Chapter 170: Givia’s Death
As the rake swung downwards, the world around Abyss shifted.
He had been in the Ossi Kingdom palace, witnessing the coronation ceremony, but now he found himself in a large theater, the stage brightly lit, he and the other nobles sitting in the darkened audience, barely able to see each other.
“A dream realm!” Abyss frowned. “So that’s his method! Leona was right. It’s impossible to defend against!”
The nobles were stunned, their whispers of shock and fear filling the theater. Some of the more timid noblewomen even cursed, but their voices seemed to be suppressed, strangely muted. The sounds from the stage, however, were amplified, their every breath audible.
They all looked towards the stage, where only three figures remained: the former king, Givia, and the bishop, his expression dazed.
“Hahahahaha! Greetings, my audience!”
A voice, loud and piercing, echoed through the theater, its source unknown, making them cover their ears.
Abyss recognized it instantly—his nemesis, the Lord of Nightmares!
“He’s here,” Abyss muttered, his gaze fixed on the stage.
“Mortals, you’re here because of your precious Abyss,” the Lord of Nightmares continued. “Allow me to introduce myself. I am the Lord of Nightmares, the Outer God Givia warned you about. Your champion, Abyss, has caused me considerable trouble, disrupting my plans. Now, I will have my revenge.”
The bishop on stage, clearly under the Lord of Nightmares’ control, his eyes vacant, his hand gripping the rake, slowly approached Givia. The spotlight followed him, its beam creating an eerie, theatrical atmosphere.
“You mortals can’t comprehend the power of a god. I will show you. My power is absolute!”
Some nobles tried to leave, but they couldn’t stand up, couldn’t even turn away from the stage. They were trapped, forced to watch. They might be clever, skilled at political maneuvering, but they weren’t warriors. Some, their fear overwhelming them, began to cry.
Panic spread through the audience.
“Don’t be afraid! The Lord of Nightmares is on the verge of defeat! This is his last desperate attempt! Don’t give in to your fear!” Abyss shouted, his voice amplified by magic, reaching every corner of the theater.
“Abyss!” the Lord of Nightmares’ voice roared, his tone filled with rage. “You’ve interfered with my plans time and time again! But have you considered this? Your precious Princess Givia will pay the price for your defiance!”
Before Abyss could reply, the bishop on stage swung the rake towards Givia, who, trapped within the dream realm, couldn’t escape.
The rake struck her, and her head flew through the air, spinning. Her headless body, blood spurting from her neck, collapsed to the stage. The spotlight illuminated her, her blood spraying, the look of shock frozen on her face.
“Givia!” Abyss exclaimed, his voice filled with horror. He hadn’t expected the Lord of Nightmares to act so swiftly, so brutally. He tried to stand up, but he was trapped in his seat. He tried chanting a spell, but his magic was useless here. And like before, he couldn’t access Divine Arts.
“Behold! Hahahahaha! Your new queen is dead!” the Lord of Nightmares roared, his laughter echoing through the theater. “While you’re trapped in my dream, my followers will reclaim this kingdom! I will take back everything I’ve lost!”
The nobles, who had calmed down after hearing Abyss’s words, were now terrified, some screaming, their voices, previously suppressed, now released, filling the theater with their cries of despair.
The Lord of Nightmares was harvesting their fear!
Abyss understood his plan. He was using Givia’s death to break their spirits!
The spotlight shifted to the former king, his face frozen in horror, his body splattered with Givia’s blood. He had lost his only daughter.
“Givia… Givia…” he whispered, his voice trembling.
“And now, it’s your king’s turn,” the Lord of Nightmares’ voice said, his tone cold and menacing. “I wonder, will you despair when your kingdom is left without a ruler, when only my followers remain to lead you? Yes, scream, cry, I enjoy your fear. The more you fear, the greater your chances of survival…”
The bishop, his movements now mechanical, approached the former king.
The spotlight split, illuminating both of them. The Lord of Nightmares clearly wanted everyone to witness the king’s execution.
“If I can stop their fear, I can prevent this nightmare from spreading…” Abyss thought, his mind racing. “I have to hold on until Leona arrives. But time flows differently in this dream… What can I do…? Wait…”
He stared at the stage, a puzzled expression on his face.
He had seen something unusual.
Givia, her headless body, was slowly getting up, her hands groping for her head.
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