Chapter 856 Alien Landscape
Sunny learns that three Saints, aligned with the government and two great clans, are present in Antarctica. While the government strategically placed its loyal Saint in East Antarctica, the other two, Valor and Song, are nominally supporting the evacuation with token forces. Sunny finds himself unexpectedly dispatched with his cohort to rendezvous with the Saint currently stationed in the Antarctic Center, who is aiding in the fight against a powerful Corrupted abomination. This development is unwelcome, as Sunny had hoped to escape the machinations of the great clans. He informs his pilot, Luster, of the mission, who reacts with apprehension upon hearing they are facing a “Corrupted Tyrant.”
The Rhino, Sunny’s armored vehicle, navigates the treacherous and alien terrain of the Antarctic Center, a starkly different and more desolate landscape than the war-torn wilds of Asia. The mountainous, uneven terrain frequently obscures the horizon, making threat assessment difficult. Sunny, positioned on the Rhino’s roof for defense, uses his Warbow to dispatch several stray abominations that stray into their path. The journey is arduous, with the vehicle battling through mud, rocks, and frozen marshlands under the dim, constant Antarctic light.
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.
Upon reaching the rendezvous point, the ruins of a small outpost, Sunny finds two other armored carriers and a small group gathered around a fire. The chapter ends as they prepare to meet the arriving Saint, leaving Sunny to ponder the escalating dangers and his unwelcome entanglement with powerful factions.
Chapter 857 Jade Beetle
The Rhino successfully navigates the desolate, mountainous terrain of the Antarctic Center, a stark contrast to the battlefields Sunny is accustomed to. Under the perpetual twilight, Sunny employs his Warbow to fend off stray abominations. Upon arrival at the designated rendezvous, the ruins of a small outpost, Sunny encounters two other armored carriers and a small group preparing for the arrival of a Saint.
The anticipated Saint is none other than Sky Tide, whom Sunny recognizes as a Transcendent from the White Feather clan, now known as Saint Tyris. Their reunion is brief and tinged with awkwardness, as Sunny questions her presence. Saint Tyris reveals her clan is tasked with supporting the evacuation in the Southern Quadrant, implying a punishment for past actions, possibly related to Sunny’s own survival. While Sunny feels a pang of guilt for her clan’s apparent banishment to this harsh land, Saint Tyris remains stoic.
With the Saint’s arrival, the focus shifts to the approaching threat. Soul Reaper admits limited intelligence on the enemy, then surprisingly directs Sunny to “do his thing.” As Sunny’s shadows scout the nearby mountain, a wide crack reveals the pulsating dark rift of a Category Three Gate, its influence beginning to weigh on Sunny’s mind.
Chapter 858 Aerial Superiority
With little reliable intelligence on the approaching enemy, the formidable human force, comprised of three elite Masters and Saint Tyris, opts for a strategy of adaptability over rigid planning. Sunny, a stark contrast to his earlier dreams of a leisurely life, finds himself shivering behind a boulder, observing the seasoned fighters. He notes the slight chill and the altered air as they inch closer to the mountain peak. Saint Tyris, ever the stoic warrior, conjures a sparking javelin, while Winter readies her silver bow and arrow. As Sunny senses they’ve been spotted by a grotesque insect, Saint Tyris takes action, launching her javelin with a deafening sonic boom. The projectile, a streak of light, slams into the Tyrant’s carapace, though it remarkably holds firm. “I think… I think we’re noticed!” Sunny warns, just as Saint Tyris makes her decisive move.
Chapter 859 Summit
Saint Tyris’s confidence in defeating the Corrupted Tyrant falters as the beast unfurls its translucent wings, soaring into the somber sky, a spectacle both grotesque and strangely beautiful. This aerial advantage, a significant departure from her prediction of binding it to the ground, forces Saint Tyris to confront the Tyrant alone. Meanwhile, Sunny and the other Irregulars face a new, overwhelming threat: hundreds of Nightmare Creatures, contracted into rolling balls of chitin, descend the mountain like an avalanche. Amongst them are Awakened, Fallen, and Corrupted abominations, the thin mountain air offering no advantage to the humans.
Sunny, still recovering from yesterday’s exertion with limited essence, observes Winter’s extraordinary Aspect. Her Aspect combines potent combat augmentation with revelation, making her an infallible warrior and seer. Winter unleashes a second arrow, which detonates into a thousand brilliant shards, each a miniature silver arrow that decimates the rolling abominations, finding their vulnerable points. She proceeds to nock and fire arrows with impossible speed, unleashing a deadly storm upon the descending horde, each projectile uniquely crafted and undeniably lethal.
As Sunny watches Winter’s precise, calculated, and deadly assault, he can only sigh, a stark reminder of the grim reality of their situation. Winter, seemingly a walking artillery unit, continues her relentless barrage. The overwhelming tide of Nightmare Creatures forces the Irregulars into a desperate defensive posture, their survival hinging on their ability to adapt to the unforeseen and brutal realities of this corrupted summit.
Chapter 860 Stone Hive
Though Winter’s devastating barrage thins the Nightmare Creature ranks, the Irregulars are still on the verge of being overwhelmed by the sheer chitinous mass. Master Jet’s courageous advance splits enemy attention, but it is Soul Reaper, tasked with eliminating the Corrupted abominations, who faces the true peril. Conventional weapons and even Awakened soldiers struggle against Fallen-ranked horrors, the two-rank disparity a near-insurmountable barrier. Soul Reaper’s unique Aspect, however, bypasses physical defenses, making her the only hope against these durable lieutenants. The treacherous terrain offers no tactical advantage, forcing the Irregulars into a desperate crescent-moon formation, with Sunny positioned as the sole guardian against rear assaults.
As the enemy tide crashes against the Irregulars’ defenses and Soul Reaper, Sunny’s fourth shadow returns, amplifying the power of his Cruel Sight. His Dying Wish draws enemies closer, allowing Sunny to unleash his shadows as four powerful tentacles, tearing apart the monstrous insects. The Cruel Sight, now glowing with furious white light, finds a critical fissure in a Fallen abomination’s armor, incinerating its innards and brain. Even as its head is severed, the creature’s decapitated body continues its lunge, its segmented legs seeking to impale Sunny, highlighting the tenacious ferocity of these foes.
Sunny finds himself facing the grim reality that even without heads, these abominations press on, driven by an unyielding will. He observes, “To his surprise, even without its head, the insect continued forward, trying to skewer him.” This relentless onslaught underscores the brutal challenge the Irregulars face. “That was why the Corrupted lieutenants of the stone hive had to die first,” a grim necessity as the overwhelming horde threatens to consume them all, their survival hanging by a thread.
Chapter 861
The ground erupts, and a massive Fallen Devil’s head snaps out, catching Sunny’s leg in its mandibles. His Transcendent armor, reinforced by [Brilliant Will], proves too resilient for the creature’s bite, but the immobilization leaves him vulnerable. With other abominations closing in, Sunny retaliates, thrusting his Cruel Sight through the Devil’s chitin, melting its forehead. Even critically wounded, the creature violently slams Sunny into the ground, testing his [Bone Weave] enchantment. He commands his shadow tentacles to clear some approaching enemies while his own shadowy hands attempt to pry the Devil’s jaws open, a futile effort against its immense strength.
The Fallen Devil, demonstrating a cruel intelligence, changes tactics. Sensing its bite and slam are ineffective, it tightens its grip and dives into the earth, dragging Sunny with it. Plunged deep beneath the stone, Sunny faces a primal fear of being buried alive. To escape this fate, he plunges his Cruel Sight further into the Devil, extending its length and channeling all four of his shadows into the divine flame of his [Dark Mirror] enhancement. The beast is consumed from within by a searing light, immolating into a hollow shell.
The victory, however, is chilling. Sunny receives notification of slaying a Fallen Devil, but the sheer, unyielding ferocity of these creatures, even in death, leaves him with a cold dread. The battle rages on, and the Irregulars must continue to overcome these tenacious horrors, their very survival dependent on Sunny’s strength and the efficacy of his cursed powers against a relentless, corrupted tide.
Chapter 862
The [Death Wish] enchantment proves catastrophically effective, plunging Sunny into an overwhelming tide of Nightmare Creatures. Despite his reinforced armor and the swift mending of his [Living Stone] enchantment, his physical body suffers immense strain under the relentless assault, with countless stone hive soldiers threatening to break through his defenses. He single-handedly holds back the rear, his shadow tentacles a whirlwind of destruction, though one is lost to another Fallen abomination, which he swiftly dispatches with his Cruel Sight. The battlefield is a chaotic spectacle of lightning, flashes from the ongoing struggle of other Awakened, and the macabre landscape of melted snow and viscous blue lymph.
Surrounded by consuming darkness from his Shadow Lantern, Sunny knows he cannot endure this onslaught indefinitely. His only hope lies in Master Jet finishing her difficult task of eliminating the Corrupted lieutenants and joining the fray. He observes Soul Reaper in a similar predicament, battling a horde of abominations while hunting a prime target, her glaive exhibiting a terrifying ability to bypass physical defenses and strike directly at an enemy’s soul core.
Sunny, meanwhile, juggles multiple threats. He dispatches a frenzied Fallen beast with a decisive blow from the Cruel Sight while simultaneously piercing the head of an Awakened monster with the Moonlight Shard. He recognizes the fear others hold for Soul Reaper, her unique combat style a testament to her formidable power. “I can’t go on like this for much longer…” he mutters, the weight of his sacrifice clear, waiting for the reinforcements that are his only chance of survival.
Chapter 863
Sunny’s focus shifts from the immediate peril of the Nightmare Creatures to the perplexing soul of Master Jet. He witnesses her core, not radiant or corrupted, but a fractured mosaic of shattered shards, eerily mirroring his own shadow-infused existence. This bizarre, irregularly shaped core burns with an immense, yet uneven, brilliance, its cracks seeping light that strangely dissipates. As Master Jet effortlessly dispatches a two-cored Corrupted abomination, Sunny observes a phenomenon that leaves him puzzled and troubled: the creature’s tainted essence rushes into her fractured core, consumed by its furious light, transforming into pure radiance. This bizarre display prompts Sunny to reflect on the vast spectrum of “bizarre Aspects” and the unpredictable nature of power, even questioning his own ability to defeat her.
The chapter delves into the unique capabilities of Master Jet, revealing her flesh to be saturated with essence far beyond the usual limits of Awakened flesh. Sunny notes that her prodigious strength and speed likely stem from this extraordinary capacity to reinforce herself, suggesting that having multiple cores isn’t the sole determinant of power. He realizes that his distraction by her peculiar soul core has cost him valuable insight into her combat techniques. This observation reinforces his understanding that power can manifest in myriad, unexpected ways, with “bizarre Aspects” achieving the same results through entirely different means.
“I guess there really are all kinds of bizarre Aspects…” Sunny mutters, a hint of unease in his voice as he contemplates the implications of Master Jet’s abilities. The sheer quantity of soul essence within her, coupled with the unique mechanics of her fractured core, presents a formidable enigma. He acknowledges his own deviation from normalcy, yet Master Jet’s soul remains a profound mystery, hinting at deeper secrets within the world and her own extraordinary power.
Chapter 864
The desperate battle rages, a precarious equilibrium holding the Irregulars on the brink of collapse. Above, Saint Tyris and the jade beetle clash, neither gaining a decisive advantage. On the ground, Master Jet fights a solitary war against the tide of Nightmare Creatures, her singular focus on the most formidable foes, though the stone hive’s attention now fixes on her, making her task increasingly perilous. Sunny, fighting at the rear, feels his own essence draining, unable to stem the relentless influx of enemies, each fallen creature replaced by two more. The Irregulars, despite Winter’s sharpshooters, are pushed back, their endurance waning.
Sunny acknowledges the grim reality: “Time was working against the Irregulars,” their finite strength pitted against an endless horde. Their only hope rests on Soul Reaper dispatching the remaining Corrupted abominations and joining the fray. However, Sunny glimpses that Master Jet’s struggle is far from over, the most powerful Corrupted beasts proving a significant challenge. He grapples with his own limitations, “But what can I do?” unable to shift the battle’s momentum without jeopardizing his current position.
His gaze drifts upwards to the aerial duel, a storm of lightning and ash, realizing that his own direct intervention might not be the key to breaking the stalemate. The fate of the Irregulars hangs by a thread, balanced precariously between overwhelming odds and the slim hope that their allies can achieve the impossible before their strength entirely fails.
Chapter 865
Sunny, recognizing the insurmountable odds, devises a daring plan rather than directly engaging the powerful Corrupted Tyrant. He understands he cannot slay the beast, but a precisely aimed arrow from Morgan’s Warbow, amplified by his [Death Dealer] affinity and amplified range, can disrupt the aerial battle. His shot tears through two of the jade beetle’s four wings, and when coupled with the added weight of the [Burden of Peace], its flight capabilities are significantly hampered. This crucial intervention provides Saint Tyris with the opening she needs.
Seizing the moment, Saint Tyris, wielding Sky Tide, aggressively attacks the Tyrant’s remaining undamaged wings, shattering them. A decisive blow from her beak sends the crippled Corrupted Tyrant plummeting, crashing violently onto the mountainside. However, Sunny’s triumph is short-lived. The immense expenditure of essence to make his shot has left him critically vulnerable, his reserves depleted and his shadows, crucial for his defense, still recovering.
Stripped of his primary weaponry and defenses, Sunny finds himself facing an overwhelming swarm of Nightmare Creatures with little more than his bare hands or the meager Moonlight Shard. “But what can I do?” he questions his own limitations as the tide of chitin and mandibles surges towards him, the cost of his “lucky shot” now threatening to consume him entirely.
Chapter 866
Sunny, disoriented from the Corrupted Tyrant’s brutal descent, finds himself miraculously alive amidst a landscape of crushed Nightmare Creatures. The sheer devastation, far exceeding his capabilities, leads him to question its origin. A towering wall of white stone blocks his view, only for the “wall” to reveal itself as the battered, yet defiantly alive, carapace of the Corrupted Tyrant. Its milky-white chitin is cracked and bleeding black ichor, but its sole remaining eye fixes on Sunny with chilling intent.
As the Tyrant’s colossal leg slams down, shattering the mountainside and narrowly missing Sunny, he reacts with a desperate, futile strike from his shadow odachi against the creature’s resilient shell. The Tyrant, seemingly preparing another deadly assault of black ash, begins to rise, its immense power undiminished despite its injuries. Just as paralysis threatens to consume Sunny, the familiar, calming weight of the Cruel Sight, his spear, materializes in his hand.
With the Cruel Sight now in his grasp, Sunny instinctively switches from his sword, preparing for a desperate, potentially final, confrontation with the resurgent Corrupted Tyrant. The creature’s slow, menacing movements and the swirling vortex of dark ash within its maw signal an imminent, devastating attack, forcing Sunny to face the overwhelming threat with his newly acquired weapon.
Chapter 867
The tide of battle dramatically shifts as the Tyrant of the Stone Hive finds itself outmatched by Sky Tide of the White Feather clan. On the battlefield, the Corrupted lieutenants leading the main assault are dispatched by Soul Reaper Jet, while the unnatural darkness he wields decimates abominations attacking the Irregulars from the rear. This resurgence of hope invigorates the human soldiers, who fight with renewed ferocity. A veil of darkness surges forward, silencing a flank of Nightmare Creatures with the sound of splitting chitin, and Jet joins the fray, bolstering the human ranks.
Luster, witnessing this, is stunned to see his captain, Sunless, fighting amidst the chaos with elegant swordsmanship, clad in what appears to be Monorel’s armor and wielding his distinctive odachi. This revelation, combined with the inspiring effect of Sunny’s “Death Wish” enchantment, ignites a burning determination in Luster, who rallies his cohort, their newfound ferocity earning them a fearsome reputation. Sunny, however, finds himself in a desperate struggle, his essence rapidly depleting from maintaining the shadow sword, the Shadow Lantern, and other abilities, while trying to conceal his identity as Mongrel.
Despite his dire exhaustion, Sunny curses his fate, trapped by the overwhelming demands of his powers and the need to maintain his disguise. The members of his cohort, who have witnessed enough to likely suspect his true identity, are bound by loyalty forged in previous dire battles. “Damn! Crap! Curse it all!” Sunny mutters, his resolve tested as he faces the agonizing decision of which essential abilities he must relinquish to survive, all while the fate of the battlefield hangs in the balance.
Chapter 868
Following the Tyrant’s demise, the Corrupted forces crumble without their guiding intelligence. The exhausted Irregulars advance, their ranks bolstered by Soul Reaper Jet’s relentless assault and Saint Tyris’s overwhelming power, who single-handedly eradicates the remaining abominations. Sky Tide, though wounded, moves with blinding speed, her blade cleaving through the Nightmare Creatures’ defenses with ease. As silence descends upon the mountain summit, a wave of relief washes over the surviving Irregulars.
Sunny, utterly spent but savoring his victory and the promised shadow fragments, finds a moment of quiet repose. He notes the transformed battlefield, a testament to the ferocity of the recent struggle, with the Gate still pulsing ominously. The sheer devastation wrought by the unseen battle, particularly the mangled state of the enemy corpses, sparks awe and confusion among his cohort, who attribute the brutal destruction to their captain’s formidable might.
Whispers of “Gods… look over there. Is that where Master Sunless fought?” and “It’s like he ripped them apart and crushed them with his bare hands” reach Sunny, solidifying his growing reputation. Despite his exhaustion and the near-fatal depletion of his powers, the admiration he garners offers a strange comfort, even as the weight of his hidden identity presses down on him.
Chapter 869
The arduous victory over the Tyrant leaves the Irregulars battered but triumphant, their awe growing as they witness the sheer devastation of the battlefield, attributing the brutal efficiency to their captain, Sunny. Whispers of “It’s like he ripped them apart and crushed them with his bare hands” follow Sunny, a testament to his growing legend, even as the exhaustion gnaws at him and the burden of his secrets weighs heavily.
This triumph bestows upon Sunny a Transcendent Memory, [Sin of Solace], a weapon of immense power, its runes hinting at a connection to Ariel, the Demon of Dread. The discovery of this fifth known Daemon, alongside the Demon of Fate, Hope, Choice, and the surprisingly forgettable Demon of Oblivion, excites Sunny, signifying a potential leap in his capabilities, particularly crucial in the unforgiving Antarctic landscape.
However, the formidable [Sin of Solace] comes with a chilling caveat: the [Cursed] enchantment. The Memory’s description, “This blade slowly drives its wielder mad,” sparks immediate resentment and defiance in Sunny, who vows not to succumb. The other enchantments, such as [Sinister Whisper], which inflicts both physical and persistent mental damage, underscore the weapon’s insidious nature, promising a dangerous path ahead for Sunny and his newfound power.
Chapter 870
Dismissing the alluring yet treacherous blade, Sunny breathes a sigh of relief as its insidious whispers cease, leaving only a lingering chill. He acknowledges the profound power of [Sin of Solace], its enhanced sharpness and durability amplified by [Perfect Jade], perfectly synergizing with Nightmare’s [Dreadlord] Attribute and [Mantle of Fear]. Its true allure, however, lies in the potent mental damage it inflicts, targeting beings with higher sentience—Demons, Tyrants, and humans—making it an ideal weapon against his most feared adversaries. “I just have to be careful not to suffer terribly myself!” Sunny muses, recognizing the potential for this cursed blade to become truly terrifying should he unlock the [Hideous Truth] enchantment.
Sunny then turns his attention to his progress, noting the significant gain of Shadow Fragments, now at [870/4000], a welcome increase after a prolonged stagnation, hinting at a future as a Tyrant, albeit one potentially reached at the cost of his life. The [Mantle of the Underworld] also nears completion, with Vanquished Foes at [4555/6000], its final stages within reach in the harsh Antarctic landscape. With his identity as Mongrel likely revealed to his cohort, wearing the Mantle more frequently presents no issue, and he anticipates an incredible transformation upon reaching the enchantment’s limit.
His focus then shifts to Saint, his loyal Shadow Knight, who has already amassed [101/200] Shadow Fragments. Sunny anticipates her growth into a formidable Transcendent Demon once fully nurtured with collected Memories or Echoes. The journey ahead is fraught with danger, particularly the mental toll of his new weapon, but the promise of immense power, even the ability to strike down Great Nightmare Creatures and Supreme humans, fuels Sunny’s determined resolve.
