Unexpectedly, a calm answer echoes in his mind: “I do.” Startled, Sunny seizes the opportunity, evading Dire Fang’s attacks with desperate maneuvers. He calls upon a specific Memory and sends Nephis a terse command, “[Then, in about five seconds… give it all to me…]”
Five seconds stretches into an eternity against a Saint, as Sunny pushes his body to its breaking point. Empowered by the Shadow Shell and augmented by both shadows and flames, he feels the strain of the battle eroding him. Dire Fang’s attacks are relentless, each blow carrying fatal intent. Despite knowing the Saint’s movements, with the ground splitting and steam obscuring the battlefield, Sunny strains to withstand the savage barrage.
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Time seems to slow as Sunny moves with unnatural speed, his perception heightened. The rain hangs suspended, the battlefield frozen in grotesque tableau, only Dire Fang and a crawling bolt of lightning retain their dynamism. A deafening, distorted roar erupts from Dire Fang, but Sunny counters it with the [Silenced] enchantment of the emerald bone flute, creating a sphere of absolute silence. Nephis, however, is caught unprotected by the full force of the attack, causing her to falter.
Sunny, focused solely on the task, rejects the possibility of failure. He sees Dire Fang as the embodiment of everything he hates: the clans’ corrupt authority, the Chain of Nightmares, and the shackles of fate that bind him. “He was the enemy. A terrifying enemy, an overwhelmingly powerful enemy, an enemy that was nearly impossible to defeat.” Defeating him represents a chance to overcome all other impossible obstacles. Sunny bets everything on a single strike, as a wounded Dire Fang would be even more powerful.
He has already deciphered Dire Fang’s Aspect, battle style, and countered his sonic attack. Now, he must deliver the killing blow. Dire Fang rushes forward, claws and fangs ready. Despite the narrowed power gap, the Saint still possesses an edge in strength and size. Sunny, however, is a survivor, adept at killing larger, more powerful creatures, and the Saint does not yet grasp the formless essence of Shadow Dance. He judges Sunny as a mere human, but Sunny is more than that.
Chapter 1201 Battle Of The Black Skull (15)
Morgan, drenched and bloodied, struggles to stand against Mordret, whose injuries are far more grievous. One eye and a hand are gone, yet his expression remains unnervingly calm. He relishes the pain, a long-awaited taste of revenge so close. “Ah… it hurts… I haven’t felt pain like that in a long, long time…” he thinks. Mordret advances, his sword unwavering despite his weakening state.
Morgan, confused and indignant, asks, “How… how are you still standing, monster…” Mordret merely smiles, aware she’s buying time to heal. While her wounds close, she cannot replenish her essence, leaving her increasingly fatigued. Mordret endures a blow to his clavicle, sacrificing defense to thrust his sword into a chink in her armor. He then strikes her temple with the jagged stump of his arm, sending her reeling. “Ah…” he sighs.
Mordret observes the wider battle, Clan Song is clearly losing. Reflections fall to the titanic worm, Saint Madoc closes in on Beastmaster, and Silent Stalker and Summer Knight fight to the death. Even Sunless’s pet monster is besting a Reflection of Sir Gilead, meanwhile…
Chapter 1202 Battle Of The Black Skull (16)
On another part of the battlefield, Saint effortlessly defeats the Reflection of Summer Knight, consuming its light with her darkness. The gargantuan worm grinds an invisible foe to dust within its maw, while Beastmaster is wounded by Silent Stalker and taunted by his cold voice: “Stupid girl… you should have stayed sweet and innocent, like you were before…” Beastmaster defiantly retorts, “I’m… I’m not done yet, old man… you haven’t won yet…”
Meanwhile, Sunny, against all odds, slays Dire Fang. Overwhelmed, he stares at the falling corpse. ‘I… won?’ Remembering the dread Saint Cormac once inspired, he struggles to believe his victory. He retrieves Sin of Solace, stands atop the felled giant, and, still in shock, murmurs, ‘I won…’ before losing his footing and tumbling into the mud. “It was so strange.” He remembers the day when the Night Temple had been destroyed, and the battle between Cormac and Sky Tide. The battle seemed apocalyptic. “And now, Sunny had killed a similar being himself.”
He rushes to Nephis, finding her wounded and struggling to stand. “Neph!” Her helmet is gone, her face pale, and Sunny uses his flame to heal her. Once she recovers, she asks, “…We won?” Sunny confirms, “Yeah. He’s dead.” “….Good,” she replies. Sunny, surprised at her under reaction, starts to question “Good? Good?! That’s all you have to say?”, but when her face is close, she slightly smiles, “…Why make a fuss? It was… just a Saint…”
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A narrow vertical rift tears through the sky, dwarfing the battlefield and unleashing an invisible shockwave that throws Sunny and the Awakened warriors to their knees. The Call intensifies, a deafening howl driving many to the brink of madness as some crawl towards the rift, eyes wide and unseeing. Sunny resists the overwhelming desire to submit, terror gripping him as he murmurs, “Four… it’s a Category Four Nightmare Gate…” Then, the world convulses as two more rifts rip open the sky, trapping the armies of Valor, Song, and Saint Cormac’s escorts.
From the first Gate, giant, dark, human-like fingers emerge, each the size of a tower, grabbing the edges of the rift and straining to pull it wider. Horrifyingly, they succeed, and a seething mass of dark flesh flows out, morphing into gargantuan black tentacles that lash out with incredible speed. Echo, the towering tortoise, is ripped apart in a whirlwind of sparks, while the titanic worm is shredded and consumed. A scrawny figure flees on a black steed, narrowly escaping the tide of dark flesh that consumes the Reflection of Silent Stalker, leaving only a faint sound of breaking glass.
Nearby, Beastmaster staggers back, blood flowing from her mangled face as the dark flesh closes in. The battle has escalated into an apocalyptic event, showcasing the immense power and terror unleashed by the Nightmare Gate, leaving the heroes facing an enemy unlike anything they have encountered before.
