Chapter 1234 Two Futures
Sunny suddenly laughs, an epiphany washing over him as he floats along in the mist. He remembers a conversation with Effie in the Dark City’s ruined cathedral, her belief that the Dream Realm isn’t hell, but a cruel paradise humanity deserves. The Sin of Solace is curious, “What is it that you see, if you don’t mind me asking?”. Sunny understands now that Effie’s perspective stemmed from her broken body in the waking world versus her vibrant existence in the Dream Realm, and from her belief that humanity had already ruined the waking world’s ecosystem.
Sunny realizes that humanity’s future might lie solely within the Dream Realm. As the Nightmare Spell intensifies, countless new Sleepers, Awakened, Masters, and even Saints will emerge, able to exist in conquered parts of the Dream Realm. He considers the grim, yet realistic, reasoning of the Sovereigns, who have long concentrated on creating a haven in the Dream Realm, seeing the waking world as a lost cause. It is “the future the Sovereigns believe in, at least”.
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But Sunny also recalls Nephis, who views the Sovereigns as traitors for abandoning resistance. He allows himself to dream of a different future, one where a new Supreme conquers the Fifth Nightmare and becomes a Sacred or even Divine being, miraculously saving everyone. He knows this possibility is near impossible, a mere “bit of wishful thinking,” but he indulges in the unrealistic dream nonetheless.
Chapter 1235 Wondrous Sight
Still haunted by nightmares of a “dark, dreadful, devouring obsession,” Sunny seeks to summon Nightmare for protection, only to find himself plunged into chaos. The raft beneath him lurches violently, throwing him into the depths of the water. The familiar, calming murmur of the mist transforms into a deafening roar as the water around him glows with an unnatural light.
Breaking the surface, Sunny finds himself blinded by sunlight, the ever-present mist vanished without a trace. “Wh…” he thinks as he coughs out water and stares around, “what is going on?” The scene is now suffused with the light of seven suns, suspended in a blue sky above a vast expanse of clear water reflecting their light. The eastern horizon is at dawn, painted in shades of lilac, while the west is consumed by the crimson of a setting sun.
The landscape strikes Sunny as eerily familiar. It reminds him of a Soul Sea, one that is unlike anything he knows. He turns toward the current, letting it guide him through this new, breathtaking realm, a place where the nightmare world and the light of day coexist in a strange, mesmerizing harmony.
Chapter 1236 Great River
Adrift under the light of the seven suns, Sunny contemplates the ominous runes carved into his raft. Despite his extensive knowledge of Dream Realm languages, he is disturbed by the presence of human languages among the carvings, even ones utterly foreign to him. This discovery prompts Sunny to question the entire nature of this bizarre Nightmare, vastly different from what he expected. With no reversed time or familiar desert, the vast expanse of water under the alien suns leaves him deeply perplexed.
Seeking insight, Sunny turns to the Sin of Solace. “What do you think about all this?” he asks, only to be met with the familiar, unsettling response: “I am a part of you, so you should already be aware. No?” Frustrated, Sunny dismisses the apparition’s cryptic nature. Turning away, he tries to focus, ignoring the runes and turning to the seven suns. Despite the overwhelming weirdness, he tries to focus on the basics: a river of freshwater.
Reasoning through the impossible scale of his surroundings, Sunny recalls a river described as “great” – the Great River, mentioned in connection with the Stifled Scream. A dreadful secret hidden in its estuary seems linked to the Tomb of Ariel, hinted at in the description of the Shroud of Graceless Dusk. The connection between the pyramid, the River and the Sybil’s fall leads Sunny to wonder if he is, in fact, floating into the past.
Chapter 1237 The Answer Is
Sunny is unnerved by the sudden appearance of a new Memory among his soul arsenal, especially since he has not defeated any Nightmare Creatures. Memories are still important, but these days, Sunny finds most of the rewards he receives from the Spell are either too weak for his level of power or inferior to something he already possesses. The Memory’s mysterious origin and its name, “Key of the Estuary,” sends a chill down his spine, given his recent thoughts about the Tomb of Ariel and the Great River. He wonders, “What did the name of the Memory mean? Where did it come from? And, more importantly… when did it appear?”
He checks on Soul Serpent, finding the runes still present, ensuring Rain’s safety. Despite the relief, Sunny struggles with the absurdity of the situation. What are the chances a random abomination gave him a Memory connected to the Great River? Returning his focus, he analyzes the Memory further, his heart leaping as he discovers its rank: Supreme. The implications of a Supreme Memory appearing out of nowhere fills him with dread, understanding that nothing in this world, or rather, two worlds, comes without a price.
Questions flood Sunny’s mind, wondering if Soul Serpent could even kill a Great Nightmare Creature. He considers his own chances against such an abomination, recalling the Skinwalker vessels. “Doesn’t make any sense,” he thinks, before his expression changes again as he continues to read.
Chapter 1238 So Bizarre
Sunny stares, dumbfounded, at the Key of the Estuary, a Memory entirely woven from shadow essence, unlike his own patchwork creations. “What… what is the meaning of this?” he wonders, a cold sweat breaking out as the thought of lost memories, of Oblivion, surfaces. He instinctively reaches for a weapon, but the Great River remains peaceful. He calms, deciding that even memory loss wouldn’t explain the Memory’s existence, especially considering that he isn’t capable of creating a spellweave of that magnitude and complexity.
He considers the possibility of the soul shards originating from Great Beasts instead of Great Terrors, perhaps even six Sovereigns. The Sin of Solace appears, offering the suggestion with a mocking grin. Sunny flinches. “Ha. Ha… very funny,” he retorts, face pale. He knows he couldn’t kill six Great Beasts either, feeling his sanity fray. A Supreme Memory of the Sixth Tier appearing out of nowhere, seemingly woven from shadow essence, is simply too bizarre.
After a moment of mental stillness, Sunny starts to reason. Even if the explanations are outlandish, he’ll accept them. The shadow essence weave doesn’t necessarily mean he created it; another shadow creature might exist capable of weaving. The unsettling mystery of the Key of the Estuary and its origins only deepens.
Chapter 1239 Sea Monster
The Key of the Estuary’s mystery lingers, but Sunny’s immediate concern shifts as the flotsam beneath him explodes into splinters, obliterated by an unseen force. A monstrous serpentine head erupts from the Great River, its eyes burning with ancient hunger, azure scales shimmering like fortified armor. The creature is immense, seemingly mad, and fixated on Sunny. He leaps, narrowly evading the snapping jaws, but the serpent rises, its maw opening like a “dark abyss” as it lunges upward. “Curse it… why does such a huge monster even want to eat a tiny morsel like me?!” Sunny wonders, aware that it craves his soul, not his flesh.
He twists, using a massive fang as a springboard to catapult himself higher. The fang, an indestructible “monolith made of pristine crystal jade”, refuses to break. Despite the searing pain, Sunny ascends, witnessing the full, terrifying extent of the leviathan’s length, estimating it to be “at least a couple hundred meters”. Despair washes over him as he realizes he has nowhere to land, surrounded only by water, with the approaching maw looming ever closer.
Just as the situation seems hopeless, the Memory manifests: not a weapon, but a long, black needle with golden wire, the Heavenly Burden. Without hesitation, Sunny drives the needle into his arm and commands his shadows to wrap around it. “D-damnation… why do I feel like a hot air balloon?” he thinks as his ascent accelerates dramatically, leaving the furious serpent behind. He rises faster than the creature can emerge from the water, escaping certain death as the surface of the Great River dwindles below.
Chapter 1240 Sunny Zeppelin
Suspended high above the Great River, Sunny takes in a breathtaking, yet desolate, panorama. There is nothing but water in every direction. Then, a chilling voice echoes nearby. “Enjoying the view?” The Sin of Solace, Sunny’s doppelganger, stands calmly on thin air, wind tousling its long black hair, and mocks his predicament. “It’s because, unlike you, I’m not weighed down by sin,” it taunts. Sunny is annoyed by his clone’s remarks and considers its suggestion to jump into the Great Beast’s maw, but remembers they share a fate.
Determined to survive, Sunny summons the Dark Wing, the shadows from the Heavenly Burden enveloping it as he glides forward above the Great River. To one side, dawn paints the world in lilac, while the other side is crimson dusk. The Sin of Solace strolls across the sky, hands clasped behind its back, an ever-present reminder of Sunny’s inner turmoil. He muses on the Nightmare Spell’s purpose, reasoning that there must be land somewhere, otherwise the trial would be unfair.
As Sunny continues his flight, the monstrous serpent follows beneath the surface, its vast shadow a constant threat. Sunny’s expression darkens as he understands the relentless nature of the danger and prepares for the possibility of a long, perilous journey through the water world of the Spell. He steels himself for a third attempt to survive the [Where is my eye?] enchantment if no other option presents itself.
Chapter 1241 Dark Island
Sunny soars through the sky above the Great River, finding a strange peace amidst the endless water and ever-present threat of the monstrous serpent. He misses the comparatively cozy depths of the Sky Below. The Sin of Solace is no better company than Mordret. “What? Have you lost… I strongly protest against this comparison!” the doppelganger scoffs, clearly offended. Sunny placates him with a half-hearted apology: “Yeah, yeah… you are way more handsome than that guy. Sorry. I went too far.”
The eerie cycle of the seven suns continues as they rise from the east and set in the west, bathing the world in constant daylight. Sunny battles the urge to attack the Great Beast with Morgan’s Warbow, knowing it’s a fruitless endeavor that would only deplete his essence. Frustration mounts as he wonders how to measure the time within this strange realm, unsure if his instincts are reliable. “I am really starting to…”
But suddenly, Sunny’s focus sharpens. In the distance, a small black dot appears on the water’s surface. Is it land? His heart leaps with renewed hope, offering a promise of escape from the endless expanse of the Great River.
Chapter 1242 Cataclysmic Battle
The black dot in the distance isn’t land, but the shell of a monstrous turtle spanning over a kilometer, dwarfing the sea serpent that relentlessly pursues Sunny. Despite the turtle’s colossal size, the serpent, undeterred, rises from the water, its cloudy eyes fixed on the Great Monster. Sunny curses his fate, trading the hope of solid ground for an even greater abomination. “You can still step on that turtle, you know,” the Sin of Solace taunts, earning a dark glare from Sunny. The turtle, disturbed by the serpent’s presence, emits a threatening huff, its murky eyes igniting with silver light.
Ignoring the obvious power disparity, the azure serpent roars madly and lunges toward the turtle. Sunny, recalling the Carapace Centurions’ slaughter of Scavengers, expects the turtle to obliterate the serpent, potentially saving him in the process. Instead, the monstrous turtle meets the serpent head-on. Its beak opens, unleashing an indescribable sound that shakes the world, creating whirlpools capable of swallowing vessels whole. “Argh…” is all Sunny manages as the two abominations clash below him.
The serpent, surprisingly agile, avoids the turtle’s beak, attempting to sink its fangs into the gargantuan scales, but they merely slide off. Sunny watches in awe, realizing the forces unleashed could erase an entire siege capital. He briefly contemplates the devastation two such creatures would wreak on NQSC, before quickly returning to the present, a maelstrom of monstrous fury swirling beneath him.
Chapter 1243 Searching For Light
The white spark Sunny glimpsed has vanished, but its source becomes chillingly clear as morning dawns. The Great River below is stained crimson, a bloody flower blooming across kilometers of water. At its center floats the black turtle, lifeless, its silver neck bands broken. “The black turtle was dead,” the narrative intones, emphasizing the monstrosity of the scene. A gaping wound tunnels through its body, a testament to brutal force.
Below the floating corpse, the azure serpent rises, battered but alive, its cloudy eyes burning with fury as it stares at Sunny. Chunks of flesh are missing from its long neck, yet it survived, vanquishing the colossal turtle. ‘The old snake must be a queen… king?… of Beasts. It actually took down a Monster…’ Sunny reflects, both impressed and disturbed by the serpent’s power. The situation is dire, considering the serpent is now revealed to be an apex predator among its kind.
Sunny’s gaze returns to the turtle’s massive shell. He suspects the source of the white spark lies hidden somewhere on its dark surface. Unwilling to risk descent, he summons Morgan’s Warbow and sends a shadow-infused arrow to scout ahead. It hits the shell, splintering uselessly, yet the shadow, transported with the arrow, surveys the island-sized corpse with a resigned expression. His resentful gaze appears to damage Sunny’s conscience.
Chapter 1244 Damn Great Steak
Sunny’s shadow waves back at Nephis, confirming her presence. He feels relieved, no longer fearing he is the only human left in this strange epoch. Thanking the gods, he retrieves the Heavenly Burden and spirals down to the turtle’s shell, wary of the azure serpent still watching with hungry eyes. Luckily, its gaze cannot kill, unlike some Nightmare Creatures. He dismisses the Dark Wing, and jumps into the fissure where he finds Nephis. After a moment of staring at each other, Sunny grins, remarking, “That smells delicious. Where did you get fresh meat?”
The two sit opposite each other inside the fissure, enjoying a meal of roasted meat seasoned with the last of the salt and spices from the Covetous Coffer. Even with his enhanced teeth, Sunny struggles to chew the tough meat, requiring shadow augmentation. He is thankful for the meal, knowing the fire’s smoke led him to Nephis. He licks his fingers, savoring the taste, then asks Nephis with a smile, “Hey… did we really just eat the meat of a Great Monster?”
Nephis nods, drinking from the Endless Spring. “Yeah… I carved it myself. After the sea serpent left.” Sunny shifts awkwardly, considering the implications of eating a Great Monster, carved and cooked by Nephis after a terrifying battle. His life has become ridiculous.
Chapter 1245 Smashing Problems With A Hammer
Emerging from the fissure, Sunny and Nephis are confronted by the sight of the Great River, now a sea of blood surrounding the behemoth’s corpse. An ominous shadow stirs within the crimson tide, and a colossal, hateful eye rises to fix them with a burning gaze. Sunny recoils, but Nephis remains stoic, acknowledging the Great Beast’s strength. “It is a Great Beast. Of course, it’s strong,” Sunny sighs. Suddenly, the Sin of Solace mocks Sunny’s fear, urging him to fight the creature.
Inside the fissure, Sunny’s annoyance with the sword wraith intensifies when Nephis asks, “Sunny? Who are you talking to?”. He tries to explain away the voice as an enchantment of Memory, downplaying its influence with a feigned embarrassed, “Basically, it’s a voice that doesn’t miss a chance to explain how wrong everything I do is. Right… something like that.” Nephis seems unconvinced, a hint of a smile playing on her lips as she recalls a bizarre fairy tale about a mischievous doll.
The strange story about a doll who kills his moral guide leaves Sunny perplexed. He reflects on the increasing strength of Memory’s influence since entering the Nightmare, his discomfort evident. “As for the fairy tale… I wouldn’t mind smashing that annoying cricket with a hammer and watching it die.” The Sin of Solace raises a mockingly eyebrow, while Neph frowns slightly, clearly unsettled.
Chapter 1246 Research Partners
Nephis emerges from her personal space, now adorned in a white tunic embroidered with red patterns, a garment that prioritizes utility over pure defense. When Sunny questions her choice, suggesting a suit of armor, she responds pragmatically, “No matter how powerful of an armor Memory I use, it will still break after brushing against a great abomination once. So, I might as well go for something light and offering good utility.” The tunic enhances her senses, a more valuable asset in their current situation.
Sunny, captivated by her appearance despite his initial surprise, focuses on the Memories arrayed before them. These Memories all feature links to Ariel, his Tomb, the Great River, or an estuary. These are: The Bitter Cusp, the Mirror of Truth, the Sin of Solace, the Stifled Scream, the Dark Shaper, and the Falling Ash. He initiates a review of their accumulated knowledge.
Sunny pieces together the fragmented lore: Ariel, the Demon of Dread, constructed his Tomb within the Nightmare Desert, yet they entered a Seed seemingly born from that Tomb only to find themselves amidst the vast and strange Great River. He pauses, then continues, “That river seems to be the Great River, which is said to exist outside of time and flow endlessly from the future into the past… whatever that means.” The connection between the Tomb and the Great River remains a mystery, a thread they must untangle to navigate the dangers ahead.
Chapter 1247 Fear Itself
Sunny delves deeper into the Memories arrayed before them. Nephis chose to retain the Dark Shaper, a Transcendent Memory from the Fourth Tier, despite its value. “Being the leader of a group of elite Awakened was not cheap,” so most of her Antarctic Memories were sold, yet this stone mallet was special. The Dark Shaper, a tool rather than a traditional weapon, possesses a dark polished wood handle and a hammerhead of eerily familiar black stone – the same stone from which Ariel’s Tomb was constructed.
The mallet’s enchantments are disturbingly potent, capable of shaping not only inanimate matter but also flesh and bone into nightmarish forms, reminiscent of the Corrupted Devil Nephis defeated to obtain it. Sunny studies the Memory’s description, shimmering with runes that reveal its history. The runes read in part, “When the unholy titan took a step, everyone cowered in fear. Only Ariel, the Demon of Dread, remained standing – he did not feel fear, for he was fear itself.”
The inscription recounts Ariel’s battle against the invincible titan, detailing how he discovered a flaw – a tiny un-tempered spot on its heart. By whispering a secret and plunging the titan into the ocean, Ariel exploited this weakness, causing its body to crumble. From the titan’s blood, Ariel created a mystical river, and from its stone flesh, he built a pyramid. The inscription suddenly breaks off.
Chapter 1248 Entombed
Shaken by the inscription, Sunny and Nephis emerge from the fissure under seven suns. Sunny, voice laced with wonder, starts unraveling a perplexing theory: “I know that it doesn’t make sense… but it also makes so much sense, you know?” He proposes the Great River is inside the black pyramid, a feat only a daemon like Ariel could achieve, twisting mundane logic itself. He argues that Ariel created the black pyramid from the flesh of an Unholy Titan and the Great River from its blood.
Nephis, battling the unsettling gaze of the azure serpent, builds upon Sunny’s conjecture, suggesting the world they inhabit, reminiscent of a Soul Sea, might be formed from the titan’s soul itself, the seven suns being shards of the Titan’s divine soul. “If the humans of the Forgotten Shore could create an artificial sun, there’s really no reason why Ariel couldn’t create seven better ones.” They both reason this could explain the starless, black sky – the inner wall of the hollow pyramid.
Nephis then questions why Ariel would go to such elaborate lengths to hide a secret, creating a world removed from the flow of time. Sunny speculates Ariel had no other choice, that the truth, hidden in the Great River’s estuary, exists before time itself, outside even the gods’ control. “The only end such a river can have is the point… when time didn’t exist yet.” The estuary, in essence, is the primordial void where the past disappears, a place where even gods have no influence. Nephis sighs, wrestling with the paradox, realizing Ariel’s secret is buried so deep as to be inaccessible even to divinity.
