Chapter 61 Sea Of Ash
Sunny awakens with lingering dread from a dark mirror vision, his usual confidence shaken by the intrusion of true darkness into his domain of shadows. As the sea recedes, revealing the colossal spine of the leviathan, he and Nephis prepare for the day’s ascent. Their interaction showcases Nephis’s diligent, albeit awkward, attempts to mimic human behavior, particularly Cassie’s, a personal growth Sunny observes with a surprising pang of compassion, recognizing the immense pain she endures to control her abilities.
Nephis suggests they scout their surroundings, aiming to find a higher vantage point for the night. Sunny assists her in reaching a precarious perch atop the leviathan’s spine, from which they survey the landscape. Expecting the familiar, albeit unsettling, crimson labyrinth, they are instead met with a shocking vista: a vast expanse where the crimson coral has died, turning grey and brittle. This dead zone transitions into a desolate sea of ash-grey sand, devoid of life and monsters, an unnerving wasteland that chills Sunny to the bone.
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.
The only discernible feature in this bleak new territory is a colossal hill in the distance, resembling a massive barrow, which stands as their sole visible objective. The stark contrast between the vibrant crimson labyrinth and this ash-choked expanse raises profound questions about the nature of their environment and the forces at play, leaving both Sunny and Nephis with a sense of profound unease and a daunting new path forward.
Chapter 62 Hide And Seek
The vast, ash-grey wasteland feels unnervingly open to Sunny, a stark contrast to the familiar, claustrophobic embrace of the crimson labyrinth. He confesses his newfound agoraphobia to Nephis, feeling exposed without the maze’s concealing twists and turns. The absence of any creatures in this desolate expanse is a disquieting puzzle. As they cautiously advance towards a distant, barrow-like hill, Nephis prompts Sunny about his shadow’s observations, but he reports only minor topographical irregularities and no signs of life. Cassie, too, finds no auditory clues. Nephis, however, directs their course towards one of the knolls Sunny had noted, seeking information.
Upon reaching the knoll, Nephis prepares to investigate its nature. Just as she reaches out, Sunny’s shadow alerts him to movement back at the labyrinth’s edge. “Hide!” he urges, grabbing Cassie and pulling her behind the knoll alongside Nephis. A hulking carapace centurion emerges from the collapsed labyrinth wall, its eight legs and bone scythes a terrifying sight. Sunny curses, realizing that while they’ve defeated these foes before, it was always with strategic advantages they lack here.
Sunny informs Nephis of the approaching centurion. Nephis reacts with a scowl, and Cassie, sensing Sunny’s tension, lightly touches his hand, seeking his attention. The silence that follows is heavy with unspoken apprehension as the centurion strides relentlessly toward them across the desolate plain.
Chapter 63 Lord Of Ashes
As they cautiously approach a barrow-like hill, Sunny’s shadow senses an approaching threat, forcing him, Nephis, and Cassie to hide. A colossal Carapace Demon, a terrifying evolution of the centurions they’ve faced, emerges from the collapsed labyrinth, its body a gleaming, spiked metal shell. This ‘general’ of the carapace legion, adorned with seven stars on its chest, radiates an aura of pure malice, its four massive arms wielding wicked scythes and powerful pincers. Despite its fearsome appearance, the demon, after collecting a transcendent soul shard, retreats to the shade of a giant tree atop the hill, where Sunny’s shadow witnesses the monstrous entity gently pluck and consume a fruit, a bizarre display of its seemingly vegetarian nature.
Sunny, bewildered by this unexpected behavior, returns to his companions. Cassie, sensing his unease, prompts him, “Sunny? What is happening?” He confirms a new threat but asks for patience, needing to ensure the lesser centurion they’d encountered doesn’t expose their hiding spot. Torn between tailing the larger threat and remaining undetected, Sunny prioritizes caution, dispatching his shadow to observe the Carapace Demon further. The shadow reveals the creature’s dwelling atop the hill, beneath an enormous obsidian tree, where it engages in its strange, fruit-eating ritual.
Having gathered this unexpected intelligence, Sunny recalls his shadow, hurrying to follow the retreating carapace centurion. He successfully intercepts its path, ensuring their concealment remains intact. The encounter leaves Sunny contemplating the true nature of these awakened creatures and the formidable power that wields them, a mystery that deepens with each step through the desolate, ash-laden landscape.
Chapter 64 Pursued By Demons
Nephis, with her typical enigmatic gaze, proposes confronting the colossal Carapace Demon, eliciting disbelief from Sunny. “You really are crazy. That’s… that’s an awakened demon we’re talking about, remember? Have you forgotten that we’re just Sleepers?” he exclaims, recalling a similar, near-fatal encounter. Cassie interjects, reminding them of their past success, to which Nephis adds pragmatically, “You survived, didn’t you?” Sunny, flabbergasted by her nonchalance, argues the sheer disparity in size and power, only for Nephis to dismiss his concerns.
Sunny grapples with Nephis’s relentless pursuit of danger, sensing a profound, unseen struggle driving her. He recognizes her pursuit of the human castle as more than a personal ambition, believing her “personal demons” are far more dreadful than any physical threat. He questions her irrational willingness to risk her life, unable to comprehend a goal more important than survival, especially when a safer path exists through the Ashen Barrow.
Despite Sunny’s protests and the apparent option to bypass the dangerous terrain, Nephis remains resolute. When Sunny points out their previous desperate situation versus their current choice, she simply declares, “That’s the only way west.” Her unwavering conviction, even in the face of overwhelming odds, leaves Sunny bewildered, hinting at a deeper, perhaps desperate, purpose that eclipses even his own burning desire for survival and reward.
Chapter 65 Lights In The Darkness
Cassie, still adjusting to her newfound clarity, relays a vision of the Ashen Barrow shrouded in a tempestuous night. She describes the colossal Carapace Demon standing unyielding amidst the storm, its metal carapace unmarred by lightning. The demon remains impassive as a lightning strike ignites the fallen leaves, turning the island into a fiery beacon. Sunny recalls how their past use of fire proved a fatal mistake, luring monsters from the sea, and anticipates the impending horror.
As the flames die down, a ghastly sea creature, a mass of bones and rotten flesh with countless eyes, emerges from the dark waters. The creature, weakened on land, is violently attacked by the enraged Carapace Demon. Cassie witnesses the battle’s aftermath: the demon, severely wounded with missing limbs and cracked scythes, retreats to the base of the great tree. His chest armor is fractured, revealing a beating heart and flowing azure blood, a wound that, while slow to heal, leaves a hidden vulnerability.
Nephis probes the details of the demon’s survival, and Cassie reveals the creature’s slow recovery. The demon’s limbs regenerate, and its scythes mend, but the chest wound remains, a hidden weakness in its formidable armor. This revelation sparks a moment of thoughtful silence between Sunny and Nephis, the implications of such a vulnerability promising new strategies in their daunting quest.
Chapter 66 First Part Of The Plan
As the sun dips below the horizon, a bizarre, shambling creature, a grotesque imitation of a Carapace Centurion, emerges from the labyrinth’s ruins. Missing limbs and dragging itself, it moves with an unsettling, drunken gait, its scythes awkwardly placed. A perceptive observer might note a second, human-like shadow briefly visible beneath the creature’s own, reacting with palpable contempt. This lopsided entity then progresses, unhindered, towards the Ashen Barrow, seemingly without any tribute to offer.
At the foot of the barrow, the strange centurion collapses, an ironic parody of the imposing Carapace Demon who had recently knelt there. The mighty Demon, alerted by this impudent arrival, descends its perch, its crimson eyes igniting. Despite the demon’s fearsome approach and the obvious discrepancy in the newcomer’s presentation—lack of a soul shard—the centurion remains motionless. However, this apparent trap is not what it seems.
The Carapace Demon, surprisingly, attacks without hesitation, its scythe cleaving the centurion in two, revealing only emptiness within. Across the barrow, Sunny, with Cassie on his back, curses their ill timing, realizing their plan was initiated far sooner than anticipated, as the demon proved to be a “daredevil” who “didn’t even hesitate before going all out!”
Chapter 67 Racing Against Time
The demise of Sunny’s Echo, a loyal scavenger, strikes a devastating blow. Through his shadow’s eyes, Sunny witnesses its brutal end, feeling the subtle connection sever and a sphere of light vanish from his Soul Sea. The bitterness of loss, both for its utility and newfound companionship, fuels his desperate flight with Cassie on his back. “He killed the Echo,” Sunny rasps, his voice strained, as the Carapace Demon, dripping azure blood, stands over the dissolving remains of the scavenger.
The demon, initially distracted by the phantom light show, soon notices Sunny’s exposed shadow, now without its familiar, larger canvas. A swift scythe thrust passes harmlessly through the shadow, revealing its incorporeal nature. Sunny, despite the momentary reprieve and a surge of adrenaline, pushes onward towards the great tree, needing his shadow to distract the relentless monster.
However, the Carapace Demon proves cunning. Instead of pursuing the shadow, it turns its burning gaze towards the Ashen Barrow’s summit. With a furious curse, Sunny watches as the demon lunges back up the hill, its terrifying speed closing the distance rapidly. “Get back here!” he yells to his shadow, a desperate plea as he reaches the sanctuary of the tree trunk, quickly handing Cassie the rucksack left by Nephis.
Chapter 68 Beacon Of Death
Huddled on a wide branch of the great tree, Sunny, Nephis, and Cassie await the descent of night. The imposing presence of the Carapace Demon below keeps them in a tense silence, a stark contrast to Sunny’s usual anticipation of darkness, which now signals the next phase of their perilous plan. The recent loss of Echo weighs heavily on Sunny, a setback that shakes his confidence, yet Cassie’s gentle touch offers a quiet reassurance, a silent testament to their shared resolve. As night cloaks the world, the Ashen Barrow transforms into an island in the void, the scarlet leaves of the great tree indistinguishable from the dark expanse.
Nephis, ever composed, senses Sunny’s unease. The moment of truth arrives, and with practiced movements, Sunny retrieves two clay jars from the seaweed-wrapped rucksack. These containers hold the volatile components of centipede oil, a potent, corrosive substance Sunny himself crafted, intended to be the lynchpin of his strategy. He carefully places them on the branch, the success of their desperate gambit hinging on these fragile vessels.
Finally, Sunny fashions a makeshift torch from bone and seaweed. Taking Nephis’s hand, he places the torch in her palm, recalling past encounters, both life-threatening and revelatory, with her cool touch. The weight of their gamble settles upon them as they prepare to initiate their plan, a desperate gamble in this unforgiving land.
Chapter 69 The Guest
The Carapace Demon ignites like a beacon, its burning oil spreading across the ashen sand. Sunny marvels at the success of their audacious plan, a testament to their cleverness in orchestrating the demon’s demise through the natural predators of the dark sea. Their gamble, however, is far from over; they must survive the ensuing chaos. The demon roars in fury, its scarlet eyes locking onto Sunny, but its cunning mind ultimately dictates a strategy to quell the flames rather than pursue the trio. As the demon attempts to douse itself, Nephis senses a shift.
A palpable change descends as the air grows colder and a thick fog rolls in from the dark waters, its unnatural movement against the wind a clear harbinger of something sinister. The Carapace Demon, abandoning its struggle with the fire, turns towards the sea with a grim resignation that soon morphs into bloodlust. Within the encroaching fog, a shape begins to materialize. Cassie, with trembling voice, urges Sunny, “Don’t look. No matter what happens, don’t open your eyes.”
As the fog touches Sunny’s skin, Cassie’s voice distorts, echoing and multiplying into a terrifying cacophony of screams: “DON’T LOOK DON’T LOOK DON’T LOOK DON’T!!!” The inhuman shrieks threaten to shatter Sunny’s resolve before an abrupt, unnerving silence falls, leaving him in stunned anticipation of what the fog truly conceals.
Chapter 70 Judgement Of The Blade
The unnatural fog recedes, revealing the severely wounded Carapace Demon. Despite its grievous injuries—shattered horns, broken limbs, and a carapace fractured beyond repair—the demon remains a formidable, terrifying presence, its single remaining eye burning with a chilling intelligence and bloodlust. With their prior stratagems exhausted, Sunny, Nephis, and Cassie steel themselves for a direct confrontation. Sunny confirms their grim reality, “At this point, there is no reason to argue. We have no other choice but to face the guardian of the island ourselves.”
Nephis prepares by securing a rope, confident in her ability to pierce the demon’s armor, and asks Sunny, “Can you create an opening?” Sunny readily agrees, understanding the immense challenge of incapacitating the behemoth. He shares a moment with Cassie, attempting to reassure her with a jest about cooking demon meat, promising, “As soon as we get our hands on some demon meat, I’ll make you a steak.” Cassie offers a genuine smile, accepting his promise, a brief respite from the encroaching dread before Nephis signals their readiness.
With their decision made, Sunny and Nephis advance towards the crippled Carapace Demon. The creature’s gaze locks onto Sunny, its broken body a testament to their earlier efforts, yet its evil intelligence and primal fury remain undimmed. The battle is imminent, a desperate fight for survival where only blades can decide their fates.
Chapter 71 One Small Mistake
Sunny dives beneath the crippled Carapace Demon, the oppressive weight of its massive body a constant threat of instant annihilation. He navigates the treacherous space between the creature’s legs, his senses hyper-attuned to the slightest shift, knowing a single misstep means being crushed into oblivion. Time stretches as he searches for a weakness, narrowly avoiding the demon’s attempt to flatten him. This desperate maneuver, however, proves successful: the demon crashes to the ground, its vulnerable torso now within Nephis’s reach.
With the behemoth grounded, Sunny immediately faces its deadly scythe, the sharpened blade whistling inches from his face. He performs a gravity-defying somersault, a testament to his shadow-enhanced agility, the wind from the swing a chilling reminder of his precarious situation. While the demon’s mobility is hampered, its attacks remain terrifyingly swift, and Sunny, despite his narrow escape, finds himself in another desperate struggle for survival.
“Can you create an opening?” Nephis’s earlier question hangs in the air, the daunting task now amplified by the demon’s proximity. Sunny, having successfully brought the monster down, must now somehow create the very opening Nephis needs to deliver a fatal blow, all while evading the relentless scythe and the demon’s piercing, malevolent gaze.
Chapter 72 Demon Slayers
Nephis seizes the opening Sunny created, launching a swift, decisive assault on the grounded Carapace Demon. Her movements are a blur of deadly grace as she channels her Aspect Ability, a radiant white flame, into her blade. This arcane energy transforms her sword into a searing beam of pure light, capable of immense destruction. Sunny watches, awestruck, realizing the hidden depth of Nephis’s power, noting how her ability can both heal and annihilate, a stark contrast to his own shadowy manipulations. He understands her earlier suffering was a crucible, forging the fortitude needed for this critical strike. The question of whether this incredible, yet potentially limited, power can pierce the demon’s near-indestructible carapace hangs heavy in the air.
The demon, momentarily distracted by a feigned threat to the great tree, reacts too late to Nephis’s lightning-fast advance. Its massive scythe and crushing pincer strike at empty air as Nephis, with a desperate surge of will, leaps towards its chest. She aims her empowered sword at a specific point, recalling Cassie’s vision of the demon’s heart being exposed during a past battle. This memory fuels their hope that a weakness exists beneath the creature’s formidable armor.
Nephis thrusts her radiant blade into the demon’s chest, a beam of incandescent white light meeting the monster’s dark carapace. The clash is absolute, a desperate gamble for survival. Whether Nephis’s enhanced attack, born from immense pain and a rare dual-natured Aspect, can breach the demon’s defenses remains the pressing question, determining if their perilous plan will succeed or lead to their doom.
Chapter 73 The Circle Of Death
Cassie descends cautiously from the branches, her reliance on touch guiding her to Sunny, who lies weary on the uneven ground. He reassures her, downplaying his exhaustion from the intense battle, and confirms Nephis is also recovering. Cassie expresses disbelief that two Sleepers defeated an Awakened demon, only for Nephis to acknowledge her vital role.
The trio reconvenes, sharing water and the lingering effects of their victory. Sunny recounts Nephis’s decisive strike, her Aspect Ability piercing the demon’s weakened chest armor to reach its heart, a strategy guided by Cassie’s prior vision. He emphasizes the demon’s prior wounds from the sea creature as a contributing factor to their success.
As Sunny playfully promises to cook demon meat, Cassie hesitates, her unease hinting at unspoken concerns. The shared ordeal has forged a fragile bond between them, but the implications of their extraordinary feat and the potential repercussions of consuming the demon’s flesh leave the future uncertain.
Chapter 74 Midnight Shard
Sunny’s attention is immediately seized by a potent new Memory, far exceeding the value of his previous weapon. This Awakened Memory, derived from the defeated demon, promises to be a significant upgrade, a fact Nephis confirms by transferring it to him with a touch. He receives the [Midnight Shard], a simple yet formidable sword forged from a fallen star, exuding an aura of unyielding resolve.
The elegant, single-edged blade, longer and slightly curved, boasts a lustrous metal and a polished black wood hilt, designed for brutal efficiency. Sunny feels an unbreakable will emanating from the weapon, a promise that he will no longer be disarmed. A deep well of power also stirs within him, a nascent ability he must learn to access.
As Sunny marvels at his new acquisition, he glances at Nephis, his mind already racing with the implications of such a powerful artifact. The shared victory and the extraordinary new weapon forge a tangible step forward in their precarious alliance, hinting at the formidable strength they might yet command together.
Chapter 75 Broken Dreams
A sharp alarm from his shadow jolts Sunny awake, revealing an unseen threat hovering high above. His shadow’s agitated pointing confirms danger, though Sunny initially dismisses it until fragmented memories of a distressed Cassie resurface, urgently repeating “Five! It’s five!” This bizarre, fading recollection is abruptly overshadowed by the immediate need to investigate the sky. He dons his newly acquired Midnight Shard, a stark reminder of their recent victory, and sets off alone to scout the perimeter, leaving Nephis and Cassie to rest.
Sunny discovers a small, dark dot circling the island, a familiar sight that brings back grim memories of the previous winged beast. He leaves his shadow to monitor the anomaly and returns to inform Nephis and Cassie, who speculate on the creature’s intentions, considering whether it might ignore them as insignificant or seek them out as prey. Nephis concludes that caution is paramount, advising they avoid the demon’s carcass and remain hidden should it descend.
Sunny, however, is again distracted, his mind briefly touching upon the forgotten memory of Cassie’s plea. The unnatural lapse in his focus prevents him from realizing the potential significance of this recurring forgetfulness, a growing pattern since their arrival at the Ashen Barrow. This unsettling amnesia, coupled with the looming aerial threat, hints at deeper dangers at play within this strange realm.
