Chapter 571 Don’t Make A Sound
Thirst has pushed Sunny and Cassie to their breaking point, leaving them weak and delirious within their iron confines. The oppressive silence is shattered by a chilling scrape, announcing the arrival of a dark silhouette. Sunny’s limited vision reveals a hunched figure, exuding a potent stench of blood and carrying a dragging sword. A grotesque, gurgling laughter pierces the air, and as the figure steps into the dim rune light, Sunny recognizes the sentinel who imprisoned them, albeit horribly transformed. Bloody pits replace the sentinel’s eyes, and his once handsome face contorts into a demented grin.
The altered sentinel fixates on Sunny and Cassie, his madness escalating as he blames Sunny for a past transgression, “You! You! It is all your fault, yours! You let him free!” Desperate for escape, Sunny almost welcomes the sentinel’s approach, believing an open door is within reach, urging, “Just come here and open the door.” However, the sentinel discards his sword, conjuring a bow and a spectral arrow.
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The sentinel unleashes a volley of ghostly arrows, one narrowly missing Cassie, causing her to flinch but remain silent, while another whizzes inches above Sunny’s head. The sentinel, sensing their survival, vows, “Alive? I know that you are still alive… but not for long, now…” He draws his bow again, preparing to strike, leaving Sunny and Cassie in agonizing suspense.
Chapter 572 Sweeter Than Heaven
With the transformed sentinel now a silent, shadowy casualty, Sunny finds a flicker of renewed strength within his Soul Sea, his cores burning with dark flame. Despite his physical weakness, he manages to circulate essence through his Soul Serpent, easing his lethargy. He turns to Cassie, finding her spent but regenerating, having apparently retrieved the keys and freed them both. Sunny summons Saint, the demon knight, and silently commands her to “Close the door. Guard us.” He then retrieves the “Endless Spring,” a beautiful blue bottle, and offers it to Cassie, who gratefully drinks. Finally, Sunny drinks his share, the water a euphoric balm, revitalizing them both before they succumb to exhaustion and sleep.
Upon waking, Sunny feels significantly improved, though still weakened by hunger. Cassie remains asleep, her healing progressing even from a worse starting state, showcasing her resilience as an Awakened. The stone cell is now their sanctuary, guarded by Saint, but the gnawing hunger remains a potent threat. Sunny knows their ordeal is far from over, but the water has granted them a reprieve, and the presence of Saint offers a fragile sense of security as they prepare for whatever lies beyond the closed door.
The chapter subtly shifts from a desperate struggle for survival to a moment of recuperation and grim anticipation. The immediate threat of the sentinel has passed, replaced by the enduring challenge of their confinement and dwindling resources. Cassie’s quiet strength and Sunny’s burgeoning power, amplified by the Essence and the Endless Spring, hint at their potential, but the vastness of their predicament looms large.
Chapter 573 Hunger
Emerging from their cell, Sunny and Cassie step into the echoing silence of a dark, unexplored corridor, the shadows now their silent scouts in the labyrinthine depths of the Night Temple. They move with cautious purpose, guided by Sunny’s growing understanding of the vast, ancient structure. As they navigate the lower levels of a belfry, signs of brutal conflict mar the surroundings – shattered furniture, gouged walls, and grim remnants of a desperate struggle. The visceral evidence of past battles fuels their apprehension, a stark reminder of the dangers that may still lurk within the seemingly abandoned halls.
Their desperate search for sustenance leads them to a storage room, its shelves laden with crates of synthpaste. The sight ignites a primal hunger in Sunny, a hunger so profound he’d kill for a single mouthful of the unappealing sludge. Cassie, equally famished, reaches for a tube, but Sunny’s stern warning halts her. “Don’t eat more than one. And eat it slowly,” he advises, drawing on hard-won street knowledge. He explains the deadly consequences of overconsumption after prolonged starvation, a truth starkly revealed by his own experiences.
Heeding his caution, they each consume a single tube, the meager meal a temporary reprieve from their gnawing hunger. With renewed, albeit fragile, strength, Sunny employs the Covetous Coffer to secure more provisions. They then utilize the Endless Spring for a much-needed ablution, the revitalizing water a stark contrast to the grimness of their surroundings. Despite the acquisition of food and a moment of cleansing, the oppressive atmosphere of the Night Temple and the unknown threats it harbors continue to weigh heavily on them.
Chapter 574 Black Altar
The oppressive darkness of the Night Temple’s large hall greets Sunny and Cassie, the air thick with the stench of decay and the chilling tableau of a dozen eviscerated bodies. Sunny, though desensitized to death, feels a profound unease, his suspicion falling on Mordret, the creature he freed. The gruesome state of the slain Lost, each precisely killed but brutally mutilated, reveals Mordret as not only a powerful fighter but a sadistic one, capable of inflicting immense pain before a final, fatal strike. This discovery shakes Sunny’s confidence, questioning how he can overcome such a formidable and cruel entity.
Their attempt to escape proves futile. The massive temple gates, described by Master Welthe as sealed and only passable by Saint Cormac, remain unyielding, resisting Sunny’s combined might with his shadows and Cassie’s presence. The absence of a keyhole and any discernable locking mechanism dashes their hopes of a simple exit, leaving them trapped. “…I guess we aren’t getting out of here until the Saint arrives,” Sunny states with grim resignation, a week’s wait potentially fatal.
Facing another seemingly insurmountable obstacle, Cassie’s uncertain question, “Where to, then?” prompts Sunny to re-evaluate their predicament. Stuck within the temple, he proposes a pragmatic shift in focus: to complete the very mission that brought them to this forsaken place. This decision sets them on a new, perhaps even more perilous, path within the cursed confines of the Night Temple, the fate of their survival hanging precariously in the balance.
Chapter 575 Confrontation
Resigned to their entrapment within the Night Temple, Sunny and Cassie shift their focus from escape to their original mission. A rumbling sound signals the approach of other survivors, the remaining Lost warriors of the temple, led by a grim woman with red hair. Sunny, ever cautious, uses a shadow to scout ahead, confirming their presence and the precarious state of the dozen or so fighters. He muses on the advantage of obtaining information from them, weighing it against the potential danger of confrontation.
Their presence is quickly discovered when one of the Lost alerts their companions, pointing directly at Sunny’s observing shadow. Master Pierce, rugged and severe as ever, soon emerges from the group, his cold gaze fixed upon Sunny and Cassie. As Pierce questions their survival, Cassie subtly senses a presence behind Sunny, a detail he can’t confirm. This unseen threat is revealed moments later as ten unnerving Echoes materialize, surrounding them in a whirlwind of white sparks, doubling their already overwhelming odds.
Just as Sunny attempts to navigate the tense standoff with Pierce, a cold touch to his neck and a raspy voice command him to remain still. The arrival of an unseen entity, confirmed by Cassie’s intuition, plunges Sunny into a new, even more immediate peril, leaving the outcome of this encounter hanging precariously in the balance and hinting at further treachery within the cursed temple.
Chapter 576 Lnner Sanctum
The Lost survivors, a grim and weary cadre led by the severe Master Pierce and Master Welthe, secure themselves within the inner sanctum of the Night Temple, bolting heavy doors behind them. Sunny and Cassie, now under their dominion, are led to a hall that serves as their current stronghold, a stark reminder of the immense losses suffered. With fewer than thirty humans remaining to oppose the mad prince Mordret, the sheer scale of the devastation becomes chillingly clear. Despite their fatigue, the Lost exhibit a resilient spirit, their discipline evident in the swift management of their meager resources and the absence of any reflective surfaces throughout the sanctum, a measure against an unseen threat.
Summoned to a separate chamber, Sunny and Cassie face Pierce and Welthe, their expressions grim. Welthe lays down stern new rules: absolute obedience to command, a complete prohibition of mirrors or reflective items both inside and outside the sanctum, and silence regarding their experiences. The unspoken threat hangs heavy in the air. After these pronouncements, Welthe’s attention sharpens on Sunny, demanding a detailed account of his possession of a broken mirror. Pierce, his voice a low growl, leans forward, intensifying the pressure.
Pierce, his gaze piercing, demands, “Awakened Sunless… please, describe how you came in possession of that piece of a broken mirror. This time, in detail.” The air crackles with unspoken questions and lingering dangers, leaving Sunny and Cassie in a precarious position, their survival and the secrets of the Night Temple now inextricably bound to the will of the surviving Lost and the sinister presence that stalks these shadowed halls.
Chapter 577 Only You
The revelation that Prince Mordret is the eldest son of Saint Anvil, a patriarch of the Valor clan, sends ripples of understanding through Sunny. He speculates on Mordret’s title, “Prince of War,” and the potential implications for the lineage of the great clans, contrasting it with his own cursed inheritance. Cassie expresses surprise at Mordret’s connection to Valor. Welthe elaborates, explaining Mordret was given as a hostage but returned “disturbed” and “cruel,” possessing power beyond any normal Awakened. This uncontrollable power ultimately led to the clan’s decision to eliminate him, a painful choice made because he was “too powerful” and “couldn’t be controlled.”
Sunny remains skeptical of the official narrative, particularly the notion of Mordret being a mere “hostage.” He suspects the true reason for Anvil’s actions was Mordret’s overwhelming power, which likely led to his prohibition from challenging the Second Nightmare. This suspicion fuels Sunny’s belief that Mordret sought an unguarded Seed of Nightmare in the Chained Isles to circumvent these restrictions, leading to his eventual demise. The surviving Lost’s narrative, though filled with new information, leaves Sunny questioning their motivations.
His skepticism culminates in a direct question to the Masters: “If that Mordret was so dangerous… why didn’t you just kill him? Why go to all this trouble and imprison him, instead?” The unasked implications hang heavy, suggesting the Masters’ true intentions might be far more complex than mere containment, hinting at deeper secrets within the Night Temple and the precarious position Sunny and Cassie now occupy.
Chapter 578 Perfect Vessel
Sunny realizes with dawning horror that he is Mordret’s prime target for possession. Mordret, already possessing knowledge of Sunny’s habits and powers, sees Sunny as the ideal vessel to steal his Aspect, Shadows, and Memories, a perfect inheritance. This chilling realization confirms Sunny’s own suspicions about Mordret’s calculated machinations and the true danger he represents.
The Masters, Welthe and Pierce, acknowledge the dire situation. Welthe, clad in an anvil amulet that likely offers protection, admits they lack the numbers to re-contain the “monster” Mordret. Pierce’s Aspect, specialized in resistance, seemingly allows him to counter possession directly. Cassie’s blindness also provides a layer of safety, as she cannot be possessed through reflections. Their immediate plan is to wait, barricading themselves in the inner sanctum until Saint Cormac returns in about a week, confident that Mordret will then face a Transcendent’s wrath.
Despite the outward calm and the Masters’ assurances of a solid plan, Sunny, along with Cassie, retreats to a quiet corner to eat and rest. Cassie, her blindness not hindering her sensitivity, quietly speaks to Sunny, hinting at further developments or insights from her own unique perception, leaving the true outcome of this waiting game uncertain.
Chapter 579 First Victim
The chilling aftermath of an attack grips the survivors as a massacre of guards is discovered, splattered in a pool of blood near the inner sanctum. Sunny, ever vigilant, uses his Shadows to meticulously study the scene, observing the surviving sentinels and contemplating the gruesome efficiency of the killings. Master Pierce, arriving amidst the grim tableau, barks orders, his gruff command for the Lost to “Clean up this mess and secure the perimeter! No one moves alone or in pairs, three people minimum! Be ready, the bastard might return at any minute!” galvanizing the fearful soldiers into action.
Sunny returns to Cassie, the blind girl’s perceptive nature sensing the horror. “Who died? And how?” she quietly asks, her words laced with concern. Sunny, his voice heavy, confirms the demise of guards, detailing their brutal end. He explains that the killer must have acted with incredible speed or possessed an Aspect that muffled sound, leaving Cassie to question if anyone heard anything.
The conversation turns somber as Sunny urges Cassie to prepare, not for another attack, but for the terrifying realization that will dawn on the others. He points out the growing unease among the Lost, despite their focused efforts. Sunny chillingly reveals that while they currently believe Mordret breached the seals, the truth will soon surface: Mordret has been among them all along, hidden within one of the two recent escapees. “That he has been with them this whole time, hiding in one of the two strangers who had miraculously escaped an enchanted cell and insisted on being taken to this shelter. You or me,” Sunny explains, his dark smile acknowledging the looming suspicion. Cassie retorts, “There’s no reasonable way to pin these murders on us,” to which Sunny replies, “What does reason have to do with any of this? Reason is always the first victim when fear arrives.”
Chapter 580 Presumption Of Guilt
Two days after the previous skirmish, the fragile peace shatters when a piercing scream erupts from the makeshift infirmary. Two of the three wounded sentinels lie dead, their throats slit in their sleep, while the third, a member of the Lost, is left alive, a chilling testament to Mordret’s ruthlessness and a taunting message of continued vulnerability. The camp erupts in panic, but the Lost, true to their training, quickly form a defensive formation, weapons drawn. Masters Pierce and Welthe arrive, assessing the grim scene and reinforcing security. Amidst the chaos, all eyes inevitably turn to Sunny and Cassie, who remain conspicuously still.
As the initial shock subsides, suspicion falls heavily on the two outsiders. “It’s them! It must be one of them!” a sentinel cries, igniting a torrent of accusations. The Lost, a throng fueled by fear and the memory of past horrors, perceive Sunny and Cassie as the logical culprits, despite the lack of any tangible proof or opportunity. Sunny feels a cold dread as the crowd transforms into a single, monstrous entity, its many heads spewing fury and murderous intent, recognizing that reason holds no sway over a panicked mob.
Sunny understands Mordret’s calculated move, orchestrating this scene to sow discord and expose them. Pierce and Welthe exchange somber glances, their composure tested by the palpable hostility. The hall, once a sanctuary, now feels like a cage, with the lifeless sentinels a stark reminder of their precarious situation and the ever-present, unseen threat. The stage is set, and the fragile trust between the survivors has irrevocably fractured, leaving Sunny and Cassie isolated and under extreme scrutiny.
Chapter 581 Bell Tower
Days pass in a tense quiet within the Night Temple, with Sunny and Cassie confined to their quarters, restoring their strength while under constant observation. Outside, Mordret’s strategy of inaction fuels the growing dread and paranoia among the Lost sentinels. The extended period of perceived inactivity, coupled with the lingering fear of the sentinel murders, stretches their nerves to a breaking point, leaving them increasingly volatile. Masters Pierce and Welthe, recognizing the precarious state of their soldiers, begin to formulate their own plans, though their exact intentions remain unknown to Sunny, who suspects they might involve a preemptive strike or an escape.
Sunny notices a shift in the behavior of both the Lost and the Masters, sensing an impending change. He shares a silent, coded exchange with Cassie over a delivered meal, conveying crucial information without uttering a word. The pervasive chill within the Night Temple mirrors the encroaching November outside, a stark reminder of their isolation and the missed rendezvous with Effie and Kai. As Sunny reflects on their desperate situation and his own recovery, he feels a grim readiness for whatever comes next.
The fragile equilibrium shatters when Welthe appears, her somber demeanor signaling a critical shift. She informs Sunny and Cassie that their current location is no longer safe and that they must be moved. Her curt assurance, “…It will be,” offers little comfort, leaving Sunny uneasy about the true nature of the unfolding events. They are escorted from their room into the main hall, the silent, hostile stares of the Lost following their every move, underscoring the deepening chasm of suspicion and the imminent danger they face.
Chapter 582 For The Greater Good
The fragile quiet shatters as Master Welthe, blade at Cassie’s throat, reveals their grim purpose. Pierce, with a chilling smile, unveils a “mirror trap,” a clan artifact designed to capture Prince Mordret. He explains their failed attempts to contain the prince, always one step behind. Now, they plan to lure Mordret by using Sunny as bait, believing the prince’s fixation on him will be his undoing. “If we present an opportunity to possess you, he won’t be able to resist,” Pierce states, his words dripping with sinister intent.
Cassie cries out, “Sunny! Don’t do it!” but Welthe silences her with a cruel press of the saber, drawing blood. Sunny, trapped by Welthe and ten menacing Echoes, feels the noose tighten. Pierce threatens Cassie’s life if Sunny refuses, adding a chilling promise of “unpleasant steps” for disobedience. The tension mounts as Sunny, cornered and desperate, faces an impossible choice: sacrifice himself for the greater good or watch Cassie die.
The masters reveal their plan: lure Prince Mordret by using Sunny as bait, exploiting his fixation on the Awakened Sunless. “He is the one Prince Mordret wants, after all,” Welthe states, her voice cold. Pierce elaborates, “If we present an opportunity to possess you, he won’t be able to resist.” Their previous failures against the elusive prince have fueled this desperate gamble, and they are determined to control the battlefield this time.
Chapter 583 Web Of Lies
Sunny, driven by a desperate need to understand, deduces Prince Mordret’s true strategy. He realizes Mordret’s brutal violence isn’t madness, but a calculated tactic to instill terror and fracture his enemies’ minds. “Mordret had gotten under his skin,” Sunny admits, acknowledging how the prince weaponized fear and personal animosity, clouding his own judgment. He understands that Mordret, while powerful and possibly possessing a divine Aspect, is not invincible, estimating that the prince is in a similar predicament, unable to defeat his jailers alone.
The chapter reveals Mordret’s true objective: not to possess Sunny directly, but to manipulate him into isolating the Lost, thereby facilitating their destruction. This realization stems from an earlier moment where Sunny briefly considered escape, and then observed the killing of the guards and wounded sentinels. Sunny now knows Mordret isn’t hiding within him, as the Lost suspect, but concealed amongst one of their own, a chilling mystery that torments him given the precautions taken.
Sunny’s newfound clarity leads him to suspect Mordret is “already among them,” not as a physical presence within Sunny, but hidden within someone unexpected. The implications are vast, as this revelation challenges the certainty of Pierce and Welthe’s defenses. This understanding of Mordret’s intricate plan, honed by personal vulnerability and sharp observation, sets the stage for a dangerous confrontation, with Sunny now privy to the prince’s insidious game.
Chapter 584 A Dark Ocean
Welthe’s brief moment of shock gives way to swift action as she abandons Sunny and flees. Pierce, enraged by the failed attempt to bind Mordret, unleashes his remaining Echoes, screaming, “Kill them!” He departs with most of his forces, leaving Sunny and a wounded Cassie to face two remaining Echoes. Sunny, though acknowledging Pierce’s desperate logic, harbors a burning hatred. He watches as a stygian serpent, emerging from his shadows, crushes one Echo, while Cassie, with a rapier, dispatches the other. Relieved by Cassie’s shallow wound, Sunny accepts her urgent plea to act, disappearing into the darkness himself.
He reappears from a hidden shadow, observing Welthe and Pierce’s incredible speed as they race through the darkened temple. Sunny follows them to the final stronghold of the Valor forces, witnessing Welthe’s brute force as she shatters the door. What awaits them is a scene of utter carnage; the Lost encampment is a horrific bloodbath. The once orderly space is now slick with crimson, walls and ceiling painted red, and the floor a morbid pool filled with mangled remains.
This devastating discovery confirms the terrifying extent of Mordret’s influence, or perhaps someone else’s equally brutal machination. With Welthe and Pierce seemingly driven by their own desperate agendas and the grim reality of the massacre before them, Sunny realizes the true stakes of his mission. His objective to ensure Mordret’s defeat becomes even more urgent amidst this carnage, and the chilling question of who is truly orchestrating this chaos looms larger than ever.
Chapter 585 Clash
With Welthe’s Cruel Edge manifesting and the Undying Chain helmet materializing, Sunny assesses their dire situation. Mordret’s power is clearly immense, forcing him to rely on guile. Sunny anticipates the core conflict: Welthe against Mordret, leaving him to face the formidable Master Pierce, while Saint and the Soul Serpent handle the eight Echoes. He worries particularly for the Serpent against the Echoes’ potent Aspects, though Saint’s Ascended resilience offers some comfort. Sunny himself prepares for the brutal confrontation with Pierce, knowing the Master’s Aspect grants significant resistance, and commands two shadows to bolster his defenses, sending one to aid Saint.
The hall erupts as Welthe’s scarlet eyes flash, momentarily incapacitating Mordret. She vanishes and reappears, her saber clashing with an unseen foe, sending shockwaves that crack the blood-slicked floor. Simultaneously, the eight Echoes launch a synchronized assault, their movements unnervingly precise, each wielding an Aspect. Saint meets their charge head-on, her kite shield absorbing a barrage from a Midnight Shard. The Soul Serpent dives into shadows, flanking the ranged Echoes. Sunny faces Pierce, who descends like a battering ram. Despite his shadow augmentation, Sunny cannot match Pierce’s raw strength. He deflects the crushing blow with his vambrace and retaliates with the Moonlight Shard aimed at Pierce’s throat, a gambit designed to buy time for the Cruel Edge’s final manifestation. Pierce dodges, attempting a chest blow, but Sunny evades, his initial strike having served its purpose.
