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Chapter 3034: Forlorn Battlefield
Shadow Slave

Apart from Nephis and Sunny, there were six people aboard the Chain Breaker.

Effie jumped down to the ground first.

She landed nimbly, straightened, and looked around with a humorous expression.

“Well... this certainly brings back memories."

Last time she had seen this field, she had been one of the government soldiers observing the battle between the Great Clans. Of course, that battle did not end like anyone could have expected it to end. Effie's voice sounded easygoing and carefree, but behind her outward light-heartedness, there was a somber note. She had said goodbye to her child and her husband, knowing that she would not see them again for a long, long time... if she ever saw them at all.

Out of all of them, she had the most to lose — but she also had the most reasons to come back alive, as well.

Next, Kai glided down from the deck of the Chain Breaker and landed softly near her. He looked as dashing as ever — if anything, leaving the post of a Steward seemed to have lifted a burden off his shoulders, making him seem even more dazzling.

But he was also full of dark resolve and determination.

A faint smile twisted his lips... then, a grimace.

Kai winced and raised a hand to his ear.

“It's... a good thing that we are here to challenge a Nightmare. The Call is overpowering.”

As soon as he said that, a ghostly figure walked calmly out of the Chain Breaker's hull, assuming a corporeal form as she regarded the desolate battlefield with an aloof expression.

"You know, this was where I disobeyed a direct order from Wake of Ruin for the first time. I honestly thought that I'd get fired... in fact, I probably would have been, if not for the fact that I returned as a Saint. Who would fire a Saint?"

Jet chuckled, looked around, and sighed.

In the end, her retirement had only lasted a few months. Now, duty called, and she was about to challenge the Fourth Nightmare in the service of humanity.

If Saint Cor were still alive, he would have been proud of his problematic employee. There was a rustle, and a current of liquid metal fell from above, pulling on the ground and soaring in a graceful spiral to form a human shape. Then, an exquisitely beautiful woman with flawless grey skin jumped down, landing with poised grace.

Morgan and Seishan studied the battlefield for a few moments, then looked at each other with strange expressions.

They were the ones who had led the armies of the Great Clans into the Battle of the Black Skull, after all. Back then, they had been trying to defeat each other — today, many years later, they unexpectedly returned as allies.

Morgan studied the three towering Gates for a while, then smiled darkly.

“...I would have won that battle if not for these things."

Seishan gave her a curious glance.

“Wouldn't you have died by your brother's blade instead?"

Morgan chuckled.

"That is true, as well."

Finally, the last of the challengers took a step off the deck of the Chain Breaker. In just one step, he was suddenly standing next to them.

“It seems that a lot of fun things happened while I was gone."

Nightwalker grinned.

"Song and Valor killing each other? I hate to have missed it."

By then, Sunny had already stepped out of the shadows.

"Believe me, you didn't miss out on much."

Nephis descended from the deck, as well, stopping to look at the Nightmare Gates. Sunny, in the meantime, scratched the back of his head.

“Actually, I take it back. You really did. History was made here, you know."

He smiled.

"This is where Nephis and I killed Dire Fang. That was the first time in history two Masters managed to kill a Saint."

After that, they all fell silent.

Indeed, these were the people who had dared to challenge the Fourth Nightmare.

Saint Effie, Raised by Wolves.

Saint Kai, Nightingale... the Dragonslayer.

Soul Reaper Jet.

Morgan, Princess of War.

Seishan, Lost Princess of Song.

And Nightwalker, the legendary founder of the House of Night.

Sunny looked at the latter.

"I know why the others are challenging the Nightmare. But why are you here, old man?"

Nightwalker, who looked like a young man, smiled.

“I have a granddaughter now. She's not very impressed with me... so you might say that I am here to impress my granddaughter."

Sunny scoffed.

All six of them were among the strongest champions of humanity. Their absence on the battlefield was going to be felt... in fact, the world could very well plummet into the abyss without them. But no matter how much pain humanity would suffer without them, sending them into the Nightmare was more important.

Because humanity was not going to survive otherwise.

Sunny and Nephis needed to become Spirits, but they could not leave the world unprotected. So, someone had to rise to the throne of Supremacy in order to take their place.

And there were no better candidates than the people gathered on the forlorn battlefield today.

But, of course...

Sunny did not feel at ease, knowing that he was sending his friends into a peril far more deadly than anything he had experienced before. There was a complicated storm of emotions raging in his chest... and yet all those emotions were meaningless in the face of necessity.

"Well, no point in wasting time. Let's go."

Effie was the first one to move. She walked across the melting snow toward the nearest Nightmare Gate, stretching her shoulders as she went. It was as if she were preparing for a light jog instead of the horrors of the Fourth Nightmare.

Kai followed, and soon, all of them were approaching the Gate, the persistent Call growing louder and louder in their ears. Sunny and Nephis stayed back a little, and the six Saints were now arrayed in front of them, facing the Nightmare Gate. At that moment, they seemed to have forgotten about the two Supremes behind them, their attention drawn solely to the appalling darkness rippling in front of them.

From here, they would travel to the Dream Realm and allow the Call to drag them toward the Seed of Nightmare connected to the Gate.

And then, they were going to challenge it. Nobody knew how long conquering the Nightmare would take them, but it was most likely going to be a long while — months at best, probably years.

Sunny and Nephis would just have to hold the world together while they were gone. In the end, the six Saints turned around to throw one last look at them.

Kai sighed.

"Don't worry. We will return victorious."

Sunny lingered for a few moments, then scoffed.

"Who is worried? Just... be careful. I prepared you for the Nightmare myself. So if you have any conscience, you will come back alive... otherwise, it will be very embarrassing for me."

Effie shook his head.

"Well, we are worried. Not about ourselves, mind you... we're mainly worried about what you'll do to the world in our absence."

Jet simply shrugged.

"If you think about it, we survived the Chain of Nightmares. So what's one more Nightmare, really?"

She smiled and then gave Sunny a nod.

"You be careful, too. Don't do anything too crazy."

Sunny coughed.

"No promises..."

At that moment, Morgan looked down, at a puddle of melted snow beneath her feet.

A subtle smile twisted her lips.

"You've come, after all.”

There, an unexpected figure reflected in the water, standing next to her.

It was Mordret. However, if he said something to Morgan, their conversation remained private.

Nightwalker, meanwhile, looked at Seishan and sighed.

"It seems no one has come to see us off. How about it, young lady? Should we have a poignant emotional moment between each other, not to feel left out?"

Seishan spared him a glance and shook her head politely.

“I think I'll refuse."

Nightwalker laughed quietly.

"Fair enough..."

And then, there was nothing more to say. Sunny and Nephis stood side by side, watching as the six figures in front of them vanished.

Vanished to challenge the Fourth Nightmare.

They were left alone under the cold sky.

Shadow Slave
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Comments 141

  1. Offline
    Mitch
    + 0 ⋅ 1 -
    Ok. A lot of time skips going on but I kinda hope it time skips their nightmare. No way we experience their nightmare like when Sunny goes in one. Maybe a little back and forth from nightmare and real world? It would be kind of interesting to know where these seeds are tho. Like if they’re in Africa, Europe or the Americas.

    Not sure if our three good heroes should trust the other three lol. Out of the three gates was their only one category 4 gate?
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      ZionCrestZero
      + 0 ⋅ 1 -
      The seeds are tied to items from previous realms and will bring them to that specific nightmare LO45 is the only seed tied to war realm because of sunny

      Oh it was mitch I answered without looking at who asked it first
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  2. Offline
    Nafiubaidah
    + 2 ⋅ 1 -
    New mordret siscon😱
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  3. Online Offline
    Ohshitimsorry
    + 2 ⋅ 0 -
    Chapter 3035 Grim Reality

    In a time of dire need, six of the strongest champions of the Human Domain disappeared, entering the depths of a perilous Nightmare.

    Effie, Kai, Jet, Morgan, Seishan, Nightwalker...

    Humanity knew them as brilliant warriors and leaders. In the pantheon of heroes who walked the Path of Ascension, they were only half a step behind the true deities — Changing Star, Song of the Fallen... even the King of Nothing.

    Each of them was a living legend. Raised by Wolves and Nightingale were known as Changing Star's loyal companions, having braved myriad dangers side by side with the goddess of humanity. They were both revered and beloved, having conquered and ruled two of the greatest human settlements in the Dream Realm — Bastion and Ravenheart.

    Soul Reaper Jet needed no introduction, either. Her fame could only compare to her infamy, and there was not a human alive who didn't admire or fear her... or both. However, everyone agreed that there was no deadlier Saint. Among the government forces, meanwhile, her reputation could rival the dead gods themselves.

    Morgan of Valor and Seishan of Song carried legends of their own — legends that they built themselves, as well as vast legends they had inherited from the fallen Great Clans.

    Needless to say, Nightwalker — one of the most accomplished and mysterious paragons of the First Generation who had vanished without a trace, then returned from being dead decades later — was a living legend, as well.

    The information about where they had gone was not hidden, so soon enough, both worlds were buzzing with conversations about whether they would become the second cohort to conquer the Fourth Nightmare — or if they would perish in its depths.

    The six of them were storied heroes for ordinary humans...

    But for Sunny, they were simply friends. The world felt strangely empty without Effie, Kai, and Jet.

    In one of the rooms of the Tower of Hope, six Memories lay on a slab of white marble. Each belonged to one of the six Saints who had challenged the Fourth Nightmare — for as long as they were still alive, the Memories were not going to disappear.

    If something happened to them during the trial of the Spell, though, the Memories would collapse into a whirlwind of sparks and vanish forever.

    In the weeks following the journey to Antarctica, Sunny developed a habit of visiting the Memory Room and looking at the Memories, wondering what his friends were going through somewhere out there, in the violent ordeal of the Nightmare.

    Of course, there was no answer — there wouldn't be for quite a while. But seeing the intact Memories brought Sunny a measure of solace.

    Naturally, he did not have a lot of time to stare at the six Memories. The world was still falling apart, after all.

    Everything that had been plaguing the Human Domain before was now exacerbated — both because the apocalypse was gaining steam and because six pillars of humanity were missing. It was not only their personal strength that the world was lacking now, but also their influence and leadership.

    Others rose to the occasion, of course, trying to fill the vacuum — but no one could really replace the six people who had gone into the Nightmare.

    As a result, the situation turned grim for a long while.

    The breach in the realm boundary continued to expand, and more Nightmare Creatures poured into the waking world. Sunny and Nephis had to abandon the established plan of resettlement and swiftly evacuate millions more people into the Dream Realm — despite the fact that it was not ready to support that rate of population growth.

    The saving grace was the Stormsea, where the floating cities were swiftly expanding with the help of the River People. Ananke joined the construction effort personally, vastly accelerating its progress. Of course, expansion of that perilous region of the Dream Realm was not without risk, so terrifying naval battles began to happen there with increasing frequency.

    In these circumstances, a new generation of warriors received a chance to distinguish themselves. The daughter and grandson of Wind Flower proved themselves to be worthy successors of their storied bloodline; the Saints of Night and their warriors forged a new reputation for their fallen clan in the absence of its founder. Quite unexpectedly — or perhaps quite the opposite — a man named Gunlaug also rose to prominence, fighting side by side with Saints despite being merely an Ascended. His Aspect was uniquely suited for grueling battles in the depths of the Stormsea, and his grim determination reminded people why he had been known as the Dark Diver once, before becoming the Lord of the Bright Castle.

    Another cohort that earned fame and respect in the Stormsea... was Tamar of Sorrow and her warriors.

    The importance of the Stormsea Citadels had drastically increased, so naturally, the Human Domain had to commit more forces to defend them. Sunny sent several cohorts of the Shadow Clan there, as well. At the same time, Stormsea was the next destination chosen by Rain, who wanted to participate in the construction of floating cities alongside the River People.

    So, she became one of his envoys there. Rain and her cohort were not meant to engage in too many battles, but no Awakened could stay away from fighting during the apocalypse. Since Ascended were still relatively rare, Tamar swiftly became renowned among local warriors, earning a reputation as a powerful young Master who commanded a cohort of exceptional fighters.

    But, of course, the moderate success in the Stormsea did not mean that all the other problems Sunny and Nephis had to contend against disappeared.

    Humanity was besieged on all sides — the realm boundary was growing more brittle with each month, Nightmare Gates continued to open all across the waking world, the Nightmare Creatures of the Dream Realm were attacking Citadel Cities with increasing ferocity, and amidst all of this, their most cherished companions were missing, risking it all in the Nightmare. Sunny and Nephis dove into the crucible of the apocalypse, unleashing their Supreme powers without holding anything back. They fought more often and more intensely than ever before, barely getting any time to rest. It was a stressful time... a terrifying time.

    But, funnily enough, Sunny felt happier than he had ever felt before.

    Chapter 3036 A Feast in Time of Plague
    The world was falling apart.

    The fate of humanity was hanging by a thread, and all of existence was being consumed by war.

    And yet, Sunny felt at peace.

    It was peculiar and borderline immoral, but he was content and happy. He was happier than he had ever been before, even. Objectively, his life had become a never-ending nightmare. All seven of his incarnations were constantly engaged in bloody battles, and more often than not, he returned from the battlefield battered and broken.

    Worse than the violence and the pain of having his body ravaged and torn was the crushing weight of responsibility that pressed down on his shoulders. Humanity was facing extinction, and Sunny was responsible for humanity — his failures cost countless lives, and his victories were never swift and decisive enough to make him feel like he couldn't have done better.

    Scores of cities, billions of lives... the very future. All of it depended on Sunny — on him personally — and that burden was too harrowing for anyone to carry.

    So, by all accounts, he should have felt suffocated and exhausted.

    But he didn't.

    Instead, every morning, he woke up with a smile...

    Well, not every morning. Sleep was a luxury Sunny could not quite afford at the moment, after all, so he slept no more than once a month.

    Other than that, though, his life was weirdly idyllic.

    He got to spend his days side by side with the woman he loved — and who loved him back, knowing who he was. And even if their days as a couple were a bit peculiar, spent all across the two worlds battling harrowing Nightmare Creatures, they found time to enjoy each other's company amidst the carnage.

    There were quiet moments, as well. The mundane moments that were as sweet as moments of passion. Having meals together, watching the sun rise in the silence of an early morning. Talking about meaningless nonsense, sharing stories of the past. Cutting each other's hair. Confessing nonsensical opinions and arguing over them. Reading a book over the other one's shoulder. Witnessing your partner in their most natural, ordinary moments...

    And so much more.

    Sometimes, Sunny caught himself watching as Nephis quietly read the reports that piled on her desk or meditated between battles, feeling like he couldn't be happier.

    As for the endless clashes against Nightmare Creatures... despite the grotesque violence and agony of it all, Sunny was enjoying himself on the battlefield, too. After all, whether he liked to admit it or not, battling Nightmare Creatures was more or less his profession. Sunny had spent his entire adult life slaying abominations... and he was damn good at it.

    And there was immense satisfaction in doing what you knew best, and doing it well.

    The wounds, the bloodshed — Sunny did not mind it. Not only because that was all he knew, but also because it was not meaningless. He was not fighting to survive... no matter the cost.

    He was fighting so that others could survive, and his wounds were the cost.

    So, no matter how screwed up it sounded, he was doing what he loved side by side with the woman he loved. What was there to be unhappy about?

    At the same time, he was spending time with his sister — and his sister knew that they were family. He was watching her grow into a person who was softer and gentler than he was, but also immensely strong in her own way. Rain did not have to receive the same scars he had received, and be forged into the same kind of adamant blade he had become.

    And that... was wonderful. That soothed Sunny's weathered heart and brought warmth to it.

    Once upon a time, a long time ago, Sunny had watched Rain through a window and then turned away, choosing not to reveal himself. Because she did not need him — because there was nothing good he could offer her, and nothing positive he could add to her life.

    But now, he could offer her the world, and her life was brighter and warmer because of him. There was no cold glass between them, and even if she liked to tease him... like a brat... they had grown as close as siblings were meant to be.

    Sunny had Nephis and Rain. He also had Cassie, who had once again become his friend and companion.

    The two of them had gone through so much, had achieved so much... their turbulent and complicated relationship spanned most of their adult lives, encompassing both deep affection and scathing resentment. Now, finally, those tumultuous emotions settled, cooling to reveal a profound bond.

    Sunny and Cassie continued to develop sorcery together, reinforcing the Citadel Cities of humanity to help their walls withstand the incessant attacks. Her voice accompanied him into every battle, guiding him and helping him understand his foes. That felt nice. Having grown used to it, Sunny knew that he would feel lonely if Cassie suddenly stopped watching over him one day.

    There were a lot of other things Sunny enjoyed, as well...

    His ragtag group of misfits, led by Revel, helping him defend the Forgotten Shore. Academic pursuits with Teacher Julius. Teaching Ananke how to weave. Developing his own skill as a sorcerer. Exploring the limits of Shadow Dance...

    In short, Sunny was enjoying being alive. Well... technically, he was dead. But even then, he felt more alive than ever.

    The dissonance between his own personal happiness and the dire state of the world was nothing short of jarring.

    Sometimes, Sunny wondered if he had finally gone completely crazy — after all, only a lunatic would feel content while watching the world end.

    But then again...

    If he really thought about it, he had been born into a dying world. In truth, the apocalypse had always been there, hidden in the background. Now, it had merely entered its final act.

    Sunny must have developed a tolerance to it.

    Months passed, then a few months more. And just like that, in the blink of an eye — but also in what felt like an eternity — another winter solstice came along.

    It was then that the situation began to change once more.
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  4. Online Offline
    Ohshitimsorry
    + 6 ⋅ 0 -
    3035: Grim Reality
    3036: A Feast in Time of Plague
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  5. Offline
    Kanoh Agito
    + 4 ⋅ 0 -
    I like new Mordret
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  6. Offline
    mariokaa
    + 18 ⋅ 0 -
    Should've brought seven challengers since the spell loves seven so much
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    1. Online Offline
      ZionCrestZero
      + 0 ⋅ 1 -
      There's saint oblivion there you didn't notice the 7th?
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  7. Offline
    Magmun
    + 0 ⋅ 1 -
    i actually thought each of them will lead thier own cohort of Transcendents. Effie with Morgan and Skytide with some Valor Saints, Jet and Nightwalker with his son and Bloodwave and some Saints from the house of Night and Kai with Sieshan and her sisters
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    1. Offline
      Andrey Delany
      + 28 ⋅ 0 -
      They don't have time to do this, you have to take the strongest and go, you can't take 1 strong and 2 medium and 1 weak and hope for the best
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  8. Offline
    DaFastest Snooper
    + 21 ⋅ 0 -
    And they were 3 once more. Mordret seeing off his last family member is touching.
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    1. Offline
      Rikolass
      + 2 ⋅ 1 -
      Que dices, su tío Jest aún anda por ahí, seguro va a molestarlo de rato en rato
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    2. Online Offline
      ZionCrestZero
      + 0 ⋅ 1 -
      Yes this is very touching the contrast of Morgan wanting to kill Badret on sight, but instantly recognized her "real" brother after not seeing each other for several years since children
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  9. Online Offline
    ZionCrestZero
    + 5 ⋅ 1 -
    I believe, Nightwalker, Effie, Kai, Jet, Morgan, Sheshian...in order of odds, experience, training, and success rate.

    Didn't expect Morgan but she fits... bloodwave must've given way to seniority. What happened to Jest? Still exiled? I thought there'd be more than 6, why so low?

    Such a shame wake of ruin and summer knight didn't even get to try ascension. Sad life.
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    1. Online Offline
      Byte
      + 7 ⋅ 0 -
      You are asking why people aren't joining an expedition that seems more like a journey of no return?
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    2. Online Offline
      Byte
      + 13 ⋅ 0 -
      Sunny and his numerous adventures have spoilt you guys to the extent that you are now seeing the nightmare as another adventure that anyone can breeze through
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      1. Online Offline
        ZionCrestZero
        + 0 ⋅ 1 -
        Wtfu? That's why I hate whenever skimwalker makes another idiotic senseless argument.

        Every single name mentioned are best of the best cream of crop 1 out of billions.

        Talk to my ✋
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        1. Offline
          Jiros
          + 0 ⋅ 0 -
          I think everyone forgets how much the presence of multiple cores affects it. This is mainly because it is rarely mentioned in the novel itself.
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          1. Online Offline
            ZionCrestZero
            + 0 ⋅ 1 -
            So you agree with the skimwalkers idea argument that they aren't better than ki song vale aster

            Experience wise nightwalker is batched along with nephis grandfather immortal Flame
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    3. Offline
      AD9M
      + 1 ⋅ 0 -
      Sishan was in the forgotten shore even before effie and kai I think she have better chances than morgan
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      1. Offline
        Suyash Kottewar
        + 2 ⋅ 1 -
        Morgan soloed the third nightmare bro. Seishan survived FS, but she was one of 5 henchmen of Gunlaug. Stayed inside the castle most of the time.
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        1. Offline
          AD9M
          + 0 ⋅ 0 -
          Surviving for almost 10 years in the forgotten shore she must have fought for years to be able to stay at the castle and if it about leading morgan was known for her tactical intelligence not here fighting skills she even almost died by the hands of mordert who wasn't the best fighter at the time
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          1. Online Offline
            ZionCrestZero
            + 0 ⋅ 1 -
            You think Badret who can 1 on 1 with all of Sunny's multiple battle style masteries isn't much of a fighter?

            Even nephis couldn't match saint sunny shadow battle 1on1 now sovereign sunny solo Badret even matchup?

            Skimwalker
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      2. Online Offline
        ZionCrestZero
        + 0 ⋅ 1 -
        If forgotten shore basis, jet was never there too. Morgan went through continuous endless loops of death battle with Badret. Sheshian is more or a supervisor leader organizer as compared to Morganas war harden battle experience
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  10. Offline
    tefe
    + 3 ⋅ 4 -
    I'm sure that at some point a unholy creature will attack a citadel that was being silently looted by the vile thief bird, then everyone will see the fight between a unholy creature VS sacred terror and will begin to worship the vile thief bird.
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