7-3: NO SOUND, NO MEMORY (2024)

For more information about other missions, see Levels

The Knuckleblaster's blast wave is also capable of breaking a Gutterman's shield, and is much easier to land in a chaotic scenario.

- The Tip of the Day.

NO SOUND, NO MEMORY is the third mission of the VIOLENCE layer. It's set partly in the Wood of the Suicides, the location from Dante's Inferno in which those who committed lethal violence against themselves are turned into immobile trees and tortured by Harpies.

The level's main theme is trees. Human figures can be seen twisted into the trunks of the common trees, and there are several larger trees that must be fed with blood in order to bloom, allowing V1 to progress. A lone Earthmover can be seen in the distance.

This level is the first introduction of the flashlight, which activates a few seconds after entering the level. The flashlight primarily is enabled when in a dimly lit area within the level. However, the door that is required to progress will always be lit with a spotlight, preventing the player from getting lost. The flashlight does not appear in any other levels beyond 7-3. This is most likely because V1 does not have the flashlight prior to this level, proven by it needing to be picked up in this level when playing with Clash Mode.

This level also introduces the Puppet, an entity made out of blood that can mimic other enemies. It is introduced when "watering" or feeding the first trees.

Major Areas[]

Starting Pathway[]

The level starts with the forest in pitch-black darkness. After a brief moment, V1's flashlight will turn on, allowing you to see better and make your way through the forest.

Central Plaza[]

This is where the first blood tree is encountered, approaching it a text box will appear saying "f e e d i t" in red, before the Puppets first spawn. The puppets will spawn infinitely until the tree is fed. Once the tree is fed, the invisible walls surrounding the plaza will disappear, and the skybox will be visible. After a few seconds, one of the skull icons above the door to the Grand Hall will light up, and the gate to the right of the plaza will unlock, allowing you to progress.

Small Courtyard[]

Before entering the courtyard, you'll be ambushed by two Mannequins. Once you enter, four Soldiers and two Schisms will spawn around the arena. Killing two enemies will summon a Sentry atop the elevated platform in the corner. Once all are defeated, the gateway to the second blood tree will be unlocked.

Rectangular Garden[]

The second blood tree will be waiting here, and the Puppets will this time mimic the Filth. Alongside them, two Malicious Faces and two Virtues will spawn. Once the tree is fed, you can make your way back to the central plaza to see the second skull icon lit up.

Left Pathway[]

Halfway through the long tunnel, a bombshell can be heard descending before shattering the entire tunnel and exposing the outside. On the left side, there will be a Swordsmachine, a Gutterman and a Guttertank. On the right, there will be three Mannequins, a Malicious Face, and a Cerberus.

This is the first time the player will notice enemy infighting. The enemies will usually begin to attack one another before they target you, however once you attack them, they will turn their focus onto you.

Circular Garden[]

The third blood tree needed to open the door will be here, with the Puppets now mimicking Strays. There will be four Mannequins on top of the elevated platform, and four Soldiers will circle the tree. Two Guttertanks will be on opposite ends of the room, and a single Mindflayer will spawn opposite of where you enter.

Taking the path back to the Central Plaza, two Streetcleaners will ambush you, and descending a staircase will hold two more Mannequins at the bottom.

Grand Hall[]

Feeding all three blood trees, you'll be able to enter the giant door in the Central Plaza, where you'll be met with arguably the most chaotic arena in the entirety of Ultrakill (so far at least). There will be two blue Hookpoints on either end of the arena, as well as a Dual Wield power-up on top of the elevated platform.

This arena can be broken down into three different enemy spawn waves. The first will be active once you enter the arena. There will also be one final blood tree, with the Puppets finally mimicking the form of the Mannequins.

From the front to the back of the arena, the first spawn wave consists of two Swordsmachines, two Cerberi, two Guttertanks, two Guttermen, two Sentries, and a single Virtue. When six enemies die (which includes fully feeding the blood tree), the second spawn wave will trigger, where eight Filth and four Strays spawning at the front, and six Soldiers spawning at the back. When eight more enemies are killed, the third and final wave will trigger, which just consists of two Guttermen and two Guttertanks dropping in from bombshells on opposite sides of the arena. Finally defeating all of the enemies and feeding the final blood tree will open up the exit.

Ranking Requirements[]

Secrets[]

Secrets

#1		(Soul Orb) From the first tree, turn back toward the bridge and go through one of the gates going under the bridge. Look down to find a rocky path going off the ledge, and follow it to a service tunnel.
#2		(Blood Orb) Atop the boundary wall of the arena leading toward the second tree. Go to the corner where the Sentry normally sits and wall jump to get on top of the arena to find the orb. Collecting the orb spawns a Hideous Mass within the arena.
#3		(Soul Orb) After completing the second tree, outside the gate leading to the courtyard. Instead of taking the stairs that pass over the gardens to your right, point your flashlight directly forwards to see a broken staircase over the gap in front of you. The orb is hidden at the top of the stairs.
#4		(Soul Orb) Outside the flooded hallway after the third tree's arena. Climb onto the roof from the exposed garden and face toward the third tree's arena to find the soul orb on top of the hallway's roof.
#5		(Soul Orb) At the bottom of the spiral staircase after the third tree. A hole under the stairs hides a soul orb. This hole is one-way, but a flight of stairs opposite the orb will take you to the far side of the bridge leading to the first tree.

Marked for Death Mode[]

On the left path of the level is a tunnel that will explode and reveal the first infighting portion of the level. Rather than going inside, the player must instead jump above the wall on top of the tunnel. Placed on top is a screen that gives the player the option to become marked for death. Accepting will shatter the gem inside and cause the screen to display the text "YOU'RE THE STAR OF THE SHOW NOW, BABY!" While marked for death, all enemies that would normally be fighting each other in the level will now target the player instead, making the left path and final arena significantly more difficult, and the music of the level will also become slowed and pitched down. A thunderstorm of red lightning instantly begins, illuminating the level with long bouts of red light. Completing the level like this will complete its challenge. Good luck!

See Also

4-3: A SHOT IN THE DARK

Secret Mission Entrance

Directly to the right of the stone marked "Feed Us, We Will Grow" at the beginning of the level, there is a gate covered in foliage. There are two ways that the foliage may be burnt off: using a Streetcleaner's flamethrower or Virtue's beam attack. There are two Streetcleaners that can be found after the third blood tree, although the area can be accessed much earlier using a hole in the wall. Since there is a deep puddle of water blocking the shortcut back to the center, the Streetcleaners must either be pulled over the puddle with the Whiplash or else they should follow the player back through the entirety of the level.

The other method is to use the Virtues that spawn at the second blood tree. Since the door does not lock, the player can backtrack to the foliage (although the Virtues might become enraged). Once the foliage is burnt, the gate will open to the secret level, 7-S: HELL BATH NO FURY.

Strangely the hint in 7-1: GARDEN OF FORKING PATHS only hints that Streetcleaners can burn the foliage and not Virtues. As well, Guttertanks, Malicious Faces, Ferrymen, Hideous Masses, V2, the 1000-THR Defence System, and Various Secret Bosses can melt the foliage (though all of them either can't reach it or don't appear in this level).

Trivia[]

Gameplay[]

• With the exception of the Swordsmachine in [ 0-2: THE MEATGRINDER ] this is the first level that has enemies fighting each other, though in this level you get to join the fun.
• It is possible become marked for death, then leave through the secret exit to complete the challenge without fighting any marked for death encounters.

Lore[]

• Upon closer hearing, you can hear constant muffled screams coming from trees, which also slightly pulsate.
• Upon fully watering the first tree with blood, Something Wicked's hiss after being shot will play quietly somewhere in the room to signify the first skull lighting up. It is likely just a reused sound, however it could also be considered part of the recurring gag throughout the game where dark rooms use Something Wicked's hiss as a cheap scare factor.
• While watering the first tree with blood, the tree emits a heartbeat the quickens the closer the blood gets to the top, likely to heighten the tension.
• Despite having a flashlight for the darker region for the level, V1 did not use the flashlight in [ 4-3: A SHOT IN THE DARK ], nor in [ 0-S: SOMETHING WICKED ]. nor during the spinal staircase in [ P-1: SOUL SURVIVOR ]. This is likely because V1 had a light source at the start of both levels (a torch in the beginning of 4-3 & P-1, and two skulls throughout 0-S), whereas now V1 no longer has an external source of light readily available.
  • When this level is played in Clash Mode, the player is prompted to pick up a flashlight at the start, implying V1 may have just got the light at the start of 7-3.
  • Hakita confirmed that V1 doesn't use a flashlight in previous levels because other light sources are available^[1]
• When the sky turns red after the second tree arena, an Earthmover can be seen standing menacingly at the back of the level doing absolutely nothing.
  • It is highly implied that this is the same Earthmover you fight in [7-4: ...LIKE ANTENNAS TO HEAVEN] as it is stationed at the north of the level, in front of the final arena and elevator.
• The 'F E E D I T .' narration at the start of the level is likely delivered by Hell itself, given the spacing between the letters and the lack of the beeping sound effect that usually comes with the textbox.
  • This may also be Hell (organism) telling V1 how to progress through Hell (location) until it meets Hell (organism) itself, so Hell could toy with V1 like all the damned souls it toyed with before.
• Knocking enemies into the thorns outside the intended map route will grant the +LOST style bonus, which is likely a reference to or referencing (the last part of) a line from the tablet given after the 7-1 secret encounter, which states “Get lost in the labyrinth, die in the battlefield, or get lost in the forest...”
• The Earthmover in the back of the level is about the size of the one we fight, except it's textures are very, very compressed and none of the lights are on.

References and easter eggs[]

• The name of this level is likely in reference to the song I'm Coming to the Garden​.​.​.​.​. No Sound, No Memory by Merzbow.
• The Greek text in the background of the stone marked "Feed Us, We Will Grow" translates to "And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it, and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them", a direct quote from Revelation 9:6.
• The large trees are likely a reference to Jubokko, a yōkai tree from Japanese folklore that grew on former battlefields where many have died by feeding on their blood. They can also pierce unsuspecting victims with their branches to drain blood, which matches its body-shaped trunk.
• In the sky, the constellation the Big Dipper can be seen this time in red, which is referenced in [ 5-S: I ONLY SAY MORNING ] and can be seen in [ 4-2: GOD DAMN THE SUN ]. While this could be a continuation around the mystery of the size 2 fish, it could also be Hakita being a dick a red herring which leads to nothing.

Development[]

• This level was showcased on October 28th of 2023 in an unlisted video published by Hakita titled Suffering Leaves Suffering Leaves that showcases the twisted red tree in the beginning of the level, along with the music found in the level in-game.
• While the flashlight makes its' debut in this level as a mandatory feature, it was also present in the Developer Museum when being swarmed by the wrath of Gianni.

Gallery[]

References[]

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