As it turned out, Nephis had not found a Gateway to escape the Dream Realm and Awaken.
Instead, after two long years of solitude and relentless battles for survival, she had found a Seed of Nightmare and conquered the Second Trial of the Spell as a Sleeper.
She had done it alone.
At least that was the only way Sunny could explain the runes he was staring at.
Ascended.
'That is impossible.'
Surviving the Second Nightmare was already not easy for a cohort of prepared Awakened. More people perished while trying than returned victorious. How could a lone Sleeper accomplish the same?
No one had done it before.
However… no Sleeper had been a Tyrant before.
No Sleeper had escaped alive from a battle with a Corrupted horror of the depths before.
No Sleeper had slain a Fallen Terror before.
Nephis had long established her penchant for accomplishing the impossible. Why was Sunny so surprised that she had done it again?
No, he wasn't surprised. He was… dismayed.