CHAPTER 46: CHAPTER 46 – ETERNAL NIGHT (PART 3)

Chapter 46 – Eternal Night (Part 3)

The name struck Jack as peculiar. Unlike his first Chronical, which had simply been the name of a race of creatures, this one was precise and strangely evocative.

[Lesser Chronical: Claws of Insanity]

Insanity, a feeling of utter detachment from everything real—a state of complete unpredictability. Those afflicted become enemies of reason itself, consumed by visions, distortions, and chaos beyond logic.

Effect:Your hand will form long claws that change size based on the essence used. Upon landing a strike, there is a small chance of inflicting insanity on the target. The stronger the target, the lower the chance.

"Hm... interesting description," Jack muttered under his breath, eyes flicking over the words. "Quite a useful ability for fighting. Just what I needed."

Up until now, his arsenal was painfully thin. His sword was his only true weapon, and though his Blood Fiend ability had value, it wasn’t exactly suited for combat in its raw form. This, however—this was different. This was something practical. Something deadly.

"What does it say?" Lune asked, her curiosity bubbling as she floated nearby.

Jack read it aloud for her. By the time he finished, Lune’s brows had lifted, her lips curling into a mischievous smile. "Oh? Insanity? That’s quite the nice Chronical you’ve received, love."

Jack tilted his head. "What does insanity mean exactly?"

Lune’s eyes glimmered as though delighted to be asked. "Hm... insanity, in essence, is when one’s internal energy overloads the brain. The victim suffers hallucinations, agony, and even temporary loss of bodily control. In battle, it’s brutal—it immobilizes your opponent when you need it most."

"I see." Jack nodded, his mind already picturing its applications. "That could save me a lot of trouble. And being able to use both hands in battle..." He glanced at his sword hand, then his free one. "That’s a huge advantage."

Sighing, he drew in a steady breath and willed his essence to move. He felt it stir inside him, gathering in his hand. The sensation was strange, as though the energy was moving with a will of its own, condensing until something unnatural emerged.

His fingers elongated, forming sleek black claws, long and razor-sharp, like extensions of his will. They shimmered faintly under the dim light, animalistic yet elegant.

"Interesting..." Jack flexed his hand. Surprisingly, the claws didn’t feel foreign. His body accepted them as naturally as if they had always been part of him. He moved them with ease, the motions fluid and instinctive.

Swish. Swish.

The air itself seemed to split as he swung, the sound sharp and lethal.

"They’re sharp," he said quietly. "Sharp enough to kill."

"They look magnificent on you, my love!" Lune’s eyes sparkled, her voice practically that of a fangirl.

Jack only nodded, his expression calm. "But I can’t just rely on these. I need to keep practicing the technique you taught me. I’ve already mastered the first step. Now I want to learn the second—and especially the third." His gaze hardened. "Defense is what I lack most in battle."

"Do you want to practice now?" she asked, tilting her head playfully.

"Yes," Jack replied firmly. "We have a few hours before anything happens. I’ll use them to fix my mistakes."

His rapid improvement was undeniable. But he knew his flaws—his inexperience had nearly cost him his life more than once. That was unacceptable.

’If I want to survive,’ Jack thought grimly, ’I can’t settle for anything less than perfection. Every move must be correct. There are no other options.’

Perfection—that was his goal. To refine his battle style until no gap remained, no weakness left unpatched. That was the only path forward.

"Are you ready to start, my love?" Lune asked with a cheeky grin.

"Yeah," he answered, his tone steady.

***

The training that followed was relentless.

For hours, Lune guided him through the second and third techniques, drilling them into his body with ruthless precision. They were far more complicated than the first, demanding both physical sharpness and refined essence control. Yet, even so, Jack’s monstrous learning ability shone through.

What might take another weeks to grasp, Jack internalized in less than an hour. The essence flowing through him only heightened his growth, granting him the ability to execute techniques to their fullest.

The second move—the Double Strike—was brutal in its efficiency. Faster than a normal swing, it allowed Jack to strike two vital points at once, overwhelming enemies before they could react. The sheer speed of it, powered by essence, left even Lune impressed.

As for the third... the defensive stance was unlike anything he had tried before. By channeling essence outward, he could form a barrier, translucent yet firm, like a wall of force surrounding him. It wasn’t perfect—it drained him heavily and required a level of control he struggled with. But once he grasped it, its worth was undeniable.

The barrier could shrug off weaker monsters’ strikes entirely and even absorb a blow from something much stronger. To Jack, it was nothing short of a second life.

Hours blurred into exhaustion.

Finally, as dawn crept in, Jack stumbled to a halt, sweat dripping down his face. He leaned against the wall, panting.

"Hah... hah..." He wiped his brow, then lifted his eyes toward the small window above. Golden rays filtered in, chasing away the gloom.

The night had passed. The longest night in human history—over at last.

Jack wasn’t sure whether that was good or bad. But one thing he couldn’t deny... he had missed the sun.

"That felt like a very long night, didn’t it?" Lune asked, spinning lazily through the air, her form shimmering in the morning glow.

"Yeah." Jack’s lips curved faintly. "The longest night, perhaps." His gaze softened. But it wasn’t wasted. I’ve grown stronger... stronger than I’ve ever been before.

Inwardly, Jack felt a quiet thrill. He didn’t rejoice in the destruction of the world, but this new path—this unknown future—piqued his curiosity more than anything his old life ever had. Aevum, the Chronists, the clans, the monsters... everything about it felt exciting, dangerous, and alive.

’Maybe this is what I needed all along,’ he thought. ’A stage worthy of my talent.’

"I wonder if Sommeil has already wiped the city clean," Jack muttered, tugging his shirt back on. He cast one last glance at the training corner, then turned and made his way back toward the main hall of the bunker.

But the sight that greeted him made him pause.

Dozens of people crowded the entrance, their voices raised in anger and fear.

"What the hell is happening outside?!"

"We need answers! We’ve been stuck here all night with no news!"

"Are the monsters still there?!"

The air was thick with frustration, their shouts echoing through the underground chamber. Fear had fermented into unrest, and now it boiled over.

Jack’s eyes narrowed. "Hm... what’s going on?"

Evelyn slipped through the throng, her expression tired. "General Herman just announced... they don’t know what’s happening in the city."

Jack raised a brow. "And why would he say that?"

She shrugged. "Because Sommeil hasn’t returned yet. No one knows if he killed all the monsters or if chaos still reigns outside. Herman was pressured into speaking, but he had nothing real to say."

"I see..." Jack’s gaze shifted back to the furious crowd. "So now he’s paying the price for it."

Indeed, Herman’s situation was precarious. For a leader, nothing was more dangerous than an angry, frightened populace. Their fear eroded faith, and faith was the cornerstone of authority. Without it, his leadership hung by a thread.

Jack exhaled softly. "Messy..."

And he knew this was only the beginning.