Chapter 511 Ascension
Sunny witnesses Saint, his Shadow demon, undergo a profound transformation. After a year of gathering Memories to saturate her dark embers, Saint ascends to a new Rank. The process is marked by a surge of darkness within her, three black embers glowing intensely before a brief, ethereal dance of black flames envelops her. Though outwardly unchanged, her inner power deepens, the embers appearing more complete. Sunny discovers her Rank is now “Ascended,” a significant milestone that places her alongside powerful beings like Master Jet and the Black Knight. He expresses joy at her advancement, even with a touch of bitterness, acknowledging her current superior strength. Saint’s response, a subtle tap to her chestplate, signifies a quiet acknowledgment and shared purpose.
This momentous occasion for Saint leaves Sunny contemplating her new capabilities and the implications of her Ascended Rank. He realizes that she now bridges the gap between human Masters and Nightmare Creatures known as Fallen, embodying a unique path of ascension rather than corruption. The chapter subtly hints at the growing power dynamic between Sunny and Saint, with her regaining a position of greater strength. The shared, unspoken understanding between them, particularly Saint’s unusual communicative gesture, suggests a strengthening bond as they face future challenges.
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The narrative now focuses on the immense potential Saint possesses as an Ascended being. Her ascension signifies not just an increase in raw power, but a fundamental shift in her nature, bringing her closer to the enigmatic forces Sunny is encountering. The mystery of the Spell’s creator and the true nature of death, hinted at in the previous chapter, looms larger, and Saint’s newfound strength may be crucial in unraveling these dangerous enigmas. Sunny is left with a potent, ascendant ally, but the path ahead is clearly fraught with peril and profound revelations.
Chapter 512 Unburdened
Sunny contemplates his newly acquired Memory, “Heavenly Burden,” a seemingly simple black steel needle with gold accents. Its Awakened Rank and Tier III designation suggest it’s not an exceptional item, yet its true value lies in its unique enchantment: “Unburdened,” which bestows the ability to fly. This Memory, acquired through Master Jet’s intervention using contribution points, is a rare and coveted item, typically reserved for Masters or Saints. Sunny, already possessing the Dark Wing, finds this additional flight capability a significant advantage, even if the Memory’s description, “To be free of a burden, one has to let go of all attachments they hold in their heart,” seems ironic given the Chained Isles’ oppressive nature.
With a grimace, Sunny attempts to pierce his forearm with the needle, but his resilient skin, protected by the Puppeteer’s Shroud, resists. He enhances the Heavenly Burden with a shadow, and this time, the needle embeds itself. A sharp, but manageable, pain erupts, but Sunny is immediately captivated as his body begins to float upwards. He ascends slowly, like a balloon, into the sky.
The sensation is both bizarre and terrifying. A sudden gust of wind shoves him sideways, leaving him suspended over the terrifying abyss of the Sky Below. The chapter ends with Sunny’s precarious ascent, a testament to the Heavenly Burden’s power and a stark reminder of the inherent dangers of his journey.
Chapter 513 War Council
Sunny, still reeling from his perilous ascent and the Sky Below’s treacherous embrace, witnesses the return of the Fire Keepers from their lengthy expedition. Led by the pale-haired Cassie, whose blindfolded grace belies her combat prowess with the Quiet Dancer, the group appears weathered but invigorated. They carry a large wooden box, the object of their two-month quest. Sunny, accustomed to his solitary existence and the infrequent, albeit useful, guidance of Mordret, greets them with a forced smile, masking his apprehension at re-entering the company of others. He muses on Mordret’s absence, a stark contrast to his previous ideal companion, and the chilling reminder of their encounters provided by a mirror shard.
Later, gathered in a spacious room provided by the White Feather clan, Sunny finds himself questioning the disparity between his cramped quarters and the Fire Keepers’ more comfortable accommodations, despite his SS-class Awakened status. During their reunion, a Fire Keeper inquires about Sunny’s activities, to which he deflects with a quip about his indispensable role as a shopkeeper, even offering them a range of goods from toothpaste to underpants. The Fire Keepers’ bemused reactions do little to alleviate Sunny’s disquiet as he turns his attention to a meticulously detailed map of the Chained Isles, marking potential routes to a shipwreck.
The map confirms the group’s grim objective: an assault on a Corrupted Monster within its lair. Sunny’s expression darkens as the reality of the mission sinks in, his prior experience with the Chained Isles fostering a deep-seated reluctance to engage in such perilous undertakings alongside relative strangers. The promise of battle, especially against a formidable creature in its own territory, weighs heavily on Sunny, setting the stage for a dangerous new chapter in his journey.
Chapter 514 Hidden Blade
Cassie reveals their audacious plan: to repair the ancient, monster-infested ship and make it fly again. Sunny, initially bewildered, connects the dots – the ship on the coins, its presence in the landlocked Chained Isles, and its association with Noctis and a desecrated grove. The large wooden box they carried, he learns, contains a sapling from that grove, the key to restoring the ship’s aerial capabilities. Shakti, an Artisan with a talent for plants, and Kaor, a skilled carpenter, are among the Fire Keepers tasked with the monumental reconstruction, with more help on the way.
Sunny grapples with Cassie’s seemingly convenient pursuit of a flying ship, especially considering his own need to traverse the Sky Below. Cassie confirms their hope: this vessel might offer a path across the formidable Hollow Mountains, a necessary undertaking for their ultimate goal of finding Nephis. Shakti voices the desperation, “We have to try, no matter what. Going there on foot is suicide.”
Despite the grand plan, Sunny voices his concern about the ship’s current inhabitant. “I really don’t think that you can handle that fight,” he states, acknowledging the monster’s power. Cassie explains their strategy: a classic bait-and-strike approach. The Fire Keepers intend to lure the creature out and attack while it’s distracted, a risky gambit that underscores their unwavering determination to succeed.
Chapter 515 Traveling Together
Sunny joins Cassie and the Fire Keepers, finding the journey across the Chained Isles surprisingly serene. He witnesses firsthand the cohesive unit Cassie has forged, her cohort functioning as a “singular, finely tuned battle machine.” This newfound safety allows Sunny to experience a rare relaxation in the Dream Realm, as his companions efficiently handle any encountered Nightmare Creatures. Cassie’s prescience as an oracle proves invaluable, steering them clear of perilous descents and dangerous territories, much like their earlier expeditions. Sunny’s familiarity with the region and the aid of his Covetous Coffer further enhance their travels.
The group arrives at Shipwreck Island, a stark contrast to their peaceful transit. The island, with its ruined towers and subterranean dangers, presents a more hostile environment. After a swift engagement with monstrous worms, they approach the edge of the isle, the sound of groaning metal heralding their objective. Before them hangs the colossal, derelict ship, a “corpse of the metal giant” entangled in chains, swaying ominously above the Sky Below.
The sheer scale of the wreckage stuns the Fire Keepers. “That wound in his chest… what kind of force could have shattered such a creature? And his arm… we saw it already, didn’t we?” one questions, a mixture of awe and trepidation in their voice. Another Fire Keeper, a spark of curiosity overriding caution, asks, “Maybe we should climb down and investigate, after taking control of the island?” Their path to the ancient vessel and the challenges it holds are now laid bare.
Chapter 516 Legacy Of Ruin
The return to Shipwreck Island reveals a subtly altered landscape. The desolate valley now directly borders the Tear, the Twisted Rock having crumbled into the Sky Below, a change Sunny senses in the very air. Ahead, the derelict ship, entangled with a dead tree, lies at the valley’s center, its hull overgrown with thick vines. Piles of wooden debris, the Sailor Dolls, soon shift into their menacing humanoid forms, their jagged blades poised. Cassie and the Fire Keepers prepare to face the impending swarm, sharing a terse farewell with Sunny. “Give them hell,” Sunny urges, a ghost of his past with Cassie lingering in his voice. The Fire Keepers, ever resilient, acknowledge his sentiment before moving forward, leaving Sunny to observe their unseen approach.
As the Sailor Dolls coalesce into towering, blade-wielding abominations, the Fire Keepers launch a swift and coordinated assault. Shakti’s icy arrows cripple one creature, slowing its advance, while another Fire Keeper severs its arm with a powerful axe strike. Though the initial engagement is brutal, with the cohort fending off a dozen more Fallen Beasts, a crucial intervention by Kaor, who manipulates the wood of the creatures, subtly slows their movements. This crucial advantage allows the Fire Keepers to match the onslaught of Nightmare Creatures a Rank above their own, though the struggle remains arduous.
The Fire Keepers, despite their superior skill and resilience, find themselves outnumbered and facing creatures of immense power. Shakti’s artfully aimed arrows shatter into a cloud of icy mist, hampering an opponent, while another Fire Keeper’s shield deflects a brutal retaliatory blow. The artisans’ unique abilities prove instrumental; Kaor’s manipulation of wood introduces a subtle sluggishness to the abominations, granting the cohort a vital edge. Yet, even with these advantages, the sheer ferocity of the Fallen Beasts pushes the Fire Keepers to their absolute limits, hinting at the true cost of navigating this perilous island.
Chapter 517 Baiting The Monster
The very ground of the valley erupts as colossal vines, thick as a man’s arm and bristling with thorns, surge from the earth. Even the hulking Sailor Dolls, moments before poised to attack, falter and retreat, some collapsing as if dead, terrified of the ancient power stirring within the derelict wreck. Cassie and the Fire Keepers, unfazed, prepare their defense. After the blind oracle plunges her rapier into the ground, they wrap strips of cloth around their faces, forming a protective barrier. The fallen Sailor Dolls are dragged into a circle and ignited, creating a ring of bonfires that bathes the eight Awakened warriors in heat as they stand back-to-back, their resolve etched onto their faces. Shakti, however, kneels, her hand pressed to the ground, letting out a piercing scream.
Sunny, observing from the shadows, finds himself growing attached to the resilient Fire Keepers, a stark contrast to his usual detached observation. He witnesses the terrifying power of the animated vines as they lash out, one piercing the earth where a Fire Keeper stood. Another vine attacks, its surface impervious to a sword’s edge, only to be severed by a glowing axe – an Ascended Memory. The severed vine unleashes a cloud of poisonous mist, but the Fire Keeper wisely retreats, and Cassie uses her staff to summon wind, directing the deadly fog into the flames. The Fire Keepers possess formidable weaponry, with several wielding weapons of superior Rank, and even Echoes, like the familiar praying mantis-like creature that emerges from the flames to attack a vine.
The battle escalates as the Fire Keepers demonstrate their skill and resourcefulness against the overwhelming onslaught. One Fire Keeper’s axe, an Ascended Memory, proves effective against the tenacious vines, but its use releases a poisonous mist that quickly envelops the user. Cassie intervenes, summoning wind to disperse the toxic cloud into the bonfires. Sunny notes the impressive armament of the Fire Keepers, recognizing the power of their Ascended Memories and Echoes, such as the glass and clay praying mantis that aids in the fight. Despite their prowess, the sheer terror of the awakened flora and fauna hints at the immense challenge ahead.
Chapter 518 Cargo Hold
Sunny descends into the toxic miasma of the ancient wreck, transforming into a shadow to navigate the vine-choked corridors. He acknowledges the necessity of enduring the poison while anticipating a confrontation with the entity in the cargo hold, preferring to acclimate before battle. The ship, once a familiar path, is now a pulsating, breathing organism, teeming with slithering sounds and shrouded in deadly mist emanating from the roots of the vile vines, while the main threat remains engaged with the Fire Keepers.
Reaching the violently outward-bent cargo hold gates, Sunny feels the immense presence within. A vast, rhythmically expanding and contracting shadow dominates the space, the source of warm wind. With a surge of resolve and a fraction of his essence, Sunny reappears inside the cargo hold, momentarily stunned by the grotesque spectacle. Thick vines, originating from a pulsating mass of moss, snake throughout the hold, all growing from a central, horrifically contorted human form. Vines erupt from its orifices and pierce its body, keeping it both dead and terrifyingly alive, fueling the growth that threatens to consume everything.
Despite the overwhelming horror and the chilling realization that this ghoulish entity is his target, Sunny steels himself. He acknowledges the deep, cold fear he feels as a sign of his remaining humanity. Recalling his plan, Sunny prepares for a single, decisive strike with the Cruel Sight, aiming to ignite a divine flame within the monster’s chest and end its reign of terror.
Chapter 519 Trapped
Sunny fights desperately, a symphony of pain and swift movement as the Cruel Sight cleaves through attacking vines. The pervasive poison seeps into his system, leaving him feverish and weak, a chilling paralysis creeping through his left side. Though Blood Weave battles the toxin, Sunny is exposed, his escape to the shadows blocked by a massive vine that shatters the floorboards. Trapped, he realizes the direness of his situation as dozens of vines constrict the space. “Argh!” he cries out as black thorns tear into his flesh, more poison flooding his bloodstream.
With a desperate maneuver honed by Shadow Dance, Sunny dodges the deadly onslaught, his body twisting at impossible angles. He barely escapes entanglement, his palm burning from the mossy floor. He uses his own shadows, detaching one to reach the target while another serves as his immediate escape route. The briefest of moments, a fraction of a second, is all he has to survive. He narrowly avoids being impaled, his ligaments screaming in protest, as he performs a series of contorting dodges.
Finally, Sunny dives into the shadow, emerging directly before the pulsating moss and the contorted human form. The Cruel Sight ignites, and he thrusts its blade into the monster’s chest. “Got you!” he exclaims, expecting an immediate reaction. However, the ghoulish entity remains inert, its empty eyes and torn flesh undisturbed by the seemingly fatal blow.
Chapter 520 Deliverance
Sunny reels from a horrifying realization: the mangled form within the moss nest is not dead. He grapples with the implications of an ancient, tortured soul existing for millennia, questioning the nature of its existence and the origin of the parasitic vines. While Saint buys him precious time, Sunny’s attention is drawn to a specific section of the bulkhead, a subtle anomaly in the moss growth. He suspects the dying entity is trying to guide him, his hope ignited by a small gap and an unusual bend in the vines. He desperately searches for a clue, the weight of the unanswered questions pressing down on him.
Ignoring the renewed onslaught of vines and Saint’s desperate struggle, Sunny lunges towards the wall. He battles through the suffocating growth, his body increasingly burdened by the potent poison that even his Blood Weave struggles to contain. Miraculously, he pushes through, reaching the wall near the mossy gap. His gaze locks onto what he initially mistook for a splinter, his breath catching as he identifies it: a wooden knife, thrust deep into the bulkhead.
The discovery sends a jolt through Sunny. The knife’s form is eerily familiar, mirroring the obsidian blade on the Sanctuary of Noctis altar. Yet, this one is crafted from wood, as if a branch had spontaneously grown into its shape. He seizes it, a fragile beacon of hope in the chaos. Driven by the burning question of how this creature endures, and spurred by the potential power of this strange, wooden artifact, Sunny pushes forward, the path to understanding and survival now inextricably linked to this ancient, wooden weapon.
Chapter 521 Undying Chain
Sunny, battered and poisoned, finds himself in the decaying cargo hold, coughing up blood. His Shadow whispers of newfound strength, but a more significant boon arrives: a Memory. The ancient wreck, now cleansed of the Corrupted Monster and its parasitic vines, begins to rot and crumble. Sunny, despite his critical injuries from the fierce battle, finds solace in the fact that the poison is contained by his Blood Weave. The Wormvine’s demise, though complex, is a victory, leaving the cleanup of remaining Sailor Dolls to the Fire Keepers, if they survived.
Saint observes the disintegrating remains of Solvane, the former host of the Wormvine, with her characteristic indifference. As Sunny’s exhaustion recedes, a torrent of questions consumes him: Who was Solvane? How did they endure for millennia as a host, immune to divine flame and Cruel Sight, yet vulnerable to a simple wooden knife? The origins and uncanny resemblance of the wooden knife to the obsidian blade on the Sanctuary of Noctis altar remain a mystery, fueling Sunny’s growing unease.
The sheer magnitude of his accomplishment weighs heavily on Sunny. He has killed a Saint, a Transcendent being of unimaginable power, a feat he never believed possible at his current rank. The realization of slaying a demigod, a creature capable of leveling cities, leaves him reeling, the implications of this newfound victory far from understood.
Chapter 522 Lnvincible
Sunny, still recovering from his battle, marvels at his new Transcendent armor, the Undying Chain. He reflects on the near-invincibility it offers, a stark contrast to his past struggles, though he laments the lack of dormant creatures on the Forgotten Shore to test it against. The armor’s Memory Description speaks of “desire bound by seven brilliant shackles” and an unleashed entity, hinting at a deeper narrative Sunny begins to unravel. He connects this to the Demon of Hope and her imprisonment, recognizing the description’s relevance to the Ivory Tower he had visited.
A perplexing inconsistency arises as Sunny considers the Undying Chain’s connection to his victory over Solvane, the Wormvine’s host. He deduces that Solvane’s immortality, explaining the “Undying” epithet, likely stemmed from a deeper resistance than the Wormvine’s, a resistance potentially linked to the “seven brilliant shackles.” However, the mystery of the wooden knife, capable of killing the seemingly immortal Solvane when nothing else could, continues to baffle him. “This is just too weird…,” Sunny mutters, acknowledging the lack of clues to solve this particular enigma.
Turning his attention back to the armor’s specific enchantments, Sunny discovers “Chains of Longing,” granting high protection against mind attacks, a rare and valuable boon. He notes the coincidence of receiving this for the third time, attributing it either to incredible luck or his tendency to face particularly formidable foes. The second enchantment, “Brilliant Will,” promises enhanced armor strength for those with divine affinity, which for Sunny, with his “Ember of Divinity,” will be amplified threefold, a prospect that brings a pleased grin to his face.
Chapter 523 Made Eternal
Despite the lingering weakness from the toxin and the Blood Weave’s efforts, Sunny, clad in his Transcendent Undying Chain armor, explores the ruined cargo hold. He finds no treasures, only the decay wrought by the Wormvine. Yet, the armor feels like a second skin, its comfortable fit attributed to his augmented physique and vast shadow fragments, a feat that would overwhelm a typical Awakened. His focus shifts to the remains of Solvane, where he retrieves the wooden knife. To his dismay, the blade is shattered and the wood appears dead, devoid of any magical signatures.
Sunny ponders the knife’s singular purpose: to end Solvane’s immortality. He speculates if other obsidian and ivory knives serve similar roles against different immortals, a chilling thought that prompts a shiver. A tentative understanding dawns as he considers the knife’s potential connection to a “String of Fate,” folded into an endless circle, much like the descriptions of the Undying Chain’s “seven brilliant shackles.” He suspects this broken artifact was Solvane’s fate, a divine creation of the Sun God, capable of severing a god-made immortal.
Later, Sunny navigates the tilted deck of the ancient ship, a precarious journey that ends with him tumbling onto the ground. The precariousness of his situation, holding a divine weapon used to kill a divine creation, solidifies his relief that the gods are no more. The chapter leaves him contemplating the terrifying power of these celestial beings and the fate of other immortals.
Chapter 524 Forty-Two
Wounded but resilient, Sunny finds himself treated by a pale, exhausted healer named Shim, who partially repairs a torn ligament. Despite the pain, Sunny’s focus remains on his own progression, noting his near-completion of the Shadow Fragments required to evolve into a demon and gain a third shadow. This advancement, achieved in mere months, stands in stark contrast to the decades most Awakened take to saturate a single core. However, a glance at his Master’s stats reveals a disheartening truth: Neph, his companion, has surged ahead in soul fragment accumulation, leaving Sunny feeling increasingly outpaced.
The growing disparity fuels Sunny’s grim determination to reach a mysterious “Seed” on Shipwreck Island, believing it the only way to bridge the chasm between himself and Neph, whom he now perceives as less than human, truly a devil. His bleak contemplation is interrupted by Cassie’s arrival. She inquires about his well-being, a question met with Sunny’s characteristic surliness. He reveals her information about the creature’s weakness was incorrect, admitting he ultimately defeated it with a mere piece of wood, a detail that leaves Cassie questioning his methods.
As Cassie turns her gaze back towards the distant wreck, the unspoken question of their next move hangs heavy in the air. Sunny, still reeling from the stark realization of Neph’s burgeoning power and his own struggle to keep pace, understands that the path forward is fraught with peril. The island, with its desolate landscape, holds the key to his desperate ambition, a seed of power that might finally allow him to surpass the seemingly insurmountable gap between him and his extraordinary, inhuman companion.
Chapter 525 Vengeful Ghosts
Six days later, the cohort, including the recovering Fire Keepers, nears the Citadel. Despite the severe injuries sustained by some, particularly Shakti, the healer’s continued efforts have brought most back to a stable condition, though grave internal damage will require later treatment. As the sun dips below the Sky Below, forcing a reluctant camp, only a few islands separate them from Sanctuary. However, treacherous Nightmare Creature hunting grounds necessitate a significant detour, meaning another night spent in the wilderness before continuing their journey.
Sunny, however, seizes the darkness as an opportunity. For five consecutive nights, he has ventured alone into the Chained Isles, pushing his limits against both familiar and unknown Nightmare Creatures. His new armor, the Undying Chain, proves remarkably effective, absorbing most damage, and with Saint’s guidance, he has emerged victorious from each perilous encounter, now standing on the precipice of fully saturating his cores.
Approaching a descending neighboring island, Sunny manifests his Cruel Sight, his grim determination fueling his actions. He heads towards a desolate ruin he has explored before, knowing its chambers house powerful Fallen Rank specters, a stark contrast to the Awakened gargoyles he previously eliminated. These wraiths, brimming with madness and bloodlust, present a grave danger, but nothing will stop Sunny from his hunt, as he is merely one step away from his goal.
